Things that are different about living and adjusting to life in PNG.

This is a list of things I’ve put together for those who are curious about how life is different here in Ukarumpa PNG. Not wrong but different than what is “normal” for us.

• Hot water depends on if Sun is out and how long sun has been out.
• Electricty is VERY expensive here and you don’t leave lights on unless you are in the room.
• Sun being out determines if clothes get dried in a timely matter.
• It gets light @ 6:30am and gets dark @ 6:30 pm. No fluctuation.
• People tend to be in their homes and in for the night by 8pm.
• The eggs stay out on counter here you don’t refigerate them. If the egg looks funny after cracking it then throw it out.
• Mattresses for beds are pieces of foam between 4-6in. thick.
• Make sure all electronics are out of sight at all times. Or at least out of arm’s reach from the windows.
• Ukarumpa is not in a circle or a square or a rectangle. Roads make no sense.
• One appreciates our grandparents and the older generation more and more every day for what they had to do on a daily basis b/c of not having convenience things, such as dishwasher, microwave, washer that actually washes clothe (and not a scrub brush and a bar of soap to scrub the dirt out).
• You reuse everything until it isn’t possible any longer. Ziploc bags get washed many many many times, plastic bottles same thing,
• Bathtubs don’t seem to exist here.
• When going to the bathroom you push a certain button if you go pee vs going poop.
• You can’t just plug in to an outlet, you need an adaptor AND to make sure the device is ok on this power.
• The store is only open from 9-4 Monday-Friday.
• Everything costs $$$. Including email, use of the school playground, etc.
• Make sure you disconnect internet on your computer if not using it. Or the bill adds up quickly.
• Malaria medicine is like over the counter meds here, no prescription needed.
• You have a list when going to the store but knowing that you probably won’t be able to get half of it cause they ran out.
• Milk is in a strange carton or it is in powder form.
• You figure out real quick that a kilogram equals approx. 2 lbs.
• When calling someone else in Ukarumpa you only need to dial the last 4 numbers of their phone number.