HORN-WATCH: 9 Differences Between Disney World and Djibouti

By RACHELPIEHJONES

You might not believe me, but Disney World and Djibouti aren’t exactly the same, in fact, they are quite different from each other. If you’ve never been to one or both places, you’ll just have to take my word for it.

In December my Djibouti Jones family had a Pieh family reunion in Florida. My parents, three siblings and their spouses and children, and my own family had a fantastically fun week in Disney World together. We had Lego competitions and talent shows (our family performed the 12 Days of Djibouti Christmas, written by ourselves) and fudge feasts and rocking Christmas carol singing times plus all the experiences and rides at the Disney Parks. There were, naturally, a few tears as we tried to keep everyone from teenagers to infants happy but what is a week at Disney World without at least a few tears? Perhaps that is onething the two places do have in common…

All of that, however, is beside the point. The point is that Disney World and Djibouti are different and if you want to know why, click here to read (and see) just how different they are: 9 Differences Between Disney World and Djibouti

My Djibouti (D)Jones family traveled to Disney World for a family reunion during Christmas vacation this year. Every time we travel internationally we encounter culture shock and I enjoy keeping track of the funny things our kids say, the interesting perspective we each bring to what will blend into normalcy in just a few days.

So, going to Disney World was sure to bring some interesting observations from each of us. I have noticed that some expats like to complain and sometimes we can come across as judgmental or critical of our home cultures.

Sometimes it would be easy to fall into that trap of comparing and complaining, of judging excess or differences. Long, long ago, another expat gave us invaluable advice before we headed to the US for our first trip back.

“Enjoy it,” he said. “Be thankful. It might seem like excess, it might feel overwhelming. Be thankful and have a good time.”

We go back and forth around the world now fully conscious that we are making this choice of gratitude. Disney World was no exception. Minnesota feels like Disney World to our family, when we come straight from the developing world. That must make the real Disney World…Disney World Gone Wild?

We did notice some things. Here are a few of our family’s observations regarding the differences between Djibouti and Disney World. Truth be told, there are more than ten differences, in case you were wondering. And if you have never been to one or either of these places, you will just have to take my word for it.

Djiboutians in Disney World=(If you look closely, the green t-shirt with the camel on it even says Djibouti down the side.)

Different Kinds of Rodents
Disney World has clean, sanitary,
well-dressed mice trained to talk and sing

Real Rodents

Our rodents don't sing and dance and we try to keep them out of the house. Sometimes that takes going on special hunting missions, armed with brooms and buckets and traps. We also don't dress our rodents in clothes.(this is "Bunny," no photos of our mice or rats)

Less Garbage

Disney World has less garbage. We saw a woman carrying a broom and dustpan and my youngest asked what she was doing. “Picking up garbage,” I said. “No, she isn’t,” Lucy said. “There isn’t any.”

Garbage

Djibouti isn't as spotless as Disney World. There is a garbage truck and we dodge the trash that falls out the back of it while it bumps over the roads. There are also women who sweep the streets at night and in the early morning. They do a truly heroic job fighting back the dust and trash.

Lines
There are actually lines for rides, food, bathrooms, and character visits at Disney World. People stand in them, patiently. This is borderline miraculous.

No Lines

I'm not sure how Americans become so adept at waiting in lines. Does it start in Kindergarten? It seems rather ingrained. Sometimes I like the organization of lines but sometimes I prefer the interesting chaos of no lines, the ability to maneuver through a crowd, the knowledge that asserting myself is not offensive but desirable.

Packed Buses

Djiboutian buses don't leave until they are filled, or over-filled.

Empty Buses

Disney buses don’t know how to pack people in like sardines. Even if you are standing, it is likely that the person behind or in front of you will not be standing on your toes or breathing in your face. There are no live goats on buses at Disney World and no feather boas or decals of Michael Jackson's face pasted on a female model's body.