Today marks 7 weeks since we left home in Arusha. It's 4 weeks and 2 days till we begin the journey back.
It's a long time to be away from home and normal routine. There is so much good in it and I'm really, truly, very deeply thankful. It's so important and so beautiful to get time with people we love and care for and who love and care for us.
But tonight I'm just kind of worn out.
Nothing else to say really.
I guess I'm just homesick for Africa.
Showing posts with label arusha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arusha. Show all posts
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Petty Theft and Sniffing Glue
So the side mirror was stolen off the car today.
I can't say for sure exactly when it happened. I was in and out of a couple of shops and back to the Land Cruiser in between. I even moved it up 50 meters when I saw a different parking spot open so that I'd be closer to the butchery and the car would be safer.
Here's the thing...
There are hundreds of street kids in Arusha. It's a very sad thing. And usually, one or two of them make a big show of helping you find a parking spot and then promising to guard you car. I don't really feel good about giving to them but I usually do. I do because I would like my car to be safe from little things like having the side mirror taken off. I don't give much. What I give would be about what you'd pay for a chapati. Or a bus fare. Some times I'm organized enough to give them a bunch of bananas instead.
But last week I was in the waiting room at Byron's physical therapy session and I saw a big poster discouraging the giving of money to street kids. Why? Because they spend the money to sniff glue. I know this. But I give to them anyway because I fear for the car if I don't. And I feel for them, too. I don't even want to think about how hard their lives are.
When the boys crowded around me, looking for a little hand-out, I thought about that poster and how I really shouldn't be giving them money. I was conflicted and I decided not to give them any coins.
When I told Byron about the missing mirror, he wasn't too amused. He considers the coins a worthwhile insurance plan. As he pointed out, if I had given 50 cents, we wouldn't now be spending $50 for a replacement mirror.
Point taken.
But I don't want to give money for glue any more. I'm going to have to start thinking a little more creatively on this one...
I can't say for sure exactly when it happened. I was in and out of a couple of shops and back to the Land Cruiser in between. I even moved it up 50 meters when I saw a different parking spot open so that I'd be closer to the butchery and the car would be safer.
Here's the thing...
There are hundreds of street kids in Arusha. It's a very sad thing. And usually, one or two of them make a big show of helping you find a parking spot and then promising to guard you car. I don't really feel good about giving to them but I usually do. I do because I would like my car to be safe from little things like having the side mirror taken off. I don't give much. What I give would be about what you'd pay for a chapati. Or a bus fare. Some times I'm organized enough to give them a bunch of bananas instead.
But last week I was in the waiting room at Byron's physical therapy session and I saw a big poster discouraging the giving of money to street kids. Why? Because they spend the money to sniff glue. I know this. But I give to them anyway because I fear for the car if I don't. And I feel for them, too. I don't even want to think about how hard their lives are.
When the boys crowded around me, looking for a little hand-out, I thought about that poster and how I really shouldn't be giving them money. I was conflicted and I decided not to give them any coins.
When I told Byron about the missing mirror, he wasn't too amused. He considers the coins a worthwhile insurance plan. As he pointed out, if I had given 50 cents, we wouldn't now be spending $50 for a replacement mirror.
Point taken.
But I don't want to give money for glue any more. I'm going to have to start thinking a little more creatively on this one...
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Fragile
Life in Africa is so fragile.
Yet as soon as I write that, I think of the hardy life that I know here; people who survive in the most difficult of circumstances. Resilient, stubborn, odds-defying survival is normal.
Like Tait's friend, who shall remain unnamed, who lives around the corner from me in a tiny building that is a bar of sorts. Her mom sells beer to make a living and she lives behind a thin partition, a veil that may or may not protect her from the night. And yet, every morning she dresses smartly and walks proudly to the school where she is training to be a secretary.
On the one hand, then, life is not easily crushed here. Like indigenous plants, it finds a way to beat back against the ravages that come against it. When over-grazing strips the earth, the tangled weeds eventually come up and make the land unusable until the grasses have a chance to return. It may take 50 years, but it will happen, (if we don't interfere, that is.)
But conditions are harsh. Not for me, particularly. As I have said before, we don't live at a hand to mouth level and so we are not held by the whims of condition. Poor harvests may increase my grocery bill, but I will still put food on the table for my family.
Conditions are harsh for my African friends because life is not padded in any way.
Last week a man I know lost his sister; a family lost their 37 year old mom. She was working outside their home, where she has been working every day. She was going about the business of splitting rocks into smaller rocks, to be sold for use in construction. The family land is on the edge of a gorge; a dramatic gorge that provides good rocks for splitting.
But she slipped. And she died. And that was the end of that.
I suppose that her work had her in danger every day. But she likely never thought about it. What where her choices? This was an available job that she could do. This norm of people working jobs that put them in danger is accepted. Providing for your family may just simply require that of you. So she broke rocks with a hammer on the edge of a cliff every day.
I know that accidents happen all over the world. But when I consider that this will be the third funeral that many in that community will attend within the span of a month, I do pause. A road accident... an infant succumbing to disease... a fall... Even after all these years here, I remain disquieted by the fragile nature of the hardy life I see around me.
Yet as soon as I write that, I think of the hardy life that I know here; people who survive in the most difficult of circumstances. Resilient, stubborn, odds-defying survival is normal.
Like Tait's friend, who shall remain unnamed, who lives around the corner from me in a tiny building that is a bar of sorts. Her mom sells beer to make a living and she lives behind a thin partition, a veil that may or may not protect her from the night. And yet, every morning she dresses smartly and walks proudly to the school where she is training to be a secretary.
On the one hand, then, life is not easily crushed here. Like indigenous plants, it finds a way to beat back against the ravages that come against it. When over-grazing strips the earth, the tangled weeds eventually come up and make the land unusable until the grasses have a chance to return. It may take 50 years, but it will happen, (if we don't interfere, that is.)
But conditions are harsh. Not for me, particularly. As I have said before, we don't live at a hand to mouth level and so we are not held by the whims of condition. Poor harvests may increase my grocery bill, but I will still put food on the table for my family.
Conditions are harsh for my African friends because life is not padded in any way.
Last week a man I know lost his sister; a family lost their 37 year old mom. She was working outside their home, where she has been working every day. She was going about the business of splitting rocks into smaller rocks, to be sold for use in construction. The family land is on the edge of a gorge; a dramatic gorge that provides good rocks for splitting.
But she slipped. And she died. And that was the end of that.
I suppose that her work had her in danger every day. But she likely never thought about it. What where her choices? This was an available job that she could do. This norm of people working jobs that put them in danger is accepted. Providing for your family may just simply require that of you. So she broke rocks with a hammer on the edge of a cliff every day.
I know that accidents happen all over the world. But when I consider that this will be the third funeral that many in that community will attend within the span of a month, I do pause. A road accident... an infant succumbing to disease... a fall... Even after all these years here, I remain disquieted by the fragile nature of the hardy life I see around me.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
I Don't Need a Fancy Coffee (or Lots of Head Noise Last Week)
It's been a non-blogging week for me. I guess I've been kind of weirded-out lately.
Friday the 14th was a molasses kind of day as I followed news of the fire in Santa Barbara and where our kids were in relation to that fire. (In case you didn't know, their college was evacuated to the gym and while all the students, staff and faculty are fine, there was terrific material loss for many as the fire raged through almost 2,000 acres. The college itself sustained significant damage.)
Then we left for Nairobi, a big city in which we could not get a working internet connection from where we were staying.
Nairobi was an unpleasant experience. Seeing old friends was lovely, but the rest of the trip was pretty awful.
We got our medical appointments done. We accomplished our goal of securing some good breeding rabbits. We bought a few small things in the snazzy shops.
But mostly, we were culture-shocking and overwhelmed by the horrendous traffic, the significant wealth and the sheer level of development--bar urban planning, which appears to be nil.
I sat in Java House and stared into my gorgeous cappuccino with its perfect fluffy foam and a heart painted into it by the swish of a spoon. The waitress was lovely, well-spoken, sharp and attentive. The quality of the whole place would have passed muster in any first world city.
But all I could think was, "Get me back to Arusha-town! I'll take a tea on my porch over this any day."
I like simple.
I really do.
Friday the 14th was a molasses kind of day as I followed news of the fire in Santa Barbara and where our kids were in relation to that fire. (In case you didn't know, their college was evacuated to the gym and while all the students, staff and faculty are fine, there was terrific material loss for many as the fire raged through almost 2,000 acres. The college itself sustained significant damage.)
Then we left for Nairobi, a big city in which we could not get a working internet connection from where we were staying.
Nairobi was an unpleasant experience. Seeing old friends was lovely, but the rest of the trip was pretty awful.
We got our medical appointments done. We accomplished our goal of securing some good breeding rabbits. We bought a few small things in the snazzy shops.
But mostly, we were culture-shocking and overwhelmed by the horrendous traffic, the significant wealth and the sheer level of development--bar urban planning, which appears to be nil.
I sat in Java House and stared into my gorgeous cappuccino with its perfect fluffy foam and a heart painted into it by the swish of a spoon. The waitress was lovely, well-spoken, sharp and attentive. The quality of the whole place would have passed muster in any first world city.
But all I could think was, "Get me back to Arusha-town! I'll take a tea on my porch over this any day."
I like simple.
I really do.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
A Tale of 2 Parties
A sunny afternoon in a green garden. We had tables set for tea and ladies in smiles and pretty clothes. It was a bridal shower for a fellow international and everything was perfect.
So many treats! Imported chocolate chips in the cookies, amazing samosas, gorgeous cakes and little cupcakes with cute bridal decorations. There was lots of "Oohing" and "Aaahing" and plenty of laughter. No nice touches were left out. The tea sets all matched just beautifully.
I drove back across town afterwards and through the gate to our garden.
In one corner of the lawn, a group of Tanzanian guys and one white husband of mine hunched over the goat they were slaughtering. Colin and Heather were playing soccer on the grass with a couple other young men and another collage of guys were getting the grill ready.
There was meat, meat, meat and more meat by the time the roasting was done. We had bits of it between our teeth and plenty of grease on our fingers. There was a dart board and a lot of joking around. There was a vat of hot chai to follow the crate of sodas and Heather taught willing participants how to play Tick Tack Toe. The dogs munched happily on tasty bones.
It was one incredibly full afternoon, evening and night. I enjoyed it all.
But secretly, I liked the second party, (the one on my lawn with the guys from the local welding shop) the best :-)
So many treats! Imported chocolate chips in the cookies, amazing samosas, gorgeous cakes and little cupcakes with cute bridal decorations. There was lots of "Oohing" and "Aaahing" and plenty of laughter. No nice touches were left out. The tea sets all matched just beautifully.
I drove back across town afterwards and through the gate to our garden.
In one corner of the lawn, a group of Tanzanian guys and one white husband of mine hunched over the goat they were slaughtering. Colin and Heather were playing soccer on the grass with a couple other young men and another collage of guys were getting the grill ready.
There was meat, meat, meat and more meat by the time the roasting was done. We had bits of it between our teeth and plenty of grease on our fingers. There was a dart board and a lot of joking around. There was a vat of hot chai to follow the crate of sodas and Heather taught willing participants how to play Tick Tack Toe. The dogs munched happily on tasty bones.
It was one incredibly full afternoon, evening and night. I enjoyed it all.
But secretly, I liked the second party, (the one on my lawn with the guys from the local welding shop) the best :-)
Monday, April 28, 2008
And I am Tired...
I am so tired tonight.
It doesn't make a lick of sense that I'm writing here. But I just want to make sure I am as close as possible to sound asleep before I put this little Mac away because I don't like going to sleep when Byron's not home. (I know, kinda pathetic.)
Neither of us slept much last night-- he with that pre-trip thing that keeps your mind ticking, veiled just ever so slightly by a light and unsatisfying sleep. It's a bad sleep like a non-fat something. Gross.
Me with all that too, just vicariously for him. I didn't have to get on a shuttle early this morning, rattle over 5 or so hours of bad road and then spend the afternoon in the back streets of Nairobi purchasing hundreds of dollars worth of beads for our fair trade artisan project, then getting said beads shipped back to our town before grabbing food and then making the painfully slow taxi ride through the congestion out to the airport for a midnight flight to the States. But I slept like I was facing it too.
Today I sort of bumped into walls and vaguely saw that Heather did school. I put laundry up and down on the line several times as the rain stopped and started throughout the morning.
I got stuck in the most nasty gridlock I've seen yet in Arusha. I spent about 3 hours getting across town and then back. This is just a little African city! Holy cow, Mother!
And I wandered into Tammy's house tonight for our team dinner, fully aware that I was too tired to be much company. I hate it when I can hear how incoherent I am being.
But now I think I can safely say that the day is done and it's time to sleep. There is a little girl sleeping next to me in her Daddy's spot. She says the pillow smells nicely of him.
Yes, I am tired, tired, tired. But I am happy, content, and peaceful.
The rain has begun on my roof again and I'm settling in for a good sleep. The full fat kind :-)
It doesn't make a lick of sense that I'm writing here. But I just want to make sure I am as close as possible to sound asleep before I put this little Mac away because I don't like going to sleep when Byron's not home. (I know, kinda pathetic.)
Neither of us slept much last night-- he with that pre-trip thing that keeps your mind ticking, veiled just ever so slightly by a light and unsatisfying sleep. It's a bad sleep like a non-fat something. Gross.
Me with all that too, just vicariously for him. I didn't have to get on a shuttle early this morning, rattle over 5 or so hours of bad road and then spend the afternoon in the back streets of Nairobi purchasing hundreds of dollars worth of beads for our fair trade artisan project, then getting said beads shipped back to our town before grabbing food and then making the painfully slow taxi ride through the congestion out to the airport for a midnight flight to the States. But I slept like I was facing it too.
Today I sort of bumped into walls and vaguely saw that Heather did school. I put laundry up and down on the line several times as the rain stopped and started throughout the morning.
I got stuck in the most nasty gridlock I've seen yet in Arusha. I spent about 3 hours getting across town and then back. This is just a little African city! Holy cow, Mother!
And I wandered into Tammy's house tonight for our team dinner, fully aware that I was too tired to be much company. I hate it when I can hear how incoherent I am being.
But now I think I can safely say that the day is done and it's time to sleep. There is a little girl sleeping next to me in her Daddy's spot. She says the pillow smells nicely of him.
Yes, I am tired, tired, tired. But I am happy, content, and peaceful.
The rain has begun on my roof again and I'm settling in for a good sleep. The full fat kind :-)
Friday, April 25, 2008
Foto4Friday
"Ok," Byron said as he looked out of the window this morning,
"I'm getting a little tired of the rainy season now."
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
April Arrives
It's April and the rains are here in full swing. We can't get the drilling rig out to Wild Hope's new property to begin the work of searching out water because the final four kilometers to the land are not passable for a 20 ton truck right now.
Sigh. Africa does teach a person patience.
I posted today on the Conversant Life blog
See you over there...
Sigh. Africa does teach a person patience.
I posted today on the Conversant Life blog
See you over there...
Monday, March 24, 2008
Yesterday...
Yesterday we spent the afternoon of Easter with friends. We spent a good deal of time cutting fruit and veggies and grilling a variety of meats on the barbie outside. It all tasted wonderful and there was a good celebratory feel in the air which, I think, is what Easter should feel like.
But the best part of the day was our hike. After sending the Peace Corps volunteers, who had to get back to Moshi, off on the bus, we headed up Lucky Lucky. (I'd kind of like to know how the hill got that name.)
It was a little late in the day to start a hike but we were determined. Besides, we had all promised Heather that chocolate treats would be hidden at the top.
The sky was going all pink and gold and the grass was thick, green and wet. The mud was especially sticky and clumped to the bottom of our shoes, giving us chocolate colored platforms to walk on. It was really quite amazing that no one fell on their backsides as we slid and sunk in the wettest parts.
After a hunt for pastel colored surprises that Max hid (and Gina looked for with a distinctly competitive shine in her eyes) we began the slip and slide walk/run back down the hill, trying to beat the darkness home. We thought about the hyena that Max and Gina said they saw not far from there as we made our way through the coffee bushes toward the end of the adventure.
I loved the way the clouds cleared to show us a new covering of snow on Mount Meru. I loved the 360 degree view of a green expanse of Africa. I loved the thick groupings of bright green coffee berries weighing down the branches we moved through. I loved the brisk air and the fact that Heather left her shoes behind accidentally when the mud got too thick. I loved the feel of being with friends as the day came to a close and the tired, happy feeling in my muscles as I climbed into the truck to go home.
Easter is a good holiday. Such a good thing we have to celebrate!
But the best part of the day was our hike. After sending the Peace Corps volunteers, who had to get back to Moshi, off on the bus, we headed up Lucky Lucky. (I'd kind of like to know how the hill got that name.)
It was a little late in the day to start a hike but we were determined. Besides, we had all promised Heather that chocolate treats would be hidden at the top.
The sky was going all pink and gold and the grass was thick, green and wet. The mud was especially sticky and clumped to the bottom of our shoes, giving us chocolate colored platforms to walk on. It was really quite amazing that no one fell on their backsides as we slid and sunk in the wettest parts.
After a hunt for pastel colored surprises that Max hid (and Gina looked for with a distinctly competitive shine in her eyes) we began the slip and slide walk/run back down the hill, trying to beat the darkness home. We thought about the hyena that Max and Gina said they saw not far from there as we made our way through the coffee bushes toward the end of the adventure.
I loved the way the clouds cleared to show us a new covering of snow on Mount Meru. I loved the 360 degree view of a green expanse of Africa. I loved the thick groupings of bright green coffee berries weighing down the branches we moved through. I loved the brisk air and the fact that Heather left her shoes behind accidentally when the mud got too thick. I loved the feel of being with friends as the day came to a close and the tired, happy feeling in my muscles as I climbed into the truck to go home.
Easter is a good holiday. Such a good thing we have to celebrate!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
I Don't Like It When the Internet is Down
On Monday at about 2pm my internet connection faded and then vanished.
At first I didn't want to believe it. I kept myself in a state of denial, telling myself it was just being extra sluggish and ridiculous. I didn't want to call the server because, oh, I don't know why. Maybe it was because making the call would force me to admit that the connection really was cut, (as in dead, lifeless, of no use, severed.)
Last time this happened I called them over and over. "I can see the problem," I told them. "The cable is dangling like a free and crazy thing from the 5th pole away from my house! Just come and FIX it!"
But they didn't come until almost 3 days later. (By then I had developed a slight twitch and a nervous little laugh.)
I NEED this connection! I need to know that an email from Trevor might just drop into my inbox at any time (you know how college kids are up at all hours) or that word from Jesse, away-off-yonder, might suddenly show up. I WANT a cheery note from Nelly and news from my sister, for crying out loud. I HAVE to hear back from Brady, my travel guy, so that I can stop being stressed about the tickets I'm trying to get booked for a whole buncha people. I MUST give answers to a lot of PRESSING questions from IMPORTANT people and, what's more, I FEEL BETTER about myself when I have a clue about what's happening in other parts of the world so for heaven's sake DON'T cut me off from the BBC!
Oh my! Now the connection has been repaired after a 24 hour disruption.
And I'm just left wondering this... How did I manage so nicely for those 10 years in Loita without being wired??
:-)
At first I didn't want to believe it. I kept myself in a state of denial, telling myself it was just being extra sluggish and ridiculous. I didn't want to call the server because, oh, I don't know why. Maybe it was because making the call would force me to admit that the connection really was cut, (as in dead, lifeless, of no use, severed.)
Last time this happened I called them over and over. "I can see the problem," I told them. "The cable is dangling like a free and crazy thing from the 5th pole away from my house! Just come and FIX it!"
But they didn't come until almost 3 days later. (By then I had developed a slight twitch and a nervous little laugh.)
I NEED this connection! I need to know that an email from Trevor might just drop into my inbox at any time (you know how college kids are up at all hours) or that word from Jesse, away-off-yonder, might suddenly show up. I WANT a cheery note from Nelly and news from my sister, for crying out loud. I HAVE to hear back from Brady, my travel guy, so that I can stop being stressed about the tickets I'm trying to get booked for a whole buncha people. I MUST give answers to a lot of PRESSING questions from IMPORTANT people and, what's more, I FEEL BETTER about myself when I have a clue about what's happening in other parts of the world so for heaven's sake DON'T cut me off from the BBC!
Oh my! Now the connection has been repaired after a 24 hour disruption.
And I'm just left wondering this... How did I manage so nicely for those 10 years in Loita without being wired??
:-)
Friday, March 07, 2008
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Late Nights
We've been out late too many nights in a row. Each time it was for a good reason but it was really nice to stay IN tonight. Our VCR and our DVD player are both in the shop so we just chilled together as a little fam.
Heather was properly tucked in at bedtime this evening and didn't have to fall asleep in her dad's arms. Below find a snap from Tuesday night when she snoozed at our dinner for Wild Hope's adopted soccer team. It's Ramadan right now so the dinner had to be late.
I guess you can't tell from Heather's expression how much we believe in the young men of our team! May they overcome the challenges of their oppressed community and grow into men who transform their worlds!
Heather was properly tucked in at bedtime this evening and didn't have to fall asleep in her dad's arms. Below find a snap from Tuesday night when she snoozed at our dinner for Wild Hope's adopted soccer team. It's Ramadan right now so the dinner had to be late.
I guess you can't tell from Heather's expression how much we believe in the young men of our team! May they overcome the challenges of their oppressed community and grow into men who transform their worlds!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Trader Raza's
The other day as I scanned the shelves of our teeny neighborhood shop (aka "Raza's") hoping for an appetizing local jam, What To My Wondering Eyes Should Appear but a quiet and plump little jar of Trader Joe's Fresh Strawberry Jam.
WHAT ON EARTH? I am 10,000 miles from my local Trader Joe's in Pasadena (the ORIGINAL TJ's, as I have mentioned before.)
Re-wind! We lived in Loita for ten years (1989-1999). We were a hard 4-5 hour drive from the nearest paved road, phone line or post office. It was and is one of the most beautiful locations on earth. As much as I adored living there, there were many challenging things about it. I just wanted a few things that would make it easier and somehow or other I decided that a Trader Joe's was what I needed. I used to tell Byron that I would stay forever if we just had a Trader Joe's.
And so today I have to wonder: what is the meaning of this modest and lovely little jar of jam on my local shop shelf? Is it a sign with mystical and magical intent? Am I to understand that my long ago wish (in a place far away) is coming to fruition in this African town, jar by jar?
Or should I just make some toast and enjoy a dollop of the actually not so expensive imported deliciousness?
I cease and desist from trying to figure it out. I promptly buy another jar upon my next visit to Raza's.
I don't know how TJ's Fresh Strawberry Jam made the passage to East Africa, but I am very happy to enjoy it while supplies last.
WHAT ON EARTH? I am 10,000 miles from my local Trader Joe's in Pasadena (the ORIGINAL TJ's, as I have mentioned before.)
Re-wind! We lived in Loita for ten years (1989-1999). We were a hard 4-5 hour drive from the nearest paved road, phone line or post office. It was and is one of the most beautiful locations on earth. As much as I adored living there, there were many challenging things about it. I just wanted a few things that would make it easier and somehow or other I decided that a Trader Joe's was what I needed. I used to tell Byron that I would stay forever if we just had a Trader Joe's.
And so today I have to wonder: what is the meaning of this modest and lovely little jar of jam on my local shop shelf? Is it a sign with mystical and magical intent? Am I to understand that my long ago wish (in a place far away) is coming to fruition in this African town, jar by jar?
Or should I just make some toast and enjoy a dollop of the actually not so expensive imported deliciousness?
I cease and desist from trying to figure it out. I promptly buy another jar upon my next visit to Raza's.
I don't know how TJ's Fresh Strawberry Jam made the passage to East Africa, but I am very happy to enjoy it while supplies last.
Monday, September 10, 2007
So This is Why We're Here...
As previously mentioned, last week was a wee bit frustrating with seemingly endless internet woes, meaning that check lists of things to get done via the net were left grumpily un-checked. There's nothing like a to-do list that doesn't bare sassy pencil marks signifying the completion of even one single task to make me grind my teeth.
Friday night's calm reprieve from all that was lovely and the weekend went on into busy this and thats.
Sunday afternoon we piled into the car and bounced down to Unga. Ltd. where our Nyota FC boys were playing in the final game of a local tournament. It was a tournament for the oldest team so Skyler Russell
Wild Hope has adopted this team and you can read more about them here
All of this is to say that after a kind of crummy week in some regards, Sunday evening was joy. Our team shone, winning a fine 3-0 victory over the neighborhood rivals. They were photogenic in the gorgeous African light and we didn't have any cameras with us! Two cameras were left at home and the one that was brought along was out of batteries!
So let's see... how could I help you see this?
Imagine a sloping field, rutted by rain and littered with garbage that blows off the heaps at the high end. Picture a depressed neighborhood where it's not too safe to be out at night. Picture 22 young men in smart uniforms running around the pitch, avoiding the ankle breaking ditches and holes and playing their hearts out. Picture a young bull wandering away from the dumped garbage to cross the field during the game. Picture a herd of goats doing the same!
Picture crowds of kids cheering and dancing with every goal. Picture them surging onto the pitch the moment the final whistle was blown. Picture our team dancing around with the big trophy over the heads. Picture the pride and healthy self worth in the eyes of every person on that team.
Picture us all crammed into a tiny space that they use as club house. Picture their laughter and revelry as we made plans for a party at end of the week.
We pulled away into the night, leaving them together with their Cup, their joy and their finely won pride.
I'm still smiling today as I remember it all. Honestly, if we only came here for this group of guys, it would be enough for me.
Friday night's calm reprieve from all that was lovely and the weekend went on into busy this and thats.
Sunday afternoon we piled into the car and bounced down to Unga. Ltd. where our Nyota FC boys were playing in the final game of a local tournament. It was a tournament for the oldest team so Skyler Russell
Wild Hope has adopted this team and you can read more about them here
All of this is to say that after a kind of crummy week in some regards, Sunday evening was joy. Our team shone, winning a fine 3-0 victory over the neighborhood rivals. They were photogenic in the gorgeous African light and we didn't have any cameras with us! Two cameras were left at home and the one that was brought along was out of batteries!
So let's see... how could I help you see this?
Imagine a sloping field, rutted by rain and littered with garbage that blows off the heaps at the high end. Picture a depressed neighborhood where it's not too safe to be out at night. Picture 22 young men in smart uniforms running around the pitch, avoiding the ankle breaking ditches and holes and playing their hearts out. Picture a young bull wandering away from the dumped garbage to cross the field during the game. Picture a herd of goats doing the same!
Picture crowds of kids cheering and dancing with every goal. Picture them surging onto the pitch the moment the final whistle was blown. Picture our team dancing around with the big trophy over the heads. Picture the pride and healthy self worth in the eyes of every person on that team.
Picture us all crammed into a tiny space that they use as club house. Picture their laughter and revelry as we made plans for a party at end of the week.
We pulled away into the night, leaving them together with their Cup, their joy and their finely won pride.
I'm still smiling today as I remember it all. Honestly, if we only came here for this group of guys, it would be enough for me.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Shedding Frustration is Good for Me
I know I've been complaining about the internet connection from here. Whine, whine, whine This last week was a real doozie. (Doozie! When was the last time I used THAT word??)
The outstanding Jenelle
By Friday afternoon there was a distinct grumpiness in the house as three of us who needed good net connection felt unproductive and helpless. (Poor, pitiful us!)
I finally couldn't take it any longer and so I climbed onto my bed, pulled my pretty white Portuguese throw over me and took a little nap. (BTW, I'm a firm believer in little naps, even though I don't live out my allegiance to the same very well.)
The nap gave way to tea time and we sat on our porch drinking and talking and draining the pot.
Later, after the tea things were cleared away and Byron had watered all the flowers and Jenelle had read some lovely essays by our friend Lisa McKay, the stars came out and we took our dinner outside where we could enjoy it by a little camp fire.
Fresh, hot, home-made chapatis, wonderful African beans, guacamole, a fire, the stars, Over The Rhine wafting across the airwaves and conversation. We talked long and deep and raw. That's the best way, I think.
The internet doesn't matter. Sure, I'd like to get some things done, but sharing life is a pretty good alternate plan.
The outstanding Jenelle
By Friday afternoon there was a distinct grumpiness in the house as three of us who needed good net connection felt unproductive and helpless. (Poor, pitiful us!)
I finally couldn't take it any longer and so I climbed onto my bed, pulled my pretty white Portuguese throw over me and took a little nap. (BTW, I'm a firm believer in little naps, even though I don't live out my allegiance to the same very well.)
The nap gave way to tea time and we sat on our porch drinking and talking and draining the pot.
Later, after the tea things were cleared away and Byron had watered all the flowers and Jenelle had read some lovely essays by our friend Lisa McKay, the stars came out and we took our dinner outside where we could enjoy it by a little camp fire.
Fresh, hot, home-made chapatis, wonderful African beans, guacamole, a fire, the stars, Over The Rhine wafting across the airwaves and conversation. We talked long and deep and raw. That's the best way, I think.
The internet doesn't matter. Sure, I'd like to get some things done, but sharing life is a pretty good alternate plan.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Frustration
There are lots of things to adjust to about being back in Africa but the one that makes us the most crazy is our slow internet connection.
Byron went on a website today that measures the speed of your connection. We scored 10 KB per second. The average in the U.S. is 4,000 KB per second.
10? Ten? TEN? The site says we're better than 1% of the world here at our house. That means that 99% of the people in the world who have internet have a faster connection than I do!
Tonight we went on the site again and it was a bit faster... 130 KB per second. But we already knew it was slightly better at night.
Supposedly, the norm in this city is better than what we're getting at our place so we're going to investigate and see if we can't get our server to pick up the pace a little for us.
Ten. Can you believe it?
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Big Yellow (ok, Mustard) House
Here's the house we are renting in Arusha. A photo at last, for those who have been asking me for one.
The house begins to feel like a home as we settle inside her walls. The boxes and boxes of Byron's tools lining the hall and spilling over into Heather's bedroom aren't very cozy to be around, but never mind. Once the tool room out back gets security bars across the windows we'll be able to move them out there.
What IS cozy is the fact that our home is already full of people. We have six extra people living with us for July as our summer team is staying here. Lots of hubbub... lots of laundry.... huge vats of oatmeal porridge. And, for your entertainment, crazy music and dancing every evening as the dishes get cleared, rinsed and table gets wiped.
As the meal winds down someone will say, "I feel a dance party coming on," and it is remarkable how much more enjoyable chores are when you're sort of dancing along to them.
So that's the scoop... A mustard house that passes muster :-)
Saturday, June 30, 2007
This is How it Goes...
This is a great house we're moving into in Arusha, but the actual moving in is getting pretty silly.
The internet people surprised us by being really efficient and professional and, wow, we got internet on the second day!
But, woops, when the were installing poles down our lane to bring the cable to our house, they accidentally dug up the water pipe. Woo hooo! Internet is working! Boo hooo! Water is not. Well, we have what is already in the cistern, but nothing new coming to the house the last couple of days.
I wonder if that means our neighbors aren't getting water either.... Hhhmmm. I'm sure they love having us :-)
Today the plumber who was working on inside pipes (that still have a little water) walked away from the job for a little bit and I had to hold a bucket under the open pipe till he came back. The pipe is one that feeds a sink in the hall (outside the shower room) so the hallway was slowly getting wetter and wetter until Byron discovered it and called me to hold the bucket. The tile floors weren't in danger of getting hurt, but the unpacked boxes lining the hall would not have liked it.
Byron had to leave because the car alarm was going off. Trevor must have somehow set the alarm and the Russells' big vehicle that we're borrowing was making weird, scary sounds in the driveway. So Byron spent a fair amount of time under the hood doing whatever you do to stop a determined alarm.
What else weird happened today? Seems like there were at least a couple other odd challenges. Maybe the fact that the shower curtain rod is set permanently in the wall at an outrageous height so that our shower curtain is about a foot too short. I don't know... I can't remember now.
Honestly, I'm not complaining. All these things just seem kind of normal, par for the course and sorta funny to me.
This is how it goes :-)
The internet people surprised us by being really efficient and professional and, wow, we got internet on the second day!
But, woops, when the were installing poles down our lane to bring the cable to our house, they accidentally dug up the water pipe. Woo hooo! Internet is working! Boo hooo! Water is not. Well, we have what is already in the cistern, but nothing new coming to the house the last couple of days.
I wonder if that means our neighbors aren't getting water either.... Hhhmmm. I'm sure they love having us :-)
Today the plumber who was working on inside pipes (that still have a little water) walked away from the job for a little bit and I had to hold a bucket under the open pipe till he came back. The pipe is one that feeds a sink in the hall (outside the shower room) so the hallway was slowly getting wetter and wetter until Byron discovered it and called me to hold the bucket. The tile floors weren't in danger of getting hurt, but the unpacked boxes lining the hall would not have liked it.
Byron had to leave because the car alarm was going off. Trevor must have somehow set the alarm and the Russells' big vehicle that we're borrowing was making weird, scary sounds in the driveway. So Byron spent a fair amount of time under the hood doing whatever you do to stop a determined alarm.
What else weird happened today? Seems like there were at least a couple other odd challenges. Maybe the fact that the shower curtain rod is set permanently in the wall at an outrageous height so that our shower curtain is about a foot too short. I don't know... I can't remember now.
Honestly, I'm not complaining. All these things just seem kind of normal, par for the course and sorta funny to me.
This is how it goes :-)
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
A House (Soon to be a Home)
We've found a house to rent at last. Can your hear our collective sigh of relief?
We're in the process of moving in and it's taking longer than we'd like due to getting the water and power sorted out and the shuttling over of about one million boxes from our container, which arrived safely from Portugal a couple of weeks ago.
The house is spacious and clean inside. The tile floors will be cold during July and August! The outside of it is a very mustardy yellow. Not so attractive but we don't mind. We're just happy to start making beds and putting things away in cupboards.
The internet access is being set up so hopefully we'll be on-line from home in the next couple of days.
So that's the brief report to say:
1) We've found a good house in a decent location
2) We're busy moving in and
3) We're happy :-)
Thanks for prayers! I'll post a photo soon.
We're in the process of moving in and it's taking longer than we'd like due to getting the water and power sorted out and the shuttling over of about one million boxes from our container, which arrived safely from Portugal a couple of weeks ago.
The house is spacious and clean inside. The tile floors will be cold during July and August! The outside of it is a very mustardy yellow. Not so attractive but we don't mind. We're just happy to start making beds and putting things away in cupboards.
The internet access is being set up so hopefully we'll be on-line from home in the next couple of days.
So that's the brief report to say:
1) We've found a good house in a decent location
2) We're busy moving in and
3) We're happy :-)
Thanks for prayers! I'll post a photo soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)