A helping of chicken, with grace on the side!

Food...it's an essential...right?! It fills your belly, provides energy, stops a craving...pretty much important for life. Today we learned the lesson very well...and were provided grace from a dad who shows favor even when we try to be big girls.

It all started when we moved into our apartment last night, in the midst of a a great hahboob (sand storm). We had just spent the entire day cleaning our new wonderful apartment and were very excited to move in. We get home after fellowship, and see that the hard work that had been put into cleaning, was equally matched by our new, overly friendly, friend, The Great Hahboob. As true sojourners, we sucked it up and said "maalesh" (whatev in arabic), tomorrow is another day, and now is time for sleep. We woke up this morning, ready to fight the battle and clean once again. We are in the midst of getting a new refrigerator and stove, so for now we have the old ones. I got up, decided it would be nice to have some cold water, so plugged in the fridge. After that, me and the sisters, proceed to scrub the orange away and once again settle into our new home. The day goes fine, the new fridge is not delivered, but I have great faith in our old one....so maalesh. Maalesh....it was not. After taking a greatly needed nap, I rush to the fridge to test it out, anticipating great coldness, and there is nothing...nothing. No cold, no noise of the fan spinning...just dead silence. I look at the door in defeat, but gather the sisters and proclaim it is time to head to the market. It was getting late and dinner needed to be gotten. Me and Maria head out for an adventure, in search of susbstinance that could be eaten, but not refrigerated. We decided our best bet was some fooul (kinda like refried beans) and bread. We had been given a great portion of salata le al fin (salad) from a friend, so we decided combined would be a wonderful meal. We walked around searching, unto our avail. Fooul is mainly only cooked in the morning and the late evening. We met a friend who told us it would probably be ready at 7pm. So we went home, toasted a little soda to our first day and waited excitedly till 7. (side note: I don't ever remember a time in my life I was excited to be eating beans!) At 7, the sisters , scarved up and with beans in our sight, head out. We walk...and walk...and walk some more, but find none. Every place we were told had them...there was none. We stopped at a little stand to ask if they had any, only to be pointed in the direction of a gathering of men smoking pipes....not what we were hoping for! So we travel home, defeated and feeling the pain of hunger. Upon arriving we ancounter our lovely land lady who says, "I will go get you some food...as a house warming". We debated...not cause we didn't trust her taste in food, but just because pride is a lion and we really didn't want to put more trouble on her. We aggreed to her sweet prodding, and waited as she went out. While waiting, the Sun shown his grace through a sweet time of reflection and song. We saw that the sun wants the best for us, and he shines even when we don't understand. A soft knock at the door opened to a banquet of food...fried chicken, fish and chips, salad, bread, and a even soda. Our hearts here humbled, our bellies were filled, and once again the sun shown his grace on three little girls who need the strength from a dad who has great big arms.

TIA

Cultural experiences...good times...good times! I'm sure this will be a first of many...and I hope that they only get better. It all started when my lovely roommate Maria, had her last trunk lost in Germany. It was a sad day for her, be she sucked it up and knew that she would soon see it again. So yesterday the airline calls and says that it has arrived and to please come and get it. We all venture out to the airport, try with all our might to get her trunk, and to no avail...nothing. They had moved the trunk to another area because we were "late"...hello this is Africa....no time here....but whatev! They told us to come again tomorrow.

Today we receive a call saying that the trunk is now in the office and again can we please come down and get it. We head out again...minus a sister...but ready for battle! This time, instead of going into the airport we went to the office. Here in Africa to get in anywhere you must show every important document ever written about you, so me and Maria quickly do that, and then just walk over to the table. We had just had a little Arabic lesson earlier today, so we decided maybe now was the time to use it...probably not very wise on our part! We speak a little and then realize that we should listen..just listen. Next thing we know we have found the trunk but realize the number on it does not match the number on her ticket, so we must walk over to the other office. Now I'm all for walking....it's good exercise...but doing it in 115 degrees, a long distance...not very fun. We decided to make the best of it, practiced a little language along the way, and were just glad the sun has such a good since of humor! We get the precious numbers we need, and trek back to the trunk. Once arriving we are quickly ushered to a back cage...yes cage...where Maria was to sign the ticket so that we could actually take the trunk home. The men we pretty nice, thankfully, so she signed and we started heading out. Again...everything must be checked...so we plop the trunk in front of two women who take everything thing out asking questions along the way. It was pretty entertaining, especially when upon arriving at the feminine products asked, "Is this some kind of food?". I was laughing too much to explain, so poor Maria tried, with no avail. They questioned a little more, but alas let us go free, trunk and all!!

So what can be learned from this you might ask....patience is key, only knowing a few words in a new language will not get you very far, and when all else fails just remember....TIA...THIS IS AFRICA!!

I'm here!!

I'm here...I'm tired...but I'm here and survivng my first day! The weather is HOT, the food is good, and the outside is brown ; ) More will come, but for now continue to be thinking of me and my teammates and rejoicing for the sun is shining mightly on us!

Grossness, Whatev, and Bring It On!

Fear...it is such a gross word. Gross, because it takes everything away from you and it makes all things that are pretty, ugly. It is something that, at times, I struggle with. Fear of the unknown. Fear of not walking with the sun. Fear of not knowing who you are. It is gross and just robs. So, I have come up with a new solution...whatev...that is what I say to fear...WHATEV. It is gross, and I'm a girl who doesn't like gross things...so whatev!

Despite all that, exactly 24 hours from now, I will be on a plane headed to a new land. A land where I will stick out like a sore thumb : ) A land where many adventures will take place, language WILL BE learned, interesting foods will be partaken, and amazing conversations, under reflection of the sun, will be had. I am happy and sad and anxious and every other emotion you can think of, but loudly proclaim BRING IT...BRING IT ON!!

So, to summarize...fear equals grossness thus the response is WHATEV, for the sun is shining, new lands are waiting, and I merrily say... "BRING IT ON"!