A Day in the Life

One of the most common questions that I got while back in the States was, "What do you do all day?"

This was a very hard question for me to answer because most of the time I feel like I have no clue. All I know is that I am usually fairly busy and whatever I do it takes all day to do it.

Here's what today looked like:

Justin left this morning at 4:50 am with a potential business partner to travel to another city.

9:45- Wake-up (I know. I know! I KNOW!!!) The Jet-lag and the Ramadan drummer are killin' me!

Hear the kids fighting. Break up the fight and discover that they made themselves breakfast. Lovely!

Clean-up their breakfast mess.

Shower and get ready for the day. Preform small self surgery involving sterilized fingernail clippers, a magnifying mirror, and some unwanted skin on face.

Make everyone else get ready for the day.

Fix girls' hair.

11:00- Start a load of laundry. Bring in laundry off of the racks on the balcony. Fold. Put away.

11:45- Hang out clean laundry.

12:00- Fix lunch. Eat lunch.

12:45- Leave the flat with the goals of dropping my cell phone off to be fixed and going to the outdoor market. Just 2 goals!

Minibus to phone store. Phone can't be fixed there, and must be taken to the service department. They provide address.

Minibus to highway. Squeeze ourselves out of the minibus. Several people have to get off just to let us out- its that packed!

1:30- Get in taxi. Give kids the look of death that says if you don't behave in this taxi I'll open the door while we're moving and release the offender into traffic.

I give the taxi driver the address of the service department. Yes! He knows exactly where that is located.

Famous last words.

2:30- After 20 Lira, several wrong turns, and stopping to ask directions a few times we arrive at service department.

Pull number 104. They are on number 89.

Put on fake smile and holler at children through clinched teeth every so often. Give the stink eye. Forbid getting any more water from the water cooler.

3:30- Number called. Approach desk, start sweating, try to explain problem with cell phone.

Learn that this service center does not service Samsung phones. Fantastic!! Get address of Samsung service center.

Contemplate who to strangle. Leave instead.

Walk up two blocks. Stop at bakery so the girls can use the restroom (because they drank all of the water in the water cooler.). Walk another block. Take the pedestrian walkway over the highway. Look at passing cars below from holes in bridge. Buy little bread snacks and juice boxes for kids. Wait at bus stop.

4:15- Get on the bus towards the area with the Samsung service center. Key fob doesn't have any more credit on it. Seat the kids walk back up the the front of the bus and fish around in my purse for change. Pay the fare.

Sit with kids who are still eating their snacks while everyone gives us the stink eye because it is Ramadan and they are fasting.

Contemplate the fact that by the time we arrive at the correct location it may be closed.

5:20- Get off bus. Ask for directions to Samsung service center.

5:25- Find correct place and draw a number. Remember to thank Jesus because the place is actually open until 6!!

5:30- Number called. Approach desk, start sweating, try to explain problem with cell phone. Girl takes it to the back. Comes back and says they can fix it while I wait. Another "Thank you to Jesus!"

Lucy tips over funky modern looking chair and everyone who was not already staring at us begins to stare at us. I want to die. No, I want to run far, far away to a land where children have nannys and women get free massages on Tuesdays.

5:50- Man returns with fixed phone. No charge. It actually works! Yet another "Thank you Jesus!"

Everything was erased off of it. I'll live.

5:55- Enter local McDonalds tired and defeated. Kicking myself that we have only been back in country for 5 days and we are already in a McDonalds. Eat. Kids are happy. I am happy.

Scratch going to outdoor market off of my list.

6:25- Arrive at bus stop. Check schedule. Just missed bus. Next one comes at 6:50. Refill key fob.

Try to keep kids from being hit by passing buses. Contemplate jumping in front of said buses.

6:45- Bus arrives. Drives leaves and locks door. Line forms.

7:00- Driver returns. Apparently angry with passengers for wanting to get on bus. Find seats.

Traffic is bad because every human in this city is trying to get home before the fast break meal at 7:35. Fasting people are grumpy!

Kids fall asleep. Lucy is on my lap. Callie is doubled over next to me. Noah is on my other side with his head flailing around every time the bus makes a turn. His mouth is wide open. I try holding his head while holding Lucy with my other arm. Blood ceases to flow all the way to hands. Sweating is profuse. People are staring.

8:30- Arrive at our stop. Wake children. Carry Lucy 2 blocks home. Try not to die.

8:45- Bathe kids. Read Chapter 2 of "Ramona Quimby Age 8."

9:30- Tuck kids in bed.

Think to myself, "Now, what the heck did I do all day? Really? Really! 1 thing!!! UGH!!!"

Eat a Snickers bar.

That makes 2 things!