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Monday, September 26, 2011

Stand at Attention

I just learned this week that students here stand at attention to show respect when a teacher enters the room.  They only sit down after they've been welcomed to class and told to sit down.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

And Another Thing...

Here's another crazy thing that happened the other night.  Although not nearly as crazy as this.

Of course I wore my jersey to the game.  As I was just starting out, I hopped on the minibus that runs close to our flat.  The drivers know me, and it wasn't very full (miracle!!), so we were all chatting about the game.  (Side note- the people here go crazy when they see a foreign woman wearing a local team's jersey.)

A car full of women and children dressed in team gear pulled up next to us.  So, the minibus driver rolled down his window and asked if they were going to the game.  They told him that they were.  So, he asked if they had room for one more.  "Of course," they said.  So we both stopped and the minibus driver, thinking he'd done me a favor, tried to give me to them.  When I said no thank you, the other passengers tried to encourage me that I should go.  They were all saying that it was no problem.  The car only had women and children.  Don't worry!  But, in the end I explained that I was meeting up with a group of women at the Metrobus.  We all said our thank-yous and goodbyes and drove off.

Can you believe it?

Sometimes my life here is so crazy I can hardly even believe it!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

I Really Love Soccer, I Mean REALLY

Last night I had one of the craziest experiences in my life... and that is saying A LOT!

My favorite soccer team had gotten a penalty at the end of last season for fan violence.  Normally the team is penalized by having to play a designated number of matches without any fans.  But, for some reason, the county's Futbol Federation decided to penalize the team by forcing them to give the tickets away free, but only to women and children.

Sounds like a good idea, right?

Well, it didn't turn out so great.

The team put out an announcement that the women must come down to the stadium and claim the tickets between the hours of 10 and 6.  As soon as we heard the news, a friend and I hopped in the car and headed down to the stadium with our girls to claim 5 tickets.  Everything went so smoothly with getting the tickets (a first in this country!!) so I had a feeling something crazy was going to happen.

Fast forward to that evening.

I met up with my girlfriends at the metrobus to head to the stadium.  Of course it was crowded all around the stadium.  It wasn't until we got right up to the stadium that we realized that it wasn't just a crowd of sweet women and children trying to walk peacefully into the turnstiles and see a match (while chanting and banging on the stadium).

OH NO!

It was an angry mob!!

You see, most of the women and children had only heard that the match was free to women and children.  So, they had not come down earlier in the day to get their tickets.  Apparently many folks had already worked their way into the stadium and so by the time we got there the guards, police, etc. were trying to close the stadium.  Well, you don't tell a Middle Eastern woman no.

Everyone was mad.  It didn't matter if they had a ticket or not.  Everyone felt that they had a right to be in that stadium.  To top it off, there was a huge multitude of men just behind the mob of women.  I'm not exactly sure why on earth they were there- if not other than to escort their women.

So the women, in great multitudes, were pushing and forcing their way into the doors.  They had busted through one of the glass doors at our entrance and the guards were desperately trying to hold them back. 

Now, I am quite the soccer fan, and I was super pumped about this game.  So I was willing to endure a bit of mob craziness for the opportunity to see this match.  Yall, I have never, NEVER, been that close to another human in my life, let alone that many humans!  A few of my friends gave up.  But not me or my friend Aly.

So, as we got closer to the door, I put my head down and really began to push, too.  Part of it was instinct, part lack of anything better to do, and part that I was terrified of being stuck at the front and not getting through.  Not because I would miss the match, but more because I'd heard so many stories about crazy futbol games and fans being crushed against the fences, etc.  So once I got to the front, I was fighting for my life!

It was insane- intensely thrilling and terrifying at the same time!!  Truly one of those moments that once you've survived it, you can hardly imagine how!

We barely pushed through.  My friend got a tiny bit of glass in her foot from the door that had been broken down.  Once we were through and safely into the stadium we took a second to look at each other, ask if that had really just happened, and try to catch our breath.  Then we rushed up to find our seats.

The seats were incredible- just a few rows back from the field, close to midfield.  I even caught a ball!  The match was so much fun even though my team tied (and they are terrible this year).  It was so fun to be in a stadium full of women.  They were shouting and cheering the whole time- just as fanatical as men, if not more.  There is nothing like watching soccer with pretty much anyone but Americans.

My sweet friend took all kinds of crazy pictures, so once I get some from her, I'll post a few.  Words cannot come close to describing the experience, maybe pictures can!

Monday, September 19, 2011

2011 First Day of School

Here are the official pictures from the first day of school:







School has started off really well.  We are getting used to the new schedule.  They all go to the same school, but have three different school times.  Noah goes from 7:30-12:30.  Callie goes from 12:30-5:30. Lucy goes from 1-5.

I was dreading this schedule, but it has turned out to be ok.  It's been kind of fun to have Noah to myself in the afternoons.  He is LOVING not having his sisters around.  The girls are doing well, and Lucy had no problem starting kindergarten.

I may be biased, but my kids are just so sweet and cute!  


Thursday, September 15, 2011

Cry Babies

Lucy is doing great in kindergarten.  School doesn't officially start until next week.  They just have this week to meet their teachers and get used to things before all the kids come.  It has only been one hour a day.

For most of the kids this is their first school experience (no pre-school, church nursery, or Mom's Morning Out) so they freak out.  The moms are even worse.  They sit outside the door and if they even hear their child get upset, they rush in to comfort them.

Needless to say there is a lot of weeping and drama.  Well, and a lot of laughing from me over the ridiculousness of the whole deal.

The kids FINALLY start school on Monday.  I am so ready.  Since we've been back from the States I've had a hard time keeping to any type of schedule.  I am hoping that even though their school schedules are crazy this year, it will at least give us a bit of structure.

In other news, the weather looked like it was getting cooler, but now it's a bit hot again.  We had to leave the windows open last night to sleep.   It was so loud!  By the time the call to prayer was broadcast at 5:47 this morning I was about ready go crazy.  I rolled out of bed, shut the windows, and decided I'd rather sweat than be woken up constantly by loud city noise!


I think we're going to the beach on Sunday to celebrate our last day of summer before school starts!  So EXCITED!!!

Monday, September 12, 2011

There's Good News and Bad News

The good news is that the school principal called today and they have a spot for Lucy in the afternoon kindergarten class.

The bad news is that my baby starts kindergarten tomorrow.  I could swear that she was just born a few weeks ago.  Man, they start 'em early these days!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Lucy: "Mom, you're re-donk-ulous!  That's Spanish for beautiful!"

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Praise the Lord for our car!!!  The kids and I just zoomed all around the city doing errands.  In the old days it would have taken us at least two long frustrating days!

It only took us 4 hours!  Horray!!!

Since We've Been Home: A List

The kids and I have been home for almost two weeks.  We arrived just before the holiday started and in between naps and delirium hit the ground running.  To be perfectly honest, it has been hard readjusting to life here again.  Life here is just so different, and often times draining.

With that said, here's the highlight reel from our almost two weeks back.

1. LOTS of visiting and eating until we were beyond stuffed during holiday visits.  Children (coming off a month of indulgence in the States) who were over-indulged with candy or whatever they want.  It is the "Sugar Holiday" after all!  Late nights, too!

2. A fridge that was freezing and ruining all the food.  It had to be repaired.  In order to do that, had to be unplugged and left open for at least 8 hours.  So, more ruined food despite my best efforts to save it.

3. A broken shower head that detached from the hose and sprayed all around like a crazy cartoon hose.

4. A 5:30 am airport run to pick up my friend's aunt.

5. A Saturday afternoon airport run to pick up returning teammates.

6. Justin's employee's wedding.  The kids weren't invited, so they stayed with our neighbors.  It was at a restaurant with a beautiful terrace overlooking the big straight that passes through our city.  Although it was beautiful, it was super boring because no one would talk to us.  I guess they were afraid that they'd catch our cooties!

7. A few meals with our other expat friends to catch up after a summer apart.

At one of the meals the kids went to the park out behind our friends' building.  There was a big group of naughty kids that were harassing and chasing our kids.  So I went out there to dole out some justice.  They could care less.  The big group of kids just started harassing me, too.  UGH!  Where's my tazer when I need it?

8. The kids and I took a hike over to and then through the forest not too far from our flat.  They've made it into a huge picnic park.

9. Lucy got to spend the night with her sweet little friend.

10. Yesterday they did the drawing to place children in morning or afternoon kindergarden.  I just happened to show up at the school when the meeting was ending.  (I needed an official document from the school to renew the kids' residence visas.)

I didn't even know that there was going to be a meeting.  So I was frustrated that I missed it.  Then I was devastated to find out that Lucy had been put into morning kindergarden.

I tried to beg ask for afternoon kindergarden, but it doesn't seem possible.  Lots of people sort of crowded around me trying to help explain the situation.  I had no problem understanding, it was just the frustration and shock of the whole deal.

I had to leave (kids in tow) and go around the corner and cry for a few minutes.  That made the kids cry.

They must think were are the craziest people on earth!!

I got myself together and went back into the school and got the documents I needed.

11. After we finished up at the school, the kids and I went to the bazaar.  Since I lost so much food from my broken fridge, I had a lot to get- spinach to cook down and freeze, herbs to wash and freeze, and lots of fruit and vegetables for the week.

I was so excited to find strawberries.  Of all the things that were ruined when the fridge was broken, the worst thing was my strawberries.  Strawberry season is really short.  They come and go so quickly, and then you're left pining away for mid-May and the return of the sweet yumminess.  Every winter Callie begs me for a strawberry cake for her birthday.  But of course, strawberries are no where to be found.

So, last May I washed, cut, and froze strawberries for the winter.  I was so proud of my forethought!  By the time my fridge was working again, they were a giant bag of mush!

Sadness!

Well, one tiny stand had beautiful sweet little strawberries.  I could not believe it!  What a blessing and a reminder that yes, life is hard, but God is here.

I know this sounds like a bit list of whining and complaining.  It sort of is.  What can I say?  I'm a bit of a wimp.  I cannot fathom why the Lord called me to this sort of work when I am so weak.  But He did, and He is faithful to carry me through the good weeks and the bad.

Not only did he provide strawberries out of season for me, He spoke to my heart and comforted me about morning kindergarden for Lucy.  Our shower is fixed.  Our fridge is fixed.  And after a day of washing and chopping vegetables and preparing meat that had thawed, our fridge is totally stocked.

Things are looking up!



"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

It Was Nice Knowin' Ya!

Justin bought a motorcycle last night.  He gets it this Thursday.

Time to up the life insurance!!

Monday, September 5, 2011

Up, showered, and waiting for the fridge repair guy.

Here they don't even bother giving you the dreaded 1-6 arrival time window.  They just say, "I'll be there tomorrow."  That could be anywhere between 8am and 11 pm.

UGH!!!  I've got a life to live!

Friday, September 2, 2011

This is Where Viral Videos Come From

You may or may not know that we have just finished up celebrating one of the two major holidays on the Muslim calendar.  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were the "Sugar Holiday" that celebrates the culmination of Ramadan.

In addition to special prayers, religious activities, and visiting the graves of dead relatives, Muslims visit as many relatives and friends as possible.  In fact, I was talking to a woman yesterday who had visited 19 different relatives in two and a half days!  The other lady involved in the conversation had only visited around 10.

It is a time of social and eating overload!

Can I tell you a secret?

We planned our time in the States so that we'd miss the fasting of Ramadan, but be back in time for the fun of the Holiday!

I know... scandalous!

Anyhow, the point of my post (I promise there is one) is to tell about one of the weirdest things that has  happened to us while visiting.

Yesterday we visited Noah's best friend's family.  They are so sweet and we really enjoy spending time with them.  The mom, Aysun, had cooked up a major spread, and fed us till we were stuffed.

(Have I ever told you that the people here love to force feed us?  It brings them great joy to guilt us into eating until we roll out of their homes.  All the while telling us that we've gained weight lately.  It's fun!)

Anyhow, at some point during our visit, they turned on their video camera.  Justin's grandpa used to always do this when he was growing up, but I'm not really used to being filmed randomly.  So, there it was, sitting in the corner filming our time together.

So weird, right?

They were so excited to film us all together.  At one point the dad even walked around the flat getting everyone there, lots by this time, on camera.

What do people do with this sort of footage?

Do they ever even watch it?  Show their friends?  Laugh at our language mishaps?  Upload it onto YouTube?  We can only hope to get as many hits as this hilarious video!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

An Important Anniversary

Four years and 1 week ago our family got on a plane and began the biggest adventure of our lives.

It was and probably will always be the biggest risk we've ever taken in life.  Often times with great risks come great rewards...

even when the rewards sometimes don't feel like rewards.

Looking back, that time seems like a huge blur.  I still cannot fathom how we had the guts to do it.  I can remember being sure that Jesus himself was going to come back at any moment because I couldn't fathom that we'd really ever live this adventure.

He didn't come back (YET!) and here we are.  Four years into this adventure... this new life.  We've learned so much about ourselves, our strengths and weaknesses, and who the Lord really is without the creature comforts and trappings of the West.

Life is different here- really different.  It slaps me in the face every time we return from being out of the country.  (For Pete's sake, I answered the door in shorts on our first day back!)  Lots to learn and relearn all the time!

But, as in all things, we are blessed beyond belief to walk this road with Him.  He is good, all the time, and has led us, carried us, and walked beside us for many years- not for a second forsaking us!

I just wish my local friends knew how great He is.  I'll be here, letting the Lord tell His story through me, as long as I can!



Also at that time, people will say, "Look at what's happened! This is our God! We waited for him and he showed up and saved us! This God, the one we waited for! Let's celebrate, sing the joys ofhis salvation. God's hand rests on this mountain!"
Isaiah 25:8-10

With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: "Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I'll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is 'the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.' Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one."
Acts 4:7-9