April 6, 2011

• Adjusting...

  That is a loaded title.  All we have done since we landed is tried to adjust.  There are so many things to adjust too after living a spoiled American life for so long.  Here are some adjustments we have had to make:

  Food - There is not much for variety here.  There is rice at almost every dinner.  There is plain bread at every breakfast and lunch.  There is always fruit (good stuff).  There is VERY LITTLE meat.  There are potatoes and beans... occasionally pasta.  Our favorite breakfast, that we have had religiously since we landed, is eggs/bread/fruit/tea.

  Grocery shopping - First of all, imagine not having a refrigerator... now imagine not being able to drink from the tap.  This task is exhausting!  There is a run or two to the store every day.  We have been averaging about 10 liters of water a day.  That is over 2 gallons!  Now go home and pick up two gallons of milk, carry it 500 yards up a hill that has a 35 degree grade.  That is our workout, daily.  Keep in mind, there is other food needed every day also, so it is a two adult task.

  Culture - W are the only white people for a good 3 mile radius.  Enough said.  LIterally, we are an attraction to all of the local children.  They are always yelling "Bye Muzungo" as we walk past.  Everyday, after school, there is a crowd of children outside of our gate peeking their heads and hands through our peek hole.  It is about 4 inches square.  So far, there has been atleast two faces and three hands... we are keeping track!

  Cooking - Not for the faint of heart.  You have to really like food to cook here!  We have acquired two stoves, yes two!  One is kerosene for the quick meals, like breakfast eggs.  The other is a charcoal stove.  This beauty can cook for hours.  They both sit about 12 inches off of the ground and are about as wide as a dinner plate.  They are used to cook each course of the meal, one at a time.  So for the folks who cannot appreciate this, go home and crouch down to where your butt is about 3 inches off the ground and sit there for two hours while stirring rice or meat.  It is not easy.

  Transportation - So far, we have relied mostly on a hired driver who carts us all around.  However, that is very expensive and cannot be sustained.  Lizzy went to the market the other day and got to experience the highly sought after bota-bota ride.  It is just a motorcylcle with an extended banana seat like on the old-school bicycles, but padded.  She went with Azeta, so that put three people on one motorcylcle.  I cannot wait to strattle another man while riding in 85 degree weather.

  So that is a little taste of the adjusting we have done.  Liz and I are conscious of this, but the kids have to do it not knowing of the greater good.  Praise God for such amazing children!  So for now, enjoy the little things!

  • 3:27 pm
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