April 13, 2011

  • Realization

    So it was made pretty apparent yesterday, when Liz and I went on a walk, that we are in Africa.  Surprise, right?!  We went for a walk up the hill from our house, just to see what and where it went.  As we approached the top, utterly exhausted from the crazy incline we had just conquered, we saw a monkey just walking around.  A monkey!  The funny realization was made when I read a funny post on my Facebook after noting the observation.  Someone posted "You are in Africa, remember?! I hear they have lions & elephants, too. Just an FYI!!" 

    Not much has changed in the past couple of days.  There is still "sticker shock" when it comes to shopping here.  You would think that food would be more inexpensive here.  I can't say that it is.  We got a whole chicken for dinner tonight and it cost a little over $7.  It was actually pretty funny.  Lydia and Grace went with Liz and Azeda to the market to get groceries.  Before they had gone, we made the decision that chicken was for dinner.  So as they walked through the market, they were looking for chickens.  Finally, they found a vendor selling chickens.  Azeda looked through the offerings, feeling to find a nice meaty bird.  She found the right one.  Lydia then said, "we are going to take that chicken home!?"  Yeah, it was a live bird.  The vendor then went and "prepared" the bird immediately following Azeda's decision.  Talk about fresh food!

    I want to add a new definition for those who do not live through a Rainy Season.  A rainy season is when you WILL have rain every day.  It does not rain all day everyday.  It will just surely rain at least once a day.  It may only be for 5 minutes, but could last for a few hours.  Let me tell you, when it rains it really does pour.  There is a benefit here for all of that rain.  Most of the better houses have a rain collection reservoir.  So do we.  It is nice.  We do not have to pay for the water used to flush toilets or for laundry.  It is very efficient.

    For the record, I am certain that Isabel will never walk.  She absolutely, positively does not want to walk.  You can coax her to walk holding your hand for hours.  Immediately after you pull your finger from her clamping grip, she drops to the ground anxiously WANTING to crawl.  She is a turd!  So for those of you who are worried about not seeing the kids grow up, don't worry.  Isabel will still be crawling when we get back!