It's really surreal to be back in the U.S., and this feeling is aided by the jet-lag stupor that I've been in for the last few days. Here are my top 10 observations about life so far:
1. Drinking from the tap is really convenient - and the "cold water" from the tap is actually cold (unlike in TZ, where it's lukewarm to hot, depending on how hot the day is).
2. The foods I've been most appreciating have been on the healthier side - strawberries, blueberries, cherries, grapes, salad and cheese. These things are rare to non-existent or extremely expensive in TZ. Also nice - I don't need to wash my produce with dish soap first!
3. I think we all have a little PTSD about power outages. We were in the library and the air conditioning fans went off and the kids immediately asked, "Is the power off?!" Not once in 3 days! I've currently got something in the crockpot and am a bit nervous about it!
4. Emily, in watching me make quesadillas with store-bought tortillas and cheddar cheese observed, "The tortillas are so white! The cheese is so orange!" Ah yes, the land of artificial color.
5. The kids are wearing sweatshirts in the 80+ degree weather here. I think they have acclimatized to Tanzania!
6. A dishwasher. A washing machine. Hot showers on demand. A grocery store within walking distance that has twice as much food as I've seen in any one place for a year. Daily life is much easier, though decision-making at the store is more difficult.
7. Our van is running (after a battery replacement) and I've adjusted back to driving on the right, although I'm still messing up the turn signals. I'm struck by how smooth the roads are, how nicely our 2001 vehicle drives and how roomy it is. Most people follow the traffic rules, and there are no vehicles swerving around me on the road!
8. I miss our TZ community. I've gotten used to seeing people I know wherever I go, and everybody showing up for everything. Here, life is a lot busier and more anonymous. Seeing the pictures of all the World Cup parties in TZ gave me a twinge - here we are IN the U.S. and there wasn't a lot of celebration. Making plans to see people requires a lot more effort and coordination of calendars.
9. Smells are much more pleasant here. Nobody is sweating through their shirts, everybody wears deodorant and there are so many nice-smelling fabric softeners, shampoos and body washes. There's no standing water or burning trash.
10. My feet are truly clean for the first time in 10 months!! And they are staying clean!
Friday, June 27, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
"Home"
I'm feeling a little sad today in seeing all the Facebook posts and pictures about the ECES graduating 4th grade class and realizing that we are very, very far away. All my son's friends and their parents are there, but we're not. And because HOPAC graduates in 5th grade, not 4th, there's nothing "special" for Josh this year. That makes my heart twinge because although it wasn't his choice to move away, he is facing the results of that decision.
I've often wished that we could push the "pause" button on life in the U.S. while we're here. Then we wouldn't miss anything or anyone!
Despite missing things in NJ, at the same time, I'm realizing this week how much of a "home" Tanzania has become. If we left today, there are so many people I would genuinely miss...and new traditions that are being formed.
Can you have two homes? Or three? If I'm confused, how much more so are my kids?
I've been meaning to read the book about Third Culture Kids the whole year, but it's a really long book, and the concept was more abstract than concrete up until now. (the short synopsis is that after living abroad, my kids will most likely no longer feel American....but they aren't Tanzanian either. They are a Third Culture).
Big transitions are coming. HOPAC is a very mobile community and there are many families that are moving on (including Josh's new best friend). Things are going to look a lot different here in just a couple of weeks. The next few months will be filled with lots of transition as we leave, come back again, say farewell to some families and give a welcome to others.
Even when we do return to the U.S. "for good," I know things won't pick up exactly where they left because the pause button hasn't been pushed. Our family, and everyone we know, are different - changed by our differing circumstances.
I'm still incredibly grateful for the opportunity for my kids to live abroad, make friends from around the world and experience new cultures. But I'm realizing today that this opportunity comes at a cost for them.
I've often wished that we could push the "pause" button on life in the U.S. while we're here. Then we wouldn't miss anything or anyone!
Despite missing things in NJ, at the same time, I'm realizing this week how much of a "home" Tanzania has become. If we left today, there are so many people I would genuinely miss...and new traditions that are being formed.
Can you have two homes? Or three? If I'm confused, how much more so are my kids?
I've been meaning to read the book about Third Culture Kids the whole year, but it's a really long book, and the concept was more abstract than concrete up until now. (the short synopsis is that after living abroad, my kids will most likely no longer feel American....but they aren't Tanzanian either. They are a Third Culture).
Big transitions are coming. HOPAC is a very mobile community and there are many families that are moving on (including Josh's new best friend). Things are going to look a lot different here in just a couple of weeks. The next few months will be filled with lots of transition as we leave, come back again, say farewell to some families and give a welcome to others.
Even when we do return to the U.S. "for good," I know things won't pick up exactly where they left because the pause button hasn't been pushed. Our family, and everyone we know, are different - changed by our differing circumstances.
I'm still incredibly grateful for the opportunity for my kids to live abroad, make friends from around the world and experience new cultures. But I'm realizing today that this opportunity comes at a cost for them.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
New Jersey Summer Events!
Eleven days until we leave for the U.S. Or, for you math geeks like me...only 248 1/2 hours to go.
We're a little excited to see everyone this summer but in splitting our time between states, churches, supporters, family and friends, I know it's going to go very fast and I want to make sure we see as many people as possible.
So we're setting up 2 group events in NJ - one at the beginning and one near the end of our stay. We know it's difficult to plan around summer vacations but we hope one of these dates (or both!) works for you. Please mark your calendars!
Thursday, June 26: Ministry Night at Covenant CRC (400 North Haledon Ave., North Haledon), 7-9 p.m. Come see some pictures and hear stories of God's faithfulness to our family over the past year. If anyone would like to donate baked goods, juice, coffee, cups or plates for the event - please contact us at tanzaniasteens@gmail.com
Wednesday, August 6: Fundraiser at Blue Moon Mexican Cafe in Wyckoff Come enjoy some delicious lunch or dinner and help support our work in Tanzania. Flyers will be available soon!
Neither date work? We'll also be presenting at the following churches:
June 29: Ridgewood CRC, Ridgewood, 10:30 a.m. service
July 6: Covenant CRC, North Haledon, 10:00 a.m. service
August 3 (tentative): Midland Park CRC, Midland Park, TBD
August 10: Ridgewood CRC, Ridgewood, 10:30 a.m. service
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Abundant Blessings
Last month, we put together a "wish list" for things we'd like from the U.S., thinking maybe we would get a few items.
Wow. We were blown away! Friends and family blessed us so richly with nearly every item on the list, some in multiple. And these were not cast-offs from attics and basements, but new, high-quality things - many still with tags on them.
Thank you to Jeff, Jed and Rachel for serving as our pack mules, to Joyce and Mary for boxing it all up and to the many of you who donated with glad and generous hearts. We feel so loved and appreciated by all of you.
"Thank you" doesn't really cut it in this case. It's kind of a lame response to something that is so overwhelming and humbling. Kind of like our inadequate thanksgivings to God for his abundant blessings.
If I had to pick a theme for this first year in Africa, it would be exactly that: "abundant blessings." Anytime we had a true need, God not only came through adequately, but extravagantly. We can see this through our fundraising, through the new house that was provided, through an instant and rich community, and through the amazing growth that our kids experienced this year.
Time after time, we were reminded that we have indeed been given "immeasureably more" (Ephesians 3:20).
One small example of this was Easter this year. It was our first holiday in Africa without any U.S. family. Hoping not to spend this day alone, we extended a general potluck invitation to our community. It was kind-of last minute (by U.S. standards), and we weren't quite sure if anyone would come. We ended up with over 60 people, many of whom stayed into the evening: adults playing board games, kids running around together and everyone enjoying each other's company. A day that could have been difficult and full of homesickness was instead full of fellowship. It was probably one of our best days here.
It's a good reminder that our God is not a small God.
All for us! "Ask, and it will be given to you...for everyone who asks receives..." (Matthew 7:7a and 8a).
The E.C. shirts were a great surprise!
A picture of just the packaged snack foods! So excited to have lunches taken care of these last 3 weeks!
Wow. We were blown away! Friends and family blessed us so richly with nearly every item on the list, some in multiple. And these were not cast-offs from attics and basements, but new, high-quality things - many still with tags on them.
Thank you to Jeff, Jed and Rachel for serving as our pack mules, to Joyce and Mary for boxing it all up and to the many of you who donated with glad and generous hearts. We feel so loved and appreciated by all of you.
"Thank you" doesn't really cut it in this case. It's kind of a lame response to something that is so overwhelming and humbling. Kind of like our inadequate thanksgivings to God for his abundant blessings.
If I had to pick a theme for this first year in Africa, it would be exactly that: "abundant blessings." Anytime we had a true need, God not only came through adequately, but extravagantly. We can see this through our fundraising, through the new house that was provided, through an instant and rich community, and through the amazing growth that our kids experienced this year.
Time after time, we were reminded that we have indeed been given "immeasureably more" (Ephesians 3:20).
One small example of this was Easter this year. It was our first holiday in Africa without any U.S. family. Hoping not to spend this day alone, we extended a general potluck invitation to our community. It was kind-of last minute (by U.S. standards), and we weren't quite sure if anyone would come. We ended up with over 60 people, many of whom stayed into the evening: adults playing board games, kids running around together and everyone enjoying each other's company. A day that could have been difficult and full of homesickness was instead full of fellowship. It was probably one of our best days here.
It's a good reminder that our God is not a small God.
All for us! "Ask, and it will be given to you...for everyone who asks receives..." (Matthew 7:7a and 8a).
The E.C. shirts were a great surprise!
A picture of just the packaged snack foods! So excited to have lunches taken care of these last 3 weeks!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Spring Musical
In the U.S., the end of the school year is jam-packed with activities, and it's no different in Tanzania.
This past weekend, we all enjoyed seeing the product of many, many hours of hard work and dedication - performances of the musical Beauty and the Beast!
Emily had two roles in the show: a Bimbette (one of the girls in love with Gaston) and "Soup du jour," one of the foods served to Belle in the song "Be our Guest."
The character of Gaston (boorish, brainless, sexist) definitely irks my feminist soul, and he was played masterfully by a grade 10 student. While I certainly hope Emily never acts like a Bimbette in real life, she did a fabulous job of simpering, oohing and ahhing through the show.
Here she is in front of the student-produced village backdrop.
The story of getting her costume is worthy of a blog post in and of itself - I went to the Tegeta used clothing market and picked through vast stacks of (dirty, smelly) clothing to find some "Bimbette-looking" attire, trying to approximate her size while loudspeakers were screaming "mia tano" (Swahili for the cost - 500 Tsh) and masses of unwashed bodies pressed up all around me . Because this equates to about $0.30 USD per article, I felt totally fine with getting a few different options for her to try on.
Here is her soup du jour performance!
Being part of this musical was not always an easy journey for Emily, but like many tough experiences, I feel it definitely built character. I'm proud of the dedication she showed, even when she didn't get the part she wanted, even when some of her lines were given to younger kids, and even after a lot of her friends quit mid-stream. It was a huge time commitment (3 to 4 times a week after school for 2-3 hours at a time) and required lots of singing, dancing, and concentrating. I really appreciate all the hard work of the directors....just managing 40 kids is not easy, let alone choreographing them and producing music with them!
I'm really thankful for the opportunity she had to be part of the HOPAC drama productions this year and I hope she continues to use her gifts again next school year.
This past weekend, we all enjoyed seeing the product of many, many hours of hard work and dedication - performances of the musical Beauty and the Beast!
Emily had two roles in the show: a Bimbette (one of the girls in love with Gaston) and "Soup du jour," one of the foods served to Belle in the song "Be our Guest."
The character of Gaston (boorish, brainless, sexist) definitely irks my feminist soul, and he was played masterfully by a grade 10 student. While I certainly hope Emily never acts like a Bimbette in real life, she did a fabulous job of simpering, oohing and ahhing through the show.
Here she is in front of the student-produced village backdrop.
The story of getting her costume is worthy of a blog post in and of itself - I went to the Tegeta used clothing market and picked through vast stacks of (dirty, smelly) clothing to find some "Bimbette-looking" attire, trying to approximate her size while loudspeakers were screaming "mia tano" (Swahili for the cost - 500 Tsh) and masses of unwashed bodies pressed up all around me . Because this equates to about $0.30 USD per article, I felt totally fine with getting a few different options for her to try on.
Here is her soup du jour performance!
Being part of this musical was not always an easy journey for Emily, but like many tough experiences, I feel it definitely built character. I'm proud of the dedication she showed, even when she didn't get the part she wanted, even when some of her lines were given to younger kids, and even after a lot of her friends quit mid-stream. It was a huge time commitment (3 to 4 times a week after school for 2-3 hours at a time) and required lots of singing, dancing, and concentrating. I really appreciate all the hard work of the directors....just managing 40 kids is not easy, let alone choreographing them and producing music with them!
I'm really thankful for the opportunity she had to be part of the HOPAC drama productions this year and I hope she continues to use her gifts again next school year.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Primary Sports Day
Last week, Josh and Charlotte participated in Primary Sports Day, which was a full day of fun track and field activities. HOPAC students are divided into 4 houses - just like Hogwarts - and these houses are based on the colors of the Tanzanian flag. We are in Green House! It was fun to see all the kids wearing their house colors and cheering wildly.
The early morning was devoted to the running events and was divided into age groups and gender. There were two "heats" for each category.
Josh ran in the 200 m and the 4 x 200 m relay. Here he is receiving the baton
Charlotte ran the 50 m, 200 m and the 4 x 200 m relay.
Every student also participated in the long jump, softball throw, and obstacle course (which I helped to run).
The afternoon kicked off with tug of war, which Green House totally dominated!
The day finished with some relay races.
Then it was time for the victors' stand. I am a proud mama to report that Josh won a 1st and a 2nd place, and Charlotte won 3 2nd places and one 3rd place! I thought it was really funny that her two BFFs took 1st and 2nd, and she took 3rd in the 200 meter race. Speedy girls she hangs with.
Josh and the Green House relay team took first place!
It was a really fun day for everyone...and even though we spent a good 6t+ hours in the sun and did sweat, it really was not too hot. Woohoo - winter is here! The kids were really tired after such an action-packed day and Josh asked to go to bed by about 7:00 p.m.
Best news of all - Green House took overall winner!
The early morning was devoted to the running events and was divided into age groups and gender. There were two "heats" for each category.
Josh ran in the 200 m and the 4 x 200 m relay. Here he is receiving the baton
Charlotte ran the 50 m, 200 m and the 4 x 200 m relay.
Every student also participated in the long jump, softball throw, and obstacle course (which I helped to run).
The afternoon kicked off with tug of war, which Green House totally dominated!
The day finished with some relay races.
Then it was time for the victors' stand. I am a proud mama to report that Josh won a 1st and a 2nd place, and Charlotte won 3 2nd places and one 3rd place! I thought it was really funny that her two BFFs took 1st and 2nd, and she took 3rd in the 200 meter race. Speedy girls she hangs with.
Josh and the Green House relay team took first place!
It was a really fun day for everyone...and even though we spent a good 6t+ hours in the sun and did sweat, it really was not too hot. Woohoo - winter is here! The kids were really tired after such an action-packed day and Josh asked to go to bed by about 7:00 p.m.
Best news of all - Green House took overall winner!
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