Another Day of Life

Guess Who Came to Dinner?

2009-06-22T05:21:00.002+01:00

I have proof that Angola is the world's next hot vacation spot. In the past couple months, we had visits from two of the most well-known personalities in the world today. The city of Luanda was in a shut-down mode for 3 days in March and a crowd of a million people gathered when Pope Benedict XVI (affectionately known in Portuguese as Papa) visited. The residence where he stayed was located directly behind Allan's office building, creating a bit of a detour for regular traffic. The wonderful part about his visit was the preparation that went into cleaning up the city and planting trees along the route he would take. I wish he would come once a month. The second celebrity visited last month without press, publicity, or performance. Carrie Underwood came as part of the "Idol Gives Back" spot and traveled out of the city to pass out mosquito nets to needy families. Few people knew she was there, but when I got to announce her visit to the local high school students I work with, they politely smiled and admitted they had no idea who I was talking about. Fame is fleeting.

Not Down Yet

2009-06-22T04:41:00.003+01:00

Lest some of you think that Allan's birthday cake killed me (since I haven't blogged since then), I figured I'd better write after such a long haitus. One of my friends chided me because she missed reading up on us. That's more than I can say for family :) I sometimes think I have been blogging because my ideas are constantly rolling around in my head--what could be called a brainstorm. But the reality is that I just haven't taken the time to put them down on paper. So I will do my best to reconstruct the last couple months to bring you up to date--if you care to read on, that is.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-04-10T23:49:00.004+01:00

Allan took the cake this year when he made my birthday dinner. Since he was leaving on his trip the day after my birthday, he suggested making the cake the previous weekend so we could enjoy a piece each night all week long. Great idea! So for the first time he tackled a German Chocolate Cake. I can't tell you how wonderful it was, although after I looked at the calorie count, I couldn't eat it guilt-free. I grudgingly shared a couple pieces with our maid and our driver. On Thursday night in a little over an hour, he whipped up a meal of lime-and-chile basted grilled lobster with lime butter sauce, cous-cous, and green salad. Mmm! Gotta admit it, not too many guys would be willing to jump in on that one, but it was actually a pretty do-able recipe taken from Bon Appetit (August '08). I was a pretty happy birthday girl!

Rapping it up . . . at 85

2009-04-10T23:33:00.006+01:00

Both our moms turned 85 this year, and, unfortunately, we weren't there to celebrate with either of them. But we did manage to produce a video clip for Bea's birthday bash--completely with costuming, of course. Although Allan was worried it would end up on u-tube, I can't recall he said anything about me putting it on our blog.

Let me tell ya ‘bout a lady we know so well
Her name is Bea and we think she’s swell
She raised 6 kids who are very fine
And want to say she’s a one of a kind

Doesn’t like to cook--but loves her football
Bets a dollar on the game, hopes to win them all
Crossword puzzles are really her thing
Or just sit in front of a nickel machine

Worked right up until 80 years old
And then retired---but the truth be told
Now she walks the aisles of the WalMart Store
Lookin’ for deals and buyin’ some more

Just check in her closet, she’s got gifts galore
For the Christmas exchange—can hardly shut the door
Just remind her then when the time comes around
Where she hid the gifts so they can be found

She’s still kickin’ it back now at 85
Is there another granny here who’s so alive?
Even with her tobacco and her caffeine high
Ain’t nothin’ gonna stop her til 105

So give it up for the Bea ‘cause we’re all right proud
And we know everyone in this birthday crowd
Can say with us in their own special way
We all wish you a Happy Birthday
We all wish you a Happy Birthday
We all wish you a Happy Birthday

Six in the City

2009-04-10T23:16:00.007+01:00

Yes, you read that correctly . . . what were you thinking, anyway? The Luanda International School held a quiz night in February to test the mental skills of six-member teams competing for the honor of being "the smartest," and to raise funds for a school project. Allan and I joined four very smart people to offer up our answers against 12 other teams. It was important to come up with a theme and name for our team, and as one of the few teams who live in the city center, we adopted the name "Six in the City." We were quite striking, to say the least, as we made our entrance sporting our finest wear. Let's just say we looked much better than we fared in the final round. All in all, it was a great occasion to use some of those dramatic talents that don't get to surface often enough over here.

Millie's Tea House

2009-04-10T21:29:00.007+01:00

On February 21st, Millie’s Tea House opened for the afternoon to serve the only high tea in Luanda. Manfred, the butler, greeted eight beautifully dressed ladies at the door and presented them with their tea selection for the afternoon. After they were seated in the dining room, the ladies enjoyed a complete menu of savories and sweets fit for royalty. Smoked ham and pineapple salad sandwiches on crustettes, tomato-basil sandwiches, and traditional cucumber sandwiches were served with sugared grapes, artichoke-rice salad, and African Sunrise tea. Cranberry-orange scones with jam or cream were followed by mango sorbet. The trays of dainties included macaroons, dipped apricots, anise cookies, chocolate-pecan tassies, Belgian wafers dipped with chocolate and crushed macadamia nuts, and lemon-filled sandwich cookies. These were finished with a spot of caramel tea. (Is your mouth watering yet?) Millie had worked hard all week preparing for this special event, and Manfred stepped in to graciously assist in hosting for the afternoon. He also helped clean up the myriad of dishes and silver after Millie collapsed on the bed. The guests were the winning bidders of an auction item which the Vances put up for bid last September at a benefit for the Home for Abandoned Girls. Millie asked Manfred not to quit his day job quite yet, but there’s a lot of potential there. It was the talk of the town!

Wheels Up

2009-04-10T21:17:00.001+01:00

At the end of May I’ll be going to the US to spend two months in Washington, then a week with my mom in Kansas City before heading back to Luanda in August. Allan will join me towards the end of June. We look forward to time with the kids, grandkids, and friends who will visit. We’re anxious to work on some landscape projects at the house, as well as unpacking some of those boxes that been sitting there for a year. And of course---salmon fishing and crab catching. Mmmm! Can’t wait.

Time Lapse

2009-04-10T21:16:00.001+01:00

I cannot believe it has been almost two months since my last blog entry. Who knows why? I have all these thoughts racing around in my head which never seem to make their way down to the computer. Yes, I’ve been busy, but probably no more than usual. Lunches, dinners, Bible study, sitting in traffic, meetings, scrabbling, teaching at the high school, sitting in traffic, making curtains. etc. etc. etc—and, oh yeah, sitting in traffic. So I’m back for another round. Let’s see what I can fill you in on.

Retreating

2009-02-12T22:17:00.006+01:00

When we took an international assignment, I knew that one of the things I would greatly miss would be the yearly ladies' retreats, especially at Mission Springs and Mt. Hermon. Was I ever surprised in Indonesia that they had a ladies' retreat at Puncak, a beautiful area outside Jakarta, reminiscent of the Santa Cruz Mountains. If you recall, that was immediately after the tsunami had struck Sumatra. The emotion was felt as women shared personal testimonies from their time helping in Ache and watching the hands and feet of the gospel go out to the Muslims there. The worship and singing from women from all over the globe was fantastic. So here we are in Luanda where we had difficulty even finding the church that offered a service in English. Well, last weekend marked the very first women's retreat here in Luanda. Several women from the Luanda International Christian Church had the vision to sponsor a one day retreat for the ladies here, many of whom had never had this opportunity before. What a special time it was as 53 ladies (many who did not go to our church) of many different nationalities gathered for fellowship, prayer and worship based on "Loving Well," a video series by Beth Moore. The focus of the retreat was learning to love well, even those who are difficult to love. I was privileged to participate in the planning committee, and it was beautiful to see how God honored the prayer, planning, and preparation that went into the day. The response was overwhelming, and the table discussion so encouraging as ladies from Canada, Scotland, Kenya, and the U.S. all brought different perspectives to the topics. One of the Kenyan women shared that what we call slums in Luanda don't really qualify because they have electricity, or even satellite. In Kenya, the homes in the slums are made of cardboard and wash away when the rains come. Every woman left with such a sense of connectedness and a desire to spend time together again. And look what I would have missed if I had never left the U.S.!

Pink Bananas and a Flock of Chicks

2009-02-12T21:20:00.008+01:00

By far the most unusual gifts Allan got for his birthday this year were a bunch of pink bananas from our driver Fortes (who told us they were very special) and a flock of chicks from Erin. Fortes wanted to do something special for his "chef" and chose something he would not normally buy for himself. It was very sacrificial. Erin donated the funds for the chicks to Heifer International who provides food to the world's poor. They were such creative gifts to celebrate Allan's birthday. Besides, what do you get the guy who has everything he needs? Here we are living in the city often billed at the world's most expensive and realize there are thousands of starving people right outside our doorstep. So what better thought as a birthday tribute than to provide sustenance for someone else? I was so inspired by this idea that I will be sending a donation to Heifer to plant trees as a memorial to the Jordan, the son of one of my friends on Boston Way, who tragically died in an accident last week. It's a great way to make a lasting gift for years to come. Heifer is one of several agencies working to fight hunger by "teaching others to fish." Although there are other worthwhile organizations, this is one worth checking out: http://www.heifer.org/

What Price Freedom?

2009-02-01T20:23:00.001+01:00

The book 1776 by McCullough is a must-read for every American. I must admit I was profoundly affected by the accounts this Pulitzer Prize-winning author shared from his extensive research. I began to wonder if I had been totally asleep in my American history classes or if they never really told us the cost of liberty. Yes, I knew the general details of the major conflicts and the issues that were at stake, but I really had little concept of the destitute state of those who fought. With no training, little pay ($6 per month), inadequate supplies, and rampant sickness, they left behind their jobs and families to march hundreds of miles in poor (often freezing) conditions to fight an enemy who outnumbered them at least 4 to 1. Even though I knew the final outcome, as I was reading, I couldn’t imagine how we would possibly pull off a victory. I was truly inspired by the acts of courage and heroism, as well as shamed by how much I take for granted and how often I complain when things aren’t going my way. Imagine that in the midst of planning battle strategy, riding alongside the troops, and dealing with ill-trained leaders, George Washington found time to write 976 letters in less than two years—and we can’t find time to hit reply to an email!

Luanda Days, I Mean Daze

2009-02-01T18:34:00.004+01:00

you know you are in one when . . .

you have spent almost 5 hours in the car and only made 3 stops— for Portuguese class, the grocery store, and lunch take-out.
you get lunch take-out from a restaurant and walk away 30 minutes later with 2 kabobs and $25 less in your pocket.
it takes 48 hours to download a large file of photos.
you get bumped off the internet 3 times right in the middle of your scrabble game and the next player skips your turn!
you are desperate enough for celery to pay $15 for it.
you have to shower with a 1 liter bottle because you have run out of water.
the water coming out of your faucet is brown.
no one in the store understands what you are asking for, even though you think you are using flawless Portuguese.
you find your night security guard curled up and sound asleep on a piece of cardboard behind your car.
you can’t find cream (when you really need it) in the entire city of Luanda.
you don’t want to share the last of your special coffee beans because you won’t get any more til your next trip back to the U.S.
your phone rings in the middle of the night because your kids forgot there was a 9-hr. time difference.
you send your driver to buy 10 tomatoes but he returns with 10 kilos of tomatoes (happened to a friend of mine).
you are willing to spend $300 per night to stay in a little rustic cabin outside the city just to get away!

Bloomin' Success

2009-01-25T20:43:00.005+01:00

One of Allan's passions in Indonesia was growing orchids, so it was a great loss to him to leave those plants behind when we moved. He had at least 100 (but to hear him tell it, they numbered in the 1000's). We had so many beautiful varieties which flourished in that climate, and it was such a bonus to buy the plants for only $2 a piece. So it was quite disappointing to find out that a single plant here in Angola would cost $50, but ones with blossoms were $75. That was out of the question. So Allan was thrilled to be able to bring some orchids back from South Africa a couple months ago, and we have held our breaths hoping they would grow. Then two weeks ago---voila!---three beautiful blossoms. We just had to share this with you!

Another Bundle

2009-01-22T20:30:00.003+01:00

It just occurred to me when I posted our new photo that some of you may be wondering who is the roly-poly bundle in my arms. Brian and Allison have been foster parents for the past couple years, both in Massachusetts and now in Washington. They have cared for Luna Sunshine since she was a couple months old and have recently found that the petition to have parental rights terminated has been accepted, so they are pursing adoption. We are excited for them and praying that all will go well with the courts system to allow this to happen. They have been awesome parents to her, treating her like her own, even though they know that nothing is final until all the approvals have been given and all papers have been signed. We certainly enjoyed our time at Thanksgiving getting to know her better, and I'm sure she had a kick spending time with the rest of the family.

Lost in Translation

2009-01-22T10:43:00.003+01:00

For someone who loves to talk, it's almost a punishment to live in a culture that doesn't speak the same language as you do. In Indonesia, most of the populace (and even most household help) spoke no English at all, and even simple tasks like shopping for vegetables was very stress-producing. I spent almost three years learning Bahasa, which has absolutely no relevance to English words at all. I probably learned more on the golf course with my caddie and felt fairly competent when we left that I could hold my own, at least for routine taks. I was even able to deliver a simple speech before the women's club in Bahasa. So now that we're in Angola and Portuguese is the national language here, I am starting at square one. But I must say, I am quite enjoying the challenge and love the discovery of new words and how they are formed. At least many Portuguese words can be deciphered because of their similarity to English. And if I am stuck for a vocabulary word, I just try adding a "são" (pronounced as a nasal "soun"), and sometimes I am right after all! Of course, there's always the liability of embarrassing yourself by making an error in pronunciation or vocabulary. One of our favorite stories in Indonesia was when Allan posted a sign on our bird aviary, thinking he was telling the guards not to feed the birds, when in reality, he was asking them not to eat the birds. So I asked him to please check with his secretary before delivering a speech in Bahasa. We've had some interesting twists here as well. When my Portuguese teacher asked me if there were unfamiliar words in the text, I told her I didn't know the word advogado. She told me it meant liar. I found that strange to put in a book, and then it dawned on me that she was saying lawyer, which wasn't clear because of her accent. We laughed about it when I explained to her what I thought she said and then finished by saying, "Well, actually, a lot of lawyers are liars." The latest almost-error was a week ago when I got my hair cut pretty short. As the stylist was blow-drying it, I was searching my mind for the vocaulary word to tell her I looked like a little duck (pequeno pato), but all that came to my mind was pequeno peito. I was later relieved that I had withheld my comment when I looked the word up in my dictionary. Peito is the word for breast.

Comfort Scents

2009-01-17T18:17:00.004+01:00

We hear a lot about comfort food, but have you thought about comfort scents? Psychologists would back me up on this one. Getting a whiff of a certain smell propels you back to a familiar time or place, sometimes almost forgotten except for the trigger that aroma provides. Sometimes it's not such a good memory, but I would say most often those smells flood us with a heartwarming break in our life. Coffee most often reminds me of my dad. Evergreens - cutting down Christmas trees with Bill and the kids. Cigarette smoke - Friday night football games in Texas (don't ask me why). Fried potatoes, onions, and bacon - Aunt Lydia's for breakfast. Campfire smoke - camping with my family and campfire nights at summer camps. Now I know I could go on and on, but I don't think you planned on taking this walk down memory lane with me. I realized this week that when I choose a certain perfume to wear I am reminded of the giver. Thanks Erin for Amazing Grace, Lydia for Lavendar Bath Gel, Allison for Lavendar and Vanilla Body Souffle, Ragena for Bathina, Bonnie for Moonlight Path Lotion, and Allan for Organza (which was the first and only perfume he bought for me---and that was only because some sales girl recommended it). As far away as we are, my nose takes me back to you, my friends. That makes scents, doesn't it????

Junkie

2009-01-16T13:52:00.005+01:00

Ok, I admit it. I have become an online Scrabble junkie. Well, what do you expect when I have a husband who doesn't enjoy the game but will play it to pacify me if I spot him points and bend the rules? There are some pretty awesome players out there, and I've learned a lot of new words. But I can feel my adrenalin pumping when I start a game or get close to a win. I've played with people all around the world and actually have a pretty good record going, but I can tell it's become an obsession when I'd rather "scrabble" than work on the other things staring me in the face. So I am putting myself on a scrabble-less diet for the next week while I devote time to preparing for the workshop I am teaching in a couple weeks and finishing the curtains I started. And I hope it's not going to be too painful.

In the Jungle

2009-01-15T22:12:00.011+01:00

In September, we experienced our first safari . We traveled to Namibia, the country on the southern border of Angola. It truly was the experience of a lifetime. Jason met us in Windhoek, the capital, after which we spent 8 days traveling to 4 different game reserves. Jungle--it was not. More like a desert for the most part. We saw more giraffes, zebras, and springbok that you can imagine. and although we never saw lions or cheetahs roaming free, we did witness a lion feed at one of the reserves that would chill your bones. We spent hours each day searching, identifying, and logging the different species of animals we saw. We gained a new appreciation for God's handiwork in the creation of so many amazing animals. I swear the rhinocerous is the strangest one ever. We frequently had to stop the car to wait for a parade of elephants or zebras to cross the road. We sampled meals of oryx, springbok, alligator, ostrich, and yes, even zebra. At one water hole, we watched the feeding of rhinos, hippos, and water buffalo who came to feed at the same time. Our pictures cannot do justice to what we witnessed, but it is certainly a trip we will never forget.

Home On the Range

2009-01-14T12:07:00.003+01:00

Yes, I've been back to cooking again since we've been in Angola. We were thoroughly spoiled with Emi, our cook in Indonesia. Although I originally protested the idea of having someone else in my kitchen, she was amazing. Not only did she prepare lunch and dinner, but she also made tortillas, bagels, breads, you name it. (Come to think of it, she's to blame for the weight I gained there!) But an empregada (maid) in Angola is not only more expensive and difficult to find, but rarely does she cook Western food. So I am back to full time cook, and I am actually loving it. Although finding ingredients locally for a particular recipe is a challenge, I normally start with what I have available and adapt. Sometimes the substitutions in the recipe outnumber the original ingredients, so it truly is a new creation. We have come across some new favorites, as well. I am including a few of these for you to try. We had some fantastic BBQ ribs that a friend prepared, and she shared the recipe for Absolutely Awesome BBQ Sauce from a website. A favorite dessert (for which I can easily find ingredients) is a fruit sorbet, and I think my current favorites are mango and melon. One of the local desserts I've grown to love is Banana Paõ, commonly called fried bananas. I recently prepared Lemon Cream Sandwich Cookies (from Bon Appetit) for a coffee we had and got great reviews on them. So I hope you'll try some of these, too.

Our Babylon

2008-12-31T10:48:00.006+01:00

In our recently completed ladies' Bible study on Daniel, Beth Moore focused on the need for Christians to recognize their "Babylon." In other words, what is it that distracts them from their desire to serve the Lord. She pointed out that a telltale sign of a culture in demise is losing touch with the poor. An ultimate reality of living in Indonesia and Angola has been to see that we [as Americans] have little understanding of the poverty of the rest of the world. We give our clothes or food to the homeless in the U.S., but they often have a place to seek refuge if they want it. We give money to different agencies to buy presents for children but rarely see the faces of those recipients. We choose to live in certain areas of cities so we are not subjected to living near people who don't live up to the same standards we do. In other words, poverty is generally not a firsthand experience for us. It is quite another thing to step out of your doorway and confront poverty wherever you look. Now I must say, we live in a very nice part of Luanda, but we don't have to walk more than a couple blocks to see the other side. Masses of people living in poorly constructed shacks or shanties. Scantily clad children playing in the dirt. Someone drinking out of a muddy gutter or washing clothes in water sewage. Many with missing limbs or gross deformities. Orphanages with no fresh water source. Smells of garbage and urine as we cross the street into church each Sunday.

At Christmastime, the U.S. news reported how difficult it was going to be for parents to tell their children they couldn't wouldn't be getting as much for Christmas this year because of the economic crisis. One lady in our study asked for prayer for our college graduates having to go through such tough economic times and looking for a job. All of these things have put me in mind of my need to assess my response to the poor. Living overseas as an expats, we are certainly enjoying the good life without any concern for being able to afford things we want--even in a city billed at the world's most expensive. In fact, it is this incredible disparity which drives me to consider my Babylon. I have been forever changed by living in a third-world country. I see the richness and ease of life in the U.S., and even those who are experiencing tough times have it ten times better than most here. I have begun looking at the financial crash as a purging of our mindset---of all those things which we have always taken for granted (or depended on) because they have come so easily. How convicted I have felt over my attitude towards people living in such conditions, and how pressed I feel to make a difference in the lives of those around us. However, it seems like an incredibly small drop in a very gigantic barrel.

A Penny For Your Thoughts

2008-12-29T13:43:00.002+01:00

As a communications major and an English teacher, I rely heavily on feedback to determine whether I am reaching my intended audience. Writing a blog can be like writing in a vacuum since I can't see or hear my readers. A few of you have told me via emails that you have read this and enjoy finding out what is going on, but for the most part, I haven't heard from many of you. Just a friendly "Hi," "I know what you're talking about,"or "Nancy, you're as crazy as ever" would be great to hear. It's really simple to add a comment to any one of the blogs. Just hit the button that says "Comments." That's about it. I guess the delusion would be to think I am writing these posts for other people to read . . . when really it's just a way for me to journal. So I guess it's not a loss after all. (But I would love to hear from you!)

Am I Stoked?

2008-12-28T17:14:00.009+01:00

I'm not so sure the word "stoked" is used much anymore, but it used to be back in the day (just don't ask me which day it was). During our stay in Washington, we had enough cold days to keep a fire going in the house much of the time. However, I never realized how frequently I needed to add more logs and fan the flame. In no time at all the fire would die down, and I'd be back in there stoking it. How true that is of my Christian walk as well. A change of place or pace and I find my daily time with the Lord dwindling to a flicker. You would think that being on vacation with no set schedule would mean I could spend more time with Him than normal, but, no, I managed to fill my time with things much less important. Tending the fire was a vivid reminder that I cannot radiate the warmth of the Spirit or Christ’s love unless I am personally fueling myself with his Word. Am I stoked? Not always, but I sure need to be.

Days of Christmas

2008-12-28T16:31:00.002+01:00

Since we spent Thanksgiving in the U.S., we celebrated "Thanksmas" (as Allan's sister dubbed it) with all the kids and grandkids. We had a full house and enjoyed so many different activities, ending with the opening of presents on Saturday morning. We had the usual -- a tree (albeit sparsley decorated---and undecorated as Haddie found cute ornaments to play with), stockings, a nice blazing fire, and presents. So it seemed unusual when everyone else was still playing Christmas music and shopping for presents. After all, we had already celebrated and were ready to move on. So our Christmas day here in Luanda was very quiet. Actually, that is a nice change from most days here, and we enjoyed being able to get around in traffic with absolutely NO stops. We celebrated Christmas morning with a service at our international church, and I was able to lead the music, singing familiar carols in quite a different environment. They really rocked into my version of the 12 Days of Christmas entitled "On the Day That We Celebrate As Christ's Nativity." And we concluded our service by singing "Go Tell It On the Mountain" on the front steps of the church to any of the passers-by. We were quite a sweaty mess by the time that ended as the sun was in full force, but it was a joy nonetheless. In the evening our friends Paul and Amy Oen and their daughter Sarah joined us for a special prime rib dinner after our do-it-yourself sushi appetizers. It was a bit strange not having the house fully decked out and no presents to open under the artificial tree, but it was somewhat refreshing not to be in constant motion. I can't say a part of us wasn't lonely not having our kids to talk to and wondering how they were all spending their day. Being away from family on such a holiday can be tough, but it sure makes us appreciative of those times we do have together. We trust you enjoyed your time with friends and family as well.

Ok, so here's the words:
On the day that we celebrate as Christ's nativity
Twelve prophet praising
Eleven drummers drumming
Ten trumpets blaring
Nine people dancing
Eight children laughing
Seven cows a-lowing
Six donkeys braying
Five bleating sheep
Four shepherd boys
Three wise men's gifts
Two angels sang
That the little babe was born to set men free

A Double Life

2008-12-22T01:37:00.002+01:00

Although it's not exactly like an exciting episode of Alias, nevertheless, stepping back into our life in Angola after a six week absence can feel like leading the life of a double agent. Our weather, friends, resources, routines, and time zones are all so different that it takes a while to readjust----sometimes with shocking reality. My time in Bakersfield with the grandkids and then our time in Port Townsend was such a wonderful break that I was reticent to step back into our assignment here, particularly knowing it would be six months before we would see family again. We celebrated "Thanksmas" with all our children, so we really felt our Christmas had already happened. Surprising that everywhere we went people were still singing and playing Christmas carols. Especially when we left Washington with the first of the snow and a beautiful blanket of white on our property to come back to the stiffling heat of summer in Angola. And then they were singing carols here as well! Although we don't doubt that God has called us to this job and this place, coming back after experiencing the comforts of home can be difficult---even though we admittedly enjoy more comfort than most all the population of Angola. The adjustments hit us immediately. We had left our key to the house here back in Washington, so we needed to wait for security to send a key over so we could get into our house. We then sent our driver out to buy some fruits and vegetables while I took a nap, with the instructions to just put the groceries in the air conditioned garage on top of the freezer. Funny how much difference a little prepostion makes. When I went out there at six o'clock and didn't see my groceries, I hesitantly looked IN the freezer to find my lettuce stff and translucent, not to mention worrying about the bananas, eggs, and avocados next to it. (Need I mention that while we were gone the power went out on our freezer and we lost over 100 lbs. of meat and fish! Our poor empregada [maid] who discovered it and had to clean it out! The stench still lingers.) It hit me again as I took fifty dollars into the little market to buy more produce and found out I didn't have nearly enough for the few purchases I had made. It hit again as I found out our gardener didn't show up for work because he was attending the funeral for a niece who had just died of malaria. And then again when I couldn't get internet service for the first day and a half. But it pleasantly hit me when we walked into church on Sunday morning and our African friends broke into huge smiles and gave hugs and greetings with, "We're so glad you're back! You were gone too long!" Those are the moments we can treasure, assuring ourselves that this is where we need to be.

Four Letter Words

2008-11-08T01:36:00.008+01:00

Admittedly the best 4-letter word is LOVE, but for me a close second is NANA. My heart melts when I hear those little footsteps in the morning padding down the hall with that little voice calling calling, "Nana, Nana, where are you?" I'm on Day 7 (Day 4 on my own) of staying with Briggs and Haddie, and every day is a new discovery of how incredible Nanahood can be.

Haddie (2) asking for tickles and then directing me how to tickle and what to tickle next
Briggs singing "My Country 'Tis Of Thee" (how many adults know the words?) or "Ode to Joy" while he is in his room supposedly taking a nap and Haddie in her room singing "Cheese Like a River"
Slipping my jeans off as I get ready to take a nap and having Haddie ask, "Nana, do you have to go potty?"
Listening to both of them recite all the sounds of the alphabet
Watching them soak up Disneyland (yep, I was pretty tired after that one)
Sharing an ice cream sundae out and watching Haddie wipe off the table when she spilled
Telling me "Good job, Nana" when I finished dressing myself
Having them ask, "Nana, hold me" (almost as good as having my hubbie ask me)
Hearing them pray before meals and at bedtime

The main downside of living overseas is missing all these moments which happen many times every day. I have honestly been worried the kids wouldn't remember me between visits. But, boy, was it special when I got off the plane to see them running towards me each holding a pink rose and yelling, "It's Nana!" To all my peers who live close to their grandchildren, I am truly jealous.

Memories flood back as I watch these little munchkins and see snatches of familiarity of my own children at that age. How could 25 years have flown by so quickly? And isn't it remarkable how the traits their parents had at that age (both good and bad, I might add) perpetuate into the next generation. Perhaps the second most rewarding thing about Nanahood is watching your adult children raise their children with those values you held the highest. Things you wondered if they would ever really "get" but hoped would stick---a love for God and family, the need for loving discipline, demonstrating good manners, caring about others. It makes me realize God's faithfulness in spite of all my shortcomings. My "quiver" is truly full.

Life's Bonuses

2008-10-24T16:37:00.012+01:00

While cleaning out our office today, I came across a notebook I used to record info for our house in Washington. In thumbing through it, I found this poem I had scribbled down last summer. Prior to our move to Angola, I had traveled through Texas, Missouri, California, and Washington. I was able to visit with over 50 friends I have collected over the years, beginning with college roomies in 1967. What a joy that was since I hadn't seen a couple of them in 35 years! (We really must do reunions more often!) It seems like I have had many lifetimes, each with their own distinct memories. I have valued your friendships, although it's impossible to capture the emotions of having such special friends. To you, my friends . . .

Through miles
And years
Through smiles
And tears
All these we have traveled together

Through loss
And gain
Through joy
And pain
These too we have traveled together

Through death
And birth
Through grief
And mirth
We also have traveled together

Once young
Now old
Once timid
Now bold
We have steadily traveled together

Years come
Years go
Some fast
Some slow
But still we have traveled together

Such treasures
I keep
Both awake
Or asleep
Knowing we’ve traveled together

Though our paths
Often part
You’re still close
To my heart
Ever grateful we’ve traveled together

Shopping ------ Luanda Style

2008-10-21T16:52:00.002+01:00

Driving around Luanda gives a whole new meaning to window shopping. Sometimes I get whiplash trying to take in all the "sideshows" of vendors pedaling their wares. I'm not so sure we haven't run over the toes of a few of them as they wound their way in and out through the maze of cars. There are some fantastic photo ops, if you dare. The other amazing thing is seeing the women who balance a plastic tub on their head with a baby tied onto their back. I'm determined to get a good photo of one of them. (This photo was taken by one of the other expats.) It's not actually safe to roll down your window in the traffic. So we just look.

Eggs by the crate, glasses for eight
Clocks and locks, and fancy socks
Mops and brooms, shelves for rooms
Tables and chairs, onions and pears
Plastic flowers and eggs, newspapers and pegs
Bracelets and papers, math calculators
Wallets and panties, bug spray for “anties”
Fabric by the meter, a cool fan or heater
Toothbrushes and maps, soccer balls, caps
Remote controls and polish for toes
Doormats and floor mats, carpets and hats
Stereos for cars, hangers and bars
Perfume to wear, combs for your hair
Shoe racks and boards, screwdrivers and cords
Feather dusters and pens, and even live hens
Kleenex and wheels, all kinds of deals
Umbrellas and blades, charcoal and shades
Popcorn and pots, rope to make knots
Eyeglasses and drainers, ice cream and strainers
Curtains with rods, gym shorts for bods
Rulers and keys, and cell batteries
Hoses, suitcases, CDs and shoelaces
A complete set of dishes, all kinds of fishes
Petrol for your car, bikes to go far
Utensils to cook--- do you just want to look?
These things I have seen on the streets where we live
You can buy anything if the kwanzas you’ll give
Forget the small shops or browsing the mall
By drving the streets you’ll, no doubt, have a ball.

The Law of Gravity

2008-10-19T02:11:00.001+01:00

I do believe I have come across a corollary for Newton's theory: Living below the equator creates a higher degree of gravity pull downwards on the body. (If this proves to be true, I’ll be checking out a location above the equator.) Makes sense, right? I’ve heard the South Pole has a dynamite magnetic force. How else could you possibly explain weight gain here? Despite regular attempts at exercise and fairly healthy eating, the old bod seems to have a stubbornness that resists shedding. I thought perhaps because the food labels here don't contain a calorie count, that perhaps they didn't. Or that when the label isn't written in English, English speakers aren’t affected by the content. Or if I couldn't convert the intake from kilograms to pounds, then kgs didn’t affect my weight gain or loss. I know it couldn’t possibly be the fact that there are tons of business and social dinners, sundowners, and parties. Something must be wrong in my logic, but I can’t figure out what. I play tennis, do pilates, work out on the elliptical machine—seemingly to no avail. Hmmm . . . maybe it’s something in the water. Hadn’t thought of that. Maybe I’m on to something here.

The Sound of Music

2008-10-15T15:31:00.000+01:00

If you recall, Indonesia was the land of karaoke. Invariably, after the speeches and presentations ended, the silver mike was brought out, and everyone, no matter what his voice sounded like, was entitled to time on center stage. One Christmas, Allan and I even rendered our version of the familiar carol, which we called “Jungle Bells.” It’s a different story here in Angola----party central. They crank it up almost every Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night starting around 8 p.m., and it doesn’t let up ‘til sun up, usually around 6 a.m. And as The Seuss would say, “Oh the noise, oh the noise, oh the noise, noise, noise, noise!” Now if we can hear the music three or four blocks away, think what it’s like for my friend who lives across the street from the park! Sometimes putting a pillow over our heads helps, at least until we fall asleep. Tell me, who can dance that long? Or how can they leave the party with their hearing in tact? On a brighter note, I have had the opportunity to participate in the music at the International church where we attend. It’s a joy to watch the Africans worship! No holds barred. They sing contemporary Christian music, as well as songs that were contemporary 10 years ago, in addition to crooning some of the hymns of the faith. By the way, we found the hymnals that the First Baptist Church of Huntsville, Texas, discarded 30 years ago! I get to be the “hymn leader” two times a month and to sing in duets, quartets, and even a solo. The hymns sound great a cappella, which I much prefer to times when the band jumps in and pounds out the Salvation Army one-two, one-two count. Who would have thought I would be leading worship in Africa????

Who Knows Where the Time Goes?

2008-10-02T22:47:00.000+01:00

I sing these lyrics from Enya's song. Who would have thought that once I quit work I would have no time on my hands? Although my schedule varies from week to week, normally it is filled with so many activities that I can't fit them all in. Normal weekly activities: Portuguese class (twice weekly), ladies' Bible study, canasta, tennis, and volunteering at the local high school. Normal monthly activities: American Women's Association of Angola, International Cooking Club, ladies' fellowship at church, TICA (The International Club of Angola formed to fund charities), a Chevron BBQ, and a Spouses' Coffee. Mix in business dinners, social dinners, teas, and pre-assignment visits and orientation for new families (we've had 24 new families come in the past year). I can't tell you how often I've gotten my days and meetings mixed up. I usually check with my friend Amy to check my plans for the day. Gosh, it's the pits getting older! Allan and I find it a treat to be home one night on the weekends. I'm not complaining--really. You know me. I love to be busy. And the wonderful part of it is that I can choose what I want to do. There are so many opportunities here to be involved with the Angolan people, and the needs here are greater than you can imagine. We consider it a gift to be here and find ways to make a difference.

How do you spell C-O-N-G-E-S-T-I-O-N?

2008-10-02T22:34:00.000+01:00

Luanda traffic! The current population of Luanda is around 3-4 million people, although the city was built to accommodate 300,000-400,000. Magnify this by more people driving than know how, a small handful of traffic signals throughout the entire city, double-parked cars due to insufficient parking places, terrible road conditions, and random road closings where the entire street has been dug up overnight. So it is not uncommon to be in the car most of the day. Allow 30 minutes to an hour for a normal 10 minute drive. The best by-product is that I have done more reading here than I have done in the past 10 years! (Don't worry--I'm not driving the car! We must have a driver for security reasons. Plus, there is NO way I would ever venture out to drive in this traffic.)

The Price Is Right

2008-10-02T20:26:00.000+01:00

. . . but not in Angola. Luanda is often referred to as the most expensive city in the world. Did you hear that correctly? Yes, the most expensive city in the world, so don't talk to me about U.S. prices. Housing here can cost $12,000 to $30,000 for MONTHLY rent! And companies are outbidding each other for the houses.

I usually carry $300 to the grocery store for weekly groceries. Sample food prices: a red pepper - $6; stalk of celery - $20 (I haven't bought one yet); whole grain bread - $13; head of lettuce - $5 (that's a deal, really); one kilogram of fish - $30-----need I go on?

Dinner out is another story. An average dinner price for the two of us at a typical restaurant is about $50-$100. (Needless to say, we don't eat out very much.)

Food for thought (pun intended): The next time you are tempted to complain about oil prices, think about the high cost of living in places like this where we are driven to find the oil we need. Hmmmmm.

You asked for it . . .

2008-10-02T17:54:00.001+01:00

Ok, I am tired of living with the guilt. We have been in Angola for over a year, and I have promised I would write to you . . . and soon. I compiled note after note on my computer, but I never seemed to finish what I started. Where should I begin? How could I possibly describe what life is like here? What would anybody really care about anyway? On and on. Hundreds of you---ok, many of you---no, actually, some of you have written to check up on us because you haven't heard from us in eons.

So I decided to put my techie nature to work and enter "THE WORLD OF BLOGGING." I almost feel I should be dancing with some heavy-soled shoes on to do that! (After all, my two daughters-in-law are way ahead of me in this department, and I love reading what they have written.) I must admit that it must take a bit of ego-centricity to blog. Dare I believe others out there really want to know the details of my life? Everyone is already over-stimulated with their own responsibilities, jobs, emails, blogs, blaaahg, blaaahg, blaahg. But at least this allows you to tune into this station when, and if, you choose to.

There is truly so much to say, and I honestly don't know what will interest you. But I will share a slice of our days in the hopes you can appreciate this unique opportunity that Allan and I have. This is probably a good way for me to "debrief," as frustration can run pretty high at times. And, of course, feel free to ask questions and make comments by clicking on the comment tab at the bottom of each post.