Let Freedom Ring!

As many of you know, the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. So even though we were thousands of miles away from America the Beautiful, we couldn't go without celebrating. Many of our American friends were out of town so we decided to invite some of our local friends over to celebrate join the festivities.


Beth and I cooked food for what felt like days. We had quite a spread prepared including beef ribs, hamburgers, shrimp, potato salad, deviled eggs, baked beans, apple pie, cake, and best of all - sweet tea!

July 4th celebration lunch

Homemade apple pie

Between five of us girls we managed to put delicious hamburgers on the table but not exactly in a timely manner. I think it took 2 hours for the meat to finish cooking and we're not convinced that it was more from the outdoor temperature than from the charcoal that refused to stay lit.

Nothing says independence like hamburgers on the grill...for a few hours. ;)

Our local friends' strategy for lighting charcoal...it didn't work either.

Beth cooking up some shrimp!

Our celebration involved a lot of work, but the end result was worth it. We were able to meet some new friends and shared about freedom in the son.

We tried to dress patriotic! Good ole red, white, and blue!

We pretended that these cake candles were sparklers...the idea's the same.

Khootooba

June must be the international month for weddings cause there were a lot of them happening over here as well as back home. We were invited to a friend's khootooba or engagement party. I've never been to an engagement party in the States but they like to go all out here. Our friend's family is considered high class so the celebration was massive.


We arrived at 9 pm at her grandparents house and realized we were some of the first ones there. We were told to arrive early so we would have good seats. The back lawn was meticulously landscaped with white tables and chairs overflowing every crevice. There was a stage of sorts near the center of the L shaped yard with long couches designated for the bride and groom. We took our seats just behind the stage area by the swimming pool (yes, even the swimming pool was decorated with flowers).


There were 10-12 white seats placed around every table, which was used more as a coffee table than a dining table. From my seat I could barely reach the table. There was a pitcher of water on the table with a glass for about every 3-4 people (still keeping it African) and a small bowl of candied nuts. Almost immediately after we were seated, we were offered traditional mint tea and cookies.


Guests started filing in about 10pm and the groom arrived at 10:30 pm. The women make this really unique sound for celebrations. It almost resembles the noise children make when pretending to be indians...actually, it's really close to that sound. It takes awhile to get accustomed to hearing.


After the groom arrived, they distributed a fresh drink to everyone. It was a really sweet almond milk drink. I didn't see anyone drink their entire cup -- it was REALLY sweet. Then the couple signed papers, which we think was the religious contract. It seems they sign like 3 contracts here before the marriage is official. Then they went around and greeted all the guests. When our friend came around to greet us, she decided that it was time for everyone to dance so she pulled us onto the "dance floor" where I mostly did the two step because I cannot figure out how to dance like they do here.


There were many more rounds of sweets and caviar, although we missed the fresh juice while we were dancing. We tried to leave at 1 am but our friend wanted us to wait so were didn't manage to leave until 1:30 am, with the party still rocking after we left.


Even though our friends signed papers, they will have a wedding ceremony in December. We're still trying to figure out how all this stuff works here.


Enjoy a few pictures:

All dolled up

The groom makes his entrance

The sweet couple!

Island Hoppin'

One lovely summer weekend, we left our city on Saturday to go visit an island just off the coast with our language and culture teachers. Even though we had visited the island before (just to spend some time on the beach), this trip was quite fascinating!


The plan was to leave on the 8:30 am ferry. Beth and I live a matter of blocks away from the port, so we left our apartment about 8:25 and arrived at the port as people were scrambling onto the ferry. Then we realized that none of our travel companions had called us to ask where we were or why we're late. Unusual. We assumed this meant they were late too. So we called our friends, who assured us that they were pulling up "right now," then went ahead and bought tickets. Our friends literally pulled up in the taxi, rushed through the ticket line, and quickly boarded the boat. We just made it to the top level of seating when the boat closed it's doors and set sail. Thankfully, not even the scheduled ferries depart on time around here.

Aboard the ferry, enjoying the breeze and another cup of Joe!

The ferry ride is generally relaxing if it isn't too crowded. I guess it's fun to me because I'm from a landlocked city, so back home, we have to travel aways to do this kind of thing. But it must not be a big deal to the natives here because the ferry ticket only costs 0,650 TND, which right now is less than fifty cents in US currency.

As the island approaches in the distance, people start congregating near the exits and stairs. Apparently there are only x number of taxis, and if you don't get one...well, you don't get one. However, our 'guides' don't seem the least bit worried. We decided to let them take care of the situation because last time we came on our own, Beth and I ended up not-so-comfortably sharing the front seat.


In a way that is quickly becoming expected, our teacher's uncle owned one of the taxis, so the driver agreed to be at our disposal for the day. She tells us this as he's driving away and we begin walking along the nearly deserted island road with our luggage to the coffee shop. Coffee always comes first around here. Always.

Walking the island streets to get...coffee.

After a nice, little walk to the cafe nearest the port, the taxi returns to take us to the hotel. Beth and I didn't have to share the front seat, just the bench seat in the back with two other people. We won't talk about where safety falls on the list of priorities around here. Coffee first.


We stayed at a grand hotel. Literally, it was called the Grand Hotel. Our teacher got us a good deal at this hotel where a night's stay came with dinner and breakfast, a swimming pool, beach access, and a "sea-view" room with a balcony! It was a sweet set-up.

The girls' suite - I love the blue decor!

Our balcony view

The hotel grounds

A quick pose while we're waiting for the taxi.

Next on the agenda was a visit to a museum, which explained traditional life on the island. It's like the educational part of the field trip that ya gotta get out of the way before you get to do the fun stuff. haha. Not really, we actually learned a lot.

Viewing the artwork and eating a lil snack (coffee isn't always sufficient)

Baskets used to catch squid, crabs, and other fish. 

In the belly of a whale (or some other large sea creature, some things get lost in translation)

One of the island specialities is, obviously, seafood. After the museum we rode to a seafood restaurant on the other side of the island. And when I say seafood restaurant...I mean seafood restaurant - they ONLY served seafood or fish. Too bad Brandi's not so much a lover of the seafood. So, we asked if they had anything other than seafood, and the waitress goes to the kitchen then says, "We actually have some chicken." Hmmm, right. Oh well. I took my chances and didn't ask questions. I think it was chicken. Beth and the rest of the crew enjoyed some outlandish seafood dishes.

Yes, that's octopus tentacle. Yes, she ate it. 

Coffee...check.


Museum...check.


Seafood...check.


What's lacking? Yes, more coffee and the beach! We played on the beach at the hotel for a few hours, then enjoyed a buffet dinner. More coffee, a lil game of hide and seek, and star gazing by the water concluded the breezy evening.

Fun in the sun! Can you guess who's who?

Sunday we were in for a real treat when the taxi driver set up a day of fishing for us. After collecting some groceries for lunch we made our way to the boat. The plan was to catch fish and then cook them for lunch. I wasn't thrilled about going fishing because when I used to go with my dad, it mostly just meant a lot of waiting, touching ooeey gooey stuff, and a terrible stench. Traditional fishing in the Med is completely different! We had the best time.

It was a little boat like this that we went fishing in

Transporting the girls and the food to the boat, poor guy.

These nets constantly remain in the water. Notice the V shape near the top of the photo, they say this channels the fish into the circle area. Then they can't get out so they swim toward the channel on the right, straight into the trap.

This is fishing on the Med.

If you look closely, you might see the fish, crabs, and squid he caught.

Enjoying our catch on the boat after a swim in the Med. The uncooked fish are in the laundry basket. The round thing at the back of the boat is the "grill."

Needlessly to say, the fishing adventure was a unexpected way to spend the day. There's just something about being on water that is so relaxing! I love it. Although we were all pretty wiped out when the day of sun was done.


The sun apparently worked a number on me because after our swim, I had the klutziest day! It all began with attempting to gracefully get back into the fishing boat. Yeah, the ones that aren't exactly designed for retrieving humans out of the water. The friends tell me that once I was half-way in the boat, I just continued to keep kicking aimlessly at the air. However, I got in the boat and earned the nickname, "Nemo," for my floundering like a fish into the boat.


On our way to the ferry, I fell flat on my booty waiting for the taxi...I blame that one on the imbalance of my luggage.


The real stinker was on the ferry. We were walking down the stairs back to our seats. There was a nice old lady sitting on like the 2nd or 3rd step by the rail, so I let go of the rail and walk around and somehow fall down like 4 stairs. Was it 4 steps exactly? Yes, cause I felt every one of them. It was one of those laugh/cry moments when we returned to our crowded and strewn out seats. Then of course, all the strangers around me want to know what's going on, so Beth did get to practice some language skills with some sweet ladies while I "licked my wounds."


A trip to the beach seems incomplete without mentioning how amazing a Father we serve, who created such beauty! He is worthy of all praise!

 A sunset view of our city!

Birthday Bash

The day after I returned from the States, it was Beth's birthday! Muddling through the jet lag, I think we managed to make her feel special on her 26th! 

Gifts and sweet cards were waiting on Beth when she awoke!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write and send them! I know it meant the world to her!

We were scheduled to meet our language teacher in her favorite cafe for some Arabic review, but a few of our new friends here had other ideas! We were sitting around, chatting in the coffee shop (like we normally do), when suddenly this disco version of the Birthday Song (in English) bursts over the speakers and this guy walks up with a cake that has candles that resemble fireworks atop. The expressions on Beth's face are priceless!

A few of our new friends celebrating Beth's birthday! 

Later that evening we met some other foreigners for a dinner out and enjoyed a great meal and fun times with friends. Wish all of you could have been here to celebrate with us!

Happy Birthday Beth!

Roman Ruins

It's so amazing to think that I am living in a country so rich with ancient history, it was even once occupied by the Roman Empire! A few weeks ago, we were able to see the third largest remaining Roman coliseum. Step back in time and imagine visiting this ancient structure during the Roman occupation and enjoy the road trip with us:

Beth and I in the "louage" - a bus-like taxi that's infamous for crowded seating and fast driving, thankfully we bought it out so we weren't squished! 

We had a snack and then lunch at a little street side cafe. What a spectacular view!

Those poor camels!

Talk about feeling small and insignificant...

Beautiful architecture!

Beware of those lurking around the corner, trying to scare you!

Oh Clay

Don't fall Beth!

Camera bag always by my side. 

Don't make me...hungry!

Last night, we watched "The Incredible Hulk" and I realized I am not alone in the language learning process. What does a movie about an green monster have to do with learning languages? Well, not much. But there was one scene where Bruce was living in Brazil, attempting to learn Portuguese, and working at a bottling factory. A situation with an agitating coworker causes Bruce to say, in Portuguese, "Don't make me hungry...You won't like me when I'm hungry." The confused looks on everyone's faces causes him to realize that his words were incorrect, but he doesn't have time to correct himself.

It's a silly scene in a silly movie, but it made me realize that it's really not easy for anyone to learn and speak a new language. I find myself in similar situations quite often. I think perhaps we're to the point where we know just enough language to get ourselves into conversations and then get lost in them. Sometimes I ask the speaker to "Mesaylesh tawed bishaya/I'm sorry, say that again slower?" just so I have time to think about what I fully heard them say the first time. So many times I say a word, then realize that it's the wrong word, and in times like this, the right word always alludes me, generally until the conversations over or the person's walked away, then I remember the word I was trying to say. Ahh!

It's ok though because today someone thought I was a native. It had nothing to do with my speaking and probably everything to do with my dark hair and recently purchased clothing (that's from here) but I count it a major victory in my book, nonetheless.

Line-up of Lineages

You've been there before, too; reading through the Word, hearing so much truth and feeling like you've gained applicable insights from what you've read, then BAM! you hit one of those lineages. This week for me, it was Genesis 5. Straight up nothing but this guy and his son and how long they lived, which don't get me wrong...it's interesting, especially when you consider that people were living up to age 969 years, but sometimes, I'll admit, I can get distracted in such passages.


So as I'm reading this chapter, one man in particular stands out: Enoch. Twice it's mentioned that 'Enoch walked with God." In a line up of lineages, one name after another, Enoch gets a descriptive sentence more than the rest. Why?


"Enoch walked with God."


Was he a successful business man? Did he faithfully love his wife? Was he a patient father? Was he a respected leader in the community?


Perhaps. Perhaps not. None of that is written (and I'm certainly not an authority and wouldn't dare to venture an assumption), but we do know that "Enoch walked with God."


As I've continued meditating on why Enoch's life "summary sentence" seems to jump off the page to me, the Lord has brought these things to mind:


1. The highlight of Enoch's life wasn't that he did good things or was a good person, but that he walked with God. In this season of life, it's valuable for me to keep in mind that no amount of doing good things  can replace knowing Him. I want it to be said of me that I walked with God, that more than any other characteristic of my life, I would be known as someone who loves and knows Him.


2. When my time is done, what will my life amount to? My name, age, and children? Who my parents were? How successful my career was?


Or will people say, "She walked with God."


Psalm 39:5 "Behold you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath."


James 4:14 "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."


Our time is short. How are you using it?