Abnormality to Normality

Just a few weeks after arriving to Africa, another ex-pat asked me, "So how has your week been? Anything out of the normal happened?" 

At that point in time I was like, "Well, everyday is still pretty much all out of the normal for me." And I wondered what 'normal' would look like here, and if I'd ever achieve it. 

The beginning of September was when our washing machine drain pipe decided it was clogged, resulting in a mini flood in our apartment.

No, our floors aren't squeaky clean...just flooded.

Needless to say, an event like this forced us to reconfigure our plans for the day and delay language studies. But as we were playing in the puddles, I realized that this was an out of the ordinary day. I don't when or how it happened, but somewhere along the way, life in Africa became, dare I say it, normal. It's certainly a new kind of normal, that bares little resemblance to things I formerly used the word to reference, but it still seems like some small kind of victory.

"For [He] is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." Ps. 100:5  

- a few inches

Quite randomly one night I asked Beth to cut my hair. This qualifies as a haircut, too! None of that trimming business. Allow this sequence of pictures to tell the story.

Before (Sept. 19)

scariness

After - Sooo much hair! (Sept. 19)

After I learned how to style it (Oct. 1) 

Just for fun - "Look how short my hair is!"

I'm fairly certain that this is the shortest length my hair has ever been, definitely the shortest since I've been in charge of it. haha! It's the kind of hair cut I always wanted but have never been bold enough to attempt. But hey, when in Africa...

I'll leave you with one last picture and let you figure out how it applies to this post. ;)

Wound-licking good

Do you ever encounter moments in your life where you want to ask the Father, "Really? Do we really have to deal with this right now? Aren't you even gonna give me a few days to tend my wounded pride or lick my wounds?"

That was my first reaction this morning as Beth Moore led me into the Word to a sensitive issue that come to my (and everyone else in the room's) attention just last night. 

Let me explain.

We went to our landlord's house for dinner last night. To be honest, I didn't want to go in the first place because I just "don't click" with this lady. It probably has nothing to do with the day she said,"You've been studying Arabic for 5 months now and you don't speak it fluently?!"

Like I said, we just "don't click". Language learning happens to be a source of constant humiliation already without someone directly judging your progress with their broken English.

As we sat around chatting before the meal, we heard the same advice literally like 20 times, "You must practice Arabic with people to be good at it." This, of course, came after the interrogation of our schooling methods and on and on and on they went about learning the language. It would have been helpful the first time they mentioned, but by 437 millionth time, we were scrambling for a subject change. 

Politics and religion ought to do the trick. And it did, until we were talking after the (yes, I must admit) delicious meal. As I'm trying to construct a sentence in Arabic at 9:30 pm, this lady interrupts me and says, "[that person] speaks better Arabic than you." Followed by her whole family nodding in agreement. Now, I know this is surprising to you, but that didn't really help my "not clicking" or bonding with her issue much.

In an effort to regain some lost pride, I spoke only in English for the rest of the night. Beth was gracious to recount and make excuses for me, when we all know that what the lady said was true, just the way she said it wasn't kind. 

It was an icky situation because Beth and I have tried really, really hard not to make language learning a competition. But it's hard not to compare yourself to someone else when your landlord says something like "You suck at this thing you've been trying really hard at for 6 months" (So, she didn't say that, but that's what my heart felt like she said).

After we got home, I had started working through my feelings about the evening and had even asked Him to help me see her as He does. But it didn't take long for me to feel the need to watch tv and then read a book before bed; hence, leaving the things that needed to be dealt with for another time. 

Oh but no, Father's got to bring it up first thing this morning - in a study of James of all places.

In Galatians 2:1-10, we see several leaders trying to figure out how to work together.

Moore writes, "Stand back and watch how many observers will try to nudge you into a competition with someone who fills a similar slot. The idea is that anything comparable is automatically competitive." She goes on to discuss comparison traps and, of course, makes us like...I dunno...deal with it.

Insert moment of, "Really? Do we really have to deal with this right now? Aren't you even gonna give me a few days to tend my wounded pride or lick my wounds?"

Yet, He loves us too much to leave us where we are!

The beauty of our Father is that he uses us in our strengths but all the more in our weaknesses and that He judges us on our obedience, not our performance. 

Package Delight!

As a child, one of the most thrilling moments of the day was checking the mail (spoken like a true homeschooler, I know). Everyday there was the opportunity to get a surprise (obviously, as a child, it didn't register in my mind that bad surprises came in the mail too...like bills), a note from a friend, a card from my grandparents, or even a fun flyer to look at.

All of that to say, if I loved getting mail as a child, you can only imagine how I felt when we got a PACKAGE IN AFRICA!!!

Thanks so much to our friend Poly for sending it!!

Our mornings are definitely happier with all those coffee supplies!! Thanks so much!

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!