Things That Are Now Normal To Us...
-An inch of mud on our shoes, mud everywhere on our clothes.
-Making cheery chit chat with a group of people carrying AK 47's
-Walking confidently through herds of cattle and hitting their backsides if they get in the way.
-Falling asleep in (or being generally comfortable in) cars that are ready to fall apart and being driven by maniacal drivers in maniacal traffic.
-Waking up at 5 a.m. with the sun ...and the rooster.
-Having people we've never met call out our names: “Mama Diana! Mr. Alan! How are you?”
-Being asked for money by strangers. Getting long letters from people we've just met that tell us 1)They are glad they are now our very best friends. 2)Life is difficult for them. 3)Could we please give them a couple of hundred bucks to tie them over.
-Saying “no” to people who truly need money.
-Old women with no teeth carrying 60 lbs on their heads up mountain paths.
-Talking to people who are picking their noses.
-Having to wait 15 minutes while a vendor asks his neighbour, his brother, the store across the street to get change for the 50¢ purchase you just made.
-Roosters crossing the stage during graduation ceremonies and nobody batting an eyelash.
-Remembering to carry toilet paper where ever you go, at all times.
-Having muscle bound, rugged (straight) men come up to you saying that they really like you, holding your hand and walking down a path saying that they are so glad you are their friend.
-Chickens laying eggs on our beds.
-Bargaining for everything, everywhere at all times.
-Drinking warm beer, warm wine and warm coke.
-Eating the same meal for every lunch: beans, posho, cabbage, and rice... most of which we also have for supper.
Things We Are Most Thankful For in Africa
-The fine people who invented what we now call “Pink Gold” (AKA: Pepto Bismol)
-Thankful for any decrepit toilet as long as it can be sat upon.
-Mouthwatering, succulent fruit.
-60¢ beer in 500 ml bottles.
Things That Surprised Us About Africa
-No man eating bugs or actually not that many bugs at all.
-Everybody has cell phones.
-Cold nights and mornings where you can see your breath... right here on the equator!
-Joy in the midst of hardship
-An inch of mud on our shoes, mud everywhere on our clothes.
-Making cheery chit chat with a group of people carrying AK 47's
-Walking confidently through herds of cattle and hitting their backsides if they get in the way.
-Falling asleep in (or being generally comfortable in) cars that are ready to fall apart and being driven by maniacal drivers in maniacal traffic.
-Waking up at 5 a.m. with the sun ...and the rooster.
-Having people we've never met call out our names: “Mama Diana! Mr. Alan! How are you?”
-Being asked for money by strangers. Getting long letters from people we've just met that tell us 1)They are glad they are now our very best friends. 2)Life is difficult for them. 3)Could we please give them a couple of hundred bucks to tie them over.
-Saying “no” to people who truly need money.
-Old women with no teeth carrying 60 lbs on their heads up mountain paths.
-Talking to people who are picking their noses.
-Having to wait 15 minutes while a vendor asks his neighbour, his brother, the store across the street to get change for the 50¢ purchase you just made.
-Roosters crossing the stage during graduation ceremonies and nobody batting an eyelash.
-Remembering to carry toilet paper where ever you go, at all times.
-Having muscle bound, rugged (straight) men come up to you saying that they really like you, holding your hand and walking down a path saying that they are so glad you are their friend.
-Chickens laying eggs on our beds.
-Bargaining for everything, everywhere at all times.
-Drinking warm beer, warm wine and warm coke.
-Eating the same meal for every lunch: beans, posho, cabbage, and rice... most of which we also have for supper.
Things We Are Most Thankful For in Africa
-The fine people who invented what we now call “Pink Gold” (AKA: Pepto Bismol)
-Thankful for any decrepit toilet as long as it can be sat upon.
-Mouthwatering, succulent fruit.
-60¢ beer in 500 ml bottles.
Things That Surprised Us About Africa
-No man eating bugs or actually not that many bugs at all.
-Everybody has cell phones.
-Cold nights and mornings where you can see your breath... right here on the equator!
-Joy in the midst of hardship
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