Traveling through Africa...

The whole reason we are here this year is for Liam to travel throughout Sub-Sahara Africa to learn about cultures, customs, and issues of all potential countries he could be stationed at as a Foreign Area Officer (FAO). My job this year is to maximize his travel budget so that I can travel with him and enjoy this massive continent together. Seems like an easy enough task. Well, I'm learning very quickly it is not.

Traveling through Africa requires a carefully calculated plan. It requires extra safety precautions, visas, setting up travel routes, proper currency, and a few more things I'm probably not even aware of yet. Hotels may or may not take credit cards - sometimes due to power outages and sometimes just because they don't. Are mosquito nets included? Malaria isn't on my to-do list. Gas stations should be readily available but you should be prepared just in case they aren't or don't have gas. Don't forget the spare tire, windshield wipers, and other "essential" car parts. Someone said something about getting a wench for their car the other day. I found myself jealous and saying, "I want a wench on my car." I love wenches and four-wheel drive. Is it to early to prepare for rainy season? It's happened. I've gone country. Admitting it is the first step to recovery, correct?

Planes may or may not take off and land where you expect them too. Too top it all off, I'm using information provided on 3-10 websites and 1-4 books at any given moment to find a single hotel. The other day I learned it is a very good thing I grabbed a copy of our marriage license. I've heard it may be necessary to show the document for us to sleep in the same space together at night. Welcome to 1930 peeps - I guess the tan line on my left ring finger means nothing in Africa. I may not being paid in my profession this year, but I'm definitely working hard for our money.

Reasons why I can't wait to raise our babies in Africa...

I'm starting to realize what an amazing opportunity raising our babies in Africa is going to be. Our kids will never throw fits to go to the zoo to see gorillas, monkeys, giraffes, elephants, lions, rhinos, hippos, and honey badgers. It will be a part of their landscape for the first 10ish years of their lives. They will learn the art of silence and how it can enhance seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling everything around you, especially when you want to acquire a favorite photographic image. Hopefully, they will have an ear for language since they will be around so many. They won't have all of the marketing and outlandish advertising thrown at them by American marketing firms. During the day, we can walk everywhere. Eat foods without all of the preservatives and chemicals even I can't pronounce. They will be outside, playing soccer, running around with other children, and generally have a more active lifestyle than most American children. They will be exposed to germs and have (hopefully) healthy immune systems. They will know how to travel and be responsible while doing so. Know how to be safe in otherwise unsafe situations. Their first backpack may not actually be for school, but to go hiking and camping with mommy and daddy.

And maybe, just maybe, they will learn to love the environment and the spaces we are given like their mommy and daddy and want to wander the world and be a part of it as much as it will be a part of them. I just wish we could have had these experiences with Nora. But, since we can't, I'll keep looking forward to exposing our babies to Africa.

Another reason I love Africa....

They are old school Coke lovers here. It's not "new" Coke with high fructose corn syrup. Nope, it comes with REAL sugar cane in a glass bottle. I have died and gone to heaven. And not only does Coke come in glass bottles, but so does everything else. Krest soda water, tonic water, and bitter lemon. 7up. Fanta in all flavors. It is the little things you learn to love.

I'm going to have to visit my sis-in-law the dentist when I get home because I won't be able to afford to have all of my cavities filled...I'm going to have a really hard time leaving Africa...

Learning Swahili

Each and every day I'm learning how little Kiswahili I know. However, the guards, housekeeper, and gardener are excellent teachers.

I have been on the hunt for mint because there is a lot of sugar, soda water, and rum but I have not seen a mint plant anywhere or a Swahili word or phrase for mint. Finally, the internet provided me with some assistance and the guards and I figured out the word: nanaa. Not nanasi (pineapple). Hopefully, Nestor (our gardener) can locate some nanaa...cause it is nearing happy hour!!

A little Kiswahili lesson:
kahawa - coffee
chai - tea
maji - water
Asante sana - Thank you
Karibu - Welcome
rafiki - friend
simba - lion

I'm up to a total of 7 words/phrases. I've got a LONG way to go...

Welcome to Tanzania..

Despite all the chaos of the past month, we are here. In our humble abode,which I might add is bigger than the house we are actually paying for - thank you tax dollars. We have been in Tanzania for two weeks and thus far, we can't complain. The food is delicious, the bugs are staying away, and the weather is a comfortable 70-80 degrees without a lot of humidity. We have guards for protection and a housekeeper and gardener for our sanity. Life is a lot slower - which is actually what we need after losing Nora and reshuffling our lives.

We haven't really done that much because Liam has been working on paperwork so we can begin wandering Africa. We have been wandering around the Msasani Penisula, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Need to take it a little further out into the city but we are still trying to remember how to drive in the right direction.

Here are a couple of funny stories from the past two weeks:
1 - Not too long ago I was having a conversation with one of our guards about snakes. He proceeded to tell me that snakes live in our front yard in a giant tree. He told me not to worry about the green ones (GREEN MAMBA) because they will just come down the tree, look at you, and go right back up. But, the black ones (BLACK MAMBA) will come after you. So, apparently of the two snakes with some of the most deadly neurotoxins in the world, the message I'm supposed to take is I hope there are only GREEN mambas in my tree??!!!!????!!!

2 - While Liam and I were at Bongoyo Island this past weekend, we were walking through a tidal pool (lagoon at high tide). At one point, I see an eel playing in the water and swimming towards Liam. Now, did I react like a calm cool collected adult. ABSOLUTELY NOT. I started screaming "EEL! EEL! EEL!" and running towards the nearest rock to jump on. Liam was a few steps behind me. Needless to say, I then received a stern lecture from my husband about how to identify potential threats by using the face of a clock. I'm pretty much going to guarantee that the next time something like that happens...I'm still going to start screaming and RUN! I need to find a book on oceanic animals in this area so we can start snorkeling and diving (and be less of a chicken shit once I'm educated on what can and will hurt you) once my dive book shows up.

I posted pictures on Facebook of our recent adventure to Bongoyo Island - Here's the link if you would like to see them: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.737896212939.2229365.2808561&l=f7cf7dee77&type=1

Until next time!

A New Game...Let's Call it HOARDING...

I'm learning so much from everyone who is already living in Tanzania. But, by far my favorite piece of information is that we need to collect consumables. Consumables are any items that you will use overseas and not bring back, i.e., toilet paper, laundry detergent, ziplocs, canned goods, and other non-perishables. Now, most people would feel overwhelmed at the need to collect enough goods to supply their family with for a year. I have not found this to be true for me. Instead I'm excited. Because we get to hoard. Hahahaha. Not to the extent of A&E's hoarding, but have mass quantities of stuff. It makes me giggle. Plus it's a game, who has what we need at the cheapest price. And a box of detergent weighs this so we can have this many. We have to max out at 1250 lbs. Therefore, stratergy (yes, it is spelled incorrectly b/c that is how Liam says it all the time) is the most important part of this game. If you guys have any suggestions on must have items, please leave a comment. Let the hoarding begin....

Tanzania?!?!?!?! SWEET!

Yes. Tanzania. A rather large piece of Earth adjacent to the Indian Ocean, Kenya, Uganda, Congo, Mozambique, and a few other countries.

I still can't believe it. We will be wandering around Tanzania. For a year. At least. And just because it will probably be the only one I can climb - I might tackle Kilimanjaro. It's not a technical climb and a little supplemental O2 should make my lungs love 19,000 feet.

Otherwise, we are still in a little bit of disbelief. Tanzania. It rolls of the tongue so nicely. Why where do you live? Well, actually Tanzania.

Life is good when you are having this much fun!!

Time to Party!!!

We are a week away and we are looking forward to being in Mississippi and celebrating with everyone. Here's a run down of the events for the weekend....

Friday, April 9th: Bonfire at 9pm in front of the Gulfport VA. Weather cancellation will be posted on the blog or find us in the hotel.

Friday, April 10th: PARTY! But, before the party, feel free to relax and enjoy the sites of the MS Gulf Coast.

http://www.gulfcoast.org/

http://www.artinthepass.com/

http://www.mississippigulfcoast.org/Attractions/index.htm

And in case you need the information, here is a list of our registries.

Can't wait to see everyone! Please email us if you have any questions...

Francis & Liam

He's home.

Liam came home on February 15th from Afghanistan. The puppies and I are so happy to have him home. Life is good.

Invitations

Invitations have finally been mailed. Please RSVP by March 15th. We hope to see everyone there. Feel free to email us (LiamandFrancis@gmail.com) if you have any questions!

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