Category: Other Page 94 of 181

Two Worlds

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On August 18, 2012

In Other

So even though I didn’t post any pictures of Walmart, I did go.  In fact, one day my Mom took Grace to play minature golf and dropped me off at Walmart, and I walked down every single aisle.  If someone from marketing had seen me, they would have wanted to use my awestruck face in a commercial, certainly. 

I did, however, take a picture of this: 

Because Olive Garden’s breadsticks and salad deserve to be immortalized.

It was a wonderful two weeks.  Or rather, 12 days.  Plus 4 days for traveling.  Grace and I soaked up all the hugs and memories and fun that we could possibly squeeze into those 12 days.  And that amazing man of mine, who genuinely enjoys being Mr. Mom, took Lily and Josiah to the pool, kept up their routines, declared a Star Wars day, and even re-organized various sections of the house while we were gone.  Of course, they did also eat a ridiculous amount of bacon.  Thankfully there were no heart attacks as a result.

But it was still hard in a lot of ways.  All the happiness with our families just serves as a painful reminder of what we have given up.  All the memories we create just seem to prick me in the heart of all the memories we could be having. 

And every time we go back, I feel more distant from American life.  Every time we go back, it seems to get harder.  And this time was especially hard because my daughter gets it now too.  We said good-bye to my Mom at the airport, walked through security, and she burst into tears.  I pulled her aside and put her head in my lap while she wept.  Why do we have to live so far away from them?  she said.  Why do we live in Tanzania when all the rest of our family lives in America?  Why couldn’t I give Babu one last hug?

And how can I explain it to a six-year-old?  Because Tanzania is where God wants us to be, my Sweetheart.  Because we love it there.  Because we fix our eyes on things above, on That Day when there will be no more good-byes. 

But my words sound hollow, even to myself, because I know my heart is breaking as much as hers is.

This is our last year at HOPAC.  Next summer, we will return to the States for a whole year before returning to Tanzania in a different ministry.  So Next Year was a big topic of conversation with everyone we talked to.  Next Year we’ll have time to get together.  Next Year we’ll be able to go to that place.  Next Year I’ll be able to do more than just hug you in the church foyer. 

And I am simultaneously excited and terrified.  Excited for obvious reasons, and terrified because I just don’t how much more of this my heart can handle; this living in two worlds. 

The Trip in Pictures

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On August 14, 2012

In Other

Learning to fish with Aunt Tabby

 

Riding horses while camping with the Medina family

Grandma and Grandpa Medina

Visiting Maggie at Stanford

At Great America with Bibi and Babu (my parents)

Trampolining with Uncle Paul

 

Friends!

Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus!

Would my Dad have bought me this hat when I was a kid?  I don’t think so. 

What is with grandparents? 

On Flying Internationally

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On August 8, 2012

In Other

When I was a little girl flying to Africa, times were different. 

There would be one big screen in the front of the cabin, on which one movie was shown that everyone had to watch.  At least, everyone who was big enough to see over the seats.  And if their Mom let them watch that particular movie.

I also remember that those were the days of smoking sections.  Once we were accidentally seated in the smoking section.  Another time, we were in the row directly behind the smoking section.  The guy in front of us smoked cigars the entire 10 hours.  I visited the bathroom about 3 times an hour, just to get away from the smoke.

But the times have changed, and not just because smoking is never allowed on any airplane anymore.  We still fly coach, but 20 hours on a plane isn’t nearly as bad as it used to be, especially for kids.

For the first time, we flew on Emirates Air.  They gave Grace a free blanket (to take home), a stuffed animal, and an insulated lunch box with snacks in it. 

We had a menu.  I had already pre-ordered kids’ meals for Grace, but I got to choose from these options for myself.  U.S. airlines may only give you peanuts, but international airlines just keep feeding you. 

The best part, however, are the personal touch screens on every seat.  Dozens of movies, TV shows, and even video games that you can play with the other passengers.  I watched almost the entire Seasons 1 & 2 of “Downton Abbey.”  I’ll work on the rest on the way home!

Grace was in heaven.  Free toys, blankets, snacks AND she gets to watch 5 movies in a row?  Doesn’t get much better than that for a kid. 

 

After our first 5 hour flight, Emirates even gave us a free hotel room (and meals) for our 8 hour layover in Dubai. 

I must admit, however, that even though I have been a missionary for most of my life, I had some pretty serious culture shock in Dubai (United Arab Emirates).  The Dar es Salaam airport, even though it’s an international airport for a city of 5 million people, has only six gates.  Six.  Yep, just six. 

The Dubai airport, in a city where opulence is King and probably even the cockroaches wear gold, has over 200 gates in just one of its terminals.  When we landed on the runway, a bus picked us up and we drove for 15 minutes just to get to the terminal. 

So yes, on arrival I felt nauseous and panicky and wanted to run right back into my nice safe Dar es Salaam with its six gates. 

 

After an 8 hour layover, we got back on the plane for a sixteen hour flight.  Yes, you read that right.  Sixteen hours from Dubai to Los Angeles.  That’s the longest I’ve ever been on a plane at once, but Downton Abbey made it pretty bearable.  And the best part was getting to see the North Pole from 30,000 feet up. 

Totally indescribable. 

 

And when we got off the plane, Love was on the other end waiting for us.  

Walmart Dreaming

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On July 28, 2012

In Other

I confess. 

I have shopping dreams.  They always take place at a grocery store, mall, or Walmart-type store.  I happily walk through the aisles, filling my cart with anything and everything I could ever want, and then…..something happens.  And I leave the store with nothing.  Sad, I know.

The ironic part is that I am really not a shopper.  As I mentioned earlier, I am a saver.  Shopping has never been one of my favorite things to do.  That is, until you put me in a third world country for years at a time.  Then I start dreaming about Walmart with its endless aisles of chocolate chips and cheap deodorant. 

A number of years ago, Dar es Salaam got it’s very first real mall.  It’s about a tenth of the size of your average mall in the States, and most of the stores in it are banks or cell phone shops, but it’s fully air conditioned (very important) and has a three-screen movie cinema.  It also has a store named Game, which is a chain from South Africa. 

Game is full of appliances, electronics, household items and cosmetics.  Kind of like a Target or Walmart.  Kind of.  Except that it’s about a fifth of the size, and five times the prices.  I still shop there, because sometimes it’s the only place to find certain things, but I buy as little as possible.  I refuse to pay $40 for a bath towel, no matter how old mine are getting. 

A few months ago, I noticed this flyer at Game:

It’s true.  Walmart had bought out Game.  Thus confirming everyone’s suspicions that Walmart is indeed trying to take over the world.

So does that mean that we now have a Walmart in Tanzania?

No…No….NO!  Not until I can go there and find everything on my list and spend less than $100, not until then will I admit that we have a Walmart.  (Those “fantastic deals” on the flyer?  Humph.  Whatever.)

It’s been well over two years since I’ve really gone shopping, so I am eagerly anticipating this trip to America, and have been working on a list for a couple months now.  You want to know what’s on a Walmart-deprived girl’s list?

-bread pans

-bath mats

-sprinkles

-parmesan cheese

-chocolate chips

-pepperoni

-deodorant

-shoes for all the kids

-underwear

-batteries

-watercolor paints

-candy thermometer (for pasteurizing milk; I don’t make candy!)

-mascara

-watch band

-sunscreen

-sewing supplies for Grace

-school backpack for Grace

Gil already brought back about 30 pounds of candy and chocolate, so we’re good in that department.

Speaking of chocolate, did you know that America now produces pretzel M&M’s?  I’m guessing you already know that.  But it’s truly a beautiful thing. 

Walmart (real Walmart)….Here I come!

Just the Girls

By

On July 24, 2012

In Other

It’s sure quiet around here.

Gil and Josiah have been in the States these last two weeks.  (As I wrote here, we didn’t get Lily’s passport in time to go together as a family.)  They get back Thursday. 

We are counting the days until Thursday.  We miss our boys!

Gil has been posting pictures, and it is bittersweet to see them.  So, so happy for Josiah to get to know his cousins (he was only two when we were with them the last time), get spoiled rotten, and have such a special time with his Daddy.  But so sad that we couldn’t be there with them. 

But you know what?  It’s been really nice around here too.  I really miss my boys, but I am thankful for how God has blessed these two weeks despite my disappointment in not being with them.  It’s probably been the most stress-free time I’ve had all year.  I cook a meal, and it lasts three days.  We do laundry only once a week.  The girls wake up and read and play quietly….I’ve been sleeping until 8 every morning…amazing!   I’ve gotten all kinds of things checked off my list.  We’ve gone shopping, spent time with students, cleaned out Gil’s classroom (with students), hung out with alumni, had relaxed dinners with friends.  The girls and I have been coloring, beading, painting, reading, and dancing in the kitchen with TobyMac.

And a week from today, Grace and I will be on our own plane to America for two weeks.  Butterflies of excitement! 

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