Two weeks ago, our Ruby wouldn't put her face in the water. Swimming is a weekly class for every child at the school here, but it seemed futile for our land-loving girl.
Christmas holiday here has been hot, with temperatures near 100 each day and humidity over 80%. Fortunately, there is a hotel nearby with a nice pool and we decided to make it the pivot point of our little staycation. The first two days we went, both kids spent most of their time in the kiddie pool, and one day I let them wear life vests in the big pool just for a change of pace. Even getting them to take them off and work with me on swimming skills was a struggle.
After a couple of days away from the pool, we returned, expecting more of the same. Ruby, however, apparently had spent her days off practicing in her head, and surprised me by putting on her goggles and going right underwater! After pulling her up and realizing she was not drowning, we practiced a few more times together and the last couple of days at the pool she has been jumping in nonstop!
We had to build in a 'no-swim' day today because Ruby was getting very tired, and a little pink despite liberal sunscreen. But we will hopefully get in one or two more swimming days before school starts again, and will look forward to Tuesday morning Kindergarten swim times for the remainder of the school year!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christ Eve Poem
Waiting
for my Christ-time rituals
idols of my upbringing
Yet rich in their absence
eternity for eternity
Waiting
Waiting
For possibilities
from the God of possible
Waiting
Paitently and not
for the baby King
God in skin
eternity in time
Praying
me of little faith
to faithfulness embodied
mortal to forever
impossible to possible
nothing to all
Waiting
for faith resilient
patience beyond me
for understanding beyond understanding
in restless peace
Believing
promises
your sureness
your rightness
beyond my perpetually flawed reason
you are beyond time
eternal spirit
born tonight.
for my Christ-time rituals
idols of my upbringing
Yet rich in their absence
eternity for eternity
Waiting
Waiting
For possibilities
from the God of possible
Waiting
Paitently and not
for the baby King
God in skin
eternity in time
Praying
me of little faith
to faithfulness embodied
mortal to forever
impossible to possible
nothing to all
Waiting
for faith resilient
patience beyond me
for understanding beyond understanding
in restless peace
Believing
promises
your sureness
your rightness
beyond my perpetually flawed reason
you are beyond time
eternal spirit
born tonight.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Devaishers in Dar - Devaishers Gone Wild!
Len's Mom and Dad sacrificially made the trip to see us over Thanksgiving, coming in the hottest part of the year and joining us just as power cuts came on full force! They handled it all with such grace and we were blessed and humbled by the gift of their presence. There is something refreshing and nourishing about having guests visit from home. I can't tell you how encouraging and humbling it is to have a loved one make the trip!
The Devaisher count in Dar was up by 50% for two weeks, breaking all previous records.
We tried to show them our everyday places, and also some special places we have found:
Angitis Indian restaurant - all smiles after butter naan, chicken, dahl and paneer. :)
With Papa Deo and the Mounts in Bagamoyo, a stronghold of the slave trade.
The kids were giddy to have Grandma and Grandpa in the house, and loved every book, game and song.
Shopping at Slipway got overwhelming quickly with so much selection and 100 degree heat!
Along with Bagamoyo, Ron and Karen visited Zanzibar and our friend Baker gave a great tour of Stone Town.
The church below is the first Christian church in Zanzibar, and is Baker's home church.
Stone town street - they are twisting and narrow, with motorcycles and bicycles frequently careening through.
Definitely some big smiles! The kid on the right jumped in the photo at the last second and then wanted me to pay him for his photo, not uncommon if you photograph people here. But he didn't get any money for his sneaky tactic here.
(More!) Devaishers in Dar!
Negligence? Dereliction of duty? Call it what you will...I am blog-deficient. Obviously, the earmark for my blogging time in that bloated bill of a budget in Congress got cut somehow.
The truth is, a lot of what I write in my journal isn't fit to post here. Rambling thoughts that may depress you. Hurt feelings not appropriate to share. Those of you who know and love me even though, you are patient, amazing people. Those of you who don't know me that well yet, give it time.... ;)
I've posted some on the dailiness of life here (as opposed to the weekliness or monthliness) and would like to share some more photos and thoughts with you about that.
Henry and I spend a lot of time together since Ruby started Kindergarten this fall. He recently requested that I cut his hair, so we occupied most of a morning moving around the house, getting the job done in several locations.
Henry also loves to help in almost any way he can, and the kitchen is no exception. We recently made some gluten-free goodies for one of Ruby's school events:
Henry loves riding in the bajaj! Here I am on the way to help out with swim lessons at Ruby's school. Having one vehicle has forced us to communicate better and use alternate transportation when necessary, both of these are good!
And chilling out on our new bench and cushions!
Ruby recently had International Day at her school. Eleven countries were represented in Kindergarten alone!
A millipede we encountered recently...Len's finger for scale. These black and red ones are harmless, but there is a blue/grey variety that is just as big and has a nasty stinger you don't want to encounter.
This is a funny wine box warning Len's dad found recently at a restaurant. Looking down our road, I can see where the wildly careening bajaj could be a problem for the person who drinks and walks on the road.
Photos in this post by Ron Devaisher.
The truth is, a lot of what I write in my journal isn't fit to post here. Rambling thoughts that may depress you. Hurt feelings not appropriate to share. Those of you who know and love me even though, you are patient, amazing people. Those of you who don't know me that well yet, give it time.... ;)
I've posted some on the dailiness of life here (as opposed to the weekliness or monthliness) and would like to share some more photos and thoughts with you about that.
Above is a long-shot of our area, taken from a friend's house who lives near Ruby's school. Our roof is just to the left of the grey and white apartment buildings with red roofs. I like this shot because it shows the ocean, and then the peninsula and even a little of city center in the background.
Below is a very typical roadside shot, with the blue plastic chairs of a local restaurant and random vehicles in the background. Some of you will recognize the roadside carpenter's handiwork near the school. These beds are model 01 and model 02, and I noticed this week they have added a model 03 since this photo was taken.
Henry and I spend a lot of time together since Ruby started Kindergarten this fall. He recently requested that I cut his hair, so we occupied most of a morning moving around the house, getting the job done in several locations.
Henry also loves to help in almost any way he can, and the kitchen is no exception. We recently made some gluten-free goodies for one of Ruby's school events:
Henry loves riding in the bajaj! Here I am on the way to help out with swim lessons at Ruby's school. Having one vehicle has forced us to communicate better and use alternate transportation when necessary, both of these are good!
And chilling out on our new bench and cushions!
Ruby recently had International Day at her school. Eleven countries were represented in Kindergarten alone!
A millipede we encountered recently...Len's finger for scale. These black and red ones are harmless, but there is a blue/grey variety that is just as big and has a nasty stinger you don't want to encounter.
This is a funny wine box warning Len's dad found recently at a restaurant. Looking down our road, I can see where the wildly careening bajaj could be a problem for the person who drinks and walks on the road.
And as a parting gift, here is a shot of a Zanzibar fish market. One of the ways I know I've lived here awhile is that when I pass a table of fish like this, I check to see what they have. Once a week or so, I'll buy something if it looks nice and fresh. :)
Photos in this post by Ron Devaisher.
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