Yesterday was a great adventure. It was a coworker's birthday. She is here short term and still misses home sometimes so we wanted to make sure her birthday was incredible.
We decided to drive out to a national forest. (Didn't do the mountain thing I mentioned.) We didnt exactly know where the place was. We just started out in the direction we had been told to go. We had been told it was just before a certain road, but when we didn't see it there we kept going. Eventually we stopped to ask for help.
After about six times of asking for help we ended up on the right road. The directions never completely made sense, until we found the right place. Then what they had said fit together. The crazy thing is that if they didn't know where we were trying to go, they would never have said, "I don't know." They would have made up something. I still believe some of them may have done that. They gave something so broad it couldn't have been wrong. We were going to test this if we stopped once more. I was going to ask the way to Super Wal-Mart, just to see if we could get a response from them. We didn't have to stop again so we never asked.
Come to find out the park was much farther out of town than we expected. We drove for quite a while down some pretty rough roads before finally arriving. It was so wonderful though. The countryside is much different than the city here. And you only have to get 20 minutes or so outside the city to see it. The scenery is beautiful. The people are beautiful and funny. They don't see many cars down the dirt roads we were on. While we were still a ways off they would hear the engine. The children would come running to the road to ask for gifts.
Since they don't have cars and never will, the road is a walkway to them. They walk down the middle caring water jugs or sticks. They heard their sheep, goats, cows, and/or donkeys right down the middle of the road. It is crazy.
Once we finally arrived the park was so peaceful. We found what was called a waterfall (disappointing) and took pictures and sat for a while. It was so relaxing, so refreshing. We had a great morning and early afternoon of just chilling far from the horns, and smog, and cell phone service.
I love these occasional days away.
We finished off her birthday with dinner at her favorite restaurant. It is Arabic. Everyone sits on the floor and gets food from communal plates. We had great fish and shish kabobs. She was also surprised with flowers and a cake. I think we were at least somewhat successful at making it a great day for her.
Okay lunchtime
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
entrepreneurs and beggars...
There are two different types of people that make walking frustrating many days. Some are entrepreneurs. I have more respect for these people. They are selling things. The most common things are “soft” (Kleenex packets), ink pens, sunglasses, movies, music, and, gum. It also isn’t uncommon to see socks and belts on the same guys with sunglasses.
The other people are beggars. These people offer you nothing. Well that isn’t always true sometimes the children offer a song (Usually “This is the day.” The language changes.), and they may also offer you a “Mother, Father dead. I love you.” Some beggars have no choice. They are homeless children or young mothers or they are old men or women. They beg because they have no option for work.
Now don’t hear me making fun of either of these groups. I respect the sellers desire to at least do something for money, and the beggars break my heart for the most part.
One of the most frustrating parts is they look like lions on the prowl. I imagine that on a long day the lion doesn’t want to grab the biggest prey which will put up the greatest fight. He/she just wants a bite to eat. So the lion watches for a weak dinner to pass by. When it sees it, it pounces. Americans are viewed in a similar manner…rich suckers. I watch as I pass a mother and she sends her baby to chase the white guy. I see sellers cross a busy street risking life and limb to catch the white guy walking on the other side. It can be so frustrating. Sometimes I ask them why they came to me out of all these people. They rarely answer.
Many days you get repeats. I see some beggars almost daily. I’ve adopted two. There is an old lady on a side of town I go to some who has a small child with her. I give small change or a birr to them. There is an old man who begs down the street where I often catch taxis. Every few days he returns to me. Most days he leaves me alone, because he knows when I can I’ll give him a bit.
Today I had a repeat child. The child usually works a busy intersection selling “soft.” The child is about eight or ten (guessing) with a shaved head. When you look into the child’s face there is usually a slight runny nose and slightly crossed eyes. Today was the first day I realized the child was a girl, and it was only an assumption based on the fact the child had on a dress.
I passed her and an older boy today on the way to a taxi. The older boy sent her back towards me. She walked with me about a block trying to sell me her “soft.” I told her I didn’t want any and she continued to convince me I needed some. The package must have been dirty. She cleaned it…both sides. She pulled it up to her face licked the package and then dried it on the chest of her dress.
I got in the taxi and she continued working to convince me. Four other children joined her…these were just beggars. What to do here is hard. Nationals would tell me to shut the door on them and ignore them. I usually let them continue as long as they will because it doesn’t really hurt me any. Sometimes they get violent with them if I allow them to stay. A couple days ago I watched a man hit a girl and another kick her as she was hanging on a taxi asking me for money.
Many here give to beggars. They know how to tell a thief from one in need. When they aren’t going to give…they ignore them. They stare away as if the person isn’t really a person. It breaks my heart, but there must be some purpose in it. Maybe I’ll learn.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
A Day Finding a Park...
Yesterday was a great adventure. It was a coworker’s birthday. She is here short term and still misses home sometimes so we wanted to make sure her birthday was incredible.
We decided to drive out to a national forest. (Didn’t do the mountain thing I mentioned.) We didn’t exactly know where the place was. We just started out in the direction we had been told to go. We had been told it was just before a certain road, but when we didn’t see it there we kept going. Eventually we stopped to ask for help.
After about six times of asking for help we ended up on the right road. The directions never completely made sense, until we found the right place. Then what they had said fit together. The crazy thing is that if they didn’t know where we were trying to go, they would never have said, “I don’t know.” They would have made up something. I still believe some of them may have done that. They gave something so broad it couldn’t have been wrong. We were going to test this if we stopped once more. I was going to ask the way to Super Wal-Mart, just to see if we could get a response from them. We didn’t have to stop again so we never asked.
Come to find out the park was much farther out of town than we expected. We drove for quite a while down some pretty rough roads before finally arriving. It was so wonderful though. The countryside is much different than the city here. And you only have to get 20 minutes or so outside the city to see it. The scenery is beautiful. The people are beautiful and funny. They don’t see many cars down the dirt roads we were on. While we were still a ways off they would hear the engine. The children would come running to the road to ask for gifts.
Since they don’t have cars and never will, the road is a walkway to them. They walk down the middle caring water jugs or sticks. They heard their sheep, goats, cows, and/or donkeys right down the middle of the road. It is crazy.
Once we finally arrived the park was so peaceful. We found what was called a waterfall (disappointing) and took pictures and sat for a while. It was so relaxing, so refreshing. We had a great morning and early afternoon of just chilling far from the horns, and smog, and cell phone service.
I love these occasional days away.
We finished off her birthday with dinner at her favorite restaurant. It is Arabic. Everyone sits on the floor and gets food from communal plates. We had great fish and shish kabobs. She was also surprised with flowers and a cake. I think we were at least somewhat successful at making it a great day for her.
Okay lunchtime!
Friday, March 11, 2005
What a Beautiful Place...
Twice in the last month or so I have tried to write a particular entry. Continuously I have failed to be satisfied with what came out. It was sparked by a couple things. First was an email from a friend Tammy. She asked what I missed from home, later she clarified her intention. She wanted to be able to notice things she overlooked. A while later I got another email. Roz and I were bragging on one of my coworkers. I realized part of what makes her so incredible is that she is always attentive to the positive. So now I'll try the entry from a different direction.
One of my coworkers puts me to shame. She has a love for this people and this place that I have yet to completely take hold of. She has wonderful relationships with nationals. They love her...not just because she is white (a.k.a. rich), but because she offers them herself completely. She has a way of seeing the positive in the midst of so many other things. I notice the frustrations, the difficulties; she notices the potential, the beauty.
I have to be honest and say I live in a beautifully ugly city. I'm not sure what else to call it. It is amazing and beautiful; it is desperate and ugly. I am working harder to notice the beauty more than the ugliness.
This afternoon I rode a minibus from one side of the city to the other. I broke a cultural rule and opened the window. The truth is the guy next to me asked me to open it more than the crack I had put in it. When he left, I left it open. I rested my elbow on the frame and my chin on my elbow. I listened and watched and smelled the city.
The money collector on the taxi thought he was funny. He knew enough English to be obnoxious. I laughed with him as he tried to tease me.
We drove through the gigantic Merkato (not sure how to transliterate). It is blocks and blocks of stuff. There are people selling spices; baskets; metal; wood; you name it, it is probably there...somewhere. I quickly noticed a smell. It smelt like kitfo, a national food. It is ground beef in lots of butter...they eat it raw. I had just had it for lunch. I smelt my hands to make sure it wasn't me. Then I smelt the national spice. It is a very hot red spice that smells similar to chilis. Texans would love it!
Around the next corner was a man sitting in front of his metal shop. He was trying to encourage me to come visit. I just sat and smiled and said, "I don't want." Shortly after, we passed a guy driving a taxi car (contract taxi). He yelled something as we drove past and I smiled.
There was a fruit stand. It is a green tent, like army duffle bags. Hanging everywhere was bananas. Oranges and maybe mangos were stacked in high piles. A young girl sat behind the pile hoping to make a profit.
Then came one of the highlights. These taxis run a particular route. When they lose people they stop and wait to fill up again. We were nearly empty; only three of us were left. I made a friend. He was outside the taxi. He was only about three feet tall and probably five or six years old. He wore a bright yellow v-neck sweater with a white shirt underneath. His pants were dark.
He saw me and noticed I saw him. He waved; I waved back and smiled. He stopped looking at me and was playing with his face. He was squeezing his cheeks together pooching his lips out. When he looked by make direction I made the same face towards him...he laughed so hard the young man he was with looked to find me. Then an old man standing near looked to find me too.
My friend and I continued to make faces. We squeezed our cheeks; we dropped our jaw and opened our eyes wide as if we were shocked; we pulled at our ears; we squinted our eyes and pooched out our lips. For several minutes we copied one another. He laughed hysterically...I laughed with him.
The taxi filled; we waved goodbye. At the top of the next hill I saw a park I had never seen before. It was so pretty. How do I miss those things? Why do the beggars tend to stand out more than the beautiful children do? Why do the stinks stand out more than the wonderful odors? Why does the decrepit building stand out more than the blooms on the trees or the beautiful park?
I'm tired of missing out on the joys of this place. I see some of them; I miss many of them. Tomorrow morning I am heading to a mountaintop just outside the city. I want to go and watch and admire the beauty of the country I live in. The most beautiful thing...despite the occasional difficulties, are the wonderful people. They are so incredible!
Not sure you care. Saw an Olympian today or maybe two. There is a movie about this place that gives you great insight into the culture. It is about a guy who grew up in the countryside and eventually became a gold medalist. I was working out today (three times this week...yuck) at the gym he owns. He was there talking to friends. I think another lady may have been an Olympic runner too. I know she was putting this fat white guy to shame. It was kind of neat. (The Olympians, not getting up to shame on the treadmill.)
One of my coworkers puts me to shame. She has a love for this people and this place that I have yet to completely take hold of. She has wonderful relationships with nationals. They love her...not just because she is white (a.k.a. rich), but because she offers them herself completely. She has a way of seeing the positive in the midst of so many other things. I notice the frustrations, the difficulties; she notices the potential, the beauty.
I have to be honest and say I live in a beautifully ugly city. I'm not sure what else to call it. It is amazing and beautiful; it is desperate and ugly. I am working harder to notice the beauty more than the ugliness.
This afternoon I rode a minibus from one side of the city to the other. I broke a cultural rule and opened the window. The truth is the guy next to me asked me to open it more than the crack I had put in it. When he left, I left it open. I rested my elbow on the frame and my chin on my elbow. I listened and watched and smelled the city.
The money collector on the taxi thought he was funny. He knew enough English to be obnoxious. I laughed with him as he tried to tease me.
We drove through the gigantic Merkato (not sure how to transliterate). It is blocks and blocks of stuff. There are people selling spices; baskets; metal; wood; you name it, it is probably there...somewhere. I quickly noticed a smell. It smelt like kitfo, a national food. It is ground beef in lots of butter...they eat it raw. I had just had it for lunch. I smelt my hands to make sure it wasn't me. Then I smelt the national spice. It is a very hot red spice that smells similar to chilis. Texans would love it!
Around the next corner was a man sitting in front of his metal shop. He was trying to encourage me to come visit. I just sat and smiled and said, "I don't want." Shortly after, we passed a guy driving a taxi car (contract taxi). He yelled something as we drove past and I smiled.
There was a fruit stand. It is a green tent, like army duffle bags. Hanging everywhere was bananas. Oranges and maybe mangos were stacked in high piles. A young girl sat behind the pile hoping to make a profit.
Then came one of the highlights. These taxis run a particular route. When they lose people they stop and wait to fill up again. We were nearly empty; only three of us were left. I made a friend. He was outside the taxi. He was only about three feet tall and probably five or six years old. He wore a bright yellow v-neck sweater with a white shirt underneath. His pants were dark.
He saw me and noticed I saw him. He waved; I waved back and smiled. He stopped looking at me and was playing with his face. He was squeezing his cheeks together pooching his lips out. When he looked by make direction I made the same face towards him...he laughed so hard the young man he was with looked to find me. Then an old man standing near looked to find me too.
My friend and I continued to make faces. We squeezed our cheeks; we dropped our jaw and opened our eyes wide as if we were shocked; we pulled at our ears; we squinted our eyes and pooched out our lips. For several minutes we copied one another. He laughed hysterically...I laughed with him.
The taxi filled; we waved goodbye. At the top of the next hill I saw a park I had never seen before. It was so pretty. How do I miss those things? Why do the beggars tend to stand out more than the beautiful children do? Why do the stinks stand out more than the wonderful odors? Why does the decrepit building stand out more than the blooms on the trees or the beautiful park?
I'm tired of missing out on the joys of this place. I see some of them; I miss many of them. Tomorrow morning I am heading to a mountaintop just outside the city. I want to go and watch and admire the beauty of the country I live in. The most beautiful thing...despite the occasional difficulties, are the wonderful people. They are so incredible!
Not sure you care. Saw an Olympian today or maybe two. There is a movie about this place that gives you great insight into the culture. It is about a guy who grew up in the countryside and eventually became a gold medalist. I was working out today (three times this week...yuck) at the gym he owns. He was there talking to friends. I think another lady may have been an Olympic runner too. I know she was putting this fat white guy to shame. It was kind of neat. (The Olympians, not getting up to shame on the treadmill.)
Monday, March 07, 2005
Update...
Thank you for lifting up my friends Ben and Candi. They have returned from South Africa and he is doing well. I believe I shared that he had two stints put in to two vessels with 90% blockage. He spent time recovering there and now they are back here with friends and family.
Yesterday they headed back out to their home in the countryside.
I wanted you to know all is well.
Yesterday they headed back out to their home in the countryside.
I wanted you to know all is well.
A Visitor...
Wednesday was a holiday. I'm not sure what kind of holiday. They have lots of them here so sometimes it is hard to keep them all straight. Since it was a holiday I took a day off of language. It was a good day. I did a whole lot of nothing and I need those days once in a while.
I was watching a movie when someone knocked at the door. Who in the world is that I wondered? I went and changed out of my pajama pants so it didn't look like I had been sitting around all day.
A friend had come to visit me. He is in seventh grade. He doesn't speak much English; and as you know I don't speak much of his language.
I'm still not sure why he came. I know his family. I had lunch in his mothers house last week. This kid knows some of my coworkers better than he does me, but on this day he came to see me. I was shocked when I opened the door...I really didn't expect him. We stood and stared at each other for a few seconds. "What are you doing," I asked? "Nothing." "How are you?" "Good." (This exchange was in his language.) Still not sure what he was wanting I said, "Do you want to come in." "Yes!"
He walked in an immediately kicked off his shoes in the entryway. We went and sat on the couch together. We talked for a while in his language about what he was doing and school and his family. He misses my supervisors a lot and cant wait for them to return.
After talking for a while he asked if I had a movie. We finished Remember the Titans together. I don't think he liked it much. After it was over he asked for some water. I got him a glass and some water. He had a second glass. Then he offered to wash my dishes. They love to serve their friends here. I wouldn't let him though.
I told him I had to go I had another program. He said okay and moved towards the door. He looked at me after putting on his shoes. He said, "Taxi, give me money." How weird an interchange would this have been in the states? It was weird to me too, but becoming more normal. Besides it cost me about 12 cents to help him get home.
You never know what a day will hold here.
I was watching a movie when someone knocked at the door. Who in the world is that I wondered? I went and changed out of my pajama pants so it didn't look like I had been sitting around all day.
A friend had come to visit me. He is in seventh grade. He doesn't speak much English; and as you know I don't speak much of his language.
I'm still not sure why he came. I know his family. I had lunch in his mothers house last week. This kid knows some of my coworkers better than he does me, but on this day he came to see me. I was shocked when I opened the door...I really didn't expect him. We stood and stared at each other for a few seconds. "What are you doing," I asked? "Nothing." "How are you?" "Good." (This exchange was in his language.) Still not sure what he was wanting I said, "Do you want to come in." "Yes!"
He walked in an immediately kicked off his shoes in the entryway. We went and sat on the couch together. We talked for a while in his language about what he was doing and school and his family. He misses my supervisors a lot and cant wait for them to return.
After talking for a while he asked if I had a movie. We finished Remember the Titans together. I don't think he liked it much. After it was over he asked for some water. I got him a glass and some water. He had a second glass. Then he offered to wash my dishes. They love to serve their friends here. I wouldn't let him though.
I told him I had to go I had another program. He said okay and moved towards the door. He looked at me after putting on his shoes. He said, "Taxi, give me money." How weird an interchange would this have been in the states? It was weird to me too, but becoming more normal. Besides it cost me about 12 cents to help him get home.
You never know what a day will hold here.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
An Afternoon Helping a Friend Accomplish Nothing...
I spent the afternoon with A. (I have shared about him with some of you before. I'm not gonna use his name here.) He has his own business. He and his employees collect trash. Last Friday I was supposed to meet with him and T. (This is another friend most of you have heard of.) A. called to cancel. He said he had a problem with his business. Today he shared with me what it was.
First let me tell you why we were together and how the day went...it was so extremely typical. He called me because he had found a computer he wanted to buy. The problem was he didn't know what all they were telling him about it. I ended up with a second job once I got here; I do lots of computer work for friends and coworkers. I was to meet A. at 3.
I called at 3 to tell him I was running late but would be there shortly. When I got the meeting place, I couldn't find him. I called, and called, and called. Bad mobile week, none of them are working right. Finally I got him and found out he was down the road in an internet café. I met him there and when he finished we left and started down the road.
As we were walking he filled me in on the business stuff (be patient it's coming). We got down the road and he looked in a café and said, "We can get something to drink." They always tend to offer it as an option rather than saying, "hey I'm thirsty you want a drink." We hung out there for several minutes and chatted about the business (hold on) and the computers. Come to find out he has two options and wants me to check them out. One is near us and the other is in another part of the city and when that guy calls we will go see it.
We finish the drinks and leave for the first computer...the opposite direction we have been walking. For some reason I still don't understand we went the wrong way quite a ways and stopped to have a drink. Then we turned and went back the right way. When we got there I thought we were lost. We walked down this little alleyway to the back of a building. We climbed some stairs too skinny for fat guys and went in a little room. There was a business hidden back there, I asked how he ever found it. All I got in response was, "a friend."
We walked in to find the waiting room girl. I guess that was her job, she didn't do much else. The man we needed to see wasn't there. We waited. After about thirty minutes we got up and left. (The whole time I was singing a song stuck in my head. A few problems: 1. It is in their language. 2. I only knew two words. Actually I only remembered two words and I only knew what one of them meant. After asking I found out I was singing, "the girl is beautiful." 3. Many believers here believe secular music keeps one from the kingdom. Bad translation coming in Galatians. (I think I've mentioned this before.)) A. said the guy would call later when he got back.
Remember we are also still waiting on the other guy to call. Now it is almost 5. In two hours we have accomplished nothing we wanted to get done. While waiting for the calls we went for macchiatos. At 5:30 he told me he had to go to another meeting. Therefore we spent 2 hours getting nothing done. We'll try again tomorrow or the next day. This is exactly how this culture goes.
The good thing is, I got to spend great time with a friend I haven't seen in a couple weeks. It sure made it worth it for me.
Now about his work (You thought I forgot, didn't you?). Seems the government has decided to fight unemployment and poverty here. Great idea, since some 12-13 million live in starvation and I've heard unemployment is at around 70%.
Here is what they want to do. They have heard about A's. job and have decided it is a great thing for unemployed to get into. It takes little training and/or education. They gathered together the 60 people or so that have this type of business. They told them they are going to split their business into twelve parts. The current owner gets 1/12 of the business. The other 11/12 is going to be split and worked by these people who are without jobs.
In other words they want to steal almost all of A's. business for the sake of providing jobs. The owners are fighting to protect their business and are encouraging the government to start similar businesses if they want. They are okay with the competition, and they want to see jobs offered; they just don't want to lose their own livelihood.
There are elections in May. In A's. opinion, this is a ploy for votes. They are claiming 10,000 need work; that adds up to a lot of votes.
They think they have nearly solved the problem, but it isn't over yet. Lift him and his family and their business up if you don't mind.
It's almost 9. I gotta go eat. As long as the bread isn't green yet it will be another pb&j night.
First let me tell you why we were together and how the day went...it was so extremely typical. He called me because he had found a computer he wanted to buy. The problem was he didn't know what all they were telling him about it. I ended up with a second job once I got here; I do lots of computer work for friends and coworkers. I was to meet A. at 3.
I called at 3 to tell him I was running late but would be there shortly. When I got the meeting place, I couldn't find him. I called, and called, and called. Bad mobile week, none of them are working right. Finally I got him and found out he was down the road in an internet café. I met him there and when he finished we left and started down the road.
As we were walking he filled me in on the business stuff (be patient it's coming). We got down the road and he looked in a café and said, "We can get something to drink." They always tend to offer it as an option rather than saying, "hey I'm thirsty you want a drink." We hung out there for several minutes and chatted about the business (hold on) and the computers. Come to find out he has two options and wants me to check them out. One is near us and the other is in another part of the city and when that guy calls we will go see it.
We finish the drinks and leave for the first computer...the opposite direction we have been walking. For some reason I still don't understand we went the wrong way quite a ways and stopped to have a drink. Then we turned and went back the right way. When we got there I thought we were lost. We walked down this little alleyway to the back of a building. We climbed some stairs too skinny for fat guys and went in a little room. There was a business hidden back there, I asked how he ever found it. All I got in response was, "a friend."
We walked in to find the waiting room girl. I guess that was her job, she didn't do much else. The man we needed to see wasn't there. We waited. After about thirty minutes we got up and left. (The whole time I was singing a song stuck in my head. A few problems: 1. It is in their language. 2. I only knew two words. Actually I only remembered two words and I only knew what one of them meant. After asking I found out I was singing, "the girl is beautiful." 3. Many believers here believe secular music keeps one from the kingdom. Bad translation coming in Galatians. (I think I've mentioned this before.)) A. said the guy would call later when he got back.
Remember we are also still waiting on the other guy to call. Now it is almost 5. In two hours we have accomplished nothing we wanted to get done. While waiting for the calls we went for macchiatos. At 5:30 he told me he had to go to another meeting. Therefore we spent 2 hours getting nothing done. We'll try again tomorrow or the next day. This is exactly how this culture goes.
The good thing is, I got to spend great time with a friend I haven't seen in a couple weeks. It sure made it worth it for me.
Now about his work (You thought I forgot, didn't you?). Seems the government has decided to fight unemployment and poverty here. Great idea, since some 12-13 million live in starvation and I've heard unemployment is at around 70%.
Here is what they want to do. They have heard about A's. job and have decided it is a great thing for unemployed to get into. It takes little training and/or education. They gathered together the 60 people or so that have this type of business. They told them they are going to split their business into twelve parts. The current owner gets 1/12 of the business. The other 11/12 is going to be split and worked by these people who are without jobs.
In other words they want to steal almost all of A's. business for the sake of providing jobs. The owners are fighting to protect their business and are encouraging the government to start similar businesses if they want. They are okay with the competition, and they want to see jobs offered; they just don't want to lose their own livelihood.
There are elections in May. In A's. opinion, this is a ploy for votes. They are claiming 10,000 need work; that adds up to a lot of votes.
They think they have nearly solved the problem, but it isn't over yet. Lift him and his family and their business up if you don't mind.
It's almost 9. I gotta go eat. As long as the bread isn't green yet it will be another pb&j night.
