East Coast Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We've been traveling around the East Coast these past few weeks and the internet coverage has been spotty at best... sorry for the delay in updates! We arrived in Florida about 2 weeks ago and headed north to Orlando to spend some time with Jess' parents, who flew out for the week. Our time with them was truly precious- and made us both wish we could have more time with our families...Probably the one thing we truly struggle with when overseas.

Afterward, we reunited with our host family, some supproter friends (the Carvalho family) and headed up to Washington DC by train... We spent a couple days there, freezing, walking the Mall, touring the sites and museums, then headed south to Virginia. We stopped there for a couple days to take in Historic Williamsburg and Jamestown- quite educational and entertaining (how did those pioneers do it? Strong people). And now, here we are, in a quaint little cabin in North Carolina, finally stopping for a week to truly rest. We have been so grateful to the Carvalho's for inviting us into their family vacation- a cheaper option than flying to Brazil or Hawaii.

We'll be heading back down to Florida after the beginning of the year... with one week left before heading back to the Land of Sand. There's a lot of preparing, packing and errands to get done before we leave... Doctors appointments, eye exams, taxes... But this time here in the states has been SO refreshing and renewing. While we aren't necessarily eager to run back to life in Africa, we are, in a sense, ready to get back to "work". Much love to all our family and friends, who we miss terribly and wish we could be with... Blessings and joy to you in the new year!

Photos: (Pictures of time with Jess' parents are in the other computer, to be uploaded later) Us in Washington DC, Union Station (I called myself "Babushka"... it was ridiculously cold)... Walking the Mall with the Carvalho's... Historic Williamsburg, Virginia... The Smoky Mountains, North Carolina/Tennessee...

Leaving On A Jet Plane...

Eddy and I haven't been able to sleep the past few nights- not necessarily out of excitement. It's a strange process this "culture adaptation" and we're not quick to think that re-entering our "home" culture will be a cake walk. While we haven't been here that long, we've been here long enough to become at least partially adapted to a third-world, developing, corrupt, relationship-based, HOT climate culture. Our thoughts and emotions vary depending on the day, hour or minute and whether we're having a "good" day or a "bad" one. And of course, the reality/question that looms in our near future, how will it be when we come back?

Exhaustion seems to have taken over our lives, permeating every aspect- to the point that some students make encouraging comments, like: "Are you sleepy or something...? Cause your eyes look really tired...". (Gotta love the innocent honesty...) We have to remind ourselves that while we have developed a routine for daily living, we are still attempting to live and adapt in a culture completely opposite of our own. This takes time, effort, energy- just living--- Let alone being teachers and examples to people here!

So we frequently try to remind ourselves to relax, take our time and give ourselves grace. We are eager to have a break and look forward to being "free" to relax and be ourselves for a few weeks. We will be checking our email frequently and will be posting updates throughout our time. Thanks to all for your support and encouragement these past 7 months!

Photos: Eddy and a peddler in one of the largest outdoor markets (suuq) bartering for some souvenirs-it was ridiculously crowded due to the upcoming Eid holiday... A morning glory vine we planted on our lanai... Dogs are EVERYWHERE- neglected, and occasionally vicious and territorial...