Lightning Bugs and Louries ......If Only In My Dreams

12.26.2015
…If Only In My Dreams

Sing with me! “On the first day of Christmas my bathtub gave to me: a HUGE scary brown spi-der.” Nope.nope.nope.nope.nope.nope.not happening. Sorry buddy but the mistress of the room is pretty territorial. I’d have taken a picture for proof of his largeness and scariness but I didn’t think of that until he’d already been… swimming. In scalding water. (I couldn’t take chances… I needed to use that shower!) But his body was the size of a penny and from end to end he was probably 6inches. Too big to try and step on safely. I was quite lucky he was in a place I could dispose of him easily! If he’d been on the wall or ceiling…. Someone buy me a plane ticket? Just kidding. Kind of. Anyways. Enough ranting about spiders! ;)

I’ve gone back and forth in my head about how I feel being away for Christmas. Of course I miss family and friends and the familiar, but I’m spending Christmas in Africa! Where the sun is still up at 6pm on Christmas day and you can wear a sundress! I suppose it comes down to whether or not one spends Christmas with those they care about, and this Christmas I did. I enjoyed a lazy morning and then got to see the boys go crazy over their new Legos (and received a few gifts of my own! :) ) and then, a delicious vegetarian brunch was had by the families here! I’m learning that beetroot is fantastic with potatoes and carrots, cashews can make an Amazing gravy, and waffles can be had for any meal. It’s true that the native dish nsima is pretty good, especially with the right relish, but for Christmas it’s nice to have food that reminds me of home. After brunch the kids ran around and played with their new toys while the adults watched and fought sleep. Then we returned to our homes for a bit of a siesta and got ready for the evening where some of us went to the Kay’s house at Satemwa for Christmas dinner. A good time was had by all, good food was eaten, and we all returned to our homes for a satisfied night’s sleep. :) It isn’t the same as Christmas at home in the U.S., but I think I can honestly say I was “home” for Christmas here in Africa, surrounded by wonderful people. What more could I ask for? Now today is Boxing Day, and I admit I know very little about it, so we’ll see if that changes by the end of today!

I’m a little bummed about travel plans, I was planning on visiting Zanzibar in January with a couple other SM’s, but after changed tickets and changed flights and phone calls and travel agencies, it fell through. I’m sad for obvious reasons, but I’m thinking if God let it fall through he must have better plans for us doing something else. There will be other opportunities to travel.

A new role I’ve picked up is to be the guest house manager while the current one is away. This means I coordinate with LLU and any others needing to stay in the guest house and ensure that their rooms are ready for them, they know their way around, and someone is there to pick them up at the airport. I had a crash course of about 1 day to learn about the role, so sending some prayers up I don’t forget anything! But I’ve got a folder of information and phone numbers and some friends at the hospital to help as well and somehow we’ll get these residents here!

In terms of teaching, we reached a mini breakthrough (or what I consider to be one) when the boys discovered that you aren’t supposed to know all the answers in school ahead of time! And no, I’m in college and I DEFINITELY don’t know all the answers! (Their eyes got big when I shared that gem of a discovery!) I now see why they got so frustrated at times, thinking they shouldn’t be getting assignments they don’t already know how to do! I can understand, though – it’s super frustrating looking at a problem and thinking that it may as well have been asked in Latin. But with that cleared away, hopefully we’ll take to new things a little more open-minded. Hopefully. :)

With that said, a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Happy New Year, wherever “home” may be.

12.16.2015
Lightning bugs and Louries


A couple nights ago, I was enjoying an evening with the Haytons on their conde, when throughout the yard glowing yellow lights started painting paths in the darkness. Being from the PNW, I’d never seen a lightning bug before so it was a surreal experience seeing them in person. I was as eager as the kids were with spotting new ones, and after they caught one in a jar I was curious as any to catch a glimpse. I was not disappointed. :) Pretty neat creature for sure! I much prefer them to the large crickets that have magically appeared in my room. To those, who I don’t quite have the heart to kill yet, I have designated Tupperware to trap them and scoot them out to the hallway. Humane? Perhaps not exceedingly, but more so than the alternate execution. Judge me not.

A few days later, the boys found a baby lourie that had been attacked by a squirrel and fallen out of its nest. Not more than an hour later, Digger (the dachshund) gingerly delivered a second (larger) baby to us that had presumably fallen from the same nest. Both birds were obviously traumatized and we did our best to give them a dark warm basket with a nest that had fallen to make them comfortable. We weren’t sure if they’d make it, but we were hopeful. The next morning I went in to school and couldn’t believe what I’d missed. The Haytons had taken the birds to their enclosed Walden’s Garden to try and give them a chance, and within 30min the two parent birds had found their fledglings and began nurturing them/feeding them, and continue to do so. That thing we were always told about birds abandoning their chicks if they smelled “human” on them? Not true – at least not in this case. Those parents religiously care for their young, and it looks like both should recover. Oh, and did I mention that Louries are insanely beautiful? Bright red feathers under their wings, yellow-green chest, red eye patches, and a blueish/purplish Mohawk. Most beautiful bird I’ve seen since getting here. I wouldn’t say I’ve seen a ton of new wildlife since getting here, but I’ve truly enjoyed what I have seen! (Except the spiders/mosquitos/etc.) I have even seen a few monkeys chilling in trees. I’ve heard multiple accounts of them making bad pets, though, so I’m happy to let them remain in those trees.

Currently, Benny (the lizard) is giving me a stare-down from his perch on my wall. I’m a little annoyed that he’s letting bugs into my room, but I don’t want him to think he isn’t welcome. We happily coexist for the most part, which is good. Now for some card games with the house-mates. Until next time, au revoir from me and the critters!