Chad from A to Z
Air conditioning is greatly missed
Biking is difficult with craters and ponds in the middle of the roads
Cockroaches are my new pets (Ellen, Dave, and Jesse live in my bathroom)
Disease is common; I’ve been to the hospital twice
Every day brings a new adventure
Fruit is a luxury that is very hard to come by
Guests will stop by at any hour between 5AM and 10PM
Heat radiates from the buildings during the evenings because it is so hot
Installation of a local chief has been a highlight, we even got cake afterwards (the only time I ever have had dessert, and probably ever will have dessert in Chad)
Jobs like plucking chickens and removing intestines are disgusting, but tasks that I have learned
Kids love to smile and wave and laugh as I bike past
Lemonade is made by yours truly every other day, but doesn’t take too much effort
Motos will run you over
Nasara; the word that I hear most (it means white foreigner)
Offering in church is done by everyone getting up (about 1000 people) and walking past the basket at the front to drop in money ... sometimes this happens twice!
Poverty is everywhere, but people are still happy and optimistic
Quiet is something that neither people nor animals partake in, at any hour
Right of way goes to the biggest vehicle on the road
Sundays and Wednesdays are for church and prayer meetings, both are very long
Toads about the size of 2 fists are not uncommon, and often have appear in my bedroom at 1AM
Umbrellas are used for protection from the sun, not the rain because it is so powerful that they would be destroyed in seconds
Village trips are always interesting with lots to see and do (like playing soccer with the kids and teaching them how to play with bubbles and play-dough)
Washing clothes is a longer process than throwing them in the machine
eXam time for the current English session is between September 21st-30th
Yams, cassava, potatoes, corn, and beans are the most common (but still scarce) vegetables
Zebras and other cool animals are not in Chad; instead we have lizards, salamanders, snakes, dogs, oxen, mosquitoes, spiders, toads, and cockroaches
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I don't have cockroaches but I'm pretty sure I can hear mice scampering through the walls of my apartment building. :D
ReplyDeleteNice to know you are adapting well to life in Chad. And to think your mommy had to send you all the way to Africa to get you to start doing chores.
Miss you girly.
Thanks for the educational alphabet Katie! An amazing variety of experiences. Helping make chicken for supper... it makes setting the table or filling the dishwasher look easy!
ReplyDeleteWhen you are sitting on the hard benches at church, think about people in the Orthodox church in Ukraine...churches don't have benches, everyone stands for the whole service!!! We have it so easy at First Mennonite!
I hope you are staying healthy! bye for now, Carol Penner
ooh, the A-Z thing was very informative. Sounds like Chad is a very interesting place. Hope you are having a great time. I miss you!
ReplyDeleteHave fun plucking chickens and removing intestines :D