Lessons Learned, or perhaps remembered

its only been a week, but if i tried to remember all that has happened, or even write all that i remembered, i would need an entire blog site for this one entry. so just the highlights...

in the seven years since i first moved to namibia, i somehow forgot how amazing and exciting and fun it can be to just move to a place where everything, absolutely everything, is different and new - comical at times. every person i have met here has been fantastic - our office staff are very down to earth, committed to what they do, true inspirations. on top of that, they make sure to look after their own, including the newbie down the hall! i've also met a couple of swell folks through volleyball (yeah!! i found a team) and out on the town. the guidebooks were not exaggerating when they refered to Malawi as "the warm heart of Africa". i've been trooping around alot with Helen, who i am currently living with, and Ann, my future roomie, with what seems like endless adventures.

the last few years, i forgot how funny it can be to have a car that won't start and a high heel as the only tool for repair (it works - check out the pic of Ann closely); or to have a spider the size of your head crawl up to your dinner table at a restaraunt, and some gentleman appear from nowhere to squash it - yummy. i forgot how big the smiles are when you say something right in the local language (chiChewa), how big the laughs are when you say it slightly wrong (hopefully i haven't offended anyone too much), and as embarrasing as it is, i can't help but laugh myself. i forgot how great a cold beer and a shower are after a long, dusty day and how wonderful it feels to be in bed by 10pm for a full 8 hours of sleep.... every night. i think that already my body likes me a lot more.

but at the same time, i find myself also remembering that entirely new places with entirely new people can be extremely tough. over the last week, i have found myself frustrated by not always understanding which line to stand in, who to go to for help, how much things really should cost and how to bargin for reasonable prices (i have always HATED price negotiating!). i am also remembering the pains of not being able to call and email friends and family at the drop of the hat, especially with the 6 hour time delay, and most especially when i need to talk with someone who knows me better and longer than people here (nice and wonderful as they are). of course, i remember all of this in the context of soon, much of this will make sense - i'll know which lines to get into, and what stamp to have placed on the paper for approval, and that soon enough, i will be able to call and email more easily. par for the course, and ultimately, its a really great course, which is the most important lesson remembered this week!

so with that, i send lots of love your way.....