I had to take a picture of this note and post it. It was so funny! Just in case you cannot read it, it says, "Mr. Mike I am your neighbor Dr. Ehab. Please Beware I saw a concrech (insect) enter your home. Lord save you Best regards....Ehab" We are guessing that he saw a cockroach enter our apartment. And then later that day when we were coming home we saw all this white powder around the floor of the door and a dead cockroach laying there. Funny huh? I dont know if there is some kind of superstition here or what, but we had a good laugh....
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The cockroach
I had to take a picture of this note and post it. It was so funny! Just in case you cannot read it, it says, "Mr. Mike I am your neighbor Dr. Ehab. Please Beware I saw a concrech (insect) enter your home. Lord save you Best regards....Ehab" We are guessing that he saw a cockroach enter our apartment. And then later that day when we were coming home we saw all this white powder around the floor of the door and a dead cockroach laying there. Funny huh? I dont know if there is some kind of superstition here or what, but we had a good laugh....
Saturday, July 26, 2008
"Get Daown!"
This is one of Judah's newest and latest things he has learned how to say. It is so funny to see this little guy say so clearly and with so much conviction, "Get Daown" (which is "get down") But he seems to have it a little more enunciated then most. And he is so proud of himself about it. He will get up next to you on the couch and then push on your shoulder and say, "Get Daown!" Yesterday Mike and I were laughing so hard because it was so cute and so he thought he was really cute too and says it all the time now. I will have to see if I can get it on video...
Long Time
Wow, I didn't really realize how long it has been since I posted anything until I got on and saw that my last post was on the 14th of July. I have been a slacker. Things have been going well and although there has been a lot going on, there doesn't really seem like there is too much to blog about. I was talking to Mike about it, and I think part of the reason is that there is so much to do around here and so much more going on, that it seems normal. Not like when we were in Kalimpong, if we had one little outing I would take the camera and make sure to blog it.
We have been making friends here, with locals as well as with other foreigners, and that has been really nice. Caleb has had plenty of new friends to play with and that has been really nice for him. Lots of other couples with kids our age here, so we have been able to go to the parks, or just visit each other's homes and visit, and it has been SO nice. I really want to get a picture of the ladies that I have been visiting with that sit outside the apartment building every evening, but I am not sure how they will react. I still have to get to know them a bit better. A couple of days back I made some apple turnovers and took them down to share and they really enjoyed that. Most of them don't speak any English, so conversations are very limited, but it a good opportunity for me to get out of my comfort zone and to learn. Usually we go down and Mike will hang out with the kids while Caleb rides his scooter and Judah tries to find anything to get into. We have talked about how it must be so strange for them to see Mike come with me and help me out, because the men here are nowhere to be seen. There has been one husband that we have seen, but the others must be off at work.
Also, another thing we have noticed here is that it is a huge thing to have servants here and most of them come from either Indonesia or the Philipines.... So if you go to the park you will see all these Philipino women playing with the kids, and the Arab people are just sitting at the benches or tables visiting. So different then what we would see at home.
Ok, I will try and take more pics and post them soon.....
We have been making friends here, with locals as well as with other foreigners, and that has been really nice. Caleb has had plenty of new friends to play with and that has been really nice for him. Lots of other couples with kids our age here, so we have been able to go to the parks, or just visit each other's homes and visit, and it has been SO nice. I really want to get a picture of the ladies that I have been visiting with that sit outside the apartment building every evening, but I am not sure how they will react. I still have to get to know them a bit better. A couple of days back I made some apple turnovers and took them down to share and they really enjoyed that. Most of them don't speak any English, so conversations are very limited, but it a good opportunity for me to get out of my comfort zone and to learn. Usually we go down and Mike will hang out with the kids while Caleb rides his scooter and Judah tries to find anything to get into. We have talked about how it must be so strange for them to see Mike come with me and help me out, because the men here are nowhere to be seen. There has been one husband that we have seen, but the others must be off at work.
Also, another thing we have noticed here is that it is a huge thing to have servants here and most of them come from either Indonesia or the Philipines.... So if you go to the park you will see all these Philipino women playing with the kids, and the Arab people are just sitting at the benches or tables visiting. So different then what we would see at home.
Ok, I will try and take more pics and post them soon.....
Monday, July 14, 2008
Bathtubs
Have you ever thought about how wonderful bathtubs are? For the past four and a half years, none of the places that we have lived has had a bathtub. Although there was one in the apartment in Bangkok where we lived when Caleb was born. But other then that, we have been without.
Not anymore! We have a bathtub....yippee! And not only do I appreciate being able to soak in one myself, I can give the boys a bath at the same time and kill two birds with one stone. Also, it is so nice because you don't have the problem of having a bathroom with a wet floor all the time. One thing my parents will really appreciate when they come to visit. When they came to visit us in India, that was one thing that bothered them was that the bathroom floor is ALWAYS wet. It is rather annoying, but you get used to it. But, now that we are back to a normal bathroom it is so nice. Anyway.....random, but just thought I would share.....
What Are We Doing?
Some of you may wonder what in the world we are doing here in a new country? How are we spending our time before our school starts? What do you do when you enter a new place?
Well, we have been trying to study the language as much as possible, as well as keep the kids busy so that they are not going crazy. So far, we have learned the Arabic alphabet and can read in the language, although we have no idea what we are reading at this point. And we can read the script that is in our books, but once we get outside and see 50 million different fonts, we are a little lost. I can understand how people that come to the US and may just be getting familiar with the English alphabet must feel when they see all the billboards in different fancy scripts. It is hard! And we have been learning some simple phrases, like hello, how are you? Etc....The lady next door also taught me how to count to ten, and then quizzed me the next day. I was caught a little off guard, but I passed, and can now count from 1 to 10, with a very American accent at this point. Most days we are in the house until around 4 or so, because of lunch and the kids having to take naps and it being so hot out, and then we try and get out of the house to explore.
Other then that, we have been trying to keep ourselves busy and the boys occupied, so we don't all go crazy together. Caleb has watched the movie, "Ratatouille" probably about 8 times now. Some new friends here just gave it to us, because they are leaving soon. So he wants to turn it on every morning. Although, that may all change now, because today we bought him his very own scooter. He has been wanting one for awhile, and we finally found one today and he was SO excited. He rode it when we went on our walk, all the way, up a gradual hill with all kinds of bumps in the road. But he didn't care one bit. He was so excited to have his very own scooter. He even scratched his ankle a couple of times on it, but wasn't slowed down at all. He is so cute about it. So, I just in passing, said to him, " Maybe now that you are big boy and have a big boy scooter, you can sleep in your big boy bed, all by yourself" To which he agreed.....which I was very shocked about. That all changed when it actually came down to bed time though. He put up a fight and we did the whole Nanny 911 thing and just kept putting him back in his bed. Thankfully I think he was tired from the scooter and we only went for about 45 minutes. And he is now sleeping peacefully all by himself in his own big boy bed. Wow! Let's see what happens in the middle of the night tonight.
But anyway, as far as that goes.....not much else going on here. We have met a few friends and invited another American couple over for dinner last night, and they have a little boy named Owen, who is 2. He and Caleb get along great and were running and laughing all night together, so that has been great. Unfortunately, they will be going back to the states at the end of this month, so we will have to make more friends. But we also went to the international church service here with them, and that was nice. There was one spot in the service that people were sharing different things about who God is and what He has done, and it made me think of how Awesome HE is! How He has taken care of our family and gotten us here and provided everything we need, and then some! He is SO faithful and I am so thankful! Really I could go on and on about His goodness and how He comes through for our family in the most random of ways. Ways that we could have never planned or orchestrated. He is Good!!!!!
So, thank you everyone who has been praying for us and giving to us. We are blessed!!!
Well, we have been trying to study the language as much as possible, as well as keep the kids busy so that they are not going crazy. So far, we have learned the Arabic alphabet and can read in the language, although we have no idea what we are reading at this point. And we can read the script that is in our books, but once we get outside and see 50 million different fonts, we are a little lost. I can understand how people that come to the US and may just be getting familiar with the English alphabet must feel when they see all the billboards in different fancy scripts. It is hard! And we have been learning some simple phrases, like hello, how are you? Etc....The lady next door also taught me how to count to ten, and then quizzed me the next day. I was caught a little off guard, but I passed, and can now count from 1 to 10, with a very American accent at this point. Most days we are in the house until around 4 or so, because of lunch and the kids having to take naps and it being so hot out, and then we try and get out of the house to explore.
Other then that, we have been trying to keep ourselves busy and the boys occupied, so we don't all go crazy together. Caleb has watched the movie, "Ratatouille" probably about 8 times now. Some new friends here just gave it to us, because they are leaving soon. So he wants to turn it on every morning. Although, that may all change now, because today we bought him his very own scooter. He has been wanting one for awhile, and we finally found one today and he was SO excited. He rode it when we went on our walk, all the way, up a gradual hill with all kinds of bumps in the road. But he didn't care one bit. He was so excited to have his very own scooter. He even scratched his ankle a couple of times on it, but wasn't slowed down at all. He is so cute about it. So, I just in passing, said to him, " Maybe now that you are big boy and have a big boy scooter, you can sleep in your big boy bed, all by yourself" To which he agreed.....which I was very shocked about. That all changed when it actually came down to bed time though. He put up a fight and we did the whole Nanny 911 thing and just kept putting him back in his bed. Thankfully I think he was tired from the scooter and we only went for about 45 minutes. And he is now sleeping peacefully all by himself in his own big boy bed. Wow! Let's see what happens in the middle of the night tonight.
But anyway, as far as that goes.....not much else going on here. We have met a few friends and invited another American couple over for dinner last night, and they have a little boy named Owen, who is 2. He and Caleb get along great and were running and laughing all night together, so that has been great. Unfortunately, they will be going back to the states at the end of this month, so we will have to make more friends. But we also went to the international church service here with them, and that was nice. There was one spot in the service that people were sharing different things about who God is and what He has done, and it made me think of how Awesome HE is! How He has taken care of our family and gotten us here and provided everything we need, and then some! He is SO faithful and I am so thankful! Really I could go on and on about His goodness and how He comes through for our family in the most random of ways. Ways that we could have never planned or orchestrated. He is Good!!!!!
So, thank you everyone who has been praying for us and giving to us. We are blessed!!!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Another Year....
Today is my birthday and it has been a little bit strange to be in a new city where we don't know anyone and don't really know the city yet. It is one of those times that makes you miss friends and family and wish you could somehow click your heals and be in another place. Thanks though to everyone who sent birthday wishes. They really meant a lot!
All in all though...it was a good day and we were able to get out and about in the city a little bit. We have been thinking about looking for another apartment that is closer to the school that we will be attending, and wanted to go out and look for something. We started out going to the school/daycare that Caleb and Judah will be attending to give them a deposit and then made our way to our school where they have a bulletin board with listings of places for rent. We saw one place that looked like it had some potential, so asked one of the guys at the school to help us make the phone call and thought we would go look at it. He told us that it was within walkin distance, so we thought we would try it out and see how long it would take us. Ugh....after about 20 or 30 minutes or so of all downhill walking in the hot sun, kind of like the downhill streets we have in SF, but with a 3 year old and a 1 1/2 year old, we still didnt really know where we were going and people were pointing us farther and farther....we thought, "there is no way this is within walking distance" The area we had now found ourselves in is definitely the older part of the city. A lot more crowded and a lot more little shops, with lots of things going on. We finally decided to catch a taxi to make it the rest of the way, and by this time Judah is asleep on Mike's shoulder....once we get into the taxi Caleb is not far behind Judah and begins to slowly slouch over in his seat. As we drove around and the taxi driver was a bit lost and the temperature was somewhere in the high 90's and the area around us didn't look too inviting, we dropped the whole idea and headed back for home. By that time, we didn't care what this new place looked like. So, we are thinking more and more about staying in the place we are at, even if it is a little far from the school.
The rest of the day ended up good, because another couple with a little boy called us and asked if we wanted to go to a park with them. So we spent the last half of the day at the park and then went and got Shwarma's for dinner. Mike shared with them at dinner that it was my birthday, so overall I had a great day! Still not the same as with family and friends, but God was good to bring some new friends for us to go out with.
All in all though...it was a good day and we were able to get out and about in the city a little bit. We have been thinking about looking for another apartment that is closer to the school that we will be attending, and wanted to go out and look for something. We started out going to the school/daycare that Caleb and Judah will be attending to give them a deposit and then made our way to our school where they have a bulletin board with listings of places for rent. We saw one place that looked like it had some potential, so asked one of the guys at the school to help us make the phone call and thought we would go look at it. He told us that it was within walkin distance, so we thought we would try it out and see how long it would take us. Ugh....after about 20 or 30 minutes or so of all downhill walking in the hot sun, kind of like the downhill streets we have in SF, but with a 3 year old and a 1 1/2 year old, we still didnt really know where we were going and people were pointing us farther and farther....we thought, "there is no way this is within walking distance" The area we had now found ourselves in is definitely the older part of the city. A lot more crowded and a lot more little shops, with lots of things going on. We finally decided to catch a taxi to make it the rest of the way, and by this time Judah is asleep on Mike's shoulder....once we get into the taxi Caleb is not far behind Judah and begins to slowly slouch over in his seat. As we drove around and the taxi driver was a bit lost and the temperature was somewhere in the high 90's and the area around us didn't look too inviting, we dropped the whole idea and headed back for home. By that time, we didn't care what this new place looked like. So, we are thinking more and more about staying in the place we are at, even if it is a little far from the school.
The rest of the day ended up good, because another couple with a little boy called us and asked if we wanted to go to a park with them. So we spent the last half of the day at the park and then went and got Shwarma's for dinner. Mike shared with them at dinner that it was my birthday, so overall I had a great day! Still not the same as with family and friends, but God was good to bring some new friends for us to go out with.
Here is a pic of Judah on the slide at the daycare they will be going to. Called , "Little Stars"
Caleb in the sand with the other kids. They are really excited to start their new "school", and are clueless that we are even still there with them. Hopefully this will continue to last.
And this is a pic of the building....just to give you an idea....
Caleb in the sand with the other kids. They are really excited to start their new "school", and are clueless that we are even still there with them. Hopefully this will continue to last.And this is a pic of the building....just to give you an idea....
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
There is Hope
Last night was the first night that Caleb slept the whole night in his big boy bed. He did call for me a couple of times and I went and laid with him until he got back to sleep, but not once the whole night did he get in our bed. Amazing! We took him to the place where he will be going to Day Care while we will be in school yesterday and have been encouraging him that he needs to sleep in his own bed, and last night, on his own, he decided he wanted to sleep in his bed. Hallelujah!!!! I cannot believe it! Let's hope it sticks...
Monday, July 7, 2008
A Better Day
Ok, we got Caleb to bed at a decent time, which was difficult to do in India with all the people in our house and the next day was much better. He wasn't as whiny as the day before. There is Hope! Now I just have to figure out how to get him in his own bed......
Anyway, life is going well here. Nothing really too interesting happening. Just trying to learn some of the language and survive. There are about 4 Muslim ladies that sit outside the apartment building every evening who have befriended us and want to help us with language. So that has been good. Very much out of the comfort zone sitting with people when you can't speak the same language, trying to come up with something to talk about. But they are very sweet and we smile at each other a lot. I will try and get a picture at some point, because it is great to see them all in their black robes, and head coverings. I am still not too sure on the culture and if taking a picture will be offensive or not. So we will see.....
Anyway, life is going well here. Nothing really too interesting happening. Just trying to learn some of the language and survive. There are about 4 Muslim ladies that sit outside the apartment building every evening who have befriended us and want to help us with language. So that has been good. Very much out of the comfort zone sitting with people when you can't speak the same language, trying to come up with something to talk about. But they are very sweet and we smile at each other a lot. I will try and get a picture at some point, because it is great to see them all in their black robes, and head coverings. I am still not too sure on the culture and if taking a picture will be offensive or not. So we will see.....
Saturday, July 5, 2008
H E L P!!!!
We have been blessed with a very stubborn, strong-willed 3 year old. Today we were all stuck in the house all day together and it was one of those days that nothing goes right. He cries because he is hungry, he cries because he doesn't like the food you want him to eat, he cries because his underwear are "funny", he cries because he wants to go outside, he cries because he doesn't like the clothes you have picked for him to wear outside.....and on and on. Oh my goodness! Please tell me that it is jet lag, or that he is hungry or just tired, or that it is just his age! Please don't tell me that he is just a Brat! Time outs didn't work, spankings didn't work, trying to ignore his little tantrums didn't work.....Calgon take me away!
Then there is another whole issue. Have you ever said that you would never do something, only to find yourself in the very same situation eating your words? Well, somewhere along the way, we brought Caleb in our bed to sleep with us, and he has been there ever since. I could give you a bunch of excuses as to why he is there, but I won't. What I do know is that we need to get him out before we all go crazy! I have some ideas from watching nanny 911 and that, but I have this stubborn 3 year old in my bed, what do I do? Any wisdom or insight that anyone could share would be most appreciated!!!! He does have his own room now and his own big boy bed, I just need some wisdom on how to get him to sleep in it and stay in it. Help........
Then there is another whole issue. Have you ever said that you would never do something, only to find yourself in the very same situation eating your words? Well, somewhere along the way, we brought Caleb in our bed to sleep with us, and he has been there ever since. I could give you a bunch of excuses as to why he is there, but I won't. What I do know is that we need to get him out before we all go crazy! I have some ideas from watching nanny 911 and that, but I have this stubborn 3 year old in my bed, what do I do? Any wisdom or insight that anyone could share would be most appreciated!!!! He does have his own room now and his own big boy bed, I just need some wisdom on how to get him to sleep in it and stay in it. Help........
Missing Friends
I didn't really mention how difficult it was to say goodbye to our friends and the boys back in Kalimpong. I think overall I was pretty numb to the whole experience and it didn't feel real that we were really leaving them. Also in the midst of all the packing and things I had to do, I wasn't really thinking. It has only been since we have arrived here in Jordan and we are alone that reality has sunk in and we really miss our friends and the boys. Hopefully we will be able to go back and visit and stay in touch with the internet and letters, but I know it will never be the same. We miss them dearly and they will always be in our hearts and our prayers.
Our New Home
Caleb's new big boy bed. Something that we are going to have to work on getting him to sleep in. That is another blog all in itself...
Our living room
Our new kitchen
The Dining Room
Caleb cheesing in he and Judah's new room
And...our master bedroom...with cute little Judah looking on...Friday, July 4, 2008
We Made It!
Finally.... we have made it to our new city. It has been such a weird feeling and the fact that we have actually moved has begun to sink in a bit. Our first impressions of this place as we drove from the airport to our apartment, is that it is a big city, very modern...it seems that it is a very relational city. Our taxi driver was quite friendly, and the people seem very willing to help out if you ask them. Coming from India in a place where people are always trying to rip you off, we were a bit stand offish at first, but we are slowly letting our guard down. One of the stranger things that we noticed on our drive home from the airport, was that all along the highway, there were random groups of people camped out alongside the road having what looked like a bonfire or a picnic, and smoking their hooka pipes. Seemed strange, but you can tell that these people are very much about relationships.
Our apartment is nice. We have been blessed to be able to move into a fully furnished apartment and not have to be frantically running around looking for stuff in a city we are not familiar with. Our first day here was kind of funny. We woke up and had no food in the house, the kids were pretty fussy, we were hungry and a bit nervous to venture out, but our stomachs wouldn't allow us otherwise. So, the family that had lived here before us, so nicely drew out some maps of what was around and how we could get here and there, and on the one map we saw a bakery. We only had 3 dinar left in our pocket(which is about $5) from the day before of having to pay for our visas and taxis, so we weren't really sure what that would buy us, but we thought we would head off to the bakery. It ended up only being about 5 min. walk away, but when we entered all the prices were in Arabic. Yikes! We have no idea what anything costs. Wait a minute...here are some muffins that are printed in English and they are only 1 1/2 dinars, so we can do it. So we bought them and got a little something to fill our bellies and then were off to the Safeway, where we had heard we could use an ATM. Wow, this Safeway is just like stepping into the US. We can get anything we need here. Well, except for bacon, or anything of that sort. And there is no shortage of olives and nuts and Labnah (which I am really not sure what it is yet) Some sort of cream cheese or something. There is definitely no shortage of familiar things in this city, like Dominoes Pizza, Burger King, KFC, Starbucks, Papa John's and so on. We have only seen what is around our few blocks, so who knows what else this city holds. Sometimes I have felt like this small fish that has just been dropped into a huge lake, and it feels a little overwhelming at times.
But anyway, it has been a time of learning that is for sure and we are all adjusting well. Caleb and Judah are doing great. They don't seem to have really been bothered at all yet. They just go with the flow. I have pictures of our apartment that I will post soon. I just wanted to let you all know we are here and we are safe and we are starting all over as learners. Please pray that our adjustment continues to go smoothly and that we will build some good relationships here. Thanks so much!
Our apartment is nice. We have been blessed to be able to move into a fully furnished apartment and not have to be frantically running around looking for stuff in a city we are not familiar with. Our first day here was kind of funny. We woke up and had no food in the house, the kids were pretty fussy, we were hungry and a bit nervous to venture out, but our stomachs wouldn't allow us otherwise. So, the family that had lived here before us, so nicely drew out some maps of what was around and how we could get here and there, and on the one map we saw a bakery. We only had 3 dinar left in our pocket(which is about $5) from the day before of having to pay for our visas and taxis, so we weren't really sure what that would buy us, but we thought we would head off to the bakery. It ended up only being about 5 min. walk away, but when we entered all the prices were in Arabic. Yikes! We have no idea what anything costs. Wait a minute...here are some muffins that are printed in English and they are only 1 1/2 dinars, so we can do it. So we bought them and got a little something to fill our bellies and then were off to the Safeway, where we had heard we could use an ATM. Wow, this Safeway is just like stepping into the US. We can get anything we need here. Well, except for bacon, or anything of that sort. And there is no shortage of olives and nuts and Labnah (which I am really not sure what it is yet) Some sort of cream cheese or something. There is definitely no shortage of familiar things in this city, like Dominoes Pizza, Burger King, KFC, Starbucks, Papa John's and so on. We have only seen what is around our few blocks, so who knows what else this city holds. Sometimes I have felt like this small fish that has just been dropped into a huge lake, and it feels a little overwhelming at times.
But anyway, it has been a time of learning that is for sure and we are all adjusting well. Caleb and Judah are doing great. They don't seem to have really been bothered at all yet. They just go with the flow. I have pictures of our apartment that I will post soon. I just wanted to let you all know we are here and we are safe and we are starting all over as learners. Please pray that our adjustment continues to go smoothly and that we will build some good relationships here. Thanks so much!
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