The picture above is the view from our bedroom window at 5 am on our first full day in Carthage.
It is pinch me gorgeous isn't it. Can you see how blue that water is? Sigh.
The landing here hasn't been soft. It's been as expected though. Good moments, hard moments, adjustments of expectations, slamming learning curve. It will be good in time. As we left Seattle my cousin Becky pulled me in tight and whispered, "I wish I could transport you to next August. The second year is always easier." She's right, the second year is always easier. But since I'm deep into the first week, and time travel isn't quite yet mainstream, I'll just take things one day at a time.
Today I was in a funk and I don't really know why. (My husband would say, "Um, it's because you moved to Africa 3 days ago.....") I probably should give myself a little more grace and time to settle in.
This afternoon I read a quote from a friend of ours:
When we take for granted what God has done and is doing, we lose interest in what He will do. A simple prayer: Thank you Lord for what you have done; thank you for what you are doing. Thank you for what you will do. ~Gary Thomas. So while I chew on that, I'll let you dream of all the good things we have been feasting on here.
It has been our good fortune to have several of the staff here at school host dinners for all us newbies every evening since our arrival. They truly are a gracious and hospitable group. Here is tonight's menu!
Handmade, Handmade people, couscous with cinnamon, chili, raisins and chickpeasLamb
Shrimp
Pork Tenderloin
Roasted vegetables
Tunisian carrot salad
Peaches, plums, Nectarines, figs and melons
Tiramisu and cannoli
Tunisian wines, and actually they are very good!
I'm hoping to put together some sort of meal plan and get into our kitchen to do something other than warm a croissant next week. Hopefully I'll pull together something to write about! Until then our next big adventure is finding out how to dispose of our garbage.
What's New When We Change Schools?
ReplyDelete"Culture, language, food, climate, students, parents of students, your house/ apartment, the city, currency of exchange, your classroom, internet availability, administration, colleagues and committee work, school procedures, transportation, shopping, entertainment, medical care, bill paying, banking, and well... just about everything. Even your name may seem to change and sound new in terms of the local accent." Hard to land softly with all those bumps on the runway. Love your posts, Shelly. Love knowing we have firepits in Washington to debrief beside next summer. Love knowing you will find your way to the deepest of all Wells in the world each day -- and be satisfied. You're a great heart and warm croissants are a great start. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Mona! I too am so grateful (and completely looking forward to) those evenings around the firepit with you and our families next summer.
ReplyDeleteSoft landings don't often happen when we're taking big leaps. You're faithful and you're brave and you're doing amazing things. So grateful for the post and the honesty. And I think that you can have croissants for a whole year before you have to think on anything else. I doubt anyone would complain. Soak it all in...and give yourself loads of processing time. And chant, "this too shall pass..." when it feels rocky or blue. And you'd be one giant weirdo if it didn't.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great adventure you are on. I look forward to reading more about it.
ReplyDelete