Coping mechanisms

We try to make believe like we live in a 1st world country here.

But we don’t.

It’s a 3rd world country, and at times, that is quite apparent.

I thought tonight as I was doing the dishes, “Wow, I’m not even bothered by that cricket coming out of the cupboard” and was  even less bothered when he went and hid under the stove.

When did I get to this point?  When did I stop caring about the thousands of mini ants that march along my walls throughout the day despite my attempts to keep the floor absolutely crumb and liquid free?  Ok, I guess I still care about them still…otherwise I wouldn’t march around the house behind everyone with my antibacterial cleaning spray (which smells a lot like straight isopropyl…….details, details).

Anyhow, these are but a few of the items that help me remain in my delusion that I am residing in a developed country somewhere:

 

Oh, hot pot, I use you a hundred times a day for my instant hot water and I love you!

My hot pot is the one way to get hot water quick, besides in the shower:

Yes, that is an instant hot heater on the end of a water pipe...in our shower with wires going to the wall

For clean water to cook with and drink, we use this:

Our gravity system with 3 ceramic filters on top and a storage tank/tap on the bottom

And then something most of you are familiar with, although mine has several dials I can’t quite interpret, the element is on the top of the oven….and the instruction manual wasn’t left for me. 

My cooker as they are called here!

One electric burner, and 3 gas burners….great for when the power goes out.  I especially like that it has a lid!

 

Rent our House!

Ok, so here is a shameless plug for someone to rent our cute Portland house.

We had a great renter….who just needs to go back to his own house so it doesn’t get foreclosed on.  Long story, and it’s his.

Soooo.

Who wants to rent our house?

I can feel all of you just jumping out of your seats now.

It’s a cute little 50’s style house that has had some good remodeling done, including our jewel:  the entertainers backyard.  With 2 separate patios, a path for little ones (or you) to stroll or ride toys down and a pea gravel area made for sunbathing, it’s a dream.  Ian especially likes to sit out on the lower patio at night almost year round with a fire in a chimnea with a glass of wine.  In fact, we all kind of like too….even the neighbors.

Right in Cedar Hills, a few blocks from Commonwealth Lake.  Beaverton Schools:  William Walker, Cedar Park and Sunset.  Walking to Starbucks, Winco, Borders, a multitude of banks, Ross, Old Navy Powells, a variety of food venues, Coffee Rush, a massage/pedicure, you get the idea.

A great place for all ages.  Newly married, young families, older families, retired.  I love taking walks there at night and having people know me by name. 

The house is 3 bedroom, 2 bath.  Includes washer/dryer.  Awesome *NEW* AC, gas furnace, newer fridge, stove, dishwasher.  granite, & hardwoods.

Here’s a look at a few house pics, a little old now, but it should look about the same! 

Kitchen is the same except for white/nickel drop lights over the table now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The living room/dining area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The master bath with oversized shower...not bad for a 50's house

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh how I miss you lovely back yard

 

So, it’s not a big ‘ol modern pad, but it is a lovely family home in a fun and friendly neighborhood.  We love it and know you would too!

 

HP Computer: 2 Ian and Anne: 0

If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you’ll remember that we had to buy a new laptop in March, and then immediately had problems with it.  If you can’t remember, here’s a refresher:  http://mayfamily.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/sometimes-technology-isnt-all-that/.

We”ve been doing pretty well with the computer after the HP chick in India stripped and completely reinstalled the operating system…..until this week.

That feared message of  there being an error with the hard drive & the warning to back everything up before it is forever lost came up.

We bought the warranty for this computer.  (Hah!!! The Hard Drive warning message just popped up again!!!)  They (Best Buy) assured us it would be covered all around the world.  Upon clarification when we had problems, well…….They would pay for it, after we took it to a warranted dealer/distributor and then sent them copies of the bill and warranty.  What is it about all of that song and dance that makes me believe that we’d never see a dime of reimbursement for the repair/replacement?

I’m trying not to be bitter.  But come on!?!   So, we called HP.  Of course, they would ship us a replacement hard drive immediately.

Oh, but not outside of the United States, and the hard drive would need to be returned in the original box to HP within 15 days. 

I don’t know about you, but a computer box is not one of the essentials I keep out of a storage space when I’m packing up my entire life, let alone something I “keep” with a dear relative “just in case”.   That’s what I do with my will and life insurance papers!   And, it might just be me, but I don’t think that Kenya Posta has proved reliable enough to get something important to the States…..let alone within 15 days.

Sooooo….We’re open to grand ideas.

Our best idea yet is to Fed Ex our hard drive to a relative in the states, call HP and ask for leniency on the “original packing requirement”, have the relative call HP for the replacement drive, receive the replacement hard drive, then have them ship the defective hard drive back to HP, then somehow get the replacement hard drive to us here in Kenya, preferably in person (again, that whole getting through customs ….and the mail service hasn’t been so reliable).  If seeds can’t get through, I’m not thinking that a HP laptop Hard drive will either.

Or just go and buy a freakin new one.

Again, we’re open to ideas all of you smarty pants.  And I mean that with all due respect!

 

WWF isn’t real???

This last week Ian had an interesting conversation with a Kenyan man who will renamed nameless in order to protect the innocent (quite literally).

The conversation started out with a discussion of movies and the man asking Ian, “Why do they all hurt each other like that?”

“What do you mean, hurt each other?” Ian replied.

“Like killing each other, and shooting each other.  Doesn’t that hurt?” the Kenyan questioned.

“Well, it’s acting” Ian slowly said

“But in Terminator, that man pulled back his skin and there was metal under there!” exclaimed the Kenyan.

“Yeah, but that wasn’t real.”

“But there was metal inside his arm!”

Ian again, “But that is acting.”

Kenyan man getting frustrated that Ian was not understanding, “But what about the wrestling?  They must be really angry to do that to another.  They must be very dangerous to know those moves.”

Ian, “Uh, that’s just fake.”

“What do you mean?  They are jumping on each other and hitting each other.”  Kenyan man says very confused.

Ian, “No, it’s just acting, it is all planned out ahead of time, you know, like a script.  Actually, the Terminator is the governor of California!”

Kenyan man, “Ahhh, ohhhhh!”

 

 

And so the conversation continued.  I don’t think that Ian was successful in convincing this man that Terminator wasn’t really made of metal and was pulling his flesh off.  He’s right, that really would hurt!

Anyhow, in the spirit of our WWF story, thought I’d share a little WWF Lucy style that has been a favorite past time right when I am trying to shoosh them both to bed:

WWF is real in our house.

 

Hopefully some pictures

 

 

 

 

our front porch

 

 yesterday morning’s bugs that came through the shut door

 

 

 

 

 

 

 tucking the kids into bed, their beds were handmade by Salvation Army’s students at Variety Village

 

 

 

 

 

 

 driving into Thika, note the roadside furniture for sale on the  left

 

 

 

 

looking out our “back” door to the front of the property and in the distance a main road

 

 

It is early morning here, about 7:15 am.  We wake with the sun as it rises every day at 6am.  Yesterday started out rough as we woke to find the house filled with the white ants (that drop their wings and then look like grubs) all over the house.  We were cheered by a visit from John V. a recent frient introduced to us by Armida.  He brought us gifts which are never necessary but always appreciated!  Included was a new little canister vacuum to suck up additional occurences of the ants.  Apparently they will leave with the rainy season as it passes here at the end of June, but until then, as it rans they come up out of the ground and into our buildings!  It is quite a sight.   John’s wonderful wife also sent us some chocolate chip cookies. Yum!  John is just old enough for the kids to think he is grandpa material and then glom onto him and climb all over him when they see him.  I am happy they have found that connection.

We are still trying to figure out food.  Trying some local (the kids pretty much left it all on their plates last night at dinner as we sat on our newly cleaned cement floor) and trying to find some familiar things.  We are so spoiled by our “ready-made” culture in America.  Ian found me a whole chicken with skin and bones and I was like, “What do I do with this?”  Guess I’ll learn to cook!  The assumption on our  part was that food would be cheap, if you eat local cuisine, it can be, but for more American type things, even chicken or oatmeal/Musli, you pay a good price.  We’ll get there eventually!

Last night as we were getting ready for bed I flushed the toilet because I saw toilet paper in it (hopefully the kids don’t clog this one) and a gecko was in there.  Poor guy, I don’t know where he went.  I saw him frantically trying to claw out of the bowl, but then he was gone.  Or so I was hoping in the middle of the night when I had to use it!

We heard some stories from local people (including Esther who will help us out in the house 2 times a week) about some of the unsafe places to be and unsafe times to be there.  I wasn’t too bothered by the talk then, but it did keep me awake last night.  I am reminded that God does not give us a spirit of fear nor condemnation, but of hope and security in the Father.  I finally able to settle down and sleep after making Ian turn on a “night light” for me. 

I am thankful for communication with you all back home as we are able to get it and for new friends and connections here who so faithfully check in on us and share with us.

We’ll see what today brings!  I don’t hear any shrieks from the front room.  No rain=no bugs, and I put blankets in front of the doors to keep any stray ones from crawling in…..

Love to you all.