Saturday, October 30, 2010
Selena's swim meet and the pool she trains at...disregard the colour of the diving pool. It is not used!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Our things are here!
Well, We FINALLY got our things two weeks ago. We were told our things were to arrive on Wednesday so all day Wednesday we waited. Then at the end of the day we were told that on Thursday we would have our things and the same thing happened on Friday but finally on Saturday after 5pm the shipping container finally got here with a team of 8 guys to unload it.
The issue, it would seem, was that the fancy truck that was needed since the container had to be put at ground level to unload the car was unavailable on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and all day Saturday as they only have one at the port.
So we have spent the last two weeks unpacking our millions of boxes and wondering what could possibly be in all of them that we have lived so contentedly without for the past 2 1/2 months but as we unpacked box after box of dishes and linens it became clear that we actually didn't pack too much that was unneeded though we will be donating some things to one of the local orphanages soon.
Wish us luck with our completion of the unpacking and check back for pictures of the house all set up!
The issue, it would seem, was that the fancy truck that was needed since the container had to be put at ground level to unload the car was unavailable on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and all day Saturday as they only have one at the port.
So we have spent the last two weeks unpacking our millions of boxes and wondering what could possibly be in all of them that we have lived so contentedly without for the past 2 1/2 months but as we unpacked box after box of dishes and linens it became clear that we actually didn't pack too much that was unneeded though we will be donating some things to one of the local orphanages soon.
Wish us luck with our completion of the unpacking and check back for pictures of the house all set up!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
My first run in Dakar...
So I knew better and should have looked more for my other shorts but I couldn't find them so I put on my running skirt and a tank top and decided that that was the best I could do and out the door I went.
I should have looked more for my other shorts...the longer ones that go all the way to my knees...
In this primarily Muslim country showing arms is ok, breastfeeding in public is not a problem, I can show my hair and ankles and calfs but thighs are considered VERY sexual.
I got as far as one or two blocks before I started to notice the dirty looks from women and the hooting, hollering and honking from men. Mortified (because I knew better) I turned back towards home only to discover that I could not remember which way I had turned to get onto this street. The street with the elementary school kids gawking at me, the street with more cars than ours, the street with the small store where the women bringing in her fresh bread to sell for the day had stopped mid step to stare.
You have to understand that there are very few street signs here and that all the houses look the same from the street, they are all behind a cement wall and a gate. There are no numbers on the houses and I could not for the life of me remember if I had gone one block or two before turning left...or was it right...crap!
Eventually I found my way home and have since been hiding here as I don't want to be recognized...I'll be going shopping for new running shorts once I have the guts to leave the safety of my cement wall with the guard at the gate.
Perhaps tormorrow I'll go for a walk, in a moo-moo, with a map.
I should have looked more for my other shorts...the longer ones that go all the way to my knees...
In this primarily Muslim country showing arms is ok, breastfeeding in public is not a problem, I can show my hair and ankles and calfs but thighs are considered VERY sexual.
I got as far as one or two blocks before I started to notice the dirty looks from women and the hooting, hollering and honking from men. Mortified (because I knew better) I turned back towards home only to discover that I could not remember which way I had turned to get onto this street. The street with the elementary school kids gawking at me, the street with more cars than ours, the street with the small store where the women bringing in her fresh bread to sell for the day had stopped mid step to stare.
You have to understand that there are very few street signs here and that all the houses look the same from the street, they are all behind a cement wall and a gate. There are no numbers on the houses and I could not for the life of me remember if I had gone one block or two before turning left...or was it right...crap!
Eventually I found my way home and have since been hiding here as I don't want to be recognized...I'll be going shopping for new running shorts once I have the guts to leave the safety of my cement wall with the guard at the gate.
Perhaps tormorrow I'll go for a walk, in a moo-moo, with a map.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Dakar, the arrival
Well we made it in one piece! Declan and I had a VERY long flight in but finally we made it "home". We were all very happy to be reunited but with the jet lag and Ross' overtime so he could take a few days when we got here we all spent the day sleeping.
Dakar is, well, different. Pretty much what I had expected. I have to keep reminding myself that I am not in Mexico, though the fact that no one looks Mexican helps ;) I have to say that I am glad that we ended up in a country where we speak the language (for the most part!).
On our second day I made Ross take us to the beach. I was feeling miserable and tired and wanted to see something that had attracted me to this place. So out for lunch on the beach we went. It really helped my mood and I have to say I think I'm really going to like it here!!!
I will write soon about the house and our housekeeper Juliette but for now this is it!
Take care!
S
Dakar is, well, different. Pretty much what I had expected. I have to keep reminding myself that I am not in Mexico, though the fact that no one looks Mexican helps ;) I have to say that I am glad that we ended up in a country where we speak the language (for the most part!).
On our second day I made Ross take us to the beach. I was feeling miserable and tired and wanted to see something that had attracted me to this place. So out for lunch on the beach we went. It really helped my mood and I have to say I think I'm really going to like it here!!!
I will write soon about the house and our housekeeper Juliette but for now this is it!
Take care!
S
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