Adventures: Getting used to a new land and life. 2 months in!!

The view of our city from the top of Mount L.  Still no shoes and no shirts.  This will change soon winter is coming. 

Hiking and hot springs.

Friends invite us to their lake house for a great time.  Tubing!!!  “Why did we never do this in Africa?”  Cole says.

New responsibilities… fold and put away your own clothes.  We miss Stella.

New School.  Bike riding every day.  The library- with a  dragon statue in the back.  No way a mosquito net in Birch’s class. 

New house we hope- closing maybe in three days.  Is this bad luck to post early.  View from back patio to MT Jumbo and public trail.

Camping in our beautiful new state.   Who wants to visit?

Before going in make sure to ask for the 1000000 time “ Are there crocodiles?”  per Cole-  “ No Cole we have told you – there are none in MT.”

Cliff jumping…  Birch did with undies- Cole did skinny dip style and said  “ Ouhhhh my balls”  so we have learned a lesson.

 

More to come after we move in.  Birch and Coles started Music lessons again and are doing a rick climbing gym after school.  Our family Unit of Inquiry is” How Change is good for communities, families, ourselves,a and the world.” Missing Africa friends and loving meeting new cool friends. 

Adventure: New life in MT

The boys spent their first week in Children’s theater camp.  They had a good time but too much inside time per Birch. 
They did Treasure Island. A seagull and a ruffian  made their Missoula debuts.

Life: New part to the blog…

So I am adding just life.  Birch says he is missing Africa an 40% of his emotions are due to missing Scrathy.  Cole still asks what day it is and what time it is.  The late sun if freaking him out.  We are finding our way in Missoula.  MOLA outdoor camp was this week.  Hiking, rafting, rock climbing.  Sheer exhaustion.  Cole even cried yesterday because it was Sat which meant he only had two days to rest.  Job is great.  David is busy but doesn’t ravel until next week.  This weekend we climbed the L before dinner on Sat.  went to farmers market- lots of huckleberries and cherries.  Swam in the river behind our house- collllld.  Today we went to the hot springs in Idaho.  Birch said he never knew he might visit Idaho one day- “ not even when I woke up this morning!” Doing ok but missing our friends in Africa. 

One of the famous in town hikes.  L. 

 

 

My men relaxin.  Swimsuit optional but Birch is at a weird age..

Adventure: heading home to USA

So after almost three years we head back to the USA.  So many goodbye parties and hugs. I mean really hard to say see you later to so many great new friends from all over the world.  Felt like leaving AK all over again.  I cried on the drive down our dirt road to the main road.  Yes-  all you African women I cried.  But then Birch started to cry and I had to act all mom again.

So ended the trip with last weekend in Maji Moto-  still no one eaten by crocodiles!!  After about 10 trips there I would say there are no crocs in this place.  Our tests in USA show no bilharzia also!!!

Birch sooooooooo sad about leaving Scrathy!  But she will be with twin sis dog Fara and the girls. 

Goodbye to Sam and Julius.

Amsterdam airport.  NO MCDONALDS!!!!! go kids.  We had little Dutch pancakes with powdered sugar.  Dutch friends??? you know. And still 10 days in no Mc D in our systems. 

In Tulsa to see my parents and sis’s family.  Space and air museum.  Aquarium.  Funky Pilates.  Putt Putt ( Cole called small golf) . Uncle Jason a good teacher- really a patient teacher even in 107 heat at 7 at night !!!!!Cool giant pool.  So much  stuff….everywhere.

Cole pretending and alien is getting him.

( Jeri in a suit)  Cole played with camera so everything blue for a while.

Max, Noah, Birch. Cole

Now we are in Maine with family and cousins.  Cole paddle boarding.  Birch missing Africa a lot.  Lots of ocean time.

 

Thoughts about reentry.

I Facebook a lot more here- internet speeds great- I mean great- I mean wow.

I can see why it is easy to be Obese in USA.  Every fricken corner has fast food or Starbucks or grocery store or get-in –go..  No one walks because all too street like.  Europe has it right and we messed up somewhere.

Easy to use too much water when you just see it come out of faucet- longer showers- running water for dishes.  My brain and body seize up with the waste, but It just is there.  No one is thinking about the tank on top of their house or that power might run out.

Family is fun.

We are ok without non stop TV.  I thought the kids would be junkies but they aren’t.  Everyone should hide their TV so it is just not there.  But when TV is on I could be a food network junkie.

I miss Lisa’s yoga  a lot…. So do my hips and abs.

Mosquitos suck even if they do not give you malaria.

Our stool tests are negative for worms and giardia!!! And I went and had a doc appointment for myself and it was great- I mean great to talk to someone about my health.  Thanks Cindy.

So more to come from Maine……

Miss everyone in Arusha.

Lesson: International schools are just a great experience!!

Last day of school celebration.  Cole gets his green belt Tai Kwon Do certificate.  The Kids that are leaving this year get kudos. 


The teachers end with three dances and schools out rock songs!!!