What? Long Underwear Too?!?

For several months now we have been in anticipation of the renewal of our visa.
We rejoice that on Monday afternoon at 5pm it was in our hands.  This is a great relief after so many years of "wandering" from place to place we now have the "security" (nothing is secure in this nation but...) of being able to come and go without hassle for FIVE years.  Praise God!

By way of "thanks" Walt took sweets to the men in the office who had done all the work.
He also took the head man shopping to get a new a shirt and trousers.  This, too, just a gesture of, "We are thankful for your cooperation once again with renewing our visa's."
As they waited to make their purchase the man shared that he would be visiting a cold place over the Christmas holiday.  Walt told him he should take long underwear.  Well, there is was, so that was added to the pile of purchases.
Yes, my husband bought him long underwear.
What?
Yes.  Long underwear.
When was the last time you bought a government official long underwear?

I love living here.  I really love it!

m

Ajeeb Part 2

She came back.

Why?

I have no idea.  Her explanation this time was actually that she doesn't work in this neighborhood but her "sister" does.  She would really like for her sister to see me.
Okay... well, bring the whole family!

Who knows when they will show up.  I guess when they do I'll just have them come in, drink chai and see how much about the good news I can communicate.

Thanks God for bringing this woman into my life.

m

Traffic Police

One of the ways I am continually reminded that I am raising children in another culture and they inadvertently are creating a new culture of their own (hence: "Third Culture Kids" TCK's) is when I watch my little guy play.  When he plays with other TCK's they visit places that kiddo's would never go, "My car is going to the Taj Mahal."  or instead of "school" like most first graders play it's, "let's ride in the airplane" and hours of an airplane journey.
The latest reminder was when Thomas lined his toys up on my kitchen counter as I prepared lunch.  They looked like this:

Then he said, "Look mom!  It's the traffic police!"  
What?  Has your kid ever called the local roaming animals in your neighborhood traffic police?  O... you don't have roaming cows, buffalo, donkeys, goats, chickens, dogs, etc?  Well, we do!!! And the traffic graciously gives way every time.  


Life is just different here.
My son sees things differently.  
Not better, not worse... just different.
I love different.
Praise God for creating different.
May Christ in me make me "different." 
Because of Christ may other's want to be different too.


Always been a little different, 
m

"Ajeeb"

This is one of my favorite Urdu words to say. "Ajeeb"  
Why?  Well it sounds like what it means: strange.

It always fits as a perfect word to describe those absolutely crazy, weird, strange, and unexplainable funny experiences that happen to us simply because we are living in a foreign land.


Before I tell you may latest you will also need to know the word "ungrez" or "foreigner/whites/those of English speaking language."

So, my latest totally "ajeeb" experience was when the house bell rang.

A woman I had never seen before stood there smiling.  The conversation went something like this (don't forget we have only been in language study for 2 months so... all things considered I think it went something like this!)

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Do you need something?" (I didn't know if she was a beggar or wanting to know whether my children had been vaccinated for polio or something else).

"No, I just use to work here and now I work across the street and they told me that "ungrez" live here."
long pause... not sure what to say...
I smile, "Yes, I am an ungrez."
"But you speak our language perfectly"
(yeah right... since I can say what you can already see by just looking at me!)
"Thank you."
long pause... not sure what to say...
I smile again, "I'm so glad I met you!"
"Me too.  I just wanted to see if you really were a  "ungrez"!
"I am an "ungrez"
"Bye"
"Bye, God bless"


Ajeeb.
Very Ajeeb.
I love living here.


Don't be surprise if I knock on your door just to see what you look like, what color you are, or what language you speak, or if you wear the same thing I do, eat the same, talk the same, think the same...
Don't be offended.  Just consider it something to laugh over and label it: "ajeeb."


m