Things I've Noticed

Here is a random list of things I've noticed.
1. I could blame every bad hair day on my scarf.
2. I would have to blow dry my hair here in the winter.
3. There are many foods here that I didn't expect to see like candy bars, cereal, and fruit cups.
4. The school here looks like other schools in the states. You can tell if the teacher is female by all of the colorful decorations, or if the teacher is male by the more minimalize way of decorating.
5. The chicken I've had twice is amazing.
6. Taking a nice hot shower is one of the biggest blessings here.
7. Kyle can make friends no matter where he goes, even if there is a language barrier.
8. Sherry and Perry really do like living here.
9. Hal is quite the story teller.
10. I use chapstick every couple of hours here, yet my hands aren't nearly as dried out as they were at home.
11. Facebook is really important when you are on this side of the world.
12. I think I would read a zillion books and crocket blankets rather than scarves if I lived here.
13. I miss family back home a lot.
14. There are no lines on the roads. People drive as they please including horse drawn carts, boys selling gum, police vehicles, and lots of cars depending upon where you are in the city.
15. The grocery store is similar to the Rainbow Mart in that you buy what you want now because it might not be there next come you come.
16. Boys wash cars to earn a living. They really like when they see Perry coming.
17. Perry has done a great job building relationships at his hospital. You can really tell that they guys there respect and enjoy Perry. They even get his sense of humor.
18. It is very dusty here.
19. Family is taking very good care of me and the baby while we are here.
20. We are heading out to celebrate New Year's Eve with a friend of Perry's.

Sherry's School

Today we went and saw most of Sherry's school. I loved it! I don't understand all of the street drama, but school, I understand school. I have felt the safest while walking around Sherry's school. Her classroom is quite nice. I took lots of pictures that we'll upload later. They have a library, playground, and computer lab. We'll get to see the music room and the high school tomorrow.

Safe and enjoying our stay

Greetings all,

Perry, Sherry, Hal, Tasha, and I are all safe. We found out today that there were bombings in Afghanistan yesterday. This was far away from us. Afghanistan, as a country, is comparable in size to Texas. There were two bombings. One was at the Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost Province and the other was in the south-eastern province of Kandahar. The Khost Province is over 80 miles away from Kabul if you measure as the crow flies. Kandahar is over 250 miles away from Kabul if you measure as the crow flies. Both of these distances would be much greater if they were measured by road travel. Again we are safe and our updates will continue during our stay.

Love you all,

Kyle and Tasha

Pictures

Do I look Afghani?

Street boys that wash cars for 100 Afs, which is approx $0.50 US.

In the US, the richer buy houses on hills. In Afghanistan, homes on hills are for the poor. This is because there is no water or electricity on the hill sides.

Chicken anyone?

Neighborhood and vendors.

Young street vendor.

Street picture.

I made a friend

We landed in Kabul on Tuesday. Perry told us not to let anyone help us with our bags or carts because they would then expect money. A boy, perhaps 14 years old, asked to help me and I said, "nay tashakur" (no thank you). He hung out and talked to me in English. When I'd ask him something he'd repeat what he said before. So I figure that he just knew enough English to offer help with luggage and greetings. I tried to keep him from helping but to no avail. So we gave him a fruit bar and grandpa gave him some pretzels. He had no idea what the fruit bar was so I said it was "nan" (bread). He really liked it. He then helped load our luggage when our ride picked us up so we gave him $2 US.

Eating

During our last full day in Dubia I ate SO much.
Before breakfast: a bowl of Rice Krispies
Breakfast at 9:00: 2 waffles, a piece of toast, orange juice, and a scoop of oatmeal
Lunch: Subway
After my nap: a bowl of Rice Krispies
Dinner: Chili's cajun chicken pasta
After waking up at 11:30 to get ready for our 3:00 am flight: a bowl of Rice Krispies

We did quite a bit of walking in Dubia, but still I'm eating more than I ever have in my life.

I'm surprised at how things taste amazing one day, and then terrible the next. There are so many food that don't interest me like they used to. For example, overall sweet things don't sound good. I used to eat a sweet treat over chips any day. Since I'm pregnant, chips have become my very good friend. Normally I love the tomatoes and chicken in Chili's pasta , yet I didn't even touch them that night.

Monday

Tasha is laying down for a nap. I was going to try and stay up but my eyes are burning and screaming for sleep. Oh well.

We had breakfast with the family and got to meet some new people. I am sure that we'll continue networking with them. During breakfast, we had someone come in and tell us that the airport had found Tasha's luggage. We went out to meet the driver and sure enough, that was it.

We walked to a Starbucks this morning and then took a taxi to a mall. Here in Dubai you see so many people of different origins. People here like big sunglasses. I think they think that they look Hollywood, or perhaps Baliwood. You know these people have lots of money because of the clothing they wear and the cars they drive. This place is a high abnormality; not what I expected.

I'll post pictures later today. Stay tuned...

Flying

We flew 11 hours to Amsterdam. The flight was fine. I didn't get sick! The Pixar movie Up was one of the movies I got to see. For those of you who don't know, I love Pixar movies! Overall I couldn't sleep on that flight.

The lack of sleep made me VERY sleepy on the flight to Dubia. I slept nearly the entire way. Again, I didn't get sick! We have since gotten some rest and breakfast is within the hour. Being pregnant and all, Sherry helped me find some cereal before breakfast time.

We got 7 of our 8 pieces of luggage. In the form of percents, that is a nice big percent. Sadly, the one piece missing is my only piece of luggage. Luckily, I have some food and my prenatal vitamins in my carry on. Sadly, my music books and two library books along with many other things are in that missing piece of luggage.

Silly Question

Today I had several vials of blood drawn as requested by my OBGYN doctor. I flinched quite a bit when the kind, older lady stuck a needle in me. My face showed quite a bit of pain. With the needle in, she had me readjust my arm. She explained that my movement makes it hard to find the vain.

Then she asked me a silly question. "Are you okay?"

I'm trying not to let the tears in my eyes spill over as I say, "It just hurts."

She responds, "Of course."

Maybe she was afraid I'd faint, and thus the question.

Baby

Kyle and I are going to have a baby! Today we got to see the baby at my first ultrasound. We heard the baby's heart rate at 178 beats per minute. Apparently, the smaller they are, the fast babies heart's beat. The baby is due July 19, 2009. That puts me at 10 weeks and 1 day.

Things I know about our baby:
1. The baby is hungry often. I eat more than I ever have in my life. Well, maybe as much as I did at the height of swim season in high school. Do you know those burrito especials at Rubios? I had a WHOLE one all by myself. That NEVER would have happened a few weeks ago. Then a few hours later I had a frozen strawberry bar. Food has become SO important to me. Sherry visited us, and she just laughed as I brought up food of some kind every couple of hours.

2. The baby is hard a work. I now get up nearly every night to go to the bathroom. Sometimes I even get up more than once a night.

3. The baby has arm and leg buds. I saw them move today!

4. The baby causes people to genuinely ask how I am doing and how I feel. Luckily I haven't run to the toilet or thrown up outside my classroom yet. I almost did lose my breakfast one morning, but thankfully I didn't. I did switch to taking my prenatals to night time and that has helped tremendously. Plus I have crackers and dried fruit on my desk.

5. The baby needs a LOT of fiber. Some of you can read between the lines there. Let's just say that I now have Fiber One for breakfast. I often drink unfiltered apple juice. It is very common for me to eat an apple at lunch.

6. The baby doesn't like all foods. Anything mushy looks and tastes terrible. This was very sad to figure out during my three Thanksgivings over three days. That meant mashed potatoes, stuffing, and yams weren't my friends anymore.

7. The baby is dearly loved by Kyle, me, and our extended family. Taylor loves to say that my eggo is prego.

Things I know about me:
1. Those mood swings people say pregnant ladies have... they weren't lying. I normally am a people pleaser by nature. I normally analyze multiple ways I can respond before saying anything. Those filters that people have grown accustomed to have disappeared, got lost, or are MIA. The thing is, I normally think so many thoughts, but I tend to mold them into a way that most people can handle. That whole process of thinking before talking went away. So my first thoughts are often spoken with a lack of please and thank you. My wonderful husband has had all kinds of things said to him. The sad thing was that I didn't always realize how mean they were until I got a look back from him or his cousins.

2. This lack of a filter made me realize that I am definitely a sinner in need of a Savior. I've been praying about the words I use, and those harsh words seem to be calming down a bit.

3. I am so blessed to be carrying my first baby.

Where Ain't God

Kyle sent this out as his daily word. I was so impressed that I'm posting it. I LOVE the last line.

scripture

Hosea 2:19-20

God speaking to Israel, “I will accept you as my wife forever, and instead of a bride price I will give you justice, fairness, love, kindness, and faithfulness. Then you will truly know who I am.”

En Espanol, Oseas 2:19-20

define

Bride price: It was the custom for the husband to pay his wife's parents a bride price.

story

Where Ain’t God

He was just a little lad, and on the Lord's Day, was wand'ring home from Sunday School, and dawdling on the way. He scuffed his shoes into the grass; he found a caterpillar; he found a fluffy milk-weed pod, and blew out all the "filler." A bird's nest in a tree o'head, so wisely placed on high, was just another wonder that caught his eager eye. A neighbor watched his zig-zag course, and hailed him from the lawn; asked him, where he'd been that day, and what was going on. "Oh, I've been to Sunday School." (He carefully turned the sod, and found a snail inside.) "I've learned a lot of God." "M'm a very fine way," the neighbor said, "for a boy to spend his time; if you'll tell me where God is, I'll give you a brand new dime." Quick as a flash his answer came, nor were his accents faint; "I'll give you a dollar mister, if you'll tell me where God ain't."