I have now been living and working in Abidjan for
over a year. That’s Crazy! About this time last year I had just finished about
a month of language and had just finished my first homestay with an Ivorian
family. In those first few months I was very limited in language, reading signs
or food labels at the grocery store was nearly impossible. I had no idea how to drive a stick shift and
had to rely on taxis to get me across town.
I was learning to convert everything: The Dollar to CFA, Fahrenheit to Celsius,
learning the Metric System. Simple tasks like ordering food, getting meat, cheeses,
fruits and veggies at the market was a challenge and paying bills or getting
needed documents would make me want to pull my hair out. Wow, I have come a
long way in a year adjusting to my life here in West Africa! It has not always been a smooth transition. Actually
if I’m honest with you, I have to say I have had some pretty hard days here,
even some with tears.
In fact I had one just last week. It was one of those
days were West Africa was not on my list of favorite places to live. Things
were not going as planned, people were not showing up on time or even at all,
language was just not clicking that day, a 3 lane road became a 5 lane road
with inpatient people all trying to get somewhere quicker than me and the guy
who I told not to clean my windshield with his dirty rag was simply just not
listening to me. It was a day where I had
gotten so caught up in completing a list of tasks that I put my wants and needs
above others, above relationships and was even angry when it did not go as
planned. Yep I have flaws, pride, selfishness and a desire for control, just to name a few. But even with all my flaws my Father loves me
and uses me in the mist of it. He stretches
me, humbles me, sharpens me, refines me and shows me grace.
The very next day, I went to visit a family across
town. Their home is way back in the middle of a neighborhood that is very hard
to get to by car. So my coworker and I drove the car as far as we could and
started to walk the rest of the way.
Seconds into our walk the news of our arrival “ les blancs” (the whites)
had begun to make its way around the neighborhood. Within minutes the wife of the home where we
were coming to visit was running, no not just running but leaping down the road
to embrace and receive us. We were welcomed into her home and had a wonderful
time of encouraging and listening to everything the Father is doing in her life
and in the lives of others she is working with. Yes this is why I am here. West
Africa was back on my list of favorite places in the world to live.
Then just a few days later, I found myself sitting
with a group of woman in a market as they sold food, clothes and
cosmetics. We were sharing stories and I
was listing to stories about their lives and getting to know more about them
and their culture. We were eating, laughing and the time was flying by and I
didn’t care I was going to be stuck in rush hour traffic. I was exactly where I
wanted to be. I was speaking and
understanding French, laughing and enjoying the company of friends. Love it.
Even though I still have a lot more to learn, in
over a year I have learned a lot of French. I have made some good friends even
some who are becoming like family. I can read most signs and food labels at the
grocery store. I now know how to drive a stick shift and even 4wheel drive. I
still love to take taxis places because sometimes that just really is easier. I
can shop with the best of them at the market, grocery store, you name it. I’m a
good shopper. I can pay bills and now know to bring a good book when going to
get needed documents. I’m not sure I
will ever be able to say I like driving here in Abidjan. Actually driving in
the States might be one of the things I miss most about the US, along with fast
internet. Overall, I am adjusting and
growing in love and appreciation for my host culture. It’s been a crazy year,
comforts have been challenged, new ways of doing things have been learned and I
think that is a good thing.
