I Made It!

I have been in Abidjan for almost two weeks now. It was really nice to finally touch down, unpack and start to get to know the city.  I am currently living in a temporary location and waiting for my future home to be ready for me to move in. So there is another move involved but till then I am enjoying the apartment that has been provided till the next move. It is the raining season here in WA so the rain brings a nice breeze making it not so hot, hot, hot.  I am thankful for this because it is nice to get somewhat acclimated before it gets really hot.  
 
Since arriving I have experienced and am learning the taxi system of Abidjan. There are multiple colored Taxi’s (blue, green, yellow and red) each are different types headed to different areas and all drive like they are trying to win the Daytona 500.  I will eventually be driving the city myself but for now it’s good for me to observe and get familiar with the different zones and districts before I join the wild game of dodge people, cars, bikes and random animals. There is organization to the chaos and I am starting to pick up on it.

 

When I’m not out exploring, visiting street vendors and at the supermarche’s in search for food (all in French and Arabic) I’m learning language.  I am learning French five days a week 4 hours a day. The language program here is set up to teach you French just like a baby would start. So I have learned family, animals, colors, foods, numbers, clothing, house and kitchen stuff and a few other things.

For example my mentor will say “The chicken is on the bed” at that point I would find the chicken in the mix of toys and place it on the bed. She might say “The boy drinks the water” then I would take the boy doll and have him drink water.  I have been told I am doing great picking it up, I even passed a pop quiz in the home of a National Pastor this week.  

So far I have been introduced to an area of Abidjan. I attended services on Sunday. It was of course in French so the only bit I understood was what my teammates translated.  Even though the service was in a different language I enjoyed it and was shocked that it was only 2 1/2 hours long. I’ve been in services in Africa that have gone 4 hour regularly.  

Church in Abidjan

Later in the week I went back to that same area and joined in with the woman’s Soccer game.  We prayed, played, laughed, sang, dance to the beat of the drum, then played and prayed some more before heading home. It was a fun and I look forward to doing it again in the upcoming weeks.  I also really look forward to being able to say more than just a greeting and few broken words to these women.

I am thankful for God’s provision on getting me to where I am today, for the team He has placed around, their willingness to help me adjust to Africa and even for the cooler weather to acclimate in. The last two weeks have been full of new things. Drinking OJ from a plastic bag, getting a taxi all by myself, cooking multiple meals from scratch, learning over 150 words in a week, etc..  There is still much more first to come! 



Neighborhood Street After the Rain

 

In Kenya

After traveling over 36 hours I made it to Kenya. The last time I was in Kenya was 2004 it has been way to long! While here in Kenya I am getting to meet new friends and coworkers but I also am getting to see some old ones too! I got a day to break away from learning this week and explore. I got to go on Safari, pet a baby elephant, kiss a giraffe, enjoy a coffee at Java House, got dragged out of Kazuri beads before I went broke, and ate way too much at Carnivore. Enjoying Kenya but looking forward to arriving in my new home in West Africa.

 

Recent Highlights

My time in Vancouver is coming close to an end, in fact in less than a week I will be headed on a plane towards Africa.  I am excited and ready with anticipation of what the Lord has in store for me.  The last few weeks have been full of strengthening relationships and speaking truth and encouragement in to the lives of new friends. Oh and they absolutely have encouraged me along the way too.

 My top five Highlights over the last few weeks (not necessary in order) have been:

-          Biking Stanley Park right before Sunset with my awesome roomie.

-          Meeting a new sweet friend who has relocated to Vancouver from West Africa.

-          Hanging out all day with a dear friend picking up last minute essentials (ok really wants) for our next move.

-          Watching four awesome Kidos for the weekend as their parents celebrated their anniversary.

-          A trip to Whistler with the girls (except for hours lost watching Man of Steel that was So boring) Whistler hosted the biathlon, cross-country ski, Nordic combined and ski jump events for the 2010 Olympics.

 



 

Olympic Park at Whistler  

Happy Birthday Queen Victoria

In Canada we had a three day weekend as people and business took the time off to celebrate Victoria Day. Victoria Day is celebrated every year on the last Monday before May 25, in honor of Queen Victoria's birthday. It is thought to be the start to summer, like Memorial Day for us Americans.  So since it was a 3 day holiday our teachers added on another day and called it Family weekend. 

 Since my parents had already scheduled an Alaskan Cruise for this week my actually family weekend was going to be less than six hours in Victoria, British Columbia. However, me and one of the other single ladies who is now part of my new family went and had a great weekend.  We went and explored some new and favorite sights in Vancouver and then went over to Victoria. Victoria is a 25min plane ride or a 5hr journey by buses, train and Ferry. We on a budget took the 5 hour route there and back.

 

In Victoria we stayed in a cute hotel located within walking distance of everything it was great! We had yummy food everywhere we went. We walked down to the Ocean through an old historical neighborhood admiring the ornate homes. We walked the shore line where seals were playing and searching for food and watched the nautical traffic coming in and out of the harbor.

 

 Saturday night we got to have dinner with my family. I loved seeing my parents and my Aunt and Uncle. I was grateful to get to see them even if it was for only a few hours, we made them count and had a good time.

 Then on Sunday we had a nice breakfast at this cute little restaurant. I  had Apple Pancakes with salted caramel which were Amazing! Then  we dressed up in what looked like a suit for an astronaut and boarded a Zodiac boat to go whale watching.  Oh course we volunteered to sit in the front and we headed out full speed in search for Whales. We found them!!!

 

 

 

We got to see both Killer whales and 2 humpback whales along with Sea Lions and seals! It is pretty cool to watch the massive tale of a humpback whale come out of the water.  My pictures of the whales are not that great because I did not want to miss what was happening in front of me.

 

 

 So I had a great 4 day weekend and would highly recommend Victoria for a nice little Ocean get away. The one thing we did not do that could be fun was going to High Tea. We ran out of time Maybe next time.

It's Been a Month

Time is flying here in Vancouver. I cannot believe I have been here over a month.  I’m enjoying getting out in the city and meeting people and sharing the Love of Christ with those I meet. I have started going to a meet up group where I am meeting people from all over the world who have come to Vancouver to work, study or escape war torn countries. I also have joined the gym/pool in my neighborhood.

The days are starting to get longer and last week was rain free! The good part of longer days and sunshine means more people are out of their homes and into the parks. It also means the Sun rises at 5 am and I wake up ready to go to early. So I have had to get creative on how to block the light from coming in through my window waking me up. 

I love spending times in parks.  I occasional borrow friends kids and head to the park. The parks have been a great place to meet people and where I have found myself having good conversations. The people of Vancouver LOVE their dogs, ever where I look are people with dogs (streets, parks, busses, restaurants, everywhere) and they have tons of parks dedicate to just dogs.  This makes me miss my Yorkie Sophie. I have to confess I have Skyped with here since being in Vancouver.

I’m grateful for every opportunity to get out with friends and explore God’s creation. I have been biking in Stanley Park which I really enjoy. I have also made it to Third Beach.  Not really the type of beach I am used to since I am truly a Floridian but hey I’ll take it. I am very thankful for a friend who took me and a few others outside of the city to explore! We went to an area called Squamish.  The drive up and back is Beautiful with bays, rivers, waterfalls, and snow caped mountains.  We stopped and watched the Kiteboarders for a while, made it to Shannon Falls and the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge.

I’m looking forward to having my parent s pass through in a few weeks for family week.  I’ll get to see them as they stop in Victoria on their Anniversary Cruise. I am very blessed to have parents who love the Lord and have shown me and my brother what a loving, committed relationship, rooted in Christ looks like. It will be nice to see them one more time before I leave North America.  

Up in Squamish

Kiteboarders

Shannon Falls

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

Twin Falls

Are You From Georgia?

Having been in the city for over a week now, I am becoming more familiar with the area and meeting neighbors. I have already had the opportunity to talk with a few individuals from West Africa and hoping to meet some more.

My accent has become a door opener to having conversations and making friends. It’s funny actually because I never really thought it was that bad. But I have been asked by more than one person if I am from Georgia.  One time I said “That’s funny I am from Georgia how did you guess that?”  They then kindly explained that I kinda sound like some of the woman of the show with the little girls doing beauty contest. That’s right folks some Canadians apparently think I sound like someone off of Toddlers and Tiaras.  Maybe Honey Boo Boo lol



It has rained a lot since I have been here but Monday we had beautiful weather and a group of us made our way to town to explore the city.  I rode on the Sea Bus over to Lonsdale Quay Market to have lunch. There I had some really good Sea Food Crowder and fresh baked bread. The market is pretty cool and has lots of international food choices.  

After Lunch we walked the sea wall a bit before heading to Stanley Park.  Stanley Park is a beautiful park that has large trees and vegetation. On some of the trails you can quickly forget you are in a city.  I did not have the time to bike through the park this trip but I will be headed back to bike it before I leave.    

Cherry Blossoms

Stanley Park Trail to Beaver Lake

Welcome to Vancouver

Since my last updated, I have left campus, been home, and am now in Vancouver. I have received my Visa!!! I was very excited to receive it! Goodbyes were said to new friends as we scatter to the Nations. This is my next leg of the journey and I will be here in Vancouver for a few months. 

While home I was going non-stop, I unpacked to pack again, had meals with lots of people, visited family and friends and I sat for my NCE National Counselor Exam (I PASSED)! 

Goodbyes are never easy but I was able to have some sweet ones. I had a bitter sweet send off from my parents and hope to see them come to visit in Abidjan within the next year or so. I love that my last Sunday in the States was Easter Sunday and enjoyed spending it with my Church Family.

 

At the airport in Atlanta I found favor with the man checking me in. You see packing for years oversea is not an easy task. Oh Noooo you see I packed and unpacked, then packed and unpacked again. Finally I got it down to 3bags and a carry on. Each bag could be 50pounds I used all 50 pounds, actually one of them was over.  However this man showed me grace and saved me $300!!! So that was an amazing start to the second leg of the journey.

After clearing customs in Vancouver, I was greeted by the smiling faces of those who will be my teachers for the next few months. They promptly took my bags and handed me a folder that had every I needed to find my apartment. This was my first assignment. I took a minute to catch my breath and then headed off to catch a train to another train, then walk to a bus, then be dropped off close to my new home, and then walk another block.  An hour later and a half later I was in my new apartment greeted by my roommate who arrived the day before.  The area where I am living is nice. I have a grocery store, drug store, farmers market, Starbucks and Mc Donald’s all with in short walking distance from my home.

The next day, I and the two other ladies here for training went out to explore the city. We hopped on a train to downtown Vancouver and walked the Sea Wall and visited Stanley Park. We had awesome sunny weather, this place is Beautiful! I love that almost everywhere I look there is water. 

Orientation started today. We had a good first day of classes and enjoyed getting to learn more about our teachers. We will be taken the week to get acquainted with the city and learn what goals the Urban Life team has for us! Exciting!