are spent with friends as we meet together for food, singing, and Bible study. I love that it’s a family affair with bunches of kids running in and out, singing along, or playing together as the adults talk.
Time out for a snack break — couldn’t miss out on the chocolate cake! (her grin is for Josh)
This is one of the few things that we enjoy here that we didn’t have in Oman.
November arrived and the humidity disappeared. It’s as if it dropped 20 degrees overnight. Now instead of sweating, I’m wearing sweatshirts. That could be because I caught whatever crud Camille was passing out and I’m congested and freezing even though I’m pretty sure that it’s still in the 80s. But the air is noticeably cooler, sick or not.
I’m writing this from one of Calvin’s last basketball games of the season. I think he only has 2 more after today. In spite of an auspicious beginning, they have gone on to lose every single game since. It turns out it’s not exactly their fault though. They are playing as a middle school team of 6, 7 and 8th graders, but they have to play against High School JV teams — 9th and 10th grade at a minimum. Something about having one or two boys on the team who just turned 14, pushes the entire team up an age group.
One of the interesting things about living here is I am not taken seriously because I’m a woman. Not that it bothers me most of the time. It provides a very nice barrier when I’m not in the mood to talk to strangers on the street or in a store (most of the time). If any talking needs to be done beyond normal purchasing small talk, I can task Josh with it.
It’s not that different from life in the military. In that case it’s less because I’m a woman and more because I’m not the one wearing the leafy thing on my collar. I’m sure I could get things done (and I have, especially when he’s deployed or in the field), but it’s much more efficient to send Josh to the medical clinic or housing because I sit around for 20 minutes waiting to see someone and he is able to walk right in. I guess you could say I’ve had 15 years of training for living here. Add in a little Zoloft to dull the sense of injustice and I’m quite happy most of the time.
Typical senario the other day. We ordered patio furniture that was to be delivered. I told them it had to be delivered before noon because I was going to be out and Josie is only at the house until noon. I knew it wasn’t going to be delivered before noon because that’s not how things happen here, but whatever, I’m used to it.
Noon came and went — we went to the pool. Around 1:15 I checked my phone and I had a few missed calls from a random number. Knowing it had to be the delivery people I called them back and was told, “Sorry, they are no longer in the area. We called, you weren’t there. Too bad, so sad.” When I reminded them that they missed their delivery window and needed to reschedule the man replied, “Hmm, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow. I will check with the driver and call you back. Don’t go away from your phone.” 6 hours later, still no call. Josh overheard me talking to them on the phone again and could tell they were giving me the brush off. He got on the phone, reminded the manager that I didn’t work for them (when they tried to blame the non-delivery on me) and pinned them down for the following morning, even getting the manager’s personal cell phone number (that he promised to call if delivery didn’t happen).
Guess what? 9:30 am and they were at my door. It’s a man’s world.