* Your kids don't have to go to a petting zoo to pet farm animals; they just go to the daily market.* Your kids play a game they call "mosquito" while chasing each other with pointed fingers while buzzing about.
* You catch a chameleon in the back yard, and the locals are afraid of it.
* You never know when you electricity or water will not be working, and when the water comes back on, you never know what it will look like - or taste like! Don't worry - we wouldn't go near this stuff, except with a camera.
* You hear a voice calling "hodi" instead of a knock at the door.
* Bicycles pass your vehicle on the road because the road is so rough that your four wheels are in four separate pot holes.
* You have a shoe motto which is, "Crocs, Stocks, or Flops" (Crocs, Birkenstocks or flip flops), and your kids aren't really sure what socks are for.
* You see monkeys and mongooses while exercising.
* Your produce sometimes comes from your backyard: bananas, avocado, guava, passion fruit, lemons, oranges, papaya, pumpkin, lettuce, and peppers.* You have a milkman bring milk every day from local cows, and your eggs are still warm and have chicken gunk on them.
* Locals transport items on their heads instead of in backpacks, purses, or computer cases. These items include water, wheeled luggage, soap, sugar cane, benches, milk, firewood, and well, you name it.
* Having a personal vehicle is rare.
* The word "football" means "soccer," and it's the only sport that matters.
* A good wedding present is a gift-wrapped goat.
* Your house's view of your garden and Lake Victoria is worth a vastly greater amount than your rent.
* The only seasons are wet and dry, Christmas is hot, there's no daylight savings, and the sunset time only varies by 20 minutes all year round.
* Your kid complains of a tummy ache, and you immediately suspect amoeba, worms, or giardia. Your child has a fever and you're pondering malaria.
* You're thankful for your safe arrival after any short or long car trip.
* You feel you're right where God wants you to be!
9 comments:
Now that is a list. David Letterman eat your heart out! We are praying for you guys and moved by your faithfulness! Thanks for keeping us up-to-date.
That is a great list! Oh, the water!!! :)
Kim, sounds all too familiar, though we've never had water come out of our taps that looks like that! Never have seen a gift wrapped goat but we named one once before we cooked him. Poor Fabiao!
You Hills are great.
Love the post. I even tweeted about it. Our life in Nairobi had some of those elements. But you are in a more challenging place than the big city - in many ways.
This is fabulous! We love your heart AND your humor. The gift wrapped goat is gotta be my favorite. :)
This is great. You've summarized the list well. The best -- and one I haven't seen -- is the gift-wrapped goat.
I love the list and post. I lived in Kenya and even though it is not exactly like your description in some things of the list like the potholes... it is the same
This list made me smile! I love getting to keep up with y'all in the various means that we are able these days! Praying for your continued protection and provision!
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