Results Are In!!!

No the election is still a week away, but on a personal note, my (Erin) CT scan came back with good news.  It showed a small ovarian cyst and possibly a lipoma, which is a small benign fatty growth.  The ovarian cyst can cause discomfort, but may go completely unnoticed, usually they resolved on their own.  Lipomas are common and often go unnoticed as well.  They can be removed, but usually are left alone unless causing discomfort or growing.  We are so thankful to have gotten a CT scan so easily and have a trusted friend from home that took a second look at them and gave us a clear and complete explanation, not to mention all in English.  I am feeling back to normal as well, not to mention at peace with the small lump I felt.  Why my symptoms resolved on their own after a couple weeks is still a little weird, but if related to the cyst it would make sense as symptoms often cycle with monthly cycles as well.  Thank you so much for thinking of me during this new experience.  The hardest part was knowing what to do in a place and culture we are still so unfamiliar with.  So thank you!

Think about Erin's mid-section!

Haha an unlikely request from her husband, I know. But this week she's been having some discomfort and ended up finding a couple of small lumps near her belly button. Obviously we have been a bit perturbed by all this, and decided to pursue getting a closer look which a CT scan might offer. But having never consulted a doctor in our city before, where to start?! We asked a friend for advice, and asked Him for wisdom on Sunday night (last night) and then this morning we were successful in finding a helpful doctor who, on his own initiative, suggested and ordered the CT scan this morning. She was able to be scanned immediately, but we won't know any results until tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon.
Before he ordered the CT scan, the doctor told Erin the lumps could very well be a couple of benign tumors, easily removed with a minor operation, and that they could well be causing this week's intermittent stomach discomfort. Obviously, we are hoping it's nothing more than that. So yes, you have my permission, so please do be thinking about Erin's mid riff.
Thank you for your role in our success here!

Our boys

Here's a little something (mostly for the grandparents) of what our boys have been up to:

A small tub of water to share, but when the big brother left, Whitman jumped right in!

finger painting for the first time

checking out a snail in our garden

playing outside, in the first real rain storm after at least 4 months, yeah for rain!

Language Learning

Here’s a quick look into the past 5 ½ months.  We have been pouring as much time as possible into language learning.  Some days are completely overwhelming, “how am I (Erin) ever going to remember all these words.”  “How in the world am I ever going to sound like a local?”  And yet, when I look at how far we have come and the degree to which I can communicate, I am very encouraged.  Often people comment, “Isn’t this an easy language to learn?”  If they only knew. 

Actually this language is very easy to learn, especially in comparison with many neighboring countries and actually in comparison with English too.  The hard part is the grammar structure is so different then what we’re used to.  Here’s a taste of what we’ve been learning:

-The verbs do not have a past, present or future tense, so you have to use a word like ‘already,’ ‘will,’ or a time word, like ‘yesterday.’ So you end up with: Yesterday I eat rice. 

-There are a large number of prefixes and suffixes, so, many of the words sound very similar as all active form verbs start with the same two letters. 

-We have been encouraged to learn phrases or the meaning behind the words, not just the literal translation.  I am reminded of this when I encounter words like kiss and smell, which are the same.  To live, stay, leave behind, and die are all from the same root word, changed only by the prefixes and suffixes used. 

Other fun language things:

-combining the words mix and stir turns it into blend.

-There are at least four words associated with rice: rice field, unhusked rice, uncooked rice, and cooked rice are all different words.  Try explaining this to a four year old who wants to know the word for rice, then proceeds to use it and correct me when I use a different word for the uncooked version. 

-Spicy as in spicy food is the same word to explain the feeling of medicine in a cut or sunscreen in the eyes. 

We’ve made some incredible progress, but we still have a ways to go!

The grass is ALWAYS green on the other side!

A common belief in the States is: Tan is Beautiful.   People will lay out in the sun for hours to become darker or spend money on one of many alternative methods to achieve darker skin.  There are even special swim suits that allow the sun to darken the skin it covers.  This is not the case here.  Almost every beauty product, lotion, make-up, and even deoderant, advertises ‘whitening properties.’  People here cover up under the sun; carrying umbrellas or putting on jackets when going out into the 90 degree weather.  We have yet to see any locals laying out on the beach, yet we live in a coastal city.  As most locals desire lighter skin, like ours, I (Erin) find myself still desiring darker skin like theirs. 

In another area of life: the traditional style toilet here is a ‘squat toilet.’ These are common in homes and many public places.  ‘Sit’ toilets have become common now a days too, but the ‘squat toilet’ is the most familiar and often more comfortable for locals.  In public restrooms are often accompanied by signs clearifying how they should be used. 

A tutor of ours moved rental homes because her first rental place didn’t have a ‘squat toilet,’ which was preferred by her parents when they visited.  I recently came across an aritcle about a new product out in the States, a special stool that fits tightly around the toilet replicating the squating position used with a ‘squat toilet.’  Apparently people don’t know there are plenty of ‘squat toilets’ still in production and for sale here.  It sounds like a new wave in the States; people choosing the squating position instead of sitting.  I wish I could jump on that band wagon as I have more then enough opportunities here.  I find my cultural upbringing is still too strong within me as I still like a nice tan and choose a ‘sit toilet’ over any other. 

With all this to say it just strikes me how people almost half the world apart still want what the other has, even if they don’t realize it.  

Our Boys

watching Elmo's World

This morning, unprompted by us, our boys began a conversation of their own in the local language (in blue). 

Whitman, “Hi brother, How are you?”

Caedmon, “Just fine, and you?”

Whitman loudly with enthusiam, “just fine.”



watching movies with a friend

Then not more then an hour later Whitman comes up to me (Erin) to let me know he has a full diaper, then he procedes to say “change diaper” in the local language.  This was the first time he ever notified me he needed a diaper change not to mention it was in the local language. 

Our boys amaze us every day with what they have learned and remember!  We have been taught to learn language ‘like a child’ is the best method.  We are seeing it in action everyday!