A Rare Morning

On the 15th of each month at the boy's school, there is a parent get together.  Material related to parenting and child rearing is presented, then door prizes are drawn, and a monetary lottery occurs.  Last month I was asked to present regarding health & children.  It was an incredible opportunity to share about general practices such as hand washing and covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing.  I spent the first half just talking about germs and their transmission as so many sicknesses are seen as the cause of weather changes, "wind entering your body" (literally translated), or some spiritual craftiness.  I'm sure I probably only scratched the surface and presented such a different view it only sunk in so deep for some.

This past Monday, a teacher presented on gross and fine motor skills followed by a fashion presentation.  A fellow mom presented on various ways to wear a heading covering.  Here, there are various reasons, times, and ways woman wear head coverings.  The default answer is because it is required by their belief system. 

To start, the presenter asked for a volunteer.  You, guessed it... I, Erin, quickly raised by hand.  Almost three years here and I still have not learned how to put one on.  I also knew all the other, 50 plus mothers, would get the biggest kick out of the westerner being dressed in a head covering.  Many laughed, smiled, and said, "Oh yes it will look prettier on her."  To which I joked, "But my nose looks so big."  Which brought more laughter because of course they love my big nose.  A few people commented that I looked middle eastern. 

Wearing a Ninja (not translated)
Most wear this or a version that just covers the head, to pin the outer covering to. 

Style 1

Style 2

Style 3

Style 4 - Party Style

It turned out not to be the best way for me to learn, though a friend videoed the whole thing, but it sure was a great deal of fun!  Though I'm not required to wear one by the authorities here, we have discussed it in the context of "becoming all things to all people," and I'm getting use to how my nose and prominent eyebrows look! 

Souvenir Making

Souvenirs are a large part of the culture in this country, but key chains and magnets are not the common items.  Any time a person goes on a trip, friends, family, and neighbors at home expect (to some degree) to be bought a souvenir.  The most common souvenirs are fruit and small packaged food such as candy or snacks.  I, Erin, am still trying to figure out whom to buy for and the acceptable quantity.  Often when we return home from at trip we are asked by neighbors, "When did you return? Where is my souvenir?"  Even neighbors from the other side of our complex.

We recently had the opportunity to visit some locals who make a souvenir type candy unique to Barat.  It is one of our favorites.  It is a gooey treat made from palm sugar, coconut, and either uncooked sticky rice or peanuts.   

Whitman fell asleep on the ride there. 
Our hosts quickly grabbed a blanket and pillow as we began to lay him on the floor. 

Wrapping it up.
The prepared candy is spooned into dried banana leaves (left), then folded up (right). 

John and I having a try.
Wrapped up it lasts for at least a month.  Maybe more if you can keep the ants away. 

Palm sugar being boiled down. 

Coconut husks are used as fuel for the fire. 

This man was excited to have his picture taken with us AND his bike. 

Great start to the day!

It has been cloudy and rainy all morning making for about 80 degree weather instead of low 90s.  It is beginning to look a little like the upcoming Holiday at our house.  And drinking Pumpkin spice tea from a recent package.  Enjoying it all!

A recent home made wreathe. 
No evergreens in our town, though we have seen them in other areas of the island - at higher elevations. 

Celebrations!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

We drove to the big city on Wednesday, the most traveled day of the year... in the States anyway.  We made it in a record 6 hours as we cut out our lunch stop to enjoy Pizza Hut on our arrival!  There is a fairly large expat community in the big city.  This was a blessing while we lived there; sharing stories of life overseas, advice on how to live/work here, and items from the Sates when we received packages.  So on Thursday we joined 4 other families and a handful of singles to celebrate Thanksgiving.  It was a great time of sharing the things we are thankful for, singing and just good old time with friends.  Then there was the food!  We had turkey, potatoes, gravy, rolls, cranberries, green beans, and pie!  Thankfully our host succeeded in getting one of two turkey's left in the whole city.  Turns out it was from last year...frozen and just as good!  The cranberries too were in short supply.  Two cans were all that was found by multiple people.  I made pumpkin and at last pecan pie.  I bought whipping cream as well.  While I whipped it up it seemed a little different than I expected, getting firm quickly and not evenly.  We stuck it in the fridge until dessert time.  When we took it out it had harden, looking like very white butter.  Thankfully it tasted great and was smooth and soft in your mouth. 

The boys were great travelers in the car!
Being silly and mimicking what they see around them: looking for lice...none found!
 

Garbage can in Wendy's at the mall.

 We spent Friday shopping and enjoying the city.  As we walked through the mall the boys kept asking, "Is it Christmas already?" due to the various decorations (which where few and far between, especially compared with what we are use to).  John and I even went on a date while the boys played at a friends house!  It was a really nice way to spend the Holiday. 

Our four year old. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 On Monday we celebrated Whitman's birthday.  We started with cinnamon rolls and presents before school. 

The much asked for present. 
I'm not sure where he got the idea for a dartboard.  Thankfully we found a nice magnetic one at Ace Hardware in the big city.  Ace is the westerners place to shop... it has SO MUCH more than just tools.

 

Not sure what to think. 
The box was from a French press.  He kept saying he doesn't like coffee. 

Swinging at a piñata. 
In the afternoon we celebrated with neighbors.  Playing with water balloons and regular ones.



Batman and Whitman
Thanks to the warm weather we were able to make a piñata the day before his birthday. 

Neighbors waiting for turns with the piñata.

Then we ate cake!

Being sung to.

 

Blowing at the candles.

Whitman is moving into being four very quickly.  At one point during the day, after picking his nose, he said, "I didn't eat it because I'm four now." 

Plumbing

When we moved into our house in May we used water from a well provided by the complex.  Two months ago we had city water hooked up, which is river water pumped in by the city.  The pump only runs from about 2-12pm, so we also had a water tank installed.  In the morning we close the city water pipe and open the pipe from our tank.  In the afternoon, we open the city water pipe again and close the tank pipe.  So far we have had a reliable water supply and a lot better pressure as compared with the complex water.  A few weeks ago though, a pipe under our sink where the water enters the house, broke as soon as we turned on the high pressure city water.  Thankfully we were without water for only about 12 hours. 
Last week a pump in our complex broke leaving many of our neighbors (those still with complex water) completely without water for days.  We left the complex water hooked up to our house but just shut off, resulting in an ability to share our water with neighbors because as soon as we open the valve connecting us to the complex and leave our city water pipe or tank pipe open that water runs right out to the complex, even quicker if there isn’t anywater pressure in the complex pipes.  Thankfully we figured this out before unintentionally leaving the complex water pipe open. 



Under the back kitchen window:
pipe from city on left, pipe from our tank on right.

Gray pipe from the city, white pipe from the complex; only semi-buried.

Our water filter is now usable with the increased water pressure!

Under the kitchen sink:
water comes into the house goes up to the sink or down to the bathroom.  The hoses go to the washing machine and water filter.  The large pipe is the kitchen drain which was recently renovated as the old drain (see covered up pipe on floor) was draining poorly.

 

Water tank:
usually lasts a couple days, depending on laundry!

On another note we started having toilet problems last week.  We have a sit toilet, but not a self flushing toilet.  I freely admit we have been throwing toilet paper down the toilet since moving in.  Most people here don’t use toilet paper but no one has ever said not to throw it down the toilet.  But as our toilet started draining very slowly last week we stopped putting TP in the toilet.  This didn’t seem to help, so John bought some powdered chemical.  Each time we used it, the toilet improved but never really returned to  normal.  After 3 times John used another chemical recommended at a hardware store.  This chemical seemed to burn everything in the toilet and fill the bathroom with smoke, not to mention a very foul smell.  That night John left for the capital city.  The next morning the toilet was still full and would not drain at all.  My husband was gone and there is no phone book in which I could look for a plumber.  Thankfully it was Sunday meaning most of our neighbors were at home.  Our neighbor Ryan didn’t have a number for a plumber but took his motorcycle out to look for advertisements posted on trees, walls, poles, etc.  Finally after  talking to a friend of his he found a phone number.  Everyone suspected the septic tanks was full so first I tried to touch basis with the landlords, a phone number only John had.  Thanks to cell phones John could be reached, though our landlords could not.  In the end I called a plumber, who had to come from an hour away, but thankfully only had to plunge the toilet with an electric pump-like machine.  On a funny language note, the word everyone used to empty the septic tank was the verb form of a ‘straw,’ as used for drinking.  So the plumber ‘straws’ the septic tank, not ‘sucks out’ which is a different word. 
Some of these house difficulties are due to the fact we are renting, the others are due to a very different way of doing things!
I have to keep telling myself this is an adventure not an ordeal (which a loving aunt reminded me the only difference between the two is my attitude!)

 

English

Erin with attendees

This past weekend we took a trip to the provincial capitol as I had been invited to speak at an English event at a local University.  I was the guest native speaker.  I attended the whole day, giving a motivational and practical session on English study and usage at the end of the day.  John and the boys spent the day sight seeing.  It turned out to be a lot more fun than I expected.   

 

Treats provided for the presenters.
I sat at a table on the stage even through other presentations.

 

College students and a few high school students attended.

 

I have become more and more thankful to be a native English speaker.  Not so much because of the large demand for the language here (I would be happy with a few less opportunities in that area), but because it has become truly a world wide language.  It has been chosen as the language of commerce, politics, and travel for the combined efforts to grow of 10 nations in our region.  After Latin, English seems to be the most widely or influential language in the realm of medicine as many medical terms here come from English.  This is even more so in the area of technology; laptop, pause, and HP for hand phone (cell phone) are the terms used here (in English).  Even funnier is the word toilet is commonly used as is WC (for water closet), all said with a local accent of course.  As I sit in a café to write this popular music from the States is playing.  Sometimes the usage is not quite exact, but it just reinforces the prominence of English and what a blessing it is that we already know it!

 

Truck carrying LPG
(spelled out phonetically)

Bought at a local pharmacy

"My wife is darling"
on the back window of a bus-like public transportation vehicle

Meaning...? 
Adds and signs around town (or in the mall as above) often use English, not always well.

For my presentation last weekend I was asked to motivate the students as to the importance of studying English.  As evident as that is, I found it difficult at first as we have come here with the mindset of learning the language or languages spoken here.  So I had to shift my focus for the day!

Halloween overseas

In the big city and as we traveled internationally last month we saw a few signs of Halloween, in costumes or masks for sale here or there.  In the small town of Barat there isn't a single sign of this very western Holiday.  As our boys are 'third culture kids' (growing up in a culture other than their parents culture; resulting in a culture of their own) we desire to enable them to integrate into this culture well, but also understand the American culture.  So as part of that, we had our own, slightly different, Halloween celebration!

Our Jack-O-lantern!
Pumpkins are readily available year around, but we could only find wide and very squatty ones.  So we chose a better shape, but a different piece of produce, a watermelon!  It was much easier to carve out, but maybe messier.  We thoroughly enjoyed the insides along with candy corn from a recent package!

Trying out the Jack-O-Lantern. 
And explaining to the neighbors what in the world we were doing.  Right after this picture, the little boy in the middle grabbed the 'stem' and started eating it.  Sometimes I worry what our neighbors think as we 'play' with food: mung beans for example that I provided for Whitman to play with and ended up in his ear.

At night! 
I was a little hesitant to leave is outside as I thought a random kid might come by and get a little too curious.  It was still there in the morning though, and not covered in ants! 
Sometimes I think these little celebrations resembling our home culture are more for me, Erin, than the kids, though they still get a kick out of them.  

Butter!!! And other things.

We found butter in Barat!  Previously we were buying butter by the ½ pound in the big city whenever we were there.  Our purchases were somewhat limited by our small freezer space.  Here in Barat John happened upon a can, yes a can, of ‘creamy butter’ at a local shop.  We decided to try it and were quite pleased.  It is definitely butter, not margarine!  It just happens to come in a can, which also happens to save precious freezer space!  After our first trial can, John returned to buy more.  He did not immediately find it on the self the second time so he asked the shop attendant if there was any butter.  In the national language there is only one word for both margarine and butter.  So as he asked for it, he specified by saying, “The kind made from cow’s milk.”  The shop attendant replied, “Oh, there’s butter made from cow’s milk?”  Ha!  How do you reply to that.  Especially when margarine and butter are the same word.  We have since bought many cans, and though a little pricey, are thrilled to find it here in Barat!

 

 

Other things, in pictures:

The boy's are thrilled with new shirts. 
Fun to sport home town teams, whether they know it or not!

We attended a neighbor's birthday party.

The family had special outfits made just for the occasion. 
The birthday girl sat in the chair, accepting all her gifts as guests arrived.  Her father then shared about her and hopes for her future.  Then we all sang and she cut the cake.  Treat bags and food were then served.  The cake on the other hand was not served, nor were the presents opened in front of the guests. 



Whitman and I attended as Caedmon stayed home sick.
A tent and chairs were set up outside in the street for all the guests, over 40 parents and kids.

The boys playing with chalk on our street with a neighbor friend.

The boys waiting to come out. 
On school days they have to stay in their room till 6:30am.

Style
I am frequently bewildered with what is considered as matching or clashing.  With white skin and a large nose that is desired by everybody here, and the above example of matching patterns, there are times I am not too concerned with how I look.

Weaving

We were invited us to see the process of weaving sarongs in a near by village.  Our province is well known for hand made silk sarongs.  The silk is grown and the sarongs are woven in various areas of this province.  I know the things we have these days originally were ALL made by hand, but to see it in action knowing the result is so fine and beautiful is just amazing. 

Women begin learning the many aspects involved at a young age and continue as they are physically able.  .

Weaving.
Skilled woman can produce three sarong per week.

Preparations. 
The silk thread is first wrapped around various bamboo poles just to prepare for the loom like structure. 

A finished product. This is actually a piece of fabric about 4 meters long.  It is sown together, matching the pattern, to become a sarong that is worn for special events by both men and women.  Above is a pattern worn by women.  Smaller box patterns are usually worn by men, just as colorful and fancy. 

We attended a wedding last week, see the tent in the background. 
For a previous wedding I had bought a sarong at the market, but I did not know at the time that it had to be sown together.  I after finding a tailor I went ahead and had a traditional outfit made. 

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