Only Overseas

We all expect life to be different overseas, but there are things that even after 5 years still amaze us...

There are insects; many of them and BIG ones.

Whitman is much braver than his brother when it comes to these large spiders.

Motorcycles are used to transport just about everything.
Yes, the goat is alive.

My six year old can climb a coconut tree, bamboo, or just about any medium sized trunk.

People are always referring to themselves as black and us as white, which isn't taboo to say.  

Grated Cheese

When left out, even just while we eat our meal, it melts together...oh the tropics!

The only bathtub in the house.

It is getting small for the big girl and is used right next to the washing machine which is next to the kitchen sink...of course.  

I have a compost bin out back which had lost it's lid.  This had not been a problem until a chicken, not just once but repeatedly, started laying her eggs in the bin.  I finally came up with a make shift lid.  Who knew my compost would be susceptible to hens.  This is only an issue because chickens and ducks are left to just wander about. 

The things we experience here never cease to amaze me!  Yet, these are just a few of the small aspects of our lives living overseas.  

Independence Day Celebrations

The week surrounding this country's Independence Day was filled with various celebrations.  The beginning of the week brought two days of parades, followed by activities in our own neighborhood at the end of the week.  The first parade was composed of floats from kindergarten and middle schools from around the city.  I took the boys down town to watch while John worked at the house as Evangeline napped.  

Pedi-cabs were decorated to comprise each school's float.  

Two to three children from each kindergarten were selected to represent their school.

The float themes ranged from aspects of the culture, such as fish or fruit, to animals and fairy tales.

We stopped to watch the parade in a patch of shade across from Caedmon's old elementary school.  We were invited to sit down with a lady in front of her house.  She looked slightly familiar, but it is hard to keep track of everyone we meet.  As I chatted with her, I soon was reminded she is the grandmother of the neighbor girls directly across the street.  My embarrassment was compounded by the fact we had spent the biggest holiday of the year at her house, although it was three years ago.  

After spending about an hour watching the kindergarten floats, we headed home.

Two weeks prior to the parades, the boys' teachers informed us they had been selected to represent their school in the parade for elementary and high schools.  The boys were asked to bring "western clothes" for their part.  The day of the parade they had practice at 12pm, which resulted in everyone being dismissed from school at 10am.  We headed home to get lunch as quickly as possible before returning to school for practice.  We have been very fortunate to be barrowing a friends car, which resulted in being asked to help transport the children to the parade starting line.  After dressing and practicing at school, I carted two separate loads of kids and props to the starting line for a 2pm start time.  Time here is very, very flexible, so the parade actually began sometime after 2:30.  As the boys' school was 46th in line, it took additional time for their group to actually begin moving.  

Practice at school

Elementary schools lining up at the start.

Caedmon and Whitman were allowed to sit in the Pedi cab during the parade.

The parade went through town to a public performance building, about 2 miles away from the start.  Come to find out, upon arriving at the building, each school put on a short little play for the Mayor.  This caused the parade to move quite slowly, requiring the kids to endure a great deal of standing and waiting.  

Each elementary and high school showcased an aspect of the Barat culture.  

Caedmon and Whitman pretended to be tourists interested in buying fish from local sellers.

Caedmon is buying fish, while Whitman snaps photos.  Caedmon gave the real smoked fish to the Mayor as a gift.  

After the kids got under way, I realized I should drive the car to the ending point to have transportation for when we finished.  After I found a nearby parking place, I walked to meet the boys along the parade route.  Once I met up with them, Caedmon had to use the bathroom.  Caedmon and I walked up and down the street looking for a place to use the restroom.  We ended up a random person's house.  Thank goodness for their generosity.  When Caedmon was back with his schoolmates, it was nearing 4pm when John needed to go teach, but was at home with Evangeline.  I walked back to the car, drove home, and picked up Evangeline to then meet back up with the boys.  Unfortunately while I was gone, the kids' float only moved 3 blocks.  Evangeline and I then spent the rest of the parade posing for pictures with spectators as we moved at a snails pace.  

Shortly after 6pm, the kids had appeared before the mayor and were free to return home.  

It was one of the craziness days we have had in a long time.  I did a whole lot of running around town, the parade took much longer than expected, the kids in the parade were worn out from all the walking and standing, and Evangeline and I seemed to be more interesting to the spectators than the cutely dressed school kids.  

At the end of the week, the neighborhood kids participated in various competitions organized by a fellow nieghbor.  Caedmon and Whitman both participated, while Evangeline and I enjoyed watching and chatting with neighbors.  

Eating Competition

Lightweight chip like things were tied on strings to see who could eat theirs the quickest without their hands.  

Caedmon, in white and blue, participated in a soccer tournament. 

Whitman racing with a marble in a spoon in his mouth.  

Caedmon watching the marble races with friends.  

First through third place were awarded prizes for each competition.  

Whitman and Caedmon both received prizes for eating the chips on a string and the marble races.  

Caedmon turned 9!

Caedmon is 9 years old.  Thankfully this year his birthday fell on a Sunday, which always makes it more fun for the boys since they are off from school.  We celebrated with our annual traditions of cinnamon rolls and presents for breakfast, favorite foods for lunch and dinner, and a piñata and cake with neighbors in the afternoon.  Caedmon thoroughly enjoyed the day!

Cinnamon Roles for breakfast!

Caedmon received Chess, Silly Putty, and a watch for his birthday.  

He said the Silly Putty was his favorite, though he faithfully wears his watch everyday and takes it to bed with him.

As for Chess, Caedmon mostly learned with friends at school.  He consistently beats me and if him and John don't end in a stale mate, they take equal turns winning.

playing with balloons

We have a tradition of putting balloons in the birthday person's room equal to the number of years they are turning.

Evangeline dressed for a party

a piñata with neighbors

Caedmon turned 9!

Morning Activities

Since returning from our vacation with the grandparents, Caedmon and Whitman have returned to local school here in Barat, but with a twist.  As we have acquired land and hope to move to the other side of town, we decided to enroll them both in an elementary school in the same neighborhood.  Initially we anticipated their beginning a new school to occur simultaneously with our move, or at least within a month of each other.  Unfortunately, we are still awaiting important pieces of wood for the actual house building to begin.  Thankfully Caedmon and Whitman have transitioned to a new school very well.  Both of the boys left friends and the familiarity of their previous school.  For Whitman this also meant entering elementary school which here means a great deal more sitting and ‘working’ than playing.  After their first day, they both said it was different than they expected, but in positive ways!  Caedmon was happy that there were girls who already knew his name.  Whitman said it was different than he expected because it was similar to kindergarten in that he spent his day just writing letters and numbers.  The children are much less accustomed to seeing westerners in that part of town, resulting in the boys being followed around, stared at, and touched quite a bit.  Thankfully they seem to be taking this well.  Whitman gets out an hour before Caedmon and because the frequent crowd that follows him, he often joins Caedmon in class until his brother finishes as well.  

Dressed and heading out for the first day!

Whitman and Caedmon entering their new school

As for John and I the five-minute drive to school has become a 20 minute drive instead.  Relatively speaking we know this is nothing to what many in the States under take on a daily basis, but due to this fact and the boys getting out at 11am and 12pm (why two different times I’m still trying to figure out), John and I have decided to spend our mornings in that area of town building relationships within our future community.  People always seems happy to have us there and often ask why we both don’t come every morning.  We alternate mornings to allow Evangeline to take her morning nap, which seems to be a reason that doesn't quite fit into the local's 'cultural box.'

Filling water containers to use at home.

I, Erin, have spent my morning in the new neighborhood with women in their homes or out doing what they do, which has consisted mostly of going to the market or filling water containers.

We had city water installed at our property.  Since we are not using it yet, we have allowed neighbors to use it when it runs, which seems to be once a week.  Some people have wells at their homes, but being so close to the sea they say it is very salty.  Others use neighborhood wells for all water used in their homes.  

We are praising the Father that this transition for the boys has gone so well and that they seem to be enjoying school!  I, Erin, was also skeptical of spending a whole morning, multiple time per week in that area, but my fears and uncertainties have been replaced with very welcoming arms and rich settings for language and culture study.  

A Grandparents’ Visit

The beginning of July brought Jack and Melinda, John’s parents, to our side of the world.  It is always a big treat to have friends or family visit us in Barat.  It makes our stories more real to them and encourages us to have them physically present in our lives, even if for a short while.  We spent almost a week showing them around Barat.  It was perfect timing as the boys were also on break from both local and home schooling. 

Grammy and Evangeline

We spent the first couple days in the big city; shopping and just enjoying one another's company.

A cave with ancient pictures.

On our way home to Barat we stopped at a local tourist attraction which we had not seen before.

Whitman and Grampy

Caedmon and Whitman

We spent a week together in Barat, showing Jack and Melinda around the places we most spend our time.

Our Land

We spent a morning visiting the site where we are building a home and hope to live.

Visiting with the builders and neighbors

Caedmon and Grammy in our home

Grampy

Caedmon and Whitman recently acquired two lizards as pets.  When we leave town, the gentleman who gave them to the boys takes care of them for us.  This man has many other reptiles at his home.

Grammy buying vegetables from the traveling vegetable seller.

In front of a Pine Tree

We took a hike with John's English students to a hill outside of town.  It was weird to see pine needles and pine cones, then look out and see palm trees, who knew they could live in the same area.

Our Hike

The hills outside of town are where many of the vegetables for the market are grown.  

Lunch with English Students

We ate at our favorite restaurant right on the beach about 20 minutes outside of town.

After our time together in Barat, we all traveled to Ho Chi Minh City for a bit of vacation and history from the Vietnam War. 

Caedmon and Whitman relaxing by the pool.

Seeing the sites in town

At the war museum.

French influence from colonial days

Reunification Palace

This was the presidential palace of the south during the war.

Evangeline hanging out with Grampy

Our Family

We visited tunnels that were used in the war.

Jack in a tunnel

They have been made larger for visitors.

Melinda in a tunnel

Continental Hotel: the place many reports stayed or worked during the war.

Appears in the movie "A Quiet American"

Walking a more traditional local street

In front of the Opera House

Evangeline passing time in the airport, such a great traveler!

Returning home from vacation is always difficult.  Our vacations have many of the commodities and conveniences, such as hot showers, flushing toilets, western food, and constant air-conditioning  that we do not have in Barat.  But even more then returning to the lack of familiar conveniences, we returned home without the grandparents.  Though we are saddened to be without them, it makes us that much more thankful for the time we were able to spend together and their willingness to travel far!