tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82890049931875455212024-03-12T02:17:46.197-07:00Our Yuppie LifeFollow our yuppie life from one country to the next.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.comBlogger1372125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-79466081172490307592020-08-20T11:25:00.003-07:002020-08-20T11:45:55.435-07:00Summer Small Group: "the Book of Nature"
<h3><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Psalm
145:5 (ESV) On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous
works, I will meditate. </span></h3>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It all started with an easy walk along the
Potomac in May. It didn’t take long to realize our new puppy needed a lot
of exercise and the whole family was desperate to get out of the house, so we
started seeking out trails to enjoy as a family. We delighted in watching
Honey's innate understanding that a dirt path leading through the woods was to
be followed with enthusiastic abandon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fast forward three months of gradually tougher and longer trails
amounting to 75 miles of family hiking. It’s safe to say we’re hooked! We’ve
got the day hike down now; the water, the gear, the packing, and the incentive;
every hike ends with local ice cream. We finish a hike and I’m already looking
forward to the next one. I love the time together, the exercise, the
exploration, the sense of accomplishment, but mostly the peace and renewal I
feel being in and among nature.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmDkaz25ASQH5OyIa4d5xTl2GZlHsDvYKJHTVfFc_Ukr7UmUr5BJH-a9-eJe3HATDaqERM6yvxOL8I1MmY4ItORN1jesa2isKooQ2p9qhL7RVGWI6_zqYto5OfDe2_XaXEe5xN2r8jpzR/s2048/rock+climbing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmDkaz25ASQH5OyIa4d5xTl2GZlHsDvYKJHTVfFc_Ukr7UmUr5BJH-a9-eJe3HATDaqERM6yvxOL8I1MmY4ItORN1jesa2isKooQ2p9qhL7RVGWI6_zqYto5OfDe2_XaXEe5xN2r8jpzR/s640/rock+climbing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our favorite mystic monk, Thomas Merton
reflected on the act of becoming one with nature and how “listening to Nature's
silence becomes the path for spiritual communion with the divine as well as a
way to detach from the preconceived ideas about self and the world.” I tune in
to church with St. Matt’s every Sunday and then we go to CHURCH on the
trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In between the kids’ singing (often to get
through the last few miles) and complaining (75 miles has not happened without
a good amount of complaints), I’ve been doing a lot of listening and praying on
the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never seen a more
beautiful sanctuary and Psalm 145:5 hits the nail on the head. As I put one
foot in front of the other, my mantra is, “Get out of my head, be present with
God”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this way I don’t waste miles mulling
over all the same mental garbage I mull over day in and day out. I’m constantly
reminding myself to be present in the moment on the trail-with the trees, wind, dappled
light, noises of the forest, and God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YtMewmZwHuRlZPA24iEr7bfg0BkjhP6kL44POd69fnsshGtp1Vl2hgHONSiE5v-w4DotMhZJkvIZmAWMVLx1VTLVHF2jfTN7CdRAChMgF8zll0h-_UNQ6R2V6GuUjZz-t-0MibLGFEjs/s2048/Red+wax+cap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YtMewmZwHuRlZPA24iEr7bfg0BkjhP6kL44POd69fnsshGtp1Vl2hgHONSiE5v-w4DotMhZJkvIZmAWMVLx1VTLVHF2jfTN7CdRAChMgF8zll0h-_UNQ6R2V6GuUjZz-t-0MibLGFEjs/s640/Red+wax+cap.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the first profound things revealed to me
once I started to pay attention is that beautiful, diverse, complex and
certainly <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">divine-inspired life is
thriving everywhere in the wilderness</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Completely independent from humans and right under our noses. As our daily
life grew smaller and smaller in self-isolation, the life happening in the wild
bolstered my hope. The teeny tiny snail climbing a twig, the bright orange
slime mold decomposing a rotten log, the spider webs, the mushrooms that sprout
only under birch trees, the seafoam green lichen on the rocks, the lizard
joining us on the rocks, and the frogs in the creek. The last few weeks we have
watched monarch season arrive! One especially beautiful gift was walking up to
a creek teaming with monarchs drinking among the rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we got closer, they all took flight and
gently fluttered among us as we gasped at the beauty of it. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God’s plan for each and every living
creature is not meant to be understood but it is absolutely something to marvel
at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></p><p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyqOaG73qXOOwMWi9V7EId18XWKDm38nf6gM8P2Rnmm9t6e2R05ydbJlEIMABptv9v3ctEzKDikPVir7WBxD9xgORPhzgS5wb1ujkh7dG-CAZ_0VRS1hpWE5gvREXqY6HCSn3AoY76bdJ/s2048/butterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyqOaG73qXOOwMWi9V7EId18XWKDm38nf6gM8P2Rnmm9t6e2R05ydbJlEIMABptv9v3ctEzKDikPVir7WBxD9xgORPhzgS5wb1ujkh7dG-CAZ_0VRS1hpWE5gvREXqY6HCSn3AoY76bdJ/s640/butterfly.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marveling at the divine design of other living creatures is a
great relief from the lack of splendor in humans.</span></b><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Merton says it simply in </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1133302"><span face="" style="font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New Seeds of
Contemplation</span></a><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A tree
gives glory to God by being a tree. For in being what God means it to be it is
obeying [God]. It “consents,” so to speak, to [God's] creative love. It is
expressing an idea which is in God and which is not distinct from the essence
of God, and therefore a tree imitates God by being a tree</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can I give glory to God by being truer to
God’s intended design for me? What is my design?</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7Xgm-fIgFuwe7yrpyW36mFaLFhRs-KFsMR-29NgLcaVehSIW0KY4ACQjjc0SC8Vhocs1taynUEVfcnzilnEEDfRH2pQgOeazQKH4iCROSMwvzCGMApa1i0FDHkraUyy3VN-rfJTmkyFn/s2048/mushroom+family.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7Xgm-fIgFuwe7yrpyW36mFaLFhRs-KFsMR-29NgLcaVehSIW0KY4ACQjjc0SC8Vhocs1taynUEVfcnzilnEEDfRH2pQgOeazQKH4iCROSMwvzCGMApa1i0FDHkraUyy3VN-rfJTmkyFn/s640/mushroom+family.jpg" /></a></div><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I get out of the plotting, planning,
list-making, repetitive churn that goes on in my mind, I experience God’s
presence in myself, our family, and everything around me. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Being in nature brings me closer to God and maybe just a little more in
tune with what my intended design is-I feel centered and at peace.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The more I listen to nature, the more I want to
learn from others who have communed with God through nature. I looked for
Thomas Merton’s writings on nature. I found the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
blog and read about volunteers that have devoted 30 or more years of their
lives to building and preserving the AT as their life’s legacy (this to me is
steeped deeply in the idea of being in service to God).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I happened upon John Muir, the father of our
U.S. National Parks, founder of the Sierra Club, America’s first naturalist,
conservationist, writer, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wouldn’t
you know it-theological naturalist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Famously,
Muir backpacked with President Roosevelt in Yosemite and convinced him the best
way to preserve the natural landscapes in the U.S. was to set aside federal
dollars to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was called “the
Patron Saint of the American wilderness” Muir lived in Yosemite for long enough
he started to see “another primary source for understanding God: the Book of
Nature”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a prolific nature writer his
goal was to write about “this creation in words any reader could understand”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Climb the mountains
and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows
into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms
their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. </span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span face="" style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-- </span><a href="https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/our_national_parks/"><i><span face="" style="color: #41679f; font-family: "verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our National Parks</span></i></a><i><span face="" style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span face="" style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, John Muir 1901, page 56. </span></p><p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCQVDs2kjT-y_MMyQALdx2r71oYnicX1xTNVogmzKtH31sj6BSvE9hZkzLdP79OfOnaSaCzclJKNqqLixuIv_A6hEoLzX8JcKXgISyewWFRN3g6gQHEv3biTQPwQdp9AjA-jUwV-sjTFD/s2048/Bella+climbing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCQVDs2kjT-y_MMyQALdx2r71oYnicX1xTNVogmzKtH31sj6BSvE9hZkzLdP79OfOnaSaCzclJKNqqLixuIv_A6hEoLzX8JcKXgISyewWFRN3g6gQHEv3biTQPwQdp9AjA-jUwV-sjTFD/s640/Bella+climbing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I would not have found God in nature had I not
spent so much time there over the past few months. Thomas Merton and John Muir
both spent vast, un-bounded amounts of time living in nature and I can’t help comparing
their experiences to the gift of un-bounded time I’ve received.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And by that, I mean a free calendar without
chunks blocked off for sports, dance, school obligations, summer camps, and
vacations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the chunks of time have
been freed and with no end in sight of this freedom, I made zero plans and just
let life happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started living more
in the present instead of counting the weeks as finite time until the first day
of school. This brings me to another profound understanding; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the destination, while it may be
unexpected, is so much more satisfying and life giving when I meander and explore
than when I’ve mapped it out from the beginning.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would have told me that summer 2020 I
would spend exploring Appalachia, sign up for an REI membership, learn about
mycorrhizal fungi/tree relationships, and spend more and more of my waking hours
craving the trail, I'd assume you were talking
about the wrong lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdEiq4cL0QlxshcMDXd144_2LIw328XLho9gi_1mkN1p8SGUQnvYqQ0GI6hVjOXBmH5RaUKB3EKV5YEN25JbKnkB874j0-n2qEuxgjMiJnrG1AwBsMD1vQZpPlkm2HyJomT5viAfkF7_j/s2048/frog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdEiq4cL0QlxshcMDXd144_2LIw328XLho9gi_1mkN1p8SGUQnvYqQ0GI6hVjOXBmH5RaUKB3EKV5YEN25JbKnkB874j0-n2qEuxgjMiJnrG1AwBsMD1vQZpPlkm2HyJomT5viAfkF7_j/s640/frog.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For further contemplation:</span></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where have you found God? Does a traditional
church building help you connect with God, or is there a more unconventional location where that happens? </span></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Has a specific situation or location given you greater
insight to God’s calling for you?</span></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When was the last time that you felt like one
small part of God’s great unit of creation? </span></p>
<p><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I end with the following thoughts from John Muir
</span></p>
<p><span face="" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">“Why should man value himself as more than a
small part of the one great unit of creation? And what creature of all that the
Lord has taken the pains to make is not essential to the completeness of that
unit - the cosmos? The universe would be incomplete without man; but it would
also be incomplete without the smallest transmicroscopic creature that dwells
beyond our conceitful eyes and knowledge. From the dust of the earth, from the
common elementary fund, the Creator has made Homo sapiens. From the same material
he has made every other creature, however noxious and insignificant to us. They
are earth-born companions and our fellow mortals.... This star, our own good
earth, made many a successful journey around the heavens ere man was made, and
whole kingdoms of creatures enjoyed existence and returned to dust ere man
appeared to claim them. After human beings have also played their part in
Creation's plan, they too may disappear without any general burning or
extraordinary commotion whatever.”</span><span face="" style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">- from </span></span><a href="https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/a_thousand_mile_walk_to_the_gulf/index.aspx"><span face="" style="color: #41679f; font-family: "verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">A
Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf</span></a><span face="" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"> (1916)</span></p>
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Adelaide and I had quite an adventure on Saturday. We spent the entire day in Bogor experiencing traditional Sudanese village life. We rode about an hour and a half south of Jakarta on the toll road. I can't help but mention how ridiculously nice the highway was. We drove on beautifully landscaped parkway style roads and up to modern toll booth, Addie asked, "Are you sure we're still in Indonesia?" I had to laugh. It is unbelievable how nice the infrastructure is here. <br />
<br />
It was a wonderfully kid-friendly day. We learned how to play a local instrument, took a tour of the local village and their homes, mucked around in rice paddies and planted rice, washed a water buffalo, posed in traditional Sudanese Indonesian dress clothing, ate a traditional meal, painted farmer hats, made pandan leaf puppets, and made traditional rice flour cookies. It was such a lovely introduction to one of the cultures in Indonesia. <br />
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Now the photos. It's so fun photographing our new adventures in Indonesia.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkYv8lzvEHRdAV9rNFF5ASOUxc3z2n4CC5h6wdAtVMpEay3di7PV95zZmSbTxnLj5DnVGSRu_3b4FKRtyBrHmJglkyzoO8ZAVDTZXa7eckP5Ec-Dy-MIbbrdmWgcn8utTCRw1HlD0RQ7C/s1600/SEW_7833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkYv8lzvEHRdAV9rNFF5ASOUxc3z2n4CC5h6wdAtVMpEay3di7PV95zZmSbTxnLj5DnVGSRu_3b4FKRtyBrHmJglkyzoO8ZAVDTZXa7eckP5Ec-Dy-MIbbrdmWgcn8utTCRw1HlD0RQ7C/s1600/SEW_7833.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice paddies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkkGYKliMohyY_4IIFRY7q_dub18OEHheFc14LqrUWb1fBAFC_tlXy0U5NEV9UzNs3seP2ZGWTxjwebg2TIekz7tVznh1-YzOGklUCQa9uX8uR8d4JRHPOd673C-bwpZyD2hokiMDOZPy/s1600/SEW_7848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkkGYKliMohyY_4IIFRY7q_dub18OEHheFc14LqrUWb1fBAFC_tlXy0U5NEV9UzNs3seP2ZGWTxjwebg2TIekz7tVznh1-YzOGklUCQa9uX8uR8d4JRHPOd673C-bwpZyD2hokiMDOZPy/s1600/SEW_7848.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water buffalo named Bintang (meaning star)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkTbihPxi9rmsjKrQhxXse5t_B3T2ORqKENaevv0PNO2-WAIL1ztFMkdZhboX8poaSG-FcKsXrRVVj7Cg2Rl1uuN-ZoEXujZlmWafq6kerchZrrMgxuwBCe3qZKUz8BwuN9Jr-hCUFbd6/s1600/SEW_7921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkTbihPxi9rmsjKrQhxXse5t_B3T2ORqKENaevv0PNO2-WAIL1ztFMkdZhboX8poaSG-FcKsXrRVVj7Cg2Rl1uuN-ZoEXujZlmWafq6kerchZrrMgxuwBCe3qZKUz8BwuN9Jr-hCUFbd6/s1600/SEW_7921.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Addie in the traditional women's dress costume.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2CjaThKglm55PkUZ1A_P33k0PvT9rNkjgEtJ5J4xG_cR3hEIuYRdeoWqyE6jZfA1S7t6r6b6lkNsRLg-4ARQFSseB7MgitllIWjQb95kxLyzpIOfewY-VVaL-t0Of-ROzb8Q8IAFANDY/s1600/SEW_7939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2CjaThKglm55PkUZ1A_P33k0PvT9rNkjgEtJ5J4xG_cR3hEIuYRdeoWqyE6jZfA1S7t6r6b6lkNsRLg-4ARQFSseB7MgitllIWjQb95kxLyzpIOfewY-VVaL-t0Of-ROzb8Q8IAFANDY/s1600/SEW_7939.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Planting rice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5McRovKyJWFZ8rLWzePc0qN12aqBjxUuYk10ChRQH7uZPMP6oUJkftx7prVog60bjyQ1BB5gEUDtX135Zqd3ibjiAIkQkjZRYSdjhbcysddvUwxy_tyrjEZ3vhUU1XnFopMyal7WFcWF/s1600/SEW_7950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5McRovKyJWFZ8rLWzePc0qN12aqBjxUuYk10ChRQH7uZPMP6oUJkftx7prVog60bjyQ1BB5gEUDtX135Zqd3ibjiAIkQkjZRYSdjhbcysddvUwxy_tyrjEZ3vhUU1XnFopMyal7WFcWF/s1600/SEW_7950.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washing Bintang</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZqIYp3LWCWh9c367MTlQ1H9r2yJsPPwRcGKDauBZPVMMJXu-QXzxdbLwqpbmOVuJh4RuqcTiZ-wUdD0S1fH84bsgfXQNy3F2FzpQCED3jTkUTvDXJbgmULtTpVsEIPL4TmvcDRHVqwq9/s1600/SEW_7955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZqIYp3LWCWh9c367MTlQ1H9r2yJsPPwRcGKDauBZPVMMJXu-QXzxdbLwqpbmOVuJh4RuqcTiZ-wUdD0S1fH84bsgfXQNy3F2FzpQCED3jTkUTvDXJbgmULtTpVsEIPL4TmvcDRHVqwq9/s1600/SEW_7955.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch: tofu, chicken, soup, rice crackers and rice. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbSZi9iQPkUIINUgK_YJvw24dvr2fwvuxYp5oNZLqmhrC2vl4vNMyXgCcnFQZDnGCwOhRQK2xdlJIWbEuKHBZLbEPyjqG-PKycZ2Pnj64oOJqaIj-bB0emIOMohQqsnGFV2jkuSY3h01O/s1600/SEW_7978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbSZi9iQPkUIINUgK_YJvw24dvr2fwvuxYp5oNZLqmhrC2vl4vNMyXgCcnFQZDnGCwOhRQK2xdlJIWbEuKHBZLbEPyjqG-PKycZ2Pnj64oOJqaIj-bB0emIOMohQqsnGFV2jkuSY3h01O/s1600/SEW_7978.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exotic flowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBcSIX3NHDQhQNYbncVEctB_Kj9enkmxgcQ2XqB2GxweVakrWxiY7hX_Yo6X3g2DI3UzdriycdZMlx1KyMYpNwnsfciQfDIzXTqjDOIcKNNxV6bDdNZawNgcz-3cKZNWyAlvTZyDoa1Lv/s1600/SEW_7982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBcSIX3NHDQhQNYbncVEctB_Kj9enkmxgcQ2XqB2GxweVakrWxiY7hX_Yo6X3g2DI3UzdriycdZMlx1KyMYpNwnsfciQfDIzXTqjDOIcKNNxV6bDdNZawNgcz-3cKZNWyAlvTZyDoa1Lv/s1600/SEW_7982.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local foliage. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQD3k-wpxpWlzd3_rxQv8qDBSCKvxiORCkymlr6G5bZVUcnfRD0nIcmWL6uArs3KyJp7aS79q0dqPOcjIXnG-XvAC1qahTj6AEleG91n6YP7F1UD7vn6ImkfpK9i41JDT0qVm8Eia4JSv/s1600/SEW_7992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQD3k-wpxpWlzd3_rxQv8qDBSCKvxiORCkymlr6G5bZVUcnfRD0nIcmWL6uArs3KyJp7aS79q0dqPOcjIXnG-XvAC1qahTj6AEleG91n6YP7F1UD7vn6ImkfpK9i41JDT0qVm8Eia4JSv/s1600/SEW_7992.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making panda leaf puppets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-70857590565083572312014-08-16T23:49:00.000-07:002014-08-16T23:49:03.025-07:00Pasaraya<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppBX3Xyfp1q9erSa6huIRn-Qu8maLx_jNgqyNaI8l6700Gr918fgDsy7fYO8od5s-4dssxZFYVPsrSvcauSgVWsDm0RuXEZA5JzQ8xmdz1duU3NKwjgk4d7S2Pqpb_ZtsnJYnAs9EsbBg/s1600/SEW_7713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppBX3Xyfp1q9erSa6huIRn-Qu8maLx_jNgqyNaI8l6700Gr918fgDsy7fYO8od5s-4dssxZFYVPsrSvcauSgVWsDm0RuXEZA5JzQ8xmdz1duU3NKwjgk4d7S2Pqpb_ZtsnJYnAs9EsbBg/s1600/SEW_7713.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Jakarta is full of shopping malls. Luxurious Western style, air-conditioned shopping malls. Having just spent so much time in America (and shopping for most of it), we aren't really interested in spending our first days in Indonesia at the mall. My first phone call to a neighbor was to ask her suggestion for where we could find local handicrafts or art for sale. Something that felt truly Indonesian.<br />
<br />
I'm a huge proponent of buying a souvenir right away when moving to a new country. It's a fun way to immediately feel like you are apart of the community and you tend to buy things in your first few weeks that you would likely pass up months and years down the road. I like being able to look back at our first purchases with fondness. Before you've seen too much of everything, it's fun to put something pretty in your home. <br />
<br />
My neighbor pointed us to Pasaraya which happens to be a huge multi-story mall (go figure) of locally made goods. One entire floor was of batik fabric, shirts, dresses, table linens etc. Another floor was household decor and art. The bottom floor was a specialty grocery store, market style food vendors and Indonesian coffee. We spent most of our time searching for the perfect first batik shirts for Justin and dresses for the girls. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_cGTBfq56aohKSBFHpyi_nbxz5fSdC0HZ6OGsNdmEis_zEloPrLpvLasnIyM9iwHsyrziOE30RYP2i_P7qf6qEJs4akFJna653HE_ftXgKOuWS1QjMtMf7giWstJQIwRlmw7qjxODNLi/s1600/SEW_7712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_cGTBfq56aohKSBFHpyi_nbxz5fSdC0HZ6OGsNdmEis_zEloPrLpvLasnIyM9iwHsyrziOE30RYP2i_P7qf6qEJs4akFJna653HE_ftXgKOuWS1QjMtMf7giWstJQIwRlmw7qjxODNLi/s1600/SEW_7712.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
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We ate at a quiet Indonesian cafe where I had my first truly Indonesian meal of beef rendang. It's a lovely coconut curry beef stew over rice. Spicy and delicious. The girls had fried rice and chicken. They were hit with a little more spice than they are used to so we taught them to follow each bit with the pickled vegetable salad that was served with the meal to cool down their mouths. Ashlynn doesn't mind the spice. She takes a bite, chews and breathes through her mouth muttering "spicy" over and over. But she always goes back for another bite. We all had iced tea sweetened with condensed milk to accompany the meal. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQzVjCOEGKW0VxBCx8-ObXqsGY6v3jLdTrTh61bS0pn905MympCsJ41x3ElR3uKa6d1iek8zcJ8KVsd7FW73BG7LCjYRZwGpGwAubTbid_OL738j9iKg78Mj_TpxmX9AoeJh6OmjH2ZgR/s1600/SEW_7709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQzVjCOEGKW0VxBCx8-ObXqsGY6v3jLdTrTh61bS0pn905MympCsJ41x3ElR3uKa6d1iek8zcJ8KVsd7FW73BG7LCjYRZwGpGwAubTbid_OL738j9iKg78Mj_TpxmX9AoeJh6OmjH2ZgR/s1600/SEW_7709.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></div>
<br />
We explored a bit more and I purchased a hand woven ikat patterned tablecloth and table runner. On first glance, the ikat patterns are a bit more casual and usable in a modern dinning room than some of the more formal Indonesian batik patterns. I'm on a mission to find batik for my dinning room. For now the ikat is perfect. <br />
<br />
The girls enjoyed picking out patterns and styles for themselves. I forced them to pose with their new dresses when we got home. I imagine we'll have a closet full of batik apparel in a few years. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqIzSaqE-KfplXrjRxYSmHNOJ0UisAzBncDtUlEykCqzurBVvALsEg1K9bWOI5x29PuFApqyz7wBctgi6sKpFyt_btd-zoP2wXeTcXCaUxVvlD-bF4uRQnCNyJpcGPoLf-THMXzLkuFR8/s1600/SEW_7726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqIzSaqE-KfplXrjRxYSmHNOJ0UisAzBncDtUlEykCqzurBVvALsEg1K9bWOI5x29PuFApqyz7wBctgi6sKpFyt_btd-zoP2wXeTcXCaUxVvlD-bF4uRQnCNyJpcGPoLf-THMXzLkuFR8/s1600/SEW_7726.jpg" height="640" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see I am still sorting out the best locations in our apartment for photos. Lots of shadows on this one. But they are still cute.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_Mctpycqn0L0rWJZP-LWyniwdTPqfpXHQtUJYyPM-NZPvlzoHbWE51Ov5w4HalGf54cpxZuTF5uP2nAGSnhaHTyiKCAS-ulDUrD9ADgAEwsSf4wDYkLT4wIfz9YYxRqsO21tRtlRjTzo/s1600/SEW_7729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_Mctpycqn0L0rWJZP-LWyniwdTPqfpXHQtUJYyPM-NZPvlzoHbWE51Ov5w4HalGf54cpxZuTF5uP2nAGSnhaHTyiKCAS-ulDUrD9ADgAEwsSf4wDYkLT4wIfz9YYxRqsO21tRtlRjTzo/s1600/SEW_7729.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></div>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-42968205440121805692014-08-16T07:12:00.001-07:002014-08-16T07:12:45.375-07:00pancake and pool Saturdays<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq2WJp_JbXalOlRBoo9WMCElFC7WJIrfdPGrvol2upyNl30qzJyGKuyvyiuief3eQqZdJMm-KVM_YmFvplblNBrPP19onAh4fE-6ApKBCrIcY7JpsObly7f3UQQFHJVLRs3LcozTLrQEI/s1600/SEW_7686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq2WJp_JbXalOlRBoo9WMCElFC7WJIrfdPGrvol2upyNl30qzJyGKuyvyiuief3eQqZdJMm-KVM_YmFvplblNBrPP19onAh4fE-6ApKBCrIcY7JpsObly7f3UQQFHJVLRs3LcozTLrQEI/s1600/SEW_7686.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I had a few days to get our home sorted
out before I started work full-time. It was quite ambitious for me
to give myself only 5 working days (2 of those spent checking in at
the embassy) to get everything settled at home with a nanny and
driver and schools etc. I had to hit the ground running and my
saving grace was having hired a pembantu (the Indonesian name for a
nanny/maid/cook) before I arrived via email. Her name is Aunty, and
I'm sure you'll here loads more about her. We've already fallen in
love with her.</div>
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<br />
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Anyhow, Thursday and Friday of last
week were relatively free. They were also the last two weekdays I had with my
girls at home before our life got significantly busier with school
and work. We decided to explore our apartment complex a bit while
Ashlynn was napping.
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a1x3tn1XO_WHkltiKYqhmBUClR9029gzxXrYVxE-Ae0w4gz1JXxmCYSUYdc2aixb54Wn7NgGWxN12XYY6JyMOz7IclvXudIX2omPTT4ifc5l0JgPXG9OEZDiCSy_96-ePYm9OmqDS0vK/s1600/SEW_7689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a1x3tn1XO_WHkltiKYqhmBUClR9029gzxXrYVxE-Ae0w4gz1JXxmCYSUYdc2aixb54Wn7NgGWxN12XYY6JyMOz7IclvXudIX2omPTT4ifc5l0JgPXG9OEZDiCSy_96-ePYm9OmqDS0vK/s1600/SEW_7689.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the amazing apple Ash is eating</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We live in a fairly new highrise
apartment complex. There are multiple apartment towers, underground
garages, opulent lobbies, and two large pools as well as a small
playground, and a very well equipped gym. While the apartment is
rather small for our family of five, it's a very comfortable place to
live and it won't be hard to make it feel like home. Addie, Bella
and I wound ourselves around to the other apartment tower, through
the brick-oven pizza place (we tried it-only in a pinch ever again),
farm to table grocer (perfect place to grab eggs, onions, apples-the
basics if we run out), up the stairs and past the smaller fitness
center to an outdoor pool that sits up on the second floor terrace. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We weren't prepared to swim so we just lounged a bit in the chairs
and enjoyed the view. It was another moment where I couldn't help
smiling. The pool is very pretty and has tile planters built into
the water with mature trees. The tree cover over the pool provides
shade and dappled light. It's a tiny little oasis. The girls and I
immediately decreed we would swim here every Saturday morning after
our favorite family breakfast of Justin's from-scratch pancakes and
real maple syrup.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYjUVBHh-qJfnHYoJI_YZI0SuWjUA9_ZMnQ9mjsg3tOVPfhPp3R1B9ZBUwGJQFn9gTBA99-lWdGaCBOovykJCcjxhqDljEJ9vRnywnQQAv2eQA6zj6OZ8pKfnAjSmzap4of1xShTYyn3O/s1600/SEW_7695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYjUVBHh-qJfnHYoJI_YZI0SuWjUA9_ZMnQ9mjsg3tOVPfhPp3R1B9ZBUwGJQFn9gTBA99-lWdGaCBOovykJCcjxhqDljEJ9vRnywnQQAv2eQA6zj6OZ8pKfnAjSmzap4of1xShTYyn3O/s1600/SEW_7695.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Two days later, on our very first
Saturday morning in Jakarta, after only 6 days in our new home,
Justin made his famous pancakes (with ingredients I bought at the
local stores-real maple syrup from the commissary), he brewed a pot
of our new favorite Indonesian coffee (quite an easy transition from
Ethiopian coffee to Indonesian coffee). Once we'd had our fill, we
put on our suits and took a dip in the oasis pool. Not a bad
tradition to start!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw_K1-yvZsaFMdq8Q4E35d97srhmWtJADakcMa9e-KIAavJi_caRbAGScykEUqhvYySu1iIwc8WaObSc8CZ3lSqK2Ktn27If77oNjrUthjrf77nutL2d8mgGzYs0dZcCjs_BjOCYP2Cjs/s1600/SEW_7694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw_K1-yvZsaFMdq8Q4E35d97srhmWtJADakcMa9e-KIAavJi_caRbAGScykEUqhvYySu1iIwc8WaObSc8CZ3lSqK2Ktn27If77oNjrUthjrf77nutL2d8mgGzYs0dZcCjs_BjOCYP2Cjs/s1600/SEW_7694.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-3722024909779938722014-08-16T06:58:00.000-07:002014-08-16T07:05:58.875-07:00Live from Jakarta<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO010D19aT8wBOSfdI90x1vlfJlRNxZm4MSq1lqdypm-1JfZhunU9tko4pQj-THbleZC8bOTTJODQEEir6aV_Lo0ESi0jNnKwxR1BXDp0vtgPCa7tATX5KnpCmAPfU5gvvVI5pSRtGGiq5/s1600/SEW_7692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO010D19aT8wBOSfdI90x1vlfJlRNxZm4MSq1lqdypm-1JfZhunU9tko4pQj-THbleZC8bOTTJODQEEir6aV_Lo0ESi0jNnKwxR1BXDp0vtgPCa7tATX5KnpCmAPfU5gvvVI5pSRtGGiq5/s1600/SEW_7692.JPG" height="464" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers that fall front the trees at our pool. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It took ten days for us to get internet at our new apartment in Jakarta. I actually wrote this blog post on the second and third day after we arrived in Jakarta. Technically, we've only been in this country for two weeks but it's amazing what a difference a week can make! We're entirely settled in at this point but I still want to share my first thoughts on our new home. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGC32okWAvWifMkSG0ziMDjV1W9Ug2zDfLNMgV5nAIc_cfRmUtFe3RZ1y6rHUpLOH8325sjWRG5g8VER-sP9uJ84VqXQ0Gk4Qys1AvLC6cIWOADRMgGEfP8n5yZomXh-_YVHCcYG4eS71/s1600/SEW_7696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGC32okWAvWifMkSG0ziMDjV1W9Ug2zDfLNMgV5nAIc_cfRmUtFe3RZ1y6rHUpLOH8325sjWRG5g8VER-sP9uJ84VqXQ0Gk4Qys1AvLC6cIWOADRMgGEfP8n5yZomXh-_YVHCcYG4eS71/s1600/SEW_7696.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once again home with embassy furniture. It's oddly comforting!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My thoughts on day 2:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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It's hard to think of a proper
introduction on my blog for our new life in Indonesia. So much has
happened since we left Ethiopia and yet it's still so close to our
every thought. One thing that is an interesting feeling is just how
comfortable and normal it feels to once again, be in a third world
country. It's also wonderfully familiar to be in SE Asia. Many of
experiences we're having are very reminiscent of our time in Manila,
Philippines. Ethiopia is so different from Indonesia but all one
does upon arrival in a new country is compare it to the country you
were coming from. We have enormous grins on our faces every day in
Jakarta. When comparing Jakarta to Addis Ababa it's easy for Jakarta
to come out on top. I'm sure this city has it's own set of
challenges but for our family, coming from Addis Ababa, we can't see
anything but the positive. We've only been here since Sunday,
August 3, so we haven't seen much, but so far everything is so nice.
It's wonderfully easy settling into a country where the roads are
clean and well made, the city is crowded with a growing economy,
grocery stores are full of everything we could ever need and the
Indonesian people are wonderfully friendly.
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprIXG3bN4tHvJpd5p3mnq-V4ZO3F1UoyRRdjqAvZRSigMJYIPFR5bl6iIqjATNojk_CFb_9pQWdsSyM_AO5jWPy0Zv10_54987QldkasCtIBQqMMzcxYMY72YvjNUUE0b8h19JkmljUHx/s1600/SEW_7698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprIXG3bN4tHvJpd5p3mnq-V4ZO3F1UoyRRdjqAvZRSigMJYIPFR5bl6iIqjATNojk_CFb_9pQWdsSyM_AO5jWPy0Zv10_54987QldkasCtIBQqMMzcxYMY72YvjNUUE0b8h19JkmljUHx/s1600/SEW_7698.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite part of our new apartment. Our closet.</td></tr>
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Some very small things that have made
us very excited about our life in Indonesia:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Immediately getting beef pho for lunch
after just a few hours of sleep in our new apartment</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Walking into the Hypermarket at Lippo
Mall (which I can see from my apartment window), and seeing rows and
rows of fresh produce, entire refrigerated sections of chicken, beef,
milk, yogurt and imported cheese, as well as staples like peanut
butter, olive oil, and cereal. And this was the low-end grocery
store.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Seeing the eager friendly faces of
Indonesians when they see our sweet girls.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lippo Mall has a Marks & Spencer,
Debenhams, and Mod. It's so nice to see familiar brands.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Nannies with white nurse-like uniforms,
carrying the toddler, and pushing the stroller, while Mom walks empty
handed. To clarify, it made me smile because it's something we're
used to seeing in the Philippines, it's just as ridiculous in Jakarta
as it was in Manila.
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwK3XsFsWYVCM09LkSsHqEBfrzP0_q0fPxPXJgucLF8sSOvkoymgVF0F-CZyB0w6vAqfDSJzZ78uEcSNUIpf-Bz8gFAzbISjzEhLcY61M3WdJWVq2P8QNoPvUYvhFjD75ZLJ422Qmpbr8C/s1600/SEW_7701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwK3XsFsWYVCM09LkSsHqEBfrzP0_q0fPxPXJgucLF8sSOvkoymgVF0F-CZyB0w6vAqfDSJzZ78uEcSNUIpf-Bz8gFAzbISjzEhLcY61M3WdJWVq2P8QNoPvUYvhFjD75ZLJ422Qmpbr8C/s1600/SEW_7701.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My least favorite part of our new apartment. The Asian mini fridge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Siting on our embassy issued couches
watching our welcome kit TV felt wonderfully familiar.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The ache in my feet and ankles after a
day of walking on our all-marble floored apartment.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Amazing New Zealand apples at the
grocery store. I know I'm from Washington State-home of awesome
apples, but I love New Zealand apples. They are so crunchy!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When my new Indonesian pembatu
(nanny/cook/maid), Aunty, arrived and immediately displayed super
human patience with my 3 year old and a book of stickers. SE Asian
women are the most patient human beings on earth.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When the girls and I returned from the
playground and the floors were sparkling and the laundry was folded.
Day 1 of housekeeper-win!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQzVjCOEGKW0VxBCx8-ObXqsGY6v3jLdTrTh61bS0pn905MympCsJ41x3ElR3uKa6d1iek8zcJ8KVsd7FW73BG7LCjYRZwGpGwAubTbid_OL738j9iKg78Mj_TpxmX9AoeJh6OmjH2ZgR/s1600/SEW_7709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQzVjCOEGKW0VxBCx8-ObXqsGY6v3jLdTrTh61bS0pn905MympCsJ41x3ElR3uKa6d1iek8zcJ8KVsd7FW73BG7LCjYRZwGpGwAubTbid_OL738j9iKg78Mj_TpxmX9AoeJh6OmjH2ZgR/s1600/SEW_7709.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batik shopping on weekend 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Fireworks every single night. Gotta
love all the fireworks in Asia.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pools, gym, playground, sauna, cafe,
mini mart, produce stand are all within our apartment building.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Meeting ladies who lunch, Jakarta
style.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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KFC delivery men on motorbikes!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dumping a quarter of our first bottle
of water on the floor, since it's been so long since we've used a
commercial water dispenser. I sort of miss the endless supply of
water the distiller in Addis provided.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
No travelers tummy! Maybe our guts are
just used to the changes. We've also had conflicting advice about
properly washing our vegetables and fruits. Our sponsor washes only
with bottled water. Other people insist on vegetable detergent and
bleach. We followed our sponsors advice and ate our first few fruit
and vegetable heavy meals without washing and rinsing with bleach or
detergent and have had absolutely no issues. Yay for stainless steel
stomachs and not having to bleach soak our food!
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Eggs come pre-washed in plastic egg
cartons. Oh be joyful!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Food Network on our cable package! No
way!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's fun to see and experience so many
of these things similar to Manila. It's great to be back in SE Asia.
We have tons to explore in this new country. We aren't entirely
naive honeymooners though. We know this lovely dreamy phase will
pass. For now there are only a few things I can see, I might have
trouble with.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraysHOrQwg6DRIjatZ5x1odGlWPkHdJpw5QMN52sboZ16d76cK72e_H79LL77wr2NNNRPvQ2XpVzLxOoT1r5SAbagn4XvuGBRJ6nr-_Mp4LR_hz_nOdZYDVm3cLXK5eQBBIxtQqIYLvQ3/s1600/SEW_7705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraysHOrQwg6DRIjatZ5x1odGlWPkHdJpw5QMN52sboZ16d76cK72e_H79LL77wr2NNNRPvQ2XpVzLxOoT1r5SAbagn4XvuGBRJ6nr-_Mp4LR_hz_nOdZYDVm3cLXK5eQBBIxtQqIYLvQ3/s1600/SEW_7705.jpg" height="640" width="416" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We have noticed that the language
barrier is fairly significant. After a few days, I still cannot
decipher what “hello” and “thank you” in Bahasa is. With the
chaos of the first few days, I haven't even had a chance to look it
up!
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The traffic is pretty epic and from
what I've deduced, this keeps people from exploring and getting out.
It tends to overtake people's lives here. If you live in the North,
close to the embassy, you stay there. If you live in the South,
close to the schools, you socialize there. Which means there is a
good portion of the embassy community you likely won't get to know
very well.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I've also found it to be true that a
larger post may provide more efficient services but looses much of
the small community feel. I'm already missing the idea of knowing
every single family at post and automatically rounding up all the
moms with little girls to be our immediate friends. That's not to
say we haven't met wonderfully lovely families. We are going to have
lots of good friends here, I can already tell. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
More to come!</div>
</div>
Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-55260853793005054632014-05-31T11:38:00.002-07:002014-05-31T11:38:42.660-07:00packing adventures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_bqlI1vjWyoI6ojb7P8uwhsh8WHIoJ1Z36Wn6tG2mFmHjmGI7y3rRxmYIyWXpJjXxDz_UBXBAPAD7DGLq9-x_c3X0rM0re94sqmBazn6HNhnQ8rDJLCwHWlcUVuEBgJVj8NdPJcT6qFV/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_bqlI1vjWyoI6ojb7P8uwhsh8WHIoJ1Z36Wn6tG2mFmHjmGI7y3rRxmYIyWXpJjXxDz_UBXBAPAD7DGLq9-x_c3X0rM0re94sqmBazn6HNhnQ8rDJLCwHWlcUVuEBgJVj8NdPJcT6qFV/s1600/090.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It took a crew of eight men, three full days to box and crate all of our personal belongings. I was impressed with the way they carefully wrapped every item. Our small air freight shipment was 660 lbs. We are sending 5900 lbs of HHE (Household effects) to Indonesia. That's a big drop from what we brought from Manila! Which means I can definitely have a dining room table made in Jakarta! Maybe even another piece of furniture! But seriously, I can't believe I'm already thinking of the next pack-out as the crew is still nailing up the final crate here in Ethiopia. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpANOWOJH3WjRoV7WA1p3ynaP7UyxBgbTxVfSZcehpUOGl-kRDVlvGWxeMyDZBHvf8aGTch4i2hFbCUmEmQmsRrY3UYcFuM3i0BMuN2g-AIS0H9nwpME4iZD35j0qDZcQgloJeGBDOB2z/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpANOWOJH3WjRoV7WA1p3ynaP7UyxBgbTxVfSZcehpUOGl-kRDVlvGWxeMyDZBHvf8aGTch4i2hFbCUmEmQmsRrY3UYcFuM3i0BMuN2g-AIS0H9nwpME4iZD35j0qDZcQgloJeGBDOB2z/s1600/044.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This hoarder looking pile was a portion of our UAB. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I will spare you the sordid details, but I've been very grumpy for these three days. It's not fun having people traipse all over your home, rummage through your belongings and ultimately take it all away. And at the same time, in a paradox I can't explain, it's a huge relief to be without all our things right now. There aren't toys to clean up, dishes to wash, clothing to fold. All the stuff in my life is packed away and it's sort of nice to be rid of it for awhile.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjE0A00adhWiFWtB6C0_loHx0yitid-b8cHfOWnWvHdAkhcsT04Arxvcdo7n1lCSdKCI4nBu8Fu51dDHBzfxkBOlw0dsE1-p8FstPBR3i4A3wYkui4E2tjoQQD_DoV1f5wZhYPYmpecPOd/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjE0A00adhWiFWtB6C0_loHx0yitid-b8cHfOWnWvHdAkhcsT04Arxvcdo7n1lCSdKCI4nBu8Fu51dDHBzfxkBOlw0dsE1-p8FstPBR3i4A3wYkui4E2tjoQQD_DoV1f5wZhYPYmpecPOd/s1600/096.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
For the next 5 month or so we are living out of seven suitcases. For the next week while we are in Addis Ababa we have a hospitality kit with household basics and a few things we've decided will stay in Ethiopia, like old towels, our garbage can and some of our clothes which are especially holey. I'm just too old to live out of a hospitality kit. Pouring red wine in a cheap tumbler or coffee cup is just not my speed anymore. The cooking pans USED to be non-stick surfaced. I recognize my disdain sounds snobbish. It's true, I guess I am when it comes to my kitchen. I really like my own stuff! I think it's my grumpiness shining through because deep down I am grateful that the embassy issues us a hospitality kit. It's only a week which is silly!<br />
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<br />
Our home has gone through a number of transitions over our time here in Ethiopia. <a href="http://www.ouryuppielife.blogspot.com/2012/01/our-new-home.html">Upon our arrival it was big and empty</a> and it felt very different than our past home experience in Manila. Our house in Ethiopia is big, concrete and felt very strange at first. It took a long time for us to spread out in the space after being used to our cramped living quarters in Arlington, VA. But slowly, we moved in and it really didn't feel like home until our shipment arrived. Then our home became our sanctuary in Addis. One could forget what was on the other side of our walled compound when we were in our home. <a href="http://www.ouryuppielife.blogspot.com/2012/06/tour-of-our-home-in-addis-ababa.html">I had a really fun time setting up the home and decorating.</a> It's the biggest home we've ever lived in, that's for sure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOO41qkH_PdRIMBo6oqBMnD6DPW_y5x_fsjy16dJSvkWq-y1_7FMz9oIDN3rTYzfEXoOK57CLUvUkSRY0NTzuP_6JbJQ_68VbupQVknR7JiqH5rBqnr5cU5kgBU173Hf2hKRt55HIL6Hg6/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOO41qkH_PdRIMBo6oqBMnD6DPW_y5x_fsjy16dJSvkWq-y1_7FMz9oIDN3rTYzfEXoOK57CLUvUkSRY0NTzuP_6JbJQ_68VbupQVknR7JiqH5rBqnr5cU5kgBU173Hf2hKRt55HIL6Hg6/s1600/098.JPG" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our growth chart. Which is sad for me to think about how it will be painted over when we leave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That isn't to say we didn't have issues with the house. We are the first US embassy residents in the home. Which means we had maintenance crews in and out for issues throughout the 2.5 years we lived here. We had a hive of African bees form a nest in a downspout that opened into our master bathroom. The same area of the roof experienced major leaks during rainy seasons and our master bathroom and bedroom experienced flooding over and over, the flooring in our bedroom is buckled and moldy. While we were on R&R the hot water heater in the girls bathroom burst and the water flowed down our stairs and flooded the entire main level of the home ruining the hard wood floors. We've lived with them buckled and gaping now for almost a year. The funny thing about both the homes we've lived in in developing countries is that on the surface, everything looks good at the beginning. The "make-ready" process of a home paints over mold, polishes up the rough parts of a home, but the lifespan of this surface work only lasts for a short period of time. So within the last year we've seen the moldings fall off the walls, plaster slough away from the walls, toilets break, counter tops pull away from the sink, electrical issues become a problem. The wiring of our house is not correct so that every time you turn off the kitchen light the breaker on the upstairs box flips. It took us a long time to figure out this was why there was never hot water for the girls bathtub. But you get used to quirks, safety issue or not, we just learned to turn the breaker on every time we pass by in the hall. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPeDB-h7luOH2xIHXmgQDrMbRlsyoVeQ876AhCWrUc1Mx_mUuHtoZbMlXvYnPsfQGHL5KvGT-c5GJ5uQ86PZLhnBkHd-f_pKa6R1-UTFrcGNXEYdGFWL4j4RK91UFTbTvLbH9TGmIgz4S/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPeDB-h7luOH2xIHXmgQDrMbRlsyoVeQ876AhCWrUc1Mx_mUuHtoZbMlXvYnPsfQGHL5KvGT-c5GJ5uQ86PZLhnBkHd-f_pKa6R1-UTFrcGNXEYdGFWL4j4RK91UFTbTvLbH9TGmIgz4S/s1600/103.JPG" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashlynn is going through a naked phase.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Even with all the maintenance issues; water shortages (we have to run a hose from our outdoor faucet to our water tank to keep it full), power outages (our generator blew when the maintenance crew forgot to change the oil regularly) and all the little things in between (broken washing machine, water pump calibrations, door handles and locks falling off); we've enjoyed this house. It functioned well for our family purpose. I enjoyed having the master bedroom on the third floor while the children's rooms were on the second. The open main level was perfect for entertaining and overall we were happy with the house! I can feel myself around this house in the dark. There are no shadows that alarm me, everything had a place and it really felt like home. <br />
<br />
During pack-out that all changes. The home that you've built for your family gets torn down layer by layer. First the organizing, then the moving, packing, boxing and watching it all drive away on big trucks. Then your house is big and empty again and your stuck making eggs in a 6 inch Teflon skillet that looks like someone scrubbed with steel wool. We don't feel any ownership in the home and it doesn't hurt that things are really starting to fall apart. But for these 2.5 years, this was our home. It's hard to let go of some of our memories in the house. It's where our children grew and we sighed with relief after we walked through the door after an exhausting trip out of the city. It's where I built my baking business and hosted parties. It's the front door Daddy came through every evening to squeals of delight and hugs from his girls. It's where we slept and ate and played and laughed. As the last boxes leave our compound on that big truck, the house goes from ours to not ours and it's a quick transition.<br />
<br />
Now is the waiting game. One more week in the big empty what-used-to-be our house. <br />
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-20745186222324663182014-05-23T08:15:00.001-07:002014-05-23T08:15:37.172-07:00before and after<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The first photo was taken January 20, 2012. Eleven days after our arrival in Ethiopia. <br />
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<br />
This second photo was taken today, May 23, 2014. Fourteen days before we leave Ethiopia. <br />
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-36949216032547287242014-05-23T06:59:00.000-07:002014-05-23T07:03:15.851-07:00a surprise Ethiopian lunch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today Eneye, Zalalem and Teklu surprised us by preparing a traditional Ethiopian meal complete with a coffee ceremony for lunch. Justin and I were so touched. Teklu brought in a traditional grass to decorate the ground where the coffee is roasted. Eneye made popcorn which traditionally accompanies the coffee. For lunch we had injera, rosemary beef tibs and siga wat. Eneye is a very good cook. She's taught me a few dishes and I've made them but she generally doesn't cook for us. When she does, it's a treat. <br />
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We all sat outside and ate and when the meal was finished the real fun started. An Ethiopian coffee ceremony is a production. They revel in the process. The coals are heated, incense is burned, coffee beans are roasted slowly over the fire. They are cooled and then hand ground with something like a mortar and pestal. Water is heated in a clay pot over the coals and the freshly roasted and ground coffee is added. The coffee boils and percolates. Then the pot is allowed to sit and rest so the fine grounds sink to bottom. It's served in tiny little cups with lots of sugar. It's strong and always has a thickness to it. It's really wonderful and uniquely Ethiopian. Eneye performs the coffee ceremony every evening at her house. <br />
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We've had such a great time getting to know our Ethiopian family members over our time here. They've become apart of the daily fabric of our lives. Through Amharic and English (Justin speaking and translating the Amharic for me, we chatted about how much the girls have grown since we moved here and how fast it has all happened. <br />
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We laughed about George and how he's become a spoiled American dog. He waited patiently by the plate of popcorn waiting for us to share with him and then stealing our chairs and curling up the minute any of us would stand up. We learned that Zalalem takes his coffee like Bella, with heaping teaspoons of sugar. Teklu jokes with him that he and Lucy are the same in that they are always napping. Eneye worked away at the coffee, waving a little piece of cardboard at the coals to keep them hot. It was such a nice experience to sit and watch it happen in all it's methodical slowness. I asked her a few times how she knew that it's been percolating long enough, or how long to let it sit and rest. She sort of shrugged her shoulders because it's not something she times, the coffee ceremony process is ingrained in her because she's been doing it for her entire life. She just knows when it's ready. Zalalem calls it a "wise guess".<br />
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You drink Ethiopian coffee a small cup with a saucer and then wait for the next pot of coffee to boil, we did this for about three rounds of coffee. All told, the ceremony took almost two hours. <br />
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Justin and I were so touched that they cared enough to give us this gift. We will miss them very much. <br />
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-46808946951008944942014-05-23T02:45:00.000-07:002014-05-23T03:23:27.660-07:00Highlights of Ethiopia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Addie getting her hands washed in the traditional way before a meal at Four Sisters in Gonder</td></tr>
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People are surprised when I tell them that I've enjoyed living in Ethiopia more than I enjoyed living in the Philippines. And really, it's one of those statements that requires tons of explanation. I loved Manila, I really did and I really didn't appreciate how awesome it is until we had left. But you have to remember folks, the entire 3 years we lived in Manila, I was nursing, pregnant and mothering babies. That's a hard job no matter where you live. I was exhausted all the time! We didn't get to explore the Philippines as much as we've been able to explore Ethiopia. Simply because our family life in Manila revolved around parenthood to little ones. That's not to say that we didn't get to Boracay and Cebu and other amazing spots in the Philippines. We traveled plenty but maybe I was mentally focused more on the children. Maybe that sleep deprived fog took over a lot of the time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainy season at Selam's Children's Village</td></tr>
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The funny thing is that we arrived in Ethiopia with a very tiny infant and two toddlers. Possibly, the issue is that in the Philippines I was a new mother and still more cautious. When we arrived in Ethiopia, I felt more confidant and ready to explore. For whatever reason, the exploration of Ethiopia has been less intimidating to me and a bit easier. So we had some pretty great family trips in Ethiopia. We've seen some amazing things and experienced Ethiopian culture in a way that we never experienced the culture of the Philippines. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving a soccer ball to a little boy at Bethel Women's Center</td></tr>
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I've been doing a lot of reflection and comparisons lately of our past posts and in a way it's hard to compare Manila with Addis Ababa. But I compare anyway, I think it's something humans like to do. We measure things up and think about our future experiences in reference to our past experiences. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The priest at Debre Brihan in Gonder</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver Ethiopian crosses. </td></tr>
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Anyway, seeing as this post was intended to be a simple list of highlights from Ethiopia, I better get on with it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX52YoLxLVrH1g3gXvSovQ-Mhx6Ibn1ifCqWvsTFpiTB7inToZPFRYO4_fChCLouOVb5l_7ffVd5EPSD6eHJVwxSoG9kq599DEKCaOk7q3AoFuMhRtOTkjxsvzfyW0oPju0g0LLCtCRBpB/s1600/285+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX52YoLxLVrH1g3gXvSovQ-Mhx6Ibn1ifCqWvsTFpiTB7inToZPFRYO4_fChCLouOVb5l_7ffVd5EPSD6eHJVwxSoG9kq599DEKCaOk7q3AoFuMhRtOTkjxsvzfyW0oPju0g0LLCtCRBpB/s1600/285+-+Copy.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The painted ceiling at Debre Brihan</td></tr>
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1. Gheralta<br />
We visited Gheralta Lodge twice and it was amazing both times. Very peaceful and lovely with some of the best accommodations. Having friends take us to Gheralta only a month after our arrival in Ethiopia was the best thing they could have done. It immediately showed us that the best of this country is to be seen outside of Addis Ababa. It also alleviated all my fears of traveling here with small kids. Once we did it that once, it opened the doors and ignited an excitement in me to see the rest of the country. The second trip to Gheralta was with friends and we were the old experienced Addis people. Funny how that works.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashlynn at about 4 months old in Gheralta, Right before bed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hike to the church in Gheralta</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Gheralta Lodge in Mekele</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The priest at the church in Mekele</td></tr>
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2. Gonder<br />
Also a destination we saw twice. Spectacular after rainy season and a different sort of beauty during the dry season.<br />
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3. Lalibela Hudad<br />
Hard to describe how epic this trip was for us. The four hour donkey ride/hike up to the plateau, camping in huts at the top of a mountain, fresh slaughtered goat for dinner. The most authentic Ethiopian experience we had. Definitely the most adventurous. We had a donkey carry our pack-n-play as well as another suitcase up the mountain for Ashlynn! HA!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our accommodations at the top of the plateau</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella on her donkey for the hike to Hudad</td></tr>
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4. Lalibela<br />
Seeing the ancient rock hewn churches was one of the most spectacular things I've seen in my life. It was like walking through living history. I highly recommend going at Ethiopian Christmas.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lalibela</td></tr>
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5. Wolliso and Negash Lodge<br />
My favorite road trip with our family. Great lodging and a great hike to see Wenchi crater.<br />
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6. Mombasa, Kenya<br />
We spent Thanksgiving 2012 with friends in Mombasa. We rented an entire home for a week and enjoyed the beach. <br />
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7. Cape Town, South Africa<br />
This almost month long trip took us everywhere in Cape Town and will likely go down in our family history as the very best vacation we've ever taken. <br />
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7. Paris, France<br />
This was my first single trip without my family and away from my children. Paris is amazing for many reasons but this trip was spectacular because I met my friend Sunny there for the ultimate girls weekend. <br />
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I've stated in an <a href="http://www.ouryuppielife.blogspot.com/2014/03/life-lessons-from-ethiopia-staying-busy.html">older post</a> just what Ethiopia has meant to me as a creative person. My love for this country stems from my personal success and growth I've experienced here. I was really truly happy in Ethiopia.<br />
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Our friends here have made this post unforgettable. I love that the friends you make don't ever get left behind. You can carry friendships from place to place and goodbye is really never final. We almost always end up saying "see you later" instead. I don't like goodbyes and I'm not very good at them. I don't like being the center of attention with people getting emotional (me included) about the experiences we've had together. In a lot of ways I'd rather quietly slip away without making a fuss. The fact is we live a life of transition and change. People coming in and out of our lives is a huge part of it. We're used to it and so are our friends but as much as you can be accustomed to it, it can still be hard.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entoto moss</td></tr>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-83014072291909257382014-05-22T07:16:00.001-07:002014-05-22T22:35:54.967-07:00deconstructed eggplant parmesan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hell might be freezing over folks. I can't get myself pumped about making dinner these days. I know it stems from the stress of moving and the supplies in my kitchen are dwindling. The last few weeks at post require creativity to put together meals that don't require purchasing new or exotic ingredients. It's at this time you have to just start cooking whatever is in the fridge and cupboards. I'm going to share with you a super easy recipe that took so little time and so few ingredients. Both requirements for me right now.<br />
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My sweet friend Emily and I share a love for cooking and food. She's a mom to a son with allergies and just a healthy eater in general. She introduced me to <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/6-9781569243589-10">Vegan with a Vengeance</a> months back and I was in love. Then, for Mother's Day she surprised me with a copy of Isa Chandra Moskowtiz's gorgeous new cookbook, <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780316221900-0">Isa Does It</a>. This cookbook is loaded with great vegan recipes and for those of us who aren't vegan, but just love the idea of cooking new and interesting things, I find this cookbook really inspiring. The photos are amazing and Isa is hysterical. A gal I'd love to be cooking and drinking with at home. <br />
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Most of the recipes in the book will have to wait until I can get settled into a new kitchen and stock it full of all sorts of fun ingredients required. But her Eggplant and Breadcrumb Fettuccine recipe stuck out to me as the kind of meal anyone, and I mean anyone can throw together any night of the week. <br />
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I had to make all the components of this meal, like the tomato sauce and bread crumbs. My quick homemade tomato sauce can be tossed together in minutes and I just let it simmer away. It's so easy I won't ever buy jarred spaghetti sauce again. <br />
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Deconstructed eggplant parmesan (adapted just slightly from Eggplant and Breadcrumb Fettuccine)<br />
Olive oil<br />
2 medium eggplants peeled and sliced in 1/4 inch half moons or quarters<br />
salt<br />
1/2 cup bread crumbs<br />
1/4 tsp cumin<br />
pepper<br />
1 lb bow tie pasta<br />
tomato sauce homemade or jarred. <br />
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Make your sauce* and let it simmer. Toast your bread and pound it into crumbs. Then start on the eggplant. <br />
Heat a large cast iron or nonstick pan on medium heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil, Add eggplant and sprinkle with a generous amount of salt and another drizzle of olive oil. Cook, flipping the eggplant here and there for about 15 min or until the slices are nice and soft and slightly browned in parts. I put a lid on for a few minutes to let the steam really cook the eggplant through. Add a bit more oil and add the bread crumbs, cumin and a dash of pepper to the pan, stir to coat the eggplant. Cook for a few more minutes until the crumbs are browned a bit. Turn off the heat and let the eggplant stay warm. <br />
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Cook your pasta as directed for al dente pasta. Spoon some onto your plate, layer on the tomato sauce and then eggplant breadcrumb mixture. If you're a cheater like me add a tiny bit of shredded parmesan and enjoy. It's delicious and exactly the same flavors as eggplant parmesan minus all the fuss of frying and layering and baking. Such a quick perfect meal. <br />
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* I used to be intimidated by the idea of making homemade tomato sauce. As if it wasn't worth doing unless you had your great grandmother's prize winning recipe or something. But making your own sauce doesn't have to be an all day affair and my recipe is quick enough that you can do it on any given day. You could make a huge batch of this and freeze some OR you can make just enough for one dinner. My disclaimer for this recipe is that I really don't measure anything out when I make my tomato sauces and I use what I have in the fridge or cupboard. So I am approximating on these amounts BUT the great thing is you can't wreck the sauce, just taste as you go and add this and that to your taste. Always error on the side of less salt in the beginning. You can always add salt at the end if needed. But there is nothing worse than realizing later on that it's too salty. Then your stuck!<br />
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Sara's homemade quick tomato sauce. <br />
3-4 medium to large ripe tomatoes cut in quarters<br />
2 medium onions cut in quarters<br />
4-6 large cloves of garlic peeled<br />
olive oil<br />
salt<br />
1 can of plain tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes (choose one without any added sugar)<br />
red pepper flakes<br />
oregano<br />
basil (fresh or dried)<br />
vinegar (balsamic, red wine or cider)<br />
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The quickest way to throw together this recipe is with a food processor. You can hand chop the tomatoes and onions if you like but I wiz mine in the processor so they are chopped finely and quickly. <br />
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Heat a dutch oven or pot over medium and add about 2 tbsp of olive oil. In your food processor, add the onions and garlic and pulse until chopped. Not until it's pulverized but just fine enough. Add the onions to your hot olive oil. Stir and add a large pinch of salt. Turn the temp down just a tad. Add more olive oil if it starts to look dry. You don't want the onions to brown, let them saute for a few minutes. Food process the tomatoes until nice and fine, there will be a lot of liquid. Add them to your pot and let the mixture simmer, stirring frequently. Put a lid on and let simmer 5-10 minutes or so. Add the can of tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes. You don't have to add this if you don't want to. If you want to only use fresh tomatoes just add a few more large tomatoes during that first step. <br />
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Add a dash of pepper flakes, oregano and basil. Then add about a tablespoon of vinegar and stir. Add another large pinch of salt and turn the temp back to medium or a bit higher. Let it get nice and bubbly and then put the lid on and turn it down to low. Let it simmer for however long you can, and don't forget to stir here and there. An hour is probably the minimum for the flavors to blend. Sometimes I let it simmer all day. If you want the sauce smoother you can use an emulsion blender to puree it. But I like mine with identifiable bits of onion and tomato. After it's been simmering for some time taste it. Add salt or spices if needed. When I have red or yellow peppers I like to roast them and throw them in the sauce too for a roasted red pepper flavor. </div>
Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-81521372061268525892014-05-22T00:12:00.001-07:002014-05-23T21:14:47.957-07:00Next overseas post: Jakarta, Indonesia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Note: the photos in this blog post have absolutely nothing to do with the topic. I just find them funny. Addie informed me that "mustaches are popular at school right now among the 4th and 5th graders". So we made some! <br />
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I'm not sure why I haven't written this blog post until now. We've known about our next destination for almost a year now. I guess as we get closer and closer to our new post, it seems vital I make an "announcement". <br />
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When we moved to Manila in 2008 we thought living in the Philippines for three years would be a good change of pace for us. We were not enjoying the rat race of two working parents and a baby in daycare full time. Life was not as enjoyable. We told our family we'd be home after Manila, and at the time we really thought we would be. Then the opportunity to move to Ethiopia came up and we decided to go for it. We'd definitely be home after two and a half years in Addis Ababa! But when the time came to look for the next position we were eager to see where else in the world this adventure could take us. To be honest, all the options available to Justin looked good and I was willing to move to any of them. When we got word that he got the job in Jakarta we jumped for joy! <br />
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So our three year adventure has morphed into almost 9 years overseas. I promise, after Jakarta, we're coming home! At this point I've turned into the boy who cried wolf. So maybe you won't believe it until it actually happens. Fair enough! But this time really, I mean it. We're moving back to Virginia after Indonesia.<br />
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There are lots of things we're excited about Jakarta. We loved SE Asia while we lived in Manila. The travel is wonderful, the food is great, people are friendly and love children, the lifestyle is not as difficult as living in Africa. Culturally, Indonesia will be very interesting to experience. We've never lived in a mostly Muslim country so this will be new and exciting. Indonesia will also be the most developed country we will have lived in (outside of the United States).<br />
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We've been assigned housing in South Jakarta (where we requested, which is closer to the schools, not the embassy) in a four bedroom high rise apartment that is close to the Jakarta American Club. It has the benefit of a gym and pool on-site which is a great perk. Ashlynn's preschool will be within walking distance from our apartment. This is huge! One of my babies won't be commuting too far. The apartment appears to be fairly new (although we all know that construction in the developing world can deteriorate quickly), newness isn't really an important factor for me. The aesthetic of the apartment really isn't of interest to me either. But the space seems big enough and livable for our family. Most importantly the kitchen looks great. It's very reminiscent of our housing in Manila. Cold hard marble floors, lots of bathrooms, large windows, balconies to terrify me. Overall, the place is absolutely livable and it will be fun to get creative with making the space our own. That's one of my favorite things about the blank slate of a new home.<br />
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If you're keeping up with International School news, you will have heard the <a href="http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/indonesia-school-abuse-scandal-sparks-soul-searching/">tragic news about recent incidents at Jakarta International School (JIS)</a>. It's a well known and highly touted school. Both Addie and Bella (hopefully) will attend. Right now, we have a Montessori school KG program as an alternative for Bella if it comes to that. We're hoping it won't. I've had it in my mind for a year now that my two older girls will be at the same school and ride the bus together. The school situation has been the most stressful so far. <br />
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Another stressful issue with a move to Jakarta is taking into account the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/05/world/asia/hours-to-go-just-to-get-to-work.html?_r=0">epic traffic</a> and commute times we have awaiting us. We're in for a <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Traffic+in+Jakarta+Indonesia&newwindow=1&sa=G&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=cZp9U5-BLs3I0AWGxoDIDg&ved=0CCkQsAQ&biw=1440&bih=785">rude awakening</a> and I'm sure we will be humbled about what we considered "traffic" in Manila and Addis. Both of which have pretty nasty traffic, if I'm being truthful. But Jakarta traffic is in <a href="http://thediplomat.com/2014/01/jakartas-troubled-infrastructure/">a whole new category of awful</a>. Addie, unfortunately has been placed at the JIS campus which is slightly farther away from our apartment due to space issues. On google maps the distance is about 5km but the commute time on the bus we are told is anywhere from 40-60 minutes! Our one desire for this post was to give our children a short commute to school. As it is now, they both commute long times to and from school here in Addis (Addie 60-80 min one way, Bella and Ashlynn 30 min one way). It was the same in Manila. Kids at this age should be able to walk to school or take a bus ride that is about 15 minutes for elementary school. Sadly, our girls have commute times that are more in line with grown-up nine to five office jobs. It sounds like it will be the same in Jakarta, as much as we tried, we failed at getting them placed at the school campus that is only a 15-20 minute commute from our apartment. I still find it unbelievable that it's so difficult to live close to school overseas. Americans are used to having an elementary school within a 4 mile radius of their home, no matter where you live (in most suburban areas). Throngs of kids walk to school or take yellow school buses short distances. But not overseas. I've decided that it just simply isn't the norm for international schools. At least it has not been our overseas experience. Or maybe at one time there was enough housing close to the school, but growth has changed that. To be quite honest, I am heartbroken that my kindergartner and second grader will once again be sitting on a bus for more than two hours a day. It just seems wrong on so many levels.<br />
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But the bright side to this situation is that the long commute to school isn't new to my girls. They are accustomed to it. They are troopers and will manage well. I am sure of it. <br />
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Commuting from our apartment in South Jakarta to the US Embassy which is downtown will take anywhere from 40-60 minutes in the morning and anywhere from 60-90 minutes on the way home on a good day (non rainy season, non flood season, non protest season) the distance is 12.6 km. Traffic is likely to be the single most difficult thing about adjusting to our life in Indonesia. It's good we've had some practice traffic in Manila and Addis. We're not newcomers to the challenges of driving in a developing country that happens to be developing faster than the infrastructure can handle. I'm planning to use the commute time to work remotely. <br />
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Yes, work! You heard me correctly. I have been chosen as a candidate for a job at the embassy. Which basically means I've been selected for the job but have some rigorous security clearance processes to go through before I can be officially offered the job. But anyway, there is much more to say on the topic of me going "back to work" -as one says. I am thrilled, terrified, and nervous all in one! Probably to be expected. It doesn't help that my daughters groan and protest at the mention of me going to work "like Daddy". More on this topic later. <br />
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Also, the silver lining in commuting horrendous amounts of time to work for two years in Jakarta, will make ANY commute in the Northern Virginia/Washington DC area, either on the beltway or on 267 seem like a walk in the park. We will laugh in the faces of whiny DC commuters after Jakarta! Here I go with the bright side again!<br />
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Every one of our overseas moves has been a new adventure. Both Manila and Addis Ababa have deeply shaped me as a person. Both our posts have allowed me to grow in different ways. I am certain that Jakarta, Indonesia will do the same. I am thoroughly excited for this new adventure with my family. We are eager for those first few days upon arrival in a new country where everything is new and a little scary and unknown. But we get to look around and discover our new life and make it our home. </div>
Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-7504559374781102552014-05-21T04:36:00.000-07:002014-05-21T04:41:01.940-07:00home stretch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We have 16 days until we depart Ethiopia. Eight days until pack-out. Eight days is not a number that means I can comfortably sit around and tell myself I have plenty of time to get things packed up. And yet, it's also not a number where I need to be running around putting my kitchen in a pile for the movers or putting my girls shoes in suitcases. We're in the in between days where our minds are on the move constantly but we still need to use all the things that need to be packed!<br />
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For weeks and weeks we've taken the time to go through our home and trash the things that are not worth donating or selling. It's been a blissful process. De-cluttering my life has to be one of my favorite uplifting activities. As we get closer to our "pack-out" dates, (essentially the days that the moving company comes in and packs both of our shipments. UAB-a small shipment we will get about 6 weeks into our arrival at our next post and HHE-all the rest of our belongings that will arrive anywhere between 2-4 months after our arrival at our next post), the more serious our organizing and sorting has been. We have a room that has been taken over by our suitcases and UAB pile. When I think of something else that can go in either shipment, I just walk it up the stairs.<br />
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There are lots of theories and methods of how best to get through pack-out. This is our fourth pack-out and in some ways it gets easier, but in a lot of ways the same things are challenging just as they were the first time around. There are two things making this pack-out easier on us. One is that we aren't moving with an infant this time around. Having babies or kids still in diapers with special requirements of stuff, makes pack-out tougher. Two is that our next post is not as difficult in terms of the availability of things. So if we want to toss our old trash bins in Ethiopia we will be able to buy more when we arrive in our new country. <br />
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Many people say or think, "How hard can it be? A moving company comes and wraps and packs everything for you. What are you whining about? <br />
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We are very lucky to have moving companies to help with our moves. The whining comes with the stress. It takes careful planning to get it right. Let me try to explain. <br />
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The timing of having access to our personal belongings is very interesting. All of our worldly goods will be packed in HHE and shipped to a storage location in Antwerp. Our UAB will fly to our next post and wait in the airport for our arrival. When we arrive at our new post (in August) we will obtain our appropriate resident paperwork which will allow our UAB to be issued to us. This takes about 6 weeks after our arrival at post. HHE comes months later. So the big problem is having to think ahead about what we need to pack in our suitcases that we will need not only for our home leave in America this summer, but also for the first six weeks at our next post in August. I have to set aside the items that we would like to receive first in our UAB. If I forget something we need right away at our next post, we won't see it for 5-6 months. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not your average suitcase full. This one has our beach bag and arm floaties, important move documents, boxes of unused checks, dog leashes, my bridesmaids dress for my sisters wedding and all our chargers. </td></tr>
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For example, I am bringing my daughter's school backpacks, lunch bags and ice packs with us in our suitcases back to America because these are things we will need to have access to right away at our next post since we arrive only one week before the school year starts. All of our original documents like our birth certificates, marriage certificates, medical records, school records and tax information all have to go in our carry-on luggage! Can you imagine loosing such things in a lost bag? My carry-on will also hold our external hard drive, camera and my best jewelry. We've also decided that since we aren't loading an entire suitcase full of diapers and baby items we are bringing our bottle opener, spherical ice cube tray, milk frother and French press in our suitcase. These are must-haves.<br />
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Most of the every day kitchen supplies I use are going in our UAB. I hate not having a well stocked kitchen and waiting even 6 weeks for all those items to arrive will be hard for me. The mixer, food processor, coffee maker, emulsion blender and waffle maker are all making the UAB cut this time around as well as our personally owned voltage transformers so we can run all these gadgets right away. A formal ball gown and my husband's tuxedo will go in our UAB as well so we will have something to wear to the Marine Ball next November. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_DgHX0GhTxr4_u25q2MxI4V1uGcUehnvjLWf1tg0A0Fb5mXqt6lU8bZj-wSKRf_NsbIGIoQzR984IHd_yfJbkaV6-WdfLOc7i5FLcBYL6oXysjnJ0sellGdIpG8WYrqOf8d1QV1bZOe2/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_DgHX0GhTxr4_u25q2MxI4V1uGcUehnvjLWf1tg0A0Fb5mXqt6lU8bZj-wSKRf_NsbIGIoQzR984IHd_yfJbkaV6-WdfLOc7i5FLcBYL6oXysjnJ0sellGdIpG8WYrqOf8d1QV1bZOe2/s1600/003.JPG" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The current UAB list. Note the "Adult" work clothes and "Frozen" dolls next to toys. Both crucial!</td></tr>
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I keep detailed lists of all our shipments to try to avoid forgetting everything. I keep them in a notebook I've used for all our pack-outs so I can refer to the items that went into each shipment years ago. Lots of the basics like towels and sheets stay the same but our first UAB shipment contained Addie's excersaucer and high chair! <br />
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Even with all my lists and all our organizing, preparing for pack-out is challenging mostly because all this prep is simultaneously happening along with every day life. The kids are still playing and making messes. Every meal still needs to be prepared and cleaned up. School routines are still happening. Justin is still working. I was still completing orders (up until last weekend). Friends still want to play. We're still getting invited to BBQs where we should bring something. Life is happening like normal around us. But in 16 days our life gets turned upside down. <br />
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We have not been home to the US in two and a half years. We are thrilled to fly home and spend time with our family and friends. During this "home leave" we will stay a portion of the time on the East coast and a portion of the time on the West coast. We're so excited to be home but it's hard to forget that for the duration we are essentially homeless. Bunking with friends and family, living out of our suitcases. It's not ideal but it's all we've got. Sometimes being in America but without a home to call our own makes me even more homesick. Does that make any sense? Maybe it's the desire to settle and be settled.<br />
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I've decided to post some photos of the silly things that have made it into our suitcases and UAB this time around. I do believe the hoarders mentality I've picked up since living in Ethiopia, will take a while to dissipate. But there are some things I simply cannot toss away. For these two and half years, we've carefully rationed things like sunscreen, shampoo and even ziploc bags. I can't help but stash a few things like this in our suitcases since we cannot have any liquids or gels in our shipments to our next post. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What? You don't bring parchment paper with you on home leave?</td></tr>
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Yes, I am bringing Halloween decorations in my UAB. Yes, my cupcake liners and frosting tips are going in my suitcase! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2c94Z0HaWxOvPaVn57cCatlzLveCCdqkmYrjbypRXIqc4GKJckxx4eQGS66ZVYPpSkyQYONEVjEDXYqvpqewAQH4bIuiS7gtpnDyxgh0lbl-wsSTKmY1tkyQ3KLS76b0Z2QHaxaqeNjp/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2c94Z0HaWxOvPaVn57cCatlzLveCCdqkmYrjbypRXIqc4GKJckxx4eQGS66ZVYPpSkyQYONEVjEDXYqvpqewAQH4bIuiS7gtpnDyxgh0lbl-wsSTKmY1tkyQ3KLS76b0Z2QHaxaqeNjp/s1600/008.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TP, Halloween decor and our espresso maker. Those blue striped towels Justin has had since college.</td></tr>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-51781791238828012712014-05-19T23:14:00.001-07:002014-05-19T23:14:26.193-07:00Frozen birthday party<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I like to think hosting a birthday party for twenty kids and twenty parents is a good way to keep some semblance of normalcy during the terribly stressful period of transition in foreign service life. Either that, or I'm completely nuts. We hosted the party in between Addie and Bella's birthdays so both girls could have a special birthday with their friends one last time in Ethiopia. <br />
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They are all obsessed with the new Disney Frozen movie (me included, who isn't?) and it was a fun theme to plan. My parents had send treat bags and homemade lollipops from a candy shop on the Oregon coast. Bruce's Candy Kitchen makes candy that is not only beautiful but it's also delicious. The twirly pops went well with our frozen theme as a take-away gift. <br />
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We spent the Sunday prior to the party hanging balloons and streamers and snowflakes. I purchased Frozen character decals to place on the walls. For the party activity, I fell back on my usual craft of decorating sugar cookies. I just didn't have it in me to be creative so the kids were given pretty bags with two snowflake sugar cookies and sprinkles to decorate them. I made my favorite sugar cookie frosting that dries nicely and let the kids dig it out of little dishes with a knife. For the Christmas party I took the time to put the frosting in bags for piping (Good Lord am I nuts?). I decided that was too time consuming. The craft was a hit. Ultimately, I've decided the main reason kids (and grownups) love this so much it because frosted sugar cookies are a wonderful indulgence. I spotted lots of moms and dads stealing bites of their kids creations.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella and her best friend Teffase decorating cookies. These two ate the entire ramekin of frosting together.</td></tr>
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The day of the party ended up being one of the rainiest, non-rainy season days I've seen in Addis! But we weren't deterred. I scanned our must-drink-before-we-leave liquor cabinet and came up with two cocktails the parents could enjoy during the party. One contained a gorgeous espresso granita and Kahlua. Delicious! The rain didn't seem so gloomy when you have something sweet and boozy to drink.<br />
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Lunch was Mediterranean beef kofta and chicken kebab sandwiches with hummus, tzaziki sauce and homemade pitas. I spent a good part of the week prior planning and prepping the meal. The kids enjoyed baked mac 'n cheese with broccoli. If I'm being real, the parents enjoyed the pasta as well. I had splurged on American sharp cheddar cheese. After eating local cheese for so long, American cheddar tastes super salty and sharp and just plain rich!<br />
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The cake was the real hero of the party. I wanted this cake to blow my girls' minds and I was rewarded greatly when they saw the final product. I planned this cake for months. I ordered the Frozen figurines as well as the sugar snowflakes. The three tiered cake was frosted with light blue vanilla buttercream and vanilla meringue frosting for snow. The bottom tier was chocolate with caramel filling, the middle tier was orange with orange curd filling and the top was chocolate with strawberry filling. The blue tinted sugar "ice" was made with the same <a href="http://ouryuppielife.blogspot.com/2012/11/gory-cupcakes.html">technique</a> as I used <a href="http://ouryuppielife.blogspot.com/2012/10/pumpkin-birthday-cake.html">here</a>. It was much easier with simply shattering the candy. This cake required a lot of labor but every single minute was a labor of love for me. You can see some more detailed photos over at L<a href="http://ladytroupesweets.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-frozen-birthday-cake.html">adytroupe Sweets blog</a>.<br />
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The party was so much fun and the kids all had a great time. It was the first party where Addie wanted only her girlfriends from her class to attend. Bella had a few little boys from her class that are her close friends but for the most party the party was very girl-heavy. It was sweet and a little less loud and crazy. I find that even at first grade the girls and boys get in groups at parties and get one another all riled up. It's so funny to see at such a young age. Anyway, I'm certain we have lots of girls only parties coming in our life. That is until it suddenly is cool to invite boys again.<br />
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It was a relief to have this party finished so I could get back to my organizing and sorting for our move. But truth be told, I am also a little sad that we won't be throwing parties in this house anymore. It's been a great house for entertaining and we've thrown some seriously epic parties in Ethiopia. It's been a good entertaining run for me. I will miss it. </div>
Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-46687361646805501302014-05-15T10:42:00.000-07:002014-05-15T10:42:06.299-07:00homemade cheese crackers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My kids love crackers as much as anyone's kids do. Only trouble is that we don't live in America: land of the entire-isle-at-the-grocery-store-devoted-to-a-million-varieties-of-crackers. We live in Ethiopia and yes, we can buy a few Greek or Italian brands of crackers on the local economy and the commissary at the embassy has Saltines, Wheat Thins, Ritz, and Cheez-Its. We used to order large shipments of crackers through my favorite online grocer netgrocer.com and our family was nice enough to send boxes here and there. But here we are 3 weeks away from departure, so we've been buying at the commissary more. There just isn't time to get shipments here. Long story short, the commissary is a great option but it's super expensive. It's about $6 USD per box of crackers. Frankly, I'm tired of the small selection offered. <br />
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So I made my own and I'm going to share the recipe with you. These homemade cheese crackers are a better tasting Cheez-It. No, truly...they taste way better. <br />
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Yes, this will take a bit of time. The time consuming part of this recipe is the rolling and cutting and baking. The dough is a piece of cake to throw together. So here's my recommendation, make a double or triple batch of the dough, refrigerate or freeze a portion so you can take a hunk out here and there to roll and bake. Or if you have the time, roll and bake a double or triple batch and just stash them in your pantry in ziplocs. I got the original recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks The Homemade Pantry, and she says you shouldn't store the baked crackers for more than 7 days at room temp. These crackers are so good, it's not likely they will last the 7 days. <br />
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Last night, Justin came home and does his kitchen sweep to see what's been cooking and baking all day. He immediately finds the bag of crackers and I have to tell him not once, but twice that they are for the girls' lunches so don't eat them all. <br />
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So here's my other plan, these crackers are so good that they are begging to be made for a grown-up cocktail party or BBQ. These would be perfect in a bowl or scattered on a cutting board with a little bowl of pesto dip or even a sweet bacon and date relish.<br />
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Homemade Cheese Crackers (Original recipe from The Homemade Pantry. I've added a good amount of spices to this recipe to amp them up. Probably because I can't just use a recipe as is. I have to adjust something, it's just my nature.)<br />
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3 Tbsp unsalted cold butter cut into small pieces<br />
1 1/2 cups flour (try it with a bit of whole wheat if you want)<br />
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar or Gouda cheese<br />
2 tsp dry mustard powder<br />
1 1/2 tsp salt<br />
1/2 tsp paprika<br />
1 tsp rosemary chopped finely (I used dried but fresh is good too)<br />
1/4 tsp course black pepper<br />
2 tsp cider or white vinegar<br />
3/4 cup water<br />
1 ice cube<br />
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In a small bowl, combine the water, vinegar and ice. Set aside to get cold. <br />
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In your stand mixer with paddle attachment, combine the flour and spices and salt. Add the butter and let it mix until it's combines well. Add the cheese and mix for a minute to combine well. <br />
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Add 6 Tbsp of the cold water vinegar mixture to the cheese flour mixture in the stand mixer. Mix until combined. Slowly add more of the liquid, 1 Tbsp at a time until the dough clings to the paddle. Remove the dough and coat the outside with a little flour so it's dry to tough. Seal in a ziploc or plastic wrap and freeze or refrigerate for an hour or two until it's cold and hard. <br />
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Take out dough and let sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Prepare two large baking sheets with parchment paper or use a silpat. Flour your surface and roll out the dough a portion at at time into a thin (1/8 to 1/4 inch). It's like working with a pastry or pie crust. Yes, there will be breaks and it won't all be perfect on the edges but if you roll nice and thin, you'll be fine. Make sure to add flour underneath the dough so it doesn't stick to your surface. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into small one inch squares. If you want smaller or larger crackers no problem. Peel away the rough edges, ball them up and roll them out again until you've made crackers out of all the dough. Place the squares on a baking sheet about 1/2 inch apart. Bake in the oven for 22-25 minutes, rotating the pans once in the middle. Watch the crackers at the end, you don't want them too brown. If they start browning, turn off the oven and let them sit for another 10 minutes inside. You can adjust your baking time and resting in the hot oven time based on how crunchy you want your crackers. Then take them out, let them cool and try to keep your family from immediately eating them all. <br />
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I've been thinking about a few variations on this cracker. Try adding 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper for a spicy cracker, or leave out the rosemary and add curry powder instead. An Italian version with oregano and basil would be lovely. Or maybe even dill if you want to serve them with a smoked salmon spread. <br />
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Happy baking, and munching!</div>
Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-30799153269813483112014-05-14T06:35:00.003-07:002014-05-14T06:48:40.123-07:00Arabella Jun turns 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It wasn't long after Christmas when everything was put away, that the girls started asking about their birthdays. In our family, Justin and I have birthdays in March (neither which I blogged about, but both were wonderful), then Bella's is in April and Addie's in May. It's birthday season in the spring. Birthdays for the girls happen to fall very closely to our departure preparations. The plan this year was to celebrate Bella's birthday on her actual birthday, then host a joint Addie and Bella party in May, and then have a small family celebration on Addie's actual birthday. Usually we host two big kid birthday parties a month apart and I simply couldn't get that to work this year. <br />
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So on April 29, 2014, Arabella Jun turned 5. She was thrilled to see a little banner I made for the mantel and she chose a mint chocolate chip cake for dessert. Burritos for dinner were also her choice. The smartest thing I did was make a little 6 inch round cake which was plenty of cake for the five of us and enough for second helpings the next day. But there weren't leftovers for days. Wonderful! <br />
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Arabella is a pretty awesome 5 year old. She's made remarkable progress at school this semester. She's starting to read site words and pay more attention to her art work. She's focused and even has close friends. Last year, she floated about from friend to friend. This year she's socially moved on to a best buddy. She's obsessed with the new Disney Frozen movie (the theme of our big birthday party this year) and sings at the top of her lungs to the soundtrack. <br />
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Bella has a very dynamic personality. She can be very clumsy and un self aware at times. She barrels through things and buldozes through her life. But then on the other hand she's very sympathetic and compassionate and mindful about her play. She has a wonderfully sweet pleasing nature about her. She is quick to give gifts and special little prizes she finds outside (snails, flowers, rocks) to her family. She loves to sit and play by herself, singing and dancing and acting out elaborate scenes with her toys. But then she also engages her sisters in lengthy play for hours on end. She seems to fit in the perfect middle-child mold. She really is multifaceted and seems to mold herself to the current environment. <br />
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She's still our tough child and we still joke that she always will be. She'll be the one we pray a little extra for. Her clumsiness leads to disastrous injuries at times. Thankfully nothing too serious. Her tendency to get dirty and put things in her mouth leads to a significant amount of tummy troubles. She is particular about her clothing, shoes, hair style, and even the way she gets washed in the bath. She huddles under her bed covers with 50,000 stuffed animals and toys. She literally buries herself in her things at night. We find all sorts of strange things in her bed like scarves, bug spray, the door stop, books, etc. She is knob kneed and skinny and tends to eat small portions of things. Getting her to finish her meal can be a challenge, unless it's in the middle of a growth spurt like right now, and she's eating eggs AND pancakes for breakfast. <br />
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Arabella is a joy. She's cause of much frustration and heart ache but it just makes her more lovable somehow. She's precocious and silly and sweet and funny all wrapped into one. <br />
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She's most often the first girl out of bed in the mornings. She pulls her blanket and stuffed turtle, along with which ever toy or doll is her current favorite to the couch in the TV room. She reads a book or just waits until Justin or I come downstairs to start the day. She always greets me with the sweetest "Good morning Mommy" and big hard hug and it warms my heart every morning.<br />
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Happy Birthday Bean!<br />
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-89991567838748879682014-05-14T04:48:00.003-07:002014-05-14T04:53:27.322-07:00Ashlynn Olivia all grown up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There have been some fairly awesome milestones met in our house. The most exciting being that Ashlynn is entirely potty trained! This happened simultaneous to the time she started preschool two days a week. Also, a huge milestone. I had been pretty adamant about starting Ash in a preschool program at the age of three. But the busier I got with my own work, the less time I had to engage her in the mornings and the more she was playing alone. Now, playing alone is a fantastic ability to have for a kid but I finally relented and decided to enroll her at Head to Toe for two days a week. It's been a few months now and she's enjoying it. At first she never spoke and seemed sad but now her teacher says that she's engaged and chattering away at school. It was a good decision. <br />
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A wonderful byproduct of preschool was the potty training. I knew she was ready but honestly hadn't devoted much time to the project. When she started taking off her diaper every time she went, it was time to get busy. Within maybe two weeks she was wearing big girl panties and not having accidents. Now, she doesn't need diapers for her nap time and wakes up most mornings completely dry. She gets her self to the toilet and as long as there is a stool she can get her self seated and go without any help. It was a miraculous day when I finally removed the changing table from the nursery dresser. We placed a lamp on top and some books and finally, we don't have diapers. I put away all the cloth diapers for a friend and Ashlynn happily picks out her panties in the morning. <br />
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As a side note, I'd like to say something about my commitment to cloth diapers. After using cloth diapers for 2.5 years, I am very happy with the decision. Yes, they were more trouble and yes, scraping big girl poop off them was disgusting, but it saved so much money that we would have spent on shipping in disposable diapers. When Ash was under a year, we washed at least once a day. As she grew it moved to every other day. I used a diaper pail to keep the soiled diapers in. I found that if I placed the soiled diapers in a basin full of water and let them soak and stay wet, they washed better. One thing I didn't forsee about the cloth diaper thing in Ethiopia is having enough hot water. Cloth diapers need to be washed in very hot water and our hot water heater in the laundry room is very small and is shared by our guards shower. I had to get clever about when to wash the diapers. Sometimes late in the evening was best when there was a full tank of hot water. But forget trying to get more than one load washed with hot water. If the hot water or water entirely was out at the house (yes, we have plenty of water shortage days where there simply is no water) the diaper washing became a priority and sheets sat for days. These few issues are very unique to a third world living experience. In the first world, most people can do as many loads of laundry as they want to each day. What a luxury! <br />
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The best part about the bumGenius all-in-one diapers was the infinite snap/size options and the dual inserts. The snap options let the size of the diaper change as the girls grew and the dual inserts meant I could place two in the pocket when Ashlynn was old enough to make a ton of pee at night. We have very few wet sheets. It took Bella longer to stay dry at night (each kid is different, man!) and she was able to wear the cloth diapers at night during that time as well. They truly were used in our house for both girls for years. <br />
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They held up too. Out of 21 diapers, I have two that have elasticity issues. The rest are fine. It was such a great investment. Remember when I first reviewed them <a href="http://ouryuppielife.blogspot.com/2011/12/cloth-diaper-review.html">here</a> and <a href="http://ouryuppielife.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-revised-opinion-on-cloth-diapers.html">here</a>? Ashlynn was so tiny!<br />
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So Ashlynn started preschool, is wearing underwear and is sleeping in a toddler bed. We're actually leaving the toddler bed in Ethiopia so she will move into a twin size bed when we get to Jakarta. She's very independent and is dressing herself entirely as well as recognizing letters and numbers and using a pencil and scissors correctly. She speaks as well or better than Arabella. She plays right along with her sisters. Make believe and all. Bella and her have always played nicely, but I think Bella gets more enjoyment playing with Ashlynn now that they can have more detailed play. <br />
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We gave away all our baby items, the clothes, crib, blankets, toys, all of it. There were fleeting moments of sadness for me. But overall, I'm really excited for this milestone for our family. No more babies. We now officially have three kids and it's pretty marvelous. Each of our girls get more amazing with every passing month. It's such a privilege to watch them change. Everything is easier; from dinners out to the bath time routine. I loved my girls as babies. LOVED! But Justin and I have no desire to go back to that chaotic, exhausting time in our family existence. Right now, Ashlynn is at a wonderfully cuddly squishy toddler stage that just might possibly be my favorite. But it is so nice to be out of the baby phase. We're moving on!<br />
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-60551239787436395102014-05-14T00:44:00.002-07:002014-05-14T00:48:36.776-07:00bartering for photos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I love having talented friends! My friend Tracy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jacarandatreephotography">Jacaranda Tree Photography</a> is a photographer. <a href="http://www.flytographer.com/vacation-photographers?tag=Addis+Ababa">She</a> works for <a href="http://www.flytographer.com/">Flytographer</a> which is a really cool service if you haven't hear of it. She meets up with people from all over who are here in Ethiopia visiting. Many people are here for adoption purposes. Some families are meeting their adoptive child for the first time. Tracy gets to capture that on film. Amazing!</div>
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Tracy and I bartered a while ago. I made an ice cream cake and smash cake for her daughter's first birthday. Look at those dimpled little fingers covered in buttercream! And Tracy agreed to a mini photo shoot of our family. <br />
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We had been planning to get a family photo done at the end of our time in Ethiopia. We wanted to get matching Ethiopian soccer jerseys and be really silly about it. The soccer jerseys never happened and the girls Easter dressed didn't ship here in time for Easter so we got them dressed in their colorful outfits. Justin and I followed suit. </div>
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Tracy met us in a road in her neighborhood, we purposefully chose a fairly quiet low traffic area. Even so, as we started the shoot, a crowd of people gathered to watch the crazy white family taking pictures in the road. </div>
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I find it interesting that this scenery has become so common to us. This road is actually a nice one. There was a paved portion of the road and the rest was still drive-able. I received so many comments from friends and family about how the photos look like they were taken in a war zone or where a bomb must have been dropped. I actually felt a little defensive towards this neighborhood in Addis. No way! This is a nice part of town. I know how strange that must seem, especially to our family who has never traveled outside of America, let alone to developing countries. The crumbled stone in the driveways, and reebar in the roads is a totally normal scene. I had to kick away a number of plastic trash bags in front of the pink gate and remind the girls not to touch their shoes or step in dog poop. Addis Ababa is in a place of transformation. Lots of buildings are going up and as you are driving down any road, there isn't a moment that goes by you don't see a compound in ruin or an area of road completely torn up. The "before" Addis is not so great, and the "after" Addis, is still going to be a "war zone" to people who haven't become accustomed to life in the developing world. There are no curbs or side walks in neighborhoods. They're lucky to have a paved road. Trash is everywhere! It's become quite normal to us and in these photos I find it beautiful.</div>
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I didn't mean to ramble, just making some observations. We looked at these photos and immediately decided they were perfect. They perfectly capture not only our family at this moment in time, but of our life in Ethiopia. We're so grateful for Tracy and her talent. </div>
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I think it was a fantastic trade for cake!</div>
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Tracy edited the photos two different ways and was nice enough to let me have them all! I tend to prefer really bright crisp photos but the matte filter is really pretty too. Which do you prefer?<br />
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-74005284425086019902014-05-13T23:33:00.000-07:002014-05-13T23:36:19.774-07:00Easter celebrations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I recognize that I'm a month late on Easter blogging! Holy cow, a month has gone by without an update from me. There's much more to talk about, other than Easter so I'm going to be doing some back-posting to get up to speed. Mostly, it's so years down the road, my children don't go searching back through this journal of our life and start bugging me about where April and May went! <br />
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We had two Easter celebrations. One with the embassy community the week before Easter and one on Easter Sunday with close friends. We debated attending the embassy Easter party mostly because it can get pretty chaotic but Justin and I decided that there wasn't anything else to do that weekend and truly the kids love it. I got smart and packed a picnic lunch so we could avoid the atrocious food served for these things (think cold french toast and greasy potatoes). But even more genius was my decision to throw in plastic cups and a bottle of wine. Friends followed suit and we finished the bottle during the event and replaced it with two more from the commissary. So let's just say, the family all got sunburned because Mama was having a bit too much fun to remember sunblock. What a great way to spend the Easter party at the embassy! Such a fun day with friends. <br />
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For Easter Sunday we went to our friends Mark and Pria's home for Easter brunch. We've become close with them and their sweet daughter Jennavieve. She's a precious girl and Addie, Bella and Ashlynn have adopted her as their fourth sister. It's so fun seeing them together. Pria is definitely my funniest friend. She has such a lively personality. I feel like we could have been friends for a decade not just a few short months. They have the perfect back yard for an Easter egg hunt. The food was amazing and the company was perfect. We opened a special Hungarian bottle of champagne! The girls were high on sugar all day! It was a great way to spend a day in Ethiopia. <br />
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-78781157944963683592014-04-14T00:50:00.001-07:002014-04-14T00:50:15.539-07:00silk tie dyed Easter eggs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This year for Easter we're making lots of pretty decorated eggs. We have the PAAS box with little dye tablets for the girls to do this week but I also decided to do something different. Last year I found gorgeous photos of pretty eggs that had been dyed with old silk ties. I asked my mom to hit the local Goodwill and pick some up for me and I've been saving them all these months for this project. <br />
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Admittedly, this craft project was mostly for my enjoyment. Almost all the work fell on my shoulders but the very last step of unwrapping the eggs to reveal the gorgeous colors, I left to the kids. They loved it and it was so much fun. If you spread the steps out over the course of a few days it's not really that time consuming. It's certainly not difficult.<br />
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What you need:<br />
White raw eggs<br />
Patterned silk ties or cloth<br />
Old white t-shirt or pillow case<br />
Twist ties<br />
White vinegar<br />
Varnish or glaze<br />
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Step 1: Get out your selection of old silk ties. The brighter and bolder the patterns the better. Cut out the backing and open up the large piece of silk. <br />
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Step 2: Cut your tie into pieces that will wrap entirely around the raw egg. We only have access to small white eggs so I was able to get 3-4 eggs wrapped with one tie. With large white eggs you will get two eggs per tie. Make sure the silk is tight and smooth against the egg. Use a twist tie to hold the silk in place. Cut the ends if they are long. <br />
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Step 3: Cut the old white t-shirt or pillow case into small pieces that you now wrap around the silk-wrapped egg. It's not as crucial to make it smooth and tight but do your best and use a twist tie to secure the fabric.<br />
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Step 4: Place the wrapped eggs in a large pot for boiling, add 1/4 cup white vinegar to the water and set your temperature on high. Once the water is boiling set your timer for 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes is up, remove the eggs and let them cool completely. <br />
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This is the step I let the children complete. It's the best part. Unwrap the eggs and reveal the amazing patterns that have transferred to the eggs. Let them dry completely. <br />
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Step 5: Glazing the eggs. This step is completely optional. The eggs are certainly lovely without a sheen but we had a little bottle of Crayola bead glaze from another craft project so we painted the clear glaze on the eggs. It enhanced the colors and made them extra gorgeous. I've read that a little coating of olive oil would shine them up as well. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfNQt_8giPv5j4nG4SLlGgU3wmg1rCByi4ersAb02lsoHYmCgKeFk_gO2EkVIZHegNo3gp2TyUPaCbhw9HkvYCuWnLZ-mUFRNj8rtfkWhLgVeBf4h5ihFwKuATgfSCW7d6VYpdwjW5m4L/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfNQt_8giPv5j4nG4SLlGgU3wmg1rCByi4ersAb02lsoHYmCgKeFk_gO2EkVIZHegNo3gp2TyUPaCbhw9HkvYCuWnLZ-mUFRNj8rtfkWhLgVeBf4h5ihFwKuATgfSCW7d6VYpdwjW5m4L/s1600/103.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's really fun to see which ties produced which patterns on the eggs.</td></tr>
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We're displaying them in a pretty basket but since the boiled egg inside can't keep forever we will likely display them until Easter and then toss them. It's not advisable to eat the eggs since you aren't sure what kind of dyes are being used and the glaze adds an extra unappetizing layer. Better to eat the PAAS eggs! But these ones sure are pretty.<br />
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-76391483119448995802014-04-09T23:16:00.002-07:002014-04-09T23:16:47.699-07:00we're drinking a little more here in Ethiopia right now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We have less than two months until we say goodbye to Ethiopia. Only a few weeks until the moving company comes and packs up our life. It's sort of moving too quickly and not quickly enough all at the same time. </div>
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For all the entertaining we've done in Addis Ababa, we've accumulated quite a sophisticated liquor cabinet. Gorgeous bottles of port, bourbon, liquors for baking, gin! We're grown-ups now! In the last few months, we've been drinking casually on the weekends and even in the evenings. I hate to see some of our collection get wasted since it cannot be packed to move on with us to our next post. It's a problem all expats have. Gotta get rid of the liquor! I swear we're not turning into alcoholics or anything but if you're familiar with the home stretch of any overseas tour, you'll know a good stiff gin and tonic can ease the pain a bit. </div>
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Anyway, now that you've thoroughly decided I'm not nearly as sweet as you thought I was...HA!</div>
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Last weekend the sun was hot and we sat outside and let the girls ride their bikes, splash in the water and enjoy the afternoon. </div>
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Enter- plan to get ride of liquor:</div>
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My husband drinks his whiskey on the rocks (or rock I guess
since it’s a single huge spherical ice cube).
But I like mine as a cocktail. I’m
not allowed to use the “good” whiskey but too be honest, I don’t care. Jamesons or Jack Daniels is good enough for
me. A seventy dollar bottle of whiskey
definitely shouldn't be mixed with sugar syrup! HA!</div>
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The best cocktails are made with the freshest ingredients so
slice some juicy limes and make a sugary syrup.
I like using the “raw” brown sugar found in Ethiopia. It’s a dark brown color with a hint of molasses. </div>
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Sara's Whiskey Sour</div>
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1 shot whiskey</div>
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Lime juice from 1 lime</div>
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Dash of sugar syrup (Just heat sugar and water 1:1 ratio
until sugar dissolves)</div>
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Pour whiskey over ice and add the sugar and lime juice. Stir.
Taste. Add more of this or that
to taste. Some people like it sweeter,
some more sour. It’s up to you. Have a few lime slices to garnish your
drink. </div>
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Sit back and sip while you make mental lists for pack-out!</div>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-43765527170698594072014-04-07T04:26:00.005-07:002014-04-07T04:26:58.765-07:00Lemony sweet crepes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I’m in love with crepes.
They’re so versatile! Everything
from cheese, ham, mushrooms, nutella, bananas...the list is endless. They can be an entire meal or just a
snack. Have you ever made crepes from
scratch? It sounds a bit intimidating at
first, but really it’s like making a very thin pancake. </div>
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I've written about a basic<a href="http://ouryuppielife.blogspot.com/2012/10/apple-bacon-crepes.html"> crepe recipe</a> before. I like to replace the oil with browned butter now. </div>
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Use a 9 inch non-stick skilled if you don’t have a crepe
pan. Heat it nice and hot (over medium
heat) and rub on some butter for the first crepe. The batter should sizzle and as you turn the
batter to let it run and cover the entire pan, bubbles will form. Within a minute the edges should start to
peel up and this is when you flip. Wait
about another minute then slide it off onto a cooling wrack. </div>
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Lemon juice on pancakes is typically a German treat. If you want a quick sweet snack or even
breakfast or dessert this simple crepe recipe is the perfect thing. I made one for dessert yesterday and then had
to make a second. I ate both!</div>
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Lemony sweet crepes</div>
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Crepes</div>
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Lemon wedges</div>
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1 tbsp granulated sugar</div>
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1 tbsp browned butter.
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I use enough browned butter in my baking that I usually have
a little bowl in the refrigerator that I can warm for this recipe. If you don’t, here’s how you brown
butter. Place a stick of butter (or less
if you like) in a sauce pan on medium heat.
Let it melt and bubble and sizzle until all the water in the butter has
evaporated. You will know this has
happened when the bubbling and sizzling noises stop. Use a heat proof spoon to stir the butter and
you will notice that it’s browning.
Scrape up all the bits from the bottom and let it brown a bit until it
smells nice and nutty. Be careful not to
brown too much, pour it into a heat proof glass bowl. </div>
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Back to the lemony sweet crepes. </div>
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Put a large skillet on the stove and heat over medium heat
until nice and hot. Place one crepe in
the bottom and drizzle one tbsp of melted brown butter over the crepe, use the
spoon to spread it over the entire thing.
Sprinkle on the sugar and let it cook for about a minute or two. The sugar will bubble and dissolve with the
butter. Squeeze the juice from the lemon
wedge on the crepe. Turn off the heat
and fold the crepe in half, then half again.
Eat it nice and hot with all that lemony sweet brown butter dripping
over your fingers. </div>
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Simple, yet decadent. </div>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-86934686560490368942014-03-11T07:48:00.002-07:002014-03-11T09:13:57.835-07:00Warm roasted garlic bacon vinaigrette<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I haven't made a green salad in weeks, maybe a month or more. This is totally unlike me and I realized the reason behind this boycott has been simply lack of inspiration. I am kind of done with the lettuce, tomato, cucumber balsamic vinaigrette routine. Boring! Am I right? <br />
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Just like most days I decided what I was making for dinner after surveying the refrigerator and seeing a few ingredients that needed to be used and I knew I could be creative with. That's when I was inspired.<br />
<br />
Enter: Squash, leftover cooked bacon, garlic and lettuce.<br />
<br />
I introduce the roasted squash and walnut salad with warm roasted garlic bacon vinaigrette. This salad is entree worthy and decadently delicious. The roasted garlic sounds like a lot but the flavor is actually quite mellow (since it's roasted) and when blended with the other ingredients makes the vinaigrette thick and creamy. It's heavenly. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last step, crumble the bacon in the roasted garlic vinaigrette and blend.</td></tr>
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Make this! I promise you will not be unhappy you did. <br />
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For the salad:<br />
Any lettuce will do. Spinach, Romaine, Bib lettuce. Whatever<br />
Purple onion sliced very thinly in rounds. <br />
2 cups cubed squash<br />
1 cup walnuts<br />
<br />
For the dressing:<br />
1 1/2 heads of garlic<br />
1/4 cup olive oil<br />
1/8 cup white wine vinegar<br />
3 tsp fresh squeezed lime juice<br />
Zest from one lime<br />
3 Tbsp fresh coriander leaves<br />
2 Tbsp milk<br />
1 tsp agave nectar or honey<br />
salt<br />
pepper<br />
6-8 slices cooked bacon<br />
<br />
Prepare the salad<br />
Slice off the tips of the garlic bulbs, drizzle with olive oil, wrap the head in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet. Add the squash to the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and salt. Roast both ingredients at 400 degrees, 20-30 minutes for the squash or until they are tender but not mushy and 50 minutes for the garlic. When finished, set aside at room temp. <br />
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Roast the walnuts on a cookie sheet for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. They should smell nutty and be slightly browned. Set them aside as well<br />
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Tear the lettuce and place in a bowl with the onion and a few sprigs of coriander leaves. Refrigerate until ready to serve. <br />
<br />
Prepare the vinaigrette<br />
Removing the casings from the garlic and place the soft pulp in a bowl with tall sides or a glass measuring cup. Add the oil, vinegar, lime juice, zest, coriander, milk, and nectar and use an emulsion blender to combine. If you don't have one you could do this in your blender or food processor. My husband gave me an emulsion blender for Christmas this year and I'm in love with this gadget! It's so handy! Taste the dressing and add pepper and just a pinch of salt. Add the bacon and blend. Taste again. Season with more salt and pepper if needed. Adding more citrus, oil or vinegar is definitely your preference and perfectly acceptable.<br />
<br />
Assemble the salad<br />
Warm the roasted squash slightly in the microwave. Warm the vinaigrette just barely above room temperature. Pile your salad from the refrigerator on a plate. Top with a drizzle of dressing. Add the squash and roasted walnuts. Drizzle with more warm roasted garlic bacon vinaigrette. <br />
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If you're like me, snap a photo, then dig in! <br />
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-11185955769257305232014-03-11T06:40:00.002-07:002014-03-11T06:43:13.185-07:00Lessons from Ethiopia: staying busy is key to your happiness in this country<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Side note before I start: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LadytroupeSweets">This is what's keeping me very busy! </a><br />
Side note #2 the photos are sort of random in this post. All are recent creations either for Ladytroupe Sweets or meals for my family. <br />
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It's widely known that keeping oneself busy with engaging and satisfying activities is great for a positive psyche. In general, I am much happier and content when my life is full of interesting work and hobbies. Finding this type of engaging activity is absolutely crucial as an expat in Addis Ababa. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vPI_iIsqF_E_YYl8rnn-jPaVBmjMO92LL_9F7x5uq8I7yjOStzMaW7Bs8ENUbvBV8uElvP_aF_y0kNDJ621h-wj0ffKE4QifJ9ErckGqAuCwEG1Xjl-r3tv8OjOPaNfA_6RUbfSvPhx1/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vPI_iIsqF_E_YYl8rnn-jPaVBmjMO92LL_9F7x5uq8I7yjOStzMaW7Bs8ENUbvBV8uElvP_aF_y0kNDJ621h-wj0ffKE4QifJ9ErckGqAuCwEG1Xjl-r3tv8OjOPaNfA_6RUbfSvPhx1/s1600/028.JPG" height="406" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kofta pita sandwiches with hummus and tzatziki</td></tr>
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At home I could get by with telling people that reading and shopping were my hobbies! HA! Here in Ethiopia, I identified the things that have always interested me (writing, photography, cooking, baking, crafting, decorating, styling. Phew! That's a lot of interests) and focused my attention on them. Instead of just viewing them as interests, I started viewing them as my skills, area of expertise and even my profession. Doing this kept me busy in Addis and in turn, kept me happy. More than happy, truly thriving. <br />
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I have some theories as to why I waited until moving to Ethiopia to really start mastering my interests. Looking back over the past two years, here are a few I've rolled around in my head.<br />
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As a family, we moved from the baby phase to the kid phase during our time living here. I started Ladytroupe Sweets when Ashlynn was almost a year old. She was still very young but I felt the need to pursue my interests. I suddenly had the energy and maybe knowing that our family was complete and I didn't want to have another child helped me to really buckle down and get to work. As a stay-at-home-mom I have more time for my interests now that the girls are getting older. This theory probably has the most to do with my success with my business. Not being pregnant or nursing while living in Ethiopia freed up a lot of my mental capacity and time to pursue other things. Imagine that?!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday cake for a first birthday party</td></tr>
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Life in Addis can feel a bit isolating as a non-working parent of small children. Our homes are all walled and gated, our friends are often in different neighborhoods. I had large stretches of my day alone to sort through my ideas and write, work on my photography, develop recipes and ultimately launch Ladytroupe Sweets. During some of this isolation, I knew that to stay sane I needed to stay busy (I'm always busy with my children but I'm talking about a different kind of busy. A self enriching kind of busy), even if that meant I made the work for myself.<br />
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There is not much to do in Ethiopia with kids. Yes, we hike, travel and spend days with friends at one another's homes but if I had time or the desire to go "do something", there wasn't a whole lot that I could do. There's no shopping, no gym, no parks to picnic in. Especially no fun kid events at the library or other kid friendly community activities. This meant that I focused my attention on exploring photography and blog worthy things in Addis alone. Making a point to go visit some things I wouldn't take my kids to do in the city and bring my camera opened up a whole new world of interesting photo journalism for my blog. Instead of just taking pictures of something with the rush of the kids around, I tried to work hard at taking in the scenes, framing photos in my mind and telling a story with the photographs back on my blog. This activity kept me very busy for the first year and a half in Ethiopia. <br />
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Ladytroupe Sweets' inception has a lot to do with the lack of good baked goods available in Addis Ababa. I love food and I've always loved to cook and bake but I quickly realized that if my family and I were going to eat the way we like to eat here in Ethiopia, I would have to step up my skills and do it all myself. Some of the first things that inspired me were my pies. I had always felt a little unsure of my pie making abilities. One day I just decided to start practicing my pie crust and got the idea to make little hand pies. The idea that I could try something, work at it, develop the recipe and perfect it over the course of a few days, blew my mind. Since then, and having worked at it for the last year and half, I now have the confidence that I can create anything in my kitchen. If I work at it, I can do it. We've eaten like royalty while in Addis and I've moved from an average home cook to a real working professional. I've worked hard and Addis truly inspired me to create good food not only for my family but for others. Not having any "quick" or "prepared" meal options forced me to make everything from scratch and once I started doing it (making my own tomato sauces, salad dressings, bread, buttermilk, cakes, crepes...you name it), it became easy and everything sure tastes better!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple, walnut and blue cheese crostini for a catering job</td></tr>
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Ethiopia is a mecca for creative individuals. There are very few hurdles to go through to work with other artists. As a creative person you can take the time to perfect your art and then immediately market it to other people. Since there are very limited options for retail in this town, people are excited to embrace and buy your work. As a freelance photographer I found it very exciting that I could walk into a business and speak to the owners about taking photos. The openness I experienced about using my photos on my blog and in turn providing the businesses some free PR, was liberating and exciting for someone like me who was practicing her craft. <br />
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Ethiopia might be the perfect storm for me. All the stars aligned, everything fell into place, etc. All my theories work together to make my time in Addis a perfect time for me to pursue all my creative interests. I will forever be grateful for this country giving me the time, confidence and inspiration to do what I love. That and my husband, who truly is the one supporting our family and allowing me to pursue the things that make me happy. <br />
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No matter where you are, stay busy, pursue what you love, get serious about your interests. But especially do this in Ethiopia. </div>
Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-23437784155360479242014-03-01T07:29:00.001-08:002014-03-01T08:30:44.666-08:00Lessons from Ethiopia: Boycotting foodborne illnesses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last weekend I was heartbroken after I was hit with a case of food poisoning after eating dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. We've gone to Antica Pizza for two years and never had an issue with getting sick from their food. It was reliable. Their pizza was on the rotation of only a handful of trusted meals that we eat out as a family here on the weekends. We don't go out to eat in Addis for the amazing dining experience or the sensational food (although Sishu gets both of those categories right), we go out to eat for one reason and one reason only; to give me a break from the kitchen. Three meals a day seven days a week I am preparing meals, not unlike lots of moms I know. Like most mom/chefs, I need a break once in awhile. Justin makes pancakes for breakfast on Saturday mornings and we go out to eat at least one meal on the weekends. But, when you can no longer trust your most tried and true restaurants, what is a tired cook (read: Mom) to do?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Real life in a developing country comes with many challenges and the one I've learned endless lessons about, is how prevalent food borne illnesses are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My husband and I were riddled with parasites, E. coli and salmonella in Manila, Philippines. The city is full of restaurants and good food but the risk of getting sick was still high. In Ethiopia, the risk is even greater. Sanitation is poor, personal hygiene is even poorer. Sewage pools on the side of roads. People are defecating and urinating in public everywhere you look. Food preparation and storage practices are unsafe. There isn't a week that goes by that I don't hear of a friend who has been hit by food poisoning, parasites or bacterial infections. It's so common that the embassy's medical clinic has a stack of laboratory sample forms that sit at the ready to hand to patients as they walk through the door. Everyone keeps plastic stool sample collection cups at home in case of an episode. It's just part of our life overseas. An unfortunate part but one that we've become accustomed to. We even have coined a term for the week following a bout of food poisoning. We call it the "week of whatever". After dropping a few pounds from being ill, you can get away with eating pretty much anything. This past week I enjoyed a big bag of peanut M&Ms. Yum! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we moved to Addis, and had to learn how to wash all our produce and eggs in bleach, I vowed that I would never let my family get sick from eating here. I do all the cooking and food prep myself which means we've been really healthy here in Addis. No parasites or bacterial infections! We aren't adventurous about new restaurants. We wait for recommendations from friends and we only go to a few places that have proven to be safe and clean. This was all working in our favor until last weekend. I ate a certain pizza and within an hour or so already could feel the stomach cramps and pains starting. I was vomiting all night and sick most of the next day as well. I was heartbroken. It reminded me that nothing is safe here. At any time our trusted meals outside of our home could make us ill. I was sad and frustrated and just little more ready to leave Ethiopia. Seriously Antica, you let me down!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What was this tired cook going to do?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was told this is red basil but it looks more purple to me. Made an amazing pesto!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I made pizza. All Saturday afternoon. The best damn pizza in Addis Ababa. I proofed my yeast. I kneaded the whole wheat dough. I hand crushed the garlic into the purple basil pesto. I grated the Gruyere and sliced the mozzarella. I rolled out the dough. I heated my pizza stone. I slathered on the sauce, layered on the toppings. and flipped it off my pizza peel. I watched the crust bubble and crisp, I cut it with my pizza slicer and served it to my family. I opened a bottle of fancy South African red wine (from our trip to Cape Town) and poured my husband and myself a glass. Because the best damn pizza in Addis Ababa comes from my own kitchen and it's nice knowing I won't have my head in the toilet tonight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This tired chef decided to buck-up and boycott anymore belly aches in Ethiopia</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">. </span><br />
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-57775001023892363802014-02-14T23:24:00.001-08:002014-02-15T01:47:20.678-08:00Lessons from Ethiopia: the low maintenance version of me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There was a time in my life where I wore more dresses and heels and in general cared more about my physical appearance. That was before I moved to Ethiopia. One aspect of different cultures, that is hard to ignore, is the influence of fashion or lack there of and how it changes the way you view yourself and package yourself within that culture. <br />
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In the Philippines I had no problem assimilating to the always dressed to impressed culture. For much of my three years in Manila, I was either mothering a toddler, pregnant, mothering a newborn and nursing a child. That stage of my life definitely dictated some of my physical appearance. But leaving the house at any time meant that I put something "nicer" on. I shopped a lot at the boutiques, had dresses and other apparel made, upgraded my makeup routine and regularly had hair cuts and highlights done. It wasn't unusual for me to get a mani/pedi and I had regular facials and diamond peel treatments. <br />
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I felt pampered in Manila. It was so easy to do. Everywhere you turned there were cute locally made clothing for sale and salons. Fashion and pampering is part of the culture.<br />
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Ethiopia is a different sort of place for appearances*. Western fashion comes to Ethiopia by way of Chinese-made rejects. Pampering is a luxury average Ethiopians find foreign. As my time has gone on, I have become less and less focused on how I look. Almost to the point of not thinking about it at all. It's extremely liberating! Working in the kitchen all day from home requires comfortable shoes and work clothes which is usually jeans and a t-shirt. If I am leaving the house, I put on a different pair of tennis shoes, a scarf, hat and sunglasses. No makeup required. Sometimes I comb my hair for a pony tail. <br />
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Because, here's the deal. There is no where to go in Addis where you would be dressing to impress. No one will see you and if you run into your expat friends you will notice they have the exact same outfit on. No physical pampering going on. I call it the Expat in Addis Uniform. Heels are out of the question because they will get dirty and there are little or no sidewalks where you can walk anyhow. The weather is cool enough for jeans and a t-shirt almost year round. It's almost as if you are dressing for a rugged outdoor camping adventure every day. <br />
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Some of my other routines have become low maintenance as well. I wash my hair only twice a week now. I use dry shampoo on the other days. Occasionally, I will skip a shower all together and it's not the strange incident that it used to be. I shave my legs only when I know I will be wearing a dress (I've not gone completely hippie though-I shave under my arms every other day). I wear sunscreen on my face and waxelene on my lips every day and that's it. I have had two pedicures in two and a half years. I only trim my hair every 3 months and get highlights every six months at the salon. Which is why my hair is almost a foot longer than when we arrived in Addis. <br />
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Truly, the biggest change with becoming more low maintenance with my physical appearance is the time that it gives me to use my brain on other things. I'm not kidding. I used to spend a significant amount of time self assessing my appearance. Adjusting myself, fussing with how this or that looked. Worrying about what others thought! Wow, that was probably the biggest time waster of all. It's a wonderful feeling to just be myself and look more natural and be OK with it. Let's be frank, age could have something to do with it. As I get older I find I am more comfortable in my skin and like my body and my face more and more the way they are. It's also because I am a busy person and I'd rather spend my time more efficiently. But I know Ethiopia is influential in this transformation. I love packing for family trips here. My bag is full of just the bare essentials. A bar of soap, toothpaste, sunscreen, hiking boots, pullovers, scarves and clean undies. It's like packing as a man! <br />
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I do enjoy going the extra mile with my beauty routine for special events, dinners, balls or parties. The extra special me looks so pretty for these things. It's almost a shock! But the daily me is someone I have come to love too. I've come to love and embrace the lines at the corners of my eyes. I like how it makes me look extra happy when I smile. I like the feel of my worn jeans and the way my apron drapes over anything I wear. I like the paleness of my skin after being diligent about sunscreen for years.<br />
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Ethiopia is not a place to show off your amazing Brazilian shoe collection. It's not a place where you are trying to out-dress your friend to show off your wealth. In a country where most people own just a few, often second hand garments, it's just not appropriate to make the gap between you and them any larger! <br />
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When we return to America this summer, I am sure that I will adjust my appearance accordingly. America's fashion and personal maintenance culture is different from Ethiopia and the Philippines. I am sure I will get back in the habit of shaving more frequently and wearing nicer clothing. I am honestly, excited to shop in the States. I do love shopping and look forward to upgrading some of my wardrobe. But hopefully this more dressed down version of me mentally and physically won't entirely disappear. I'm hoping to hold on to some of my low maintenance routines. As long as I can keep the physical appearance part of me in perspective I'll be happy. <br />
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I'm thankful that Ethiopia has given me this new found freedom and insight into who I am deep down. It's been nice focusing on the inner me instead of the outer me. I like the low maintenance me and I'm going to embrace a few more months of it.<br />
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*It's worth noting that Ethiopian women are naturally very beautiful. Their skin, eyes, hair. It's all enviously gorgeous. My loose observations as an outsider have been that it depends on an Ethiopians class, and whether they are from the countryside or grew up in Addis Ababa as to the style of beauty they are influenced by. The traditional Ethiopian dress, hair styles, makeup, jewelry and even facial tatoos are amazing. Women's beauty is a source of pride and many Ethiopian women take great pains to display and maintain their beauty. My experience as an expat woman is very different. The more relaxed style here seems to be reserved for expats. Lucky me, I fit that category. But seriously? How do Ethiopians manage Addis in those insanely high heels? It's a mystery!</div>
Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.com2