Harare!

Took my first trip to Zimbabwe for a communicators conference (my first conference!). Wasn't sure what to expect in Zim given all the media, but there were some surprises. Being in a conference meant that from morning to dinner we were sitting in a cramped conference room, so we didn't get to see much of the city of Harare or the country.


First impression at the airport: clean, beautiful and way nicer than Lusaka...People told me that it used to be really ratty - so luckily, I saw it after the renovation!





This is a park across the street from our hotel, it took up one city block! This is not only shocking because of the size - but again, comparing to Lusaka, there are virtually no parks here, so just seeing one was awesome.

Downtown Harare has some super modern looking buildings (more so than Lusaka). Zimbabweans say that the Harare of today is nothing like the glory of the city 20 years ago.















Here's the amazing thing about the Zim currency....it has been devalued so much that they now trade in US dollars... I found TWO 50 BILLION dollar notes on the ground and when I asked someone why they didn't pick up the money, they said, "it's only paper... it has no value."

















So, now Zimbabwe is using the US dollar for currency. The top bill was one that I received as change - nasty, grimy...and as you can see, about ready to fall apart. The dollar bill below was one that we had in our stash - used, but nothing like the one from Zim. The single dollar bill is the most traded in Zim and they can't take them out of circulation and print more, so they must keep using them until they fall apart (or people like me buy stuff with newer bills and take the nasty, ratty ones out as change). Also, for the poor, there are difficulties because Zim doesn't have any coins for change, it means that people who can only afford one loaf of bread (at 30 cents) are now forced to buy two or three and rarely get full value out of the currency.

Obama tshirts are everywhere!

This was an amazing mural on the side of a building.

Was this intentional - or a typo?? :-)

















Trash by one of slum areas we visited. The good news is they have a trash can...

This building was originally built for manual laborers who came into Harare for work - with so many people coming into the city for work, each of the rooms that used to house one man now houses 4-5 people.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Our friends took us to one of the most popular spots in Zim for BBQ (or braai as they call it here). When you drive up, many ladies (and some men) ask you if they can be your cook.

Step #1 - before we even could get off the bus - we were accosted by people who wanted to be our cook. Pick a cook.

Step #2 - walk across the dirt parking area to the meat markets - and pick out what you want to BBQ. Beef, pork, chicken - all cut in various ways. Thank goodness the meat was kept in refrigerated units!

Step # 3 - take your bags of meat to the lady you selected to do your cooking. The lady we used is the one on the left in the white tshirt. The guy who picked her comes to this place on a regular basis and she's his regular cook (but you can see that there are lots of braiis set up under the roof).
We practiced good hygiene by washing our hands before we ate (since we did all our eating with our hands, this was essential). Our cook was the one who poured the water and offered up the soap.


Next - we belly up to the table. Big plates of hot, nicely seasoned beef, chick and pork...and some veggies on the side. Although I was a bit skeptical, it was a really delicious meal - and BONUS: no one got sick!

Ginger - our new family member

We had heard about the animal welfare society from friends - where dogs who couldn't travel with their families were left behind... we were told that they just need some love and care - no matter how long! So, when we learned we were staying one more year, we thought we could offer a dog a nice home for a year and we could use that year to see if the kids were responsible enough to take care of the dog.

John and Peter went to the "pound" the day after we got back from the states - and together, they picked out Ginger (who was named "Joker" - with a name like Joker, we knew we had to change it!). Ginger and her sister were found behind a walled compound abandoned so she was used to scavenging for her food, digging holes to sleep in - and was probably abused.

She was super skitterish and suspicious when we got her, but over time, she's turned into a really nice dog (although still prone to biting the brothers!).

The kids have done a great job taking care of Ginger - alternating days for poop patrol... now we have to get on the training regime!

San Francisco Summer

(Something funny is happening with the alignment and spacing...apologies!)

Being in SF this summer was a blast - no two ways about it! BUT, it was cold - and many folks quoted Mark Twain who said, "the coldest winter I spent was the summer in San Francisco." The fog was low... the wind was blowing hard - but on our last days there, it warmed up in the afternoon and was really beautiful.

Went to Angel Island - said to be the Ellis Island of the west - but really it was a holding place for many Chinese, Japanese and other Asians. They have fixed up the site and highlighted poems written by Chinese about the dispair they felt at not being able to get out of the Ellis Island. From 1910 to 1940, the island processed hundreds of thousands of immigrants, the majority from China. During WWII, Japanese, and German POWs were held on the island, which was also used as a jumping-off point for American soldiers returning from the Pacific. In the ’50s and ’60s, the island was home to a Nike missle site.

Peter ringing the bell that says "US Immigration Station, Angel Island, 1910."

Picnic lunch on the island - before the start of our big hike!


We made it to the peak of Angel Island - with a foggy view of Tiburon.

















Yerba Buena gardens was beautiful, an oasis in the city and we walked to the modern art museum afterwards.

Jim and the kids waiting for John - who was still wandering around the museum!

Pier 39's famous sea lions - the pier "allowed" the sea lions to stay here when they realized what a tourist attraction they were! More sea lions = more money!

Thanks Jim and Barb for a great visit!

Summer in LA LA Land

Oh joy to visit the happiest place on earth!!! We had a great time with my nephews Riley and Evan getting there at the opening and staying until after 10pm...well worth every bit of the (seemingly exorbitant) entrance fee.

We HAD to go on the jungle cruise to see how different the Disney safari was from the REAL safaris we've been on ...so you be the judge. Which is the real thing of the two images above??

Real?? Or fake???

When we walked out of Adventure Land, I saw a wall of masks where I remembered taking a photo a few years ago with the kids...so just to compare - the top photos were from three years ago and the bottom photos are from this year...LOTS of growth over those years.

So fantastic to see Minnie right before we walked out for the night! The timing was perfect since Sophie had just purchased her Minnie ears! I know these characters have smiles plastered permanently on their faces, but even their bodies seem happy - and I'm sure they must get sick of posing for pictures, but whoever lives in those costumes seem like really nice people! I mean, they wouldn't have drug dealers dressed up as Minnie and Mickey, would they?

Autotopia - everyone's favorite! New cars! Sophie drove the car I was in - and if her driving is any indication of her future driving habits, then we will have to insure her to the max when she gets her driver's license!

I used our new Nikon to take these pics of the fireworks show!

Wow, the pics turned out great - and the fireworks were pretty amazing!

Cousin Matt met us in Santa Monica for breakfast and a stroll along the beach and the pier. We were total tourists! Thank goodness I had to buy a touristy trinket for a work colleague so the pier was the perfect shopping spot - even though I'd never go into those shops as a near-native Southern California! Horrors.

One of Sophie's requests was to see the Hollywood sign.

One ideal spot was at the Griffith Park Observatory, which had been recently remodeled.

The observtory and the planetarium show were highlights of our trip.

We got to see cousin Evan play basketball and a bonus was that Rob was the substitute coach - with support from Riley. I can't remember who won, but the team played really well!

Auntie Lisa and Sophie

Hanging with cousins Riley and Evan before the big DS face off!

Auntie Lisa and Peter

It was so great to be with family... just hanging, catching up, living every day life - and eating great food. Cleaning and purging at my parents ... a good reminder NOT to wait 40+ years to start cleaning out the closets! And, lest we think we are without fault, believe me in our nearly 20 years of marriage, we have accumulated much. And, being in Africa, away from our stuff, we realize how little stuff we really need - but how much in relationship we need!

Visit to Truckee, CA

We visited Rob, Kerry, Jessie and Ryan Kautz in Truckee. Wow, what a beautiful place in the summer time!

First stop: Ryan's new MERC (Mobile Emergency Response Center) - a super cool container with everything that's needed to respond to an emergency (including office, equipment, beds, and the satellite you see on the front of the truck). Ryan has done an incredible job with his business and it was such a joy to spend time with him (especially for John who got to spend 2+ hours talking with him about the biz). We were so impressed with the work Ryan is doing - and his business acumen and hard work. We are so proud of you, Ryan!

Some of Ryan's equipment

We took a great hike up near Rob's ski area.

Miniature golf with Jessie!! This was a great course and naturally, the Kautz competetiveness was out in all its glory.

This was a hilarious position that Kerry got into - she had to hit the ball with a bear nuzzling her bosom!

Very fun, short hike down the street from Rob and Kerry's.

Rafting on the Truckee River - with about 75 other boats. We tried with all our might to get Rob pushed into the river...and only when ALL of us put our effort into it, did we finally get the old man out of the boat and into the river!

These very Harry Potter-ish clouds were so cool over Lake Tahoe.

Our last funny shot: the dandelions were HUGE...couldn't help but do something creative with them!

Back to Tacoma!!

It was wonderful to plop back down in the U.S. for almost 6 weeks after two years away. Our first stop: Tacoma. So great to be with family and friends!

Summer is the most beatiful time to be in the NW and we were blessed to enjoy the best the NW has to offer: long sunny days, fantastic fresh fruit - especially berries, melons and cherries and all kinds of great food!

Of course, what we've missed most are relationships -so it was fantastic to be with friends and family... Here's some photos from our first few weeks in Tacoma.

I spent most of the first two weeks working - but had a great time connecting with work friends, and the kids connected with their school buddies. I'm so sad that I didn't take more photos of our time with friends (like our time on Vashon!).

We stayed with Mimi - and bless her for letting us invade her world! It was great to be in the neighborhood and fun to look out her kitchen window at our house (which looks great!).

Best of buddies: Kent and Kelsey Silver with the kids

So fun to catch the weekly Seattle regatta.

Dinner on the Seattle waterfront with Auntie Mimi - it was a beautiful (albeit windy) evening.

Loved getting together with our Tacoma church buddies! Harlan, Lori Bekker, Teresa Enslin

Harlan, Max (the host together with Edwina), John and John Bekker


Our small group reunion - it was so great to hang with these guys again after two years. We miss the fellowship, laughter and meaningful conversation (what little there is of it!!).

We did a triathlon!!

We did another first: a (super) mini triathlon!! Miyon did an individual one and joined a team with John and Peter; and Sophie was also on a team with her friends.

When I say mini, I mean mini... 800meter swim, 6 km bike, 2km run.

On our team - the "Furious Three" (I was going for "Two Oldsters and Kid"...) finished in 35:40. Sophie's team (she was the biker with her friends Ava and Tino) called "The Macaroonies" finished in 36:32. And I finished my individual in 36:20 which put me in fourth place overall, and 2nd place women (the first place woman was a 14 year old!). We had so much fun and we're definitely in to better our times next year!

With our medals. I got a trophy for finishing first in the women's 40+ category!

After finishing the race - tired but really excited to know I finished - and kept ahead of the other ladies in my heat!! Ironically, we were on vacation at Lake Malawi the week prior to the race and I broke/strained my big toe and was afraid I wouldn't be able to do the race.

My friend, Jamo, who was the one who convinced me to do the race. This was also her first time to do the individual race.

Peter waiting for the hand off from John (who is riding up the driveway).

John running the last few feet with Peter.

You may be wondering where the photos are of Sophie...because the heats are leaving and returning at all different times, we weren't able to capture her, but next year she'll be featured!