setting up house in Maputo

While we were visiting the US the wonderful Whitlock family moved back to the States for good. It is sad for us socially, but we did inherit some of their furnishings. Now that the place didn't feel quite so sterile and like we are just passing through I decided I needed to find something to hang on my bare walls. So, our first weekend back in Maputo I went with a girlfriend to the weekend market.

There are many goods to purchase - shirts and shoes, knickknacks and handbags, but I was looking for something particular. I was shopping for an African Batik. What's that?

A batik is a decorated fabric. The market has hundreds of them and lots of sellers willing to give a "special price." It was hard to choose and my special price wasn't so special so my budget could only allow for the purchase of one on this particular shopping trip.

This is the batik I selected. Why? How did I choose it? Well, it was very simple really. First, I like the colors. Second, elephants are the star of one of our fondest memories so far in Africa...remember our safari trip with the momma elephant? So, if I have to look at this everyday I wanted it to be something that made me smile. Also, when we leave here I wanted it connected with a memory of our time in Africa as I assume we will take it with us back to America.

Generally, these batik's are mounted on a wooden frame then hung on the wall like a painting. That's all well and good and can look rather nice. However, I don't have the resources (nor the connections) to get the wooden frame made and our walls are concrete so I don't have the tools to hang it. Thus, I used a very useful tool I learned in college...sticky tack. It isn't the prettiest solution, but I now have one wall in our living room that is no longer bare, though I do feel like I've regressed a good ten years.

When was the last time you hung something on the wall using sticky-tack?
 
Sheri

FAQ: deodorant - public health risk?

There is one blog post everyone back home was talking about. What was the hottest topic of all? The topic of body odor and the use (or lack of) deodorant where we live. The original post was about the expense of the product we use everyday.

Talking about this topic so much got me to thinking about why we use deodorant everyday. Do we do it for a public health reason or it purely vanity?

I did a google search on the public health benefits of deodorant. True to it's name it only serves one purpose - to cover or eliminate body odor. There were lots of articles about the toxic effects of using deodorant...just another way Americans unknowingly poison themselves. There are herbal varieties available to reduce the risks. Then I found this article that talks about the health benefits of body odor - that it is our bodies way of telling us whether we are eating things that are good for our bodies or bad for them.

Since I have no plans to give up animal products in the near future (I love cheese too much), I will continue my vanity routine of using deodorant. But, I have found this whole discussion interesting. Just another way living overseas has changed my perspective about things I used to consider "normal."

Sheri

F.A.Q. (frequently asked questions)

While we were home in America there were some questions we were asked quite a few times. Since there seemed to be common questions, I thought this may be stuff the rest of you were wondering too and hadn't asked. So, I am going to answer them here for your reading pleasure.

Q: what do you miss most? what is the hardest thing about living overseas?

S: Relationships are the hardest thing and what I miss most. I don't like the distance between me and those I love. Making new friends isn't easy on the other side of the world - there are language difficulties, cultural differences, we are all consumed by work because that is our reason for being here, and this life is transient. People come, people go. So, going deep is difficult as most people you meet are counting down until they return "home." Sometimes it doesn't seem worth all the effort to try and overcome the distance and time difference with old friends, or the energy it takes to keep making and saying good-bye to new friends. I wrote a little about this in an earlier post, but I expect it will be an ongoing challenge.

K: Safety is the hardest thing about living overseas and what I miss most about America. We are constantly concerned for our safety. We often don't go out after dark. We make sure we know where the other one is at all times. We have the number of the US Embassy programmed in our phone just in case, because you never know what can happen.

Q: What is African food like?

S: Well, there really isn't one "African" cuisine. Each country has it's own unique flavors. In Mozambique, they eat a lot of seafood because it is readily available being on the coast. A lot of beans and rice. The beef is usually imported from South Africa and is of good quality. Pizza is available. We mostly eat at home and cook. Fast or convenient food isn't readily available. The only "chain" restaurant available that an American would recognize is KFC. The chicken is different than in the US, but they do have an excellent ice cream sundae. I know because Kenyon ordered one once and I ate it all...I couldn't help myself. Why? because it is a rarety to find decent dessert. Even if cake is available, it isn't sweet like an American would expect it to be. We eat a lot more fresh vegetables, no processed foods, and a whole lot less sugar...essentially, we eat healthier in Africa than we did living in the US.

I hope you enjoyed this installment of FAQ's. Feel free to ask any question you are wondering. As I think of (or receive) them I will post more Q & A.

Sheri

summer reading: Mandela's Way

Nelson Mandela is revered as a hero to many (especially in this part of the world). I am fascinated by his story. Why? Because he spent 27 years in prison and came out speaking about reconciliation and forgiveness. That is NOT a typical response...which is what I think won him such notoriety. There are varying opinons on his politics, but I still think there is a lot to be learned from Mandela's life. I will share two of the lessons gleaned from the book - from my perspective.

Lesson One: age is just a number.

Mandela became the first democratically elected president of South Africa in 1994, he was 77 years old. Winston Churchil was 66 years old when he became Prime Minister in England, and then unwaivering led the country through World War II.

Most of us have images of sitting in rockers and looking back over our lives at that age, just waiting for the inevitable end to come. Not these men! They were still accomplishing great things, in fact many would consider it their finest hour, at what is traditionally retirement age. So, greatness is possible at any age when tied to a great cause. It reminds me of an earlier post on destiny...when the opportunity arises, we are ready for the challenge.

Mandela..."you will reap something more valuable if you take a longer view."

I am currently 33 years old, going on 34 next month...that means, using these examples, I still have a long road ahead of me and don't need to see or have everything right now. Day-by-day I should remain faithful to the task in front me, while being guided by core values...for the long run. 

Lesson Two: believe the best in others.

"People will feel I see too much good in people," Mandela once told [the author]. "So it's a criticism I have to put up with, and I've tried to adjust because whether it is so or not, it is something I think is profitable. It's a good thing to assume, to act on the basis that others are men of integrity and honor, because you tend to attract integrity and honor if that is how you regard those with whom you work. I believe that."

This is not always easy to do. I live in a world where we are confronted by corruption daily. It is easy to get jaded by this, thus trusting others becomes impossible when assuming everyone is a thief. Mandela's experience wasn't different than my own, yet he chose to assume (and act) as if others are men (and women) of integrity and honor. I expect others to treat me that way and not automatically assume the worst, so I should extend the same dignity to them, believing the best first.

There are many other lessons to be gleaned from this book, but you will have to read the rest for yourself. These were the most relevant to me right now, so that is what I decided to share. It is my blog after all.

Have you read a book about Mandela's life? What did you learn from his story?

Sheri

Leadership Summit: TD Jakes

By far my favorite speaker this year was TD Jakes. At the end of his talk I was in tears, and I mean one of those ugly cries with snot coming out your nose. Obviously, what he had to say touched me. I can't add to it, so I will just share the highlights of his powerful words.

Sometimes it's hard to be the encourager. The one you are encouraging leaves with your courage and you are left discouraged. (I have been there)

Sometimes you will feel tired, depleted and operating in the red (done that)

What you have is a God who can help you so you can help them; give you passion so they can have passion; fire so they will burn. (needed that)

"When my heart is overwhelmed,
I go to the rock which is higher than me.
Renew my strength. Increase my faith."

It seems to be working.

Psalm 62: 1-3 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Sheri