sulfate is the answer...what was the question?

In an update to my vanity post, I have found the answer. Okay, I didn't actually find it. A nice Southern Belle who knows all about beauty products, tips and tricks steered me in the right direction. She told me to try a shampoo with sulfate as the ingredient.

I have a box of unpacked odds and ends from America. In the box is a small assortment of travel shampoos. I pulled them out and started reading the labels. I found the most remarkable product that was already in my home - Herbal Essence shampoo. It has restored what once was and I am incredibly grateful!

I should have known by their tag line:

take your hair all the way to luscious—all across the globe!

I have been so impressed with the results from simply switching shampoos that I am telling EVERYONE! At a recent going away party I received a compliment on how good my hair was looking - I actually had it down that day since it wasn't such a mess on my head. I said to this one lady that it was the shampoo I was using.

Another lady from a different part of the room said, "what shampoo are you using?"

I told them "Herbal Essence." It has worked wonders in this environment.

Before long I had a crowd of woman asking about it. I felt like a spokesperson.

One of the voices in the crowd said, "You should write them and tell them your story. Maybe they will give you free shampoo for promoting them." I like how she thinks, so I am posting it on my blog.

Dear Herbal Essence marketing, I know you monitor when your product name is used. If you find this blog post I would like to request some free product for being a walking advertisement for your tag line. We are about to be unemployed and your generosity would be appreciated. Even if you don't send anything. I expect to be a loyal customer because your product really worked. Somehow it overcame the harsh water conditions in Africa. Luscious locks are no longer among the sacrifices we are making to live here.

Is there a product that won you over because it delivered it's promise during a time of need?

Just Sheri, grateful for chemists in this season of Thanksgiving

all is well that ends well...

Meet Ian and Abrantis. Less than one hour before this picture was taken, Abrantis almost drowned. No joke. It was one of the scariest moments of my life (perhaps for most of us who witnessed it).

A strong current came and quickly swept up Abrantis. Ian tried to save him but could not. Abrantis was being swept farther and farther from the shore until his head was an uncomfortable distance away and often going under. For an undetermined amount of time it was absolute chaos and panic. One of the women who was with us jumped in to the ocean and somehow managed to get to him and bring him back. I witnessed a heroic act.

When he got to shore the ordeal wasn't over. He was shaking violently - maybe from shock, maybe from hypothermia, maybe both. At one point he stopped completely and was still and unresponsive. That was even scarier than watching him float away. I did the only thing I knew to do - pray. The brave rescuer was doing the same thing. I have never prayed so earnestly for healing as I did at that moment. It felt like an eternity, it could have been only a minute, but for a series of moments there was nothing. No response to verbal commands. No movement. Someone began looking for his pulse...Then suddenly Abrantis popped up. Sitting straight up in seconds. I believe I witnessed a miracle. After a few moments of rest he was up walking around (as evidenced by the picture above).

Our weekend adventure turned a little more adventurous than I would have hoped. Thank God for a happy ending to this tale, the alternative still strikes fear in my heart.

Just Sheri, awed by the bravery of another and the goodness of God

monkey fruit

On the island called Xefina there isn't much. We saw the ruins. A handful of shanties. Some goats and chickens and not much else. There is one thing this little island is known for, a fruit I have never heard of. It is known here as the monkey fruit. Some of the folks I was with harvested some and gave me a taste.

The outside is like a green gord. Break the shell and the inside is brown, mushy slime. Frankly, it looks disguisting. I tried it anyway. I was told to take a bite and suck on the seed. I did as I was told.

The taste is unique. A cross between a banana and orange. I could see how in the heat of the Mozambican sun, the monkey fruit could be refreshing. I didn't eat more than one bite, but I do always enjoy a new experience. Xefina certainly offered that with an introduction to the monkey fruit.

Have you tried any new foods lately? Have you (or would you) try the monkey fruit?

Just Sheri, a fanatic for new experiences

bits of my weekend

Early Saturday morning a group of friends decided to go on an adventure. Our destination - the island called Xefina.  It is rich with natural beauty and quite desolate with the exception of a few shanties and the occassional visitor (like us).

Xefina island is visible from Maputo city, but it takes a boat to get there. From the beach we hired a fishing boat to transport us to our destination.

Here we are, piled in and all smiles at the start of our weekend adventure.

This little boy was also a passenger on our hired vessel. He was so cute I couldn't resist taking a photo.

This is our captain. He had a bit of trouble managing the boat at the beginning. A fellow passenger asked him in Portuguese if he knew how to operate this vessel. I think she said, "is this even your boat?" Turns out it wasn't, it is his uncle's. He was obviously a sea man in training. This fact added a bit of risk to the already planned adventure. A local pregnant momma helped this young man right the vessel and get us on our way. The depths of strength and knowledge of Mozambican women never ceases to amaze me.

When we reached the beach, as with every beach that I have seen in Mozambique, the scenery was beautiful! We set up camp ready to enjoy a wonderful Saturday of rest and relaxation.

At some point in the past this was part of a fort when colonized by the Portuguese. The ruins appeared to wash up on shore. It was fun to explore and imagine what it must have been like back in the day.

We were the only ones there as far as the eye could see.

The sounds of the ocean waves. The blue of the sea and sky. Sunshine on my skin. These are the things I will remember fondly about Mozambique...very fondly.

I hear on Saturday that some of my friends in the US experienced the first snow of this winter season. That is hard for me to imagine. Soon, that will be my reality.

What did you do this weekend?

Just Sheri, enjoying a few days of sunshine with friends before returning to cold America

daily dilemmas

Today, I just wanted to highlight some of the dilemmas we encounter daily living overseas in a country where rule of law is thin at best.

Here are the events of the past week: (this is just a sample of one week, imagine what happens in the course of years!)

I have a friend who took her car to the mechanic. When she got it back they had exchanged her new battery for an old one and the documentation for her vehicle was missing. In the same week, that same friend experienced theft two more times, but from individuals she knows - some she has known since 2006.

One of the Mozambican staff went to an auto mechanic to get her tire fixed. They offered her a new tire at the cost of nearly $200USD - yes, for one tire. When she said that is too expensive. They offered her a discounted "used" tire for a cost of $50USD. She asked where they get the "used" tires. They said they take them from government or NGO vehicles that come in for service.

My Portuguese teacher told me that she was paying a young man to clean her car. He stole the wiper blades, the whole thing not just the rubber part. She says casually, "they can't do that again, I have glued them down."

Today, I was asked by the HR director what to do about a staff member who has not showed up to work for a few weeks. As I continued to ask questions I learned that she is HIV-positive and the treatment is not working. I asked about her health benefits as we pay quite a significant amount of money to the government every month for the equivalent of social security to cover illnesses. For all the money we pay, there remains very little options for this woman to receive the support she needs because of the weak government infrastructure. Where does that money go? I have my suspicions when I see the cars that government officials drive and the homes where they live.

These are dilemmas, yes. Unfortunately, they happen all too frequently. But, I find in the face of all this a larger dilemma.

It is hard to maintain any trust in humanity. I am constantly trying to ward off bitterness, coldness and indifference.

Suggestions are welcome.

Just Sheri, witness to greed and not liking what it does to my own heart