First Message Home

10 January 2004

 

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I’m sorry that I’ve taken so long to write.  I think Rob was able to fire off an all is well on arrival note to some of you.  We’ve been busy trying to get the house ready and without my own computer and it has been difficult for me.

 

I’ll spare you the details of the record setting check in at Dulles – record setting according to Noot for the length and complexity of checking in 10 pieces of luggage (each weighing a ton), 1 dog, 2 cats, 3 kids and Rob and me for an international flight when the airport and all of America was on Code Orange Alert (whatever that is).  We didn’t take any video or photos, but believe me, it was record setting.  We also had 10 carry-on bags between the 5 of us, one of mine devoted solely to the care and comfort of the pets when we got to Nairobi.

 

We had a fairly uneventful flight (or rather series of flights) over.  The animals seemed to come through it fine.  About the most unusual thing that happened was when we were in Nairobi and we had to walk and water the animals so we could leave them for the night.  While we were going through passport control and buying temporary visas, apparently the animals were riding the baggage carousel.  By the time we got through someone had decided that the animals should probably not be going round and round and had taken them off.  Their ride round and round, however, had piqued the curiosity of all the airport workers and other passengers, so by the time we got to the animals, there was a sort of interested fan club waiting to see what was going to happen to them.  Rob took Bogue out, and I began to take out all the things I needed for the cats, the litter box, the cat litter, the water bowls, the cat food, little leashes, etc.  All the time Booyan was howling (as I was told he’d done throughout the carousel ride).  Imagine what all those people thought when we finally let them out and both cats went right into the litter box and did everything that they do in there.  Not exactly the circus trick they’d expected, I think. I then pulled out my little pooper scooper and a plastic bag and cleaned it up and threw it all away.  I thought it was quite an efficient little operation, but I can just imagine what all those “fans” were thinking.

 

In the morning, we were all set to repeat the process, but just as we got to the animals, after having to get a special escort through security to be let onto the tarmac where the animals were waiting to be loaded onto the plane, the little truck backed up and hooked up to their trolley and they were off to be loaded.  We debated whether we should press the point and give them their little visit to the litter box and walk, but decided that, efficient as it was, we didn’t really want to delay the flight.  They looked fine in their crates so we just hollered over to them that they were OK and let them go.  Bogue made the entire trip completely bone dry – pretty good for a 9 month old puppy.  Koschei was also perfectly contained, but Booyan must have had an accident a little early on, as his bed was a little damp when I got to him in Nairobi.  Nothing too messy, thank goodness, although I did have a plastic bag with me just in case.  This really was a blessing, as if it had been a stinky mess, I would have then had to carry it on to the completely full flight from Nairobi to Dar.  More than a blessing now that I think about it.

 

We arrived in Dar at about 9 AM, and after going through passport control we picked up our luggage and our pets and were escorted right out of the airport.  Nobody even asked to look at the import permit that Rob had acquired for the pets at the Ministry of Water and Livestock (in record time we’re told), the USDA certification that I had paid a fortune in vet bills and federal express fees before the flight, or even that they had any documentation at all.  I felt cheated at first since we’d worked so hard for these documents, but I got over it really quickly as I realized that we now had to get all these documents, pets, carry-on bags, suitcases, kids and us into the Hotel van and the car Rob’s office had hired to pick us up.  We even had to share the Hotel van with 2 other travelers (fortunately they were small and only had backpacks with them).  We did it and without too much trouble we were able to put bags and pets into the house and get ourselves checked in to the Sea Cliff Hotel with absolutely no difficulties.

 

First impressions:  It’s HOT!  The people are friendly and willing and helpful.  It’s HOT!  The women carry their purchases on their heads with no hands – that’s great according to the kids, they think I should try.  It’s HOT!  The house comes with 3 tortoises!  The pool looks like primordial soup.  Everything requires a few trips and has some issue associated with correct completion.  It’s HOT!  A lot of my most comfortable summer wardrobe was hanging in the closet – therefore it’s in the long term shipment!  What?!!  But I have plenty of sweaters here in case I need them.  Oh yea, it’s HOT!

 

Our house is completely empty of all creature comforts.  Unless of course you are a gigantic tropical style cockroach – which means they seem to rather like the kitchen.  We’re going to get them fumigated so maybe they’ll be less comfortable here.  Screens were installed on all of the windows and they worked great – that is if you want the windows closed when you close the screens.  Oops!  We had to have them go around to every window and repair either the inner part of the screen frame or the handle to the louver that opens the windows, both, or some other repair.  There are a lot of windows, they’re finished, but it’s been 3 good days of work.  The pool man came and on the first day he pushed a brush across the bottom and sides of the pool to loosen the stuff.  It was all floating on the top – the most incredible pond scum I have ever seen.  The filter has been running constantly and after 2 days, it actually looks a little more blue than green.  We can see the light in the pool and can actually see the bottom in the shallower end and all the way down the steps – which was not possible before.  Progress!  It’s still a little hard to sit in the house in the heat and know that the pool is right there but unusable, but it’s coming along.  Sadly, we still have no photos or videos.  Something we should be doing. 

 

There’s an American Club which we can join just by virtue of the fact that we are Americans.  Didn’t Groucho Marx say something about not wanting to be a member of a club that would have him?  Anyway, they’ll do my laundry cheaper than I can have it done at the Sea Cliff, so I guess we have to join.  They also have oreo cookies and pop-tarts and other “American” stuff, a pool, tennis courts and a lot of other services which we can use for a small price.  I had a bag of laundry done for $10, it took 1 day and was fine.

 

11 January, 2004

 

Oops, we had to do some errands so I had to quit yesterday’s message.  We went to see some people about some beds and other household items and actually had a fairly successful day.  There are now beds (without mattresses) in the living room and we got a line on a PAL system TV and satellite decoder.  I also may have found a woman who would like to live in our servant’s quarters and clean my house.  She likes animals (which is fairly unusual – especially regarding dogs) and I’ve been told she’s reliable and honest and doesn’t steal.  I didn’t think I wanted anyone to live here, but I’m thinking that it will be nice to have someone here that can deal with the animals if we want to go somewhere and also to have someone at the house while I’m not here.  We’ll see what she thinks once she sees how dirty we have made the house after only visiting during the day and having the animals here.  The floors were waxed (over waxed I should say, they’re a little sticky) and the animals are shedding and there is cat and dog hair stuck into the floor all over the house.  Plus, the newly painted white walls have met Austin’s shoes a few times so there are footprints on many of the walls.  Bogue has done his share of digging in his water, especially after walking in the newly cultivated and planted front yard, so there are some mud puddles, too.  You get the picture.  I think in the interview I’ll just show her the dirt and let her meet the animals and see how she reacts.  If she doesn’t seem too upset, I’ll hire her – or maybe she’ll hire me.

 

We made some other second-hand purchases of tables and things, including a washer and dryer, and made arrangements to borrow (or “Store”) some furniture from another AID project in our house.  That way we can take our time on purchasing things, but can live here more or less comfortably.

 

The kids start school on Tuesday.  Monday is a holiday –Zanzibar Independence Day.  They had their “interviews” and did very well.  Madie answered all the math questions on her exam and we’re told that was unique.  I don’t know if she got them all correct, but she was familiar with all the problems.  She was worried they’d put her into the 6^th grade because of her birthday, but she’s a solid 7^th grader here.  She met some kids on Friday and was invited to the “youth group” which we thought may be a little too churchie, but she said was not.  Apparently these kids get together every Friday night and play sports and hang out for a couple of hours.  There were a lot of kids from IST (the school) there, so she’s got a few familiar faces to look for on Tuesday.  The boys haven’t been as lucky at meeting their peers, but at least Wes will have some 5^th graders nearby our house, as we’ve met some people who have said they live near here – actually a bike riding distance – which they allow their kids to do.

 

I’ll hook up with the International Women’s Group on Tuesday, as they have a “Newcomers’ Tea” on Tuesday at the Sea Cliff.  I’ll be on my own as the kids will be in school, and I won’t need a ride as that’s where we’re staying.  Couldn’t have worked out better than that.

Well, I really just wanted to let everyone know that we’d made it here and we’re doing OK.  When I have my own computer I expect to be a more regular writer.  I have been unable to even check my e-mails, so If you’ve sent me one, I haven’t seen it before writing this, but will try to respond soon after this is sent. 

 

We’re doing fine.  So far so good.  A few bumps but nothing tragic.  I’ll try to write more later this week.  I hope everyone is well and cool in America (or where-ever you are).  Did I mention that it’s HOT here?

 

Barb