Sunday-ish Thanksgiving

It has been a busy few days!  And it seems that when we are home the power is inevitably off!!  Yesterday we celebrated American Thanksgiving. 

Recent Kaia-isms:

This year Kaia is thankful for trampolines and movies.

Daddy says 'can I dance?'

Kaia says 'no, you can't dance, but you can cook.'

Kaia says 'I am going inside to get me some water'

I say 'I am going inside to get myself some water'

Kaia says 'good, you can come with me'

American Thanksgiving

 If you look VERY closely you can see three mountains.  The first is Mt. Meru which is very close to us.  The second is a close hill that looks bigger than it is.  The snow on the last one blends very well into the clouds.  It is Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa.  This is the first time we have ever seen it from our city.  It is at least 140 km away!!  The tall thin poles in front of the mountain are windmills.  It is our a parent from the ISM community that lives there and they built the windmills and rely solely on wind and solar power. 

 This is what I look like most of the time on almost any given day. 

 After dinner we went for a walk to the stables.  This foal is only 3 days old!

Too bad Daddy doesn't have any hair to hold on to!

Mapquest

I find getting around one of the most entertaining parts of living here.  I have included the directions to Thanksgiving dinner for your entertainment.  Whenever we head out to a new house this is how it goes.

Heading on the road towards school, drive past Coffee Lodge until you get to the Arusha Airport fence where there is a 'Peace House' sign at the road - turn left

Drive for 2.8 kilometers - on your right, you'll pass the airport fence, fields, construction of police housing, 3 or so school buildings with blue roofs and soon after, a second 'Peace House' signboard - turn left. 

Drive down the hill for 500 meters - on your left is a chain link fence enclosing Burka Coffee Farm.  Keep following the fence and turn left as the fence turns left at the 500 meter point.

Drive for  almost 800 meters with the chain link fence continuing on your left.  On your right, you'll see a few small houses and shops amongst trees and bushes.  As you're nearing 800 meters there will be a bicycle rental and repair shop on your right.  Just past it, turn right on the small village road.

Drive for 800+ meters. This road will snake a bit and feel closed in around you. Loads of village life right up against the road so watch out for small children and animals.  At about 600 meters the road will open up and you'll see a barbed wire fence and fields on your left - this is Marilyn's farm.  Keep driving past her driveway and house on the left at the around the 800 meter point. Follow Marilyn's fence to the end and turn left over the small mound of gravel.

There is a fork in the road - stay on the right.  On your left you'll see a small brick house then Marilyn's dressage arena (short white fence).  Go over the shabby little bridge and immediately turn right.  You're on the our plot! 

Stay in the middle of the road no matter how bad it gets - the tall grass on the sides of the road hide deep drainage ditches!  When you reach the house you will be rewarded with an icy cold beverage :)

Well we made it and some VERY strong sangria was waiting for us :)