I’m Baaaaaaaack

Wow, thanks for checking back in after I’ve been sitting over here in the dark for so long. Needless to say we are looking for a new internet service provider, but that will take as long as everything else does here. Reminder: 34th least developed country in the world.

We got our stuff! Some of it anyway. After not seeing or hearing about our household effects for FOUR months, Friday I came home, after picking up kids from school, and there was a flatbed truck containing two containers! We have six more to come! We happily unpacked laundry detergent and art supplies and books and our very own dishes and waaaaaaay too many shoes, all of which will be ruined by the sand here, or will fall into comas in the closet, to emerge in two years unworn and out of style. Unpacking our stuff I had the weirdest reaction: homesickness for Portland. While we are just camping in the house it didn’t seem like we really moved here, having cookbooks from the Reed College Place kitchen and paintings show up seems so radical: a misplacement, a "These don’t go here," feeling.

Meanwhile, it’s almost Thanksgiving and we are wearing flip-flops everyday. The kids say the water in the pool is getting cold. The swim instructor said no one really takes lessons until February, when it starts warming up. Babies wear woolen hats now. Today’s high: a chilly 95 degrees.

Peterchordas_american Movers_1

Comments

5 responses to “I’m Baaaaaaaack”

  1. clay Avatar

    Hey! so nice to hear from you again. Missed you. Nice photo,and comments of cultural disconnect are nostalgically evocative for me. 95 degrees, and wool hats, reminds me of my classrooms here, as I am in short sleeves, and students are wearing scarves and gloves. See ya, clay

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  2. clay Avatar

    I think Niger is 34th due to its N-quality. Could be 1st. clay

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  3. MamaLana Avatar

    Congratulations on getting your containers!! Hope the car will follow shortly. Your “chilly” 95-degree weather reminds me of how Dyada Kirusha’s house guard in Kenya used to wear a huge wool ‘palto’ greatcoat during those ‘chilly’ summer nights. It’s all relative, I guess. LOL Happy Thanksgiving, darlinks.

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  4. Michele Avatar
    Michele

    Ah yeah.. I remember in the early morning in Niamey, it would get down to the 80s and I would be out with -mittens- on. Those were the days 🙂 Glad you got some of your stuff, are the other 6 boxes on their way? We’ve gotten quite used to the minimalist lifestyle and still have another month to go before seeing our stuff. If we’re lucky we’ll get it the week before Christmas!

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  5. geraldine et davy marques Avatar
    geraldine et davy marques

    Hello! Nice to read that your doing well in Miamey!! Glad you finally got your stuff! Hope you are doing well and hope to see picture of Camille and Stefan. Clara changed a lot! We hope to come and work in Niger or nigeria next year! Geraldine and Davy

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