Lesson from the Locals

This past week Ted and I had the opportunity to learn something delightful about Philadelphia; and by delightful I mean extremely annoying...

Last Saturday we had the second greatest snowstorm in Philly's history. Yep, twenty-plus inches of snow and it was madness. Yesterday, we got another eighteen inches. In our neighborhood, the row homes are tightly packed (there are sixty-six homes on our one block), and since no one has garage space, parking spots are often hard to find on a day-to-day basis. Well, since digging one's car out of two to three feet of snow is such a chore, people here feel entitled to leave a lawn chair or orange cone in their spot, in order to keep their spot 'reserved' until they return home.

This may not sound so ridiculous, but I came home a few nights ago to find seven empty spots on our street, each with a cone or lawn chair situated right spack-dab in the middle! Seven empty spots, and I couldn't park in any of them. These spots don't actually belong to anyone, so I don't know where the fantasy comes from that you can claim spots that aren't yours! Hmph, it had me in a tizzy for about - 5 minutes. But, I suppose I have no choice except to obey the cones and chairs... :)

Baloney.

A friend in my program is from Burma. He has worked in the development field for at least twenty years, and he is now pursuing his MBA in the U.S. to enhance his skills and better equip himself for starting his own NGO in Burma. His name is Myo.

Myo is very quiet. We had the opportunity to enjoy Thanksgiving Day with him, at the home of my academic advisor Connie. He has a wife and two children back in Burma, and I think the separation, plus the language and cultural barriers here in the U.S., must be difficult for him. But he is such a kind-spirited person.

One day during our three-day residency for our Applied Research course (Jan 14 - 16), I was complaining of being hungry to the classmates at my table. I had packed an unusually light lunch that day and chose to eat it all during morning session (because my breakfast cereal didn't hold me over too well.) Myo must have heard me, because when I turned around to say "hi" to him about five minutes later, he insisted that I take one of his three baloney and cheese sandwiches.

I politely and appreciatively declined, but finally gave in to his persistence. It was a baloney sandwich on white bread, with random dots of cheese. I don't know how the dots got there. I was thinking "wow, poor Myo, unable to find his usual Burmese cuisine here in this foreign land and he must succumb to the worst of processed American food products" or, perhaps this is what happens when a married man is separated from his lovely, capable wife and thrown into a bachelor's lifestyle once again :)

Ted and I tried to get together with Myo for dinner back in December, but the timing didn't work out quite right. We hope to get together with him soon.

On Home.

I really like this city. Will it ever feel like home? I'm not sure. There's always something new and undiscovered, which keeps life here exciting and stimulating - but sometimes exciting is not what you want. Sometimes you just want home. I have Ted, and he feels like home - he is my home. I am so thankful for him. :)

This morning we walked to church in the freezing weather, a thin layer of snow on the ground. I wore my ankle length, pouffy winter coat, and Ted was insulated by about six layers of sweaters, coats, and t-shirts. It was nice, shuffling along while holding Ted's hand and feeling so happy.

So, is there home here? Yes. Though not home in the comfortable, familiar, free, refreshing sense - the sense that I get from that yellow flower on my blog. But, it is good here. And there are the friends and family that God gives us to really support us and remind us of who we are. They give us grounding and so much love, even from afar.

A Sweet Saga of our Most Momentous Transition from Singleness to Marriage

Before more time passes, I want to document what were, undoubtedly, the two best weeks of my life.

August 6 - August 22.

I started as Miss Katharine Daulton and ended as Mrs. Katharine Oswald, flew from Philadelphia to Sacramento, San Diego to Cancun and then to a new home with Mr. Ted Oswald, my husband.

Thursday, August 6: Swine Flu Doozy
Ted and I arrive in Sacramento at around 6:30PM. We had to wait at the curb for a few minutes, but the Oswald gang arrived and everyone jumped out of the car to greet us many hugs, squeals (from the ladies) and congratulations. SAM's was closed in Davis, so we ate at In N Out instead. Erica had been at Cheer Camp all week, and she got word that two of the girls were diagnosed with swine flu, so she had to spend dinner and much of the rest of the evening calling parents of girls on her squad, raising the alert. Thankfully, everyone was fine in the end!

Friday, Aug 7: Shopping and Socializing

Erica and I went to the mall with Lee Ann while Ted and Phil met PJ during his lunch. Lee Ann found a(nother) dress to wear for the wedding, and we stopped by the chair rental facility to confirm Sunday's order. We ate at the Ebenezer's house that evening - indian food! The Ebenezers are a family from Sun Grove, the church that Ted grew up attending. They are really astounding, gracious people.

Saturday, Aug 8: Bachelor Party, Ladies Move Out (Sort of)!

Ted's bachelor party began at about 10AM - rafting on the American River. Ted, PJ and others headed out with snacks (mmm those red vines were good) and sunscreen, and Lee Ann and I shopped for flowers! We bought loads of them and came back to the house to arrange three large bouquets and four smaller ones. Lee Ann, Erica and I went out to dinner (Mediterranean) and then Lee Ann snuck back in the house while Erica and I opted for a sleep over at Nicole's place. Mango margaritas, "Yes Man" and a shared bed -what fun :)

Sunday, Aug 9: The Big Day, Part I

The Faux Wedding, the event of all faux events, at Elk Grove Park. One hundred and fifty people, bows, ribbon, cupcakes and handshakes - it was quite a day! Renata surprised us by showing up; Joy, Jenn Whited, Briggs and Caroline came too. My parents flew up for the occasion and even stood up as the Best Man and Maid of Honor. There were pictures, lots of laughter and a priceless afternoon overall. Add some Chinese food in for dinner, and we're done :)

Monday, Aug 10: The Bridal Arrival

A 9AM flight lands me in San Diego by 10:15. Mom, Dad, Sister, Steve - wahoo! Meetings with Dixie, Chef Ed, and then Shari at the church, with a stop at Francos and some napping in the car. Dinner with family on the patio and *lots* of laughter. (My dad verifying the fact that he is indeed "nice looking!")

Tuesday, Aug 11: The Dress

Hair trial at Nancy's, Thai food and David's Bridal. The dress fit just right! Way to go for gaining those 4-5 pounds. Thanks to mom for the milkshake fund :) Packing going through all the stuff in my room.

Wednesday, Aug 12: The Oswalds are Coming; the Oswalds are Coming!

The Oswalds arrived! And the company of family now complete! The fathers had not previously met each other, and neither had the siblings-in-law. A delicious hamburger BBQ was had around a long banquet table in the backyard, and many good conversations abounded. Having everyone together was like a dream!

Thursday, Aug 13: Love and Bachelorette Madness

An all-family breakfast with egg enchiladas and some last minute planning. We got just a little stressed, but help arrived in the form of FRIENDS, and lots of laughter well into the night. North County scavenger hunt, delicious Chinese food on Encinitas Blvd, straaange characters along Highway 101, and then ice cream sundaes, cocktails, mad lib and presents into the evening!

Friday, Aug 14: Rehearsal - It's All Becoming Real

Guestbook preparation, seating arrangements, more planning, and practicing our first dance in the Kinkos parking lot. Meeting with the photographer for the first time and eating a rushed lunch from the food court at UTC. I didn't know so much could be packed into one day. Good friends came for the actual rehearsal; we discovered that our musicians are amazing, and my mother-in-law even more amazing with all the rehearsal dinner preparations! We had Juanitas burritos, strawberries, and delicious pie for dessert, all presented on brightly colored table cloth to the sound of marriachi tunes. The Philly girls all finally made it, as well as twenty other dear, dear friends. Yes, this was the fun, intimate gathering we had hoped for!

Saturday, Aug 15: The REAL Big Day!

You really had to be there. Everything went perfectly (except for the last-minute absence of our incredibly special sister-in-law.) The flowers, the friends, Phil's message, and the whole fantastic rockin' reception. We loved every moment, from the food and speeches, to our first dance and our triumphant exit running through a flurry of rose petals. Thank you to EVERYONE that made our day so out-of-this-world amazing.

Sunday, Aug 16: Crossing Borders

From a beach house in Oceanside to a lone highway in the Yucatan, we traveled great distance by plane and rental car, finally making it to Valladolid, just 30 minutes east of the famous Chichen Itza ruins in Mexico. The next five days will have to be chronicalled at a later time, but we thoroughly enjoyed beaches, food, snorkeling, cenote exploring, motorbike riding, and lots of Mayan ruins under the hot hot sun, hardly checking our watches the whole time.

*Sigh*

We are so thankful for those two weeks that meant the world to us. So many sweet memories and foundational life changes. We returned home late on a Friday evening, Aug 22, and moved all our belongings in a hurry, getting ready for life in North Philly and graduate school to begin the following Monday. It was a semester of true adventure! And we are full of anticipation for this next one ahead :)

Still in the states, but ...

It’s about time I wrote an update – and it’s kind of a strange position I’m in because I get to announce what many of you don’t know yet … I have moved to Philadelphia. Yes, I returned from Africa June 15. I didn’t gather any moss and rolled on over across the country to Pennsylvania.

It may sound random or shocking to some, but the decision was a long one in the making –one of the many things I was considering and processing during my 7 months in Africa. I was pretty set on applying for a graduate program in community development at Eastern University here in Philly. Though I leaned away from that while in Sierra Leone, Philly still felt like the ticket. East coast, urban area, history, diversity, and boyfriend ;)

Yes, Ted is now a first year law student at Drexel University, which is in Philly. I live in a bright pink house in West Philly, an area known as University City – very funky, colorful, filled with yummy ethnic food and parks. My three housemates are wonderful; we’re all about the same age, and two of them are even West African. Just a park with a bi-weekly Farmer’s Market separates my house from Ted’s studio apartment.

While looking into some graduate programs in the area, I’ve found a full-time job working in academic affairs at Penn Engineering. It’s about a 45 minute walk from my house, or a 10 minute trolley ride, and it’s a lovely location (crazily enough, it’s just two blocks from Ted’s law school.) My co-worker is very involved in the African Diaspora community in Philly; she is a wealth of knowledge. Apparently she knows some Sierra Leoneans in town – can’t wait to revive some of my Krio for those encounters!

I’ve been here for 6 weeks now. I am still moving in – it can be a little tricky to acquire what you need without a car – and I’m really enjoying my neighborhood and the city of Philadelphia as a whole. I have pictures of the Lighthouse kids pinned on my cubicle wall –still think about them often and hope the best for them. I found out a couple weeks ago that some of the kids I met in Chennai, India in 2006 are now benefitting from World Vision’s work. Wonderful news, as we’ve prayed for a long time for Christian aid to come to the bus park where several of them live.

As always, if you would like to know how you can support the Lighthouse kids in Freetown, Sierra Leone, or any child in the grip of poverty's destructive elements, you can always ask me about child sponsorship. :)

Reverse culture shock? Ya...

About the reverse culture-shock. It was not as shocking as when I returned from India two years ago. I think I was bracing myself for it this time, expecting to feel really out-of-sorts when I got home.

I did abhor my cell phone for the first few days. I just wanted to take life slow, and not feel barraged with lots of noise and busy-ness. After seven months of having a phone that only a few people called me on, and not having easy access to the internet, I didn't feel the need to be constantly in touch with 50 people at once.

I also thought it would be important to take things a little slow, allowing myself to realize where I had just been, and not cut myself off from Africa by plunging into my old daily routine. I'm glad I did that.

The supermarkets were a tad overwhelming. I couldn't bring myself to look above the bottom shelf in the store aisles, afraid that the rows of options and bright packaging would be too much to handle in once glance.

At the same time, I experienced going from the equivalent of Walmart in Kenya to the Kibera slums in just a five-minute walk. So there was shock there also, and it made returning to the U.S., land of consumer abundance, less disorienting.

It's also been so nice having great friends to share about Africa with, and I am still in the process of this! In the process of working on sharing a few pictures with you all, and thanking my very generous financial and prayer supporters for all the faith and excitement you had in my trip.

It's an ongoing process that I can't let distractions snatch away! I have heard some updates from Freetown recently. Mainly, that all the Lighthouse kids went on a week-long retreat and had meaningful reflection and fellowship time. Several of the Lighthouse youth are currently enrolled in a summer school where, the staff reports, the instructors actually TEACH. Hippee! Santigie and Papanie are among the students doing that right now ;) I have a feeling Victoria and Veronica (her twin sister) are not doing as well, so they are in need on continued prayer.

More soon ... hopefully some pictures to share this week! And if you're still reading ... you're awesome! Thanks for being a cool friend :)

Being back from Africa...

Arriving home felt strangely normal. I stumbled into my parents' house in Carlsbad, stomach a little weak from the 4 different brands of medication I was on, and all of a sudden, it felt like no time had passed since leaving for Africa.

But time had passed. Seven long months in East Africa, the Middle East and then West Africa did happen. Those experiences molded me and changed me, and yet, like the kids walking through the wardrobe returning from Narnia, it felt like no time had really gone by.

I forced myself to take it easy those first few weeks at home, and I'm glad I did. Otherwise, the "reverse culture shock" might have been worse, and I may have rushed back into busy American life without taking time to consider all the places I had come from, and the beautiful people I had met.

The past 6 weeks have been filled with incredible blessings. I was reunited with my family and with Ted. I spent a week in Sacramento with Ted's wonderful family and meet many important people in his life. I also had opportunities to see several good friends. I went to a couple weddings, had a huge 60th birthday party for my mom, and introduced Ted to lots of people.

And the whole time I had Africa on my mind. Before coming back, our team leader Stephanie asked us what we would do to keep our Sierra Leone experience alive. Who would we tell about it? How would we remember and not let the memories become buried? Cami, the field director in Freetown, asked us more pointedly, "How are you going to be true to this place? To the kids we all got to know?" Santigie, Victoria, Papanie - how will I be true them in how I tell their stories, and how I choose to live.

I think those are important questions to be asking myself. About one month ago, I printed all the pictures I had taken with the Lighthouse kids and wrote personalized notes for each of them. Cami asked us to please send pictures that we took of the kids back to Freetown, so that the youth could own more pictures of themselves. I wanted to do that as quickly as I could, and it ended up being such a joy, a special opportunity to let them know I remember them, and I value each of them so highly.

I don't like thinking about not seeing the people in Freetown again. I suppose that's hard with any place you visit. I just feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to go, and I continue to hope that my experience there will be integrated into where I am now.

I know God is the perfect Author who can weave all of these strands into something excellent for His glory.