Friday, August 22, 2008

WE HAVE CONTACT!

We have wireless ADSL at home!  I cannot even begin to explain what a big deal that is for us!  I think I am going to turn our front porch into an internet cafe'!  ...or something.

Anyway, we are very excited.  We have been "Skyping" people all weekend, which seems to work ok.  We had a few dropped calls, but managed to have a few very overdue conversations with missed family and friends.  Even managed to download a movie for the kids in little over half a day!  I think in the states the same download would have taken 30 to 40 minutes tops, but oh well.  We have internet, I can get daily news from around the world while I drink my morning coffee at home!  A big deal for us.

Other than that we have been having a good weekend.  Last night we had some new friends of ours and their kids over ordered take out pizza.  The kids, seven of them, watched a movie and the "adults" relaxed on the front porch drinking wine and beer.  [Jennn, thanks for bringing us that wine from the states.  It was great.  Still have one more bottle.]  Today, we went to the American Embassy with the kids and watched Kung Fu Panda and played on the lawn.  Ava and Ian had a great time.  We made last minute plans with said new friends and went to a restaurant we had not been to yet called Papyrus.  We had a great meal!  Tomorrow we are having lunch with friends and going to dinner with another couple!  Our social life is really filling up here.  We are meeting a lot of great people.  

The big news this weekend though has been the opening of a new store in town.  It is a Kenyan chain called Nakumat.  The store feels like a Target compared to everything else here, but in reality is more like a bigger Woolworth's.  It is basically a grocery / department store with everything from electronics to baked goods.  Found a lot of stuff here that I have seen nowhere else.  The store is open 24 hours and I am sure that we will find ourselves there a lot.  They were very busy, but need to work the kinks out.  I tried to buy some toilet paper and it rang up as 21,490.00 francs.  This is about 43 dollars!  I mean it was some nice tissue, but...I put it back and bought some elsewhere.  I am sure they will figure everything out, but 'til then I will be checking my receipt closely, and munchin' on the Lay's Thai Sweet Chili chips I bought.  Man, I hope these are good (have not tried them yet).

That is all for now.


Wednesday, August 13, 2008

HELLO!

So yeah, still here and as promised...some pictures of our time here so far! Then, a new post!



                                             ATL airport.   On our way!




                                                           Here at last!  



                           Ava, Ian and Jackson in our new yard!





                                            Some things never change!



                                               Ava and Eric's "new" car


                                   Ava and Ian on a stroll in the sun



                               You can even Slip 'n' Slide in Rwanda


YES, WE ARE STILL HERE! i promise


O.K.  o.k.   I know I have been slow on the updates here, but the internet thing at home is killing me.  The lack of internet that is.  Maybe "killing me" is a little exaggerated, but it makes it difficult.  

But, people hear this!  I have seen a monkey!  ...and baboons, zebra, giraffe, crocodile, hippopotami, impala, etc.!  Many of you know how important this was to me.  Seeing the monkey that is.  Gorillas here I come!

Jaime's brother Tyler and a friend of his Jennn came to visit us!  It has been great, and the kids could not be happier. They came bearing many gifts!  This past weekend we went to Akagera National Park which was amazing!  The park has lots of big game and over 500 species of birds! We went on safari one day, and on a boat trip the next.  We all really enjoyed it.  Tyler and Jennn will be here until Saturday.

We have started to settle in here.  Many of you know that I bought a car, which has been great for me.  On the search for a Nannie now, and hot water, internet, washer, dryer, cat food, and, and, and....We are doing fine.  We are even close to great some days.  Our life here is going to be great!

I promise I will get this blog going full speed, just bear with me.

E