Annada Marie Vergo

The last week in Africa was a flurry of food, hugs and kisses.

First we had a party for our friends. One highlight was sitting around in a big circle singing English pop songs together while Aicel played guitar. Even if someone didn’t know English, they did know Black Eyed Peas!

The idea to pose eating was theirs :).

Then we had dinner with a different family each night. Each family made a dish they thought I had really liked. The family above made two dinners!! Marc and I had no idea. We ate with half of the family and they served my favorite foods. I ate until I thought I would burst because I knew they had worked so hard for me. As I finished, my friend said, “Make sure you leave room for couscous.”

I must have looked alarmed because the family burst out laughing. The other side of her family wanted to serve us dinner too and were waiting in a apartment upstairs with another meal! (The meal pictured is meal #2.)

We also ate with Sanaa, Kamal and Doaa. It was hard to say goodbye to these friends. Doaa is Annada’s first real friend. I will never forget watching them crawl around pretending to be cats and cuddling together. (At least Annada was, Doaa might have had a different animal in mind.)

Sanaa waving goodbye as we walked away.

Our trip home was literally trains, planes and automobiles. We left our apartment early in the morning and rode a taxi to the train station. Took the train about an hour to the airport. Flew to JFK. Got in a van and drove to a conference in Washington DC. It took roughly 24 hours.

The worst part by far was the drive to DC. We started at 7 pm local time or midnight in Africa. It then took almost 8 hours to drive to our hotel. The car seat for Annada didn’t have straps to keep her in the seat so we had to rig it up with the seat belt. It was really a booster seat, so it sat almost straight up.

In this picture at the beginning of the drive it looked like I was able to wedge her in enough that she could sleep. But that only lasted an hour. It was so uncomfortable that she started crying in her sleep. I spent the rest of night holding her head up and my back and arms were numb quickly. Ugh. But I tell you this so that you can understand how amazing Annada is. Despite everything, the only time she cried was in her sleep.

Our team. We took this picture just before our last meal together.

Playing in the snow.

What would you do if it was 100+ degree inside and no one was watching you?

When Meme and I had our backs turned Annada stole into the bathroom, unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper, pulled it all onto my bed, took off her clothes and began jumping in the “snow!”

Afterward, we decided that the hours it kept her happy was well worth the price of a roll (there was very little room or toys for her to play). So Annada ended up using toilet paper for everything – play food, clothes and, of course, snow.

Marc performed magic tricks in homes constantly. It was an amazing way to build relationships and bring together extended families without needed a permit to perform.

Annada called Aicel her “fairy godmother” because Aicel would dress her up in her clothes to “go to the ball.” Just today Annada told me she is sad because her fairy godmother is in Africa (and not with her).

Annada and I going out with Sanaa and Doaa. This is the elevator at our apartment.

I took this picture from a hotel. Notice the traffic – there are 4 lanes but 6 cars across! That was a road we frequently played “leapfrog” across.

Grace and I met these college women for pizza. At first I thought the tall one was dressed up in black for religious reasons… nope. It is because she loves heavy metal!

So… I know we have been home for a couple of weeks… but I still feel bizarre. Like either Africa was a dream or life in America is. It’s taken me a long time to feel ready to look at the pictures again, but I think it is time. So the next couple of posts are in memory of our life changing summer.

In front of the Cascades

Halfway through our trip we took a 3-day break to another city. Wow. It was an amazing experience. We ended up accidentally experiencing political change first-hand. At one point I saw thousands of college students dancing in the street and waving their flag with joy at 1 AM over freedoms I have taken for granted. It was breath taking.

I also had a “National Geographic” experience.

Yes - the sun and the desert.

Some friends convinced me to take a 3-hour taxi ride to the cascades. Internally I went back and forth on if I should go. 140+ degree heat (yes, for real) with 6 people in a small taxi for 3 hours with no air conditioning and an upset stomach. Is anything really worth that?

We drove through small towns, passed nomadic women fully covered in black while herding sheep, ran over a small dog (and were chased by it’s owner with a scythe) and I discovered a whole new low in gas station toilets.

But all my internal grumbling vanished when suddenly the desert turned into mountains and met an emerald forest. The colors were so deep they seemed surreal. When we walked out, we were in front of the most beautiful natural waterfall. There were no signs or safety measures and there were wild monkeys in the trees. Untouched beauty.

After leaving our taxi driver at a cafe, we decided to figure out how to get down the mountain without a guide. So we forded across the river above the waterfall and then plunged straight down the mountain. The locals make money by being guides, so they purposefully obscure the way down. But the few people we met were so impressed a white person spoke Arabic (not me), they helped us anyway – much to the anger of a guide who followed us a short way waiting for us to give up.

These boys put holes in the bag and catch fish as they come down. Then they ran after me wanting money for taking their picture. Brilliant - catching fish and tourist at the same time.

This is where it gets amazing.

When we made it down the mountain we found pools created by the waterfall as it continued to cascade down the mountain. The men swam around and found a good place to swim, so we walked around and found a restaurant built over the side of the pool. This is where we met hippies. They were so hospitable and invited us to sit and relax.

Tea at the waterfall

Then, one of the men told us we could climb the waterfall by us, jump into the pool and then use rocks on the side to push/swim back under the fall.. to find a natural cave! With a spring inside!

So after jumping the waterfall (which was scarier than I expected because you can’t walk up to the edge, I had to jump past it) and swimming like mad, I found myself overlooking a mountain from behind a waterfall, surrounded by flowers growing on the walls of a natural cave next to a spring bubbling like a fountain out of the water!!

It is moments like that I remember thinking about everything Marc and I “give up.” And I am reminded that God is one amazing Dad! We certainly have an abundant life.

These monkeys look cute - but they are mean! One bit me.

While I was out in paradise, Marc, Meme and Annada were enjoying the city. They took a horse-drawn carriage ride, checked out monkeys and snakes and Meme bought Annada a belly dancing dress.

In the next picture Annada is clawing at Marc to get away. Smart girl.

Marc became a huge date fan.

Annada learned some belly dancing moves from Doaa.

Riding back to our apartment on the train.

We toured the US Capitol Building Friday.

We are home! We landed in Orlando yesterday after noon at 4 pm. Originally we had planned on hiding for a few days after returning to recover. But instead we are getting ready to celebrate.

Marc and I have a whole new appreciation for the United States of America. We loved so much about Africa, but this is Independence Day, so today I celebrate you, America!

I took a lot for granted. Like being able to see the Capitol Building – in Africa the places of state were surrounded by tall concrete walls with guards to make sure you didn’t get too close. While security may have been a small factor, but the message was a clear seperation between the royals and the people.

Meme's favorite place

I’ve cried a lot in the last few days (granted, I’m tired). Why? When I got in my car and there was a worship CD on. I could play it as loud as I wanted. I could tell anyone about it. I can believe in Jesus or flying monkeys and no one is going to jail for what I believe. My marriage is legal and my custody of Annada is secure.

I saw a Mosque in DC. I am proud it is there. No one stood at the door with a stick to make sure only international visitors went in.

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. Voltaire

Marc, Annada, Meme, Grace and I visited our Congresswoman’s office. WE elected her. Her office was to serve us. I may not approve of everything she does – but that is just it. I can disapprove, loudly even if I want.

House of Representatives

There are a lot of other things I love about my country. Things I took for granted like an aisle of cereal, being able to call 9-11, a servant-minded police force and multiple toilets in one house. But the freedom to think and believe whatever I want trumps them all.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

United Stated Constitution

Amen. May God bless America.

A picture from the hippy restaurant - it was beautiful. Those are grape vines growing on the canopy.

When we left for Africa I expected to be completely outside my culture. And at first it did feel like a new world where 99% of the people don’t speak English (or more accurately, I don’t speak Arabic).

After a while, feeling out of place began to feel normal. Pretty much everywhere we go, we entertain people by bumbling around or just plain sticking out. This culture loves to laugh, so I’ve learned to laugh with the people doubled over watching us or the children mimicking us. Pretty quickly that tactic means I have new friends.

(To prevent a misapplied stereotype, most of the time this laughter is very kind. The people here look up to Americans and the children mimic us because they want to try doing it the way we do – not to be mean. I am humbled by their attitude toward us. They are kinder to us then they would probably be treated in America. I will never look at an international visitor to America the same way again.)

What really throws me now is when I encounter something that would be normal in America with an African flair.

Here are some examples:

African Goths

A couple of nights ago I met two university students for dinner. One of the women was covered from head to toe in black. It is over 100 degrees outside and I thought, “This poor woman, forced to be covered from head to toe in black in this heat.” (I don’t say that proudly, I am being honest. I realize some people do choose to dress that way and I respect that even if I do think it looks extremely uncomfortable.)

During dinner, this woman and new friend asked me if I like heavy metal music. I said, “Not really, do you?”

“Oh yes! Can’t you tell? That is why I wear all black.”

I asked her how her parents feel about it and she told me, with some glee, that they worry about the way she dresses and the music she listens to.

I felt like I was in some strange plane – here was a Muslim university student acting exactly like millions of goths around the world. Of course… but still…. who knew?

African Hippies

Another time I was surprised by something too normal was during our trip to the waterfall (pictures coming).

After we had driven past nomadic sheep herders and made our way down a mountain we suddenly came across a series of restaurants and camp grounds. The first one we came to urged us to stay and relax a while. All four of us had the same thought – for how much? Making a living is hard here and if you even look at people for too long they want money this far outside the city.

But really, he didn’t want money. “Please, relax. Come enjoy life with us,” he urged.

About then I realized the walls had paintings of Bob Marley, the guy inviting us had dreads and a rainbow hat and there were candle stubs everywhere.

Yep, we had found a enclave of African hippies.

They were wonderful hosts and looked out for us when we jumped off the waterfall. But again… hippies in a Muslim country? Of course. I just never guessed.

There are a few other things that have made me laugh:

I saw a shirt that said “FBI: Federal Bank Investigators”

A man tried to sell me a Nike bag that declared under the logo “Authenlic and Orgininal” (sic).

If you want to insult someone you call them “Dar Boosh.” As is President Bush. (President Obama is pretty popular.)

Sometimes the women’s restroom is labeled “Femmes” and the men’s is labeled “Hommes.” (I get it – it is French, but still, now we know where the gangstas got the hommie idea from.)

On the less funny side:

Cigarettes are cool, especially for men. So they scatter them on men’s jeans or shirts in store displays. And smoke is in every restaurant and cafe.

Someone convinced some of the people Coke a Cola has nutrients. So one family I know mixes Coke with orange soda so that their young son will “get all of his nutrients” each day.

Instead of children’s vitamins, they sell milk with a lot of sugar and the vitamins added. One cup has all the vitamins a children’s multivitamin would have, including iron. I was very grateful a friend told me because iron poisoning is common cause of infant and child death and this milk is super sweet. Meaning, the kids LOVE it and Annada was going from person to person in the house asking for more. The milk does not have any warnings on it.

I took this picture because I thought it would make an amazing prom dress for Erica... then found out the fabric (or tissues as they would say) is worth thousands!

Once I told my friends why I took a picture of the purple dress, they wanted me to see this one too.

I know it is cheesy, but I thought this was funny.

Presents given as wedding/engagement gifts. Weddings here are HUGE affairs.

Riding in a cart attached to a scoter to back to Sanaa's house. The cars behind us would laugh when they saw us in there.

We stick out and provide entertainment everywhere we go ;).

Today we are heading to another city. I am excited to see a new place and Annada is excited to ride the train. Marc is excited to see the magicians and snake charmers. We come back Sunday.

Annada playing doctor with Grace. Annada says she is “fixing Grace” and that Grace is sleeping in her “crib” (note the toys Annada kindly added to Grace’s crib around her head so she won’t be lonely when she wakes up).

Marc bought me roses while I was recovering :).

He wanted to buy something small, but somehow in bartering without being able to speak Arabic he ended up with this beautiful bouquet for about $6. It was a sweet surprise because flowers are not particularly cheap here.

(Sometimes not being able to speak or understand helps in bartering. We just stand there with the amount we want to spend in our hand and look blankly until they throw their hands up and give us what we want. Or shoo us away empty handed. In Marc’s case, he expected to be handed a few roses and was handed this arrangement instead!)

Everyone is starting to feel better. I even walked 20 minutes to a friends house today when we had trouble getting a taxi. A couple of days ago I felt like I was on a boat in choppy water whenever I stood up. Antibiotics and bananas are wonderful things (I learned something: according to the nurse I talked to, when Gatorade or Pedialyte is not an option, bananas and water along with some salt can go a long way toward restoring your electrolytes). Annada is perking up and becoming destructively active in our apartment and even my mom’s cold is gone. Humdoolillah! (Praise be to God.)

I am hoping to wake up tomorrow with plenty of energy because I am meeting friends from lunch until late at night. It’s a major change considering I spent almost the whole weekend in bed. :).

Wednesday we visited one of the few mosques non-believers can tour. It is the tallest religious building in the world.

The mosque is partly over the ocean because the Koran says the throne of God is on the water.

The arch shows the direction of Mecca.

Almost all the materials are from this country. When the building was started everyone was required to give to pay for it. It cost over $2 billion.

I love this picture. I am proud of our little family.

Reading together before bed.

Well, we are right on track ;). It’s two weeks in and everyone is sick. Okay, not everyone, but most of us.

Meme has a bad cold. Marc and I have stomach issues. Annada has a mild cold and mild stomach issues. Annada and I are running low grade fevers. My stomach is pretty bad – I just started antibiotics. The nurse thought I should feel better in 3 days. I hope so. It is a real bummer to be here, have amazing people to spend time with and lay in bed instead. But I have to laugh – it’s two weeks! Right on schedule.

2 weeks means that we are starting to be comfortable. I know where I am going when I walk to the store, speak some basic words without stumbling and have quit running into people when we walk (there is a different pace or rhythm – it took me forever to figure it out).

We are also starting to be more realistic. We’ve had some things stolen and realize that while most people want to welcome us, a few know we are easy targets. A good tip: always have the exact amount for taxis.

I think Annada summed it up best. While she was “not napping” in her pack n play this afternoon she started a monologue on what she misses from our Orlando home. And then what she likes about her Africa home. She misses friends, her sand box, running outside, her toys and not being sick. “We can fly home, Mommy! We can.” She yelled. But then, all by herself, she started saying. “Our Africa home means Meme, lots of gum and cheese, the rocking horse and tea.” We miss home, feel sick and love being here all at the same time.

PS: My mom, Susan (AKA Meme), found out late last night her mother fell down and broke several bones. She is in surgery today. Please pray for my Grandma to heal well and for my mom as she worries about Grandma from a distance.

At the beach.

One of Sana's friends got engagd (the women in red). She wanted to show me what the party was like.

Annada is making friends everywhere she goes.

Ibtissam's family

Last week I met Ibtissam, an economics student (the degree is close to an MBA). She invited Marc, Annada and I to her home for dinner Monday. It was such a treat! Her mother made breads for us to eat at the 5 pm snack before dinner (with mint tea, of course!). Every thing we ate she cooked from scratch. I wish I could explain the work that goes into these breads – they kneed them on the floor into many flat layers.

Ibtissam is the oldest and has 2 brothers and a sister, just like me. She showed me pictures of her hometown in the countryside.

Ibtissam’s brother had a few soccer medals that hung in the salon (like a living room). He proudly showed them to Marc. Then… he gave one to Marc! Ibtissam’s family gave us many beautiful gifts. We are humbled by all of them and particularly humbled by this medal. It is a very special treasure.

I enjoyed her family so much. They were welcoming and gracious even when Annada had a melt down. (She has been running a fever the last 3 days, please pray with me that she will feel better soon.)

Ibtissam’s aunt heard that I had tried on Sana’s wedding dress. The brides here wear 7 dresses – one for each region in the country. She wanted me to wear one of hers too and then she and Ibtissam put one on too. She also let me look through her wedding photos. Then we talked for hours. I am amazed at how quickly I am coming to love the people I meet.

While most of the food here is awesome… there are a few exceptions.

Notably sheep brain and snail soup.

First (and last) bite of brain

Sheep brain is delicacy often reserved at restaurants for friends of the owners. Marc and his friends wanted to try it, so they found a grill that would serve it to them. It was gelatinous, Marc explained. And though they did manage to eat it all (it would have been very rude not to) none of them are interested in more! Now I tease them that they are zombies.

Between 5-6 pm people here normally eat a significant snack. Dinner is then served around 8:30 or 9 pm. One favorite snack is snail soup. Right around 5, almost every street corner has someone selling snail soup. They fill cups and have bent safety pins laying out for people to dig the snails out of the shells. Both the cups and the pins go directly from one customer to the next.

When I first heard about snail soup, I thought I would be willing to try. I’ve had escargot. Brains aside, I’ll try most things once. But the smell!!! Oh wow. I was almost grateful for whatever has been making me sick to my stomach the last couple of days. It gave me an excuse not to eat when my friends tried to buy me a cup of snail soup yesterday. I don’t think I am off the hook though, they made sure I knew that the offer stood for a day I was feeling better.

Braiding Annada and I’s hair, narrowing avoiding being electrocuted by the washing machine, holding my hand when the cab ride gets dicey, accepting kisses from friends and strangers, running through traffic, building sand castles, roasting chick peas, charming toddlers without speaking their language, conquering the bathroom fungus, talking with new friends in cafes, negotiating all kinds of new bathrooms and listening to Annada’s songs about them, battling the bra thief, feeding 20 people with $60 in a mini-crisis, sharing a bathroom with 4 people and helping us all laugh about it… it’s got to be SUPER MEME!

Yesterday, Meme, Marc, Annada and I went to a friend’s home for couscous. Couscous is the traditional meal every Friday afternoon (Friday is the holy day). It was amazing! We had so much fun laughing together, learning to eat with our hands and, of course, drinking mint tea.

After lunch was over, Sana invited me to wear her wedding dress. I had been admiring the dresses when we had been shopping together. She offered to dress me up so we could take pictures.

It quickly went from dress up to a mini-wedding!

Sana and I

Our friends acted out different parts of a wedding with Marc and I. There was a lot of singing and calls.

We cut the cake, fed the cake to each other, put on rings and even had our “first kiss.”

Annada wanted to be a part of the wedding so we dressed her up in a caftan they gave us as a gift. She calls it her princess dress.

I am growing to really love these people.

They also sang Meme happy birthday.

And then on the way home we fit 9 people in the car. It quickly turned into a dance a party.

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures from this week.

We have officially been here one week!

On Tuesday we went to a market and then walked around downtown. It was quite an experience! After being urged to buy “real” designer goods all day I laughed out loud when a man stopped me on the way out of the market holding a pair of sunglasses, “High quality imitation!” he declared. I thanked him for his honesty.

My highlight was finally getting a cup of the famous mint tea. We found a very nice cafe. I love the cafes! They serve only drinks and sometimes light food, like toast or cookies. So for a couple of dollars I can spend an hour or two talking in a nice place. It is just like restaurants at home, but without the food ;).

Since then I have had about a dozen cups of mint tea. My favorite cup was not even mine: Annada and this beautiful girl shared a cup at lunch today. They were so kind. They had a piece of bread and one cup. Each would take a bite/sip and then pass it back.

I am so proud of Annada. She is making friends, speaking Arabic and putting up with probably a hundred kisses a day from strangers. As we drove home, these two sweet angels even slept side by side in our laps. There is something deeply good about how 2-year-olds from across the world can bond.

Happy birthday Meme! Thank you for coming on this adventure with us. You are amazing.

This morning started off great! I got up – 7 solid hours of sleep – and made coffee. I got ready and then cooked eggs! It felt so good to be able to cook breakfast and start to know where things are, even if it is only in our apartment.

Then we met some friends. They made us a traditional couscous lunch with chicken, zucchini, pumpkin, carrots, potatoes and green peppers. Again, very tasty.

Our friends took us on a walking tour of the city. It is considerably larger than Orlando. We spent almost 5 hours walking and in taxis and I am sure we only saw a bare fraction. The idea was that we would understand the city enough to direct a taxi. Um, nope. I do however have a list of places I could tell one to take me and it would be safe and appropriate for women.

Taxis. This was the one thing I was most afraid of before coming. We will get around mostly by taxi. They do not have seat belts, much less car seats. And the traffic rules are… loose. There are no lanes. At one intersection today we saw a police officer holding the light controls and using a whistle to clear blockages. Cars drive literally inches from each other and everyone uses the streets: people walking, donkey carts, mopeds…

As we got ready to come here I couldn’t shake the feeling CPS was going to come find me for letting my child ride in my lap in a car. The picture of Brittney Spears pulling out of her house with a baby in her lap kept coming to mind.

But when the time actually came, the craziness of hailing a cab, trying to remember to give the right greeting/blessing, making sure I had the right amount of money and saying the right words for directions meant the ride was half over before I realized what was happening. Annada was quick. “Momma! I am a big girl now! I always want to ride with you.”

Of course, Annada was the only one who gave the correct greeting when we got in the cab. And when someone joined us in the cab she did it again. She didn’t seem to be paying attention during our language lesson this morning, but she is clearly learning faster than Marc or I.

Did I mention both of our cab drivers spoke 3 languages!! One even spoke English. Seriously, I need to get Annada in a language school.

During our tour, we stopped to feed the pigeons.

Annada is doing better today. She is still pretty far from adjusted to the time zone though. I am really hoping she goes to sleep soon. How does such a small person do so well on almost a week of little sleep? If she would sleep at normal times and eat the local food, we would be set. Most of the time she is dancing and singing and generally being her happy self.

Tomorrow we are going to have a low key family day. I’m looking forward to it.

This afternoon we went shopping. Our friends took us to the highest-end, most western grocery store here. It was a cross between a Target and a Walmart. On one hand it felt like huge relief to buy food for Annada (making sure she has enough food to eat has been stressful) on the other hand it was very overwhelming. We ended up with 2 carts full of water, food and random things (like a French press – we were all a little desperate for coffee today).

In the meat section I saw… a couple whole stingrays! Annada is pointing to them in the picture. They had been skinned and were slimy. I had no idea you could eat a stingray. Right next to the stingrays were tons of great fruit. Once I figure out how to rinse them with bleach, we are going to be set. Oh and cheese – awesome cheeses. We spent almost $300 for our home of 6. Probably way more than we needed, but since we feel a little helpless, it is nice to know we have more than enough for now.

We also ate at an upscale local restaurant. We got chicken cooked with brined lemons and olives. Sooo good. Annada fell asleep halfway through the meal. Unfortunately it was one of those terrible toddler naps that recharge them- she is wide a awake and calling for me now and it is almost 11 pm.

Last night Annada woke up crying a lot. Meme, may God bless her, got up several times and walked around with her.

Today Annada told me at the grocery store that she was whining because “I miss my Orlando home.” And as I was getting her ready for bed I asked if she wanted to sleep in her own room (the bathroom) and she jumped up, “Yes, in my Orlando bed please, Momma!”

While I am grateful to be here, I can understand. The low point for me today was going to bathroom at the grocery store. There are women who work in the bathroom who live on tips. This was a nice place, so I could “tip” as I left, but apparently at most they won’t let you in until you pay. I carried Annada in to find out it was a raised squatty potty. It was too tall for Annada to squat over, but there was no where to sit. So I held her in the air. As we walked out I thought, whew, we made it.

I walked up to the sink and there were 3 young women talking in the bathroom. They had their stuff spread all across the counter space. 2 things happened at the same time: I picked Annada up and the woman working in the bathroom turned the water on. As I lifted Annada up, she knocked a cell phone and wallet into the sink.

I grabbed them out and the lady’s whose phone it was started yelling at me in Arabic. The woman working there started yelling at her (for having her stuff laying around I think). The cell phone woman’s friends started yelling at her to stop yelling at me.

I could not think of one word to say. Not one. It was a very small bathroom. The woman turned on her phone and it worked but she kept yelling. Her friend motioned for me to leave and I grabbed Annada and ran out. Wow. I had no idea how terrible it feels to have people yelling at you in a situation where you have no idea what is normal and can’t understand a word. I really just wanted to cry, but there were enough people looking at Annada and I as it was.

It is strange to be in a city where BMWs share a road with a donkey drawn carts. Where avocados are cheap and apples are expensive. Where milk, eggs and cream cheese are not refrigerated but there are two whole aisles of yogurt. Where the call to prayer wakes me up in the night and at dawn. Where people enclose their homes with 10 foot high walls with broken glass on top. Where few people speak English. Where dishwashers, refrigerators and air conditioning are not only rare, but seen as ridiculous.

It’s also a city where random people come up and kiss Annada on the cheek. Where when one of our friend’s kids wandered off at the beach, a woman walked the beach with him looking for his parents. Where most of the food is organic and local because people here grow it – and the organic version is often cheaper because it isn’t imported. Where, despite my awful language skills, nearly everyone wants to help and acts like it is a joy to do so.

And another major plus – we do have hot water :).

Heading to JFK airport in New York. We are 2 hours into the trip and Annada is doing great. No one got much sleep the night before, though.

Dinner on our way to Africa. Roughly 12 hours into trip. And despite our expectations, the food was tasty. Meme watched Annada so we could eat. Meme was a godsend :).

Annada finally went to sleep. They kept the cabin lights on until around 11 pm (4 am Africa), which made it hard for Annada to sleep. But she did lay down after dinner and didn’t wake up until our descent. 14 hours into trip.

When she woke up it was because I picked her up as we descended. For a few minutes she looking around in a daze (it was 3:30 am Orlando time). Then she stared to yell, “Africa! We are here in Africa! Mommy, we are going to Africa!” You could hear a collective chuckle and awww from the 40% of the plane that understood her.

5 pm African time (2 pm Orlando). To stay awake, we went to the beach after unpacking. They had horses to ride! Annada’s ride was about 10 minutes and cost around $1.

They also had beautiful fully grown horses you can rent to ride bareback. My mom and I have dreamed of riding a horse on the beach since we read Black Beauty. I really hope we get to go back and ride!

Everyone has been wonderful. A older woman on the plane even found an extra blanket and covered me up while I was sleeping (Annada had the blankets).

I tried to thank her when I woke up. It started off a chain of events I am realizing will be normal: I say one word in Arabic (I know 3-4 tops), the other person goes off in Arabic. I look confused. They switch to French and I am surprised to discover I kind of understand (where did I pick up any French?). I try to think of what to say and realize I am speaking Spanish. They smile and go off in Spanish. I start say, “La” (no). They laugh, and we go back to where we began – hand signals.

It makes me want to enroll Annada in language class ASAP.

The view from our apartment. The outside of buildings may not look very nice, but the apartment is beautiful inside – marble floors. There are 6 of us sharing and apartment this summer. Our friends even set Annada up with pack n play and Dora sheets. She just went to sleep – 36 hours since sleeping in a bed. I’m next!

Annada loves to “cook” soup for us in her special room. She called it duck soup in honor of the book.

On the way to visit Uncle William, Aunt Lucy and baby Isaiah, we stopped at a gas station that sold juice in bottles with characters on the top. Annada was being such a trooper in the car, I wanted to get her something fun. So I let her pick out one. She picked out the Minnie Mouse one but asked if she could get the Ariel one next time. Naïvely I said yes thinking we had a lot of stops ahead of us.

Annada became enamored with the Ariel bottle to be. She talked about it and dreamed out loud about it. And at each gas station she pulled Erica and I around to look for it.

Except we never found one.

I told her it was like an Easter Egg hunt: we just had to keep looking. So for 3 weeks every time we got in the car Annada would say, “We stop at a gas station, Mommy? I want to hunt for the Ariel bottle.” The sweet kiddo never forgot.

For my part, I looked up the company and found a list of gas stations that should carry them. We drove there. No bottles. I did more research – you can order them on Amazon. Except, now you can’t. They are discontinued. I even went to the Disney store to try to find a substitute. Apparently Ariel is not a hot princess right now – no Ariel bottles.

Meanwhile, Annada continued to ask sweetly and persistently for the Ariel bottle. Erica and I felt horrible. Annada even started praying that we would find it.

Then, after 3 weeks of this, one of my teammates – Leanne – walked into a YearOne brunch and said, “Annada, I have a surprise for you.”

SHE HELD OUT THE EXACT BOTTLE ANNADA WANTED!

I just stared. “But I didn’t tell you!” I exclaimed.

“Tell me what?” She replied. “I saw these in a store. I noticed Annada had the Minnie Mouse one and thought she might like Ariel.”

Meanwhile Annada was cradling her Ariel bottle in her arms like a baby.

Needless to say, that bottle went everywhere with Annada – even bed – for a week.

And I am in awe. I think God heard her prayers.

(I know she doesn’t look ecstatic in the pic with Leanne. Like me, Annada doesn’t smile when something huge happens in her world until she has had time to adjust. That face really means, “okay, I’m playing along with the picture, now please give me back my bottle.” But once the shock wore off, she was all smiles.)

Annada loves to dance. And she has some pretty awesome moves. I especially like her “modern dance” when she suddenly bends her knees then slowly draws her hands over her head and down to her toes.

Princess Lavender

Last Friday Meme and Pepe decided to take Annade to Epcot. When I told her she was excited but torn about not seeing princesses (who are more abundant at Magic Kingdom). On a whim I decided to check and see if I could get them reservations to eat at the Norway castle with the princesses. I figured there was no way because generally you must make reservations 6 months in advance and I was looking 2 days ahead.

But there was one spot left! It was the highlight of Annada’s week.

They started the day with a smoothie. Everywhere Annada went, people called her “princess.” I had bought the purple dress after Halloween and was saving it for something special. This occasion certainly deserved it.

Then Annada showed Meme and Pepe the Figment ride. She had to hold their hands during the ride so they wouldn’t be scared when Figment sprayed them like a skunk.

Somehow a baby Figment followed them out of the ride and Annada danced with him in anticipation of eating with the princesses!

The first “princess” was Mary Poppins. I love Annada’s, “yeah, me and the Poppins are buds” smile.

A hug from Cinderella.

And the highlight of the event: Snow White kissed her!! Annada was in awe.

One happy little princess. Thank you Meme and Pepe!

Picking Daddy up at the airport. Annada was so excited to see him. She picked out her “My Dad is Totally Awesome” shirt to wear and the skirt. She also picked out the balloons and made him a card. All day she would ask, “Is it time to go get Daddy?”

Sounds Like That

When she trying to be persuasive with a new new plan she says, “How’s sounds like that, Momma?”

As in, “Let’s got to the pool and then eat ice cream? Okay? How’s sounds like that, Momma? (Tongue Click)”

(Because I say, “how’s that sound?”)

My Dad

Annada is learning the important lessons. Yesterday after lunch, Annada threw her hands above her head and announced, “I am beautiful and wonderful and my Dad is totally awesome!”

Nakey Baby

Annada is still enthralled with baby Isaiah. Aunt Lucy calls Isaiah a nakey baby when he is undressed. So Annada has been stripping her dolls, running out of her special room and showing me her “nakey babies!”

Cinderella and Jesus

Annada’s favorite movie is the Cinderella with Brandy in it. We dance to “10 Minutes Ago” and “Impossible.” She pretends to be Cinderella. And she will pull her little white chair out, face it in the corner, sit on it and sing, “In My Own Little Corner.”

At night Annada now prays, “Dear God, Thank you for Mommy. Thank you for Daddy. Thank you for Meme and Pepe. Thank you for Grandma and Grandpa. Thank you for Nanny and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa. Thank you for cheese sticks. Thank you for Jesus. And thank you for Cinderella! Amen.”

Are you a lollipop?

Before bed, Annada like to pretend that Daddy and I are food. She will lean in like she is going to give us a hug and then nibble on us. We yell, “Annada, this is Mommy! I am not food!”

Then Annada laughs so hard she can hardly breathe. When she calms down she looks at us and barely gets out, “Are you a lollipop?” before cracking up again. We repeat with her coming up with different favorite food – cookies with sprinkles, chocolate, a donut, a cheese stick and carrots.

I usually let her go until I can tell she is laughing so hard she wants to stop but can’t. Then I wrap her in my arms and say, “shhh…” She gulps for air until she calms down. Then usually a few minutes later I hear her whisper, “Are you a lollipop?”

Annada loved crushing the Easter Eggs she and Meme dyed together. Meme filled them with candy and toys.

The before pic

After getting her hair washed

Annada did great! Now she loves to get a towel, put it behind Marc or I’s head and pretend to cut our hair.

Over Easter weekend Erica, Annada and I drove up to Georgia to visit William and Lucy… and their new baby boy!

Isaiah is a sweetie. It was wonderful to be there with whole family. Lucy and William are great parents (double points for Lucy).

Annada is enthralled with her new cousin. The day he was born we spent 3 hours at the passport office. Annada spent half the time singing, “I have a cousin! I have a cousin!” and dancing around.

The week before we went everyday she talked about how she wanted to feed Isaiah a bottle. Lucy was so kind to let her.

Now everything is about Isaiah. About twice a day Annada tells me, “I am not Annada. I am little baby Isaiah. You hold me like a baby.” And every night she thanks God “for Eye-ZAY-Ah.”

Annada and Marc were dancing around together to the Cinderella song 10 Minutes Ago when I walked in our room. “Party in the house!” yelled Annada.

Ah, her Aunt Erica has taught her well 🙂

Grandma and Grandpa gave Annada a bath when they came to visit a couple of months ago. She thanks God for them every night.