One week of the new norm

Wow ... has it been one week already since we left Canada? So much has changed already! What does our new life even look like now? I thought about how to best write this blog, and eventually I settled on Q&A style ... since likely, many of you would ask fairly similar questions. So here's a little snapshot into EVERYTHING that's happened over the last week!

What's it like in Angola?

Oh wow ... different than even I could have expected ... and I've lived in Africa! Lubango (our city) feels about the size of London (Ontario), but with more people. Thus far, it's been quite dry, as we are at the end of the dry season and transitioning into the rainy season. It's dusty. When it rains, it pours.

It's dirty here. Dusty, and dirty, with lots of garbage everywhere. And yet, there's lots of beauty. Houses are painted in bright colours. People are beautiful: with exquisite hairdos, sharp fashion, and a happy kindness to them. In the city, nature is non-existent ... it's been stamped out by houses, roads, and garbage. But look up to the escarpment, and you see incredible cliff faces and natural beauty (just search Tundavala, a location only a half hour from Lubango).

Everyone speaks Portuguese, or a tribal language. At least everyone we've met. English is limited. Stores are small, and sell everything and nothing at the same time. There's a lack of organization to the city that would drive Westerners nuts ... yet everything seems to flow. No stoplights ... yet an understanding of how traffic works.

We go to sleep every night to the sound of loud music playing somewhere ... sometimes the church, sometimes the bar. Oh, and the sound of dogs constantly barking. We wake up to the rooster crowing, or Ethan crying.

View from the front of our apartment (note: our bumpy dirt road and the beautiful escarpment)

What have you guys been doing?

Adjusting. Need I say more? Setting up our house, shopping for things we need, exploring, relaxing (because you need some down time in a big transition). Eating dinner with fellow staff members. Gleaning advice on everything from where to buy eggs to how to love our neighbours. Talking about future vacations and current paperwork. Hanging out with Ethan and helping him adjust. Learning how to filter our water and how NOT to kill cockroaches.

Hike to Tundavala, only a half hour out of the city, and we get this view!

How were the flights?

Long--but good. If you ask Marcel, the best flight was the last one with MAF from Windhoek to Lubango. It was in the MAF Caravan. It was approximately four hours, broken up by one stop on the border of Angola. We could see everything for miles--including the desert and the Etosha Pan. But ask Kelly, and she'll say that one was the worst ... because of the volatile weather (lots of up and down drafts) the flight was anything but smooth. And ... she threw up.

Yeah ... not so happy to be taking a selfie

 Have you used your Portuguese?

SIM!!!! Yes, yes, yes!!!! Every day.

How is Ethan?

Good! He seems to be adjusting well. We're going to have to watch his sun exposure (his sweet delicate skin!). He's teething, so he's really fussy sometimes ... or at least, we think he's teething. Other than that, I guess the only way to know he's adjusting well is if he's smiling, pooping, and eating. And he's doing all three (not at the same time ... usually).

How can we stay in touch?

For now, Facebook, email, and Skype. We might be slow to respond (time difference ... busyness ... occasionally weak Internet). Oh, and come visit us!

Okay, that's all for now. Stay tuned for more updates! Thanks for your prayers, love, and support!