Watch the Walk

Hanging out on the roof On moving day I watched a couple hours of music videos with my host sisters, waiting for the call that the landlord was available to give me the keys and sign the contract. At 11 AM I finally got the call—the keys were mine, but the landlord was busy and couldn’t deal with the contract. After many reassurances from people involved that I wouldn’t move in only to have to move out again, I brought my luggage that had come from America to the house. And started cleaning. Things here get dirty fast, and I don’t think the house had been cleaned since it was built. My friends who came with me started in sweeping and wiping things down, while I grabbed a mop and started following behind. And wait, the kitchen is locked! The landlord had lost the key for the kitchen between the time I looked at the house and the time I got the keys! He assured my friend over the phone that he would look for it and send the key with someone as soon as it was located. Well, okay, that wa...

Goofing off Despite my attempt to have a house arranged before arriving on Clove Island, my plans fell through and I had to do some house hunting after arrival. While looking for a house I stayed with a couple of dear islander friends. They also helped me in the house hunt. Here are the steps I went through in looking for personal accommodations: 1)       Spread the word. This I started before leaving the U.S., sending messages to a few friends that I would be looking for a house and to let me know what they know of. After arriving on Clove I told most people I ran into (acquaintances and friends) that I was looking for a house, and I gave them a few parameters: 1) water needs to come from the pipes, 2) it can’t be a huge western-style house, 3) the neighborhood needs to be friendly. 2)       Look at all the houses. People started coming out of the woodwork, showing up at my host family’s house to talk with me and take me to houses, pic...

I can always tell when I’ve reached the right gate at the airport for my last flight to the island. Suddenly I’m surrounded by people dressed too warm for the airport, carrying random bags that don’t seem carry-on-sized. The mixture of islandese and French fills my ears and I find myself eavesdropping just for entertainment. It even smells like the islands, with the perfume and other strong scents. But I often prefer not to let on immediately that I’ll be sharing the flight with them. I wander past, absorbing the scene, observing my soon-to-be flightmates, then move a little further on until it’s close to boarding time. Even on the plane I often delay letting on that I’m going home, not just a random tourist. Once the secret is out there’s just no going back. This time arriving in the islands I waited until my seatmate’s English failed her and the conversation was just getting too frustrating to continue in her third language. So I switched to islandese… and there was no going back. S...

Drinking from the tap is fun! “You must have really loved it to be going back!” I’ve heard that idea expressed countless times, yet I continue to take issue with it. Yes, there’s a part of life in Africa that gets me and pulls me back. But if it had to do with loving a particular place, I certainly wouldn’t stay on Clove Island. It’s not a very easy place to live. I dread the nosy questions of strangers, the weird smells, the inconveniences, frustrations, and being at the mercy of somewhat capricious authorities and seemingly capricious circumstances. I love the people, but not always because they're being lovely. “What a wonderful calling!” I’ve never felt like my calling was location-specific. I’m called to “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow.” But aren’t we all called to that? I’m called to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love my neighbor as myself. But aren’t we all called to that? As a young, single person I’m uniquely capable of being mo...

One ocean to another-- Africa's far away! Long-distance friendships aren't always easy. When you're getting off work and want to connect, it may be 4 in the morning where your friend resides. Or you're good at making phone calls, but those are expensive, so you have to write emails. And writing isn't your favorite thing in the world. But you care about the friendship, so you try. Well, today I'm going to share some ways that help in staying connected even when sitting down for coffee together isn't possible. Figure out what works, and do it regularly.  Phone? Skype? Instant messaging? Handwritten notes? Don't diss it until you've tried it all. I've found that different friends are better at different types of communication, but if you care about staying connected, you need to find something that works. Listen to understand. Even if you can't relate to the scenarios, listen to what's going on and learn your friend's environment. It pa...

In case you haven't noticed, today's Election Day in America. You knew that? Okay, good. Just checking. But let's do a little compare and contrast between elections here and elections on Clove Island. Timeframe: Clove Island -- Candidates aren't allowed to start campaigning until a certain date, normally about a month before the ballots are cast. You know when the campaign has started by the deafening noise around town. You know when the campaign has ended (a day before the vote) by the deafening silence and the fact that you can hear other things again. Timeframe: America -- you think the election's over? Just kidding, let's start the next one! The sounds: Clove Island -- music in the streets. Candidates pay songwriters to put new words to old music and support their party. These songs are then blasted from loudspeakers. And where are the loudspeakers? EVERYWHERE. Empty storefronts become campaign headquarters and blast their music any time the power is on. Lou...