Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Well We Made It

*Let's start with a little dislaimer here: I am using the computer at the CLO's office to check e-mail and get a post up lest you think I have dropped off the face of the Earth. Therefore there will be no pictures and there are most likely a whole lotta typos in today's post. Sorry about that! Fingers crossed for home internet soon.

We are here in Malawi. The flights and connections were remarkably smooth, no delays, no lost luggage, and mercifully no barfing. Our HHE was delivered today beating our UAB which is in country just not at our house. We will be spending the rest of the week/month/year trying to unpack all those boxes and put it away.

So far our house seems OK. Like most FS housing it is reasonably spacious but certainly not what I would want if I were looking to buy a house. The yard is a whole different matter. It is huge and well maintained and has an absolutly gorgeous water feature as well as a vegetable plot that already had a few veggies growing and when our UAB shows up I will be out there planting seeds. That should drive the gardeners nuts.

I will spare you my first impressions of Malawi other than to say Yep it is a 3rd world country. I am not a good person to ask about first impressions of anywhere anyway. You know that handy little chart that floats around diagramming the stages of accepance at a new post? If you are not FS it goes something like this: honeymoon, depression, resigned acceptance, happiness. Well I compeletly skip the honeymoon period everytime. By the time we get to the house from the airport I am fighting tears and everything looks bleak. Well this time is no exception. I am surviving. I am not thrilled about it, but I am sure I will get there. Eventually.

18 comments:

Daniela Swider said...

Yey, you made it! And all your stuff is there. That's fantastic!

And you have a great yard, with a veggie plot and gardeners - awesome!

Hope you get to the happiness stage fast! Best of luck unpacking and adjusting!

Can't wait to hear more and see pictures!

Connie said...

So good to hear that you've made it safe and even have your HHE...wow!... won't try to talk you out of your bleakness, you'll find your way :) ... just consider yourself missed, and throw in some virtual hugs as well. Can't wait to hear more :)

Bfiles said...

glad you arrived safely w/o many mishaps! I bet everything will look better with some sleep and overcoming the trip exhaustion. I can't wait to see the lawn and the "water feature" - sounds amazing! And your HHE AND UAB are already there! That's fabulous. Best of luck as you settle in...it will take some time.

Jill said...

After living in a 3rd world country for the past 2 years, I totally understand your feelings right now. I lived them!

So glad you got your HHE already - and I'm sure you're looking forward to your UAB.

And it's so funny, I've said the same thing about every USG house we've been assigned ... it's fine, but it would never be one I'd choose for myself.

Looking forward to pictures...

LeesOnTheGo said...

So glad all went so smoothly and that your stuff is all there (so quickly!). Hopefully you'll be hanging pictures and re-arranging furniture to your liking to make your house feel more like your home asap.

You said you'd "spare us the details" on your first impression. Noooooo! We want to hear them all. =)

NKL

Emily said...

I am glad you made it! I hope that the adjustment is all uphill.
The ride from the airport is always is when reality hits me, and sometimes it isn't good.
Good luck!

David L. said...

I need my hands on that flow chart. I am squarely in the depression stage, I think. Hopefully it won't take you too terribly long to move onto the next stages. Best of luck.

Jen said...

Oooh, a veggie plot...that's fabulous! Glad you guys are there safely and can't wait for pics!

I'll Take Mine... said...

I'm happy to hear you made it. Keep your head up. I love hearing about your adventures. It'll get better. It will.

Denise said...

Glad you arrived safe and sound. As for the honeymoon stage, it made me think of the snow journal joke where the guy sees beautiful, sparkling snowflakes at the beginning of winter and is cursing 10 ft snow drifts by January.

Hope I'm not in crying in the closet in a few months. LOL.

Happy days to you!

Kate Husband said...

So happy to hear you are on the ground and finding your way. I really, really wish I had had a chance to see you in the USA. I promise it will get better. By the time we left Zambia, I LOVED it, despite a thousand things.
Missing you-
Kate

Danny said...

Everything looks good after the fouth or fifth shot of tequila! I'm glad to hear that you all arrived safely. I can't wait for pictures!

Brooke S. said...

Oh, hang in there! Best wishes as you settle in.

Monica said...

Yay! You have arrived in one piece.

Unknown said...

SO thankful you arrived safe and in one piece! cannot wait for pics - your yard sounds lovely!

Anonymous said...

So glad you made it safely there. It's always good for smooth travels, especially with the bunch you travel with. Can't wait for pics.

A Daring Adventure said...

Oh HONEY.

First of all, I just have to say that my heart did a huge happy dance when you started talking about the yard, and how it's huge and well maintained and how you're looking forward to planting and how it already has a veggie patch. I know this was just huge to you, for I know you value these things. So I was THRILLED to read about that!!

Oh my gosh, hang in there! I hope so much that you end up loving it and the people. Thinking of you, Dave, the kiddoes with you and the one who is not. Many hugs to you, my dear friend.

TulipGirl said...

Ugh.

*huuuug*

Skipping the honeymoon part? That's rough. Hopefully that means more time in acceptance/happiness? Maybe?

We've moved my whole life. It's the norm. And yet, I'm still shocked each time when it is HARD. Mentally, I think it should be easier. And then, just the living through it just is not.