Living a Western Life with an African Twist: Laundry

After noticing how little I have blogged this year, I decided to have a theme for my blogs this summer to share different aspects of my life here in Nigeria. I hope you enjoy reading!

Doing laundry is something I don't take for granted. For most of my years in Nigeria, I have not had a washing machine in my house. Then, when I finally got one a little over a year ago, I still had to time it right because there wasn't always adequate electricity to finish a load at one time.(Occasionally I would have to rewash a load if it sat for more than a day waiting for electricity.)

These past months, my challenge has been water. There is serious road construction going on in my neighborhood so a few months ago we stopped getting water pumped through the city pipes. Now it that happened in the US I would probably just call the city water management service desk and my complaint would be heard and corrected within hours. In Nigeria it's a little different. There probably is a place to file a complaint, but it's a whole lot easier to just get the phone number for the local water tanker guy and then keep his name and number on speed dial so a delivery can be made by the next morning. (Not long ago I though we were going to have a neighborhood battle when two men on the compound called the same water tanker guy and the driver had to confirm whose call he'd gotten first and who should get the first load of water.)

With the water challenges, my husband as not wanted me to use the washing machine because it uses too much water. First we were sending wash to the guest house; one of the manager's perks has been laundry services, but that too can be a challenge if the guest house doesn't have adequate light or water. It's also hard when my husband travels and we can't easily get the laundry across town, dirty or clean.

Then it happened that my  brother-in-law came back while his school is between sessions so he started washing our laundry by hand. That worked well until the guest house grass started growing faster during the rainy season and his help was needed to man the lawn mowers each day.

For a time we were back to sending our wash to the guest house, but those last weeks of school, during the height of the rainy season, it was awfully challenging  to keep school uniforms an PE clothes washed and dried before they were needed again. (The dryer at the guest house is rarely used so a sunny day is needed to dry everything, but they are not as frequent if the rains fall often.)

As the school year finished I remembered that I could have access to the washer and dryer for direct hire staff at school. The lone set of machines can be pretty busy when the other teachers are around, but once the first group left after school closed I jumped at the chance to use the machines.

I've developed a system of washing twice a week. I start about 7:00 am, put in the first load go walking/jogging for a few miles and then move it to the dryer and start another load in the washer. Then I go home, shower, get the kids off to soccer camp and maybe eat breakfast before the next load is ready to go in. I don't always stay to dry the last load, if it's a sunny day it can dry on the line at home. Usually I don't have more than three loads.

There can still be hitches, one day I came to find that the storm the night before had burned the plug-in and I had to call the school electrician who was still in staff morning devotions. There is a sign up list for both machines so if someone gets a late start it may  be hard to stick to the schedule. I had another hitch the other day when the electricity supply was cut off for a short time. When that happens, even for a few seconds, the wash cycle has to start over again. (Good thing I was washing a blanket that could use some extra wash time!) Usually it takes me about six hours to wash three big loads, sometimes over eight!

So next time you do your own laundry, appreciate the method you have and give thanks for the light (electricity), water, and your ability to leave the machine to wash without interruption. If you live like I do where you may not have easy access to all three then you can understand why I don't mind spending half my day on laundry when I have the time. I guess time is the other commodity one doesn't always have. For now, I enjoy washing with relative ease and folding warm clothes fresh out of the dryer.

Vacation Time

I can't believe I've only written once this year! Here it is June already and school has been out for over a week. This is going to be a stay at home holiday. It's our year to stay in Nigeria and with all the tensions in Nigeria we don't have any plans at the moment to travel in country either.

This week the kids all start soccer camp so that should keep them busy. Nat will be helping out at the elementary camp too and Daniel will sometimes help at the high school camp.

While I enjoy having a relaxed schedule, I do have to keep some focus or I'll end up feeling depressed. I have different cleaning projects at home on my list, a few things to do in my classroom and some prep for next year. I also enjoy having time to read so I'll read for both pleasure and also some history reading for both pleasure and to help me in school.

I also enjoy having time to bake. So far I've made cinnamon rolls twice and pizza once.

Another thing I try to do every summer, is to exercise more. This summer I won't have the lake in my US home town to walk around, but I'm lucky to have the school compound across the street and try to make good use of it. There's a 3/4 mile path that goes around the school and then the track itself. so I've started doing about two miles or more almost every day.

Well, soccer is almost over and Annette will probably be ready to go home soon. Bye for now.

Seeking God

It's hard to believe it's the end of March already. I actually drafted a posting in January, but internet issues etc. kept me from posting it.

The topic above was, and is, my goal for this year. While I have sought God and His will for many years, I'm trying to seek Him with more focus this year. I feel like I've been in a rut for some months; mostly focusing on school and home with little energy for anything else but I'm hoping to find ways to laugh a little more and take time for people or things that give me joy.

At the moment we are on mid-term break from school. As always, I have a little work, but less than I often do so I'm taking time to read and rest. We had a quick run out of town to renew the kids' passports, it was good to get out of town - even if only for a night.

I rarely know if my thoughts get read by others, but I pray you might also take time to seek God and His will for you. There is so much selfishness and greed in this world that we need to do our part to change our own little enclave and encourage those we meet during our day with words of joy, peace, and comfort. Seeking Him has brought an increase of all three for me these past months.Take care and rest in Him.

It's All About Perspective

In James 1:9-12 we read about the humble and the proud. The humble should have pride, the proud should be humbled. Self-esteem is important in this world, but no enjoys watching an arrogant person and no one enjoys watching someone who has no confidence. It's all about perspective.

In my advanced history class we discuss point of view. Having a clear point of view gives direction and focus and let's people know what is important to us. A healthy dose of self-esteem gives us confidence to confirm our point of view and back it up. Knowing our self-worth is necessary for a strong foundation on which to build our self-esteem.

Recently, I was called "boring" by a teenager and in many ways I have to admit that I am rather boring and in a teenager's eyes, that's terrible! Being bored or, worse yet boring, is like a death sentence to a teenager. At first I was hurt and a little defensive, even I don't want to be boring!

Later though, I thought about the accusation and considered the age of the one accusing and what might make me seem boring. I realized that being focused and self-disciplined is the price I currently have to pay for being organized, prepared, and on task as a teacher--and it's a constant challenge!

As someone who struggles with ADD issues (attention deficit disorder), I constantly struggle with completing tasks like marking papers and planning lessons, I still often have the appearance of being disorganized or messy and if I lose my lack of focus or that small edge I try to maintain, I end up falling behind and look like a chicken running around with her head cut off!

When I set my goals for this year, I knew that I would have to maintain a more consistent focus if I was going to improve my skills this year and become a better teacher. So yes, I am more boring this year, but I'm OK with that...for the moment.

In our text , neither the humble nor the proud were where God wanted them to be. One needed a boost of self confidence and the other needed to be knocked off his pedestal. What of you? Are you where God wants you to be?

Verse twelve promises God's blessing on the man, (and in perspective women too) "who preservers under trial, because when he or she, has stood the test, he or she will receive the crown of life that God promises to those who love him."

The crown of life, that's the prize for working hard to be the best God calls us to be! Whether it means standing up for injustice, having a unique set of priorities or a unique life calling, or just being more self -disciplined so that you have to choose your moments of relaxation and fun very carefully.

As for me, I look forward to school holidays and a break from work....hopefully during this next break I can have some fun; my kind of fun!

Nigeria Turns 53

Today is a public holiday to celebrate Nigeria's Independence Day. Most celebrations are either of a political nature or to pray for the nation. At school yesterday we celebrated with our annual assembly. The assembly is put on by student council and since I am the StuCo advisor, there was much work getting everything put together. After some busy days, it's nice to have a day off.

Our speaker challenged the students to be "their brother's keeper, not a killer", considering Africa is today, it's good advice. We are fortunate in our area that life is fairly peaceful, but one doesn't have to travel far to find tension.

Another celebration that we are preparing for is the centennial celebration for our church, the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria. As such I have been thinking much about Nigeria's past and the people who have been part of it. So many names have been forgotten, but through their efforts, many have had their lives changed. Some have become Christians, others have their lives changed through the people or programs that have been part of the mission.

Today I am part of that mission. I'd like to think I've made a difference in some people's lives, I know my own life has been changed and impacted so much by my time here in Nigeria. I've lived more than half my life here an almost all of my adult life. In spite of the challenges, it has, and is a good experience. May it continue to last many more years and may God continue to use me as I live and teach in Nigeria!

The World is Flat

During the past weeks, and especially the past days, I have begun reading a few pages in a very long book by Thomas L. Friedman. The World is Flat, is getting me excited for this new school year. I first encountered the title about six years ago when I received a copy of the article by the same title during my AP World History training course. This summer I stumbled upon a 2nd. edition of the book at a thrift store in my hometown.

I have only read the first sixty pages so far and have about five hundred left to go, but I find his ideas are like a synthesis to the life I have led these past years and have already learned so much about issues relating to history, politics, technology, trade, and global inter-connections that I am excited to read more. As I read, the points he explains explain how the world has changed since the early 1990s..the same period my own world became flattened as I moved to Nigeria.

I even had my own encounter during my flight from Seattle to Frankfurt when I met an Indian man in the seat next to mine. I didn't even take time to ask his name, but as we shared our stories of being transplanted to different cultures (he has lived outside of Seattle for the past ten years working in the pharmaceutical business, ironically he lives in the same  neighborhood I did before moving to Nigeria twenty-two years ago).

I am trying to envision how to reshape my APWH course to make them come alive to my students. They too have a flat world as they live in Nigeria, study in a school that has an American curriculum and mostly American teachers, and usually end up going to college in the US and connect with other international students.

Globalization is usually a topic I rush through at the end of the school year, but now I am considering introducing the topic before I even get to ancient history because I envision it serving as a great link to the past and present and connecting the world today as we discover what has shaped our development.

After feeling so dry these past months, I am relieved and excited to feel my passion for history and teaching returning...and just in time since I report back to school on Monday!

I love history and trying to make it come alive to my students and pray that my passion can ignite my students as well!Th

REST AND RETREAT

I just returned from two months in the United States. Usually when I head into a vacation time I look forward to having some time to rest, but I have learned that that does not always happen when I travel to my home country; in fact I’m often quite busy.

My family and I usually get to the US every two years and these past two years of teaching were full of challenges that often left me drained, so this time in the US I thought very little about academic concerns and even struggled to read for fun. I finally decided that was OK; I needed a break and allowed that part of my brain to rest a little.

One thing I did do with great intent was to continue the custom I’ve learned while in Nigeria these past twenty-two years and began each morning with prayer. As soon as I opened my eyes, I closed them again and thanked God for keeping me safe throughout the night and prayed for the day before me. I prayed for the various activities I would be a part of. I have learned over the years that prayer, and giving my concerns and activities to God opens the day up to His many blessing. Our trip was full of blessings.

My children were blessed through their connections with old and new friends from church, the neighborhood, church camps, soccer camps, mission trips and time with their aunts, uncle, and cousins.

My husband met old and new friends at church who welcomed him to pastors’ meetings, prayer meetings and involved him in visiting members. He also had a few opportunities to preach and we shared about Nigeria.

As for me, I too enjoyed reconnecting with people at the church I grew up in, as well as with friends from other Lutheran churches in the area. I made a few new friends through garage sales and church and began almost every day with breakfast with my mother. I did an awful lot of shopping in supermarkets and malls, cooked many meals for the family, and took many walks at the lake-sometimes alone and other times with my teenage daughter. I learned how to make cheesecake, had fun playing with a few spices and even made ice cream a few times.

One week my family and I did a lot of driving from one end of Washington state, into Idaho, and down into Oregon and to drop off and later pick up the kids from church camps while my husband and I enjoyed some time with one of my sisters and her husband.

It was a busy time! And through it all we were blessed with safe travels, the older kids were challenged to take their faith more seriously, and they all opened themselves up to new friends. I spent more time than usual with my sisters, and appreciated time with my cousins and their families and spent some time with nephews and a niece, of course the kids enjoyed time with their cousins too! But the time I prized the most was being with my mom who just turned eighty years old. She hosted us during most of our stay and she and my nephew that lives with her, put up with us as we often took over the small house and put many miles on the car.

Without her hospitality and the warmth and openness so many shared with us, our time would not have been the same. So thank you to all those who we met and thank you Mom for your hospitality, but most of all, thank you God for a blessed retreat to the US! Even if there was little actual rest, I was able to come back with a fresh perspective and feel ready to start school next week.