Things We're Learning in Africa

• You can cook dinner without electricity.
  
• Bats make a sound like a squeaky toy – who knew?
  
• Mosquito nets make great “princess canopy beds”
  
• Babies can produce more puke than food they consume (not really about Africa, but about Maddie’s first week in Africa)
  
• Flat Spiders are our friends and are somewhat indestructible.
  
• We must coexist with flat spiders, geckos and ants. We have no choice.
  
• Coke does not taste the same, but it sure is good!
  
• Plugging something in is easier said than done – first it must be the right type of plug for the outlet (so if it isn’t you either have to switch it or find the right adapter or converter), then you have to find a spot in the power strip (since each room only has one outlet), and then you have to hope there’s power!
  
• You cannot turn left on red.
  
• “Pants” refers to underwear, so don’t say it unless that’s what you mean.
  
• “You look fat” is a compliment.
  
• If a man looks thin, it implies that his wife is not taking care of him (good thing Brent put some of his marathon weight back on!)
  
• Cream of Mushroom soup costs $2.89/can. Those who know me know what a devastation that is to me!
  
• When a Zambian child enters the room where his father is, he greets his father by kneeling at his feet. 
  
• Showing proper respect is a BIG deal here. 
  
• Nothing is done quickly here (VERY hard for us Americans to get used to, and a great lesson in patience and bearing with one another).
  
• We CAN live without TV. It’s very refreshing. 
  

More to come…