I feel like I have a full brain load of blogs to try to catch you up to date on the last few weeks; Moving, Christmas, Customs, a friend’s wedding, another friend’s graduation, shopping in the market, etc… I will start with some of the basics.
Stephen and I moved from our house in town to living two kilometers outside of town. We went from heard, “El pan”, and fireworks at 4 AM to hearing roosters, the wind in the trees, and the sound of a saw.
Here is what is new:
- In the afternoon when I look out my kitchen window, I see cows; the neighbors have two black cows that munch through the field from 2 PM until dark.
- Stephen has a front porch where he can make sawdust; many of you saw his great creations posted on Facebook this week. We are getting organized in our new house that is less than half of what moved from.
- We have cats! I must say, I have cats, because Stephen is not really interested in having cats. We are visited daily by two orange tabby kittens, Cheddar and Queso, who are very curious about their new neighbors.
- We have plants to water, a driveway to park in, and screens on our windows; we are thankful for these small things for beauty, convenience, and fewer bugs.
- Fewer small bugs I might add. In the first three days we found three three inch scorpions in the house. I am weary of dark places now, the rumor is that they are as scared of me and I am of them. I remember something like that as a kid when my parents would spank me- “This hurts me more that it will hurt you”- I did not believe it then!
- We are a little closer to Managua which has been very helpful with our frequent trips of sorting out residency, customs, supplies for the new house, and visiting friends. I use the words loosely “sorting out”, because it is really us who are being sorted out; our attitudes have been severely challenged as we work in the bureaucracy of the country.
- We got the title “Best Tenents” Award from our landlord, because Stephen and put in a water filter as well as replaced the hot water heater. We plan to do what we can to continue to get that award!
- Stephen and I had a competition to see who could get the old lady in the neighborhood to smile first. I won, because I gave her a ride to the top of the street. I do use the term “street” loosely also because it is more like a washed out creek bed. My Christmas wish is for someone to fill in the holes.
- And finally, we still have a guest room, so whenever you want to book it, just contact me!
- This is our new address; actually, it is more like directions to our house, but the bills are able to find their way here, so I assume mail will, too!
- Stephen and Natalie GoffGranada, Granada, Nicaragua 43000
- De la UDO, 10 vrs Sur, 10 vrs Ese Carretera Granada-Masaya
Merry Christmas to you all!