A New Home...

So, you've probably noticed that I haven't posted here in a while, well I actually moved to a new home! Not me, really?!?  My blog moved! Check out my new website at http://www.kimmysjourney.com 

I'll try to do a better job at posting there and letting you know what's going on in my life here in North Africa! Thanks for being a  part of the journey!!!! 

A Blank Canvas

So, this year is a new year in a new place and honestly, I'm overwhelmed by all that is going on here... all that is on my mind and heart and all that Dad wants to teach me, learning language, getting used to new ways of doing things, living with others and adjusting....

Today we had a special luncheon with some pretty important people here in my city about the "arts" and how to incorporate arts in the city and form community.  It was a great opportunity to meet some great people here. We have a team here from Los Angeles that is sharing their talents with us and helping us in this crazy adventure. As we were eating lunch, one of our friends from the states began painting... he started out with a blank canvas and then ended up with a beautiful masterpiece. It got me thinking ( I know, SCARY!).... I want to be like that blank canvas. I want to start this year ready to be used and painted upon. I want to look back on the beginning of this time of my life and then to the end and see the master piece that Dad created and stand in awe...

There is so much unknown ahead but one thing I know - Dad is painting a masterpiece in this crazy place called North Africa!  So, while I should have been listening to Arabic and conversations around me at lunch, I was listening to what Dad was speaking to my heart.... I think He's okay with that! 

Thanks Hollywood....

Living here is fun but often times I miss just the normal day to day things like going to the movies. Yesterday, my teammates and I and our language teacher decided to go see a movie here. Most of the movies here are in classical Arabic, which is very different than the Arabic I am learning or in French, which I don't understand. We found a movie that was going to be playing in the language that I am learning and we were so excited and decided to go and see it! When we arrived we quickly realized that we would be seeing two movies, the first one was an American movie translated in French and the second one was the movie filmed here, the one we wanted to see! I wasn't real thrilled about sitting through two movies but what can you do?! I then realized what movie it was and was NOT so happy about it! It was a movie that I would NEVER go see in the states!! It was SO AWFUL and raunchy and gross. As I sat there surrounded by nationals laughing at the filthiness they were watching, my heart broke. I didn't watch most of the movie, I watched those around me. I now know why people from here assume things about me because the only picture that they have of where I am from, is what they see in the movies. In that movie they saw nudity, drunkenness, parties, women, foul language, wealthy and mean.... everything horrible you could imagine and everything contrary to what I want them to see... 

I was perplexed because everything in me wanted to get up and leave, but I also knew that I would offend my friend... After the movie was over, my teammates and I just kept apologizing over and over, and so did she. She knows we are not like what was seen on the screen, but I wonder what the others thought sitting near us. Did they think I was just like the girl on the screen...

Thanks hollywood for making my job here a little bit harder, for showing the world a picture of US at our "finest"... 

Now as I walk home, past the coffee shops full of men, I understand why they say the worst possible things to me or follow me home wanting something I would never give them, they see the women on the screen and they assume....

My movie experience here was perplexing... at home, I wouldn't have gone to see that movie and just ignored it all together thinking it really doesn't matter, but I'm learning that it does... What's seen there, is seen around the world, and from what they see, they assume...

Some 2009 Goals

So, last year I posted some silly goals that I had set for 2008, most of them I accomplished... there were a few like "seeing a broadway play in NY" that didn't happen and will just have to wait a little bit! So a lot has changed in one year since I began this blog and set goals for the year. Dad moved me to another country, I have an amazing boyfriend who has stuck with me and encouraged me through this journey, I have a new sweet baby niece Makenzie, and our whole family has grown quite a bit! It's been a good year and I know Dad has been honored throughout the highs and lows of the year! 

So, as I was pondering what 2009 was going to look like, I began to wonder what goals I would set for this year.... Some are silly and some are serious, but above all I just want Dad to be honored in my life and in my relationships! 

So, without further due.... here are my 2009 Goals: 

1. to laugh at least once a day! You have to here or you'll go crazy!

2. to eat a beignet every time I go to the medina

3. to try a new recipe at least once a week

4. to smile at at least one woman every day on the street. These women never smile... gesh! 

5. to visit three other countries this year

6. to call my family once a week

7. to play one crossword game each week (i have to work on my english too!)

8. to learn at least one new Arabic word each day, I'll still never learn it all....

9. to send out an update either on my blog or email at least once a week

10. to eat at Pizza Hut at least once a month! 

So, those are just a few of the things I'm looking forward to each day, week, month, and throughout the year. I have a few more serious ones that I'll keep to myself but as I learn and experience this new place, I want to grow and be stretched in new ways that will make me look more like my Father!

A Camel Ride in the Rain...

So, who would have thought that it would rain in the Sahara on my one day to ride a camel! What in the World!?! It never rains there and of course it had to rain this day, but I was not to be deterred, I was determined to ride a camel despite the rain and the cold, and I did! It was kinda like riding  a horse, but a little bit higher and a little bit slower. I named my camel, "Connie the Camel", she seemed a little bit tired and worn out by the time I rode, but you would be to if you had to journey through the desert all day long with a bunch of heavy Americans on your back. I had a blast and I look forward to going back when it's NOT raining and it's a little bit warmer! Good thing, I had a head scarf and jacket and an amazing pair of fingerless gloves! It was a great adventure on my first new year's eve! 

Happy Eid d Messaih

Santa did know where I lived!!!

waitin on the gals to wake up! I always wake everyone up on Christmas morning!!!

we had a Christmas Eve Brunch just like last year, only my favorite gals were missin! 

my little tree filled with goodies from my favorite people!!

Well Christmas here was amazing!! The only thing it was missing was my family, Dan, and my friends from home. For me this year, it was filled with my family here, fun christmas gifts from home, seeing my family and Dan and his family on the computer, opening gifts together, and my favorite part of the whole day - reading the real story. Erin read it this year and as she read it, in the background softly playing through the speakers was the old song, "we are the reason that he gave his life, we are the reason that he suffered and died..." What perfect timing this quiet holiday morning. He is the reason that we wrap gifts and have cookie parties, the reason why we make our favorite mac and cheese just like mom used too, the reason why we give intangibles and play Secret Santa... He's the reason, yet we were the reason that He came!! This Christmas, I was reminded of that and it was sweet. 

So here are a few blessings of my day...

-coming home to a package waiting on me from two sweet friends back home- what a sweet Christmas morning surprise! Dad's timing is perfect!!

-talking to my family and seeing their faces on the webcam! I taught Savannah how to make silly faces on the computer!

-watching Dan and his family open the gifts that I sent for them and opening mine from them- I am a blessed girl!

-receiving a text message from my language teacher and a phone call from the bakery gal, they know it's a special day for me, but how I want them to celebrate too! 

-talking to Steve and Eloise, waking them UP, and wishin them a merry christmas! 

-extended christmas- movie with Dan, even though we had to pause it b/c I couldn't keep my little eyes open

-receiving a gift from Santa- he does know where North Africa is!!! 

-eating PORK on Christmas day, and mac-n-cheese like my grandma makes it, she would be proud! 

-wakin up the other girls just like I would back home! I'm always the first to wake on cmas morning!!! 

-knowin that people back home were lifting me up! I felt strength and peace that I know didn't come from me!!! 

Happy Eid Messaih!!! 

A Coffee Creamer Covered Christmas

So I thought you might get a kick out of this! My mom, I love her, sent me a great package filled with Christmas goodies, spices that I can't get here, facial lotion, pop-tarts, and a few other goodies, and of course the Coffee Mate Cinnamon Vanilla Creamer. My teammate and I went to pick up the package. Here, when you pick up the package, they cut it open and go through it piece by piece in front of you, so we decided to go together so that when they started going through my package, I could look away and not ruin my Christmas surprises. We told the little post office man that I wasn't going to look because they were gifts and I didn't want to know. He was a little confused by that but preceded to cut open my box. As he was opening it, he noticed some white powder coming out. He opened further and we soon found out that the culprit of the white powder was the Coffee Creamer that mom had included. He quickly shut the box back and didn't even finish looking through it all. When I got home, I began to clean up the mess.  The WHOLE bottle was empty in my box.... So SAD! There was maybe enough for ONE cup left in the bottle. I spent a while washing each item off and wiping off the dust but that stuff is everywhere!  So, on Christmas morning, I'll be opening Christmas presents from mom and dad that are still covered in the coffee creamer - but at least I have christmas gifts from home, coffee creamer covered christmas gifts!