Cue fist pumps all 'round! Once Upon An Expat has been released! If you are curious to know what it's like to live as an expat anywhere from Africa to Asia, the Middle East and beyond.....or you are or have ever been one of those people living away from home, this book is for you! From stories of falconing in Qatar, a never-ending bus ride through Sub-Saharan Africa to being put through your paces in a Brazilian gym, Once Upon An Expat spans the globe. Not to mention my story, "Feels Like Home" inspired by that Qantas ad. If you're an Aussie you'll know the one I mean..... it's all about what happens when your expat posting becomes your 'new normal' (what do you mean it's perfectly ok to relieve one's self in full view of er....the world?!)....oh and my story may involve Tim Tams. :lol: Catch a glimpse into the good and the not-so-good parts of being an expat. Living away from your 'home' country brings trials and tribulations you could never have expected, but it also creates amazing memories, magical moments in time and remarkable and unexpected friendships, that last a lifetime. Once Upon An Expat will take you on a fascinating journey through the eyes of many courageous (and yes, quite possibly crazy) expat women. ;) If you're heading into that long summer break, let this be your holiday indulgence! If winter's coming your way and you plan on curling up with a good book.... look no further. ;) So many belly-laughing, heart wrenching, terrifying and downright crazy adventures to captivate you. Today is the day you can get your copy on Amazon. All author royalties will be donated to Books Abroad, helping promote literacy and education in developing countries. Click here to order. Happy reading! Cheers, Nicole … [Read more...]
My Journey: Expatriation to Reinvention… with ‘Limitless Laowai’ – Part 1
"Like it or not, our identity is often inextricably linked to what we do as our profession; as someone who previously worked outside the home, I know what it's like for supporting expat spouses to find themselves struggling when that bit of their lives is suddenly stripped away. That loss of identity, mixed with culture shock and adjustment challenges, can throw supporting spouses completely off kilter...and let's face it, it takes awhile to come up for air and breathe." Recently, I was lucky enough to be interviewed by the amazing founder of Limitless Laowai, Ally Mona, for one of her brilliant podcasts and we had a ball! Ally's a veteran expat, having lived in China for over a decade and her site and regular podcasts are renowned for helping the thousands of new expats coming into China to settle in and find success! We did a two-part interview...the first on 'reinvention'.... yes that old chestnut! You know when you are the spouse who hasn't moved for the job...and all that goes with that new hat you're suddenly wearing? Yes, that! If you're about to make the move to a new country, it might be just what you need to hear. And if you've done anything like it before I'm sure you'll nod along with me in some parts. You can pop over to Limitless Laowai to check it out and have a listen here. There are lots of great interviews, on all sorts of subjects, so you might find one that takes your fancy. It's around 30 minutes, so if you're short on time, you can cut straight to the podcast here.... (Don't be put off by the pause in the middle and the other 'voices' - that's just an advert!) Part 2 is about living in a second tier city in China and how different it is to 1st tier China. Trust me! It is. ;-) Stay tuned for that one too! Cheers, Nicole … [Read more...]
Looking in From the Outside: Toto, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore – This is China
As we hurtle towards the two year mark living here in Xi'an, China, it's slightly unnerving how much of it becomes your 'new normal' ...the little things you learn to live with, learn to accept...learn to tolerate...no longer see. So when one of my best friends announced she was making the journey from Sydney to Xi'an to visit us in China, I was excited for many reasons; mostly to see her, but I was also eager to show her a place that is so far removed from our reality in the West. What would she think? Would she officially right us off as "completely bonkers" or would she understand the fascination. I was intrigued to see what she saw, through fresh eyes. And of course, as a fellow journo, I hit her up for a guest post. Of course, she nailed it. This is China. By Susanne Latimore My dear friend at Mint Mocha Musings suffers from a Second World Problem since moving to China. Starbucks has moved in across the road from her digs, so she can safely order a morning Mocha, but she has to import her own Mint syrup. How could she Muse without it? It’s a small thing, but the funny thing about China is the millions of small things. Like becoming a bigger tourist attraction than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Built 1300 years ago, it attracts hordes of mostly Chinese tourists on a blue sky Sunday, but with our two small blonde people in tow, I reckon we were neck and neck for digital space. As we sat in the hotel cafe, I watched a man leaning over the hedge staring. If this happened at home you would run interference in a heart beat, with a loud “piss off” and a threat to call the police, but we didn't and it was fine until a Grandma clenched the stomach muscles with a stolen kiss on the cheek! Xi'an is the ancient capital of China and a second tier city but much of the 8 million population is still made up of dwellers who ultimately hail from surrounding rural villages. This coupled with tight controls on media, means there is an enduring naivety. The Hotelier reports finding a driver washing his car from the water feature out the front of his Five Star Hotel. Fair enough perhaps, given the city is always coated in fine, desert dust. Unfortunately it's also marred by bodily fluids. Babies and toddlers squat in the streets and spitting is rife. The traditional wisdom being that it's better out than in, and carrying it around with you in a tissue is considered a filthy habit. Hygiene anxiety is high and hand sanitizer an essential. Despite this my little one picked up a bug. When asked how she liked China she replied, "It's good, except for the vomiting." We called house keeping to "change the bed" and barely prevented them from hauling in a new heavenly mattress and base. Of course, the language barrier is partly to blame for these funny moments and we journalistic pedants had a ball Chinglish spotting. The cup below is a particular favourite. I've travelled to China once before for the Beijing Olympics. Then, it was a city utterly sanitized. The most telling moment for me was when I stumbled into an underground walkway to discover rows of armed, baby faced soldiers, sitting on tiny stools in the near dark. So much of China is there, just below the surface. On this trip we visited Xian's famous Terracotta Warriors, as you do. They'd been just below the surface since 221 BC. Our impassioned tour guide repeatedly mentioned it was the eighth wonder of the world. A quick Google search turned up a list on Mental Floss of 10 other claimants to that title including the Taj Mahal and Andre the Giant. Of the thousands sculpted no two are the same and there's no doubt they are impressive but they failed to move me until bossy commanding Tour Guide mentioned that Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China for whom they were made had every last craftsman and labourer put to death to protect the location of his mausoleum. He also had his three thousand concubines buried alive with him upon his death, some of whom he'd never actually met. This is China's original declaration of Nationhood. Glory to Emperor Qin (China) no matter the cost to the people. I did enjoy meeting Yang Zhifa, the peasant credited with finding the Warriors. He is wheeled in to a Museum building to sign books for tourists, his only income. It was impossible to resist this strong arm tourist trap and I'm embarrassed to say I paid $60 Australian for a small warrior statue just to get out. Although I was assured by said Tour Guide that unlike the cheap fakes outside, this statue was made from the very same clay as the original warriors. Xie xie! I thought Heidi Lao was an odd name for a local Hot Pot restaurant, and it would be if it wasn't spelt Hi Di Lao. The broth was so hot my rosacea errupted just from the steam coming off it. There was no chance of actually eating anything dipped in that cauldron. This was a scene, the place to be seen. The minute we arrived our small blondes were hauled off to the child play area two floors down, surrounded by adoring staff, where they were given gifts and narrowly avoided having their hair brushed! By this time I just shrugged my shoulders and waved them off. As the Hotelier entered the courtyard outside he was hailed by a host brandishing a photo of his daughter on his phone. (How on earth did he know we were together?) Hello, I'm Heidi Lao... I was definitely warming up to Xian but it was a trip to a local art school that cemented my affections. With a few words of Chinese, "Wo Jiao Susanne" and a big smile, I entered the room. A blonde Amazon with nowhere to hide. "Teacher" spent an hour demonstrating traditional ink and watercolour painting of a plum tree in blossom. Joyful, graceful, masterful. Then it was my turn. Fear, fumbles, blobs. My comrades laughed along with me and did their best to interpret instructions. "Teacher says, to do Chinese painting you must breathe", so it's true, the language of art is universal, I've heard that before. After three hours of learning, new students lined up to offer our seated teacher a cup of tea and ask him questions. A lovely ritual of respect and appreciation. Then I was gifted Teacher's painting, which I'll treasure. Don't forget to breathe.... The Plum Blossom is beloved as both a symbol of Winter and a harbinger of Spring. It blooms most vibrantly against the Winter snow, an example of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, just like the people of this great country. Imagine if they were given enough light to flower fully. Susanne is of course Sky News Reader extraordinaire, Artist, ambassador for Redkite and a Mum.... You can find her on Instagram and Twitter … [Read more...]
Dressed for Success, at Face Value – China Style.
It all started with the frock. I was informed the theme for the event I would be hosting was “Hollywood”….. and yes, I realise Xi’an is about as far removed from the bright lights of tinsel town as you can possibly imagine, but who am I to shun a red carpet! Sequins and a long dress were the order of the day, both of which my closet sadly no longer possesses (bar that lone dress hiding in the back that quite possibly won’t do up any more...sshhh!) So, the quest was on to find a red carpet-worthy gown in downtown Xi’an. It quickly became apparent that it wasn’t going to be an easy task. Turns out (surprise, surprise) shops selling ‘ball gowns’ are few and far between. I’m told, ’Rent a dress’ is how it’s done. So, mad school drop off done, one smoggy morning; with my gorgeous Chinese friend in tow, we hit the city … A towering, rather majestic looking building is our first stop. Step inside and it’s like stepping into a chic palace, swathed in velvet…chandeliers glisten above lush carpets and more attendants than you might see on a first class flight, are hovering - fairy godmothers ready to turn you into Cinderella with a swoosh of their wands. Ushered upstairs, it is quite possibly every girl’s dream. Beautiful gowns in every shape, size and colour drape themselves exquisitely around the plush room. As we excitedly flick through the decadent options, it’s like being a kid in a candy store. There are plenty of “Oooohhs and aaahhhs, look at this! How about this?” First up, as all sensible girls do, we check the price…no - make that double check and triple check! This is China, after all - where misunderstandings rule the world. Now my Chinese is clearly not good enough to carry on a conversation as detailed as this, so with the help of my friend, we establish it is to be 300 yuan…full stop! Thats to try the dress on and take it home for the week. And, even if we don’t rent one, it’s still 300 yuan. Got it? Got it! That all seems fairly reasonable to me at around US$50, if not a little on the cheap side. But again this is Xi'an...for the most part, things are not expensive. So we get busy choosing possible candidates fit for a glamorous affair. The process not unlike trying on wedding dresses! Behind the velvet curtains, the shop assistant helps me into each dress…(wait did she just hoist my boobs up/ I think she did!…Reassure myself this is all part of her daily job). Dress on, some diamonte heels thrust at me, I’m told to stand on a boxed platform and voila the curtains are whisked open for me to display er… myself. Retails assistants snap away, jabbering excitedly in Mandarin. We try on about six dresses for size - why stop at one?!… Of course we are strictly told we are not allowed to take photos but my trusty sidekick snaps a few blurred shots for good measure. The assistant is clearly enjoying this as much as we are and starts bringing in crowns and jewels to wear… of which I politely tell her there will be no need for a crown. The service is second to none…they even tell us they will hem the dress to my requirements….we smile, chuffed with our find. Dress chosen, smugly happy with ourselves, we get organised and I reach for my purse. Suddenly I see my friend out of the corner of my eye looking slightly more animated, her previously relaxed poise stiffening …. I spot the calculator. (Here in China, many shops and stalls, no matter how big or small (unless they’re a global brand name with fixed prices) have a calculator close to hand - usually for bargaining). However knowing we’ve set our price at 300, when I hear the numbers 3500 I try not to let my eyes boggle, right out of my head. Remain calm I whisper under my breath. Just a deposit perhaps?? Extremely hefty.. but I guess….. it’s possible. They are nice frocks. But nope this is no deposit, there’s been a “misunderstanding!” As soon as I hear this, I know it’s time to throw in the towel. Misunderstanding is possibly the most frequently used word in China. Both in English and Mandarin! There are MANY many misunderstandings…constant misunderstandings on every level (just ask the hotelier whose days are filled with misunderstandings). I am still to work out if this is cultural or simply the fact that Mandarin as a language is open to much interpretation. In this case, it seems, the lovely retail assistant has (conveniently?!) failed to mention that each dress has a specific price, all ranging in the thousands on TOP of the 300! To 'buy' I question? Surely! No. This is not to buy. With a lucky discount of 20 per cent we may hire our chosen dress for 3400yuan. That’s more than US$500. Now clearly that obviously seems a little ludicrous… when you don’t get to keep that beauty in your closet and wear it again and again….and again. By now, my Chinese friend has raised her voice several decibels and is on the verge of tears, while the manager is brought in to appease us. But she nonchalantly points to the price on the price tag which is clearly no help to us…… All I can do is stand there with my hands on my hips and try to show my extremely forlorn, disappointed face. The fact that I am a Waigouren (White face) and therefore automatically deemed loaded is perhaps my downfall here. As we huff and puff and woefully get up to leave….dismayed and annoyed at half the day wasted….the banter continues between my friend and the sheepish assistant. I manage a ‘Bu Gaoxing’ (Not Happy) at her as we walk towards the door. One foot over the threshold and a calculator is again whipped out and suddenly thrust in our faces. It seems I am now allowed the dress for….wait for it…. 800yuan!! But I am only allowed it for 24 hours. Hmmm, ok, I nod…. well it’s still expensive and probably almost as much as what I’m being paid for the tinsel town gig, but with only a few days until the event, I decide it’s a much better option than turning up naked… and dam! I really like that dress! So, it seems the bitter sweet saga is over and the deal is done. We leave with our receipt and many apologies from the retail assistant. Unclear on what my friend said to get them to dramatically reduce the price, she tells me she mentioned something about them not paying tax and calling the bureau(?) and that clearly had them running for cover (or more importantly my dress). Clearly these prices are not fixed at all. Some research later tells me, they call this place the 'Dream Factory' in China. It's the place many young 'brides to be' come for their dream photo shoot. You can read more about how that works in this post here. Deep breaths, we leave and I quietly hope they have the dress ready for me on Saturday morning as promised and don’t decide they’ll pay the difficult white lady back for being so picky with the price and tell me it’s not available! A week passes and I arrive (nervously) to get my dress… all is ok but I’m told it needs to be taken downstairs for 15 minutes to be hemmed up. (Ahh you don’t think you could’ve done this before I picked it up.) I can’t say this in Mandarin, so I wait, fidgeting. Finally my dress is presented to me….not hanging gracefully as you might expect in such a glamorous shop for such an extravagant price, but rolled up, in a creased ball, in the bottom of a bag. Now if you don’t live in China you probably just think well, that’s a bit rude or unprofessional, or maybe they just think “$#*@ you lady!” Which is highly possible…. but in actual fact it is a small but very representative symbol of China itself. On the outside things often look extremely impressive, together….polished. But lurking beneath the surface it’s more often than not, a case of quantity not quality. It’s all about that little thing called “Face” which is probably the single most important thing in China. We all know 'first impressions' count, but China takes it to a whole new level. What comes after doesn't matter (so much). The event I MC for that night is not too different…. A beautiful grand ball room in a 5-Star hotel is presented to an excited crowd. Four (yes four - which is rather customary in China) glamorous (if I do say so myself, at this point!) Master of Ceremonies of different nationalities take to the stage…. Two of us are blonde with little Mandarin up our sleeves and it's about now I (rather naively) realise we are (whilst at an 'expat' event) standing in front of a largely Chinese audience. But this clearly does not matter because we are here for show! I'm told, Western faces automatically give every event that added ‘face value’ if you like. A small red carpet peeling off the floor the only evidence we are in Hollywood….but determined to embrace the glitz, I teeter up it in my shiny heels (secretly waiting for Channing Tatum to make his appearance, but alas, we are in China….he’s not coming.) A program listing stellar performances promises an entertaining evening, but I watch on in horror as the lectern nearly wobbles off the stage…..performers lug their own gear on stage and the agenda is hastily thrown out the window. Acts don’t turn up, some turn up twice. Wait, where’s the organiser? MIA. The audience doesn’t seem to mind the ‘Shamozal’ that ensues…. they swarm the buffet like it is possibly the last meal on earth and glug the jugs of red wine. Santa makes it into town and is literally crushed as the local kids pounce on him, almost swiping his sack from underneath him! My meek calls for them to line up sensibly, rather futile. The table is set but within the first hour looks like a mini tornado has swept through it (did I really just see a small child offered wine)?! I guess I fit in well… I have the fancy frock, but who knows I am only wearing one contact lens! My designated MC partner (who’s an English teacher and never MC’d before) is politely both astounded and amused. I tell him, “Don’t worry, it’s all about Face!” This is China. … [Read more...]
Do You Need a Career Break? Is it Time for an Adventure in Your Life?
Eight years ago this month, I took a six week hiatus from my job as a news reader at Sky News Australia and went on (what I considered to be) the journey of a lifetime to volunteer at an orphanage in Kenya, Africa. I was at that stage in life (mid 30's, single) where I knew I had to grab hold of life and do something that would stay with me as one of those 'once in a lifetime' memories. You know the ones where you picture yourself old and grey, sitting on a verandah one day (preferably watching the sun set with a Sav Blanc) looking back at photos of 'that time' with a satisfied smile. Something that actually makes you feel like you have really lived! Do you ever get that feeling? Of course, no sooner had I planned this trip of a life time, I met the man of my lifetime, on a blind date. Funny how that happens, isn't it! Stepping onto African soil, it was the first time I'd been to a developing country and as you'd expect, my mind boggled....I was completely in awe. Of course, I'd like to think after six weeks in Kenya's clutches, I came away with a completely renewed perspective on life -- but in all honesty I don't think it was something that slapped me in the face there and then. I didn't feel I was instantly changed. Sure, I could appreciate with more empathy how tough life is for many in this world and often despite the challenges, they are (incredibly) met with a broad smile on one's face. I could, with my own eyes, really understand the diversity of this world, the unfairness of it all and yet, see the beauty in it. AND yep I definitely felt like I left a little piece of my heart in Africa. Looking back, I think the change was something that infiltrated me, seeping through my veins slowly but surely, over the coming years. It certainly gave me a taste for adventure; a thirst for something different. (Mind you I wanted to be in Hollywood at the age of 12, so perhaps that's just me)?! Three years later though (having sworn to my now husband, I would never live overseas (at.my.age!) I decided Hong Kong was a pretty good adventure to take and worthy of a break in the resume. Of course it was Hong Kong!! And being newly pregnant, I knew I wasn't going to get any sleep so why not move to the City that Never Sleeps?! Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? And of course being a first time mum gave me a bit more of an excuse (encouragement) to pull the pin on a decade long career, for a little while at least! I won't lie and say it was an easy decision to move overseas (this was more than a sabbatical - mind you that said, I was extremely lucky to have the option of returning to my old job a year later, if it all went haywire and we chose to go back home. So in my mind I let that easily justify my decision for a small career-break)! That was then! Five years later and well, clearly I must thrive on the idea of pushing myself right out of my comfort zone, because here I am on a slightly different journey with a slightly different career path, now in the middle of China! Of course, I've had many moments (and sometimes still do) where I've wondered what the hell were we thinking! But ...there is not a moment to be regretted. And hopefully it's proof - that your desire for something new, a break, an adventure in life, doesn't have to mean the end of your career. Maybe it's not your career as you know it, but a new, improved version! A reinvention perhaps? One of the biggest concerns people have leaving a job to travel the world, is the dreaded resume gap. And, rightly so! Obviously it's a valid fear, but many and varied surveys have found once you pluck up the courage to do it, it's not actually that big a deal (providing you are sensible and have the cash to support yourself). Although let's not forget there are many ways to travel the world and get paid! So, whether it's learning a new language, volunteering, teaching or doing what you love in a different culture, the benefits in theory, should far outweigh the pros. My old boss used to whole-heartedly encourage a sabbatical. "Definitely makes for better journalists!" he'd say. My husband upped stumps and travelled the world for a year and a half at 25, backpacking his way around the world! (Still a little jealous of that one!) In my twenties, I was always too busy trying to get my career on track, too scared to leave the country for fear I'd never get my dream job. Looking back, I don't think a year out would've changed a single thing. Even better, today, the sabbatical is becoming more and more accepted. You can still travel and keep your job! There are tonnes of websites dedicated to this very cause! I found a couple of good ones right here: and here. In today's often highly pressurised work environments, more companies are seeing the importance and value of employees having work-life balance. Ah yes... that old chestnut! And sometimes, regardless of your age or experience, we just get stuck! We hit a roadblock and need to ask ourselves: "So, what's next?" Taking a career break or just a break in general (who needs a 'career' to have fun) is often the key to motivation, new opportunities, more creativity, a fresh start! As well, comes a boost in confidence, greater tolerance, higher awareness....more experience...you know the drill! How much is your Facebook feed filled with those once in a life time adventures we see our friends taking? We 'like' all their pictures of grand canyons and castles, pretty lakes and beautiful beaches. We see them hiking through stunning scenery, tasting exotic foods...embracing new cultures -- all moments in time, captured. Sometimes admittedly, we're probably a little jealous when we're stuck in front of the computer, belting out our day's tasks, deadlines to meet.... but mostly we can literally feel their excitement leaping off the page, and smile along with them, knowing these are precious 'balcony' memories being made! And if you're lucky enough, it doesn't even have to be a resume gap, but a chance to stay in your current job, overseas. (Yes, they call them (pesky) expats!) Sometimes it gives you your proudest moments....and how can these not add substance to your resume? Whether it's one month or one year away from your daily grind to see/do something different, it's a chance to grow and gain priceless knowledge. My very own Linked In profile summarises my 20 year career, capitalising on my skills and experience...but I also note one of my proudest moments is navigating a foreign land with a baby in tow and starting this blog! If you've been thinking about it, perhaps you're on the cusp of lining up that adventure....I'm sharing this excerpt from an email I sent from Kenya back home to friends and family. (Read or skim at your own pace!) For me it tells the story of a girl (slightly naive, yes) viewing another side of the world with fresh eyes and a desire to help (not to mention a well deserved pause in the daily blow-dry routine)! In truth, as much as we were there to help....these kids definitely helped shape us in more ways than one. And that's what an adventure does, no matter how big or small. It's good for the soul! "Finally made it to an internet cafe! We have been in Africa for 13 days now! It feels like a lifetime!!! It is an amazing place; I'm not sure words can describe it! We are staying in the Kenyan countryside...so it's hillbilly time and I feel like I've stepped back in time.. to the 1940s! The countryside is beautiful, very different to what I expected. Very green, lots of lush, rolling hills...almost like the English countryside. The weather is crazy - much like the country! One day it is scorching hot, the next raining and the entire region turns into a mud bath! Most roads are rich red dirt!...(About now I am really wishing I brought boots with me...my sneakers will never be the same again!) :) We ended up staying with a host family as there isn't really any room at the orphanage and it is VERY basic and quite dirty!! In hindsight, it is just as well because we spend really long days at the children's home and get pretty feral and filthy!..so it's nice to have the luxury of coming home. Spoilt! The host home is quite palatial! NOT what we expected...but while it looks fantastic, it is very much back to the Colonial days! The power goes off quite frequently and often we have no water, so there have been quite a few days without a shower!?! The lady we are staying with is a widow named Mary and is an amazing, wise old Kenyan woman who keeps us very informed and makes sure we get lots to eat! Any ideas I had about coming back five kilos lighter have gone right out the window! We are eating really well...although it's very basic food and really healthy as it's all from the farm. So plenty of beans, corn, potatoes and fruit! (Can't wait for some cheese and biscuits and a glass of Sav Blanc!) Ha! The children's home is about 10 minutes away and we usually walk half an hour each day to catch a Matatu - which is their main form of transport...little mini busses which they pack to the rafters with people (literally). They are really smelly (especially when you are wedged under someone's arm pit) and drive like utter maniacs! Most try to rip us 'tourists' off but we've learned the tricks of the trade and are pretty firm with them now. If it's raining, we get driven in the back of a pick up truck to school and we always get picked up each night! Usually going a different route each way, just in case we are being watched. So back to the children's home...it is like a mini farm with a few cows, a field of corn and is really quite tranquil (if you can look past the poverty)! The kids are absolutely brilliant! So very talented and LOVE having visitors. (Most volunteers they've had in the past have been Italian so they are quite intrigued by us three Aussies!) We are starting to really connect with them now, it's a slow process as a lot of them don't speak English so well. They range from six to about 19 years old. It amazes me how they are all so ambitious and most want to be doctors, lawyers (even a news reader)! Secondary school is very expensive though and college is really out of the question for many. Ironically all of them are not orphans, strictly speaking - a lot of them have a family member alive but believe it or not they feel they would do better off in a home like this. We have been working really hard during the day trying to tidy things up for them and make their life a little easier. We pulled all their rundown, rather grotty old bunk beds outside earlier this week and cleaned them, sanded and painted them all - just to freshen things up for them. They are so thrilled. (So if you need any painting in the future, I think after 22 bunk beds, I'm your gal!!) ha ha! We plan to buy them some new sheets as most don't have any, let a lone a pillow. Tomorrow, we are taking them all on a picnic down to the river. Hence why we are in town today...and I'm on the internet. We are getting all the "party food" we've decided to make hotdogs, given they live on stodge - (their diet pretty much involves any combination of maize, beans, potato and cabbage, x 2 daily.) They also love fruit and never get it and there is plenty here....On that note, I have never peeled so many vegetables in my life!! (And all with a broken knife that has no handle!) Everything is so primitive, not to mention the cooking, which is done over fire in massive steel pots. They wash everything by hand with a bar of soap...including these steel pots. The kids do ALL the cleaning...as soon as they are home from school, they are non stop busy for about two hours, doing everything from hand washing and gardening to cooking dinner! The elders basically sit around and 'supervise.' We are trying to help them as much as we can, while we're here. We're also walking A LOT ....have been visiting local schools - taking uniforms, clothes, blankets, toothpaste etc for those who live with guardians but are sponsored by the orphanage. Yesterday we walked for miles in scorching heat with tonnes of bags!.....The kids totally freak out when they see us...most have never seen a white person, so come screaming and running at us. Then they are scared to touch us, but once they do, EVERYONE wants to shake your hand. In fact most adults in the region have never seen a "Muzungoo" (white person) so yell this out at us frequently....it's like being a monkey in a zoo! We end up having to greet everyone we see in the local tribal language "kikuyu." There are around 42 tribes in Kenya...which are basically split into regions....each has their own language...and Swahili is the national language and the children are all taught in English. So I have to say, I'm having an amazing experience. Each day there is something new to learn and see. The people really are friendly and I feel a lot safer than I thought. Having said that, EVERYONE you cross paths with asks you to buy them something, whether it be food, a bike to a new house!! They think we are filthy rich and I guess compared to them we are. You can't go out alone at night though of course..... The main town is only 15 minutes away...it is just like a little country town....but sooo rundown...the shops are very bizarre....I think a picture will have to illustrate that one!" What about you? Have you taken a career break? Did it change your life? Perhaps you've been thinking about doing it for ages? I hope I've inspired you! This is your chance to do something truly extraordinary! … [Read more...]