Our house

Somehow, I guess with all the hecticness of the site change at the time, we never posted photos of where we live.  I thought we had some photos of the outside of our accommodation, but since I can't locate them now I will try to remember to post that later.  But here are some photos of the inside:

We find the space to be a bit small for the two of us (especially with the bikes!!!), but at least this has led to some innovative storage methods so we are coping.  Otherwise, it's a place of our own, so we are happy!

Happy 4th of July

Happy weekend of the 4th of July... and we're feeling more patriotic than ever!  We spent the weekend with volunteers and had burgers on the BBQ (not on the "braai" this time!), mediocre milkshakes, pancakes the next morning, and Thai curry the second evening (more American than Namibian I suppose, plus it's delicious anyway!).

In missing America this holiday weekend, we are especially wishing we could have been home for Kevin's sister's and her husband's wedding (which sounded and looked like a beautiful day, congrats again!).  Not to mention it is high time among our friends who are getting engaged and married.  (We've missed one big friend wedding already and more to come sadly.)  When we include this in conversations with Namibians they always empathize, especially because they are so family-oriented.  Also, after we confirm that we enjoy Namibia and they ask why we can't move here permanently, we remind them that family and friends are waiting for our return, which is usually a satisfactory reason (or else they suggest we transplant our entire home here!).

Coming to Namibia, we knew we would miss things at home and would be unable to be in two places at once.  This remains true, but still challenging.  So for the special days at home that we miss, we hope we are missing good days and not bad days!  And we LOVE seeing the photos you all make available to us, so keep sending photos (and videos!) of whatever it is that is going on in your lives.

Love and miss you all, and Happy Independence Day!

Best friends

Patches and this young boy next door are incredibly adorable together.  They are just best friends.  Always so happy to see each other.

Patches will joyfully run after him down the "street," jumping up as high as he can with his mega tongue sticking out to get a taste of that face!  (Patches is a jumper.)  And the boy just runs along and giggles so sweetly.

Patches' relationship with all the kids here has improved greatly as he's built rapport with them.  Before when they saw Patches charging at them they feared he was coming to attack them.  People just generally fear dogs here.  But now they are one-by-one resisting the temptation to run (which is only asking him to chase them.. just what they didn't want to happen!) and realizing his intentions are only to say hello and play.

Similarly, Patches will also notice our colleagues walking to and from school and run alongside them to greet them playfully.  Patches' approach to adults is not all that different from that to the kids.  So they also know better than to fear them.  Several have recently told us how sweet they think Patches is, especially with the kids around the neighborhood.  And with Lady (featured in the post: Lady and the tramp).

They also think he must be incredibly intelligent (which, of course, he is ;-)  ) because he somehow understands what we are saying (which is really just the commands we've taught him).  Example: Patches, get it! (*throws stick*)  

He's quite the anomaly compared to most Namibian dogs (and in general ;-) ).