Through the Seasons

Fishbowl

Yesterday I woke up with the idea that I wanted to get out of the house and go somewhere.  My idea was to drive just outside of town (as in a 20 minute drive) to go for a walk and, as I tell Asher when we go outside, we’d “see what we can see”.

Jonathan was still in bed although awake.  I went in and presented my idea.  As usual, he had to one-up me.  (I can’t say that I mind this!)  He got out his GPS, got onto google earth, and planned a trip for us to “Daraja la Mungu” (God’s bridge).  It is a natural bridge formed from lava rock.  The river under it was fast moving with a few waterfalls.  It was a wonderfully relaxing day.

We played by the water’s edge watching the swallows swooping by the water.  Jonathan skipped rocks while Asher just threw them in (and was very proud of himself).  We saw butterflies, bees, frogs, flowers, moss, trees.  It was a great time “away”.

And you’d think in such an out-of-way place we’d forget we were in Africa at all.  And we did have those moments here and there.  But for the most part we remained very aware of where we were.

As we were standing under the bridge basking in the cool dampness I looked up to see chickens on the hill above us.  I took a picture out at a man-made bridge over another part of the river and saw a young boy leading two cows across.  Right next to God’s bridge there were huts, clothes lying on the ground drying, kids playing, and people going about their daily work.  We were definitely still in Tanzania.

But the main way we knew where we were was because we drew stares.  As we drove out of town and down back roads, people stopped their work to watch us drive by.  Kids yelled and waved at us as we passed.  Adults stared.  While we were standing by the river a girl came down and sat right by us and just watched us.  From a few feet away mind you.  When we turned to leave she took Asher and carried him to the car for us.  We drove a little way and went to a different area to hike up a path.  A young man came and stood at our car as we were getting back in.  Jonathan had a conversation with him that was made up of mere chit-chat.

At one point yesterday I told Jonathan, “Just think.  When we are in America no one will stare at us.  We’ll absolutely blend in.”  And that will feel amazing!  I can’t even imagine it.  Because, after all, we’re truly not that interesting to look at.

(Pictures of yesterday’s outing to come!)