Extra Special Organisations

As I mentioned in previous blogs, I've been thinking a lot about making a "difference" lately. That's why I've added some neat links on the left-hand side of this blog. Of these links, my favorite is the Heartbeat Centre for Community Development.

You might ask yourself why I've chosen a South African Organisation, when I'm American, and I'm residing in Europe. Surely, there must be some worthwhile organisations on this continent? Well, there most definitely are. But once you've been to South Africa, and you've seen the poverty there, and the hopelessness in some of the children's eyes, you'll understand.

The mission of the Heartbeat Centre for Community Development is:

To alleviate the suffering of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) by facilitating change in communities.

Of all the charities I looked at online, this is the one that appealed to me the most. Afterall, there are so many "at-risk" children wandering the streets of those townships. No amount of donations could ever alleviate that, but we can do our best to help, one child at a time.

Unfortunately (and fortunately) for South Africa, it's one of Africa's wealthiest nations, which results in it receiving far less attention and funding than many of the other African nations. But the shanty towns, know as "squatter camps" there are massive, and so many people are struggling. As a mother, I feel not only for the children, but also for the mothers and fathers that struggle to provide for their children.

I recently received the book "The Secret" as a gift, which basically says that success is a mindset. I wish it was that simple.

Anyway, if this charity doesn't appeal to you, please fund one that does. And this holiday season, rather than giving gifts and money, why not gift a cow through WorldVision.org. In any case, you know what to get me! :-)

If you're wondering what we've been up to, there's not a whole lot new. We're enjoying Germany, despite the bitter-cold (and a not-so-fun colonoscopy yesterday). We've done a lot of playing in the autumn leaves, and have had quite a few people over for dinner.

Soon it'll be time to pack back up and drive to our "other" home in The Netherlands. We leave Thursday, and Tobi's parents will join us up there for a week. They're looking forward to seeing the farm, and we sure are looking forward to their company (and help)! Let's hope we don't run into any snow on our 700 kilometer journey Northwards...

After-Thoughts on South Africa

It's official, I have completed the transformation into a full-fledged writer. There are nights (such as this), where I lie awake, thinking of the injustices of the world, and anxious to get up, so that I might write my thoughts down on paper (or computer) before they disappear.

Most often, I think of South Africa, the country that continues to haunt me, long after our departure. Usually, it's incredible images of the land and its people that dance through my head, but on this particular night, it's the country's strangeness.

As much as I'd like to avoid talking about black vs. white, the many remnants of segregation present in the country (and especially in its Afrikaans-speaking "Garden Route"), make it nearly impossible, and fear and intolerance is both widespread and (in many circles) socially acceptable.

Life in a township is undoubtedly incredibly hard. I hope someday to spend at least 24-hours with friends there, to get a 1st-hand impression of what they face on a daily basis.

Yes, poverty is a major problem, and yet, many people in South Africa believe that the white population, which is far wealthier as a whole, is truly happy. After all, they have no financial troubles.

But they live in fear. Let me paint their "happy" picture for you. If you are in a certain (predominantly white) socio-economic class in South Africa:

1. You build as large a wall around your house as you can afford, to protect your family.

2. Your next major investment is a high-tech security system with a panic button, and a security company which you pay monthly, to respond to any "emergencies", keeping you, in turn, secure.

3. If your house is large, you might close your bedrooms off with a locked door or security gate, so that your family is safe in the event of a break-in.

4. You have plenty of "help" in the house (in the form of house keepers, gardeners, etc), but because labor is so cheap and your helpers struggle financially, you have to monitor your valuables, perfumes, clothing, food, etc, as things will disappear (especially if you use an agency or have a high turn-over rate).

5. If you are a woman, people may tell you not to leave your windows open during the day, and not to walk around outside by yourself (no matter how "safe" the neighborhood). In other words, if you're not driving, stay inside with the windows and doors locked. Unless, that is, you have infrared motion alarms on your back porch, in which case you can activate them and leave your back door open.

6. If you have a dog (which most people do, for "protection"), be sure to keep tabs on him at all times. It's not uncommon for dogs to disappear from their yards, as there is money to be earned by converting a normal canine companion into a fighting dog, and if that doesn't work out, the thief can always bring the dog to the pound in exchange for a small cash reward.

7. You worry about a potential mass-massacre. There are stories of a "retaliation", should Nelson Mandela die, in which black people will attack white and a huge blood bath will occur, putting yourself and your family at risk. You have a weapon in your house, in the event of such a massacre.

8. Every day you see people that are struggling... in the worse way. You try to avert your eyes, because you work hard for your money, and you know that you could never possibly help them all, but sometimes there's no avoiding it. A man stumbles across the road, one shoe on, foam coming from his toothless mouth, looking as though he will collapse any second, and people just drive around him, honking, too afraid to stop. Danger lurks in many corners of this beautiful country, and people that help sometimes end up as victims of crime and violence.

Additional oddities:
-Your house help may have the highly contagious, deadly form of tuberculosis, but if they tell you they have it, they may lose their job and livelihood. And, furthermore, getting the diagnosis means repeated visits and hours of waiting at the "provincial" (or non-white) hospital, plus doctors' fees.

-As a result of the poverty, there are plenty of people that will due absolutely anything for money. So, if you are a business man (or woman), and things are not running smoothly, you always have the option of hiring a hit-man/arm breaker to collect money for you. The same holds true for cheating spouses!

Here's the catch, if you've never known anything else, this is "normal", and you believe yourself to be truly happy. (I for one am losing sleep over it, and I'm thousands of miles away.) But people are hopeful. Black, white, and biracial, everyone wants a better life for their children. They love their country - and the diversity of the land and its people. It is unquestionably striking with its rolling hills, mountains, cliffs, lagoons, and wildlife, and this, my friends, is what keeps them going.

The (Nearly) Perfect Hostess

Ok, so I wouldn't have done well on any of those housewife reality shows, afterall, what kind of hostess collapses onto the couch while her guests are still enjoying their wine at the dining room table? (I have Lukas to thank for that... 6 AM is just too early for me to be getting out of bed!)

But aside from that, it was perfect. I found a recipe that I liked from "Australian Gourmet Traveller" (albeit from May 2005), had a French theme going on, and had everything prepared by the time everyone arrived ("everyone" being Tobi's parents, our friend Connie, and Tobi, who was just arriving from The Netherlands). For dinner we had "Soup aux pais chiche et á l'agneau" (aka Lamb, Tomato, and Chickpea Soup), preceded by a "rocket" (or arugula) salad and Camembert wrapped in a flaky pastry-like crust.

I know, you're probably thinking, "Why lamb?", but honestly, I have serious issues with the way we handle beef, chicken, and various other meat products, and although I'd like to start buying "bio" meat, the selection is always so limited! Best of all, lamb can be so tasty when it's prepared properly (i.e. the lamb in South Africa's "Klein Karoo". YUM!).

The soup was delicious, as were the other dishes, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. But the craziest part is, I really enjoyed the cooking-part. Despite having spent nearly three hours in the kitchen, I had my South African apron, a glass of wine, and Tuscan music playing in the background (not to mention the fact that Tobi's parents had Lukas for the afternoon), it was divine! If only every meal ordeal was that enjoyable...

Don't Laugh, But This is Hillarious!

Walking through my in-laws' house today, I noticed something peculiar outside the window. A large red tractor was parked in front of their house, and the driver, an elderly farmer in blue overalls, was dozing in the driver's seat. Since there are no farms directly on their street, I found this peculiar, and took a seat on the couch next to my father-in-law, where I could stare out of the window like a nosy neighbor.

Apparently, this man uses his tractor as his primary means of transportation, and has often been spotted driving his wife to the dentists' office (just across from my in-laws' place). As if that wasn't cute enough, the wife came out in a "tracht", or traditional Franconian dress, and you better believe that I got my camera ready. This was something I had often seen, but had never been able to photograph. Perched next to the window with my camera, I was not prepared with what was about to transpire. For some reason, the farmer's wife went around to the back of the tractor, as he climbed down and stood next to the vehicle, perched in the typical male peeing position. "No!" I thought... doubled up in laughter, and (now) hiding beneath the window.

Well, after emptying his bladder in the middle of a residential street, the farmer zipped up, climbed in, and was followed by his sweet little old wife. It wasn't long before they were chugging down the street, side by side, leaving us in their dust to chuckle about the experience, now forever etched in our minds.

But (fortunately) the day didn't end there. After visiting the gynocologist for my annual check-up (which is, incidentally, oh-so-different here in Germany), I picked up the baby and headed back to Erlangen, this time to play in the autumn leaves and grab some ice cream at Tom's ice cream parlor ("The Ice House"... which is really a must visit if you're visiting Erlangen!). I intended on bringing Lukas to the Schlossgarten, which is absolutely amazing at this time of year, but after playing a bit at the Erlangen "Bohlenplatz" playground it began to drizzle and got very windy, so I decided to save the Schlossgarten for another day.


Arriving home, Marie, Lukas' little friend next door, was waving out of her window, anxious to play with Lukas. It was so cute to have our own little welcoming committee (it's been 3 weeks since they saw eachother). Marie's Mom and I chatted for a bit, while the kids played, and then we headed home, where Lukas' revelled in Dada's hard hat, and I swooned over yet another beautiful Kleinsendelbach sunset.

Pondering The Meaning of Life... and Highway Rest Stops

Today, as I lie on my in-laws' couch, curled up in the fetal position and battling severe stomach cramps, I thought to myself, "If I'm lucky, my life is already one-third over. But what if my life ends up being much shorter? What have I done to make the world a better place?" The honest answer is, "Not a whole lot." Sure, I can hope that I've brightened the life of family and friends, but I'm certain that I'm capable of so much more... the questions is really just "When and/or How?" But of course, I don't have the answers, so, if you have any ideas, please share them!

In the meantime, let me get you up-to-date on our adventures. Yesterday we (and when I say "we", I mean "I"), drove 700 kilometers, from our home in Holland down to our home in Germany. It was a long trip, and fortunately for me, the stomach issues didn't start until this morning.

But along the way we stopped at a rest stop. Let me ask you, what do you think of when you read "rest stop"? If you're from Florida, or any number of other U.S. states, you envision hot, cement-covered slabs of earth, bordered by port-o-lets or (if you're lucky) stinky, dirty toilets.

Imagine, if you can, rest stops which make stopping a pleasure! Enter Germany. Sure, you usually have to pay a small fee for use of the toilets, but often they're the fancy, self-cleaning kind of toilet, in a clean gas station, with a restaurant attached to it.

But there's more!

The rest stop we stopped at was in Siegburg, and included a hotel, little park/picnic area (fittingly-littered with beautiful fall leaves), and a look-out point, which of course wouldn't be complete without a castle on the horizon.

Yes, really. A castle!
But even more amazing is the concept of a rest stops where you can actually rest and enjoy yourselves in the middle of a long trip. What a concept! Bet you wish you were here! Me too. :-) Maybe next time!

How Lucky Are We?

Not much to write, besides last night, we made our very own bread! I'm going to use it for PB&J (peanut butter and jelly) sandwiches today.

And I think these photos speak for themselves, so enjoy!


"Our" house...

And images from "our" town...

Fresh Eggs, Starlight, and the Sunrise

Pinch me. Is this real? Am I really living on a farm, with a horse-filled barn and a rooster (with his lady-friend, who lays fresh eggs for us daily)?

Getting up early to feed Freddie, the pot-bellied pig and his neighbors, the geese, you see stars. Lots and lots of mesmerizing stars. And you hear the rooster serenading the sun, which rises like a big ball of fire over the sleepy village, illuminating terra-cotta roof shingles and a charming church steeple.

It's perfect. I must be dreaming!

Entering back through the cute little split-style farmhouse door, there's the hallway, and then the cellar, which served as a shelter for the owner's family during World War II. The owner's father, who lives just across the apple orchard, points out previous damage from grenades and shells, and explains what life (for an eight-year-old) was like here during the war.

The huge weeping willow near the pond undoubtedly witnessed the chaos. But now it's utterly peaceful, and the willow captivates us with his long, elegant branches, especially at dawn and dusk, when the light is softer.

Lavender and rose bushes grace the sides of the 70-year old, Dutch-style brick house. And then there's the apple orchard, where the dog disappears to from time to time. I don't think we'll ever want to leave, but we're so blessed to be able to call it home, if only for two years.

Home - on the Farm

After coming "home" to our new farm in the sleepy town of Oudelande in The Netherlands, the Jamaican band "Cedella Marley Booker & Taj Mahal" seem to echo our feelings of contentment as their song, the Three Little Birds played in the background. We were on our way to pick up our stuff from our interim house in the "Hof van Zeeland" in Heinkezand, but anxious to get back "home" to the farm, where we could finally settle in after months of living like gypsies.

Our introduction to the farm was dream-like. The owners were there with their children, parents, sisters, brothers, and friends, and the farm was teeming with life and laughter, just as you imagine family life on a farm to be.

We had some warm soup at the farmhouse table and a glass of chardonnay on the comfy couch next to the fireplace, before getting the baby to sleep in his new bed and climbing into our comfy new bed (to do a bit of writing). But now, as my computer battery dies, I'm going to wrap up this blog entry, and hit "Publish", so that you can share in our first day on the farm, and our new life in The Netherlands.

Getting Over Myself

I find that when I start to feel down, usually for reasons unknown (what could I possibly have to feel bad about?), the best remedy is to take the focus off of myself.

Today was all about other people. We finally got a package out to our friend Deoni (don't worry Rijanah, you're next!), we visited an elderly woman in the nursing home (who we bumped into while visiting a couple months back), and we met another Mommy who's new to the area (and also from the States). It felt so good, and I think it's great to do stuff like that with children from the very start.

In the process, we saw a bit of the much talked-about city of Goes (and it really is every bit as alluring as they say... bring your walking shoes and allow yourself to get lusciously lost!), and we discovered the "Spuiplein" market in Vlissingen, a cute little market that takes place every Friday on one of the city's major streets (which they just close off for the day). We also went shopping in one of the Zeeland's finest supermarkets, the I-could-spend-an-entire-day-here Albert Heijn. Clean, bright, and beautiful, this grocery store has an incredible variety, roomy aisles, and friendly staff... what more could I ask for?

But then again, it's not about me, is it?

Through The Eyes of a Child

"Ugh, ugh, ugh", Lukas grunted, as he helped me push the stroller up the hill, towards the meadow. After just a few steps, we reached our summit, to which he exclaimed, "Good job!".

But our clever little guy didn't stop at that. When we headed back down the hill (after meeting Tobi and Felix in the field), he said, "Be careful!"

There's no way around it. He's growing up too fast! After horsing around at the lake and the meadow (which reminds me, a horse-drawn carriage passed through the field while we were there!), we walked down the tree-lined street adjacent to the neighborhood, enjoying the surrounding fields, steeples, and windmills, as dusk approached.

Later, we fed the ducks and watched flying fish from just outside our "house", and I was so happy that I took the time to just do nothing with Lukas. Nothing, that is, but let him be himself, as he ran, jumped, and tried his very hardest to skip.

If only we could all be as enthusiastic about those things. How amazing would our lives be if we all nearly fell over with excitement everytime we saw a tractor, excavator, or something as simple as a neighborhood speed bump. Speed bumps, it turns out, can be loads of fun if you run back and forth over them with a 1-and-a-half-year-old, giggling.

:-) Try it sometime!

Backing up a bit, our day began with some brownie-baking and a trip to the Vlissingen "Seafarers Mission", where a group of women from the "WIGZ" (Women's International Group of Zeeland) Organization were meeting for a Harvest Luncheon. There, Lukas developed a fascination with a foozball table, and he and Dada goofed around while I socialized with some of the other families that were there. Another exciting distraction was the mission's guitars, and I love this photo of the two of us playing...

And backing up even further, yesterday we spent a few hours exploring the cobblestone streets of the incredible town of Middelburg, packing in markets, live music performances, and lunch in one of the sunny European squares before calling it a day. Back at home, chef Tobi made fresh lemon-herb fish for dinner. Yum!

When Will I Ride?

I took Lukas along with me to North Beveland today, where we watched our new friends Stacy, Carol, and Janet in their riding lessons. I've always wanted to take lessons, and since this is seemingly the mecca of horse (and bike) riding, I think this might be the perfect opportunity! I can hardly wait, but I'll have to find someone to look after Lukas for a few hours a week before I can begin. Well, I've waited this long!

But what's wonderful is that it's so very peaceful out there. The birds are singing, the horses are grazing on dew-covered grass, and people are constantly coming and going, be it for lessons, or to care for their other "other" half.

Will that be me in two-year's time?

The Clown-Man-Dog

Looking back at the photos of the past week, I can't believe that I didn't include more about Lukas in our recent blog entries. He's got such a little personality now, and although I try to keep this blog strictly about our adventures as a family, he makes every day so special for us. (And yes, there are overwhelming moments, too, but the good outweigh the bad!)

There are the photos of him at Oma & Opa's house being a clown, then a little "man"... and here in The Netherlands -bathing in nutella.

My very favourite, though, is the little series of photos of him just after bath time, all wrapped up in his puppy-dog towel, and acting like a little doggy. He was barking and giggling, and we couldn't help but take a zillion photos.

Hope you enjoy as well! I know it sounds trite, but he brings such joy into our lives... and by that I mean the teary-eyed kind, making us so thankful for the way he's changed our world.

Fate - or Fortune?

There are certain days in life where you just know, beyond a reasonable doubt, that if ever a path in life was chosen for just you, you are on it. And all the stars align.

After just a few days in a new country you meet a group of women for the first time. They welcome you with open arms, and your first conversations with them make you feel as thought you've known them for years. They speak your native tongue, but also the language of the country you're in, making you feel at once both welcome and inspired to learn Dutch.

You leave the group, and as you're moseying through the neighborhood you think you spot a large set of antlers to the right. You double-take, then come to a halt. There's a park nestled in the streets of this quaint town with a resident herd of deer. You get out and allow your son to chat with the deer, before moving on.

Your next appointment is with an Greek-born American who emigrated to The Netherlands 16 year ago. You just spoke with her for the first time today, but she invited you out to their farm in your very first conversation... and you can hardly wait.

Both the farm, and your new acquaintance, exceed every expectation. The afternoon is dream-like, and as you follow your hostess on a tour of the orchards and gardens, strolling past impeccably manicured hedges and time-worn stone sculptures, a large owl drops out of a nearby tree, nearly brushing you with his wing before vanishing in the distance.

She takes you back to the pony, then pours you a glass of fresh-pressed apple juice as you chat in the courtyard. Ironically, your families once lived in the very same city in the U.S... the once-beautiful city of Springfield, Massachusetts. Her Dutch accent is dotted with some New England nuances, but what's fascinating is that English has long-since become her second tongue.

She's happy here, and it's easy to see why. The place has a magic to it. It's beyond words... the kind of farm you see in Martha Stewart LIVING, and wonder who actually gets invited to such incredible places.

But more importantly we really clicked, and I'm certain that we've made friends with some incredible people - all in our very first week here in Zeeland. What are the chances?

Our First Day in The Netherlands

Yesterday was such a well-balanced day. Of course, I had no computer connection until after dinner, which was super positive for me (but has proven to be a disaster for me today).

We got up, did some unpacking, planned dinner, and went grocery shopping (which is a topic in-and-of-itself because - guess what - you can only pay with cash or a Dutch bank card!). Then we walked around town a bit (we're currently staying in a suburb/village of Vlissingen called Heinkezand), prepared dinner, went for a little family walk, and spent quality time together. I felt so normal!

It was the first time in a long time I actually felt motivate to cook, and dinner was fabulous! I brought along a really neat cook book, called "A Kitchen Safari - Stories and Recipies From The African Wilderness", and last night I chose a main from the "Ngala Private Game Reserve" called "Turkey with Pine Nuts and Sultanas". As a side dish, we had baked goats cheese and roasted tomatoes (also from the book), complimented by a dry red wine, from South Africa, of course.

And the weather yesterday... it was rainy and misty. The kind of weather that would make me cringe in most parts of the world, but here - last night, it seemed both mysterious and romantic. Walking outside with the dog and the baby was fun despite the strange foggy drizzle, and I wondered about the adventures that await us in our upcoming time here in The Netherlands.

The Not-So Integrated Land of the European Union

Just when we thought Europe was getting too predictable, thanks to a shared currency, obsolete border-control-booths, and the disappearance of those cute little one (or two) letter bumper stickers that were once required across the continent, we let our gas tank reach empty - in Belgium - at night.

Either Belgians refuse to work in the evenings, or the gas stations are trying to save a few bucks through use of automated payment devices. In theory, it should work - and it does, if:
1) You are Belgian, or
2) You have a Belgian bank card, or
3) You are one of the few people on this planet who actually know the pin number for your credit card.

If none of these three scenarios happens to match your circumstances, then you can start warming up those thumbs for a fun-filled night of hitchhiking... OR, you can run over to the next car, insult them by asking if they speak english (in english of course... if only I could ask that question in Flemish!), then use your hands and feet to explain your predicament, hoping that they will take pity on you, your husband, your toddler, and your dog, who have been in the car for over 8 hours, and have over an hour to go until you reach your final destination.

Alas, it was our lucky day, or night for that matter. Not only was the couple willing to help us, but we just happened to have €50 cash, which we handed over to them in exchange for €50 of gas (using their Belgian bank card).

What we didn't know is that we were about to hit a massive traffic jam in Antwerp, which would extend are really long trip by yet another hour. C'est le vie...

A Week in the Life of...

Well, I really don't have much to write. It's not that I don't have much going on - we're packing up once again, this time for The Netherlands. But what can I write about packing?

So for now, I'll just get you up-to-date on our week. As I mentioned, our friends Christiane and Gregor came to visit at the beginning of the week. Gregor missed his afternoon nap and was a bit grumpy, but Christiane handled it like a champ and stayed positive throughout the visit. Sleep is so important for these little guys, but they sure do love to fight it (especially when they're anywhere but home)!

While they were visiting we strolled around Nuremberg, stopping for a coffee along the river, had the boys splash around in the bath tub together, and went to the Atlantis "Freizeitbad".

The following day (Wednesday), I took the baby and the dog on an hour's walk, exploring the countryside behind our house. We found the "Baggersee", or man-made lake, and Felix went completely nuts, as usual.

Thursday we headed out to Herzogenaurach with "Oma" to buy some jogging shoes. It's the Adidas mecca, but since we know someone that works at the Nike outlet, that's where we shopped. Afterwards, we visited Rita's friend Dagmar and had a glass of sparkling wine, then headed home for some R&R.

The weather yesterday (Friday) was terrible, but we were able to get out of the house for a bit - visiting our neighbor and her daughter for a little jack-a-lantern-carving craft session. I think it's probably the first jack-a-lantern I've ever carved by myself, so it leaves a lot to be desired... but that's alright :-)

Last night we had salmon at Tobi's parent place, and after dinner we headed home, and they drove to a nearby town to pick up Tobi (who rode down from The Netherlands with a colleague yesterday... but they arrived too late for us to meet them).

And that's pretty much it! Well, except for the water pipe leak that we discovered in our kitchen walls this week. We spent days trying to find the cause, and tore apart the kitchen... and now we can just hope that it was a faulty seal on the dishwasher which we've replaced, and move on.

And that, my friends, was our not-so-exciting week here at "home". I'll write more next week, from our "home away from home" in The Netherlands!