Listening to Shakira's song, "It's Time for Africa" still brings a tear to my eye. The sounds of the drums, the Swahili, and the echos of Africa race through me and make my heart beat a bit quicker. I remember the night I left Kenya--I felt as if the floor had dropped out from under me. Leaving Kuwait was not the same. Rob and I pumped fists and giggled like kids as the wheels lifted from the tarmac-- "It's OVER!" I thought to myself with great satisfaction. Though we made a few great friends... Kuwait was just not the place for us and, great friends or not, it would NEVER be our home.
That chapter of our lives behind us, we move on to our brief but exciting summer. Starting in a chilly Belgium, we have been wearing smiles nonstop. The kids spent the first week bundled up in sweaters and hats while helping their Bomma and Bompa tend to the garden. The fresh lettuce, potatoes, carrots, scallions, and peas have filled our bellies and our brains as the kids have learned SO much about farming. Who woulda thought my "city" kids would be interested in digging for potatoes. And that my baby girl, to be precise, would yank up her skirt and get her hands dirty amongst the worms and the bugs!
While the kids have spent a lot of time with their Bomma and Bompa, Rob and I have spent a lot of quality (read: alone) time walking to downtown Geel, enjoying beers and mojitos at the market square, and window shopping in preparation for the July 1st sales! What a luxury teacher summers can be!
A brief holiday to Disney Paris, dinners with friends, and celebrations of 40th wedding anniversaries behind us... it's time to move on. We leave Belgium for the good 'ole USA in time for an overload of Americana on July 4th.
So far, so good! Summer is the peaceful reprieve we've needed! Our souls are uplifted and we're ready for our next adventure.
