Cold, Colder & Stinkin' Cold!

One of the things we were looking forward to when we went to the U.S. for our visit was cooler weather.  Let's just say: we got what we wished for...and then some. 

We started our visit in North Carolina and I thought I was going to die from the cold. 

We headed to Florida where the weather was 70-80 during the day while were there and cooler at night.  Sounds nice, huh?  Nope.  I still froze.  70-80 is still a long way from 90-100.  (I especially froze when my MIL controlled the AC.  Brrrrrrrr.)

We then headed to West Virginia.  It was snowing when we got off the plane!  It was exciting for a minute and then the pain of the cold hit me.  That was December 1st.  December 1st!

From there we went to Ohio, Kentucky, and we also drove through Virginia and Maryland on our way to the airport in D.C.  From December 1st to the day we flew out (December 19th) it was non-stop freezing weather.  It didn't always snow, though we saw a good bit of snow, but it stayed at about freezing the whole time we were there.  I can't tell you how many times we heard something along the lines of, "It doesn't usually snow before Christmas.  It must be fore you!" 

All I can deduce was that my kids must had prayed we'd see snow and God, for sure, answered.

I learned something new about myself.  I do not like the cold.  It was miserable after 18 months of hot.  I really and truly could not get warm.  I thought I was going to die.

This brings me to a conversation we had with Africans last fall.  Fall...not even winter!  (It came to mind many, many times while we were in the U.S.)  It went something like this:

Them: What is it like in the U.S. right now?
Us: It's nice weather.  Not cold, not hot.
Them: What temperature?
Us: {We told them the approx. temps in Celsius.}
Them: That is cold!  Too cold!!!  We would die!!!!  We would not survive. {Absolutely serious.}

At the time I thought it to be hilarious.  Now, I think they were right.  I sure felt like I was going to die in the cold weather!

But seriously, I was thankful to not be sweating 24/7 and when I got home to Africa I was thankful for the warmth. :) I think that was a win-win.

What is your perfect weather?

Kind regards,

Texting

While back in the US after 18 months away I was blown away by how big texting has become.  Texting was definitely around when we left but mostly amongst the younger crowd.  This time EVERYONE was texting.  I'm pretty sure babies were texting from the womb and 80 year old grandmothers were texting from their motorized scooters. 

My Mom was texting.  My Mom.  That was seriously scary.  (I'll share more about that later.  Be on the look out.  You won't want to miss it.) 

I can't tell you how many times I was in a conversation with someone only to be interrupted by a text message they received that HAD to be answered right then.  Hello!  I haven't seen you in 18 months and I have only a few hours or days with you...do you think you can take a break from the texting?!  I so feel like I've turned into an old bitty my Grandma talking about how evil technology has corrupted the world.

We text in Africa.  In fact I much prefer texting to calling....I hate making phone calls.  I think it's a weird phobia.  I would never interrupt a conversation I was having to read or answer a text though.  I want the person I'm talking to to feel valued.  Maybe I'm old fashioned?  Maybe Africa has changed me.  (Relationships are very important here.  Above almost all else.)  I'm not sure.  But, I don't think I'll be changing on this one anytime soon.

What is your opinion on the texting craze?

Kind regards,

I'm Baaaaack!

I have much to share about life over the past month and am anxious to get writing again.  Be on the look out for posts about our experiences of culture shock being back in the U.S., changes we had noticed over the last 18 months that we had been gone, and just random stories of our time in the US.  They will be under the label: US 101.

I hope that you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Kind regards,