Shit happens

So I always debate whether to post negative things or not.. not that there have been many negative things, but when I do have something negative to say I ask myself, in the grand scheme is it really worthwhile? I wrote this yesterday and then mulled it over all of yesterday and today and have decided to post it. 

 This morning I woke up to find we had been robbed the night before. I woke up and went to unlock our front door and noticed all of the stuff that was on top of my fridge was no longer there.. 2 bottles of olive oil which you can only get in the capital and it’s expensive.. a lot of the goodies my mom and husband had sent from Canada that I just picked up, my salt, sugar and other cooking oil.  My iron.. etc even the curtain that was covering that window. All of our windows have buglar bars.. however the window wasn’t locked and they opened the window and reached in and took everything, they even emptied my freezer of all meat and dinner pies that were there as well.

I have to say I’m exhausted and disgusted all at the same time.I’m off to the police to make a report,, which will do nothing because they’ll do nothing with it but it’s supposed to be done so I’ll do it.

I feel violated and annoyed at myself for not locking my windows..  but I keep being told Siavonga is so safe. I will miss all of the stuff my mom and husband so lovingly packed up to send here.. but I will miss feeling secure in my own home more.. I feel like someone was checking out the house for what they could take and came back in the middle of the night to steal all of our stuff.. 

So I went to the police to make the report I was there more than 45 minutes.. they filled out 3 pages worth of information and then the detective wanted to come and see the scene of the crime.. We walked to my house and he took a look at the empty freezer and bare top of the fridge.. and then said we’ll be in touch with you if we hear anything and if you hear of anything please be in touch with us.. I said no problem and off he went. I’m pretty sure I won’t ever hear anything more about it. The police told me that bolt cutters have been stolen from a nearby company and that there have been a few break in’s recently and they have stolen food when they have broken in.. I guess it could have been worse they could have cut through the burglar bars..so I have to just move on.. and let it go.. which is harder than I thought to do, I just keep thinking about all my nice stuff that I was going to enjoy that’s gone and then I get frustrated and sad all at the same time. 

Valentine's day

So it's Valentine's Day in Africa. It's not as commercial as North America people where red and do nice things for their partners.. My partner is of course very very far away.. I actually said to him last week that today was going to be really hard for me because we haven't been apart for V day in 10 years. It's really weird to be in a country who doesn't commericalize Valentine's day.. but to be honest I miss the commerical-ness.. I miss the flowers and the going out for dinner.. In fact if I didn't say it's Valentine's day to some of my colleagues it might have gone un-detected. I just wanted to say to all the other volunteers who are away from their loved ones.. Happy Valentine's day.. and I hope that you don't feel too lonely.
I got to speak to my husband today and it was supposed to be a surprize but he is having flowers delivered to the city's capital because I'm going to be there this week. He had to tell me of the surprize because I changed my plans to go into town from Friday to Wednesday or Thursday and with the plans changing and my uncertainty he had to ruin the surprize.. but the idea was enough.. It made me realize how special my husband is.
If you are at home with your loved one(s) give them an extra squeeze and look at them in the eye and appreciate you're able to do it, because there are moments when Skype just doesn't cut it.. I miss my Puppy.. Happy Valentine's Day baby.

Lack of Postage

I haven’t been writing frequently these days.. I think it’s because depending on when you ask me how’s it going.. my answer varies so much.. at this moment... I feel great... I had a great weekend.. Friday night out with some local friends, Saturday we had a great movie night and Sunday we celebrated a friends birthday with a fabulous lunch and a trip to a lodge for swimming, drinks and pool and then out for dinner.. a great day and a great weekend.. Saturday as I walked out local market I found the cutest new shoes for 18,000, just under 4 dollars.. a great price.. and they are super cute! Everything is feeling really good at the moment.

But  last Wednesday I was crying about how lonely I felt and how much I missed home.. last week was tough.. I really find the evenings hard.. because there is nothing to do in town except for drink.. firstly i don’t want to turn into an alcoholic and secondly it’s not like I can go to the bar by myself.. it’s not unsafe like something will happen to me.. I’ll just be hit 100 times, because women don’t go to bars themselves unless they’re prostitutes... So I watch TV, and sometimes a movie on my computer, listen to music and read my book but that gets boring really quick! Although I have met a few great people hear my social network is small and therefore I tend do see the same people very regularly. Not only was I lonely but my Ipod was stolen.. a long complicated story.. my watch stopped working and the bracelet my mom bought me before going to Africa broke when a little kid pulled so hard the silver bracelet snapped in half. (AHHH) 

I still really like Siavonga, I just wish there was more to do in the evenings. I have definitely improved my pool playing while here; I wouldn’t say improved.. now I can make contact with the balls and sometimes even hit the right ones.. I guess you can call that an improvement! I do like our sleepy little town; I was thinking of a way to improve our nightlife.. it’s not easy.. I haven’t come up with a plan.. but if anyone has suggestions I’m all ears.