Surprise!

Dear Family and Friends....

I am writing to you from the comfort of my dad's couch.  What you say?  That's right... Surprise!  I am back in the US!  I arrived last week into New York to stop at the AIM HQ, then proceeded on to Atlanta so I could do things like get a cell phone and get my driver's license renewed.  Then, I flew into Albuquerque to surprise both my sister and my dad for my sister's birthday!  My uncle has been in cohorts with me and helped me set up a birthday party for my sister at his house.  Then he picked me up at the airport and we made the plan for the reveal.  My dad was early and my sister was late, but it was still a surprise to both of them!  :-)  They both told me that they were never going to trust me again and that they were both going to kick my bum... but I think that they have forgiven me!  My sister's eyes teared up a little when I was hugging her.  It was really special and I am glad that it worked out, even with all the stuff I had to go through to get here.

Flying in

I flew from Namibia on February 16th.  My box gave us all a headache since it was 2.4kg (5.2 lbs) over the overweight limit.  It was also huge, which gave the airline guy more than a little concern.  Finally though he said he would take the blame if there was any trouble for it being over the weight limit and he sent it through.  My layover in London was fine and I arrived in NY without any problems.  I was concerned though that my luggage didn't show up.  Finally I heard an announcement that oversized luggage had to be picked up in a special place so when I went to the other end of where I was I found it.  I was so relieved!  I am sure that I looked a little more than comical as I approached customs.  I had a luggage cart with the box and basket on it and I had balanced my carry-on on top.  Then I was pulling my big suitcase behind me.  It was difficult, but I was determined!  When I got up to the front of the line at customs the guy looked at me and actually snorted!  I said 'Ya, I know."  He asked me what everything was and what was in it and I told him.  I was fully expecting to have to open everything up.  I was very surprised when he just waved me through!  So, the box and basket are now safely at the AIM HQ in Pearl River!  YIPPEE!!!!  It was going to cost way too much to try to get it onto the flight to Atlanta with me, so AIM is shipping them to Teresa's in Atlanta.  I told him it could take a slow boat past China if it would make it cheaper!  :-)  

Culture shock

WOW!  Being in the States has been good but difficult!  Sometimes it's the little things.  In Namibia it's illegal to put light switches inside the bathroom, so I keep feeling the wall outside the bathroom whenever I try to go in.  It always takes me a moment to figure out what I am doing.  The handle for flushing is on the right in Namibia so I keep reaching for the right side instead of the left to flush.  When I opened the fridge to make myself an omelet for breakfast Tuesday morning I was in shock that the eggs were white!  :-)  And sometimes it's the big things....  Driving on the right side of the road has been difficult.  I have actually driven three times now, all without incident!  YAY!  But it's very odd.  Being in the driver's seat actually helps a lot.  Sitting in the passenger side is the driver's side in Namibia so it just perpetuates the feeling of being wrong.  Being on the driver's side is a lot better.  Teresa (my future roommate in GA) and I walked into a CVS (like a Walgreens) and I almost had a breakdown!  I actually felt tears well up in my eyes.  Thankfully she saw my face and knew what was happening and pushed me through the store.  She was amazing during those first few days!  I am sure that there will continue to be many things that I will struggle with, but those are just a few of the highlights!

New contact info

I have a cell phone with Verizon Wireless.  I have unlimited texting and I love to text... so I would love to hear from you!  My number is 770-712-0523.  My email will continue to be ktibbetts@aimint.net for a few more months, but if you want to switch to using my hotmail account (fooferdawn@hotmail.com) now, then it's ok.  For mail, I will be here in NM until March 20th, so you can send anything to 970 Lomax Avenue, Bosque Farms, NM 87068.  After March 20th my mailing address will be 4202 Towne Lake Hts, Woodstock, GA 30189.  It would be great if you could send me your phone numbers so I can get them into my address book and phone.  Thanks!

I hope this finds you all well and not too mad at me for my many lies over the last few weeks!  :-)

love and hugs!

kapande

   

RE: update on Robin, my birthday, the new girls, Dophelia and my travel plans/countdown

Safe Travels, Kimmie! Wish I could be at the airport to welcome you home, but since I can’t, just imagine me waiting, holding a big sign that says “WELCOME HOME, KIMMIE!!!”. I’ll start smiling really big and jumping up and down when we see each other! J I k now you will be happy to be back on American soil.

 

Sheila

 

 

From: Kimmie Tibbetts [mailto:ktibbetts@aimint.net]
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 8:07 AM
To: kimmieconnection blog
Subject: update on Robin, my birthday, the new girls, Dophelia and my travel plans/countdown

 

Hi Dear Family and Friends!

 

First I want to say thank you to my family who has helped keep me updated on my step-mom.  She is still in the hospital as of Friday but they are thinking she might go home today (Saturday).  That's about all the details I know at this point.  Dad tried to call me Thursday for my birthday but the call didn't go through (I can't wait to be finished with TIA!!!) so I haven't been able to actually talk to him about what's going on with her.  Please continue to pray for full recovery.

 

My Birthday

Thank you to everyone who sent me cards, emails and notes on facebook for my birthday!  I had a wonderful day!  :-)  The evening was definitely the best part.  Monica and Hansie, the South African doctor/dentist-wife/husband duo, had us over for a braii (SA word for BBQ) and it was so nice!  We even had fireworks!  Ok, it wasn't really fireworks, but that's what I am choosing to believe!  The menu was chicken and gem squash, which are these lovely little round squash that you cook then scoop out the middle and enjoy.  It wasn't the first time that Monica and Hansie had cooked these and all other attempts had been normal and without incident.  Until now.  As we were sitting around the fire pit talking, Hansie was turning the chicken when suddenly there was an explosion!  All of us just about jumped out of our skin, and Minnie had brought Ndahafa so she started crying (poor thing!).  We all stood around in confusion for a moment until we figured out what had happened.  One of the squash exploded!  We don't know if there weren't enough holes poked in it or if the holes that had been made weren't deep enough.....  We just know that I had fireworks for my birthday!  :-)  When we went inside we all had little yellow bits of squash covering our clothes and Minnie had it in her hair!  Hansie suffered a minor burn on his neck where a piece of the hot squash landed and he didn't get it off fast enough!  (He'll be fine and he was quite embarrassed that all of us girls were fussing over him to make sure he was ok)  I thought it was great to have my last birthday bash end with a bang!  Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

 

The New Girls

Nicole and Tricia are so wonderful!  I did get fully packed before they came and I think they are settling into the house well.  I am not saying that it wasn't a rush to get everything packed, but I am very glad that I did!  The girls are both from Kentucky so it's fun to listen to them talk.  I think I am going to pick up a southern accent again before I even make it home!  Tricia is a NICU nurse so it's been really nice to connect with her on that level and talk to someone with the same nursing background.  She's been very interested in how things are done at the hospital but I haven't been able to give her a tour yet.  I hope this coming week we can get that done.  Nicole has her Master's degree in conflict resolution.  I believe that God's timing for bringing her here is perfect!  What's the first thing we did with her?  Throw her into the situation with Dophelia and her grandma/auntie!  Yup, we sure did.... or rather... Sabrina did since I haven't been going out to project much.  :-)  That's right.... I am pointing the finger in anyone else's direction but mine!  Though she'll only be able to work with them for a few months, please pray with us that Nicole can make some good progress with both Dophelia and the family.

 

Dophelia

Speaking of Dophelia, the situation is getting worse.  The auntie that agreed to let us build the hut on her property has been getting drunk more often and beating both Dophelia and her brother Jacob more.  There have been several meetings with the social worker and police in the last two weeks and the auntie hasn't even attended several of them because she has already been at the bar drunk.  Rightfully so, the social worker made the decision that the auntie could no longer have custody of the kids.  Of course that's a good thing because they need a better caregiver.... but it's also a bad thing because there really isn't any place for her and Jacob to go.  Please continue to pray for Dophelia and for Sabrina, Nicole and the social worker as they try to find a good solution for where to put Dophelia and her brother.

 

Windhoek

My plans for when I travel to Windhoek have changed.  The original plan was that I would travel with Daryl & Sabrina to Windhoek when they were going to South Africa.  However, due to several circumstances (the timing of the arrival of the new girls, the change in flights that they had to make for leaving Namibia, etc) they are no longer going to South Africa right now.  So, that means that I have to make my own way to Windhoek before I fly out.  Since I really don't like the overnight bus ride, I will be going with the public combi (minivan packed with people and things) sometime next week.  I think they'll have a fit when they see the size and amount of my luggage and I'll probably have to really pay for it... that's ok.  It's worth it to get the box and that basket home!!!  So, all of this to say that I don't know when I am actually headed to Windhoek.  What I do know is that I have only 9 more days left!  YIKES!  It still doesn't feel real.  I don't know if it will... it seems like I am living in a cloud.

 

I hope this finds you doing well and surviving the cold.  I have looked at the weather several times this last week and think that I am going to die when I get there due to the cold!!  :-)  

 

I love you all and can't wait to see you!

kapande

 

 

update on Robin, my birthday, the new girls, Dophelia and my travel plans/countdown

Hi Dear Family and Friends!

First I want to say thank you to my family who has helped keep me updated on my step-mom.  She is still in the hospital as of Friday but they are thinking she might go home today (Saturday).  That's about all the details I know at this point.  Dad tried to call me Thursday for my birthday but the call didn't go through (I can't wait to be finished with TIA!!!) so I haven't been able to actually talk to him about what's going on with her.  Please continue to pray for full recovery.

My Birthday

Thank you to everyone who sent me cards, emails and notes on facebook for my birthday!  I had a wonderful day!  :-)  The evening was definitely the best part.  Monica and Hansie, the South African doctor/dentist-wife/husband duo, had us over for a braii (SA word for BBQ) and it was so nice!  We even had fireworks!  Ok, it wasn't really fireworks, but that's what I am choosing to believe!  The menu was chicken and gem squash, which are these lovely little round squash that you cook then scoop out the middle and enjoy.  It wasn't the first time that Monica and Hansie had cooked these and all other attempts had been normal and without incident.  Until now.  As we were sitting around the fire pit talking, Hansie was turning the chicken when suddenly there was an explosion!  All of us just about jumped out of our skin, and Minnie had brought Ndahafa so she started crying (poor thing!).  We all stood around in confusion for a moment until we figured out what had happened.  One of the squash exploded!  We don't know if there weren't enough holes poked in it or if the holes that had been made weren't deep enough.....  We just know that I had fireworks for my birthday!  :-)  When we went inside we all had little yellow bits of squash covering our clothes and Minnie had it in her hair!  Hansie suffered a minor burn on his neck where a piece of the hot squash landed and he didn't get it off fast enough!  (He'll be fine and he was quite embarrassed that all of us girls were fussing over him to make sure he was ok)  I thought it was great to have my last birthday bash end with a bang!  Ha! Ha! Ha!

The New Girls

Nicole and Tricia are so wonderful!  I did get fully packed before they came and I think they are settling into the house well.  I am not saying that it wasn't a rush to get everything packed, but I am very glad that I did!  The girls are both from Kentucky so it's fun to listen to them talk.  I think I am going to pick up a southern accent again before I even make it home!  Tricia is a NICU nurse so it's been really nice to connect with her on that level and talk to someone with the same nursing background.  She's been very interested in how things are done at the hospital but I haven't been able to give her a tour yet.  I hope this coming week we can get that done.  Nicole has her Master's degree in conflict resolution.  I believe that God's timing for bringing her here is perfect!  What's the first thing we did with her?  Throw her into the situation with Dophelia and her grandma/auntie!  Yup, we sure did.... or rather... Sabrina did since I haven't been going out to project much.  :-)  That's right.... I am pointing the finger in anyone else's direction but mine!  Though she'll only be able to work with them for a few months, please pray with us that Nicole can make some good progress with both Dophelia and the family.

Dophelia

Speaking of Dophelia, the situation is getting worse.  The auntie that agreed to let us build the hut on her property has been getting drunk more often and beating both Dophelia and her brother Jacob more.  There have been several meetings with the social worker and police in the last two weeks and the auntie hasn't even attended several of them because she has already been at the bar drunk.  Rightfully so, the social worker made the decision that the auntie could no longer have custody of the kids.  Of course that's a good thing because they need a better caregiver.... but it's also a bad thing because there really isn't any place for her and Jacob to go.  Please continue to pray for Dophelia and for Sabrina, Nicole and the social worker as they try to find a good solution for where to put Dophelia and her brother.

Windhoek

My plans for when I travel to Windhoek have changed.  The original plan was that I would travel with Daryl & Sabrina to Windhoek when they were going to South Africa.  However, due to several circumstances (the timing of the arrival of the new girls, the change in flights that they had to make for leaving Namibia, etc) they are no longer going to South Africa right now.  So, that means that I have to make my own way to Windhoek before I fly out.  Since I really don't like the overnight bus ride, I will be going with the public combi (minivan packed with people and things) sometime next week.  I think they'll have a fit when they see the size and amount of my luggage and I'll probably have to really pay for it... that's ok.  It's worth it to get the box and that basket home!!!  So, all of this to say that I don't know when I am actually headed to Windhoek.  What I do know is that I have only 9 more days left!  YIKES!  It still doesn't feel real.  I don't know if it will... it seems like I am living in a cloud.

I hope this finds you doing well and surviving the cold.  I have looked at the weather several times this last week and think that I am going to die when I get there due to the cold!!  :-)  

I love you all and can't wait to see you!

kapande

coming home V: right side? left side? wrong side?

Hi everyone!

Today's edition of coming home has to deal with driving. The more
that I am researching cars online the more nervous I am getting about
having to drive once I get home. As in much of europe, the driver's
side is the right side of the car and we drive on the left side of the
road. I looked at a picture of the interior of the Ford Fusion (which
is so cute) and thought how wrong it looked for the steering wheel to
be on the left side! Having been in a left side of the road driving
pattern for the last three years, I don't think it will be wise for me
to drive for several weeks. And when I do start driving I refuse to
have it be in Atlanta with it's crazy traffic! That means that
Teresa, my dear, lovely friend who helped me and drove me around when
I left Atlanta, will have to help me and drive me around when I come
back into Atlanta. (Thanks Teresa!!!!! You're the best ever!!!!!)

I know what some of you are thinking.... How am I planning on buying
a car if I can't even test drive it? Ok, that's the thought that I
keep having anyways.... The answer is that I don't know exactly how
it will go. I might have to buy it more towards the end of my time in
Albuquerque so that I will be more comfortable behind the wheel. That
or I will just buy it and have someone in my family drive it to the
house and park it until I have enough confidence to drive! :-)

So, how can you help me? Stay off the sidewalks when I'm driving!
Oh, wait, that's not what I was supposed to say... I meant don't
laugh at me when you're driving me and I try to tell you that you're
driving in the wrong lane. And... if you have the misfortune of being
my passenger in those first few weeks, maybe give me gentle reminders
of which lanes I am actually supposed to be in and don't scream when I
start to pull out on the left side of the street.

I love you all!
kapande

my stepmom Robin

Hi Everyone!

I had to re-word some of this because email hasn't been working...
this was supposed to go out Sunday.

My stepmom Robin has been battling with chronic pancreas problems for
a long time. She is frequently in and out of the emergency room and
hospital because of it. Last year she even went to see a specialist
in Seattle because the doctors in NM didn't think they were qualified
to deal with her problems! Up to now she hasn't had much relief from
the different treatments that they have put her on. A few weeks ago
she was referred to a specialty surgeon there in Albuquerque. After
seeing her he decided that she needed a special surgery to help her
condition. The surgery was yesterday, Monday. I haven't heard from
my dad yet to know how it went. This was a very difficult procedure
and will take a long time to recover from. Please pray for her as she
recovers. She is supposed to be in the intensive care for a day or
two after the procedure then they will transfer her to a step down
unit. Please also pray for my dad as he tries to balance work and
taking care of her. I will let you know as soon as I know how she is
doing. Thanks in advance for your prayers!

love,
k

coming home IV: Rock Star Status

Dear Family and Friends,
How are you doing? Things here are going well. It still feels unreal
that I am leaving! I have two weeks left in Namibia. I am not sure
when I am heading to Windhoek, so I'll keep you informed. Today's
edition of coming home has to deal with what I refer to as the "Rock
Star Status". Here in Rundu I am a superstar! Honestly! Ok, so no
one wants my picture or my autograph, but I am CONSTANTLY stared at
with people frequently pointing their fingers at me. It doesn't
matter where I go. Grocery store, church, post office.... everywhere
I go I get stared at, sometimes (like at church) for hours at a time!
And, especially when I enter the hospital compound, EVERYONE waves at
me and gives me greetings. Greetings are very important in this
society so it's not any wonder that they all greet me, but I wave
constantly from the moment I drive through the gate to the moment I
park the car!

I am honestly going to be thankful that I won't be stared at so much
once I come home! However, it will be a little weird to no longer be
recognized... to be just another person and not having the masses
interested in my every move.... There is absolutely nothing that any
of you can do to help me adjust to blending in with society... (I
don't want you to stare at me to make me feel better!!!) I just wanted
to share with you guys something that I might struggle with. :-)

I hope this finds you all doing well!
love,
kapande

coming home III: politically incorrect & socially unacceptable

A typical conversation for me:

Kimmie: "What is that nurse's name?"
Sister Haikera: "Which nurse?"
Kimmie: "The fat one from Surgical Ward."

This absolutely doesn't sound like something that an American would
say... But you would be surprised what has come out of my mouth in my
time here in Africa! To say that there is no politically correct
speech is the understatement of the year! If anything is offensive to
us as Americans, they the locals here say it... and, after three
years... so do I! Weight is not a taboo topic here. Sometimes they
mean being fat as being healthy and rich enough to buy good food to
eat, and sometimes they mean that it's bad because one is just fat...
I have been called both on many occasions! I have gotten used to it
and now I just joke about it... I think it will be hard for me to
come back into a society where weight is a constant issue. The other
day a girl saw a picture of my dad and told me "No wonder you are
fat." Honestly, she said it just like that! At home I would have
wanted to punch who ever said that, but to her all I said was "yes...
looking at my father I don't have a choice do I?" She thought it was
hilarious and giggled at it. When I told my dad he wasn't quite so
tickled by it. Sorry Daddy! :-)

Another example: When needing to go to the bathroom, in America a
woman might say "I need to powder my nose" or "I am just going to the
ladies' room, I'll be right back." Here, you just say "I have to pee,
I'm going to the toilet." or, "Oh, I am having running stomach, I
must go to the toilet.' Yup, no pretense at all of nicety involved!
You just say what you mean!

Want another? I pick my nose in public! Yup, I sure do.... and it's
perfectly acceptable here! Everyone does it! I used to joke about it
when I first came, and now I do it too. :-( Yikes!

Another: If you are trying to describe someone and they are darker
than most people then it is perfectly acceptable to say 'The very
black one'. The color of the skin is just another way of identifying
someone... there is no negative connotation to the darkness or
lightness of the color of brown that their skin is. If they are dark
skinned then they are called black and if someone is very light then
they are called colored. (FYI: Our new president is placed in that
category) I have a feeling that I am going to make the mistake of
talking about 'black people' or 'colored people' in a public place and
get beaten up!

So how can you help me? Don't freak out too much when I say something
that I am not supposed to... maybe we can come up with a code word
that you can say when I am inappropriate! :-) And if you see my
picking my nose... don't laugh too much... just hand me a tissue and
tell me I'm not in Rundu anymore! :-)

I would love to write more but I have to go to the toilet to go pee
now... ha ha ha ha
love you all!
k

'luggage' pics

Hi again!

So it turns out I can't sleep... so thought I would be productive and load the pics of my new luggage... :-)

love you all!

k

click here

the new girls

Hi Everyone!
I can't believe that I forgot to tell you that we're getting two new
people to serve here in Rundu! Ok, so I can believe it... and I know
you can too... it's just the way I am. Glad you all love me anyways!
So, Tricia and Nicole are both from Kentucky and will be joining us
here in Rundu for 3 months. They arrived in Windhoek over the weekend
and will be having orientation this week. They will arrive here in
Rundu on Monday the 16th. I have decided that it would be nice for
them to be able to settle into the house without me and my junk in the
way. What does that mean? It means that I am going to try to
completely pack the house before the end of the weekend so that they
can make this their home when they arrive. :-) I am going to move
out of the master bedroom into the small room so that they can move
into where they are going to be for their time here. That means that
I have a lot of work to do this week! I have already gone through my
room and bathroom and sorted everything, so the biggest job is done.
Now I just have to go through the rest of the house. Thankfully I
have already started pulling things off the walls, taking small
nicknacks and putting them aside so that a lot is already done. :-)
It will still be hectic though! Minnie and Sabrina have agreed to
help me actually pack my suitcases, which will be a huge help! I just
have to gather everything together!

Speaking of suitcases, I have some unusual ones. My pastor is also a
carpenter and I had him make me a beautiful wooden box. It has
carvings of elephants on it and it is gorgeous! I just brought it
home today so I will take pictures and get them on facebook tomorrow.
On Saturday he called me and said there was a problem with it. Since
there have been problems with it along the way I rushed right over.
Turns out the stinker was playing a joke on me. When I arrived it was
sitting there beautiful and completely finished! My second piece is a
basket that I had Sabrina buy for me in Katima, a town near the
Zambian border that is known for their baskets. Other than that I
just have a boring suitcase. Three years.... three pieces.... I think
it's fair don't you?

My first day of not waking up to an alarm clock...oops.. I mean, my
first day not at work was really nice. I loved waking up slowly and
then taking my time getting things done. The rains even held today so
I was able to do some laundry! YAY! That really helps with the
packing process. :-)

lots of love,
k

praise:
- no alarm clocks for 3 whole weeks! YAY!
- my box is beautiful!

Prayer:
- the box might be too big to be a checked piece, I will be calling BA
this week to see what can be done
- for the new girls as they go through orientation in Windhoek with
Suzanne (who's flying solo with 5 kids since Mick is in Florida
getting Stephen settled in preparation for college)
- that I will stay on task this week and get everything done that
needs to be accomplished. I really, really don't want to pull my
usual stunt which is waiting until the very last minute to do things.
If I am diligent this week then I can spend my last weeks here just
spending time with people.

last week of work

Dear Family and Friends,

Since I have a few weeks after stopping work I didn't think that this
week would be very hard for me. Boy was I wrong! This morning I have
almost found myself in tears several times and I haven't even really
done anything yet! Please pray for me to have strength in this week
and that I will make the time to start saying goodbye to people. It's
dawning on me that I am actually leaving and it's an emotional roller
coaster! Thank you in advance for your prayers.
love,
kimmie