Oh, To Be Thankful

This is the Sinai Primary School kitchen.

Today is Thanksgiving Day. The holiday season has officially begun. I am taking a break from the kitchen.  I don't have much time before my timer goes off, so I better get moving.

My year has been completely over the top with food, fun, and wine. What I am most thankful for are food, fun and wine. Just kidding. While I am thankful for those three things, I will always, and have always, been very thankful for friends, family and good health. There are a lot of things, though, that get overlooked because most of us are just too busy to remember that we should be thankful. Period. That needs to change.

Yes, it is really an underarm perspiration stain. 

I am incredibly thankful for a job that demands a lot of me at times, but also gives me the freedom and flexibility to get my work done, morning, day or night, which leaves me time to do the things I love.

Trixie's

I am thankful for a boatload of girlfriends that love to do the things that I love to do. That would  be eating, drinking, being merry, getting pedicures, and shopping.

Grandma Zella Supervising the Making of Shortbread

I am especially thankful for having 50 great years with my Gram, the Best Egg Ever. She lived a good long life, and I plan to follow in her footsteps.

Husna and Mwana

I am out of this world thankful for the WaterPowerPeace project, the Kahembe family, the Mason family, my family of friends in Babati, and my family of friends in New York.

Now for the good stuff.

Our Matching House Wine Bikes

I am thankful that my sister challenged me to wash my hair every other day. She told me once I got used to the feel of dirty hair, I would love it and never go back to washing it every day. Guess what? I have washed it every other day, or less, since New Year's Day 2012. Think of the money I have saved on expensive shampoo and water and electricity. It is true, you can fix your hair so much easier when it is one day dirty. Thank you, Kristi.

I Love My TOMS

I am thankful to have finally learned that you can wear something and not automatically have to put it in the wash. For some reason, that just seemed wrong to wear something twice. Africa does not lend itself to a never-ending supply of water, so you wear the same clothes until wash day. You use water only when you absolutely need to. If you don't have the water, you are obviously not doing laundry two times a day, which frees up a lot of time. It is liberating. Thank you, Babati.

Kellen Playing The Piano

I am thankful for the direct flight from Minneapolis to Helena. It is so easy for Kellen to come home, and we have now discovered it is just as easy for Chris and me to go out there. We have driven the 15 1/2 hour trip for the last 3 years, two times a year, because we usually were hauling Kellen's things out or bringing them back. Not anymore. Kellen has a car now. He can pick us up at the airport, drive us all around, then return us to the airport. Thanks, Delta, and thanks, Kellen.

Lastly, I am very thankful that I have people that actually go to my blog. When I sit down at the computer, I first go to My Audience to see how many people have visited my site. I realize that some get there totally by accident, but, hey, it is still someone that visited my site. When I wrote my first post, I was scared to death to hit publish. I was afraid that people would read what I had to say and think I was an idiot. It didn't take long to figure out that they very well could, and probably do, think I am an idiot, but who really cares? I like to sit down and write about silly things that make me happy.

Happy Holidays! Hopefully we will all have some good food, fun and wine to guide this holiday season.

"May the true spirit of the season find you and fill your heart with happiness." ~ author unknown

Life 101

Whenever there is a life lesson to be learned, my brother-in-law, without fail, turns to "Life 101" to make his point. When you think about it, it really makes sense.

Most of life's challenging moments can be dealt with using good old common sense. A lot of people over think things and believe a challenge in life needs a complex solution, no matter how big or small the challenge.

Now that I am 50 and have lived in Babati, Tanzania for 35 days, I realize I don't have the time or the energy for complex solutions to life's (mostly simple) challenges. At this age, remember, every day is a gift. It is time to enjoy what life has to offer and stop worrying. Once you do that, many of those challenges will disappear.

As we all wander through this thing called life, I really don't think there is any situation that can't be made better, unless maybe we are on death row. I would call that a very complex life challenge that requires a very complex solution and some really good lawyers, or an outgoing governor with a big heart.

So what are some of life's simple challenges?

Can we serve red wine with fish? The wine snob may say no. I say whatever you want to drink is fine. If you drink red wine with your fish, who will know and who will care? So if you are having a dinner party, serving halibut, fretting about the wine to pair it with, stop fretting. Buy some red and buy some white. If your friends find it in poor taste, they don't need to come to your house for dinner anymore. Common sense.

I used my mulligan on the first hole. Can I take another? Of course you can. You paid for the round of golf, you can do whatever you want. If you don't want to keep score, don't keep score. Common sense.

Should I get a dog? I don't have a job and I don't have any money. Of course you should not get a dog. Common sense.

Seriously, though, if life's challenges are getting you down, stop, breathe, figure out one simple thing that you can do to make your life more simple.

"To be simple is to be great." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

What's In A Name?

What's in a name?

Some wines jump out at you, all because of the name. Why is it we respond in such a way to such a simple thing? Good example: Mad Housewife wine. Why is it so alluring to be a mad housewife? Drink the wine and live up to the name, right? I, of course, tried it. In my opinion, it is not very good wine. Sure fun to look at the bottle and laugh about it with your girlfriends.

Another one is Bitch wine. It has a pink label. Not sure why that grabs our attention, but I am sure many of us have tried it. Also, not very good wine. Again, a lot of fun to look at the bottle and laugh about it with girlfriends.

As a side note, there is nothing more fun than trying different wines. For a lot of people that is a scary thing to do. Some  find a wine they like, then are super scared to try anything else. If that is you, go to Great Falls and see Tronny. Wines By Wednesday, Tronny's wine store, is a cool little place attached to his printing business. He likes wine more than he likes printing, so guess where you will find him. He will help you find a different wine that you will like. He will also sell you some really great cheese. A win/win, as I like to say.

Moving on to steak. Petite Sirloin; Flat Iron; Hanger; Skirt. All words that we relate to in a positive way. Who doesn't love a fun new skirt? Who doesn't appreciate a really good flat iron these days; we all need one? Who doesn't love good hangers, one that keeps the clothes from falling off? And who doesn't want a great tasting meal that can be associated with being petite?

We all know that everyone loves a tenderloin because -- duh -- it is tender. Everyone loves the flavor of sirloin but wishes it was a little more tender. Chris and I recently discovered the skirt/hanger/flat iron varieties. They are thin and juicy strips of meat, dying for a little marinade, wanting to be quickly grilled, then cut thinly across the grain. I have no idea where it comes from on the cow. Many of the cooking shows are using these cuts. It works well for fajitas, or you can just eat thin slices next to a bed of mashed red potatoes with horseradish, sour cream and gorgonzola cheese. It would also work well in a daring Vietnamese meal.

Meat Man Dennis

Unfortunately for us, our favorite grocery store doesn't always have skirt, hanger or flat iron steak on a regular basis, even though I throw out subtle hints that they get it in and keep it in. I can't be the only person in Helena that thinks this cut of meat is great. But the meat manager is kind of a grump and must think it bad for business to cater to his customers. Go figure. Yesterday, however, Meat Man Dennis (not the grump, the fun guy) had some flat iron in the back, was willing to walk five feet, fire up the meat saw, and cut off a strip. Yeah Dennis! Chris and I had a fabulous dinner.

If you simply love the flavor of steak, this one's for you; juicy, tender and packed full of flavor.

Grilled Flat Iron Steak

marinate steak in olive oil, red wine, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper
refrigerate for a few hours
as with all beef, take out of fridge and let come to room temperature before grilling (about 1/2 hour)
on a medium grill, cook 3 minutes, turn over, cook 3 minutes, turn over, then cook 2 more minutes
tent for 8 minutes

(adjust time for desired doneness - this will be somewhere between medium rare and medium)

Cheers!

If God didn't want us to eat steak, he wouldn't have given us teeth and dental floss. ~ Stella

Is There Such A Thing As Too Many Friends?

Friday afternoon I turned the TV on, just in time to see some lady talking about her "project." She was originally from Manhattan and had moved to Chicago, or somewhere, I can't really remember. She seemed to be having some sort of midlife crisis and needed change -- big change. She was an artist, but her day job was something entirely different. Reason # 1 not to become an artist. Most artists don't make enough money to live on, and usually end up settling for some meaningless job to pay the bills.

So she got to Chicago and realized she had one small problem: She did not know anyone and had no friends. No problem. Go out and make some friends. That is where the project begins. She set out to meet and connect with one new friend every day for one whole year. She took a picture of each new friend, then took a picture of all of her pictures of friends at the end of the year. Some days she made more than one new friend. It turned out to be about 400 new friends. Out of 400 new friends, about 40 have become good friends. How cool is that?

Well, I am thinking about copying her. I want to meet one new person in Helena for a year. I am uncertain whether to tell the new friend they are part of a project. In a way, it seems rather offensive. It may come across that I really don't care about the person, just about acquiring a new friend. Some people may be intrigued by the notion. I don't know how it will shake out, but I am willing to give it a try. Maybe it doesn't need to be a project, just something fun to do. While in Babati, I made it a point to greet every person that I walked by, and some of those people did became a friend. I think it will work in Montana just as well. Tanzania reminds me of Montana. Simple people, simple fun. I will keep you posted.

When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, "Damn, that was fun." ~ Groucho Marx

What's Up With The Girl Scout Promise?

Happy September. I think I am now settled in at home and looking forward to a change in the weather. Fall is probably my favorite season. There is something about kids going back to school, the excitement of them seeing old friends, new school clothes, beautiful fall colors, better air quality, holidays just around the corner; it all makes for an exciting time.

Home Sweet Home

If you read http://stellasguidetoliving.blogspot.com/2012/08/home-sweet-home-montana.html, you may have wondered why I ended the post with the Girl Scout Promise. Or maybe you just read that I was planning to serve God and my country and didn't really put the two together. My husband, unfamiliar with the Girl Scout Promise, read the post and asked, "What's up with God?"

While on my trip to Tanzania, I learned of some really great, inspiring work that Mrs. Mary Kahembe, with the help of LTT, is doing for Tanzanian women; creation of the Manyara Region Chapter of Girl Guides of Tanzania. Ladies of Babati, you are very lucky to have Mary Kahembe in your community and in your lives. If you embrace her and what she stands for with all of your might, you will be stronger and better equipped to get through this thing we call life.

I had never heard of Girl Guides. I was a Brownie and Girl Scout and knew what that was about, but the term "Girl Guides" was foreign to me. Well, it turns out they are the same, but different names for different countries. The mission of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is to enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.

To my simple way of thinking, that means we educate and empower women (young and old) to stand up for human rights and women's rights. Stand up for what is right. What does that mean in Tanzania? The same thing it means anywhere else in the world. Females are just as deserving of an education as males. Females are just as deserving of good employment with equal pay. Females deserve to own businesses and prosper. Plain and simple, gender equality. And by the way, Tanzanian women are not alone in this quest. There are many women around the world in need of Girl Guides. One day, one woman at a time.

As Chris and I learned about the Tanzanian culture, learned a little Swahili, learned the needs of schools, communities and the great people of Tanzania, we made a promise to each other that we would do a little more. I so enjoyed my visits with Mary as she explained to me what she saw Girl Guides doing for the young women of Tanzania. This is something that I want to support. Women of the world, unite.

"Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day." ~ Sally Koch

Out of Africa

Given that I started blogging earlier this year (2012), you probably don’t know much about my first trip to Africa. I was there in February of 2011. I took a lot of clothes, shoes, makeup, hair care products, nail polish, coats, jackets, UGGs, etc.  You name it, I had it. I did not want to be caught offguard. Lesson learned: Lots of things add up to a lot of weight; take only what you need.

Today I am on my second trip to Africa. I don’t need many clothes.  I don’t need gobs of shoes. I don’t need much makeup. I don’t need hair care products. Cheap shampoo will do. I do, though, need one bottle of nail polish.  Painting your toes is both uplifting and something to do, not to mention, a bottle of polish doesn’t weigh much.

             

The Definition of Need

What do I really need while in Africa? To say, “What does one “really” need?” means one doesn’t really know the meaning of the word need.  

I need two pair of quick-dry travel underwear, a few skirts, a few shirts, a couple pairs of shoes, Deet and malaria pills. “Need” is a word that gets thrown around a lot in the US. I am here to tell you, unless and until you go to a far away land (third world country) where “need” has true meaning, you should not be tossing the word “need” around very often.

Well, today I discovered that I truly need more Kleenex.  I have somehow come down with a really awesome cold (or allergies, or maybe malaria) and with the very fine dust in the air, since it is the dry season, it is all I can do to breathe. My nose runs non-stop. I brought what I thought would be enough to get me through 35 days, but I am now thinking my calculation was off. Fortunately, Mr. Wiseman’s Grocery Store, right across the street from our guest house, carries all kinds of things. So far I have seen baby wipes, candy bars, Kili beer baridi (cold) Pringles, bread and soap. I am very much hoping they carry Kleenex. I do mean Kleenex brand Kleenex. I do not mean any old generic. This is a job for Kleenex. I will check it out in the morning.

Tomorrow is a day of rest, which means we will wander around Babati and, once again, be exhausted at the end of the day. One of the reasons we are so exhausted by the end of the day is bikes and motorcycles and cars and delivery trucks expect you will get out of their way. They also drive on the wrong side of the road. Put the two together, it is hard work to walk down the street and also stay alive.

Back to need. I also discovered that I need Raid, or the Tanzanian equivalent.  We have encountered the most amazing, gigantic (kubwa), blood-sucking mosquitoes that one would ever experience in a lifetime. They are buzzing around the room like crazy. While you can’t always see them, you can always hear them. Chris smashed one between his hands, and about 2.4 liters of blood began dripping down his arm. We do have a mosquito net in our room. After day #3, and many kubwa, itchy mosquito bites, we started putting the net down at night. We are also taking malaria pills. Rumor has it that malaria pills don’t prevent malaria. The sole purpose of the pill is to facilitate a successful treatment. Without the pills, one could possibly experience death.

We think we need a simm card and international phone card. We probably don’t need it; however, we would like to be able to get in touch with someone in America in the event of an emergency and not be paying $4.99 per minute just to let someone know we are possibly dying. While dining with Julian and Sophie (our LTT friends) at the Quick Bite, they alerted us to the fact that there was, indeed, a way to have cheap communication back home. Supposedly, there is a little shop next door to the guest house where we can buy an inexpensive simm card for my Droid phone, then buy an international phone card, and we will be in business. 

Well, the next door that I went to was the hardware store. No simm cards there. Just another example of me not listening very closely, as no one said anything about getting a simm card next door. They did, however, have Raid. They had a kubwa can for 3500 Tanzanian shillings, or about $2.30. Rock Hand Hardware would have charged at least $8.99. What a bargain, and it may save our lives.

P.S. I found this in my draft posts. Better late than never. Cheers.

Home Sweet Home Montana

Hello, everyone. In case you think I may have left the country, I did. I am back. Africa was out of this world. Literally. Internet was a little tricky, but mostly incredibly slow, so I was not able to keep you posted on my travels. Boy, do I have some stories to tell.

In my five weeks, I experienced a lifetime of experiences and emotions: a death in the family; the birth of a baby by one of our new Babati friends; sad; glad; happy; overjoyed; frustrated; inspired; disappointed; excited; frightened; elated; and lastly, incredibly humbled to be a part of a community so grateful for each and every day, as they do not seem to know or mind that they have so little.

Many Tanzanians want to know if all Americans are rich. My answer: Many Americans are rich monetarily, most have more money than Tanzanians, but most Americans are nowhere as rich as Tanzanians in what matters most: happiness. Never did I hear one single Tanzanian complain of anything. I knew that from my trip before, but for five straight weeks, I was constantly reminded of that fact.

On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law -- and I will absolutely give it my all to be more like Tanzanians. Cheers to a fabulous trip!