A real update!!

Ok. It's been awhile since I did an actual real update. So, I'm going to tell you a little bit about life here in Tabuk through pictures. I hope you enjoy them!! =D

I'm going to take you to the market first...

Ok, we need to take a tricey to the market. A tricey is a motorcycle with an attached side car. It should cost about 10 pesos to get to the market.

Today we are buying veggies.
How does egg plant and ampalaya(bitter cucumber) sound?

Maybe we'll stop for some buko(young coconut) juice!

Not quite sure what these fruit are, but BOY are they sour!!

Ok, you convinced me. We'll get some chocolate dipped frozen bananas. Mmmmm!!

Now that we're back home, I'd like to introduce you to a couple of the amazing Filipino midwives that I live with. This is Anie and Marivic. Both are super sweet and great midwives!

Ok, Hairy. I'll introduce you too.

Kayla and I are both from Iowa. It's super cool having a roommate from the same state! Anyway. We decided we wanted to have a garden(though we both forgot to bring sweetcorn seeds!! What kind of Iowans are we anyway?!?!) We had to buy a bunch of tools in order to clear an area for our garden. 

This is the area we selected. It wasn't quite ideal, but it was the only part of the yard that doesn't flood. We hired a couple of guys to clear the area because we've got so much studying to do. It took them only three days to finish! And they cleared a TON of rocks(some nearly the size of a small boulder). 

This is some of the beauty that surrounds us. 

This was the sunset just a few nights ago. I wish you could have seen it in person, the photo doesn't nearly do it justice. 

So, Kayla brought this super cool cup with her, and I have to say, it's one of my favorites!!

The other day we decided to go down to the only coffee house to study all day. This is called a Chico River Mocha. Oh! It was delish!! 

This was a sad day here in Tabuk. Our french press died. =( We continued using it for about a week, but then the glass started falling into the coffee. We decided it probably wouldn't be very healthy to drink a bunch of glass with our coffee.

You can now call Kayla and I official wedding crashers. Sunday we went to church and met one of the doctors that runs a private hospital here. She took us to the hospital for a tour and then invited us to a wedding she was going to. 

We both ended up having to participate in a traditional dance. It was quite a bit different than when I danced at a wedding in Ind!a because it is just one guy and one girl dancing together. 

Everyone was so excited that we were willing to participate. It's so fun to be able to really embrace a new culture and the people. 

The father of the bride showed us his garden. He was really happy that we were there and wanted to see what he does in his "leisure time".

He even told us where we can get a bunch of mulch for our garden!

I hope you enjoyed getting to know where I live a bit. It's kind of hard to really show you the beauty that is here. Tabuk is a pretty laid back city and I love the people here!

There's never a dull moment in Delhi!

I'd like to share Suzy's most recent adventures in Delhi. Every time we go there, we have some kind of excitement, whether it's a bus crash on the way there, adventures at the US Embassy, bartering with shopkeepers, or trying to haggle a good price out of an auto driver. And this time was no less exciting for Suzy.
She left for Delhi to pick up here Chinese visa on Sunday evening around eight, after having rested all day because she wasn't feeling well. When she got to the Picture Palace bus stand she called me and said that she wasn't sure if there were any buses that late because it was Sunday. She asked if I knew where to get a share jeep, but I wasn't sure. She ended up finding a a share taxi and road down the mountain with a few other people. When they got to Dehra Dun they found out that there was a bus strike in this area. It was very difficult, but they finally found a bus, though it was only standard(not very comfortable at all!).
When she got to Delhi she hung out for awhile because the office didn't open till 9:30. Finally she decided to head over that way, but when she got to the office it was closed. When she asked why she was told that it was a Chinese holiday. So, she had to spend the night and go back the next day. Tuesday morning she went back to the office expecting to be in and out in just a matter of minutes. But, it was not to be. She was told that the cover letter they made her type up when she applied didn't have enough information and that she'd have to reapply. She asked again and again what exactly they wanted on the cover letter before she left the office to find an internet cafe to type and print. She was hoping that she could get it expedited so that she could pick it up on Wednesday, but alas, this also was not meant to be. She didn't get back to the office in time.
So, now she is waiting for her train that leaves in about an hour and is on her way back. She'll be going to Delhi again on Monday to *hopefully* pick it up.
Ah! You gotta LOVE "red tape'!!

A 40 passenger bus with 80 passangers

Our adventures began yesterday morning while we were heading to the bus station. Suzy and I took a #1 vikram(local transportation) to the end of the route. Usually when we get off the #1 we have to walk to the end of the street to get a #5, however we thought we were very lucky because there was a #5 right where we got off the #1! So, we jumped on and off we went. We rode the vikram for a long time...longer than it should take. But still we didn’t see the bus station. It crossed my mind once or twice that maybe we got on the wrong one, but I was so sure it was a #5. Finally the driver pulled to a stop and said, “Madam. You get off now.” So, we paid the gentleman and as we walked away Suzy said it was a #3! So, we took a #3 back the other way till we saw some #5’s, jumped off there and got on the #5 to the bus station.

Our second adventure of the day happened about 20 minuets later when the bus pulled up. A HUGE stampede ran for the bus. So, we ran with them. Four adults and two children. Suzy and Grayson got on, then Stephen, myself and finally Amber was able to squeeze her way on. Suzy got a seat because she had Gray with her. And Stephen was able to get one for Amber because she had Deakin. Stephen and I were left to stand. Even though there was a husband, wife and 8 year old boy who were taking up three entire seats and would not move even an inch. At this point I was just like yeah, whatever. Shortly before we pull out, the man sees an old woman and offers her the seat(no, he did not know her). I knew I shouldn’t get upset because an old woman should not have to stand. But I did. And when it came time to pay for our tickets I had to let go of my hand holds so I could pay. When this happened the bus went around a corner and I leaned back towards the old woman who began to hit me! I just shrugged it off that time. But, when she continued to do this throughout the trip every time we went around a corner and I had to lean her way I began to get upset. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore. I looked at her and said, “I am sorry. I can not help it. I am standing. You are sitting. If you’d scoot over a bit I wouldn’t lean on you!!” I felt bad for getting so mad at an old woman, but because I was standing, my feet hurt, my hands hurt and I was car sick I was beyond the point of what I could handle. I was so glad when we got to Muss00rie!!

Then, on the way back to D.D. we were again in a PACKED bus! But this time we got seats. There were many who did not. Suzy and I sat together with Deakin while Amber, Stephen and Grayson sat together. Many times I felt like I was going to toss my cookies, but I pr@yed and J3sus took it away. But there was one guy who did upchuck! First he sat down on the floor(he had been standing) which is no small feat on a bus packed that tight! He sat there for awhile, but pretty soon there was a good amount of commotion as his friend tried to get him to a window. He made it and pretty soon they were telling me to close my window. I felt bad for the guy. I really think there is a good reason they shouldn’t pack those busses so tight!