My cold sores are healed and my altitude induced burst eardrum is almost as well. The medicine is put away, the tissue box lasts longer than a day, and our voices are on the verge of normal. Phew. It was a rough couple of weeks with us begging the Lord to heal us quickly and realizing His timing was not ours. Yet in His Providence, it allowed us to slow down and take in our environment and have much needed bonding time.

The twins seem to be adjusting well and getting back on schedule. They are figuring out boundaries and that me telling them not to stick their fingers in sockets is actually because I love them, not out of desire to crush their budding exploratory spirits. They now walk to the park and even cross on the grass instead of following the paved path. They still love to be held as well as eat, but being outside is slowly becoming more important. What a blessing!

As for us? I thought I would share the stuff that is odd to us now before it becomes so normal that it’s no longer noticed. For instance: I just went to fill my van up with gas and walked around the pump a few times, pushing imaginary buttons, and wishing the credit card slot would magically appear. It took a few long awkward moments for me to realize that I needed to pay first. Nice. Next I went to their grocery store where its always criss, cross, crash in the small aisles. People rush around until its time to check out, then it seems like every family member stops by for a hug, kiss, and conversation…all the while my frozen items are melting on the counter. Once I get my warmed frozen items in the bag, I get to my car and try to find the exit as all of their malls and stores have separate ways in and out…you cannot exit where you entered. This one point of failure creates a parking lot that is clogged with cars trying to get out, park, and maneuver out of the way. I have seen roads blocked for cars trying to enter this line of lunacy.

Once you get on the roads that were built too thin for the weight of traffic, you have to dodge the potholes from said broken thin roads. They do a great job of creating 5 lines of traffic on main highways, but poorly assess the result of all this traffic trying to fit into one exit lane that ends in a traffic light.   So cars make two lanes out of one as they try and squeeze their agenda into mine. Honks flare and accidents erupt. Then add cars that simply break down in the middle of traffic and the tow trucks that block entire lanes of traffic to load the car and you are getting a picture of a normal day on the road. People also get on the left side of me to make a right turn in front of me. It’s quite chaotic. At least the roads are lined with palm trees and foliage as we inch along our course…and a man selling bottled water for 50 cents for those that roll down their window for satiation.

When my energy has been up, I have been blessed to run along the Bayamon River on a path lined with over branching trees heavy with yellow and purple blossoms. I am usually on the path somewhere between 630-730am and have already caught on to the regulars. Most are older walkers that don hats, jackets, and sunglasses as they walk off rice, beans, and plantains. My favorites are the older women that walk off their meals while exhibiting their best bright red lipstick…never leave home without it! Then there are the trios of men walking side by side unknowingly blocking the flow of traffic as they talk endlessly about something I can’t catch. Yet I do catch their cologne that lingers for meters after I pass. I haven’t figured out greeting etiquette either…I smile mostly because when I open my mouth Japanese greetings tend to come out.

I’m sure there are more, but these are the ones that stick out to me today. Each day we are learning and trying to engage in this new larger than life culture. Love you all! Thank you for praying for our health. Please continue to help us be wise parents to our kids, love each other, and figure out what life and ministry will look like here. Adios! Hee hee.