Christmas 2014

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

From literal to figurative deserts, this has been a year of waiting, endurance, and seeking answers. We are grateful for those who have walked with us, prayed for us, and provided encouragement. We are grateful for moments of beauty and reminders in the midst that we are not alone. And we’re grateful for new beginnings as Andrea begins a new position in her office in January.

Many of you will know that over the past few years we have developed a pattern of finding a poem or phrase that becomes our word or mantra for the year. My former boss at the Staff Care Center introduced me to the following poem and it has carried us through the past months. Perhaps it will do the same for you. 

This is the time to be slow / Lie low to the wall / Until the bitter weather passes. / Try as best you can, not to let / The wire brush of doubt / Scrape from your heart / All sense of yourself / And your hesitant light. / If you remain generous / Time will come good; / And you will find your feet / Again on fresh pastures of promise / Where the air will be kind and blushed with beginning / 

(John O’Donohue to bless the space between us: a book of blessings)

Duncan and Andrea

Namibia

In November I spent two weeks in Namibia for work. While I won't show any photos or talk about the actual work, I will say that the people we were privileged to spend our time with were so great - welcoming, resilient in spite of many challenges, fun, talented and inspiring  in so many ways. 

Namibia has been on Andrea's list of countries to visit for a long time. When Andrea and I were in South African in 2008 we strongly considered going to Namibia also but we didn't have enough time - so you know she was quite envious of my going on this trip. Which just means we'll have to go together some time in the future! So a few highlights and observations from this trip...

Highlight #1 before even arriving in Namibia was experiencing Delta's direct flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg, which is currently the worlds second longest direct flight - 14 1/2 hours going, 15 1/2 coming back! After a night in Joburg our entire team met up for our short flight to Windhoek.  And as we came in to land, this is what we saw...nothing - just stark beautiful landscape! As we came into land at the airport (which you can see in the photo below) we couldn't see anything - buildings, roads, people. It was amazing.

Namibia is a large country by size but small in population (only 2 million). Below the view from my room at our hotel with the hills that surround Windhoek.

Another view from the hotel with the Supreme Court buildings in the front and the famous Christ Church behind. 

Above - the team (Dawn, Walter and Molly) from the US in planning mode on the roof of the hotel prior to our work. We spent a lot of time together and worked really well as a team. Each brought different strengths that made it a joy to work together. And we had some good meals...(see below)

On the weekend Molly and I hit the road with Chameleon Backbackers to see the desert and especially the dunes...

Oryx

Above - our campsite, and the small wall surrounding it below - on which the cutest jackal jumped up and looked at us that evening while we were eating!

Getting up at 4:30 in the morning allowed us to experience sunrise at Dune 45 - which was spectacular

More Oryx...and dust and sand...

On our way to the dunes, we stopped in at the tiny 'town' (encampment?) of Solitaire - one of my new favorite places in the world...

After our work days were over on the second week, the rest of the team returned to the US. I stayed a few days longer to go to the beach - specifically, Swakopmund.  The landscape became more and more arid and stark until it looked like nothing would survive...and then wedged in between this desert terrain and the ocean is the holiday town of Swakop.

Huge wide roads

Surprised by flamingos on the beach

Breakfast to send me on my way...

Beautiful, stark and striking - so much to love and more stories to tell, but I know some have been asking when I would post on the blog - so this is a start and I'll circle back around and add some more.

Duncan

Duncan's Favorite Things...in DC

When we lived in Bangkok in 2009, I came up with a list of my favorite things which you can find here, here and here. After passing the two year mark here in Washington DC, I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite things here in this town. And the timing of my list is interesting given that Forbes recently ranked Washington as the coolest city in the US (followed closely by Seattle.) I'm not sure that what I like in this city are the same things that appealed to others in the Forbes vote, but there's no denying that this town is very different than even its recent reputation (whatever that might be for you - dangerous, run down, gridlocked - well okay, that last one is still trure!) Who would have imagined a decade or so ago that people, especially young folks would be flocking to live here or that this general region would become a hi-tech, innovative, start-up friendly place - attracting so many new young workers. From what I gather, a significant driver in all this is actually 9/11 and the massive ramp up in overall security, surveillance and military operations and the subsequent explosion in use of contractors to run this industry. I'm sure there are other reasons too (read the Forbes article for more details.) And while this can also be a demanding, power-driven, walk all over you to get ahead kind of town, this post is purposely focused on the positive. So for now, in no specific order, here's my current list of favorite things in Washington DC.

Rock Creek Park

Under the category of green spaces, Rock Creek Park (which runs the length of DC and is reachable just a few blocks from our house) is an amazing park to hike, run, bike, picnic and explore. We love it and often spend time here. One of our favorite places in Rock Creek Park is the Rock Creek Park Horse Center, home to Andrew (featured in our Christmas card last year!) and many other horses. It's a place where anyone can get lessons, go on trail rides or board their horses.

Sticky rice and chicken picnic at Rock Creek Park

But, perhaps my most favorite place in the city (although I don't take advantage of it nearly as much as Rock Creek Park) is the US Botanic Garden. Although it is beautiful any time of year, there simply is no better place to escape to in the winter than the lush, humid, conservatory packed full of exquisite beautiful plants. I LOVE IT!  Pictures don't do it justice. The gardens and displays whether inside or out are always educational and restorative at the same time.

When it looks like this outside...

...there is no better place to be inside than the Botanic Garden

While there are many historical squares and parks that add a measure of beauty to this town, Rock Creek and the Botanic Garden are by far my favorites. The US National Arboretum is also great as is Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens which was mentioned previously in this blog. On a more personal note, I also love the majestic trees outside our apartment. I just like looking out our windows at them. And I'm really really grateful to have a bank of windows in our tiny apartment - yes even our windows make the list (but probably not most visitors!)

Our bedroom windows and view

Our windows won't be the oddest thing you read here. Though this past summer was on the cool side (which I along with most DC folks did not complain about) I do love the heat and humidity of the East Coast. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate a blast of cool air - and my favorite spot to get a blast of cool air are the air conditioning vents in the metro stations. Every morning during the summer, you will find me poised at just the right angle beneath a AC vent gulping in vast quantities of cold air. This would not be most people's favorite thing (although you won't find anyone complaining about the AC) but like most things whether it's walking by Rock Creek or seeing the orchids in the Botanic Garden or even the trees outside our windows, the air con takes me back to a place and time in Thailand (specifically the old OMF mission home on Pan Road where the only air conditioning was in the business office - and I can still remember the icy blast!)

I do love living in a city with so many free museums and monuments. All the national memorials in this town are profound and moving and worth repeat visits but I especially love the words of both FDR and MLK Jr. which are engraved at their respective memorials. While I am not a huge museum guy, when I do go, if I'm tired after ten minutes I can leave and know that I can come back another day and it won't cost me anything.

Words at the FDR Memorial

Words at the MLK Jr. Memorial

And my favorite museum is the one full of living creatures just a mile and a half down the road called...The National Zoo - home to Bao Bao who celebrated her first birthday on August 23 - Need I say more? (Well I will!) Earlier this summer, I walked down to the zoo and thought I would check on the lions. I had heard that some lion cubs had been born this past winter and spring but it was amazing to see SIX cubs and their moms and dad, Luke, all just hanging out together! (Here is a fun video of the cubs having their swim test). Insider tip...the best time to go to the zoo, especially if you live here is at 4 or 4:30 in the afternoon. All the tourists are leaving and the zoo can be almost empty AND you are almost guaranteed to see all the animals as they will be waiting by their doors to go in for the night. Creatures of habit for sure!

How many lions can you spot?

Like many cities, Washington has also become a foodie town and while we don't eat out that much there are many super popular restaurants that you could go to (if you can get in.) If you only had the chance to go to one restaurant and you didn't want to spend a fortune, the one we would recommend is Zatinya by Jose Andres. Sure there are other newer, higher rated ones (Roses Luxury etc) but you can't go wrong with the entire experience at Zatinya

And finally one of my favorite things are my co workers that I get to hang out with at the USAID Staff Care Center. They are such a seasoned group of mental health clinicians, coaches and humanitarian experts so I get to learn a great deal all the time, but we also have so much fun together. I am supported and well cared for there.

There you have it - my don't miss list for Washington DC! Do you have a favorite place?

Though not mentioned in this post, the National Cathedral is also worth visiting!

Duncan