so, in case you haven't noticed I am finding solace from my housing troubles in blogging. With Thomas securely strapped in and napping away in the ergo and seth at his program orientation i will relate to you last night's happenings.
There is a little boy 1-2 years old named ben who lives at our house - super cute. thomas likes to follow him around. well last night ben came into our part of the house - i told him he should go find his mom but he didn't listen or understand i don't know which. he watched me clean tomas' feet and knees and then out of know where pulls down his pants and gestures to me that he needs to pee - so that was new - i helped him to the toilet. thinking how refreshing it is to be able to help a kid pee without it being some kind of sketchy thing, then pushed him out the door. he pushed back and came back in the room. this repeated several times. finally his older cousin saw what was happening and took him - with a smile. 30 seconds later i hear hitting, yelling and poor ben wailing to the point where he was dry heaving. after he was punished he came back into our room to see tomas - tears and snot running down his face. i picked him up because i knew i could 't let him stay. his cousin got him again and i hear a repeat...until his parents returned...the yelling was amplified at least 2 fold. so some cultural insights - communal punishment - the aunt, cousin, grandparent will punish a child. last night was a rough night but this just broke my heart! i am so grateful for my parents and how they punished me - a few spankings but wow! it is hard to not judge the people and culture 's ignorance. they don't know any other way but they are good people.
8 comments:
That seriously is so sad. I can't belive it.
I'm glad you guys got their safe. Airplane rides with children=hell. Lucy getting five teeth in right now=hell in the fifth ring.
So what the devil about your housing? I really hope that gets fixed very soon. That sucks real bad. How is Seth liking the program though? And how are you keeping yourself occupied and not pulling your hair out.
We miss you guys already!
that really does break your heart. it sounds like little ben wanted to come hang out with someone who would just love him.
I'm so glad you have already started journaling your adventure. I was seriously going to call your mom today and see if she had heard from you.
I have been thinking about you all non-stop. Can you guys get mail? If so, can you email us your address.
Your housing situation certainly wouldn't sit well with me so it is a good thing you are much more courageous than I am.
YOU and Seth ARE COURAGEOUS!! Remember that during your hard and lonely hours. You can do it! You'll figure out how to help little Ben, how to potty in private (or get over caring), how to eat and bath.
Missing you!! Seeing all of Leah's pictures from camp on her blog made me even miss you guys more.
Blog on!!!
Great to hear from you guys. I'm sorry that things are less than perfect with living. I believe there was a similar story when you guys were first married and it got worked out. I'm hopeful the same will occur here. Thanks for the blog updates.....it makes it feel like you're not so far away. Any pictures?
Oh dear. A rough start. Children are precious in Ghanaian culture, but the concept of discipline...different. I bet you felt terrible. People/little kids are going to be SO curious about little T; it may be hard for them to resist the urge to interrupt you no matter where you are.
Anyway, thanks for the posts; I will print them out & send them to Jessica. We hope & pray that the going gets easier! Please get some sleep!
SOOOO good to hear from you. I wish I could be there to keep you company and adventure together. Unfortunately that behavior doesn't happen in just Ghana...
I was happy to hear that you arrived safely; although your trip there didn't sound that pleasant.
Sure hope you get your housing situation figured out soon.
I loved the RDC picture of Seth holding Thomas upside down by his leg.
ROCK ON-- Birch
Yeah! I was beginning to wonder if you guys ended up on a different planet.
Wow- what an adventure on the plane! Sounds like Thomas did alright. I'm sorry you had to be surrounded by all the other craziness.
I hope things start to look up for you guys. It's so hard to be plopped down in the middle of a new culture, new home, new city, especially with a baby.
When I lived in Tanzania, there was a family who lived next door and they had a little boy who would come over all the time too. He was so cute a curious and one time he took something of ours (I think it was a container of bubbles) and I remember him being beaten. It was horrible. It made me so sad and sick.
I miss you guys so much! Good luck getting the housing worked out.
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