Di Flaute Fambul de Patrol! [The Flaute Family is on Vacation!]

 Post by Lara

1 August, 2013

Things that we noticed when Kevin’s family was in town:

• Everything we know about water (i.e. what water you can drink, what you have to do to make bad water potable, how to pour-flush a toilet, etc.) we learned as we adapted to life here. 
• We’ve been here long enough that everything is not new and different anymore—and that became apparent when we had 3 tourists along.
• Yes—it rains a lot here, since you came to visit during rainy season.
• Oh yeah, we forgot to mention public restrooms here aren’t equipped with toilet paper. Whoops.
• What do you need a toilet seat for?
• Walking several miles a day is normal for us, and we sometimes forget how far away some things are and how that can be a challenge.
• Hotels frequently only have cold water showers.
• No, Dad—the men dancing for change on the ferry do not want your American quarters—they have absolutely no use for them.
• Don’t worry guys—you can spit your toothpaste ANYWHERE outside and it’ll be ok.
• There are 2 rules for using our toilet, and the first is “if it’s yellow, let it mellow”.
• It actually doesn’t bother us at all to go fetch water at the tap down the hill, and the well has never gone dry, so please don’t worry about using “all the water”. 
• Yes—it’s still raining a lot.  Because it’s rainy season.
• A lot of the problems we face here as teachers in Salone are the same problems Cheryl faces as a teacher in Las Vegas.
• Yes, you’re right…it’s still raining.
• In Cheryl and Jane’s words, “We know you told us that travel was difficult here, but we had no idea.” (and that was with hiring cars for just our family the whole time!)
• Dad—please don’t feel like you have to have a conversation with everyone we pass, or we will never get past the front door.
• Oh by the way—just because I’m shaking someone’s hand does not mean that I know them.
• It was definitely the right choice to hold off on publishing our blog post about tarantulas we’ve found at our house until after the family visited. (Post to follow!)

One of the many rainy season puddles we had to drive through!

All in all, we had a wonderful time showing Kevin’s family around and did our best to make sure they enjoyed it too (they assure us they did, but we know some things were much harder than anticipated).  One thing it put in perspective for us is just how difficult it can be at times to really convey what life is like here—some things you just have to see/taste/experience for yourself.  To Bill, Jane, and Cheryl—we can’t thank you enough for coming to visit, bringing a suitcase full of goodies, and bearing with us through the ups and downs.  We love you—tenki ya!