Hi, Grandma......(A desperate house wife)

Normally I don't wear an apron when I cook, but I feel like enjoying a house wife today, I decided put it on.

Jim came home and looked at me "Hi, Grandma," he said.

Obviously my apron figure does not attract him.

"You look pretty, Babe!" when I wore the exact same apron in Chad, he said that.

I concluded that it is a same thing I thought Mangos were the best food in the world when I lived in Chad but I don't buy it or don't even pay attention to it in Malawi.

I think Jim was stressed to the max and there was no amusement in Chad.    Even my apron figure looked pretty for him that time.

Well, to win his attention in this country I need to wear a mini skirt and a pair of fishnet stockings in the kitchen..........?

New life for old vehicles

Have you ever imagined second life of your previous vehicles you owned?    Maybe your cars were sold to the next person or dealers and had another life for several years and.........ended up  your cars,  your pickup trucks were scrapped?

NOPE!

I could say Africa is a retirement place for the old vehicles you gave up but this is not a  good expression.   I should say Africa is the second stage for the old vehicles before their real retirement.   

I am surprised so many Japanese buses, trucks, even ambulances are running desperately in this country.   Every time I see them, I can imagine their previous life in Japan. 

This ambulance had been running with sirens through the heavy traffic in order to save lives.    This small bus had been carrying preschool children before it came here.   That bus had been taking care of retired seniors.............etc.

  

It looks funny because they don't erase the Japanese letters on the vehicles because the erasing activity

costs too much.

People just drive them with the previous commercial signs.

I saw a kindergarten pickup bus is carrying local people (adults). They are sitting properly and the out side of the bus says 

'preschool children only.'

Who cares? But this is the moment I can giggle by myself.

Someday I may see my brother's school's buses running in this town.

　

 

UDON Noodle in Malawi

I found Japanese UDON noodle at a store which South African people own.   They have nice imported food.   I was looking for sesami oil in this town and finally found it in this store.   They have Miso and Soy Source (Kikkoman), too.   The noodle on their shelf looks little sad.  It is not dried noodle but vacuumed pack.   I was thinking how many people buy this staff.  The package looks weird because instruction written by Chinese but some others were English.   Wait!   This noodle made in Japan.   Wow, it came form Chiba prefecture.   It came such a long way.  I assume it was　exported to China first then Chinese company exported to Africa.  

Now it is in front of me who came form California.   

OK!  I should give a try because both of us (Udon noodle and me) are originally from Japan and now run into each other in Lilongwe.  

I had bad Udon noodle experience which I bought it in CA but could not eat it because it broke into small pieces.   That noodle came form Japan.   I do not expect high quality noodle in Africa.   That's OK.  I don't blame it.   

 I cooked ground beef with ginger, soy source, sugar, and I made " AN KAKE UDON."  The noodle was excellent!   I am proud of it!   I will keep buying this noodle!!!   I love it!

Jim said, "This is the best Udon Noolde in town!"  Thank you!   I take it.

 

Japanese N

Looooook! I am OK!

I made it!  He is on my hand!

"GECKO!   I won't bite you.   Promise! "

Here is a giant Moss.    This is Jim's hand.  I am still afraid of touching them.  

Where is Japan?

FeDex called me!

"You got a package!"    Wow!  It was fast.   My sister in law sent me a document package on 2/12 then arrived in Lilongwe on 15 th.    Good Job FeDex!

The next morning I walked down to the FeDex office where located 15 minutes walking distance from my place.  I got it and I could open it immediately at the FeDex office but I decided 'I dare not open it.'  I was holding it and went back to my place quickly.   I prayed!  Please do not make me disappointed.  It was a pamphlet I designed at Japan for my family's school.   

When my husband and I were in CA last October, my husband got a short term contract in Ethiopia.  I decided not to go along with him instead I visited my family in Japan.   My sister in law excited to have me because they were just thinking to order a new pamphlet for 2009 for the pre-school they run.  I was there for 3 weeks and she asked me to design it.   

"My laptop was too small and I did not design last 8 years........ "  I was looking for some excuses but my sister quickly bought a brand new big screen desktop for this project.  Wow!  No more excuse.  Just do it!

 I needed some time to catch up 8 years blank.    Well, at last I'd got going.  I worked day and night desperately! 

 In compensation for tons of papers and color toners, I finally finished 8 pages design.  I did my best.   Can't be better!  This is it!   Next day I had to leave Japan for CA.

I left my work with my sister in law.   She needed to work with a printing company for the final proof reading and picture edit etc.  

When I arrived in Malawi, She e-mailed me that it came out beautifully. 

But still I could not believe it until I looked at one by myself.  

WOW!   This is it!  I was so happy about the final professional print.   I was not disappointed at all.

I remember that 7:00 pm at the night before leaving Japan, I was till struggling with the small details on the pages in their office.  I had to save the files.

Finally I finished!   I screamed and showed the final printout to the staff working in the office.       

One lady said, "Tomoko-san, there is no Japan island of this world map."  

"WHAT!!!!!!!!!!"   NO WAY!!!!!!!   I used a world map which I downloaded from a web on the first page of the pamphlet.    She was right.  Japan was missing!   Who made this stupid map?  Damn it!  (Who chose this map? Me....)

I was shocked but I did not have time to fix it.  My family was waiting for me at the restaurant.   I gave up.....

My sister in law who is the principal of this pre-school said, "That is OK!   If someone found there is no Japan on this map, I would say 'Good Job! give you one point.' " 

The entrance exam of this school is already started. 

So, my beautiful pamphlet has a world map has no Japan islands.  

Graphic Design

I got an phone cal

日本の夏を思う・・・・

なんで タイトルが　African Morning Dew　なのかここらで説明しましょう！　

アフリカの朝は早いです！　チャディアンは朝４時には起きてた。　朝５時には子ども達が外で遊ぶ声が聞こえる・・・。　

ここマラウイでは朝６時には通勤ラッシュ。　朝によわ〜〜い私をつつくようにして散歩に連れ出す主人。６時半、ヒンヤリとした朝の空気が気持ちいい。　遠くの山々には霞がかかってる。　

私たちが歩くコースはフラットの周り。　舗装されてない道。　道の周りにはトウモロコシ畑が続く。　朝露に濡れてるんだよ、草が。　朝日をあびて雫が光ってる！　芝は露に濡れて白く見える。　

チャドではありえなかったね〜。　砂漠だからね・・・。　

道ばたに咲く小さな花に思わず足を止める私。　青いのは露草、赤いのは白粉花。　ホウセンカも咲いてるよ。　どれもみな、子どもの頃の思い出が一杯つまった草花だ。　子どもの頃の自分がフラッシュバックとなって頭をよぎる。　オシロイバナの花弁の蜜の味、ホウセンカがはじける時の指の感触・・・。　主人には説明できないな、この気持ち。　

勝手に自分でこの花達は日本を代表する日本だけの草花。　そう思い込んでたよ。　違うんだね。　アフリカに露草、アフリカに白粉花、アフリカにホウセンカ。　咲いてるんだよ。　

夕暮れ時には童謡　”赤とんぼ”　を口ずさみながら、この詩はね、１５歳でお姉ちゃんが嫁にいっちゃうんだよ・・・・なんだか哀しい詩なんだ・・・主人に説明しながら歩く私・・・・・。　（ここマラウイでもマラウイアンの着メロに”赤とんぼ”　があるんです、不思議だ！）

ゆうやーけこやけ〜〜のあかとんぼ〜

おわれ〜て見たの〜は、いつの〜〜日〜〜か〜〜

この”おわれ〜〜て”　ってところはね、”追っかけられて”　じゃなくて、お姉さんの背中に”背負われて”っていみなんだよ〜。　ね〜〜聞いてるジムさん？

　　

Geckos in my house

I grew up at Tokyo. I did not see any Geckos in my house. I found several lizards in my yard when I was small girl. I was really afraid of them. I could not go out if they were on the wall.

You know, people can practice, study and finally step up. I did it in Chad. Chad was the best place to get used to lizards. Indoor lizards, outdoor lizards, fat ones, colorful ones which were doing push up under the sun.

NOW, I AM TOTALLY OK WITH LIZARDS! I can share my room with them!

I found 3 of them last night. They are 1~3 inches. I hope they eat a lots of bugs in my house.

Go, Go, Geckos!

Destroyed their favorite snack.....

In contrast with my hope they (I mean flying termites) were still on our balcony next morning. I knew it because they got wet and could not fly.........Damn!

Lucky me! It was a first day we got a housekeeper working for us! Here she came!

I showed her the balcony. She said she's never seen these many termites in her

life. Me neither!

I asked her some laundry but she needed to clean up the balcony first because that was the only place we can hung our laundry. I gave her tools and let her go to the balcony and closed the door. Thank you, Edith!

But she called me, "TOMO! LOOK!" (I did not want to see them actually.....) Oh, My God! There are huge piles of termites beside the window wall. I grabbed my camera.

She sprayed on them and started sweeping up the bugs. She dumped them into a bucket quickly.

She took the bucket outside to dump. Curious neighbors' housekeepers

came to see our new housekeeper. What's going on? They looked into our bucket which was full with the bugs. One lady who works for next building scooped the bugs with her hand and said, "WOW! there are so many! These are very good to eat! " But next moment, they were so disappointed to hear that my housekeeper sprayed on them. "I am so sorry we did it." I apologized. "Oh No, we could eat them." "I am sorry we won't do it again, I will call you next time before we spray."

Feel guilty because looks like I buggered up their favorite snack. I know I would upset if somebody pesticide onto my favorite rice crackers. NO! Don't do that!

By the way, what is the best way to eat them?

Hey, Geckos! Party is in the back. All you can eat tonight!

When we start eating dinner, rain started.   We still don't have curtains in our dinning room.   I can see the outside through the window.   

"What is that? "  I stopped eating and looked at one window front of me.   "Flying termites, remember?  We saw Malawian selling these bugs on the road."  said Jim.    I remember he mentioned that Malawian catch flying termites to eat.   They eat them fresh or cooked.    

Termites came to our balcony and covered the balcony floor.    Some of them flying around the window.   Oh, my god.    They are TOO MANY!   Oh, No!   Some of them got into our room.   Where did they come from?   I panicked.  I checked if all our windows were closed.    We found a small space between the balcony door and floor.   

We removed our dishes from the table and sprayed to them.  Jim says, "Tomo, don't eat them even you are hungry, OK! because I sprayed!"   "Of course not!"   I lost my appetite, and peer cautiously into the window.   OH, MY GOD!   I could not see the balcony floor because they keep coming more and more and covered the floor.  Some of them sitting on the window flame area piled up each other.    Hundreds of flying termites in my eye sight. 

" Tomo, here is my salad!"  He showed me his plate and there was one termite in his plate.   I thought he was just kidding but that moment, he ate that bug with some vegies.     I can't believe it he did it!   Don't kiss me, Darling! 

I just hope they will be leaving by tomorrow morning.    I don't want to see the hundreds of dead termites on our balcony.  

By the way, "Geckos, party is in the back.   Bring all your friends and family.   All you can eat tonight!"  

3 things surprised me

Here were the top 3 things surprised me in Chad.

1. A man and a man holding hands and walking on the street even over 100F degree hot day.
   
2. Lizards are everywhere.   They look like small dinosaurs.
3. A famous Japanese song for schoolchildren is a popular  Chadians' cellphone melody. 

Here are the top 3 things surprised me in Malawi.

1. Black and white ..................................Penguin? Panda? Zebra?  NOPE!     B/W Crows!   
   
2. We need ironing for all our laundry which we dried outside.  I even ironed underwear.
   
3. Same melody I've hard in Chad is also popular Malawians' cellphone melody!  It's a song of RED DRAGON FlY.
   

初めての専業主婦？

生まれて初めて専業主婦という立場を経験している。　と、いうのも結婚したのが遅かったせいなんだけどね・・・。　が、結婚後７年間フルタイムで仕事ができたのは、かな〜〜り家事というものを　”ないがしろ”　にしていたせいだ。　週末の２日間で掃除機をかけ、洗濯機を数回まわし、食料の買い出しに走り、余力があれば洗車．．．．これだけこなすのが精一杯だった。　週末だけは私がお料理当番（夕飯だけね！）。　言い換えれば週末以外は毎日主人が夕飯を作ってくれていたのだ！　言うが易し！が４年間、どんなに疲れていても彼は文句一つ言わず、夕飯を作って、私の帰りを待っていてくれた。　これはなかなかできるものではない。　

今は晴れて専業主婦。　専業というと、これが主なお仕事ですよ！　という意味でしょ?　なんだか毎日家に居て家事をするのが不思議な感じ。

４年間毎晩夕飯を作ってくれた主人にここぞとばかり、恩返し。　当たり前のことなんだけど、心を込めてご飯を作って待ってるからね！　

家事を今のところ楽しんでる。　掃除機も洗濯機もない生活だから、このままだと楽しいのを通り過ぎて身体のあちこちが痛くなるのは目に見えている。　主人のジーンズを素手で洗って絞るのは素人にはかなり無理がある！それにマラウイでは洗濯物を外に干すとハエがそこに卵を産みつけて、それが体温で孵って皮膚の下に虫が・・・・というおそろし〜〜い現象が起こるらしい。パンツからバスタオルまで外に干した物は全部、ぜ〜〜んぶアイロンをかけないといけない。　パンツにアイロン。　伸びちゃってベロベロ。　

このCMを知っている人は中高年だと思うけど、”わ〜〜た〜〜し、洗濯、すきじゃ〜ないけど・・・・あなた〜〜のためな〜〜らせっせとやるわ〜〜〜！”　

ダーリン、手の皮がむけそうだよ・・・・。

現在の私のプロジェクトはカーテン作り！　ミシン持ってないから明日はお友達の家まで行ってミシンを借ります！

お母さんが洋裁のプロだと、娘の洋裁能力は育たないのだ・・・・！　でも物心ついてからというもの、お母さんが洋裁をしていなかった日なんて、ほとんどなかったろう。　３度のご飯より針と糸を持っているのが好きな人だもの。　その姿は目に焼き付いていて、そうね、技術はほとんど教えてもらってないけど、いつも隣で見てたからね、かっこだけは一人前。裁断をする時のお母さん、ミシンをかける時のお母さん、アイロンをかける時のお母さん。　形をまねしてね、さ〜〜やってみましょう！　洋裁はアイロンのテクニックで決まる！　これはお母さんが言ってたことだ。　ミシンの前のアイロンで全てが決まるって。　だからアイロンとアイロン台は新品を買いました！

この家には大きな窓が５つもあるんです。　先週地元のマーケットで中古のカーテンを色々物色。　ベッドルームの光を遮断してくれるカーテンを４０００クワチャ（１０００クワチャがだいたい７ドルくらい）で買いました。　からし色です。　ちょっと色あせてたり、穴が開いてたりするけど、愛情こめてアップグレードにチャレンジ。　大事に大事にお洗濯してアイロンかけてほつれを直せば立派なカーテンになること間違いなし！　レースのカーテンはリビング用。　３６０センチx２５０センチもある、きれいな花柄のレースを２０００クワチャで買った私。　あ〜も〜〜中古品のマーケットにはまりそうな予感・・・・。　こちらはジムの提案で３つに裁断。　リビングの窓に新しくカーテン用のポールを作ってくれるそうなので、それだと買って来たレースが有効に使える。　男と女の考え方は違うね！　１枚のレースを３つに切って３つの窓へ！（ドレープなし）と考える主人、とギャザーをワッサワサとって１枚だけゴージャスなカーテンにしようと考える私・・・・・。　今回は主人の提案を聞き入れて３つの窓に統一感を持たせることに！　

せっかく専業主婦デビューをした私だけど、３日後からプロのハウスキーパーの人に来てもらうことにしたのです。　短い間だったな〜、専業主婦も・・・・。来週からは専業料理人？　専業妻？　　別に専業しなくてもいいのか？　そうそう、グラフィックのお仕事があるらしいから、そちらに専念しましょう。　カーテンとグラフィック。　なんだかとってもクリエイティブな響きがするじゃないですか？　ほれほれ、そこのカーテンのほころび繕わないと・・・・・。

何だか私ってクリエーチブ？