Learning how to skateboard

Visit to the Smithsonian

How do you go to Washington and not go to the Smithsonian Museum. With so many choices and such little time both the kids had to make one choice. Wadi has always wanted to know more about dinosaurs so ‘naturally’ his choice was the Museum of natural history and since there was no choice for Barbie doll museum I managed to convince zaria that she really wanted to visit the air and space museum. And see the very first plane ever.

fathers day

Jim and the kids

Michelle's swearing-in reception

Michelle wildman, Megan and Jarin plus myself Wadi and Zaria at our little reunion at main state before Michelle's swearing-in.

Zaria catching up on snuggling time with Auntie Grace

Jarin and Waladi

Wadi and Jarin wildman were best friends in 2004 in Niamey, Niger. They have not see each other since Jarin moved to Kiev. It took wadi a very long time to find a friend that he liked as much as he had liked Jarin but he still talked about his best friend. Seeing him again at his moms swearing in was such a treat for us all.

June 2007

December 2004

Then and now

Neema & Zaria

Time vs Technology

It has been over 4 years since we were with the Osewe's in Zimbabwe but some how it feels like just yesterday. Thanks to mordern day technology aka 'skype' we have all been able to communicate all the time be it with Grace in Rockville or Patrick all over the world, even in the Sudan. But it was still very very exciting to actually see them all physically when we finally made it to the states for our home leave. The kids are all 'grown up'. Hard to believe how similar Neema and Zaria are. Here are some Pics of the pool party the day after we arrived.

Tinashe, Zaria, Neema and Waladi


Zaira on a water 'motorcycle'

Zaria Graduates From Kindergaten

Zaria, Malkhia and Elena

Identifying with each other

I found this very interesting. Nevine’s ancestors are originally from India, Dina’s from Yemen and mine probably somewhere in West Africa but with the three of us being born and raised in Kenya, the similarity between us, (and our mothers who where all in Tunis at one point or another) is amazingly strong. The way we were raised, the way we talk, think and even hope to raise our children shows that we were infact natured “in the same African pot”. Too bad with our life style, just when we find each other one of us is ready for their next posting. Here we are having lunch together saying bye to Dina who is moving to set up a shopping nest for us in Rome.I guess the main thing is to keep in touch.

My Self, Nevin Powell and Dina Nabeel

Our future

L to R
Kien Powell, Soufian, Wadi, Zaria and Kyle Powell
Try explaining to the moms at the American school who hear Kien and Kyle running around calling me 'Aunty Prakah'. They try to figure out how kids who do not look 'black or African' like me could be related to me but there is no explaining the love and bond that transcends skin colour. Even Wadi who for a while did not understand the relationship has finally comfortably settled in to it and will refer both Jim and me as 'Uncle Jim' and 'Aunty Prakah' when the Powel boys are around. If only the world could follow suit.

Zaria & Wadi

Zaria in four different hair styles. Now that is the beauty of African hair. Wadi after a hair cut.