Finally I do it - 42.22kms

Finally I get a marathon under my belt. 42.22 kilometers to be precise. The first time I tried to run a marathon was in Anchorage at the mid night sun marathon. I had to be taken to the Emergency room in Anchorage due to dehydration after the 21st mile mark despite having trained hard for it. This time I registered for the Comar marathon here in Tunis. I did not tell them I was Kenyan because I hate it when they give me that “you do not run like one” look. I did not have time to train for this marathon so going in I had taxi money on me coz I was so sure I would need one at least after about 22kms. Well, I kept my self hydrated, no stomach cramps, but my feet, as my mom would say, “were not cooperating”. I pushed on anyway. Before I knew it everyone was screaming and I had finished the race after 4 hours 50 minutes. Everyone was cheering and taking pictures but all I wanted to do was go home and soak in the tub then get a massage from Jim. Well, it’s all done now and somehow I don’t feel any more Kenya that I did before the race but I do feel like I have accomplished something especially when I look at my husband and see how proud he is of me. “We have to tell everyone,” he says. “Show-off” I think to my self while secretly agreeing with him.

Halloween 07

We have been invited to the Defense Attache's residence for an early halloween party. Zaria is going as an Angel, Wadi as a Knight from the movie Narnia and I will be going as Cat woman. More on how much candy we will eat later.

Humbling awakening

We got to work this morning to very sad news. The school principle of the American school Mr. Michael Adams (Wadi soccer teacher) and his wife a 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Kathryn Adams (Wadi's after school activity teacher) had died in their home here in Tunis from carbon monoxide poisoning. It is just ‘yesterday’ I had given Mr. Adams a ride home after the school board meeting so this was sad and humbling news. Have you ever wondered what will be said about you when you die? Do you ever think if people will be glad to be rid of you or if people will mourn your loss? For those of us who believe in a higher power, have you ever thought if based on your life on earth you will have a place in heaven? Well, to start with I just realized I do not have a will yet we all make plans of what we want, a new house, a new car, to save money yet God has already made plans for us. Today we are, tomorrow we are no more. May be it is time to stop focusing on our selves and all material things. How about UBUNTU? You are, there for I am!

Grandpa and Grandma leave

My in-laws have been here for about 3 weeks and it was just so reassuring to see a couple that has been together for over 55 years still loving and caring for each other like they just met. They leave today and I can already feel the difference. Grandma has an amazing sense of humor and Grandpa just has an overwhelming great positive energy around him that we are going to miss. Well, we will see them in the summer so we do have something to look forward to.

Below are pictures of my little angelic nephew Aiden being rocked to sleep by Grandpa. That was my kids’ favorite napping spot but I guess they are a little too solid for that now. Next is us Jim, dad, mom and Nevine having lunch at Les Ombrelle and the last 2 are we at the airport seeing mom and dad off.

Spending precious time with Grandparents

Grand Ma and Grandpa reading to the kids. Below Jim and his dad during a night visit of the Medina

Mungo Club activities

Zaria rod the banana boat then changed in to her new belly dancing out fit.

kids club perfomance

The kids spent most of their days at the Magic life kids club. Zaria joined the animation group and they presented all their well rehearsed stuff to us on the last night to a huge audience with me, Wadi, Jim, Grand ma and Grand pa there to cheer her on. She was the only English speaker all other kids are from Germans and Swiss. Still some how she manged to do the ketchup song amazingly well



Wadi, Jim, Grand ma and Grand pa supporting Zaria

Tunisian dinner night

Dinner time at the Magic Life resort. We decided to go back there for 3 more nights and just relax. Mon and I spent most of our time at the Thalasso getting massages, Hammam, sea weed something or the other. But mostly we just ate ate and ate