Taxi Ride, Home to School

This video was taken while we were in a taxi, that we caught on the highway near our home. We are taking the main route to school so you will be able to get a better idea of what our bigger environment looks like. It continues from where the "Walk to Taxi" videos left off. (I just added the 3rd and final installment of "Walk to Taxi" so watch that one first if you haven't already.) If you get motion sick this video might not be for you, the taxi was quite bumpy and so is the video.

1 Taxi



2 Taxi



3 Taxi



4 Taxi



5 End of the Ride

A "New" Car!

A "New" Car, older then the one I just sold!

Specs-
- black
- AC (not currently working)
- minor dents (other cars sometimes get in the way)
- Cover over steering wheel (cars steering wheels are not built for the heat, they are all peeling)
- 176,000 km about 109,000 miles
- 2002
- VW Polo

= exploration and freedom!

More Videos

Our last week has been very busy. The contents of which will fill multiple posts, but I am going to forgo details at the moment and attempt to finish loading the videos that are on this (school) computer.

1 Walk to Taxi

2 Walk to Taxi



3 Walk to Taxi

Hello,

I have not really gotten the chance to make a post. Good thing I brought Simon along or you would all be extremely disappointed in me.

Tonight was finally what I would consider a successful night. We took the school bus today after school back to La Kram to the Orange shop. Nice school bus holds about 20 people and takes most people, kids and staff, home to their front door. It took us most of the way to the Orange shop. We then caught a short taxi ride, then we were back at our favorite store. 10 minute wait a little English a little French and we walked out the door with a cle "key" in hand.

Success!

School has been keeping me very busy, but I have been keeping up. I think Simon is a little sick of me wanting to go to bed at eight. I do usually make it until 9:30. I know, real late. I am really enjoying all of my children.

Just to give you an idea of the typical week schedule, they have so many electives here. A little longer of a day but less time in one classroom.

Every morning a beautiful alarm goes off, a horrible ring tone on my phone at 5:45. The alarm clock that we brought doesn't work here and haven't been able to find a replacement. Gwen, the wonderful librarian picks us up and takes us to school. We arrive to school a little before 7:00!

Monday
8:00-9:00 Reading Workshop
9:00-9:40 Library
9:40-10:00 Recess/snack
10:00-11:00 Math
11:00-11:20 Word Study
11:20-11:40 Dear "Silent Reading"
11:40-12:20 French
12:20-1:00 Lunch/Recess
1:00-2:00 Science
2:10-2:50 Computers
2:50-3:00 Pack up and go home

Tuesday
8:00-9:00 Writers Workshop
9:00-9:40 PE
9:40-10:00 Recess/snack
10:00-11:00 Math
11:00-11:20 Word Study
11:20-11:40 Dear "Silent Reading"
11:40-12:20 French
12:20-1:00 Lunch/Recess
1:00-2:00 Social Studies
2:10-2:50 Music
2:50-3:00 Pack up and go home

Wednesday
8:00-9:00 Readers Workshop
9:00-9:40 Writers Workshop
9:40-10:00 Recess/snack
10:00-11:00 Math
11:00-11:40 Art
11:40-12:20 French
12:20-1:00 Lunch/Recess
1:00-1:50 Science
1:50-2:00 Pack up and go home

Thursday
8:00-9:00 Readers Workshop
9:00-9:40 Writers Workshop
9:40-10:00 Recess/snack
10:00-11:00 Math
11:00-11:20 Word Study
11:20-11:40 Dear "Silent Reading"
11:40-12:20 French
12:20-1:00 Lunch/Recess
1:00-2:00 Social Studies
2:10-2:50 Art
2:50-3:00 Pack up and go home

8:00-9:00 Readers Workshop
9:00-9:40 Handwriting
9:40-10:00 Recess/snack
10:00-11:00 Math
11:00-11:40 Music
11:40-12:20 PE
12:20-1:00 Lunch/Recess
1:00-2:00 Science
2:10-2:50 Arabic/German/Classroom work (they have one of the three options)
2:50-3:00 Pack up and go home

Have you ever heard of so many electives in second grade? Most students are fluent in two or three languages and are learning another language such as Arabic or French. Music, Art, PE twice a week, french four times a week, and library and computers once a week. Slightly different then the Seattle public school electives.

Simon is currently doing our first load of laundry at our new house. Necessary materials include a ton of dirty underwear and sock, laundry soap, large bathtub, and a few nice strings (a.k.a drying lines). Well at least there was soap involved, we will smell nice.

FYI
- When you come to visit cut back on tuna before you come. Tuna is on everything. For dinner tonight we got two calzones one pizza and one regular. They both came with Tuna. Every place you go to there is tuna on the menu. Tuna pizza is a big hit! Not sure if it is for me yet.

- Sorry temporarily miss placed the cord to allow us to post pictures

Internet...

Finding a way to have consistent internet access when we are not at school has become our first real challenge. At the same time it has given us a more realistic view into the life of a local Tunisian.

I think I explained the process for receiving telephone and internet at our house. It is a multi-step process with periods of unknown waiting in between. As far as we know we are still on the first step. Seeing no progress in the near future we have begun attempting a new way to gain access. Other expats have had success with the purchase of a 3g USB dongle from the French provider called Orange. The Key, as it is called, is a cell based service much like in the states, but there is no contract as you prepay each month you want to use it.

Two days ago, one of Kaylee's coworkers (who happens to speak English, French, and Arabic) was going to the Orange store to purchase a new sim card for her key and invited us to join so that she could help with translation. She had tried the store closest to school the previous day and was told she had to go to the La Marsa Orange desk. So after school we caught a cab and rode for 15 minutes into La Marsa. Within minutes Kaylee's coworker (Mona) was informed that that location (as of last week) is now only an information desk; they don't sell products. They sent us to a bigger branch in La Kram (back the way we came). Fifteen minutes later, on our way into the big Orange store we learned that they had what both Mona and we were looking for, but ... it was inventory day so we could look but could not buy. Attempt 1 ... Failure!

Yesterday, we played pick up soccer after school and then spent a little over an hour in Kaylee's classroom using the internet to buy flights for our return over winter break (details to come.) Leaving school around 6 we headed back to La Kram (still wearing our sweaty soccer gear.) When we got there it was packed and in typical telecom fashion there was one person serving customers and three greeting them at the door. We were instructed to grab a number, ours was 123. It didn't look too bad they were already serving number 113. The number didn't change for a half an hour. We began to realize that the numbering system is not as strictly enforced as it would be at home. Taking not we edged our way to the front and when we had the chance moved in. Unfortunately, at that moment they decided to return to the number system. An hour and a half after arriving our number was called! The first thing they asked for was our passport... We hadn't heard any need to be carrying it. Fortunately, we have each been carrying a color copy of our passports in our wallet in case of emergencies. We were saved... until the guy at the counter told us that he could not use them because they were scans (technically they were just color copies, but apparently here a color copy implies a scan). It is illegal for them to accept scans of passports. If it were a black and white copy they could accept it but not a color scan! Attempt 2 ... Failure.

Today we will be leaving right after school to make our third (and hopefully final) assault on the internet stronghold code named Orange. If we are triumphant we will be adding a celebratory post later this evening.

Taking the Garbage Out

This is how to take the garbage out the Tunisian way.

Meow!