SE-CUR-IT-TEE


We gots it!  A lot of people have been wondering about our safety here.  Thanks for your concern for our daily well-being.  We are feeling safe and secure in our fenced in-with-electric-razor-barbed-wire-at-the-top-gates and barking dog and roaming security guards and armed guards 2 doors down and Marines on call...and....and...and....


So, we are safe.  Is that fair to say?


They have given us a security briefing about how to be and live here in safety.  If we don't go out after dark, and keep our passports in a safe place, we're not much of a target.  We live in a nice area where people who would be dangerous are only found if we are lurking in dangerous corners.  We try to avoid that.


The second night here we set our alarm and our oldest opened the door, at 6:00 am, before we had a chance to turn off the alarm.  It beeped for about 3 seconds when we got a phone call from the Embassy, where the Marine's are on guard 24/7, to make sure we were safe.  It's been reassuring to know that we are being watched over.  


There is no civil unrest here, people are generally happy to live here and have a lot of pride in their country.  We love it here and try to keep our noses clean.

1 Month Anniversary

We have been away from our lovely Vienna home for 1 month now...


We miss our dear friends, our good neighbors, and our wonderful family.  

Author: JOSEPH PARRY

MAKE NEW FRIENDS, BUT KEEP THE OLD;
THOSE ARE SILVER, THESE ARE GOLD.
NEW-MADE FRIENDSHIPS, LIKE NEW WINE,
AGE WILL MELLOW AND REFINE.
FRIENDSHIPS THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST
TIME AND CHANGE ARE SURELY BEST;
BROW MAY WRINKLE, HAIR GROW GRAY,
FRIENDSHIP NEVER KNOWS DECAY.
FOR 'MID OLD FRIENDS TRIED AND TRUE,
ONCE MORE WE OUR YOUTH RENEW.
BUT OLD FRIENDS, ALAS MAY DIE,
NEW FRIENDS MUST THEIR PLACE SUPPLY.
CHERISH FRIENDSHIP IN YOUR BREAST
NEW IS GOOD, BUT OLD IS BEST;
MAKE NEW FRIENDS, BUT KEEP THE OLD;
THOSE ARE SILVER, THESE ARE GOLD.

We love our new friends, our new neighbors, and our new Embassy family.  


Soon these new friends, neighbors and family will be the 'old' and we will be off to make other 'new' acquaintances.  Such is the life of the nomad.


After one month away from our home for the last 3 years, we are struck with how much we have loved our experience in VA, and Boston, and Orem.  Each stop-over has allowed us growth, friendship, and 'mellowing' of sorts.


For those who will follow this blog, I hope you know that as I write about friends, family and loved ones; I am actually picturing YOU in my head. Honestly, from those in Boston, to Vienna, to Utah. I have your faces flash through my mind and tug at my heart as I think about how much I love you.  I am writing this in the wee hours of a Saturday morning and thinking of you!  Most blogs are all: me, me, me but I am writing to let you, you, and YOU know; I love you!

Arrival in Asuncion

We are here.   We are here.  We are here.  

Our Flight to Paraguay

We have arrived on the speck of a South American country, namely, Paraguay.  It is a LOVELY place.  Amazingly I walk around town and experience many of the same sights, smells and sounds as Brazil.  It's a nostalgic experience.  

One of the painted windows in my house

The other painted window.

Our flight here was quite pleasant.  Our kids were so well-behaved and allowed for some adult nap time and reading.  We flew from DC - Miami - Beunos Aries - Asuncion in the course of 3 days.  We had a 1.5 day stop in Miami where hubby did some training on airport security and the kids and I went to the everglades to check out some crocks.  

And let me tell you:  room service is NOT overrated!  

Sofitel Miami:  Gorgeous!

The hardest part of our entire flight was getting Sandy (our lovely yellow Labrador) in and out of customs.  She was harder than all 4 of our children put together.  It wasn't her, per se, it was all the red tape and paperwork to get her through customs and approved for travel from the USDA.  What a process!  We have decided that our dog days will be over for while after our sweet Sandy passes into doggie heaven.  When we got to Paraguay we got the kids a bunny.  It's a great alternative to a big ol' dog.  But, in all honesty, having Sandy here is wonderful!  She has been so happy in our back-yard and goes swimming 2-3 times A DAY!  It's a great form of exercise.  The kids love playing with her in the pool and I'm convinced that she could save their lives one day.  She is also a great watch dog!

Swimming Sandy

Love my dog, Sandy!

Once we got to the Argentinian Airport we purchased a few treats, some gum and sat on our suitcases while Joel did all the Sandy paper-work.  And, by the way, America, in other countries the luggage carts ARE FREE!  Come on!  Do you really need $3 more dollars on top of our airfare?  It makes travel so nice when each of your children gets to push their own 'car't.  

We arrived to the Asuncion Airport greeted by the lovely embassy personnel who had 2 vans ready to load up with kids and suitcases.  They were amazingly efficient.  A HUGE thanks to the Embassy's program, which got us settled, had food in our fridge, and beds made.  What a welcome to our new home for the next 2 years!