Oh, Who Are the People In Your Neighborhood...

  Bujumbura, Burundi
Sunday, August 3, 2008

You probably only got the musical reference in the title of this post if you grew up watching Sesame Street in the 80's, so I apologize to the rest of you.  Because my post a couple of weeks ago seemed to cause much confusion as to the residents of the house where I live, I've decided to introduce you to my housemates.  Unfortunately, all of them will be leaving by the beginning of September at which time I'll have to reacquaint you with my living situation.
 
Claude, Kelly, Emma, and Justin

Claude and Kelley

Justin and Emma

Claude is a native of Burundi who moved to the U.S. several years ago after he married Kelley, a native of California.  If ever a couple has handled a cross-cultural relationship gracefully, it's definitely these two.  Give them a call if you're considering marrying someone from another country.  Claude and Kelley are the leaders of Amahoro Africa, if you've been wondering who's in charge around here.
Their children are also native Burundians that they adopted 3 years ago from an orphanage in Bujumbura.  Justin and Emma (whom you've seen before because I just get a kick out of posting pictures of them) have lived the majority of their lives in the U.S. but are adjusting to Africa and picking up some Kirundi and French this summer while they're here.  Justin especially loves to use new words that he's learned, though we strongly suspect that some of his "Kirundi" actually has come from his own imagination.
 
Ron and Sarah

Ron and Sarah

Originally from the East Coast, Ron and Sarah moved to Phoenix in 2007 because of job opportunities.  Some random facts to help you know Ron and Sarah:  a) they celebrated their first wedding anniversary since they've been here in Burundi, b) though definitely a white boy, Ron can bust it out and dance with the best of them here, c) one of Sarah's many areas of expertise in her work for Amahoro is creating aesthetically pleasing documents, d) Ron is never wrong - no, this is not meant to insinuate that he's a know-it-all.  I'm merely quoting him and letting you that living with such a person can prove to be quite useful at times, e) Sarah has an astonishing affinity for rap music.
 
Grace

Grace and Sarah

Many of you reading this know Grace since we attend the same church at home.  Grace has really livened up the house this summer and has been good through her extroverted ways at inviting me (also read "pushed me" on occasion) to get out and mingle with other people so that after everyone else has left at the end of the summer, I'll still have friends here.  Unfortunately, Grace returns to the U.S. this coming Friday so she can get ready to start college, which means the room across from mine will be empty and the breakfast table much quieter since she's normally the only one who comes down to eat at the same time I do, but hey, at least there will be one less person with whom to share the bathroom!
 
There are also up to six native Burundians in and around the house at any given time who act as cook, driver, housekeeper, gardener, nanny, etc., but as my Kirundi leaves quite a bit to be desired and I haven't been able to form friendships with them that entail conversing, I wasn't able to ask them for permission to take their pictures.  Perhaps at a later time.

Grace, me, Sarah, and Ron