tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71203957067526839082012-02-10T10:19:30.070+03:00Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. – Helen KellerGrace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.comBlogger581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-60684987312212448872008-10-13T13:25:00.007+03:002008-10-14T16:56:59.795+03:00

in SpainOne of those flash epiphanies of travel, the realization that worlds you’d love vibrantly exist outside your ignorance of them. The vitality of many lives you know nothing about. The breeze lifting a blue curtain in a doorway billows just the same whether you are lucky enough to observe it or not. Travel gives such jolts. I could live in this town, so how is it that I’ve never been here

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-71276001610605889012008-10-10T10:15:00.006+03:002008-10-14T17:11:52.704+03:00

Reason #85 Why Megan is a Great Friend: She Lets Me Wear These Huge Sunglasses That I Love without Laughing at Me (actually she encourages me and tells me that I look good)Reason #103 Why Megan is a Great Friend: Because She Complies With My Request to Make a Serious Face in Reverence for Standing in the Room Where Christopher Columbus got the permission and funds to sail to the Americas.Reason

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-51486115148888047872008-10-09T17:29:00.007+03:002008-10-13T13:47:39.935+03:00

Dear Adaptable Reader, Traveling always brings with it delightful discoveries, fresh perspective, and an awareness of the little things that are so routine in your life you don’t even know they are apart of your daily existence anymore. I’m so used to reaching for bottled or filtered water in Dar that when Megan suggested we could drink water from the tap in Barcelona I was unsure…water from a

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-54280529026195912082008-10-06T03:45:00.004+03:002008-10-09T20:53:41.445+03:00

Dear Adventuring Readership, I greet you from a different continent than Africa for the the first time in a year. I'm on holiday! My traveling partner in crime, Megan Alexander, and I had decided that Europe would be the next grand destination in our travel profiles. We have previously taken on many a US city and have thought at times that we are truly Amazing Race level material in our travel

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-67421339186224191402008-10-03T19:33:00.001+03:002008-10-03T19:35:53.026+03:00

Dear Long suffering Readership, It has come to this again: I must inform you that I am, indeed, alive. Sometimes so much happens in such a short period of time that it’s seems like years instead of months since I’ve written. Numerous significant life events have happened in my world in the past few months, and instead of unpacking all that, I’m just going to give you a few little fluffy normal

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-62194956276244719292008-08-27T13:11:00.004+03:002008-08-28T23:23:08.505+03:00

Dear American Primetime Viewers, What could be captivating the men pictured below? The answer: No one can resist. Even non-English speakers..Steven, my Masi friend who has been learning English for a few months, had been watching for 12 hours out of the past 24 when I discovered him...I took the disk away. :-)Fighting the Addiction in East Africa, Grace P.S. Other random fun comment: Today I took

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-38852407236750403972008-08-08T09:27:00.004+03:002008-08-10T17:03:18.922+03:00

Dear Darling Readership, Here's a few pics from today's filter installations. This is Nickson. He is the Head Installer for water filter installations. He is soft-spoken and patient, is the oldest of three, and loves American movies. He speaks English with a mid-Western accent, which is awesomely hilarious to me. Here he's mixing the initial sanitizer we put in the filter. This is Martin. He's a

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-5043168852782936562008-08-01T13:43:00.002+03:002008-08-01T14:15:21.298+03:00

Dear Delightful Readership, SO many experiences, thoughts, revelations, disappointments, joys in the past 10 months, ever building. Following God, Africa, development, sustainability, the West, being a servant, being a friend, being open, being exhausted, being filled by Jesus, how to live, money, race, time, globalization, embodying historical oppression, the Church, ideology, value systems,

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-5959489536649478332008-07-22T17:08:00.005+03:002008-07-24T03:01:50.313+03:00

Dear Darling Readership, Ran around on the outskirts of Dar today delivering filters with my crew for this summer, a great group of Tanzania guys…I’ll try to snap some pictures in the next week and introduce you to them. There’s Nickson, the head installer, who worked with American missionaries from the US for years, learned English from them, and speaks English with a mid-Westerner’s accent…

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-89770540741457131292008-06-22T20:36:00.006+03:002008-06-24T22:47:11.820+03:00

Dear Reclining Readership, Oh, Sunday mornings. They hold so much promise, don't they? Open ended, loungey, coffee, the New York Times, (again, a distant memory of my past life, but a good one none the less!...), and then on to church. Many of you know this routine well: about 11:30am in Vineyard Columbus, coffee in hand, finding a seat in the section you usually sit in, (depending on how late

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-41846319097459780052008-06-05T19:25:00.006+03:002008-06-05T21:57:24.759+03:00

Dear Adoring Readership, Well there it is. You can already tell I'm in a silly mood by my title and adjective of choice for today's audience. :-) Just wanted to share with you a cool moment I had yesterday. I'm in my kitchen, whipping up a storm from scratch for a kinship dinner (the phrase "ready made" is something encased in sheer memory - along with phrases like "instant", "to go", and "

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-91052708879824972882008-06-02T19:01:00.003+03:002008-06-02T20:51:44.565+03:00

Dear Long-suffering Readership, I’m back! Really. I’m in a writing mood and I feel a flurry on entries forthcoming… I have been out living a lot of life recently and just haven’t had the chance to properly document much of it. But the writing bug has bit! So stick around and you won’t be sorry. At this moment I am going through random papers from my purse and was amused by a recent weekend to-do

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-67385950483484984272008-05-16T21:58:00.004+03:002008-05-21T17:55:42.904+03:00

Dear Northern American Readership, Hello there dear reader. I suppose I may have a few international friends of intrigue who are pursuing this most lowly and random of blogs as well, and you are also most welcome. Today’s entry revives the too-long dormant TIA: This is Africa segment, and is a special edition: Conversations in Africa entry. I thought some of you may enjoy being privy some of the

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-55606831580328875572008-04-29T10:31:00.003+03:002008-12-13T16:31:37.062+03:00

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-63148962639798082802008-04-21T16:51:00.005+03:002008-04-26T15:08:30.774+03:00

Dear Patient Readership, For a fresh, efficiency spoiled Westerner transplanted to Africa, there is a multitude of great character lessons that have opportunity to root and grow and deeply flourish that were mere shoots in American soil. You want to grow and be stretched to the max in patience, simplicity, flexibility, selflessness, softness of spirit, openness, humbleness, trust, thankfulness?

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-59754592521973422502008-04-16T17:47:00.003+03:002008-12-13T16:31:37.262+03:00

Dear Lawful Readership, Another major piece of this moving cross-continental thing came together this past week: Ladies and Gentleman, Grace Mendola is officially a Tanzanian 2 year residence permit visa holder: literally. This little piece of paper, attained only after months upon months of 2 people working on my behalf, navigating cramped, packed immigration offices, paperwork requirements that

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-67111082157276677642008-04-03T14:53:00.005+03:002008-04-09T16:51:46.710+03:00

Dear Readership in the season of spring, Who thought rain could change your life? In case anyone was considering pooh-poohing it, rainy season is no joke. Here in Dar es Salaam we’re a good week into the daily routine of off and on down pouring, and I couldn’t be more contented. About 3 times a day, a gray mist rolls over the blazing sun, threatening and teasing with relief from the sun and even

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-81468554861244480832008-03-27T19:35:00.003+03:002008-03-28T15:48:55.947+03:00

Dear Modern Reader, Urban Africa in 2008 is so different than anything I could have expected. The constant daily extremes mixed together in this cluttered, vibrant city are often intense shocks to the senses: open sewage trenches alongside expansive spreads of beautiful flowers for sale alongside the dusty roads, Land cruisers making their way along potholed dirt roads to mansions behind walls

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-50478217155075024992008-03-26T11:29:00.005+03:002008-03-27T19:34:23.309+03:00

Dear Rainy Day Reader, Today is one of those mellow, gray, contemplate life sort of days. The skies have been threatening to unleash the commencement of the rains yesterday, but the stubborn sun persisted and eventually won after a morning of hiding behind the clouds. Today, however, the sun quickly cowered after an early morning appearance and a heavy cover of gray descended over Dar. And then

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-20560878304038483662008-03-20T16:43:00.005+03:002008-03-20T17:16:16.085+03:00

Dear Participating Readership, This Saturday, do something impactful and be a part of Thirst Relief's World Water Day Challenge. I'm planning to take part from Africa!Here's how it works: commit to make water the only beverage you drink on March 22nd, and donate the money you would have otherwise spent on soda, coffee, beer, etc. to Thirst Relief International. Your donation will help fund the

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-19927736675119409022008-03-18T12:08:00.002+03:002008-03-18T18:31:40.812+03:00

Dearly Devoted, The internet has been working consistently this week! I thought this rare treat shouldn't be kept all to myself and that I would share a few mid-week morsels with you. Yesterday I met a Tanzanian man named Patrick. This was the lone event that marked St Patty's day for me here. I tried to explain to him that St' Patrick’s Day celebrations would be happening all over the Western

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-18519370668499259522008-03-17T01:35:00.004+03:002008-03-17T01:58:25.971+03:00

Dear Thoughtful Readership,I'm in too random of a mood to write. Below are a few of the thoughts* and observations* that rattled around in my brain this week, which perhaps reveal the degree of randomness of my past few days:-I really should learn to drive stick shift (majority of cars here are manual; mine is an automatic)-I wonder what the Swahili word for extrovert is? (mzumguzaji)-What things

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-64337522812729744722008-03-09T20:00:00.002+03:002008-03-09T20:15:23.202+03:00

Dear Gentle Reader, Time in Africa is a fluid thing, open to the circumstances of each new day and the things it presents. Before moving, I learned about the culturally different concept of time that I was about to live in: a place where day planners are non-existent, meeting times are suggestions, and being late is a relative concept. Actually learning how to reshape my agenda-setting,

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-66202235027095473892008-03-02T00:27:00.005+03:002008-03-07T17:47:29.513+03:00

Dear Vivacious Readership, Happy Leap Year dear reader! Yet another reminder that this year is the US presidential election…March 4th looms, beckoning with all the fervent hope of change...Moving on. This past week has been one of average occurrences: I woke up bright and early everyday with the sun (it’s not the roosters anymore…it’s summer here and it becomes too unbearably hot to sleep much

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-24903005610193428582008-02-18T15:33:00.010+03:002008-12-13T16:31:37.622+03:00

Dear American Readership,  I greet you from the (business) capital of Tanzania, which our American President is visiting this week on his 6-country-tour of East African countries. He departs today for Arusha, which is in northern Tanzania. I don’t have any juicy little tidbits for you about being selected to the State Dinner which was held last night at the Tanzanian President’s Dar residence, or

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-88326804865196951112008-02-10T17:43:00.000+03:002008-02-11T13:03:37.692+03:00

Dear Cold-Climate Readership, Well this last week has included it's very African challenges: a drawn-out broken car (minor repairs, but still out of commission for 4 days...there's no such thing as a "quick repair" here), no internet service since Tuesday with no indication of when service will resume, and beaking news of one the largest government corruption scandals of late. (For the

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-40276560334208608732008-02-05T14:38:00.001+03:002008-02-06T09:04:05.771+03:00

I don't own a tv. I'm getting up at 6am tomorrow morning to make my way to the American Embassy in Dar, where they will be broadcasting the results of Super Tuesday in real time...we're 11 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time here. So while you're sitting in your living room at home, flipping between CNN and whatever version of "Indecision 2008" that Jon Stewart is doing, I'll be sitting in a

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-1573733825408872092008-02-02T21:45:00.000+03:002008-12-13T16:31:39.325+03:00

Dear Committed Reader, I must regretfully inform you that the Daily Dose raps up today. But do not despair dear reader, as I forsee many happily consistant blog entries in the near future...Have I mentioned to you how much I love my new computer? (Such deep thanks again to all who gave) I should have been alerting you daily of our increasing fondness for each other. This past week we've worked

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-19819205793642605532008-02-01T21:23:00.000+03:002008-02-03T01:57:53.481+03:00

Dear Avid Readership, Today “Grace’s Emotional Scale of Language Learning” was tipped towards the encouraged “I can do this; language learning is challenging in a fun put-the-puzzle-pieces-together sort of way; and every word learned is another step in the right direction of connecting in a meaningful way with Tanzanians!” side of the scale, vs. yesterday’s “Oh my gosh this is annoying and hard

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-80386675569712697452008-01-31T22:25:00.000+03:002008-02-03T01:59:30.178+03:00

Dear Voracious Readers,Welcome for your hit of a Daily Dose of Grace. Now before you get all worried that this is going to be a heartbreaking, painfully awkward public entry bemoaning the state of being single, let me quiet your fears. It’s really nothing of the sort, as it would be completely out of character for me and the confidence I have for my God-directed future. I am just compelled to

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-82291398660414535542008-01-30T23:58:00.000+03:002008-02-02T02:46:02.484+03:00

Dear Long-suffering Reader, Today is a very special day. I have successfully, at a rate comparable to uploading timeframes in the US, uploaded photos onto the blog. This (magical!) new gift of a computer is somehow changing everything...even bandwidth speed is more agreeable. I know some of you have been patiently waiting to catch glimpse via pictoral means of life here. Instead of listening to

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-29669732518880144772008-01-30T00:23:00.000+03:002008-01-30T15:18:26.773+03:00

Dear Magnanimous Readership, Today is a most wonderful day. As many of you know, a month and some days ago my dear little Macbaby was stolen from my life. But yet today, dear reader, today I am sitting in my living room, listening to Sufjan while writing for you the inaugural blog entry typed on my new computer. I am in awe. The overwhelming kindness and generosity of the people who gave to

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-68418154587299041402008-01-25T17:45:00.000+03:002008-01-26T01:26:46.164+03:00

Dear Steadfast Readers, Last night I journeyed across town in reliable little Pajero Jr. to visit friends who live on the Peninsula. It's a good 30 minute or so drive through several poor neighborhoods, down potholed tarmac roads swarming with the vibrant night community of Dar. 7pm to 10pm are the hopping and bopping hours to be out and about here, everyday of the week. Forget prime-time

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-46266292932230295062008-01-19T21:35:00.000+03:002008-01-20T03:05:18.054+03:00

Dear Oh Most Patient Readership, Your waiting and hoping and persistent checking of this most lowly of blog pages is at long last not in vein. I have returned!!! My dearest apologizes to the faithful; I must beg off my silence with numerous and overlapping excuses: I had delightful, wonderful holidays with visitors, which filled my days and helped combat first-Christmas-away-from-home-loneliness;

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-63457816817613556352007-12-24T10:00:00.000+03:002008-01-20T23:54:12.196+03:00

Dear Avid Readership, Today is a particularly sad entry in the chronicles. This past week a tragedy of only the 21st century sort occurred…the documentation of my life’s existence was taken. My dear friends, my long-deliberated choice (PC vs. Mac, bandwagon mass appeal function vs. beauty), hard-earned (2 weeks paycheck of orchestrating the travel of the millies* in my past life kind of

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-75695600999189010982007-12-18T16:54:00.000+03:002007-12-18T17:20:37.628+03:00

Dear Food-Consuming Reader, For the very few of you who have not been subjected to me talking at length about food and how much I enjoy it (oh Figlio how I miss thee – the people and the pasta! Hello to my girls!), now is your time to be caught up to speed. I love food. I can’t really cook (The list of things I can make has however lengthened: 1. Boxed Brownies 2. Turkey :-)), but I really like

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-90100429015951468082007-12-10T11:07:00.000+03:002007-12-18T17:09:51.564+03:00

Dear Loyal Readership, My unusual weeklong blog silence has not been for naught; I return to you with more T.I.A. cultural morsels and treasures. Every day here brings with it new experiences and observations, some of which are cultural things I do not yet fully understand, and others which involve my new, often amusing (and some days incredibly murky and discouraging – more on that at some point

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-68609740027222016252007-12-07T11:39:00.000+03:002008-12-13T16:31:39.653+03:00

Paulie! Most wonderful little brother, I wanted to tell you HAPPY BIRTHDAY one more time. (and I couldn’t get this to load the other day!) I miss you so much am am thinking of you every day. You are so genuinely kind, incredibly smart, and over the top funny. I am sooo glad that you were born and that you are my brother. Have a great 11th year of life! I miss you terribly and if I could I would

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-79976841221763525072007-12-01T14:05:00.000+03:002007-12-01T19:45:00.645+03:00

Dear Affable Readership, It’s been an interesting week living on The Street with No Name. Since coming back from Iringa, I’ve been spending a lot more time in the neighborhood, hanging out with my neighbors in the evenings, practicing my Swahili, and learning about people’s lives. A couple initial observations: everyone knows each other, everything is much more layered in connections here than I

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-89201031170671858482007-11-26T09:44:00.001+03:002007-11-27T12:52:30.034+03:00

Dear Good-humored Readership, When I last wrote you I expressed apprehension regarding the success of making homemade bread stuffing for the first time, in a foreign country, for 25 people for Thanksgiving dinner. That trite anxiety was misplaced, as I had no idea what would be asked of me on Thanksgiving Eve. You are reading the words of a newly born turkey chef. With minimal supplies, on a

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-47559018724478984022007-11-21T16:43:00.000+03:002007-11-26T09:58:02.165+03:00

I’ve been away for a month and returned to my new home in Dar for the first time. You know you’re adjusting when the wafting smell of burning trash is familiar and sitting in psychotic traffic for an hour to go 5km is standard fare. When the Nathans and I were driving away from Iringa, through the stunningly beautiful mountains, I could only think that if this was it, if this stint in Africa was

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-27380278813300340782007-11-14T15:09:00.000+03:002007-11-16T17:18:18.107+03:00

Dear Resolute Readership, I’m plowing through my 4th week of intensive Swahili study, and have been bouncing back and forth from being totally enthralled and excited with learning a new language and putting pieces together and then being desperately despondent when I realize I’ve put together so few of the millions of pieces. A steady, middle of the road perseverance is what is required and I’m

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-50239857100059684302007-11-07T16:28:00.000+03:002008-12-13T16:31:43.726+03:00

Well, they're sideways and without captions...but it's the best I can do right now with the internet connection! The last photo is of women waiting while the men are in the mosque for mid-day prayer, the bowls are a dinner I had one of my first nights in Dar, and the guy with the gun was guarding a bunch of cell phones for sale. The sign behind him is the prices for the differnt brands of cards

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-22696571595611809522007-11-06T16:05:00.000+03:002007-11-06T16:06:43.744+03:00

Dear Spirited Readers, There’s a blanket phrase that’s cropped up frequently in the team’s conversations as of late. I think it’s something the directors of Riverside Campground (the location of the language school I’m at in Iringa) say, and it leads to everyone who stays here eventually picking up on it and incorporating it into their everyday speech. Or maybe everyone bashing around in Africa

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-82660902224438406442007-10-31T15:24:00.000+03:002007-11-16T17:20:36.546+03:00

Dear English-Speaking Readership, Learning another language in it’s host culture is like being trapped in a dark stone prison. You can hear the din of laughter and talking clearly on the outside, but you can’t communicate outside the walls you’re in. You must break through the wall by slowly, painfully, chipping away at it with a small hammer. Ever rock that comes out is like a word learned. The

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-68779091138859109942007-10-29T16:40:00.000+03:002007-11-14T15:15:39.636+03:00

Dear Readers Basking in the Beauty of Autumn, (Oh how I miss it!)Goal: to learn Kiswahili. Setting: A darling, enchanted town, set high up a mountain, surrounded by valleys speckled with houses and rolling hills marked with scattered boulders and cacti. Schedule: Awake every morning to the pheasants gaggling around my tent. Spend time with God by the river that’s 40 feet away from my tent. Go to

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-5765794354607967292007-10-22T14:50:00.000+03:002007-10-29T16:59:17.888+03:00

Dear Beloved Readership, Tomorrow morning I depart with my team members for Iringa town, which is in south-central Tanzania. It is a approximately 8ish (9? 10? African time makes all things incredibly subjective) hour drive fro Dar, straight through a wild game park. I am literally going to be driving through the stomping grounds of all those National Geographic specials, and will drive right

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-49065600546851605262007-10-20T15:42:00.001+03:002008-12-13T16:31:44.376+03:00

Happy Birthday to the best, most beautiful, fabulous, interesting, fun, wonderful, smart, hilarious, stylish 16 year old sister in the world! I love you so much! Have a great year following Jesus and don't get in any car accidents! I love you loads.

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-74477609755175175082007-10-19T15:10:00.000+03:002007-10-20T15:34:54.441+03:00

Dear Steadfast Readers, There are so many delightful, amusing, wonderfully unique things about the noises and surroundings of my new life. I live in a huge city in which every morning I am awakened, without fail, by our next-door neighbor’s rooster at sunrise. Keep in mind we sleep with our windows open, so this is a true in-your-ears sort of wake-up call…! Then the raking begins. On the one

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-11776657763911763332007-10-15T10:20:00.000+03:002007-10-15T10:22:59.295+03:00

Dear Persevering Readers, No one ever said moving to Africa is simple. And yet somehow I thought it would be… simpler. I think I had envisioned the slower pace of life here would also translate into less hassle to make life work – that I would just walk around dressed in exotic colorful congas, eating beans, rice, and organic free range chicken (the chicken really is quite good here – none of

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-48364768802408926592007-10-07T20:17:00.001+03:002007-10-07T20:24:34.094+03:00

Dear Enduring Readership,Today’s entry is a more personal chapter in the chronicles, and reveals some of the not so pleasant parts of who I am without God changing me. Today was a day where nothing happened as it should. It started out a miserable mess and turned into something God used it to reveal his grace & kindness to me and teach me about all sorts of stuff – about trusting Him, giving up

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-59127785389736178282007-10-01T17:50:00.000+03:002007-10-03T12:46:15.427+03:00

Greetings Most Dedicated of Readers, What does globalization look like? We all know about the notorious presence of McDonalds scattered around the world (their is not one in Dar – yet…), that the majority of products that we purchase in the US are foreign made imports (too often assembled by underpaid laborers in sweatshop conditions), and that we like Mexican food & Starbucks coffee from

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-5918902826875749452007-09-27T11:02:00.000+03:002007-09-27T11:04:06.601+03:00

Dear Most Loyal of Readers, Giving directions in Dar es Salaam is an experience all of it’s own. Some may call it annoying, amusing, or even comical. I’m not sure what I think of it yet except to say it’s an original experience. Last night Dan, Melissa, the boys & I went for dinner at Angela & David Scott’s house, who are ex-patriots from Rhodesia & South Africa who are part of the ex-pat

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-86494167743093189982007-09-24T15:04:00.000+03:002007-09-24T15:40:01.839+03:00

Dear Devoted Readers, I am writing to you three days fresh into Africa, babyfaced and three days the wiser all the same. I must commence by thanking you for your faithful prayers. We have arrived together, all pieces of luggage successfully in tow, passports stamped, spirits strong. (“We” typically will refer to the Nathans & myself, unless otherwise specified) God has navigated us through the

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-29696882769479145432007-09-22T20:30:00.000+03:002007-09-24T17:37:34.638+03:00

Dearest Ones, I have mere moments to write, and so this must be brief for tonight. I am in Africa! I am smelling the smells! Walking down its roads! Driving through madness of one-lane roads swarming with people and cars! Smiling at the people! Eating lots of fruit and drinking lots of tea! Desperate to learn the language! (correction: I am not personally driving the roads of Dar; thus far I am

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-16597054553003855942007-09-20T16:26:00.000+03:002007-09-20T16:42:27.974+03:00

Most faithful of readers, It is our last day in London. Today was a chill day of packing, taking one loooong last hot shower, and walking around Wimbledon. Eleanor Mumford made us another grand spread for lunch, and after-wards to was able to call my friends Sarah & Eben Brusco who just moved to Ireland!!! It was wonderful to hear their voices and I'm still basking in the moment.We leave shortly

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-39214864787622158812007-09-19T02:39:00.000+03:002007-09-19T04:10:18.477+03:00

Well, let me begin by saying that I am, indeed, alive. There may have been some question and even allowable speculation as to my whereabouts since it has been so dreadfully long since I've posted. It became quite clear to me about a week into preparing to leave for Tanzania that explaining the day to day logistical details of what it takes to actually arrange to move your life to another country

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120395706752683908.post-54619825798668168442007-08-12T03:12:00.000+03:002007-08-14T23:01:16.822+03:00

It is only 35 days until I will be sitting on a plane, clutching my one way ticket to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. My mind is filled with romanticized ideals of change and hope, coupled with the emotions of the very true reality that while sitting on that aircraft it will actively moving me farther and farther by the minute from everything I have ever known. I absolutely love my life in Columbus -

Grace Dara Mendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06719228392388281909noreply@blogger.com10