New Neighbors

by Amy

A couple of weeks ago we finished dinner about 6:00 and decided to head to the lake in the middle of our town to play for a while before bedtime. So, we walked to the street in front of our home and waited for a taxi. We waited and waited and waited. (The taxi drivers go off shift between 6:00 and 7:00ish so none of the drivers want to pick someone up and drive somewhere if it will make them work longer.) There was also another woman with her son trying to flag a taxi as well. Eventually, she asked us where we were heading, and funny thing....they were also heading to the same lake to meet her husband for dinner. So, she tells us to wait and soon returns driving her car. We rig Savannah's bike in her trunk and pile in. (She was trying to take a taxi because her husband was already there with his car.) Once we arrived at the lake, we went our separate ways, promising to see each other again.

Well less than a week later, we were at the local grocery super-store to buy a ball (since Brad had kicked our ball over a brick wall and couldn't get it back). We get in line to check-out behind our friendly neighbor. She insists on buying our ball since she had a gift card for the store and offers to drive us home. Then, she invites us in her home and our kids have fun playing with her 9 year old son. We tentatively make plans to get together again on Sunday for a meal. We left her home feeling unsure if we'd really see them on Sunday and not positive if we were talking about eating lunch or dinner. So we just decide to leave Sunday pretty open and see what happens.....

Well, at 8:30am her son rings our door bell. (I hide in my bedroom because I'm still in my PJs.) He asks us to be ready at 11am, then he heads to his Sunday AM English class. As it turns out, his class was let out earlier than expected; they find us playing on the playground downstairs about 1o am and ask if we're ready to go. After washing up we hopped in their car, still unsure what exactly we're doing or where we're going. But, we decided to sit back and enjoy the ride (as much as you can with three people in the front and five in the back seat ~ Brad and I each had a boy on our lap.)

After driving about 45 min. we come to a river. We ooh and ahh as we see the mini waterfalls (dams) and wooden plank foot bridges as well as many little boats and fun water activities. We soon park the car and head to the river. (I have to confess I was kicking myself for not bringing the camera. So the only pics we have were taken with Brad's cell phone.) As soon as we cross the bridge, our host rents a little duck shaped boat powered by using bicycle pedals. So, Brad and the kids hop in! I sit on the side trying to make conversation with our sweet neighbor while her husband took care of some other business.


After playing on the boat for a while, and after our host bought my three kids water guns, we crossed the bridge again and headed to a "restaurant" where we would eat lunch.... Brad was promptly handed a fishing pole and asked to catch our lunch. So, he and Savannah sat next to a stock-pond and fished! I sat at a mini-table with the wife eating some fruit while Peter and Alex used their water guns to torment the chickens and anything else they could find. The husband had fun playing with them while we chatted. After Brad and Savannah caught 3 or 4 fish, we headed to screened in area with a large table covered with food. They had probably bought three times as much food as we could have ever eaten! And, in the middle, was a plate of locust. Yes, they were fried and put on a plate for our eating enjoyment. At least they weren't alive!
And, I am glad to report that we were not pressured to eat any of them! I hope we did not offend our host by not partaking, but neither one of us could bring ourselves to do it..... When Peter saw them, he said, "Oh look, stinky bugs, Mom!" At that moment I was thankful our hosts couldn't understand English!

After lunch the wife and I took the kids back to the river to walk around and play while Brad and the husband did a little more fishing. Peter and Alex shot everyone and everything we walked by with their water guns and had a blast! We ended up getting back home around 4:00, totally exhausted, but so thankful for our new friends! What a great day we had!