Week three...

This evening brings to an end our third week of adventure and discovery in Camelot! We are just back from a company retreat in a small town a couple of hours away. We were looking after the children and so after two days of sitting room obstacle courses, hide & seek and meeting some inspirational people we are feeling a healthy fatigue :)

It’s 7pm now, which is rush hour! People seem come out after dark to shop and socialise while it’s cooler. We are still discovering so much about life and culture here. There are many social norms that we have still to master or even notice! Rachel’s great discovery of the week is that underneath the beautiful dresses women wear here... they’re in their pajamas! She feels cheated at having thought they were all so elegant but also because she has been missing out on such convenience and comfort!

She has had another great week at school, where she is for about five hours each day. The children have been such a joy and she is loving seeing them learn and enjoying their subjects. Noel has given her a badge in advanced bravery for cycling to school on her own this week! She would love your thoughts as she has still to meet any local women and feels restricted by the language barrier.

During the week Noel again visited the association he hopes to help with and had some more meetings and met some more staff. He will return there this week so please think of him in this. Some friends from home who have volunteered there previously will be coming this week so if our father wishes we hope that this will be beneficial. He has also had some more language lessons so please think of us as we continue to learn! And spare a thought for the many locals we attempt to practice on! Noel would also love if you could continue to think of him as he continues to make & spend time with local friends, he hopes that these are people ready to hear the news.

Wednesday was our second wedding anniversary and it was such a joy to spend it in an amazing country. Noel surprised me with a trip to a resort in a town about thirty minutes away. We took a taxi for €1.50 and had our first experience of the taxi bus system! Four people squashed into the back and we were both man-handled into the front passenger seat! You’ve got to love the efficiency of space, remember when you could do that in Ireland?!

We appreciate all of your thoughts and we are thinking of you all also. This week we are especially remembering our SBC family. We are so excited today to hear of the first official morning at the Riasc Centre and wish so much in our hearts that we could have been there.

Do keep in touch!

N&R

One of many "coffee shops" in Camelot!