While in Boston this past summer, a girl friend of mine told me of a great new saying she uses on her kids: "You get what you get, and you don't get upset." I thought that was brilliant and instantly started to use that one on my kids when the snack wasn't to their liking, or the restaurant we chose, or the movie on the airplane. It was like a magic wand I waved over them that they couldn't argue with. It shut their arguments right down. Ah, I had it all figured out....you know, one of those "on top of the world" parenting ah-ha moments, right before it all came crashing down...

Ah, my turn now. That somehow doesn't feel as nice. We got back on July 29 to Kwaj and were told we would have keys in hand and move in to our new quarters (due to them essentially forcing us out to demolish our quarters within the year) on August 9. We packed our old house up and slowly prepared for our move. We checked on the progress of the new house in terms of paint, cleaning, carpentry, etc., each day with eagerness. Then the morning of August 9 came, and it was time to pick up the key, only to find out that breaking regulation, a government administrator here snatched the house out right from under us, pulling whatever clout he had to successfully secure the house for a new Major coming in. Our anger simmered down a good long week after that, once our boxes at the old house were empty and we were moved back into our original house. It wasn't losing that particular house that burned us; it was the dirty way the deal went down. As it turns out, the new Major's family (who was not directly involved) is very nice. I sat in church today with them and realized, "Oops! I forgot! You get what you get, and you don't get upset." I still don't like how that all happened and the feeling of complete disempowerment, but ultimately I am living here free of charge. You get what you get, and you don't get upset. We may not have another house opening up for us to move into for a while, but we know now not to pack up until key is in hand.

Along those lines, after both older kids were settled into school, David and I celebrated by being among the first 20 people in line to get into our new Shoppette (glorified 7-11). Before this opened, we had VERY FEW choices of any toiletries. No kids' toothpastes, no special sunscreens, not many body washes to speak of, few children's medicines, VERY FEW school supplies. Choice isn't everything, and certainly we have learned to do without, but do you have any idea what a place like this new Shoppette looks like on opening day with a bunch of Americans who have lived without their choices for so long? Wild screams of joy as the doors opened, "hoarding" of Red Bull and snack items they never sold here before, mouths hanging open in shock at a school supply area and some magazine options--even a best-seller kiosk of recently published books! It was mass chaos and a long wait in line--but a very fun thing to experience. As I watched our Marshallese clerks smile, greet, and giggle, chattering to each other, I had to wonder if they were completely amused at Americans cooing over products they think they can't live without, while the indigenous folks here live with so little. Did the new store have everything I could ever want? No. It did take care of about 60% of my drugstore.com shopping, however. I now have SpongeBob options in gift bags and toothbrushes but still no cosmetic/make-up items to speak of. It is better than it ever was before, and ultimately, once again: You get what you get, and you don't get upset.

Last, one of the first events for me personally since our return to Kwaj was a welcome picnic that our women's charity organization (Yokwe Yuk Women's Club) put on to welcome the new Commander's wife. I had little to do with the vast preparations other than writing checks as the Treasurer of the club, but it was an interesting peek at a blend of cultures. The women's clubs of Ebeye, a neighboring island, were invited, as well as the Queen of Ebeye and other important cultural figures. The Queen's daughter came in her stead, and many Marshallese travelled from other islands to attend. They were treated to a free dinner, a chance at winning bingo, and some yummy snow cones (a favorite here in the Tropics), but due to illness, the guest of honor could not come. It was still a good night, all in all, as the Marshallese ladies performed songs to the ukulele and invited the American ladies to dance with them. There could have been much disappointment that the guest of honor was unable to be there, but instead there were giggles at Bingo wins, happy smiles, full stomachs, chocolate candy stashes to take home (another Marshallese favorite), and a multicultural friendship between women's groups working toward the same goals. You get what you get, and you don't get upset. I have much to learn from their culture, and apparently, I need to apply this newfound parenting statement to my own life as well. I think this is my new motto here on Kwaj, where things can feel so limiting at times, and yet, from another angle, there is more than plenty to go around--and then some.

Stay tuned as Fall on Kwaj kicks up into high gear....