Well, the assignment and transfer to Dublin has been finalized - finally! Here's a run down of our travel plans for the next several months:
May 9 - June 16: I'll join Stacey and the kids in Texas and we'll travel across America spending time with family and friends, including a Smith reunion in Tennessee and a Bishop reunion in Arizona, ending up in Colorado for the Sabey reunion. I can't wait to be back with the family, and enjoy a nice long vacation.
June 17 - Sept 16: We'll all go back to Yaounde together for three more months.
Sept 16 - Oct 24: We'll depart Yaounde permanently, and spend home leave driving from Denver to Washington, DC via Maine (in order to enjoy the autumn colors and see parts of the country we've never visited).
Oct 25: Arrive in Dublin.
We're glad that after months of discussion and negotiation we finally have a set schedule! And we're excited about all the time we'll be able to spend with family and friends in the U.S. We hope many will plan their European vacations and visit us in Dublin soon!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Evacuations and Vacations
It's been a crazy couple of months, which definitely call for an update.
In early February, the Embassy in Yaounde turned full focus on assisting the Embassy in Ndjamena, Chad as it evacuated its staff, family members, and other American citizens in Chad. Rebels from the east had marched to the capital, which sits just across the river from Cameroon's Far North province. Shots and mortar shells aimed at the Presidential Palace impacted the American Embassy right next door. Jeff worked long hours helping get Americans cleared at the airport and transported to hotels, and assisting Embassy Ndjamena in arranging necessary logistics. The whole community chipped in to help these families, many of whom left with just the clothes on their backs, or maybe a small back-pack. Even Noah and Caleb gave up their Nintendo for a week so kids from Ndjamena would have something to do while waiting for onward flights to the U.S. We felt good about being able to help, and we were glad to see the response of the U.S. government in assisting and protecting its people.
Just a week after that crisis had calmed down, Cameroon was hit with a serious bout of unrest. A taxi strike protesting increasing gas prices turned into a nationwide shut down as roads were blocked, and gangs kept regular citizens from moving about - especially in the commercial center Douala. While the area where we live in Yaounde was pretty safe - the situation was tense for several days.
With the Chad evacuation fresh in our minds, the Embassy decided to officially declare "Authorized Departure" - an evacuation status that allows (but does not require) dependent family members to leave the country.
Stacey and the kids decided to use the chance to go back to the U.S. a little earlier than planned, while I finished up the couple of months left in Yaounde. Stacey left March 9 for Houston, with the 4 kids and our German Shepherd, Mchanga. After three grueling days of traveling they arrived in Houston, greeted by Jeff's parents and sister, Katherine.
Stacey was lucky to find a furnished apartment just blocks from Jeff's parents' home, and they've all been enjoying the blessings of life in America again.
In Yaounde, things are back to normal, for better or worse. The government responded to the demonstrations with all the military and police power possible, and quickly restored order without addressing any of the legitimate grievances of the people. While frustration remains high, an outbreak in violence is not likely.
Jeff has been working long hours trying to catch up on "normal" business after a full month of crisis mode. Of course, the big house is mighty empty and quiet without the family, but friends are keeping him company - and keeping him well fed.
We received news that Jeff will not be able to leave Yaounde in May, as planned, but probably no earlier than September and maybe as late as November. So it looks like Jeff will come back to the States in May for a vacation, and then all of us will go back to Yaounde together in June for a few more months. In any case, we are still on for the planned reunions in May and June and very much look forward to seeing all the Smiths and Bishops this summer!
In early February, the Embassy in Yaounde turned full focus on assisting the Embassy in Ndjamena, Chad as it evacuated its staff, family members, and other American citizens in Chad. Rebels from the east had marched to the capital, which sits just across the river from Cameroon's Far North province. Shots and mortar shells aimed at the Presidential Palace impacted the American Embassy right next door. Jeff worked long hours helping get Americans cleared at the airport and transported to hotels, and assisting Embassy Ndjamena in arranging necessary logistics. The whole community chipped in to help these families, many of whom left with just the clothes on their backs, or maybe a small back-pack. Even Noah and Caleb gave up their Nintendo for a week so kids from Ndjamena would have something to do while waiting for onward flights to the U.S. We felt good about being able to help, and we were glad to see the response of the U.S. government in assisting and protecting its people.
Just a week after that crisis had calmed down, Cameroon was hit with a serious bout of unrest. A taxi strike protesting increasing gas prices turned into a nationwide shut down as roads were blocked, and gangs kept regular citizens from moving about - especially in the commercial center Douala. While the area where we live in Yaounde was pretty safe - the situation was tense for several days.
With the Chad evacuation fresh in our minds, the Embassy decided to officially declare "Authorized Departure" - an evacuation status that allows (but does not require) dependent family members to leave the country.
Stacey and the kids decided to use the chance to go back to the U.S. a little earlier than planned, while I finished up the couple of months left in Yaounde. Stacey left March 9 for Houston, with the 4 kids and our German Shepherd, Mchanga. After three grueling days of traveling they arrived in Houston, greeted by Jeff's parents and sister, Katherine.
Stacey was lucky to find a furnished apartment just blocks from Jeff's parents' home, and they've all been enjoying the blessings of life in America again.
In Yaounde, things are back to normal, for better or worse. The government responded to the demonstrations with all the military and police power possible, and quickly restored order without addressing any of the legitimate grievances of the people. While frustration remains high, an outbreak in violence is not likely.
Jeff has been working long hours trying to catch up on "normal" business after a full month of crisis mode. Of course, the big house is mighty empty and quiet without the family, but friends are keeping him company - and keeping him well fed.
We received news that Jeff will not be able to leave Yaounde in May, as planned, but probably no earlier than September and maybe as late as November. So it looks like Jeff will come back to the States in May for a vacation, and then all of us will go back to Yaounde together in June for a few more months. In any case, we are still on for the planned reunions in May and June and very much look forward to seeing all the Smiths and Bishops this summer!
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