Here is a little snippit of life with the Sseko ladies from Julie. Enjoy!

There are a few things I miss most when I’m living or traveling abroad.  The first is obviously my people- Pa, Ma, friends (shout out), etc.  The second is probably Subway chocolate chip cookies (straight from heaven, folks).  And until February 28, the third is the Olympics.  Winter Olympics are not, as you may imagine, very popular in this place.  So when I had the opportunity to watch some highlights on a real live tv this week, I jumped at the chance. 

As it so happened, Mercy was spending the night with me, so the lucky girl got to come with. What followed was better than I ever could have imagined.  Mercy had never seen any winter sports before, so as much as I casually tried to prep her, she had no idea what she would be watching.  Throughout the night, some of my favorite quotes were as follows:

“WOW! Maybe I should start training!  I could do school, Sseko, and training if I had some ice.”

During a partners figure skating routine, the man lifted the woman and: “What?!  Is that REAL??  Or MAGIC?!”

During figure skating again: “I thought it was cold in there—how can she be wearing that??”

After she learned the rules of downhill skiing and the blue line outlining the course:  “That man went outside the blue line!  PUNISH HIM!”      

And lastly:  “Where are the blacks?  Why are all these people white?”

The rest of the time was filled with gasps, tons of laughter, and questions.  Watching the Olympics with someone for the first time is as good as it sounds, especially when that someone is Mercy.  It was a perfect night.  I think I also gave her more chocolate that night than she’s had…ever.  But watching the world’s fittest people perform extreme physical feats wouldn’t be the same without a Cadbury bar being shoved in your face, right?