Odds and ends of living abroad

 

 

 

I was looking through some Rubbermaid bins in the basement and came across these "souvenirs"  from my childhood.  The camels are from Afghanistan.  My parents had these sitting out somewhere- I don't remember where.  I just remember seeing them all of the time as a kid.    When we lived in Afghanistan, we often had to wait to a caravan of camels to walk past our gate so we could get across the street to the school bus. (if you could call it that)

 

 

When we were living in Afghanistan, my sister needed her tonsils out.  She and our mom rode on the Khyber Pass to get to Peshawar, Pakistan so they could get a plane to New Deli India.  They must have had an embassy car?    Anyway, they went to India and my sister had her tonsils out.  When they returned, they had this doll for me.  I named her "Lobster".  No idea why.  Her dress was a bright green- after 60+ years it has faded.

 

My sister and I were recently talking about Lobster and wondering whatever happened to her.  I was sure she was long gone!  Surprise!   I found her! 

My doll named Lobster

 

 

 

 

We lived in Athens Greece before we lived in Afghanistan.  I was a baby when we went there and three years old when we left.  So I don't really remember much at all.

 This doll is a Greek lady. 

The doll beneath is a Greek policeman. 

This little doll is a Swiss Guard- like they have at the Vatican protecting the pope,  Again, I don't really remember, but this doll has been in my life for as long as I can remember.

My family traveled in Europe- most likely on the way from Greece back to the US. 

Another Afghan camel

 

This fellow in the pleated skirt of an Evzone.  The Evzones are the official guards at the royal palace in Athens.   All of the Evzones are  6' tall or taller which is pretty unusual for Greek man.  This is how they look during the changing of the guard.

 

Family lore has it that I spoke Greek before I spoke English.  I don't remember, but I would love to study Greek sometime and see if it is at all familiar.

 

So by the time I was 7 years old I had lived a pretty interesting life!