Ramadan Observations

Ramadan began on July 20th and goes through August 20th.  Muslims are required to fast from before dawn to after sunset.  They can't eat or drink anything, including water.

I'm attaching a link from The National Newspaper for "Ask Ali" who publishes this wonderful column explaining cultural nuisances to non-Muslim ex-pats.  It's below.

http://www.thenational.ae/topic/magazine/ask-ali

This, of course, is my first experience being immersed in Islamic Culture, and there are some things I've noticed.

The work day is shortened by two hours for this month, and typically, businesses slow way down.  I was hired during Ramadan last year, which helps to explain why the process to get me here was so incredibly slow.

Ramadan is based on the Islamic Calendar, and it changes (moves back) about ten days each year.  Chances are next year, it will begin around July 10, the next year, around June 28, and so on.

Cairo seemed more lenient in the availability of food during the fasting period.  The hotel continued its 24-hour room service and I made sure that I ate my meals in my room, so as not to offend those who were fasting.  A huge buffet was prepared and served on the patio area around the pool at about 7:00pm for the breaking of the fast or Iftar.  A 10:00 each night a live band played until midnight, and on Friday night, their holy day/night, the music lasted until 2:00am.

I felt awful for my guide in Luxor where the temperatures were 130 degrees.  I was dying of thirst and had something to drink, at his insistence.  He cooled off by pouring water over his head, neck and arms. Ice melted instantly in that heat.

When I arrived at Dubai in mid-afternoon a few days later, I was hoping for an ice coffee from the Starbucks in the airport.  It was closed, along with many other places to eat.  There was another coffee shop opened, but it was completely enclosed with dark wooden screens, obscuring the view of those inside.  Their "open" sign was outside the screens.

I went to the mall today here in Al Ain, and again, all public eating places were closed.  I'm guessing they will open after 7:00pm, but I'm tucked in by that time, so I don't know for sure.

Another interesting thing -

Muslim folks use prayer beads that look a lot like rosaries that Catholic folks use. There are 99 different names for Allah in Islam, and I think they use the beads to keep count of how many they've said.  They may use them for other prayers too, but I'm not not sure.

People reading the Holy Quran are seen everywhere.

Side note - I had to get some medicine refilled today and saw a new doctor who is from Nigeria.  I mentioned that I was hot and he had someone to sneak in a couple of bottles of water.  I drank mine in his office because it is offensive to drink or eat in public during the fasting times.

The grocery stores remain open, so you can always get something to eat and take it home to indulge.

Side note 2 - I just discovered this fact:

Soaking in one’s own bathwater is un-Islamic, and revolts most Muslims.


This is probably why I've had to look high and low to find a drain stopper for the tub. 

Interesting, right?

It is also fascinating to me how some Muslims can espouse to hatred and killing, when so much of their lives are spent praying.  I'm sure they could say the same thing about us Christians, too.

Every day is a learning experience.  Even now, at my age, I marvel at how much I don't know.

Here's to learning and growing together.

Back Home

Thankfully, I'm back home, safe and sound.

The trip to Egypt was everything I hoped for and more.

Today has been one of those frustrating ones though - nothing huge - just enough to pluck nerves.

Remember in one of my really early postings, I mentioned (ranted and raved actually) that the cell phones work better here.  You buy a phone, then you buy a SIM Card for that phone, and you only pay for the time that you use.  In theory, this works great, but the practical application leaves a lot to be desired because of the way it's set up.

So, I take it back.  This system is not better than the ones we're used to in the US. Just different, and today that difference was aggravating.

Then I was checking my plans for later this week as I'm headed out for another trip, and I realized I had the dates wrong.  It's one of those red-eyes that leave on one day and arrive on the next. (Why do they do this?  Just to confuse folks?  Or is it just to confuse me?  Am I the only one who struggles with this?) Thank God, I discovered it prior to the weekend, or I would have been up a creek without a paddle.

I reminded myself all day to let it roll.  Not let the little irritating things get to me. Remember to choose to be positive.

Yeah.  Yeah.  Yeah.

I failed.

I remembered all that and still blew it.

As my dear friend Deb used to say, "Some days you eat the bear, and some days the bear eats you.

Today the bear won.

But (Inshall-Allah) tomorrow, he better look out.

Here's wishing you a great bear eating day, too.

Another Thought Provoking TED Talk

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

Luxor and the Nile River

Yesterday began early with an hour-long plane ride south to Luxor to see some of the most magnificent structures yet.  It has been called the "world's greatest open air museum" and the name is fitting.

In Cairo, the pyramids were the burial grounds for the royalty.  In Luxor, tombs were hidden inside man made caves in the mountainside.  Sixty-three have been found, with the latest discovery as recent as 2008.   Pictures weren't allowed in or out of the mountain, but I found some online that are below.

Walkway to the Valley of the Kings

Entrance to one of the tombs

The video is of Ramses IV's tomb.

These sights were incredible.

We then went to Luxor Temple, where in contrast to the tombs, everything was outside and massive, with columns and structures reaching for the sky.  

Luxor Temple

The speck just right of center in the foreground is a person.
I wanted to show just how enormous these structures are.

The next temple is dedicated to a woman whose name I can't remember.  It was so hot here my iPhone camera flashed an overheated warning sign.  The temperature was 111, but it must have been at least 20 degrees hotter at the monuments.  It was blistering hot.  This was a case of going from the frying pan (Abu Dhabi) to the fire (Luxor).  Thankfully, Cairo is a much cooler 95 or so.

Too hot for words!  I walked up and came right back down.

The last place we visited sits on 62 acres in the heart of the city, across the street from the River Nile.  It contains 134 extraordinary columns and statues and monuments of Kings and other royal folks.

These are over 30 feet tall!

Not sure who these folk are.
I lost track of the names and I'm blaming it on the heat.

If it wasn't considered holy ground,
it would be a great place for playing hide and seek.

Along the way, we stopped at a family owned shop that had been in the carving business for over 250 years.  The things they made was incredible.

Man grinding stone

My day trip to Luxor was wonderful, but I was happy to get back to "cool" Cairo.

Today I ended the guided portion of my tour of Egypt, with the most relaxing hour-long ride on the River Nile.  It runs right through the heart of the city, and in fact, it runs through the heart of the country.

Riverboat captain - he's done this for 50+ years!

My  great guide Hany!

Me on the riverboat

Let me give an unsolicited endorsement for Ramses Tours.  They were fantastic from start to finish.  They were recommended by one of my teachers, who visited here earlier and thought they were awesome, and they were even better than that.   

Tomorrow I sleep in and pack and I'm back home in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

As always, thanks for taking this ride with me.

Inshall'Allah

Saying "I Love You"

Why is that simple phrase so difficult for me to say?

Is it because I wasn't raised in a home where I heard it spoken?

It is a case of your feelings not counting unless they're verbalized?

Is it because it seems empty and shallow when repeated again and again?

Is it because it seems to have become a catch phrase that folks are expected to say?

Is it because the only time I heard my father utter those words, was days before he died?

Is it because I think love should be a verb, and not just a noun?

Is it because I believe the phrase is shallow unless it involves showing the person how you feel?

Ben and Frankie can probably count the times on one hand that they've heard me say that I love them.  Is there any doubt in their minds that I do?

Is it wrong of me to feel this way?

Is it cultural?  Generational?

Or is it just me . . . in need of some serious help?

Holy Day

Today we visited churches, mosques, and synagogues, so it was a spiritual journey of sorts.

First stop, The Citadel, a fort-like structure built on one of the highest hills overlooking the city.  It was built in 1176.  Within its walls is one of the oldest mosques.

Online picture that shows the magnitude of this compound.

Mosque inside The Citadel

Me walking along the colonnade of the mosque

Then we went to St. Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, also known as The Hanging Church because it was built far above ground over a fortress.

It was built in the 3rd century!

This was followed by a visit to St. Sergius Church, where the Holy Family was believed to have been sheltered on their trip to Egypt.  It dates back to the 4th century.

Entrance to St. Sergius Church

Sign leading the way to the crypt

Finally, we visited the Ben Ezra Synagogue.  The stone box is believed to hold the rock that Moses knelt on when he received the Ten Commandments.

This box, in the foreground, is believed to hold Moses' rock.

Again, it was mesmerizing walking along paths, and being inside buildings and structures that were thousands of years old.

Neither my words nor photographs can do justice to these historical landmarks.  And like people everywhere, I'm not sure the local folks appreciate the magnitude of their treasures.

Ingenuity - Lost and Found?

Today was another day for lots of learning.

We headed off to the town of Memphis, which is on the outskirts of Cairo.  We passed acre after acre of farm land that was being tended to by people on donkeys. In fact, donkeys were prevalent throughout the day, as folks were transporting alfalfa to feed their cows and buffalos.  They were also plentiful as merchants were carrying their wares to sell - bread, fruits and vegetables, and other things not visible because they were covered and tied down with blankets.

We visited what looks like a graveyard for monuments.  Most of the items had been salvaged and they were visibly damaged.  It was an interesting tidbit to discover that all of the pieces had hieroglyphics engraved in them that identified the period they were created.

Graveyard for Monuments

Massive statue of King Ramses.
Note his beard hangs straight down.
This means the statue was created while he was alive.
If it was curled up at the end, it was created after death.

It was too big to get in just one shot.
Note the detail of the muscles and the hieroglyphics.

King Ramses' lower body showing damage to the legs.
This statue is in a building adjacent to what I called the graveyard for monuments.

Then we drove a little farther and saw another pyramid.  The area is more secluded, with desert all around.  This one was called the "red one" because it appears reddish from a distance.

I couldn't tell the difference in the color.
It didn't look red to me, from a distance or closeup.

The next two were the most interesting.

The Step Pyramid is being restored.  It is the first known pyramid and it was made by accident.  The king wanted his grave site to be seen from a distance as you were approaching.  So he ordered that five more layers be added to the top of his final (square/rectangular) resting place, resulting in a pyramid-shaped structure.  My pictures didn't come out, so I found some online to show you.

Step Pyramid - Believed to be the first pyramid created

Again, this is a photo from online.
It is a picture of the single remaining wall of the structure
that surrounds the Step Pyramid, above.

Once this one was finished, they tried to make another, without success.  This one is referred to at the Bent Pyramid.

Oops!  That's not quite right!

They learned from their mistake in design, and later created the most famous pyramids of Giza that were featured in the post yesterday.

Driving through the city and countryside, the remnants of hard times and poverty all around, I wonder about the incredible ingenuity of the past.

Is it still in the hearts and minds of the people?  Can ingenuity be stifled?  For thousands of years?  Why are their certain periods in history that seem more conducive to discovery and invention?  How do we extend those periods?  Should we try?  Is this just a part of the cycle of living - sowing and reaping - inventing and then enjoying the pleasures of the new technology?

The history here is mind-bloggling, but it's from centuries ago.  Can those creative "juices" that produced so much greatness, be recaptured?

In one of Malcolm Gladwell's books, I think it was in Blink, he talks about the mid-1950's when Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were born, and several others who were instrumental in the incredible gains made in all things related to computers.  Was that coincidence only or were these guys a part of something bigger?  A master plan of ingenuity, if you will.

Anyway, you know me.  I can go on and on with questions, but I have few answers.

What do you think?

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Bucket List

Seeing the pyramids was high on my bucket list, and today I checked it off.


Extraordinary doesn't begin to describe how magnificent these structures are, but I'm getting ahead of myself.


I was picked up at 9:00, with our first stop being the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities.  It is the largest collection of over 5000 years of art, including paintings, sculptures, artifacts, and most impressive of all, King Tut's tomb and treasures. Some of the pieces were massive.  We were not allowed to take pictures inside.


Side note - When I was in Atlanta a few years ago, I visited a traveling King Tut Exhibition.  Although it was grand and there were exceptionally beautiful pieces, when I saw the slideshow showing how those pieces were obtained - by robbing the tomb/gravesite - I couldn't get out of there fast enough.  It was like I was a part of the gravediggers by supporting this.  I didn't have that reaction this time.  Somehow, displaying these treasures on Egyptian soil takes the sting away from how they were discovered and obtained.

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities

Side View - Egyptian Museum of Antiquities

The intricacies of the designs carved and painted into the sculptures and artifacts is breathtaking.  The colors - so bright and distinct.  The gold layered wooden objects, still intact after all these years.

Walking among items that you know are thousands of years old, tends to put the years we typically live on this earth into perspective.  

Next, we're off to see the pyramids, but we make a stop at a papyrus shop/museum to see how this ancient paper is made.  It was mesmerizing.  The papyrus plant is used.  It looks like sugar cane with a flower at the top of it.  It has three sides and when you look at a cross section of the bottom, it looks like a pyramid.  Depending on the size of the paper you're making, you cut the stalk the desired length, skin it, and slice it length-wise.  Then you use a rolling pin and mash them flat.  Next, they're layered in water to extract most of the sugar out of it.  Some is left in because the sugar acts as a natural glue. Then they are taken out of the water and weaved - crisscross - like a mat.  Lastly, they're put in a press and mashed again.  The final product is a paper so resilient - you can write on it and water washes it away.  You can roll it up or ball it up, and it's still OK.  To get it flat again, you can put it back on the press or iron it with a regular iron used for clothes. Amazing! 

I found this video that demonstrates the process.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9el1VJqIgw

As we're driving to the pyramids, I'm curious about the city landscape.  There are 22 million people that live in Cairo, so it's a big city.  There are miles and miles of dark red and brownish-gray high rises. Many parts of the city look and feel very old. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of the high-rises are not finished because if the folks leave it unfinished, they don't have to pay taxes on the property.  It creates an abandoned look to the homes.  

Many other parts of the city looks neglected.  There were no kind words spoken about the former Mubarak Regime, but they have high hopes for the current president.  Both of the men I was with today participated in the revolution.  They're also both 31, Ben's age.

Burned building right next to Egyptian Museum of Antiquities.
It was left standing as a monument to the struggle.

And now . . . 

The pyramids!

The city - high-rises and businesses - are right across the street from them.  

The pyramids are behind me.

The panoramic view is from the back side where you have to drive a mile or so in the desert, then turn around and there they are - MAGNIFICENT!  I just did a Wikipedia search and discovered they are one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the oldest.

Me in front of the largest pyramid

Looking up at the largest pyramid

Tiny specks in red are people walking along the bottom layer of rocks.

Me in front of panoramic view

Then, as you're leaving the area, you come across the majestic Sphinx.

Sphinx!

Me in front of the Sphinx

Hanee, the tour guide in front of the Shinx

Finally, a word about driving in Cairo.  It is not for the faint of heart.  Two things caught my eye.  First, the majority of the cars on the road are at least 10 years old, and they all seem to be scratched or dented.  Here's why (I'm guessing) - the drivers create lanes.  The roads/streets, with the exception of one very short span, do not have painted lanes.  Most of the way home, cars were seven abreast on a road that looked like it was designed for three lanes.  I could have literally shaken hands with the folks in the cars next to us.  Another interesting thing - OK, that's three - the roads/street didn't have traffic lights.  Folks kind of governed themselves.  It was a sight to see.  Traffic was back-up for days as there were three cars that were being pushed or tended to because they had broken down.  Bravely, men were walking through the moving traffic like it was standing still.

Last word, promise.

There are horse-drawn fruit and vegetable carts, covered motorcycles that seat four, and women who balanced large loads on their heads.  I hope to get pictures of these later this week.

I know this was a lot.  If you made it until now, bless you.

View outside my hotel room.
There is a buffet to break the evening fast for Ramadan.

Inshal'Allah (God willing), more soon.

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Greetings from Egypt!

Just arrived a couple of hours ago, and just got settled into my room for the night.

I was met at the airport, with a guy holding a sign with my name on it.  I felt pretty important.  Thankfully, he facilitated getting my visa, was with me through the passport checkpoints, and for the hourlong wait in getting my luggage.  Then we were off to the hotel, about 15 minutes from the airport.

The people are very friendly and helpful here at the hotel, but the folks at the airport were pretty aggressive.  I appreciated having someone to lead the way.

The day begins at 9:00am tomorrow, so I'm off to bed.

Wait.  One more thing.

Ramadan, the monthlong fasting for Muslims, began yesterday, so I was curious to see whether there would be food available at the airport.  I was told that all restaurants and food shops closed their doors from before sunup to sundown.  This is done so that the smell of food wouldn't be enticing for those fasting.  That was not the case at Dubai Airport.  Everything was open as usual.  It will be interesting to see how it is observed here in Cairo.

More soon.

 

Fame - Who Decides?

What makes someone or something popular/successful?

Why is it that some works of art - famous pieces - look like something a toddler painted, and yet the pieces are worth millions of dollars?  Who decides what's good or not? Why does their opinion count more than mine?  Or yours?

Why are famous folks famous?  Who decided their fame or status?  We the viewing public?  Or their public relations team?

What makes some recording artists, who are mediocre at best, become top sellers, when other folks with extraordinary talent are left watching from the sidelines?

Why are some books best sellers, when there are so many others, better written, better put together, that hardly get noticed?

This last question is especially relevant because I'm reading a best seller, the first of a trilogy, that has been on the best sellers list for weeks/months now.  It's Fifty Shades of Grey.

There's been a lot of buzz about it.  Of course, it's banned from the bookstores here.

I had seen it for a while on Amazon, but every time I thought about buying it, I do what I always do when purchasing something, I read the reviews.  What is/was tantalizing about the reviews for this book is that of the 6000 plus folks who wrote one, 3500 thought the book was great, and 2500 thought it was trash.

I'm about half way through the first volume, and if I wrote a review now, mine would definitely be leaning toward the later group.

In a nutshell, the book is about this gazillionaire who makes an indecent proposal to a young, naive, recent college graduate.  We're seen and heard the story before, so you can get the gist of where it's headed.

What makes this story different though, is that it involves kinky sex, of the very kinky kind. Bondage and such.

OK.  I confess.  I like trashy romance novels where I imagine I'm the woman getting all of the attention from the handsome dude, and we ride off into the sunset.

Yes, it's pretty pathetic, but there it is.  The truth of the matter.

What I can't wrap my head around is someone tying someone else up for their jollies.

That's just too freaky for me.

First sign of a rope, handcuffs, duct tape - whatever - I'm outta there.

So, I'm struggling with this book.  I'll finish it, just cause.  But relating to it on a personal level . . . no, no . . . in fact, hell no.

Now, I'm guessing you're in one or two camps - those who agree that kinky is crazy and won't touch it, or those who disagree, or maybe now you're just a wee bit curious, and you're rushing off to buy it.

Look for it in the hardware aisle, next to the rope and duct tape.

Online Dating & Gay Marriage

No, I'm not gay.

Yes.  I'm sure you went there when you read the title.  These are just two topics on my mind today.

First, online dating.

As I mentioned in one of my earlier postings, I tried it for a six-week run, years ago, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.  In fact, running home at night to check my account to see if it generated any interest, felt like homework.

And who wants homework?

The reason I gave this a try at all is because dear friends of mine have found, and married, wonderful men they met through online dating services.  So, I figured if it happened for them, it could happen for me.

It didn't.

The fact that no one I "met" was interested in a face-to-face, not even for coffee, was the first clue to the ultimate demise of this dating adventure.

But, at least I can say I tried.

I figured this was the problem - it's hard to reduce how wonderful I am to a statement or two.  I need volumes to share all of this awesomeness.

OK.  Stop laughing.

Really.  Stop.

And for those of you who might be tempted to feel sorry for me, don't.  I'm having the time of my life.  The only reason this has even crossed my mind lately is because I've seen a lot of commercials for various online dating sites.

And yes, I'm a sucker for ads.  Always have been.  So was my Momma.   Must be genetic.

Now, to gay marriage.

I just read this charming account of two guys, one active duty military, who were just married, on base.  They were married before and each of them has two kids. They are both Christian and were raised in the church, and tried for years to deny who they were.  When they did come out, after the dismantling of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," they initially lost everything - wives and kids, parents and church affiliations. In time, folks came around, and new friends joined their circle.

The full story can be found on the Salon website.  The link follows.

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_wedding/2012/07/erwynn_umali_and_will_behrens_the_first_gay_wedding_on_a_military_base_.single.html.

In spite of all the negative people and negative circumstances they encountered and endured, their love for each other prevailed.

I'm happy for this couple.  These gay men who married, strangers to me.  I'm happy they had a choice, and that we're in a place in America where they could step out and make their choice known to the world.

Letter

I stumbled upon this intriguing letter from an ex-slave to his former master.  I was struck by his positive tone, even when he mentions some unspeakable hardships.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/text-slaves-letter-master-16778818#.UAP_uI5n_BI

Glitz vs. Grit

Yesterday I was in Dubai.  This is the first time I've driven there.  I was ready with my GPS coordinates set, so at least it knew where I was going.

As I approached the city, I could see the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world), in the distance. It was a very hazy day, so most everything else was hidden behind the clouds.  Actually, I'm not sure if it was clouds or sand causing the haze in the sky.  Either way, whatever it was, resulted in the visibility being very limited.

I was there to finalize one of my summer trips.

One of the things that was most striking to me, was the grittiness of this part of the city.  I had to remind myself often that this was, in fact, Dubai - the land of all things glitzy.

But then I remembered, I shouldn't have been surprised by these findings because in every big city, there is the section that doesn't make it in the tourist guide books as places to see and things to do.  And so it is with Dubai.  It takes a whole lot of folks to shine the gold and silver and to keep all of the marble sparkling.

As I've mentioned before, there are less than 10 million people here, but only 2 million, or 20% of the population, are Emiratis.  Almost everyone else is in place to serve them in some capacity or other.  (Just looked it up - The actual numbers listed for population is 7.5 million, again with roughly 80% of that number being expats). Of the expats, most are from neighboring countries and almost all are Arab. This latest school reform has brought in the most Westerners, and those who follow Christianity.

It is the folks who live and work in the service industries that are not treated well, at all.

I have been asked again and again, about the treatment of women here.  For the most part, very well.  However, those women who make up the service industry, not so good.  They are the cooks, nannies, house cleaners, etc.

There are many more expat men than women because of the job market.  More men are needed for the incredible amount of building that has happened and continues to happen.  Yesterday, I saw construction sight, after construction sight, with cranes looming high above on seemingly every block.  You don't see that much building on the glitzy side of town, but it appears they are extending their reach throughout the city.

Side note - In the slides of typical single family homes that I included a few days ago, please note that these are in fact, typical.  Remember, family sizes are much larger here.  It is not unusual for a family to have 8-10 kids.  (This is commonly referred to as "nation building"). The houses in the slides look like the ones across the street from my school.

Tomorrow I'm headed to Abu Dhabi, to get dolled up for my travels.

Insha'Alla (God willing), more soon.

Side note 2 - Every conversation begins and ends with Insha'Allah or Alhamdulilah (praise God).

Homes in the UAE

Take a look at this slide show of single family homes in the UAE.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/in-pictures-villa-architecture-of-the-northern-emirates

Really Cool Car

Check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jZKWl34N3O0

Last Day of School

Yeah!

We made it!

The teachers couldn't leave fast enough.  That is, for the ones who showed up at all. Of the 17 Western teachers, we know 8 will not be returning.  There was little motivation for them to show up.

Most of the teachers will be leaving the country tonight or tomorrow.  It will be a mass exodus.

New teachers will be arriving all summer, with a really big group coming in August.

After spending all day in a meeting (on the last day of school - really???), I'm thrilled to have this time off, and will spend this first week resting before I, too, get on the road again.

More soon.

Shopping

I'm one of those rare women who don't like to shop.  Not for food, clothes, etc. Being raised with guys, and then having guys - I think that's why the shopping gene just passed me by.

I made an appointment to get my hair done after school, to get out all of the remnants of our Cultural Day celebration.  There was still some of the tomato saucy perfume that was spread all around my face and well into my hair.

Me at Cultural Day festivities
in a burka, wearing a shayla, holding a watering jug.
Yes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

The hair salon is right behind a grocery store.  I needed a couple of things, but found myself just wandering around in there.  Probably because I was hungry.

Note to self - You know better.  NEVER shop hungry.

Anyway, I didn't heed that advice and picked up a dutch apple loaf cake that looked really good.

First hint this was a mistake - it was displayed next to fruitcakes.  It is universally known, fruitcakes are awful.

Second hint - the expiration date on it was February 2020.

Yes, you read that right.  The year 2020.

And, brilliant woman that I am, in spite of these glaring warning signs, I bought the cake.

When I opened the package it was hard as a brick on the top.  Too hard for a sharp knife to cut.  No, it was not frozen.  It was, in fact, at room temperature.  I noticed the bottom of it wasn't quite as hard, so I turned it over and sawed my way through it and cut off a slice.

Third hint this purchase was a mistake - any cake, bread, or cake-like food that is hard as a brick, should be chucked IMMEDIATELY.

Of course, I didn't do that.  instead, I popped that slice in the toaster, and the aroma coming from it convinced me it was f-i-n-e.

It wasn't.

Once out of the toaster, I buttered it,

And

It was still hard as a brick and some of the nastiest food I've ever eaten.

The lessons learned today include, but certainly not limited to, the following:

1)  Stay out of grocery stores when you're hungry

2)  No matter how good something looks in the store, if the expiration is beyond next week, DO NOT buy it

3)  Don't hesitate to throw any food away if it is so hard it could be used as a doorstop.  Exception - melons.

After this experience, I'll think twice before grocery shopping,

And

I will eat BEFORE I shop.

Promise.

Cultural Day

Today the Arab staff treated us to a close up look at some of their customs.

What a treat!

They dressed me in a burka (face mask), with a shayla (head scarf).

Side note - I'm not sure of the spelling of shayla, so I'm spelling it phonetically and hoping for the best.

I was then rubbed with traditional perfume around the sides of my face.  It looked like tomato sauce.  My eyes were lined with a natural black paste that looked like shoe polish.

Yes, it was a sight to see.  Sorry, no pictures yet.  I was having such a good time getting all dolled up, I didn't stop to take pictures.  Lots of teachers took photographs though, so I'm hopeful to get some to share.

There were teachers who brought traditional dishes, and others who brought hot plates and cooked everything there, showing us how to do it.

There was a teepee-looking structure with goat hide hanging from it that was tied at both ends.  The hide contained milk that was being processed into a soft cheese, like cottage cheese.  The substance that was pored out of it looked like a really thick milk - like buttermilk.  I didn't taste it because regular milk upsets my stomach.

There were displays of baskets with fruits and leaves used as spices, teas, and henna.  These baskets were made from dried palm leaves.

There were about six large round mats, also made of dried palm leaves, that were laid on the rug, that was rolled out on the floor, and this is where the dishes were laid.  The food was in super large containers, keeping it warm, and when it was time to eat, they were opened up and everyone picked up a plate, and dished out what they wanted.  There were at least 8-10 folks serving themselves around the container at one time.

There were big clay water jugs, that when filled with water, keeps it cool, even outside in the extreme heat.  I tasted some of the water, and it was cool.

There were examples of the clothes they wear at home - it looked like the abaya (black robe-like outfit), but they were very colorful, contrary to their usual attire.

There were teachers who were wearing different colored shaylas (scarves).  They typically only wear black.  There even was a teacher (Egyptian), whose shayla fell off as she was getting painted with henna and it stayed off.  Her hair was dyed blond with highlights!  We weren't expecting that.  Interestingly, she looked much younger with her hair revealed, which makes me wonder what the others would look like without their shaylas.

There were women who were braiding silk thread that would be used as trim around the collar and/or hem of their garments.  The thread was pinned to an oblong pillow and the pillow sat on the floor in front of them.  The thread was still attached to the spools and they just rolled more off of the spools, as needed.

There was an African woman who was doing the henna painting.  It was very elaborate and intricate.  Beautifully done!  I learned that each country that does henna painting, does it a little differently.  Henna is like nail polish.  You have to wait for it to dry and it takes at least a half an hour.  I had a small area painted, but I'm so dark, you have to strain to see it.

Oftentimes you see the Arab teachers with their fingertips painted in henna, without the fancy designs.  This is the traditional way to wear it in the UAE.  Interestingly, the native females do not wear nail polish because they have to be free of chemicals on their body when they wash for prayer.

Only the Arab teachers were taking pictures because they don't allow you to photograph them uncovered, usually.  That's another reason I didn't take any pictures.  I didn't want to offend, by accidentally taking one of their pictures.

They really did go all out in helping us to see and understand what many of their customs are.  It was a delightful day full of fun and lots and lots of learning.

TED Books!

You all know I love the TED Talks, well I just discovered TED Books.  It is already available for the Kindle, Nook, and iBook platforms, and on July 10th, an app launches for the iPad.

I can't wait.

The Huffington Post article about this is below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/06/ted-books-launches-app_n_1655099.html#slide=1195284

Happy reading!

Can't Get Enough

Sleep.

I've spent the last couple of days catching up on it.  Thankfully, I'm good to go now.

Here's another product plug.  (Seriously, I missed my calling.  I should have been in advertising / sales).  It's for 6-Hour Energy Drink.  A dear friend told me about this, and although I'd seen and heard of it before, I didn't try it until she suggested it.  It works just like it says - you're energized (not crazy jittery though) for six hours with no crashing.  You can find it at almost any kind of store in the US, including Costco, but I buy it from Amazon.

When I searched my phone for the above photo, I found a couple more from my NY visit.  They are below.

Statue of Liberty

Zadie on the ferry after visiting the Statue of Liberty

Side note - I've confirmed my first summer trip.  It's to Cairo, Egypt in a couple of weeks.  It's 3.5 hours by air, so it's relatively close.  Seeing the pyramids is high on my bucket list of things to do.  More on this later.

Side note 2 - I realize getting a US calendar is important for keeping up with the holidays there.  July 4th would have come and gone unnoticed if didn't receive notes from some of you.  Thanks for keeping me in the loop.  

Side note 3 - I just wanted to expand, very briefly, on the post about my brothers a while ago.  I hope I didn't leave you with the impression that there were never any issues between us because there were plenty.  Especially between my youngest brother, Terry (deceased) and I.  In fact, we fought like cats and dogs for years - until we were in our 40's!  It was only when Forrest (brother #2), suggested one of us grow up, and stop this nonsense, that I decided, enough was enough.  It takes two to argue, and it's tough trying to fight alone.  So this "peace, no matter what" revelation marked the beginning of some really great times, and some even greater discussions.

Besides your parents, there's no one who knows you better than your siblings.  If there is strife or contention between you and them, let me encourage you to make amends and settle it TODAY.  Don't make the mistake we made.  I regret the time Terry and I lost fighting, but I'll be forever grateful for the time we had once we got past the craziness.

Until next time . . . 

Hot vs. Very Hot

It was 117 degrees today.  Before you faint from reading these numbers, consider this.  It felt a lot hotter in New York because of the incredibly humid air, where the temperatures hovered around the mid-90's while I was there.  I was sweating like crazy.

I just gotta say, it's hard trying to be cute when you're dripping wet in places I will spare you from mentioning.

In contrast, we had a strong breeze today.  It was hot, no doubt, but it was bearable . . . relatively speaking.

It was good being back at work.  My folks were glad to see me because they thought I might ditch the last few days of school (staff workshops) and stay in the States.  The thought crossed my mind, ever so briefly.

Of course, everyone asked to see pictures of the wedding and my time away.  I should have remembered to take some, but I was too busy chatting with folks and having fun.

I'm paying the piper now.  I was up late again last night, but trying to get back in my rhythm.  This will be short so that I can get to bed early.

A very early goodnight to me, and good morning to you.

Funk in Flight

Picture this -

I've just boarded the last leg of my flight to take me from Milan to Dubai.  I've stored my carryon and I've settled in my seat.

There is a funky smelling odor nearby, but I can't place the origin of it.

     Please allow me to define funky. 

     Sometimes we use the word to describe something or someone who is cool, 

     hip, or has that certain swagger.

     Today I'm using it to describe the strongest, foulest, most disgusting body odor 

     I've experienced in a long time.

Then, the source of that smell walked by.

The odor was gagging bad.

And just as I was feeling sorry for the poor soul he would be sitting by, he came and stood by my seat, indicating he was sitting next to me.

Dear Lord.

I wasn't sure what to do.

I tried holding my breath but I couldn't hold it forever.  I exhaled only to be slapped with another nauseating wave of funk.

I should also mention he was a big guy.  A really big guy.  He sat leaning back with his legs wide open, touching mine, and as much as I tried to move far away, I couldn't escape.  I was being rubbed with the funk, too.

And instead of just laying low and being cool, or as cool as he could be in his funky state, he raised his arms and laid them on the armrest behind his head.

Dear, dear Lord.

That's when the most overwhelming onslaught of funk imaginable nearly took my breath away.

And . . .

To add to this nasal drama, he was fidgety.  He was in constant motion - moving around in his seat, making noise with the ashtray by opening and closing it, and he was playing with the tray table, again and again.

Then he started to pray.

Me, too.

I'm not sure what he was praying about, but I was praying for some fresh air to come my way . . . soon.

At about hour three of a six hour flight, he motioned that he needed to get up.  I assumed he was going to the restroom and would be right back, but he was gone more than an hour.

Thank God!

However, when he came back, he not only reeked of funk, but he had layered that funky smell with a whole lot of cologne (it's available in the restrooms).

Dear, dear, dear Lord.

At this point my only refuge was to turn my face toward the aisle, and stay turned that way, to keep my eyes and nose from burning.

By the way, his clothes were nice.  He didn't look destitute, but he definitely needed to burn what he was wearing.  There is no way that obnoxious smell was ever coming out.

I maintained my position of leaning forward, with my head turned toward the aisle, when he turned on the music on his phone so loud, folks sitting across the aisle could hear it playing, through his headphones.  It must have been deafening for him.

I pulled my iPad out and tried reading to distract myself.

It didn't work.

Thankfully, the flight landed about 30 minutes early, and I rushed off, but I couldn't escape the funk because he was right behind me.  I slowed down, and let him pass, and waited a while, until I was sure it would be safe to breathe again.

And, other than loosing my eyebrows from the blistering funk, it was a great flight.

Whirlwind

It's Sunday morning, and I'm writing this post from Connecticut, where the wedding ceremony for Frankie and Cara was held.

What a beautiful setting!

What a beautiful ceremony!

Although traveling so far to stay just over a week was challenging, it was worth every mile on the road to be a part of this celebration.

Now to some thank you's -

To Frankie & Cara for their warmth and generosity for including me in the festivities

To Cara's family for single-handedly creating a magical day, and for opening up their hearts and homes to people far and wide who shared it

To Ben for doing an amazing job of officiating, and to his wife Lupe who graciously and selflessly helped to keep Zadie entertained throughout a very busy day

To Cara's aunt and her family for opening up their heart and their home to me, providing a beautiful place for me to stay, that proved to be wonderful sanctuary of calmness

To all of the incredible family and friends that I had the opportunity to meet, that I've heard so much about over the years

To Zadie for giving her Grandma Faye lessons in how to party, and

To you, for sharing the happenings in my world through this blog

THANK YOU!