It's a Pale, Pale World

It is striking how different the color landscape of the people is here, compared to the UAE.  There are more blonds than I've ever seen in one place.  But, I counted four black folks today, and had a great conversation with one of them, a kid from Morocco.

I boarded a "hop on, hop off" bus around the city and stopped at several places to get a closer look.

Side note -

As I was waiting for the bus, I noticed what looked like a stationary crane beside a building.  It was an elevator shaft for lifting materials to the roof.  Very interesting.

This is the elevator at the top of the building.

Now to today's adventure -

First though, a note about the weather.

It was cold as a booger bear outside where I spent most of the day.  All of that bragging I was doing about how pleasant the weather was, well it did not apply today.  It was bone chilling cold.

My first stop was a cable car ride to Petrin Hill which has a magnificent panoramic view of the city.  Huge thanks to Houran for suggesting this.

This is an observation tower shaped like the Eiffel Tower.
It's on Petrin Hill.

Twice today I was reminded of Cape Town.  The first time was the cable ride to the top of Petrin.  This car had a railroad track to ride on.  The one in Cape Town taking you from the bottom of the mountain to the top, dangled from the cables suspended overhead stretching across to the top of Table Mountain.

The second reminder was the closer examination of the "haunting men" sculpture from yesterday.  Although it's not easy to look at when you consider it represents how the people were treated under communism, somehow it draws you in and you can sense the pain it stands for.  Likewise the visit to Robben Island were Mandala was imprisoned, leaves a lasting impression.

Next stop, Old Town Square, and the first thing I did was get some hot red wine.

Yes, you read it right.

On the outing yesterday I noticed signs for it, and asked about it.  The guy I was chatting with noted that the heat probably causes the alcohol content to be minuscule.

So . . .

I had a cup of red wine heated just right.

By now, the world knows I don't drink, but my curiosity and the freaking cold weather got the best of me.  After sipping about half of it, I remembered why I don't drink the stuff.  Immediately my stomach was upset, so the chucked the rest of it and continued my journey to . . .

Old Town Square -

It really was a winter wonderland of shops, food vendors, beautiful decorations and lots and lots of people.

Oldest working astronomical clock.
It was built in 1410.

People milling about Old Town Square

Another view

Beautiful, enormous Christmas tree

Another lovely building

More Old Town Square

A Shetland pony

More farm animals

Decorative scene

Old & Dumb - Sheikh Version

I know.

Another traffic report.

Sorry.

It's a serious pet peeve of mine.

Everyday huge SUVs (that make Suburbans look like Smart cars, they're so freaking big) can be seen barreling down the road, flashing their lights for the person in front of them to move out of the way.  If you don't, or can't, move over fast enough, they tailgate so closely you can no longer see the front end of the car in the rearview mirror.

Insane.

Anyway.

I thought the Sheikhs all had drivers.  In this case, he should have.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/abu-dhabi-police-catch-sheikh-abdullah-texting-while-driving

Young & Dumb - Rich Version

I'm interrupting my love affair with Prague, to bring you this outrageous story found in today's edition of The National Paper (UAE).

This is an example of having so much money, you don't know what to do with it.

Crazy, crazy, crazy!  And they wonder why there were over 600 accidents in one day last week!

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/dubai-police-catch-300kph-jet-fuel-road-racers?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Daily%2BNewsletter%2B20-12-2012

What a Beautiful City!

I took lots of pictures today, but they don't come close to depicting just how beautiful this city is.

Many were taken on the tour bus and you can see the glare of the window.  Others were taken as we walked around the Prague Castle.

Enjoy!

Very gothic looking building

I loved how bright and cheerful the landscape was,
even on an overcast day.

Frank Gehry Building depicting Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
You can't see him from this angle.
The flared bottom represents the flare of her dress.

Fred Astaire is portrayed on the right, with a top hat.

Again, the colors are wonderful.

The Charles Bridge

A breathtaking palace in the Prague Castle complex.
The walls are textured, lending a 3-D effect.

Inside the Castle complex

The backside of the castle.

The front of Prague Castle.
There are no words to describe how magnificent this structure is.

Another view of the first picture - cool gothic building

This firewood is being sold in the middle of town square.

Street view

A picturesque hôtel

This view is overlooking the city.
You can't tell, but it was a "wow" view.

Me, just inside the castle gates.

This doorway to the castle is called "the golden gate."

This scene is haunting.
It is a memorial to the victims of communism.
There is a plaque that reads:
"205486 convicted, 248 executed, 4500 died in prison,
327 annihilated at the border, 170938 emigrated". 
It begins with a whole man, with each progressive man loosing more and more of himself,
until the only thing left is a foot.
It is a sobering site.

Hello Prague!

Colorful buildings

I arrived this afternoon after a six-hour flight from Dubai.  I had the row to myself, so I was able to stretch out and sleep.  I left home at 4:30 am and I woke up every hour on the hour, checking the time so as not to oversleep, so my sleep was restless.

The weather was spectacular the entire trip, and only became overcast and damp when we landed, or maybe it was just visible then.

The people I've met in passing have been warm and friendly.

I left a sea of brown folks back home.  There were three people of color on this plane, including me.  I haven't seen any out and about yet.

The city is old, but is it well preserved.  Although it's big, it has a quaint feel to it.

The buildings - offices, apartments, and businesses - all all painted different colors, making them warm and inviting.

I'm staying steps away from this intersection.

This is a view from my room.

I was pleasantly surprised that, although it was hovering just above the freezing mark when we landed, it didn't feel that cold at all, thank God.  I was wearing flip flops with the intention of changing my shoes when we landed, but I was too tired, and as it turned out, it wasn't necessary.

There's lots to see and do.

More soon.

Good morning to you.

Good night to me.

50 Richest Guys in My World

I confess.  I only got to number 15, but I thought it was really interesting where they're from within the region.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/photos/50-richest-arabs-in-world-revealed-482542.html?img=13

This is followed by the ten richest folks in the world.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/photos/revealed-10-richest-people-in-world-482685.html?img=9

The Year in Review

I love this time of year, when we stop and look back on all that's happened.

Thanks to Google for making the following video and www.andrewsullivan.com for sharing it.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY_MUB8adEQ&feature=player_embedded

Health Care

The dentist I see is in one of the outpatient clinics of a hospital.  There's a full range of services provided by a team of about eight dentists.  There are stand alone dentist offices, but they typically don't  take insurance, or maybe it's just the type of insurance I have.  Dental cleanings are not covered by insurance at either place.

All medical and dental clinics are open until 10:00 at night.  They close from about 1:00 to 4:30, and then stay open late.  Many pharmacies are open 24-hours.

The American doctor I have to see to renew my medications is rarely on the late shift.  He's the only doctor in this clinic who is authorized to prescribe one of the meds I use.

Every international airport I've been through has a pharmacy.  This has really come in handy when you get off a flight feeling under the weather, although I usually carry a wide variety of "just in case" meds.

Side note - I'm on a soft diet because of the oral surgery, and went to the store looking for applesauce.  Folks here have no idea what that is.  So, being the resourceful person that I am, I went to the baby food section and found all kinds of pureed fruits.  Of course I passed on the meats and vegetables.

Side note 2 - Speaking of soft foods, I've been having a hankering for grits, which I absolutely love, and to my wondrous delight, they are available from Amazon, too.

One of these days soon, I need to once again, count the many ways I love Amazon.

Side note 3 - It rained last night.  Remember, it only rains four days a year, so this is a big deal.  Unfortunately, I slept through it.  It was wonderful walking outside to the smell of rain though.

Back to health care -

Antibiotics and many other drugs that are prescription only in the US can be purchased over the counter here.  There is a long list of drugs banned from entering this country, most of which have to do with mental health, which is taboo.

The patient name and date the meds are dispensed is not included on medicine labels.  The handwritten labels just provide the directions for taking them.

The hospital pharmacies are old school through and through.  The pharmacies I worked in over thirty years ago were more modern and up-to-date than these. Nothing is computerized, everything is handwritten in ledgers.

My dentist wrote a prescription for the injectable meds he gave me, to replace the ones he used in his office.  It led me to believe that he had to pay for these meds out of pocket.  Could that be?

There is nothing ADA compliant about public buildings.  There is a 1" x 4" that covers the threshold of every door, including the restrooms, making it very difficult to manage in a wheelchair.  Most of the doors to enter the toilets, as they're called here, are way to narrow for a wheelchair.

Speaking of names for restrooms, in many countries I've visited, I ran into the initials WC, which stands for water closet.

As I've mentioned before, car seats and seat belts are rarely used.  You can see kids riding in the driver's and/or front seat passenger's lap.  I believe this is the reason most accidents result in fatalities.  One of our teachers was in an accident days before school began this year where she was thrown from the car because she wasn't wearing a seat belt.  She is paralyzed from the waist down.  She has three children, all under the age of five.  I'm told that there is a strong possibility that she will be sent back home to Egypt because her medical care is likely to be long term.

Side note 4 - Driving is Egypt and India was outrageous, but in the week that I was in each country, I didn't see an accident.  In Jordan, where the roads were calm and the drivers friendly, I witnessed two.

Side note 5 - I've been following the tragedy at the elementary school in Connecticut.  As a former principal, I think I can speak for us all and say we pray to God we never have to deal with an intruder on campus, especially someone who was bound and determined to take lives.  I join my prayers with the million of others, for the victims and their families, of this terrible tragedy.

Winter Break

Today begins the first day of our winter break.  We have three weeks off.  Although Christmas isn't observed by the majority of people here, it's wonderful that this break coincides with it.  There are Christmas trees decorated in the shopping areas, but it feels like an afterthought, not the focus.

Last year at this time, I was living in a hotel, shopping for furniture, and waiting for deliveries.  A lot has happened in a year.

I'm headed to the Eastern European city of Prague for a few days.  It was recommended by a friend.  Prior to this trip, I have kept my visits to relatively warm locals because I don't have winter clothes here and it doesn't make sense to buy some to wear for a few days out of the year.  I had a change of heart when planning this trip. I checked the weather in Prague, and the highs are expected to be at just above freezing.  Then I checked my closet and found a coat that I don't remember packing. In the pockets were gloves, and with the purchased of a heavy wool hat and scarf, I'm ready for my Tuesday departure to a winter wonderland.

Wish me luck.

Complete vs. Finished

From an email going around.


No dictionary has been able to adequately explain the difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED.  However, in a recent linguistic conference held in London, England, and attended by some of the best linguists in the world:  Samsundar Balgobin, a Guyanese, was the clear winner.

His final challenge was this: Some say there is no difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED. Please explain the difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED in a way that is easy to understand.

Here is his astute answer: "When you marry the right woman, you are COMPLETE. But, when you marry the wrong woman, you are FINISHED. And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are COMPLETELY FINISHED!"

Loved Like This

Below is a kind of love letter the writer has written to his recently deceased wife.  It is touching in many ways, and it caused me to think - wouldn't it be wonderful to be loved like this?

As tough as I am and as independent as I pride myself in being, I gotta admit, it would be nice to seen as super special in someone else's eyes.

Of course, I have wonderful friends, both male and female, but you know what I mean.  A guy just for me who loves me like crazy.

What woman doesn't want that?

I'm probably fooling myself to think that I would give up the freedom I'm enjoying in being alone, but maybe, just maybe, I can have both.

OK.  OK.

Enough dreaming.

Enjoy the article.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/richard-cohen-mona-ackerman-had-the-gift/2012/12/10/192650f2-42f2-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html?hpid=z3

Best Dog Ever!

Adorable!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/10/dog-waits-while-toddler-splashes-puddle_n_2270197.html

Another Healthcare Solution?

Very interesting.

As seen on Andrew Sullivan's blog, The Dish.

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/12/vip-md.html

What Would You Do?

Fascinating article from the New York Times about how people respond to others needing help.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/08/opinion/nocera-its-hard-to-be-a-hero.html?hp

It's That Way!

In Thursday's local paper, there was an article about Dubai getting a system in place to assign GPS coordinates to every possible destination in that city.  See the article below.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/dubai-addresses-its-need-for-directions-with-navigation-system

That's great, but I hope they don't stop there.  Every inch of this country needs to be identified by GPS. Not just the big cities.  As I've mentioned before, the lack of physical addresses makes for colorful living when you're trying to find some place.

Thank God, I figured out how to get around by finding the GPS coordinates to the biggest landmark closest to wherever I'm headed.  That has saved me a tremendous amount of time and aggregation.

Side note -

This is labeled under:  Some things better left to the imagination.

On the main level of the Dubai Airport, there is a bank of elevators that are made of glass.  You can see the mechanisms working as they go up and down.

I don't need to see that.  I'm OK with being in the dark.

Interestingly, the mechanisms for the huge rotating lift that carries folks to the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town is also clear, but I found that one fascinating to see.

Go figure.

Anyway, I'm guessing you all are in the full swing of Christmas preparations.  I've got my iPod on a steady rotation of holiday songs.

There are Christmas trees and other decorations in the malls and shopping areas, but it is not saturated like in other places that recognize the holiday.

I'm OK with that, too.

Here's hoping that this is your best Christmas ever, and the beginning of the best years of your life.

Stockton

Several years ago, two of my colleagues in Sacramento were planning to pursue their doctoral degrees.  On a fluke, I joined them.

I have known more than my fair share of educated fools, and I didn't want to fall into this category, even accidentally.

However, thinking that it would help in pursuing other avenues in education, I enrolled with my buddies at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA.

Stockton can best be described as a blue collar town, that stinks to the high heavens as you're driving to it, and also in the beautiful, newly renovated downtown area.  Going south from Sacramento you pass a dairy farm, so I get the funk there, but downtown?  PeeYuwee!

I thought about Stockton today because I saw that the great jazz musician, Dave Brubeck, passed away.  He was from Stockton.

My experience with the town/city was not a pleasant one.

Although I'm not an education snob, I thought the intellectual conversation at the doctoral level would be enriching and fulfilling.

Boy, was I wrong.

First of all, the teaching staff was small, only 4-5 folks would be teaching all of the classes that we would be required to take.

Even that would be bearable, if the folks were engaging and openminded.

They were not.

Now, you might say that I have this funky attitude towards the place because after a 1.5 years, I dropped out.

I'm proud of my buddies who succeeded in muddling through the nonsense to complete the program.

At my age, sitting in a class, I question everything.  That's how I learn.  Some folks, of the small-minded variety, are intimated by that.  What they say should be considered gospel, with no questions asked.

I learned the hard way that when you piss off small-minded people, they do small-minded things to retaliate.

It is what it is, and life goes on.

Do I reget not completing the program?

No.

I think I would have been content in that world, and it was only with the stirring of discontent, that I sought after and found this dream job.

So remember, if you're ever driving through Stockton, keep your windows up, drive fast, and listen to Take Five by Dave Brubeck.

Oral Surgery

I have few regrets in my life, but not taking care of my teeth is definitely one of them.

When I was growing up, we only visited the dentist when we were in pain, and the usual remedy was extraction.

Having grown up with this mindset, you would think, somewhere along the way, I would have recognize this was not the best in dental care.

I did, but not to the degree that I should have.

Thankfully, Ben and Frankie received better dental care, but it was still lacking the optimal attention it deserved.

At 53 years old, I got braces, in preparation for serious dental work.  The rationale was to strengthen my teeth before the extensive other work.

Two years later the braces came off, and the restoration was beginning, when I was hired for this job.  So, I sent out of the orthodontist's door with the directive to wear my retainers 24/7 so my teeth wouldn't shift back to their original crooked places.

Being the good girl that I am, I followed doctors orders.

A mild, irritating off and on toothache caused me to visit the dentist here, and after that issue was taken care of, the massive restoration work began.

Hence, the oral surgery.

The dentist was great and the procedures went well, but . . .

Thank God for drugs!

I don't understand folks shy away from drugs that can ease the pain.  I know what pain feels like, and I'm never anxious to feel it again.

But, of course, to each his own.

As I've mentioned before, the local folks here fall into two categories - those teenagers and young adults in braces, and the kids and old folks with rotting teeth. This is fascinating because medical and dental care is free to all nationals.

Here's to happy brushing, flossing, and deep cleaning.

If You Knew This Was the End . . . Part 3

This one brought back some tough memories, but it is filled with hope.  It was also taken from an article by June Cohen, in the Huffington Post.  It's 19 minutes long.

Here's the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX32U_hfri4

If You Knew This Was the End . . . Part 2

This was taken from an article by June Cohen, in the Huffington Post.  It's six minutes long.

Here's the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGalW9iK2tI

If You Knew This Was the End, What Would You Do?

This was taken from an article by June Cohen, in the Huffington Post.  It's five minutes long.

If this doesn't work, here is the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_zk2DpgLCs

Favorite Places

Without a doubt, Jordan stands out as one of my favorite places.  The only downside is it's the most expensive place I've visited thus far.  One hundred US dollars is equivalent to 70 Jordanian Dinar, or 367 AED, the currency here in the UAE.

Second on my list of favorite places is Thailand.  The culture was intriguing.  The people were very warm and welcoming, and it was the cheapest place, too.  One hundred US dollars is equivalent to 3,071Baht.

More pictures from Jordan.

This is the remains of a monument dedicated to Hercules.
It was destroyed in a massive earthquake years ago.

This monument was erected in remembrance
of the visit to Mt. Nebo in 2000 by Pope John Paul.

Mount Nebo is owned by the Catholic Church and is maintained by a sect of the Franciscan Priests.  There is a church at the top of the mountain that is under renovation.  It dates back hundreds of years.

The Abdoun Bridge in Amman.  It's beautiful!
The sides lean out forming a V-Shape.

This photo I found online, taken at night.

Also from online, this photo of the Dead Sea.

Parting Thoughts . . . Mostly Random

I was surprised to see a Safeway Supermarket in Jordan.  I also saw McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Burger King here, and everywhere else I've traveled.

911 is the number to call in an emergency in Jordan.  In the UAE, it's 999.

The drivers, like their personas elsewhere, are polite.  Folks yielded to each other, waving people onto the road in front of them.  There was almost no horn blowing.  Compared to Egypt and India, this was extraordinary.

The folks drive like we do in the US, on the same side of the road.  You could rent a car here and not feel threatened.

Some of the homes are enormous.  What was interesting about most was that the front doors were clear glass, like you see at malls and offices.  You walk through that, then you get to the front doors.  A novel concept for homes.

The dirt throughout Jordan is a rich, red clay.  So pretty, you want to stop and play in it.

Grape, fig, olive and pomegranate trees are prevalent throughout this country.

Corn is planted around the perimeter of the gardens, acting as a natural fence.

There is a huge Christian Church that sits across the street from the largest mosque in the area.  No problems at all.

In general, Arab men who wear the head covering, toss it back out of their face like girls with long hair toss theirs.

Only the men who live the nomadic life wear the long robes here.  And they are not white, but black or brown.

Finally, if you use a wash cloth, it is rare to find them in international hotels.  I carry my own so that I'm sure to have one.

Checking out.

More soon.

Jordan, Day 2

Today was just as meaningful and insightful as yesterday.

I visited the Amman Citadel, which is a fort like compound that has historic artifacts dating back thousands of years.

Next stop was Mount Nebo, which is believed to be the mountain that Moses stood on when he peered over to the Promise Land.  The West Bank of Jerusalem can be seen below, as well as the Jordan River, which flows into the Dead Sea.

This is on Mt. Nebo.
Jerusalem can be seen in the distance behind me.

The video was taken at the Dead Sea.  There are beautiful hotels that have recently been built.  It appears Jordan is trying to capitalize on its popularity.  Half of the sea is in Jordan, the other half in Israel.  The Dead Sea is almost 1400 feet below sea level.  It is the lowest area in the world.  The ride down to it was an ear-popping, narrow, winding trek.

Side note - I was hoping to get into Israel, and probably could have with my US passport, but time ran out.  I would not have been able to get back into the UAE though, if an Israeli stamp appeared in my passport.  It would have to be stamped on a piece of paper that could be removed.

Side note 2 - More black folks.  Swimming in the Dead Sea.

This whole area was built around, and in some cases, built into, the rolling mountain ranges.  In fact, downtown Amman sits in a deep valley, with the neighborhoods forming in the hills surrounding it.

Below are some pictures of the streets of Amman.

Enjoy.

Getting Here

Just some thoughts about what I experienced getting to Jordan.

Normally, I fly out of Dubai, and occasionally out of Abu Dhabi, but this flight departed from the city/state of Sharjah.

What was fascinating to see as we drove through this city, was the complete lack of glitz. In fact, by comparison to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it was almost run down.

I've described Dubai as the flashy sister, and Abu Dhabi as the protective big brother.  The black sheep of the family comes to mind when I think about Sharjah. The ruler here must have missed the memo about the oil income.  The airport, although international, looked like a small rundown regional airport in the US.

Forrest made an interesting comment about this.  He said that it could be that the ruler/people in Sharjah have made a conscious effort to keep things the same, without going over to the "dark side" of commercialism.

Side note:  Black sheep.  The dark side.  Devil's food cake.  Black Widow.  Notice how many references infer that being black is bad?

The flight over was on Air Arabia.  This was the first time I'd flown with this airline. What was really cute was the safety video.  It featured kids in all of the roles - pilot, flight attendants and passengers.  When they talked about floor lighting in the event of an emergency, a kid crawled on the floor to show you.  When they referred to your safety vest being under your seat, there was a kid poking his head out from that very spot.

Really, really cute.

Observations about Jordan -

The landscape is different from other places in the Middle East.  The miles and miles of sand is rocky, giving it a speckled appearance.

When we were in Petra yesterday, we were less than 20 miles from the Gaza Strip.

Although there is conflict all around, the Jordanians live in peace.  I asked about the influx of Syrian refugees, and how the people felt about that, and the response was, "We welcome them."  Everyone is welcome here, no matter the circumstances that brought them.

English is spoken by most, as it is the official language after Arabic.  All of the road signs and business names are in both languages, like in the UAE.  That is most helpful.

Side note 2 - There were about a dozen tourist busses visiting Petra.  As we were leaving, a bus load of black folks arrived.  I chatted briefly with one lady when I asked if they were from the US.  They were.  I'm guessing they may have been a church group, as this area has so many religious connotations.

Side note 3 - Forrest gave me a crash course in putting my pictures in iPhoto on my Macbook laptop.  What a treat that was!  It was like seeing them for the first time because I only post a select few.  I'd forgotten about many of the others.

Today is a full day of sightseeing.  Tomorrow I return home, with a day of rest before returning to work.

Good night to you.

Good morning to me.

Genuine Jordanians

I've been blessed to meet some great people in my travels, but the Jordanians have proven to be the warmest, kindest, and friendliest of all.

When we landed, I searched for someone holding up a sign with my name.  No luck. There was a guy holding a sign facing himself, that I couldn't read it.  When I inquired, still no luck, but he asked to see my paperwork, made some calls, and helped me to get a cab, and told me how much I could expect it to cost.  I offered to pay him for his help, but he simply said, "Welcome to our country."

It was almost midnight.

The cab driver asked if I had a prearranged tour guide.  I did not.  So we arranged for him to be my guide for the next two days.

Today we drove south to the city of Petra, famous for its mountains, and the amazing architecture cut into the mountains.

This is an incredible sight of the city below.
The picture doesn't do it justice.

Look at the sky.  It was a perfect day.

You have to believe in God when you see this.
Amazing!

This is carved into the mountain.
Incredible!

Thank God for Internet service, but uploading the pictures is taking a while.  I'll upload more when I get home.

More soon.

Celebrations

National Day, coming up on December 2nd, commemorates the 41st birthday of the UAE with a country-wide party that will go on for days.

Everybody and everything is wrapped in the flag colors of red, black, green and white.  T-shirts, hats, pins, dresses, scarves, jewelry, boas, and everything else you can imagine that can be worn as a show of pride, is being worn and on full display for the world to see.

This is at the assembly yesterday.
It's a sea of dark-haired girls.

Buildings and homes all over the city have huge flags tied to their sides for maximum visibility.

The palm trees that line so many of the medians, have colored lights on their trunks. You guessed it - they are either red, green or white.

You know the Puerto Rican Parade in New York City and how flamboyant it can be? These celebrations make that look like a bourgeois, black-tie event.

Our students have been working for weeks on songs and dances.  We got a preview of their efforts yesterday when the whole school - first the boys, then the girls - watched the dress rehearsals.  It was festive, colorful, and full of high energy.  Think of the hardest rock songs you've ever heard, add Arabic language, and keep it pumping for two hours.  That's what it sounded like.

Remember, I've mentioned before, the music played at school is on full blast.

Always.

I will miss the biggest celebrations as I'm leaving in a couple of days headed to Jordan for the long weekend.

My new set of luggage arrived and they are packed, standing ready to go.

I've got to get to bed now.

Good night to me.

Good morning to you.

Reading Aloud

Check this out.  From Andrew Sullivan's blog, The Dish.

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/11/the-intimacy-of-reading-aloud-ctd.html

Doesn't it sound like fun?

Scary and Crazy

I like going to the movies.

But, I don't like scary ones.  Why would I pay someone to scare me?

That's nuts.

Speaking of nutty, I don't like movies about crazy folks either.  There have been enough in my world where I've seen crazy up close and personal, so usually, I don't pay to see that.

Today was an exception.

I saw "Silver Lining Playbook."

It just crazy enough where you got the point, but no so crazy that they go off the deep end.

So, it gets my seal of approval.

Which is worthless, but it gets it anyway.

Hope this holiday weekend has been grand.

More soon.

Two New Words

I learned two new words today -

fulcrum - a prop or support

and

harbinger - anyone or anything that foreshadows a future event

Thanks to Dictionary.com

Thankful for Divorce

Let me begin by saying I'm not advocating divorce, but simply sharing how my life has changed, and why it was the best decision I ever made.

As in any relationship, and especially in marriage, there is compromise.

Ying and yang.

Give and take.

Allowances made to keep the peace.

The problem creeps in when the balance is consistently off, and there is way more giving than taking.

When you live your life the way someone else thinks you need to live it, always trying to please the other person, that can lead to problems.

For me, divorce was a breakthrough.  It was the opportunity to discover who I was - the good, bad and the ugly - and to live my life trying to please only one person - me.

When I discovered who I was, I made a conscious decision to like me.  Even the parts of me that I was working on.

I still have a critical eye when it comes to myself, but I see it as the need for personal growth, not as part of a condemnation plot where I need to beat myself up because I'm not measuring up, in someone else's eyes.

So, some of you may be thinking - do I regret getting married in the first place?

Absolutely not.  That journey led to Ben and Frankie, and I'm most proud of them.

I stayed in this marriage as long as I did in large part because of them.  (Hey guys.  Don't trip.  I'd do it again in a heartbeat. ).  I wanted them to have the benefit of having their father in their lives for as long as possible. He was a much better parent than husband.  Of course, he could say the same about me, and would probably be right.

Truth be told, maybe it have had nothing to do with Ben and Frankie.  Maybe it was just me, scared to death to step out on my own, even though, unlike many in my position, I had options because I had a degree, and could find work.

I swore growing up that I wouldn't do what my Mom did, and stay in a toxic relationship.

Never say never.

You do what you feel have to do to make the most of a bad situation.

Then, if you're lucky, you escape and move on.

I was very lucky.

Amarillo, Texas

This city is infamous for several things including the Oprah trial, KKK rallies, and this:

Cadillac Ranch

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2220

My oldest brother lived in Amarillo for years.  When Forrest and I visited him, we saw this.  It is as bizarre in real life, as it looks in these pictures.

Side note - the owner/millionaire has recently been accused of child molestation.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/us/stanley-marsh-cadillac-ranch-owner-accused-of-sexual-abuse.html?_r=1&

Also in Amarillo - 

The largest (or maybe it's the second largest?) cross in the western hemisphere.

Groom, Texas

It can be seen for miles and miles.

A pretty incredible site, whatever your beliefs.

Be Careful How You Treat Folks

A cautionary tale from hotel employees.

Hint . . . be nice.

From Salon.com

http://www.salon.com/2012/11/21/yes_the_hotel_clerk_hates_you/?source=newsletter

This Is How We Do It

There was a festive mood at school today, as the ex-pats filled the corridors with Happy Thanksgiving greetings.

The race to the parking lot at the end of the day was colorful to watch.  Gratefully, we were all able to leave early.

This was a different week, and the next one is sure to bring surprises, too.  We celebrate the 41st birthday of the UAE, and boy what a party it's sure to be.

Randomly, this past Tuesday was chosen as Parent/Teacher Conference Day.  The report cards won't go out until January, but the conferences were this week. 

Go figure.

Interestingly, for all of you teachers out there that are used to a sacred block of time to get these meetings done, that is not they way we do it here.

In fact, there were no appointed times for individual Moms to visit, they just all showed up in the classrooms, all at the same time, all wanting to hear how their kids were coming along.  Although we tried to have one at a time go in the classroom, and have the others wait in chairs outside the door, that was an exercise in futility.

This is a bum rush culture, through and through.

What is really intriguing is how concerned the Moms were, not just their child, but others as well.  They expected to get a detailed report on how every student in the class was doing, in addition to their own.

The sense of privacy is foreign here.

I noticed this early on when I went to the doctor.  It didn't take much effort to hear the other patients' concerns who were in rooms around me.  If I spoke the language, I'd really have been in the know.

As I've mentioned before, all the parents expect their child(ten) to get A's, whether they do A work or not.  If they don't get these A's, the fault lies with everyone and everything, except the child.

There was an eye-opening statistic in the paper not long ago, that showed that 80% of the students pass the mandated state-wide tests, but only 12% of the graduating seniors are ready for college.

A total disconnect.

The real question that needs to be asked is "why?"

In spite of these issues, or maybe because of them, this remains a mesmerizing place to be.

Side note - all of the ex-pat kids have to attend private schools.  The government schools like mine, only admit local nationals.  We have a handful of students from Oman, the country next door, but I'm not sure why they get a pass to attend.

Side note 2 - Yesterday, I failed to mention my thanks and gratitude for a dear friend who commented on the "Living With A Drunk" post.  She reminded me that, chances are very good, my father was doing the best he could, given the skill set he possessed. There's a lot of truth to that.  And just recognizing that fact, takes the sting out of the memories.

Thanks to all of you who comment, question, and push back on things I've share. That really makes this fun.

As you gather together with family and friends, be safe, have fun, and somebody out there, eat a slice of sweet potato pie for me . . .

Your blogging buddy

Anniversary

Today marks a year I've lived in the UAE.

And . . .

What a year it has been!

Although this blog is great for keeping in touch, it also serves as a log for the many experiences I've had.  

In many ways, it feels like I've been here a lot longer than a year.  Maybe because it took three months on the front end before I was OK'd to leave.  Or it might be because I have covered a lot of ground since arriving.

It is fitting though that this anniversary comes on the eve of Thanksgiving.

So, please allow me to share some of the things I'm thankful for.

I'm grateful for a wonderful, supportive group of guys I call family.  Without their support, this would have been a lot harder to do.

I'm grateful for the amazing women my sons married, and the joy they have brought to them.

I'm grateful for Zadie Faye and her little cousin who is on the way.  What a blessing they are!

I'm grateful for friends who didn't share their doubts with me about this voyage I was undertaking, but instead plowed in and helped me anyway, to get packed and on my way.

I'm grateful for doors that closed, and for the other ones flinging open wide, ushering in new adventures.

I'm grateful that I'm free of sickness, disease and ailments of any kind.

I'm grateful for the opportunities to explore the world around me, making dreams come true.

I'm grateful that on most days I choose to forgive.  And I'm grateful that the days that I struggle with this are getting fewer and fewer.

And . . .

Finally, I'm thankful for you.

I'm so grateful you take the time to read, browse, or simply check in to see that all is well.  Thank you for allowing me to share my experiences with you.  I'm often asked if I miss having someone to share this time with, and I then I tell them about you.  Reminding them, and myself, that I'm never alone.

I have you.

And I'm eternally grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Do Not Buy Samsonite Luggage!

I'm so disappointed in the bags I purchased FOUR MONTHS AGO!  The zipper broke on one of them.  I returned it to the Samsonite store where I purchased it because it was still under warranty.  It was then I was told the zippers were not covered.  I authorized it to be repaired anyway, but it could not be fixed.

I need luggage, so I inquired about purchasing another one to replace it.  I asked about a discount, and was offered 10% off.

Really?  To buy another bag from your company, to replace the one that lasted FOUR MONTHS?

Uh . . . no, thanks.

So, I've washed my hands of them.

Then I went online and ordered another set from my favorite store, Amazon.

Great Advice

Be Yourself.

Quick, powerful message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOkFfvTGuGk&feature=em-subs_digest

Really?

What we can learn from rappers.

Intriguing.

From Salon.com

http://www.salon.com/2012/11/18/what_can_we_learn_from_freestyle_rappers/?source=newsletter

Insights on Addiction

From Slate.com

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/longform/2012/11/addiction_great_magazine_articles_about_smoking_drinking_and_playing_poker.html?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

Not a Fan of Gaming, But . . .

Kids who play video games regularly did better than medical students when tested in robotics.  The article comes from the Huffington Post.

Take a look.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/16/video-game-effects-teen-g_n_2147062.html

Another . . . Ted Talk

This talk is from a young poet name Sarah Kay (#8) and is from a list of talks that Ben Affleck appreciates.

The poem she begins with is riveting.  For those of you who know me, you know I'm not usually a fan of poetry because most times I just don't understand it.  This one I get.  I hope you do too.

http://www.ted.com/playlists/32/ben_affleck_8_talks_that_amaz.html

Living With A Drunk

Tomorrow New Year's is celebrated here, so we get the day off.  As a treat, I decided to go to the movies.  I was surprised that Denzel Washington's new movie, "Flight" was showing, so of course, that was my first choice.

I promise not to give anything away if you haven't seen it and plan to, but there are a couple of things about it that caught my attention.

Denzel plays a pilot who does an extraordinary job of landing a plane, and was considered a hero until it was discovered he was high on drugs and alcohol during that fateful flight.

As most of you know, my ex-husband was a commercial pilot, and my father was an alcoholic, so I could relate on several levels.

About three-fourths of the way through the movie though, I got up to leave.  Things were spiraling out of control, and it was like watching a train wreck.  In retrospect, I'm glad I stayed through to the end, but it wasn't easy.

At 56, when I see people drinking, social or otherwise, I'm taken back to that place when I was a kid, when I would stay up with my mom, as we waited for my father to get home.  We knew he would be drunk, we just didn't know how drunk.  Flat out pissy drunk was best because then he would stumble in the house and sleep it off. Of course, not before he vomited all over himself and the house.  It was my job to clean it up while mom wrestled him to bed.  This went on for years and years.  If he had not reached that total level of drunkenness when he walked through the door, he was mean and nasty and horrible to be around.

I was home from college one time, and it was time to return.  We had little money, so I would be returning to Florida the way I came, by Greyhound Bus.  This was one of those times when daddy was pissy drunk.  Mom didn't come to see me off because she was afraid to ride with him this drunk, and she was dependent on him because she couldn't drive.  I was able to drive myself to the bus station, while he rode shotgun. We got there fine and I went inside to wait, when I looked up, he's standing in the doorway with his pants around his ankles.

Embarrassment dosen't begin to describe that scene.

It's memories like these that I carry with me.

So, watching this movie was tough.  It took me back to a place I never what to be.

As proud as I am of Ben and Frankie, it broke my heart to see them drinking.  In the real scheme of things, this may seem small, but because of my experiences, this was huge.  I felt like I failed them because clearly I hadn't done enough to convey the dangers of alcohol to themselves and others.  Even though they knew my experiences well, it wasn't enough to deter them.

Are my guys lushes?  No, thank God, but in my mind, drinking one drop of liquor is one too many.

As I've said many times before, the way we're raised impacts everything about us - good or bad.


At 56, my memories of living with a drunk are still very fresh, even though we're talking of my earliest memories, beginning more than 50 years ago.


Although many of the people in my world drink, I will never be one of them.  I can thank my father for that.

Last One

I know you are probably completely fed up with the presidential election and all that that entailed, but below is a link to a fascinating article, again in the New York Times, that tells how the Obama campaign used psychologists and others in the social sciences to win this election.

This makes their services quite intriguing.  I should have paid more attention to them when I was in college.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/health/dream-team-of-behavioral-scientists-advised-obama-campaign.html?src=me&ref=general

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Below is the link for a great New York Times article on listening.

Very interesting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/opinion/sunday/why-listening-is-so-much-more-than-hearing.html?src=me&ref=general

Marriage Advice

Not from me!

Sounds like this lady was much better at it than me.

I liked 7 and 9.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-belkin/25-years-of-marriage_b_2101331.html?utm_hp_ref=fifty

Time is Precious

Have you ever been in a three hour meeting, with an agenda, that produced no results?

None?

Absolutely none?

Have you ever been in a meeting where there was really just one thing that needed to be decided, and three hours later, you walked out without that information?

Time is Precious.

Yours.

Mine.

Ours.

We should strive to use it wisely.

Sure, they'll be goof off days.  We all need those every now and then.

But, seriously, I know I'm preaching to the choir when I say, time wasted is time lost.

One of my illustrious leaders was chronically late to meetings.  After getting upset about it, we decided to place bets on what time we thought he would arrive.  The bets were 50 cents, and the biggest haul was $4.50.

Was it wrong to place a bet?

Maybe, but it sure made the wait time much easier to deal with.

What's really important here is how little regard this man had for our time.  His was the only one that mattered.

I believe we need to honor people's time.

I had a policy -

Meetings started on time and ended on time.

No meeting was held if there wasn't anything new to share.

If you were late or missed a meeting, you were responsible for the content.

There was purpose.

There was an agenda

And

We followed it.

If action were needed, it happened.

I'd like to think the meetings, and the way they were executed, were valuable for everyone.  They were definitely valuable to me.

That just it - leader sets the tone.

Sometime that tone is succinct.

Other times, it's long-winded, convoluted, and tortuous.

Nighttime & Good Music

A city looks very different at night.

I rarely enjoy the distinction because my goal is always to be home before sunset.

A couple of days ago, I ran an errand after dark.

Unimpressive store fronts, in seedy neighborhoods, came alive in the glow of the bright lights.  They were suddenly inviting and charming.

Funny, how that is.

Side note -

I was just sharing with a friend today, that I have heard rhythm and blues music every place I've visited.  It's a universal language all its own.

Speaking of music -

I just downloaded Jason Gould's album.  He's Barbra Streisand's son.  I don't know why, but I was surprised at how wonderful his voice is.  He has great genes and destiny on his side.

I was also introduced to John Boutte, a vocalist from New Orleans.  For those of you who are familiar with "Treme" on HBO, he sings the theme song.  His album entitled "Jambalaya" is a keeper.

If you're 35 or younger, you're probably rolling your eyes at these musical mentions. But I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that you've heard some music from some youngsters (younger than you) that you think is less than brilliant.  This is a cycle that just keeps repeating itself.  The older we get, the more pronounced it is.

Side note 2 -

For those of you who have friends and relatives scattered about, let me encourage you to try Google Video Chat.  It's an awesome way to keep in touch.

They should pay me for this.

Side note 3 -

Now that the time has changed in the US, we're back to it being a 12-hour difference in time between here and the West Coast.

So, it's almost bedtime for me, but a brand new day for you.

Make the most of it.



  

Headlines the Day After

The US Presidential Elections made the headlines here.  Below is the article.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/middle-east-and-north-africa-hopeful-at-obamas-re-election?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Daily%2BNewsletter%2B08-11-2012

Great Quote

From David Simon, as seen on Andrew Sullivan's blog, The Dish.

This election marks a moment in which the racial and social hierarchy of America is upended forever. No longer will it mean more politically to be a white male than to be anything else.

Evolve, or don’t.

Swallow your resentments, or don’t.

But the votes are going to be counted, more of them with each election. Arizona will soon be in play. And in a few cycles, even Texas.

And those wishing to hold national office in these United States will find it increasingly useless to argue for normal, to attempt to play one minority against each other, to turn pluralities against the feared “other” of gays, or blacks, or immigrants, or, incredibly in this election cycle, our very wives and lovers and daughters, fellow citizens who demand to control their own bodies.

Books

I've always loved to read.

As I've shared before, my father was illiterate and my mother only went to the third grade, but they both valued education, and my brothers and I benefited greatly from that mindset.

We lived in a really rural area - China, Texas, population 1100, then and now - and depended heavily on the postal service for things that we needed because Momma couldn't drive.

Somehow, she was turned on to Readers' Digest, and order magazines and books from them, religiously.  This she did for me.  Mom knew that reading was the escape I needed from the loneliness of life in China.

It thrills me to no end that both Ben and Frankie are avid readers.  They weren't growing up, so seeing them devouring books now, and hearing them discussing recent reads, warms my heart.

There is a statewide initiative to promote reading here.  This is interesting because - I'm about to paint with a broad brush, which I should never do, but . . . , this is not a particularly literate country.  Remember, it's a young country, only 41 years old, as of December 2nd, and I think that is part of the issue.

So, we're trying to impress upon the kids that reading is important, but they rarely see adults reading, for pleasure or for information.

Libraries are non-existent.

It's rare to see any locals reading the paper or magazines, at Starbucks or other coffee shops.

So, how do get a nation to read?

One book at a time, I suppose.

Anyway, I was thinking about this as I was reading the following article on why we take books on vacation.

I enjoyed it.  I hope you do, too.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-losowsky/why-do-we-always-take-books-vacation_b_2089999.html#slide=1620672

Four Years Ago

Election night four years ago was extraordinary on so many levels.

Tonight, it's no less exhilarating, but in different ways.

When I left for work this morning, the polls were just closing, and it wasn't looking good for President Obama.  Thank God for alerts keeping us in the loop throughout the morning.  Those of us here from the US were waiting with great anticipation for the final word.  When it came, there were quiet moments of rejoicing.

Interestingly, the election made headline news again, but the wave of anticipation, so palatable in America, was not present in our world at school.

Was I silly to expect it?

Probably.

Although I'm grateful to have missed the bombardment of ads that flooded the airways, I am missing the excitement of this win that I know is real in many corners of the US.

Here's hoping that the members of Congress, who have been stuck on stupid/no for the past four years, will wake up and realize we want them to work for our interests, not theirs.

Here's hoping the next four years will be the best four years . . . ever.

Appreciating Our Uniqueness

This is an interesting article about raising kids who are different from what we would consider the norm.  It was found in New York Times today.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/embracing-children-for-who-they-are/?src=me&ref=general

Decisions. Decisions.

It's 8:30 at night here on election night, but the polls are just opening in the US.

It will be morning before we have the results.

Here's hoping for the best, whoever your choice may be.

Here's the Link

I forgot to include the link on the previous post.  Here it is -

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

Another TEDxTalk - Medical Mistakes

I appreciate this doctor's honesty and openness. 

Cost of a Camel

The question of how much a camel cost has come up several times.  I'm not sure what the typical cost is, but there have been some hefty prices paid in the past.

Check out the article below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8496766.stm