Differences

The are subtle, and not so subtle, cultural differences that we ex-pats experience every day.

For instance:

---Time is relative.  If you make an appointment and arrive sometime within the hour of when you're supposed to be there, you're OK.

---Meetings always begin with coffee and light snacks, for those folks who do arrive on time and have to wait for the late comers.

---The greetings here are lyrical.  There is the double cheek kiss and the litany of prayers that they say to each other, even when they see each other everyday.  It is especially pronounced when they greet each other sporadically.  Women greet women and men greet men.

---This elaborate greeting happens, no matter when they arrive.  We could be in the middle of a meeting, but everything stops for folks to greet each other.

---Cell phones ringing in a meeting is no big deal.  Answering the call and proceeding with a full-on conversation is not taboo either.

---Side bar conversations during meetings are constant.  It really rattles Western presenters.

---Deadlines are fluid.

---The art of calendaring events is virtually non-existent.  Things are happening all the time, but notice is by word of mouth.

---Last minute changes happen frequently, but again, the information goes out word of mouth.

---There is no such thing as a "working lunch."  When you break for lunch, that time is sacred and is expected to be undisturbed.  A new teacher made the mistake of keeping her class in to finish work during their lunch break, and was quickly called on the carpet for that faux pas.

---Correct spelling in not important.  Most everything is spelled several ways, and it's up to you to decipher what it is.  The town where I live has at least five difference spellings, all of them official, meaning they are found on maps, office buildings, etc.

---Kids play unattended in the neighborhood.  Even toddlers, as young as two or three.

---Kids run - full force, like they're outside - in the hallways at school, without restraint or reprimand.

---Many boys, when you're trying to reprimand them, run from you, like you're going to play a game of chase with them.

These are some of the things we experience that are quite different from what we're used to.  These things are not necessarily wrong, but they are different, and require an adjustment in thinking.

Looking Sharp

Emirates is the official airline of Dubai, and this article is about their flight attendants.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/21/emirates-flight-attendants_n_5999818.html

Un-invited

Bill Maher is scheduled to be the commencement speaker at UC Berkeley's December graduation ceremony.  Some of the students are not happy about this because of his recent comments on Islam.

So, an "un-invite" is in the works.

Check it out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/27/bill-maher-berkeley-commencement_n_6058102.html

Not Black Enough, Part 2

What do you think?

http://blackamericaweb.com/2014/10/26/how-black-do-you-have-to-be-to-be-black-enough/?omcamp=es-baw-nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=BAW%20Subscribers%20%28Daily%29&utm_campaign=2014-27-10-%20BAW%20Daily

A Tech Pioneer in Diversity

Inspiring post #2.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/10/26/ken-coleman-african-american-tech-pioneer-talks-about-diversity/17747925/

Be Inspired

My Momma used to say, "No matter how hard you think you have it, there are many others who are so much worse off than you, so no matter where you find yourself, be grateful."

I was reminded of this when I watched the video clip below.

It will take six minutes of your time.

I promise you, you'll be inspired.

http://www.upworthy.com/he-got-invited-to-a-random-event-on-facebook-it-ended-up-changing-his-life?c=upw1

Change of Heart

This article is long, but one of the best I've read on how the reality of seeing your point of view invalidated by the reality of life all around you, that somehow you'd never noticed before.

http://www.salon.com/2012/09/10/why_i_left_the_gop/

Father/Son Relationships

This is an insightful article about the relationship of fathers and sons as it relates to the presidency.

Very interesting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-fathers-sons-and-the-presidency.html?_r=0

Not Black Enough

When Ben and Frankie were growing up and we were making decisions about their education, we chose the best schools we could find, and/or afford, and most times they were in the extreme minority where they were the only black kids in their classes.

Culturally, they would be in a desert, but that was OK because I was so "black conscious," I was sure that was enough.  I thought they'd get all of the cultural exposure at home and through planned events geared in large part for this.

Boy, was I wrong.

Again, the decisions were made with the best intentions, though.

What I didn't realize, is what the parents of the black woman in the previous post being raised in an all-white environment also didn't recognize, is that kids need peers who look like them and share some of the same experiences as them.

I was hurt, upset, disappointed, and angry when Ben and Frankie started dating, and there wasn't a black girl in the mix . . .

AT ALL!

I felt it was an absolute slap in the face to me as a black woman, that their standard of beauty was like so many others, leaning heavily toward blond and blue-eyed.

I was pissed.

And yet, they always came back with, "It's your fault Mom.  Look at where we went to school.  Look at who our peers are.  This was designed in large part by you."

Well, damn.

I did not want to hear that.

But, it was the truth.

The grand plan had succeeded greatly in one area, in the education they received, but socially, it had failed.

Or had it?

Doors of opportunity were opened that would have been unheard of in my day, and those opportunities led to their meeting wonderful women that became their wives.

But, I still live with this nagging feeling of failure.

Of course, hindsight is 20/20.

If given a chance to do it all over again, I would absolutely do some things differently.

First, I would get off my high horse of "blackness," thinking I was enough to spread all the black knowledge they needed, and make sure they had many more opportunities to be with kids who looked like them and shared experiences of growing black in this very white world.

Growing Up in An All-White Environment

I believe there's a special place in heaven for (most) people who adopt kids.

Raising children can be wonderful, joyous, and thrilling, but it is not for the faint of heart.  It takes a lot of work on the best of days.

I also think that people who adopt kids outside of their own race, do it with the best intentions, and many times with great results.

But there's another side of the story that warrants examination.

This quick video clip is a black woman discussing being raised by a white family in an all-white environment.  It sheds light on the challenges families like hers face.

http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/highlight/what-its-like-as-a-black-woman-growing-up-in-a-white-family/5434208cfe3444f7d10006cf?cn=tbla

To Whup or Not to Whup . . .

That is the question.

This topic garnered a lot of discussion recently, including here on this site.  It is not my desire, nor intent, to rehash what's already been said, but a new television show, "Black-ish" did an awesome job of addressing the problems associated with this aspect of child rearing.  It was more nuanced than any other discussion about this that I've seen or heard.

Definitely worth checking out.

The episode is called "Crime and Punishment."

You can find it on abc.com, hulu, Amazon or iTunes 

It's My Picture!

The Dish is a website that I visit often, and it has a cool feature called, "A View From My Window," where people send in pictures they've taken from inside wherever they are.

I submitted one of mine that was taken in Armenia, and it was featured in their contest where you have to guess where this is.

http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2014/10/18/the-view-from-your-window-contest-227/

What a treat!

Sheet Music

I stumbled on this app in the iTunes Store called forScore, that provides an enormous catalog of sheet music for all of you musicians out there.

https://appsto.re/us/iuJRv.i

There really is an app for everything!

Six Minutes of Truth

This young North Carolina Representative nails what's wrong with our government. Based on the response of those he's talking to, I'm guessing his tenure might be short lived.

That's a pity.

http://vimeo.com/102299905

Scattered

If you've ever had a conversation with me, you know that I'm known for jumping around, moving from subject to subject.

There was a dear friend and mentor that I used to meet with once a month or so, and he'd always bring a pad to jot down the ideas and thoughts that were shared, to make sure he followed the flow of the conversation.

One day he asked how my boys were able to follow chats with me.

Of course, it was natural for them.  My scattered-brained conversations were all they knew.

I thought of this recently when someone commented on the many varied things I post about.

In my mind's eye, when I publish something, it's me having a conversation with you.

It's a little one-sided, but you get my drift.

These are things that interest me, and hopefully you find them interesting as well.

So, thanks for hanging in there, as I jump from pillow to post.

I'll always be grateful that you're taking this ride with me.

Who Knew?

This article in the New York Times about an autistic kid having conversations with Siri, Apple's “intelligent personal assistant” is illuminating.  Who knew this technology would be helpful in this way?

Fascinating!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/fashion/how-apples-siri-became-one-autistic-boys-bff.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=CColumn&module=MostEmailed&version=Full&src=me&WT.nav=MostEmailed&_r=0

Jimi

There are two camps when the discussion of Jimi Hendrix comes up, those who love him, and those who don't.  I'm most definitely in the latter one.

Like many talented artists who have died young, I think he was gifted beyond measure, trying to find his place in the world, and succumbed to the perils of drug use.

His was a complicated life, about to be immortalized on screen by the new movie, "Jimi:  All is By My Side" starring Andre Benjamin (aka Andre 3000).

In anticipation of that, this rather extensive article describing his relationship and conflict with the black community, is explored.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/18/showbiz/jimi-hendrix-invisible-legacy/index.html

Unique Jobs

The most unique job in every state.

Interesting.

I hope this is clear enough to read.  If not, follow this link:

http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/UniqueJobs.png

If I Could

You've all heard people say, if they could have a chat with their younger selves, they would say this or that.

Here's what I would say.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be true to yourself.

Make yourself happy.

Don't spend a millisecond trying to please someone else.  Or trying to make someone else happy.  They are responsible for their own happiness, not you.

You look fine.

Your hair is fine.

Your weight is fine.

Stop finding fault and hating yourself.

Learn to love and appreciate yourself for who you are and what you bring.

Surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are, and quickly ditch those who try to blame their shortcomings on you, trying to make you feel bad.

Love yourself at every age.

Find the beauty in being you.

Don't be afraid to speak up, but know that sometimes, silence speaks volumes.

Be quick to forgive, yourself and others.

Treat people the way you want to be treated . . . always, even when it goes against the grain.

Pay attention to the older people in your life.  A word of wisdom from them can be more meaningful than reading a library of self-help books.

Take the time to discover who you are, and then nurture that person.

Always remember the people who helped you along the way.

And . . .

Just be you.

This is me in an undated photo after Frankie's birth.
I'm 28 or so.

Side note - Apologies to folks who received an earlier version of this post.  I was experiencing technical difficulties that the Google boys helped me with.  Thank God for them boys (and girls)!





                           

One of the Best

Without a doubt, one of the best shows that's ever been on TV is "The Wire."  It is set in Baltimore, and it's about the drug scene as it is experienced by the players and the cops who police them.  There are five seasons, and each one deals with a different aspect of life in the city.

Season 1 = Sets the scene - good guys vs. bad guys

What I love about this one is how nuanced the characters are.  Some of the good guys are incredibly flawed and some of the bad guys are incredibly kind and generous.

Season 2 = Takes place at the docks

It proves that corruption is everywhere, in every aspect of life in this city.

Season 3 = Social experiment 

This explores how good intentions often leads to unspeakable chaos.

Season 4 = An examination of the public school system

By far and above, the most thorough and accurate look at inner city education in America.

Season 5 = Takes on the newspaper business

This one explores the politics that drives the decision-making process of what goes to press.

If you decide to watch this show, (it's available on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and others), but don't want to invest in all five seasons, then watch season four.  It's phenomenal.

An Interesting Article . . .

On an exciting new film debuting today in the US.

What is really fascinating though, are the comments at the end of the post.  Click on the blue tab in the left margin that says "22 comments" to get a glimpse of how much work we STILL have to do.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/17/movies/dear-white-people-about-racial-hypocrisy-at-a-college.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpSumSmallMedia&module=pocket-region&region=pocket-region&WT.nav=pocket-region&_r=0

Being the Only One

Most black folks are used to being in situations where we're the "only one."  The only black face in a sea of white ones.  It can be uncomfortable, but mostly, you learn to adjust and recognize that it is a part of the world in which we live.

Interestingly, I met a white woman here who is experiencing the same thing.  She's been in situations where she's the only one, and she was sharing how awkward and uncomfortable she feels.  I told her, "Welcome to my world."  Although to be fair, now that I'm in the Middle East, most folks look more like me.

Anyway, I ran across this article that discusses a little black girl who is the "only one," and how her folks helped her to navigate these waters.

http://www.essence.com/2014/10/16/when-your-child-only-black-girl-class

What Going to Work Looks Like Around the World

Revealing images beyond the suit and tie concept of work.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/15/urban-photographer-of-the_n_5984840.html

A View of America

Real.

Raw.

Unflattering.

Hopeful.

This is Bob Herbert's view of America.  See him below being interviewed by Bill Moyers as he discusses his new book, Losing Our Way.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-moyers/watch-restoring-an-americ_b_5984038.html

Side note -

Mr. Herbert was a columnist for the New York Times, and in 1995 he wrote an article about Ben.  As such, he will always have a special place in my heart.

Read it below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In America; The Valedictorian's Un-Graduation
By BOB HERBERT
Published: June 24, 1995

By all accounts, Ben Sharpe is a great student. When his final marks for the eighth grade at the Capital Christian Center School in Sacramento, Calif., were faxed to this office, a New York Times staffer exclaimed: "Wow! Look at this report card!"

Nothing but A's. One teacher had inserted on the report card: "Student work excellent. Exceptional pleasure in class." Ben's final grade-point average was 4.0, the highest possible at his school. He won the Superintendent's Award as the "most outstanding" eighth-grade student and was chosen to be class valedictorian.

On Monday, June 5, the day before graduation, Ben, who is 13 and one of only a small number of African-American youngsters at the predominantly white school, was taken aside by the principal and told he would not be allowed to deliver his graduation speech. Later his family was informed that he would be barred from graduation ceremonies altogether. He would not, school officials said, be welcome. The ostensible reason: his hair was too short.

The real reason: his skin was too black.

The Capital Christian Center, which runs the school, is a large Assemblies of God congregation. "It's very conservative, very right-wing," said Ben's mother, Faye Sharpe. "The reason we moved the kids out of public school was because we wanted a very strong base in reading, writing and arithmetic. This school has that."

The Sharpe family is as all-American as you can get, unless you confine the term "All-American" to whites. Ben's father, Frank, is a pilot with United Airlines. Faye Sharpe is a pharmacist who has put her career on hold in order to be home with their two children, Ben and Frank 2d, who is 11. The family is Christian and very religious.

When Ben was barred from his graduation, the family was staggered. "There is nothing the school could have done that would have hurt Ben or this family more," Mrs. Sharpe said.

The school claimed that Ben's haircut, which was very short (and very common among African-American boys) violated a dress code that prohibits shaved heads. It should be stressed that Ben's head was not shaved. He had gone to the barber shop the Saturday before graduation because he was proud of the fact that he would be speaking at the ceremony and he wanted to look his best.

"I wanted to give the school the benefit of the doubt," Mrs. Sharpe said, "but my husband never once thought it was the haircut. The haircut was just an excuse and he was able to see through that. There is nothing that Ben could have done that would have been good enough."

The parents pleaded with school officials to relent. They would not. While his classmates graduated at the 7 P.M. ceremony, Ben was playing in a senior league baseball game.

"That night, about 9:30 or so, friends started to call," said Mrs. Sharpe. "They said, 'Faye, they didn't even call his name at the graduation.' There was no acknowledgment at all that the boy existed."

This is not a story with a sad ending.

A reporter named Fahizah Alim wrote about Ben in The Sacramento Bee. The response was overwhelming. Local television and radio picked up the story. Readers, viewers and listeners were outraged. People began phoning and writing messages of support to the Sharpes. Many sent gifts for Ben.

When officials at a local public school heard what had happened, they invited Ben to speak at their graduation. He would be welcome there, the vice principal said.

"Quite frankly, I was moved to tears," said Mrs. Sharpe.

Last week, under extreme pressure, the pastor of Capital Christian Center apologized. The Rev. Glen Cole acknowledged that "perhaps" Ben's punishment "was a little harsh under the circumstances."

Neither of the Sharpe boys will be back at the school next year. Ben had already been accepted at a Jesuit high school. Now his brother will be enrolled in a different school too. Mrs. Sharpe insisted, however, that while her family felt betrayed, no one was bitter.

"Not to forgive them would be inviting a cancer inside of me that I just refuse to allow to grow," she said. "So I know I need to move on."

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/24/opinion/in-america-the-valedictorian-s-un-graduation.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%7B%221%22%3A%22RI%3A5%22%7D

Testimony From an Unvaccinated Mom

Powerful message.

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/family/2014/01/growing_up_unvaccinated_a_healthy_lifestyle_couldn_t_prevent_many_childhood.html

Audio Alternative

I like listening to music while I drive.

Many other people like listening to books.  I love to read, but somehow listening to a book is just not the same as reading it.

I just discovered a podcast that tells one true story over the course of the season.

I haven't heard it yet, but it's gotten great reviews.  I plan to check it out the next time I hit the road for a road trip.

Here's more info below.

http://serialpodcast.org

Reminders of Fall

I miss the seasonal changes.

It's starting to cool off here, but it's still 90 degrees by 9:00 in the morning.

This article reminded me of what most of you are experiencing . . . cool brisk weather.

So, do me a favor . . .

Enjoy of cup of hot apple cider for me.

Here's some yummy sounding recipes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/14/apple-cider-cocktail-reci_n_3983575.html

Airline Announcements

These are hilarious!

Hat tip to Forrest for sharing them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

United Flight Attendant announced, 'People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!

 ************ *********  ********* *******

 On landing, the stewardess  said, 'Please be sure to take all of your belongings.. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have. '

 ************ *********  ********* *******

'There may be  50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane'

 ************ *********  ********* *******


An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship  into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a 'Thanks for flying our airline.' He said  that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally, everyone had gotten off except for a little old  lady walking with a cane.

She said, 'Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?'

'Why, no, Ma'am,' said the pilot. 'What is it?'

The little old lady said,  'Did we land, or were we shot down?'

 ************ *********  ********* *********

As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Ronald Reagan, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: 'Whoa, big fella, WHOA!' ;

 ************ *********  ********* ********* ****

After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis, a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced, 'Please take care when opening the  overhead compartments because sure as hell everything has shifted after a landing like that.'

 ************ *********  ********* *******

Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: 'We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal.'

 ************ *********  ********* *******

Overheard on an American Airlines flight into Amarillo , Texas on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain was really having  to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo ... Please remain  in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!'

 ************ *********  ********* *****

'Your seat cushions can be used for flotation; and, in the event of an emergency water landing,  please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments. '

 ************ *********  ********* *****

'As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses..... ....except for that gentleman over there.'

 ************ *********  ********* ********* ***

Heard on Southwest Airlines  just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City.
The flight  attendant came on the intercom and said, 'That was quite a bump, and  I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight  attendant's fault, it was the asphalt.'

 ************ *********  ********* ********* *

After a real crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the attendant came on with, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Capt. Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the  gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are  silenced, we'll open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.'

 ************ *********  ********* ********* *

Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: 'We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting  through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of US Airways..'

 ************ *********  ********* ********* *

Heard on a Southwest Airline  flight - 'Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking  section on this airplane is on the wing and if you can light 'em,  you can smoke 'em.'

 ************ *********  ********* ********* *

A plane was taking off from Kennedy Airport . After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude,  the captain made an announcement over the intercom; 'Ladies and  gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, nonstop from New York to Los Angeles . The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight.  Now sit back and relax.... OH, MY GOD!'
Silence followed, and after  a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said,  'Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!'

 A passenger in coach yelled,  'That's nothing. You should see the back of mine!'
************ *********  ********* ********* *

Free College Tuition!

With the skyrocketing cost of a college education in the US, Germany is providing an unimaginable alternative . . . free college tuition . . . to American citizens!

Please pass this on far and wide.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/10/1335669/-Germany-offers-free-college-tuition-to-U-S-and-international-students?detail=email

More on the Debate

Nicolas Kristof was also on the panel on Bill Maher's show (see earlier post "I like Bill, but . . . "), and he offers a more nuanced approach on the subject of violence in the Muslim world.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/09/opinion/nicholas-kristof-the-diversity-of-islam.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region&region=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region&_r=0

My People

Etihad Airlines, the official airlines of Abu Dhabi, offers this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/01/airplane-suite-etihad-airlines-residence_n_5913788.html

I like Bill, but . . .

The "Bill" I'm referring to is Bill Maher.

I like his show, Real Time With Bill Maher, on HBO.  The format is a panel discussion on current events, with the panel rotating each week.

Most times, I'm in Bill's corner, but this week, he made some broad statements about Muslims and Islam that I think he got totally wrong.  As a guest in a Muslim country, I have experienced first hand the tolerance and acceptance of outsiders and it has been noteworthy.

Are there crazies in this world?

Probably.

Are they the majority?

Absolutely not.

Judge this debate for yourself.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/walker-bragman/another-bill-maherben-aff_b_5942382.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

Smart Young Man Helps His Grandpa

This kid created a sensor that his grandfather (who has Alzheimer's) wears.  It signals an alert on his caregiver's phone when he's wandering off.

This has tremendous potential to help so many people.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/07/teen-invents-wearable-sensor_n_5941190.html

Christmas Gift Idea?

For the geek-in-training.

A computer that kids can build and then program.

Kinda steep at $149.00, but imagine the bragging rights!

Designed for ages 6-14.

Check it out.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2014/10/07/clever-kano-kit-lets-kid-build-computers-and-learn-to-code/16857175/

Ancient Times

Today I visited the Garni Temple and the Geghard Monastery.  It was like walking back in time.

Walkway leading to the Garni Temple

A view along the way

Garni Temple stands alone against the backdrop of the mountains.
It was built in the 1st century,
 destroyed by earthquake in 1679 and reconstructed in 1975.
It truly is spectacular!

Closer up

A view of the majestic mountain range that surrounds the temple

This is the Geghard Monastery.  The photo was found online.
It captures what I could not.
The monastery has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It dates back to 1215.

This monument is along the entryway path to the monastery.

A close-up of the monument

The front of the monastery.

Another view of the entrance

I wanted to capture the turrets, seen from the front,
but I couldn't get them all in one shot.

Not sure what the purpose of this is,
but there were several "v" shape indented areas of the building.

A small alleyway between the church and the mountain.

These steps lead to a small dark archway, used for praying maybe?

I'm standing in one of the large archways looking out.

The monastery was built into the mountain
where many religious symbols are carved in the rocks.

Although you can't see them, there are doors are either side of this archway.

This is inside the monastery.  It was incredibly dark,
with just a small single window in the middle of the main room.

This is one of the pillars in the monastery.

This is the sole source of light found in the ceiling.

This is another photo found online.
It gives a much better view that I could capture of the inside of the monastery.

This is an altar that looks ready for service.

This is to the left of the altar.

The mountains are huge.
I wanted to show how high they are relative to where we were.

Armenia was not on my radar to visit, but I'm glad I did.

The people were kind and helpful.  

It appears to be homogenous population.  There was no evidence of other ethnic groups.  There were ten of us in my tour group, and four of us were black (from the US).  Quite unusual, for sure.  The others were white, (also from the US) and Arabic (from Syria, Jordan and Egypt).  We brought the color with us.

Other observations:

The Armenians drive like we do, on the right, but the taxi I rode in today had it's steering wheel on the right.  All other cars on the road had theirs on the left.  Not sure why the cab was different and the driver's English wasn't well enough to try and figure out.

Speaking of language, thankfully almost everyone I came in contact spoke some English.  On any given day I'm around folks who speak three and four languages . . . fluently.  This is an area where I'm lacking in.  We really must do a better job in the US of making we are multi-lingual.  

It's time to pack up and get ready to go.  We have an early departure tomorrow.

As always, thanks for taking this ride with me.

Yerevan, Armenia

The following are sights and sounds from Yerevan.

We passed these trees on the way to the hotel from the airport.
They reminded me of home.  My father painted the trees in our yard.
Funny the things you remember.

This is a view from my window.

This is another view from my window.
There seems to be an economic upturn
because there are construction sites all over the city.

Our first stop was to this museum.
The genocide occurred in 1915 where it is estimated
between 1 million and 1.5 million people were killed.
It was sobering.  

This is the outside of the museum.  Most of it was closed for renovation.
The solemn gray color reflects the chronicled heartache that the people endured.

On the way to the outdoor exhibit, there is a small field
dedicated to the memory of the lives lost in the genocide
and to the countries that recognize this atrocity.

I wanted you to hear the haunting music that played in the memorial area.

There are these nameplates around each tree recognizing the giver.
There are countries represented and organizations and individuals.
Forty-two states of the US recognize the genocide,
but the federal government has not.

This is Tsitsernakaberd.
It is the monument that holds the eternal flame and
the spire that represents Armenia.
The spire is divided to show the portion of the country that was lost in the war on the left.

There are twelve columns that represent the twelve lost provinces in present day Turkey.

I'm standing in front of the eternal flame.

This is the Matenadaren, which holds thousands of ancient manuscripts.

This is the Cafesjian Museum of Art.  It is a magnificent public art display.
It is lined with benches and makes for a wonderful place to relax and people watch.
It stretches for about four blocks.

Whimsical display.

A fat cat.

A seal?

This picture doesn't do this justice.  It is a man made of a collage of metal letters.

This statue stands at the entrance of the museum.

This lady was by far the most photographed.
It seemed everyone wanted a picture with her.
She was guarded by security to prevent her from being touched.

Front view.

Rear view.

We have one more day here, then we return home on Tuesday.

More soon.

Showcasing A Neighborhood

That you won't find on any realtor's list of homes to see.

This article and video clip showcases Rick Lowe, a public artist, and a recipient of the 2014 MacArthur Genius Grant.

I was raised in a house that looks very much like one of these.

What he's doing is noteworthy and valuable.

Check it out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/02/rick-lowe-project-row-houses_n_5920778.html?utm_hp_ref=black-voices

A Rare Opportunity

To see the same subjects, in this case sisters, have their picture taken every year for forty years.  It's like the cartoon flip book, watching them age before your eyes.

What a legacy to leave behind, for the photographer and these ladies.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/03/magazine/01-brown-sisters-forty-years.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=LargeMediaHeadlineSum&module=photo-spot-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

Gotta Have Gadgets

These are featured as tailgate essentials, but I think they make any outdoor activity more fun.  I especially like the maxed out cooler.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ryangrepper/coolest-cooler-21st-century-cooler-thats-actually

http://www.instagating.com

Young Techies

This app teaches kindergartners how to program.

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268744/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=Uig8ffOA

Amazing!

This Proves Weddings Can Be Colorful

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/01/awkward-bridesmaids-photo_n_5913984.html

Not For Everyone

In fact, this is not for most.

"This" being . . . (wait for it) . . . living in a dumpster.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/02/jeff-wilson-living-in-a-dumpster_n_5922806.html

I'm more curious about the back story.

You?

Unconventional Tourist Spots

Found in the South.

Check them out.

http://www.usatoday.com/experience/south/best-of-lists/10best-quirky-attractions-in-the-south/16157301/?csp=travel

Ben's Extracurricular Activities

Ben is getting in touch with his artistic side with some modeling and advertising gigs.

It's really fun stuff that provides more fodder for his Mom to brag about.

She's shameless, you know :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1wMe989Hpw&list=PLEC0394D04F5A75D5
(Skip to 2:05 to see Ben)

https://gocomfy.com
(He's an extra in this one; look for him as one of the bundled up staffers)

Greetings from Armenia!

We're on a long holiday weekend and I'm visiting Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia.

This is a tiny country, just north of Iran and east of Turkey.  It was a part of the Soviet Union until 1991 and the influence is evident.

The day began at o-dark thirty, to catch an early flight from Dubai, so I crashed after arriving at the hotel.  The flight was only three hours, on the same time zone, which made it an ideal place to visit for a days.

It is a group tour, with a total of nine of us.

We explored the immediate area around the hotel, then broke away to do our own thing, which for me, was getting some sleep.

I'll have more to share soon.

Boys Having Fun

Will they ever grow up?

Probably not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOzQ3CN5La4&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs

The "Real One"

Below is a clip of Judy Smith, the real Washington "fixer" that the character Olivia Pope on Scandal is based on.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/29/olivia-pope-george-hw-bush_n_5902472.html

Simply Amazing!

The lunches this Mom makes for her kids are too cute to eat.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/28/li-ming-bento-lunch-boxes_n_5889292.html

Let's Dance!

This is a really cool way to spend the time waiting for traffic lights to change.  The wait at lights here are especially long because only one side moves at a time while the other three wait.

Enjoy!

http://laughingsquid.com/the-dancing-traffic-light-a-dont-walk-light-that-entertains-pedestrians-by-putting-on-a-show/

"I'm Back"

Thank God, all is well with my technology.

I can not express just how important this tool is to me, living halfway around the world.

It's my newspaper, my magazines, my television, my cinema, my phone, and yes, it's my computer, too.

FYI - The thing that saved me TWICE was having everything on my computer's hard drive backed up to an external drive.  Each time I've had issues, my computer was wiped clean, and in the case of my new one, it came clean, but a couple of hours later, all of my stuff was back in place.  An absolute lifesaver!

If you don't have a back up, seriously consider it.

Anyway . . .

Yesterday was a long day, and I'm tired.

The good news is, today is my Friday.

More soon.

Technical Difficulties

This morning I woke up early, ready to start my day, but my computer did not.

It worked perfectly last night, but this morning it didn't recognize me.  It's like it completely forgot who I was.

There were hints of a problem brewing with it while I was away this summer.  In fact, that's why I made a trip to the Genius Bar while in Sacramento to have it checked out.  The Apple guys did a lot of work on it and replaced most of the moving parts.  Thank God, it was still under warranty.

We had a rough start, me and my MacBook Pro.  It took more than a notion for me to grasp how to use it.  That time was not pretty.

Now  . . . I love my guy.

As you know, this gadget is my life line. 

So, when it was needing some attention this morning, I didn't panic.

I used my iPad to Google solutions, including wiping the hard drive clean, and restoring it to the factory settings.

But . . .

Nothing worked.

Thank God, I had just backed up the hard drive last night.

In addition to my iPad, I also have another Windows tablet that I purchased when I couldn't access my work website from home on my Mac.

So I'm not completely stranded.

It could be much worse.

But now I have a big decision to make.

Do I buy the small MacBook Air that I get in the UAE to tide me over while I'm here, or do I splurge and buy the top of the line Macbook Pro with a massive hard drive?

Keep in mind, this one that just died lasted less than three years.

I love Apple, but I expected to replace it because I wanted the new and improved model, not because I had to.

Anyway, this is where I am.

I'll post as much as I can, but if there is a slow down, you'll know why.

As always, thanks for taking this journey with me.



 

Cool Bowties

Below you will find some of the coolest bow ties on the planet.  I bought one as a gift and it was even better than advertised.

http://wonderlee123.storenvy.com/products

Who Knew?

That there were more uses for beer than just drinking it?

Below are some pretty cool household uses.  If I could, I'd head out to buy a six pack, but then I remembered this is a dry country.  Liquor is only sold in hotels and the very rare "liquor shack."

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/food-for-men/10-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-do-with-beer-esqsyn?click=smart&kw=ist&src=smart&mag=ESQ&link=http://www.esquire.com/blogs/food-for-men/10-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-do-with-beer-esqsyn

Using Their Platform for Good

Esquire Men's Magazine is featuring a series on mentoring highlighting the people who influenced notables.  Kudos to this organization for using their platform to reach the masses with a serious message on the importance of having a positive influence in our lives.

Click on "Why Do Mentors Matter?" in the middle of the page on the link below, and it will lead to the meat of the matter.

https://mentoring.esquire.com/?src=nl&mag=esq&list=nl_enl_news&date=091714

A Marriage Made in Heaven

QuestBridge is an organization that helps low-income students gain access to some of the best colleges and universities in the country.

Check out their story and see some of the many kids they have helped.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/16/upshot/a-national-admissions-office-for-low-income-strivers.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=CColumn&module=MostEmailed&version=Full&src=me&WT.nav=MostEmailed&abt=0002&abg=1#

Lovin' the Skin You're In

We can all learn this lesson from Lupita and Elmo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIC2hHECZ6Y

Code of Conduct for NFL Wives

This is a first hand account of one woman's experience as an NFL wife.

http://www.motherjones.com/media/2014/09/ray-janay-rice-football-nfl-wives

Thoughts?

Recycling Your Smart Phone

With the launch of the new iPhones, people are going to be looking for ways to trade in, or in some way, reuse their old ones.

USA Today shows some pretty ingenious ways to do just that.

Watch.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2014/09/14/creative-ways-to-use-your-old-phone/15446179/

Corporal Punishment

This sounds like such a harsh thing.

Corporal punishment.

Brutal.

Violent.

Savage.

That's what comes to mind when some folks hear the term.

But if we're talking about spankings, swatting a child on his or her bottom when they have misbehaved, I'm all for it.

I know.

I know.

There are folks out there who are categorically opposed to ever spanking/hitting a child for any reason.

I get it.

There are some who have gone too far and abused kids, and that should never happen.

But here's what I know for sure.

Kids better have the fear of God put in them when it comes to how they are to behave.

They had better be more afraid of the consequences of misbehaving when their parents find out, than from anything or anyone else.

As a principal, I used to tell kids I was going to call their parents, and if they responded with, "I don't care.  Call 'em."  I knew it would be a waste of time.

But if I said I was going to call home and they started shaking in their boots, I knew these kids were being disciplined at home.

There are parents who can achieve this without ever spanking their kids.

Kudos to them because that is no easy task.

But for me, spankings were always an option, and Ben and Frankie knew it.

My mother used to say, if you don't discipline kids when they're young, when they're older they'll be whupping you.

She used to also say that the jails and prisons were full of folks who someone thought was too cute to discipline.

Some will say this is "old school."

Maybe so.

But if raising a well-behaved kid is the result, then I will proudly wear that label.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now take a minute to check out this article.  The author makes some excellent points, especially the contrast between white and black parenting, but I beg to differ on the conclusion she makes.

http://www.salon.com/2014/09/16/the_racial_parenting_divide_what_adrian_peterson_reveals_about_black_and_white_child_rearing/?source=newsletter

What do you think?

Map of Independence

Check out the map in the article below that shows the many countries that have declared their independence from the United Kingdom.

Click the bottom right corner of the map to enlarge it.

http://www.salon.com/2014/09/16/this_map_shows_all_the_countries_that_have_declared_their_independence_from_the_united_kingdom/?source=newsletter

Amazing!

Right?

Vote YES Scotland and join this distinguished group of nations.

Made My Day

Have you had friend contact you out of the blue, and that simple gesture kept a smile on your face all day long?

That happened to me today when I was surprised by a video call from my dear friend Becky.

We met when I started teaching years ago.  She was my coach.  She was a young, master teacher who was awesome in the classroom, but even better at helping new teachers figure out what they were doing.

One of the many things I love about Becky was how she handled me and my non-compliance.  There were things we were expected to have posted in our classes, and that changed every few weeks.  I've got this thing about presentations being neat and symmetrical, so it would take me a minute to get the bulletin boards changed. When Becky would make her regular visits, she never fussed or made a big deal about what was missing, she'd just take me over to another classroom where whatever I was supposed to have done, was on full display.

And . . .

She never said a word.

I'd go back to my class and get it done.

And . . .

It worked every time.

I used to say that she shamed me into doing the right thing.

She quickly figured out what it would take to motivate me, and it was one of the many lessons I learned from her.

Thanks Becky, for all of your help way back when, and thanks for absolutely making my day today!

Workplace Bathroom Humor

Some of these are laugh out loud funny.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gselevator/workplace-bathroom-etiquette_b_5812646.html

Closely Watching

I can't get enough of the news about the possibility of Scottish Independence.

The election is this Thursday, Sept. 18th.

If I could, I'd vote YES.

It's hard to believe the dominant influence Great Britain has had in places all over the world.  I've experienced it many times when I've visited countries where there is a preference for tea over coffee and driving on the left.  Far and wide the Brits have left their mark.  It's time more folks said, "Enough."

John Oliver does a terrific job of explaining the issues of Scottish Independence, enumerating the pros and cons.

The clip is about 15 minutes, but watching him is like reading the Cliff Notes, only much funnier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UU3XTzVzaHQEd30rQbuvCtTQ&v=-YkLPxQp_y0

Making History at Harvard

Alexis Wilkinson has made history as the first African-American woman president of the campus comedy magazine, the Harvard Lampoon.

Check out the article below from Salon where she discusses her experiences.

http://www.salon.com/2014/09/14/harvard_lampoon_president_alexis_wilkinson_opens_up_about_internet_parodies_race_and_gender/?source=newsletter

Turning Over in Their Graves

Not sure what prompted me to check out the ladies representing each state in the Miss America Pageant, but I did.  And lo and behold, representing Mississippi is a beautiful black woman.

Miss Mississippi - Jasmine Murray

Now, you and I both know there are plenty of folks in that great state that are turning over in their graves.

http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/life/people/2014/09/13/miss-america-2015-contestants/15522751/

Unexpected Consequences

This guy (a scientist) gave his parents a gift of genetic testing.  He was getting one, and thought it would be great to have a more complete picture.  What they discovered was he had a brother no one knew about.

This information did not lead to a happy ending.

http://www.vox.com/2014/9/9/5975653/with-genetic-testing-i-gave-my-parents-the-gift-of-divorce-23andme

Is is possible to have too much information, or is this a case of not having enough?

Milestones

September is a month of celebrations in our world as Ben and Frankie and other family members celebrate birthdays.

Frankie was 31 years old on the 10th and Ben is 33 on the 16th.

For those of you with little ones, know this - in a blink of an eye, they will be all grown up.

It's hard to believe that the incident with Ben not being allowed to attend his 8th grade graduation or give the valedictorian speech because his haircut was deemed too short (the school was trying to discourage skinhead activity on campus - like black folks were likely to be skinheads was unfathomable, and was clearly irrelevant to the conversation at the time), happen 20 years ago!

Incredible!

Frankie headed to New York for college as a 16 year old who turned 17 weeks after arriving on campus.

That was fourteen years ago!

Unbelievable!

It's true, if they're this old, then that means I'm no spring chick, but I'm thankful for my 58 years on this planet.  They are many who haven't lived to see this, like Terry, my youngest brother, who passed away suddenly at 51, eight years ago.

So, the message today is, enjoy life.

If you have kids, savor the time with them.  Let the fun times outweigh the aggravating ones.

I know that that can be hard to do, especially when they become surly teenagers, but remember, this too shall pass.

Besides, if you're lucky, you'll get to enjoy the best part of being a parent, when you become a grandparent.  That's when the fun really begins.

Cheers!

Choosing Another Path

This video clip is a TED Talk by a young man who was raised to hate.  His father is a convicted terrorist.

His journey is a fascinating one.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zak-ebrahim/zak-ebrahim-ted-book-terrorists-son_b_5811816.html