Bootylicious!

Beyonce and J-Lo would feel right at home here.

This could be called the "land of the booty."  I haven't ever seen this many amble behinds before.  Women with pencil thin waists, but with booties galore.  Any man who is a "booty man" would be in hog's heaven here.

OK.  I just had to share that.

I'm guessing I've got some of my buddies already booking their flights.  It's OK.  I'm not mad at you.

Now back to the straight and narrow.

We were expecting rain today, so neither of us planned to leave the apartment.    It ended up being a lovely morning, so I decided to venture back out.  I wanted to visit the Mandela Museum again.

I walked the several blocks to the bus top, but must have just missed the bus because I waited more than 30 minutes for the next one.  Not a big deal.  The view of the water, and the glass houses, and the the traffic going by kept me entertained.

Residential Housing

I like people watching.

Once on the bus, the ride was only about ten minutes to the Waterfront.  Yes, this area is the jumping off point for many of the sight-seeing opportunities.

Remember Woolworth?

Interestingly, you can see Robben Island from the museum.  Which means all those years those men were imprisoned, they could see freedom across the shore.  How tough that must have been, to be so close, and yet so far.

After visiting the museum this last time, I strolled through the surrounding area. Enjoyed a cup of coffee, and again enjoyed people watching.  And listening to the various accents, trying to guess where the folks were from.

Striking Statues

It started to drizzle, so I cut my venture short, and headed home.

In between napping, I finished one book and started another.

Later this evening, I was invited to dinner at the home of one of my teachers who lives here in Cape Town.  It was a lovely evening.

Tomorrow, I'll be on my way back to the UAE, ending my wonderful visit to the Motherland.

Last week I read this long article in the NY Times about what a racist city Cape Town is.  I'm thrilled to report that I saw no signs of this during my weeklong stay. We intermingled with the locals throughout the week, and couldn't have been treated better.

It truly has been a marvelous experience.

Solo on the Blue Route

It's really cool today.

I'm awake early, as usual.

I make coffee, check my emails, and get some reading done.

About 8:30 I get dressed and head downhill.  I'm traveling alone today, and I appreciate the solitude.

The cafe has wi-fi, so I get online using my phone. Oh, how I miss having the Internet at my disposal.

I decide to take the second of the two Big Bus Tours.

I stopped at the first stop, the Waterfront, which is a tourist Mecca, and hung out there for a while.  Then I hopped back on the bus and we headed out to ride the water's edge of this lustrous shoreline.

Water Front

Guys singing on the Water Front

Statue made out of Coke crates

The views were breathtaking.  Reminded me of the Northern California Coastline, with its rocky boulders, and crashing waves.

Picture taken on Robben Island looking toward Cape Town

Everything was so lush and green.

Table Mountain - up close;
The cable car station is that square figure on top

Luscious green mountainside

Vineyards are big here, and the neat rows of grape vines line one of the mountainsides.  I know that neither I, nor my camera, could capture this incredible site.  It is stunning.

Mountainside vineyards

We then passed by a botanical garden, a bird sanctuary, and a stately university that is home to a recent Nobel Prize winner.

We traveled on the outskirts of exclusive neighborhoods, which were a stone's throw from a neighborhood of shanty towns.  The contrast was striking.

Shanty Town, a section of Cape Town

Side note - I really like these Big Bus Tours.  They're a great way to see an overview of the city with all of the highlights pointed out through the narrations coming from the headsets that are in at least a dozen different languages.  It's like having your own personal guide.  You can hop on and off at any of the stops to check things out close up if you want to.  Brilliant idea.

Side note 2 - The sound of R& B Music is everywhere . . . In the cafes, in every other store in the malls.  Even the street musicians mix their African beats with R & B.  Our music transcends borders and continents.

The people are charming here.  Friendly, warm, and helpful.  They're representing the Motherland really well.

Side note 3 - I seem to be a diva magnet.  Which always baffles me.  I am the most down-to- earth person you'll ever meet.  I'm a straight shooter.  And yet, somehow, divas find their way in my world.  You know, the ones who need special pillows or they can't sleep.  The ones who demand sushi when all you want is a burger.  Or the ones who can't lift a finger to get anything done that they feel is "beneath" their self-proclaimed stature in the world.

Really???

Thankfully, I escaped this lesson in becoming a woman.

Maybe being raised with only brothers, or only having sons, or having a no nonsense Mom, or coming from a really small, country town, all helped me to escape this plight.  Whatever the reason, I'm so glad I did.

Being a diva is exhausting.  Just ask everyone around her.

Robben Island

Home alone.

Thankfully, I'm in the apartment alone, thinking about the history I witnessed today.

Bridge to the Mandela Museum
 that swings open to let ships pass

Another view of the bridge

Mandela Museum
Where you catch the ferry to go to Robben Island

The visit to Robben Island, the place where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 19 of 27 years, was sobering.

The island is reached via ferry.  The ride is 30 minutes.  You can see the Cape Town sillouette behind you moving farther and farther away as you get closer and closer to the island.

As you gaze into the rapidly approaching distance, you see, what appears to be a community.  There are structures all around, that look like they're been there for years.  No sign of the prison yet.

Robben Island on the horizon

Once docked, we got off the ferry and boarded four large buses. This is a guided tour, so we're driven around the island, with our guide pointing out the highlights.  It is during this ride that we eventually pass by the maximum security prison, where political prisoners were held.  There are several buildings making up this section, but none of them are especially large.

Busses that took us around the island

Interestingly, the political prisoners were held in maximum security, but murderers, rapists, and serial killers were housed in the minimum security wing.  The reason they weren't together is because the government feared the political prisoners would influence and sway the thinking of the criminal prisoners.  The government feared the political prisoners more than the actual criminals.

Outside view of the maximum security wing

We then drove by the limestone quarry that the prisoners worked.  The guide described the horrid conditions under which they labored.  There is a small pile of rocks at the entrance of the quarry that was built impromptu when Nelson Mandela, and many of his political comrades who were imprisoned with him, went back to Robben Island to dedicate it as a museum.  When he finished speaking, he picked up a rock and sat it down.  Every other former prisoner did the same.  This pile of rocks has remained untouched since that time in 1994.

Limestone Quarry - Political prisoners were forced into the hard labor of breaking these rocks.  The dust was damaging to their lungs, and because of the light color of the limestone, that absorbed heat, it was blisteringly hot work, too.  There is a small cave-like opening that was the only thing they could use for shelter.

Pile of rocks that began with Mandela's

Close-up of rocks

Side note - The island is home to about three hundred people who run the museum and take care of the land and the buildings.  There was an elementary school on it until last year, when the few number of students warranted it to closed.  The students attend school in Cape Town and travel to and fro via ferry.

Side note 2 - There was a senior high school group of about eight or nine that were touring as well.  They were all from Cape Town and were a very impressive group. They asked great questions, and were good conversationalists for their age.  They rivaled college kids in their thinking.  It was refreshing to see.

Prison Tower

When we finished the bus tour, we were guided by an actual political prisoner who had been imprisoned there, too.  He served six years, beginning in 1986.

His story was a remarkable one.  He shared what life was like when he was there, and compared it to life when Mandela was in prison.  The conditions had improved, but not by much.

There must have been a crowd of about 80 of us, listening to his commentary. We're in a large room that housed prisoners in an open area, as opposed to the single cells.  There are benches that line the walls, with two sets of bunk beds on the far wall, demonstrating the kind of beds they had.  In addition, there were two narrow, rough, rugs in the middle of the floor that were used to sleep on before the prison system was forced to provide beds.

Large, open cell block;
We were sitting on the benches around the perimeter of the room

There were at least two couples, about my age, who did not appear at all interested in what was being said.  One of them were talking during the guide's message.  The guide said if they were translating for each other, fine.  If not, then he shared that they should be respectful of the message and the memory of the suffering that had taken place.  It was a powerful statement.

The two couples, got up and left.

Prison Yard

The guide saw one of the men who walked out later, as we were moving through the building, and asked if he understood English.  The man said he did.  If I was that guy, I think I would have lied.  He looked like an idiot for walking out.

The guide was very even tempered though, not getting upset, but you could see he was disappointed, hurt even.  He had lived in this hell hole, and was trying to help us to see and understand what that was like.

We then went to see Mandela's cell.  It was unbelievably small, where he spent almost twenty years of his life.

Mandela's cell

His life and time there is a true testament to the endurance of the human spirit.

In fact, the island also housed scores of German Shepherds that the prison used to help guard the inmates.  The dogs' houses were twice the size of the prisoners' cell.

House used for solitary confinement; Dog shelters are to the left and right

Prison Warden's home;
Now used as a guest house for visiting dignitaries 

Even the dogs were treated better than the men.

Then, as nature's way to lighten things up, as we were leaving, we went to see a colony of penguins that live on the island, too.  They blended in really closely with the rocks, so they were hard to spot.

Robben Island is home to 13,000 penguins

Over and over, we were reminded that it was in the spirit of forgiveness that this monument, this island, stands today.  In spite of the inhumane cruelties that were levied here throughout the years, it is because of forgiveness that the people, and it - Robben Island Museum - can exist.

Sobering thought, coming at the end of a sobering day.

I love the message on this bus . . .
We're on the journey together.

What a triumph for Mandela to leave this place, and ride the ferry into history as the first Black President of South Africa.

The Motherland!

View from our window

After a bit of a snafu, we settled into our apartment nicely.

Remember, I'm traveling with a colleague.

View from our window 2

Side note - The apartment was rented thru AirBnB, a website where people all over the world rent their apartments/homes.  I used them before and loved it.

This apartment is in a residential area called Sea Point with stunning views of the water.  We're on a hill, three blocks up from the beach.

Cool, square wash basin in the apartment

Stool that can double as a tray

Today was the first leg of our Big Bus Tour, which takes you through all of the city highlights.  There were seventeen stops on today's tour and you can hop on and off throughout the day.

Cape Town is a breathtakingly beautiful city.  It is surrounded on three sides by water, and there is majestic Table Mountain that dominants the landscape.

Cable car descending Table Mountain

Flat top Table Mountain

We took a cable car to the top of the mountain.  The views were spectacular. Seeing this grandeur helps you to see how insignificant you are in the real scheme of things.

To me, the city is a combination of the hills of San Francisco, the many glass buildings of Miami, and the quaintness of New Orleans.  It's a relatively large city, with a small town feel.

Funky purple building

Lattice-trimmed buildings, like in New Orleans

Glamorous Area - Camps Bay

The local people are friendly and helpful.

We've seen diverse crowds everywhere.  There seems to be lots of folks visiting like us.

We met a delightful young man, 26 years old, who was traveling with his mother. They hopped on the bus and sat by us.  They were from Zimbobwe. She was visiting him because he had just completed his Master's Degree.  It was so impressive to see how he treated his Mom.  She was proud of him and rightfully so.

South Africa!

I woke up at 1:30am, before the alarm went off at 2:00.  At 2:30, I was on the road headed to the airport in Abu Dhabi.

I arrived at 4:15.  We boarded the plan at 5:30.

The first stop was in Doha, Qatar, about a 45-min flight.

Immediately I noticed the rain.  I had not seen rain since I left the US.

The other really noticeable thing, is the different ethnicities.  Doha is a small city in a very small country, but their national airlines, Qatar Airways, has a dominant presence in the Middle East.  Now, I  was no longer seeing a sea of brown faces, nor did I see obvious Muslims in their distinct dress.  Diversity was everywhere.  This was the most diverse crowd I'd seen, also since leaving the US.

The airport in Doha is under construction, so the plane taxied as far as it could go, then canopied steps were attached to the plane.  We got off, and went to a waiting bus that shuttled us to the the terminal.  Once we went through several security checkpoints, we boarded another bus, to our departure plane.

In complete contrast was the stop in Johannesburg, where we had another layover but couldn't leave the plane.  No matter.  The view was great.  The airport is modern, with all of the amenities you would expect.

The different airlines, parked at the terminal, with their colorful tails, made a wonderful splash of color against the beautiful blue sky.

The airport was neat, clean and orderly.  Like Abu Dhabi, just not as flashy.

As we were coming in for landing, I was surprised at what an orderly, structured city, Johansburg is.  Clearly, I had fallen prey to the negative media portrayal of this part of the Motherland.

Side note - The flight attendants counted all of us remaining passengers on the Johannesburg flight at least a dozen times.  We were showing two more folks on the flight than we should have had.  In chatting with one of the flight attendants, he said we'd be surprised at how many people that fly that are not sure where they're going.

Insane, right?

Side note 2 - On this leg of my journey, I had an allergic reaction to something on the plane.  My top lip started to tighten and swell.  This went on for several hours, while I tried to figure out what was happening.  I doubt it was something I ate because it only caused my top lip to swell.  I think it was a reaction to the orange juice container, as that was the only thing that would have touched the effected area.  Thankfully, I remembered from when I was married to a commercial pilot, that they have a medicine chest on board. I explained the issue and was given an antihistamine.  I tried to deplane in Johansburg to get more meds, but I was given another pill instead.  The second one really turned the tide.  The tightness and tingling feeling started to go away.

Side note 3 - I had an allergic reaction like this several days before I got married.  I used to pluck leaves from bushes and shrubs when I walked by.  Why?  Who knows!  Anyway, I touched something I was allergic to, and my entire mouth quadrupled in size.  Not a pretty sight with just days before my wedding!

This last leg of the flight is less than two hours.  I have the seats to myself.  I didn't see anyone get on.  About half the folks we had on, got off here.

Already, Africa is so much better than I expected.

There's a great TED Talk by a young African author, and in it she discusses the single story.  Too often, we know one thing about someone or something, and draw incorrect conclusions from that limited scope.  She has a powerful message.  See the link below.






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

Vacation

South Africa is INCREDIBLE!

Internet connection is not.  I'm writing everyday and will post when I return.

Where I Live

Check out the video clip in the middle of the page.  It features Al Ain, my home.

http://livcomalain.ae/Arabic/default.aspx

Spring Break

Mother's Day Bouquet

I'm being presented with a Mother's Day Bouquet
on March 21st

Thankfully, today officially begins our two weeks off for Spring Break.

I've missed a few days of posting because of the fight with my internet service, but mostly because I've been so incredibly tired.  Which really is interesting because my work load and stress level is probably less than half of what it was in the US, and yet I was still exhausted.

As I was sharing with a dear friend earlier, I used to travel by car from Florida (where I went to college), back home to Texas on a regular basis.  It was a twelve hour trip. The first eleven hours were fine, but that last hour was pure torture.

Likewise, I have been moving through the days at work just fine, but this last week was incredibly long.  It's more mental than anything, I'm sure my therapist would say, but the fatigue sure felt real.

Thankfully, I built in rest days before and after my trip to Cape Town.  I depart early Monday morning for the 13-hour flight, arriving early evening.  I return on Saturday morning.  I'll have another week off when I get back.

I'll be taking my electronic gadgets.  I'm hopeful that I'll be able to post from South Africa.

Art Award Presentation.
Note the ladies who are covered veiled themselves when the cameras came out.

It took me years to give myself permission to take care of me.  Don't make the mistake I made, do something good for yourself everyday.  It doesn't have to be something big - taking a hot, uninterrupted bath; reading a chapter in a book; watching your favorite TV show; jotting a quick note to a friend; or having a bowl of ice cream.  Whatever it is that makes you happy, do often.

You have my permission.

Quickie

I've had all kind of issues with my internet connection.  This will be a quickie, just in case it goes out again.

Had fun with the new walkie talkies that arrived yesterday.  Huge thanks to Deb for getting them to me.  A quick course on which button to press and when to press it was all it took to get my Arab sisters chatting away.  Their chatter warmed my heart.

Communicating this way is foreign in this land.  Of course, these devices are standard issue for schools in the US.  I'm hoping they will be used successfully here.

The Internet has stop working twice since I began this, so I won't push my luck.

More soon.

Testing & Safety

The standardized testing continues to be colorful.

The tests are timed and last a maximum of 90 minutes.  Good luck trying to teach anything after that.

In fact, the kids were roaming the halls and playing outside - unsupervised - as soon as the testing was complete for the day.  The testing grades are 3rd-5th.  Once the 1st and 2nd graders saw everyone else roaming the halls, it took more than a notion to keep them focused.  Remember, the classroom walls facing the hallways are made of glass, so whatever happens in the hallways can/will be a distraction.

I spent the last hour of the school day trying to keep my girls from heading to the busses to go home.  After a half hour, I gave up.  Thankfully, the busses arrived early so they were able to line up and board soon thereafter.

Teachers were making a mad dash out of the building soon after the kids.  The stillness in the school was noticed, so they will have to stay until normal dismissal time for the rest of the week.

Remember also this is the last week before our two week Spring Break.

The grades are inputted into the computer and report cards are generated from that.  Each student has a minimum of seven teachers putting in grades for them.  There's the English-speaking teacher who teachers English/Math/Science.  The Arab teachers teach Arabic, Music, PE, Art, Social Studies and Computer.  The computer program that is being used to input this data is not user friendly, making the tedious task even more laborious.  It crashes a lot from all of the traffic on the server during the grading periods.

Side note - Car seats are not used for babies and children.  Kids ride in someone's lap, usually the nanny's.  Kids can be seen sitting in the father's lap as he drives or hanging out the windows.

Side note 2 - Hotels, apartments and other high-rise buildings are being advised to put safety measures in place to prevent children from falling.  There have been over a dozen toddler/child fatalities in the past year.

As I close, here's giving you permission to do something wild and crazy and totally selfish.  Have a ball doing it.

OK.  Maybe not too wild.

Your blogging buddy

Henna

Henna, the colored dye, is used a lot here in various ways.

It's used in intricate designs painted on women's bodies, usually their hands and forearms, and sometimes their feet.

It's used as a fingernail polish, but the whole tip of the finger is colored.

It's used to color hair.

It's used to color beards.  Not sure what the significance is there.  Thankfully, you don't see it often because it's a rather strange sight.  A bright red beard on folks my complexion causes you to take a second look.

It's also used by men on the palms of their hands and bands around their fingers to indicate they're married.

One of my teachers had her hands painted and had a horrific allergic reaction to the dark brown/black henna which is believed to be stronger (???).

Interesting, right?

Now to school stuff -

Today was the first day of standardized testing.  The students were tested on reading and writing Arabic.  The whole testing environment is in keeping with everything else here, very laid back.

I was monitoring a 4th grade class of girls because their teacher was absent.  About midway through the testing period, someone came in and chatted with the girls, interrupting for about five minutes.  No problem.  No big deal, but unheard of in the US.

Like I said yesterday, this is the least stressful testing I've ever been involved in.

Beginning tomorrow, the boys will go home at 11:00 and the girls at 11:45.  Gotta love that, too.  Normal dismissal is at 12:45 for the boys and 1:45 for the girls.

Those times are colorful, too, because the last period should go from 12:15 to 1:00 for the boys and 1:15 to 2:00 for the girls.

Here's what happens.  Beginning at 12:30 and 1:30 respectively, everyone starts heading for the door.  It is a daily exercise in controlled chaos.  You just pray to God that everyone gets where they're supposed to go. The last class should be a study on how efficiently everyone can clear the building.

Adhering to dismissal times and adjusting those times so that the students are not missing instructional minutes, is a work in progress.

As I've mentioned, the girls use 11 huge busses, to accommodate them all.  The system is such that none of the busses move until everyone is on board.  Then they depart in caravans, some going left, the others right.

Finally, there is another thing I've noticed about the students.

There seems to be a higher percentage of special ed students, probably because of the custom of marrying relatives.  The country has just started to push for genetic testings before and after marriage, but that's proving to be an uphill battle.  What's really fascinating is the stigma associated with having a special needs child. Because of this, there is also a high percentage of unidentified special ed students. We do have a teacher for these students, but it is a new focus, for sure.

OK.  Just one more thing.

Mother's Day is celebrated today in Ireland.  One of my teachers is from there.  She also shared that she and her family and friends had a big St. Patrick's Day celebration.  I didn't even realize what the day was.  It was not recognized in the malls or shopping areas.

Mother's Day is celebrated in this country on Wednesday, the 21 of this month, the first day of Spring.

Who knew Mother's Day wasn't universally celebrated on the same day around the world?

OK, that's it.

I think all of this is very interesting.  I hope you do, too.

Productive Day

Yesterday I didn't get out of pajamas.  Lots of reading and TV.  Today, I was moving and shaking and getting things done.

I went by the hospital for a walk-in appointment.  The guys there were great.  They told me that it was way too busy then, but they gave me a better time later in the day.

Then it was off to get Luther serviced.  While waiting for him, I wrote my weekly bulletin.  Finished that and continued reading a novel on my phone.  The Kindle App is one of my favorite apps.  When I moved to a different waiting area, I met a Black woman from Long Beach.  She was dressed in complete Arab-wear.  I think she was probably Muslim.  She was an ADEC teacher and had been in the country for five years, three teaching at a private school, and two with ADEC.  She was about to do some serious complaining, when she asked me how I liked it.  I told her I loved it, and started naming all of the things I loved.  It turned the conversation around immediately from where it was heading - a gripe session.  I refused to get sucked into that.

I stopped by the grocery store and bought some supplies for my office.  I keep coffee and tea, chocolates and chips - you know, the really healthy stuff - for the teachers/staff to munch on throughout the day.  It's amazing how a piece of chocolate can help you make it through the day, especially if it's a rough one.  The benefit of having these things available far outweighs the cost of doing it.  It’s amazing how food helps to break the ice.  Folks have shared things while making coffee or tea that they probably wouldn’t have shared otherwise. 

Went by the mall to get a pair of eyeglasses repaired.  The guy who waited on me was Egyptian, and like the others I've met from his country, he was warm and super friendly.  He asked me where I was from, and he shared that he had a relative in California. I told him that I intended to visit Egypt soon, but I was concerned about safety since the uprising.  He assured me things have calmed down and because they're trying to restore confidence and get visitors back, there're some real bargains to be had now.  I will seriously consider a trip soon.

Then it was home for a minute.  

While here, the doorbell rang.  It was someone checking my Internet/Phone/TV service. I've had real issues with my Internet lately.  I thought it was Tyrone (my wireless router), but he was fine.  It took three service calls to figure that out though. At this point, it's not where it needs to be - speed wise - but I'm tired of fighting.  

Off again with a stop by the post office, then back to the hospital.  By this time I'd received a text from the woman who is traveling with me to Cape Town, suggesting that I look into the need for immunizations.  I looked and although not required, I got them anyway.  Better to be safe than sorry.

I was able to see the doctor I wanted to see, then I was off to return something I purchased yesterday.  Thankfully, it wasn't a problem.  Returning items is a much bigger deal here.  It makes you think twice before buying, that's for sure.

Quick stop by the market close nearby to pick up some milk.

Home again.  

Cleaned out purse.  Filed papers.  Ate dinner.  Made a lunch.  Got ready for bed.

I wonder if the five cappuccinos I had throughout the day contributed to my higher than normal energy level.  Maybe.  If so, I should drink that many everyday. 

Side note - It's been hot, about 95 degrees for the past week or so.  It makes you really appreciate air conditioning.  Even though it's hot, there's a breeze.  It's just blowing hot air.  Word is it gets much hotter in the summer.  Normal temperature is around 120 in July.  I hope to be someplace cooler by then.

Side note 2 - Tried some fruit that looks like worms.  Or if you're a South Park fan (I'm not), it might remind you of something else.  Anyway, it has a hard, paper-like shell that peels away to reveal a fruit that looks like peas in a pod.  They are sticky and gummy, like gummy bears, with black, smooth seeds inside.

This fruit is called Tamarind,
indigenous to tropical Africa.

This is what it looks like inside.

Side note 3 - Traffic stopped for camels to cross, at dawn, on my way to work one day last week. Something else was happening last week in this area as there were about 50-75 camels, with lots of SUV's and people hanging out.  I didn't see them until I was right up on them, so I didn't get a picture.

Camels crossing the road at dawn.

I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open, so I give.  I'm going to bed.

Goodnight.

TED Invitation

A few days ago I posted a link to a TED Talk.  As I said then, I love the whole idea of really smart people coming together to share their ideas.  I enjoy the video clips of the many and varied speakers, so much so that I have the TED App on my phone and can listen to them anywhere I go.

Well, I read in the paper (I love the paper, too) that Al Ain, the city I live in, would be hosting a TED Conference next month.  This was fantastic news, but attendance at these events is by invitation only.  I thought, what the heck.  I'll apply and see what happens.

I just received the invitation!  How exciting is this?  The conference will be held on April 14th, a Saturday, so I won't have to take off work to attend, which I would have done because this is such a huge deal to me.

Side note - In yesterday's post I mentioned the building with the rotating floors.  I forgot to mention that it was Ben who forwarded me the link that I shared updating the progress.  Gotta give credit where credit is due.  Thanks Ben.

Off to bed now.

Goodnight to me.  Good morning to you.

Communication & Pageantry

One of the more colorful things to get used to is things happening at the last minute, with little or no communication.

For example, there were two programs this week that the Western staff knew nothing about.  The first was a musical workshop - held during school hours - with invited guests.  Students were pulled from class to performed.  Today there was an awards ceremony for student achievement (maybe? we're still not sure the criteria for the awards; teachers were not consulted).  Although, this felt very much like a beauty pageant, complete with formal dresses, tiaras, and full make-up, even for the first graders.

You can't see them, but many of the girls
are wearing tiaras and sashes with the
school emblem on them.

Another view

The program's design - boys', then girls' - invited mothers to come on stage and receive the award with their child.

Now, the statewide testing begins on Sunday, so you think reviewing for it would be a top priority.  Not so.  In fact, it is common knowledge that many teachers help the students on the tests.  This has just been recently frowned upon.

Remember early on when I mentioned that multi-tasking is a foreign concept, that is never more evident than when there is a special event . . . which occurs often . . . at least once a week.  Usually, it's the Social Workers, PE Teachers and Music Teachers who take care of the details and run the programs.  There are four PE Teachers and four Music Teachers, each with a full load of classes to teach. However, when there is a program, or they are rehearsing for a program, that takes precedence.  As far as they are concerned, all of their classes are cancelled.  Of course, they could rearrange their schedules to cover their classes, but that would take way too much forethought and planning.

Also, if other teachers want to attend the program, no problem.  Never mind that classes are left unattended.  Every once in a while, students will accompany teachers, but not often.

Until recently, this way of doing things bothered me.  A lot.  However, I'm taking a page out of the Emirati Handbook, and deciding to just chill out.

Here's what I've learned -

Pageantry is important.

Appearances matter.  Above all else.

Communication is convenient, but not vital.

If you know about an event . . . great.  If not, rest assured everyone had a wonderful time.

Side note - This is the absolute least stressful I've been about standardized testing . . . EVER.  For that alone, I'm loving this experience.

Side note 2 - Families are large.  It's common to have at least six and up to ten kids or more.  Remember to multiply that number by the number of wives a man has. I've heard this referred to as "nation building." Probably smart thinking.

Side note 3 - The building with the rotating floors that I mentioned in an earlier post is not coming to Dubai.  It will be built in London instead.  Surprisingly, it was cancelled due to cost cutting measures.

www.emirates247.com/property/real-estate/world-s-first-rotating-tower-not-to-come-up-in-dubai-2012-02-11-1.442343

Who knew?

Sending good thoughts your way.

Your blogging buddy 

Skipped Town

I've been meaning to mention an interesting phenomena that happens fairly often. That is, teachers just pack their bags and leave.

I'm reminded of this everyday because there's a car that's been parked near where I park Luther in the garage that hasn't moved since I've been parking underground, about two months.  I'd bet my next paycheck that it's a rental and whoever had it just skipped town.

Usually they just leave everything - furniture, household goods, cars - literally everything but their clothes, and head back home.  It happens mostly during the breaks.  If I didn't think it was so incredibly tacky and probably illegal, I'd consider an office pool to see who might go that route on our staff.  It would be the second time someone left because one teacher left like that before I arrived.

It's an unprofessional way of doing things, that's for sure.  It continues to happen because there really isn't any repercussions.

Anyway . . .

We get coverage of all of the major stories in the US, so I shouldn't have been surprised about the coverage of Peyton Manning leaving the Colts.  That was really disappointing news.  Forrest and Willie (my brothers) and I were talking about it tonight during our video chat.  They reminded me that it's business, brutal though it is.  I thought about Joe Montana and Jerry Rice.  I thought they both should have been given the opportunity to finish their careers are 49ers.  It was a sad day seeing them suited up in different uniforms.  Again, it was business, but I think the owners forget about the fans and the emotional investment we put into our favorite players and favorite teams.  Peyton, like Joe and Jerry, is such a classy guy that I'm sure will land on his feet.  I, for one, wish him the best.

Yes, I like football.  Being the only girl with three older brothers, it was my ticket in the door of the man caves they created.  And with Ben and Frankie both playing in high school, it just added to my enjoyment of the game.

On another note . . .

Thankfully I'm feeling better everyday. 

It is customary to shake hands with the Arab staff, which I thinks contributes to the sharing of the nasty bugs.  I purchased some sanitizing gel, but I'm careful not to use it in their presence for fear they will be offended that I'm washing my hands after touching them.  So I use it on the down low as often as possible.

In the last box my dear friend forwarded, it contained some megavitamin packets that I used to buy by the case at Costco.  Those were quite helpful back home in keeping the bugs away.  Hopefully they will be as helpful here.

Finally . . .

One of my colleagues is also going to Cape Town for Spring Break, so we're making plans to share the apartment that I have reserved for the week.  I'm used to living and traveling alone, so my fingers are crossed that it is a positive experience.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Shopping - Part 3

I'm sure I've mentioned I don't like shopping.  I especially don't like grocery shopping.  However, I'm close to changing my mind about that because of the terrific service I get at the market closest to home.

Everyone gets their things bagged, but there's this guy who also takes the things out of my cart, bags them, and then takes them out to my car.

Did I mention he was pretty?  I'm sure I could be his momma, but . . .

Don't go fretting'.  I wouldn't consider robbing the cradle.

Of course, never say never comes to mind.

Anyway, I tip the guy well, and I'm sure that's why I get great service.  That's OK though, I'm not above paying for super service.

Today he tried to hold a conversation, but I had no idea what he was saying.  Darn Arabic class!  We were learning how to read in it.  I need to be able to speak it.  OK. That might be stretching my skill level a bit.  How about just understand it?

I've already decided I forgot something and will need to shopping again tomorrow.

My Mom used to say, "There's no fool like an old fool."

You think that applies here?

TED Talks

I love TED Talks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED_(conference)

If you're new to them, they are video clips from TED Conferences.

TED Conferences occur annually.  They bring together people that represent the best and the brightest in their field.

Presenters are given a maximum of 18 minutes to share their ideas.  The following one is a tad longer, but well worth the extra time.

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

Side note - Still recovering from nasty bug.

More soon.

The 5AM Call

My alarm went off at 5:00am as usual.  At 5:10, I received a call from one of my colleagues who lives in my building.  She was in tears, in excruciating pain.  I raced up to her place, found her in the fetal position, and knew we needed to get to the hospital . . . fast.

She didn't want me to call an ambulance.  Truthfully, I'm not sure about the emergency services in the city or how long the response time would be.  The hospital is only a couple of miles away, so we quickly got it together and hightailed it there.

Thankfully, we discovered the clinic that we're used to going to is open 24 hours, so we knew what to do when we got there.  Navigating the systems here can be colorful.  She was seen very quickly and tests were run to go through the process of elimination to figure out what was wrong.

After injections to ease the pain, she slept, and I read the paper and emails.  Nurses and doctors came in and out.  There was a shift change, so her primary care doctor changed to someone else, but it was comforting that everyone gave due diligence to her concerns.  I think being with her to testify, if you will, to the intensity of the pain, was helpful.

At about 1:30pm, with medicine in hand, and an appointment for further testing in a couple of days, we headed home.

As my post revealed yesterday, I'm used to hospitals and have experience navigating health care systems. I'm glad I was able to help her today.

Now to a clarification and addition to yesterday's post about Ben.

First, thanks for your kind and thoughtful comments.  I appreciate them.

The dear friend I referred to who found us the apartment, not only found it, but paid in advance for our entire stay in Fort Worth.  It was an amazing gesture on so many levels, and one that we'll never forget.

There was also another life-long friend who is the reason Ben is a PhD Candidate today.  This dear friend is a psychologist who was kind enough to not only see Ben during this difficult time, but he was the source of encouragement Ben needed that he was not getting from me.  I had witnessed him a sneeze away from death, and I couldn't understand why he was wallowing in self pity.  Thank God, this gifted health professional did understand and helped in a way I couldn't.  He told Ben that his mind was sharp, even as his body was healing, and suggested he pursue a PhD. Ben has always been an awesome student, who enjoyed school and the challenges and excitement of learning new things, so this was just what he needed to look past the day-to-day routine of physical therapy and surgeries every few months.  What this man did for Ben in addressing his mental state, was just as critical as the other doctors who worked on his body.

Finally, there are two visuals that are reminders of this time -

First, Ben was wearing a Lance Armstrong LIVE STRONG bracelet when the accident occurred, and interestingly, the hospital staff left it on him during his many surgeries.

Secondly, he underwent seven surgeries in the first fourteen days and because they knew they would have to keep going back in to make repairs to his body, he was not stitched up after these surgeries, but was saran-wrapped instead.  Layer and layers of a saran-wrap like plastic was tightly wrapped around him keeping his internal organs in place.

Sometimes, when I'm watching a medical drama on TV, I find it too tough to watch if it's too graphic.  It takes me to a place I never want to be again.

Some things you don't want to forget, and yet there are other things that are too painful to remember.  Finding that balance is the key, isn't it?

Ben

I missed worked today because of feeling achy with a sore throat.  Although I didn't feel like it, I got up to go to the doctor so that I would have an excuse for the absence.  It is required.

Armed with antibiotics for the infection in my throat, I spent the rest of the day reading and watching TV.  I get lots of choices in watching US shows and movies, so I had plenty to choose from.

Funny the things you think about when you're not feeling well though.

I'm reminded of the days, weeks, and months spent praying for Ben's recovery after his horrific accident.

There was the overwhelming outpouring of support from family, friends and strangers (to me at least, but friends of the boys).

There was the trauma center in Fort Worth where Ben was hospitalized that was staffed with folks who took great care of him.  The first week after the accident was touch and go.

There was the doctor that Ben didn't like.  Interestingly, while he spent the first week in a medically induced coma, there was this one particular doctor who was very pessimistic about his prognosis.  When Ben awakened from the coma, and could communicate, he did not like this doctor at all. I absolutely believe he was aware of what was being said during this time when he was unconscious, and somehow knew this doctor was not hopeful that he would make it at all.

The outpouring of help and support we received was incredible.

There was one of Frankie's friends who created a website where we could post updates.  This also served as a link for people to leave encouraging posts, which kept us going on those tough days.

There was an enormous number of people who sent money to help with the financial burden of maintaining two households, when Frankie moved to Texas to be closer to Ben, and to help with the cost of traveling back and forth to Fort Worth from Sacramento.

There was the dear family friend who travelled to Fort Worth and found an apartment for us to live in so we could be closer to the hospital.  We were planning to stay in Ben's place about an hour and a half from Fort Worth, so having this place close by was a tremendous help and allowed us the opportunity to spend more time with Ben.

There was the couple who took a detour on their travels across country to see us and support Ben.  They came bearing gifts.  Because she had been hospitalized for extended periods of time, she knew of things that Ben would need or would make him more comfortable during his long recovery.

There was one of Ben's college buddies who traveled 24 hours straight from Siberia to be with him.  This kid will always have a special place in my heart.

There was one of his high school buddies who travelled from Southern California with mementos from their high school days together that Ben treasured.

There was my dear friend who was absolutely instrumental in helping with the logistical issues of getting Ben transferred to a hospital back home to Sacramento.  He had to have a doctor who would accept him as a patient, or his care would not have been covered by insurance.  She helped to make that happen.

There was the doctor and his staff who took outstanding care of Ben once he was local and still required at least a half dozen more surgeries over multiple disciplines.  It was truly a team effort, and it was a phenomenal team at that.

There were the folks from my school who took turns making meals for us once we moved Ben back to Sacramento.  They did this for months while I raced home from work to care for him.

There were my brothers who rallied around me as only big brothers can.  They came and provided tremendous support.  It was my youngest brother Terry (deceased) who, with Frankie, drove Ben home cross country.

And then there was Frankie.

He was my rock.  He was strong so I would be strong.  He knew I needed him to make it through this.

He was 22 at the time.

Once we received word of the accident, he left immediately going to Fort Worth because he was still able to fly free and could just show up at the airport and get on the next flight out.  It took me more time, so I arrived the next day.

The courage that it took for Frankie to go to Fort Worth, not knowing if Ben would even be alive when he arrived, was extraordinary.  He was always mature for his age, but I saw him grow up over night.

You think you appreciate family and friends, but that appreciation is taken to a whole new level in a crisis.

This journey began in July 2005 and lasted over two years.

It seems like yesterday.

Thank God, Ben is absolutely fine, but he will always be my miracle and Frankie will always be my rock.