Off Scampering About

I am going to take a haitus from blogging for the next two weeks, which will be disappointment for those of you who have so enjoyed such frequent updates on the escapades in the middle east.

You see, I am leaving paradise island for the Sultanate of Oman. In a sense, I'm leaving the big city for the rustic northwoods. Oman has resisted the modernization, in contrast to cities like Dubai or Manama (Bahrain) that have jumped fully into high rise buildings and

So the next two weeks will be filled with off-roading through the mountains of Oman (using a gps coordinator), doing a SCUBA dive or two and generally scampering about the country.

We have a layover in dubai on the way there and the way back, so we'll be able to leave the airport for a bit and hang out in Sharja on the waterfront.

The Technological Circle of Life

If you've ever read Zits - the comic strip - then you might find the following amusing.

Jeremy, the 15 year old boy, comes up with a brilliant idea. Cell phones, he says are becoming smaller and smaller, as part of a trend towards conveneince. BUT, he says, what if there were NO cell phones! What if, instead of cell phones, we have a system by which phones are placed around the city for us to use at our own convenience! Wouldn't that be great!?

"Yeah," his dad says. "They're called payphones."

The almost ridiculousness of facebook was realized upon me last night when I recieved an email notifying me that someone had written on my wall. This isn't new.

What was new was that the notification email also contained the message written on my wall. Now that's convenient. I don't have to log into my facebook account to see what's on my wall. I can see it in my inbox. The same now goes if someone sends me a message on facebook.

So now, not only do I get an email saying I have a message, but I get an email saying I have a message with the message in it!!

If only they could set up facebook so that I could just hit reply, and a return message would be posted on the wall of the person who posted on mine. Brilliant!!

OR - I could just write that person an email, since I am at my own email inbox already. But I didn't. I went signed into facebook and wrote on his wall.

Axis of Evil

This last week in World History, with the 11th graders, we have started covering World War II, which of course includes the Axis powers of Germany, Japan and Italy. I try to connect and apply everything I can, and this provided a great opportunity.

In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush coined the phrase, "Axis of Evil". We can debate for hours whether or not he was correct... though the President's continued hardline stance is a little disconcerting considering the recent United States report that Iran had ceased their nuclear program in 2003 (and the possibility that he's known about this report since July).

The following article was found on satirewire.com. Enjoy.

No Fair! We wanna be in our own Axis!
Andrew Marlatt (oligarch of Satirewire.com and author of Economy of Errors)

Bitter after being snubbed for membership in the “Axis of Evil,” Libya, China and Syria today announced they had formed the “Axis of Just as Evil,” which they said would be way eviler than that stupid Iran-Iraq-North Korea axis President Bush warned of in his State of the Union address.

Axis of Evil members, however, immediately dismissed the new axis as having, for starters, a really dumb name.

“Right. They are Just as Evil… in their dreams!” declared North Korean leader Kim Jong il. “Everybody knows we’re the best evils… best at being evil… we’re the best.”

Diplomats from Syria denied they were jealous over being excluded, although they conceded they did ask if they could join the Axis of Evil.

“They told us it was all full,” said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“An Axis can’t have more than three countries,” explained Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. “This is not my rule; its tradition. In World War II you had Germany, Italy and Japan in the evil Axis. So You can only have three.

“And a secret handshake. Ours is wicked cool.”

International reaction to Bush’s Axis of Evil declaration was swift as, within minutes, France surrendered.

Elsewhere, peer-conscious nations rushed to gain triumvariate status in what became a game of geopolitical musical chairs. Cuba, Sudan and Serbia said they had formed the Axis of Somwhat Evil, forcing Somalia to join with Uganda and Myanmar in the Axis of Occasionally Evil, while Bulgaria, Indonesia and Russia established the Axis of Not So Much Evil Really as Just Generally Disagreeable.

With the criteria suddenly expanded and all the desirable clubs filling up, Siera Leone, El Salvador and Rwanda applied tot be called the Axis of Countries That Aren’t the Worst But Certainly Won’t Be Asked to Host the Olympics, and Canada, Mexico and Australia formed the Axis of Nations That Are Actually Quite Nice But Secretly Have Nasty Thoughts About America.

While wondering if the other nations of the world weren’t perhaps making fun of him, a cautious Bush granted approval for most axes, although rejected the establishment of the Axis of Countries Whose Names End in “Guay,” accusing one of its members of filing a false application. Officials from Paraguay, Uruguay and Chadguay denied the charges.

Sunburn in November

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, while most of you are braving cold weather and possibly snow, I enjoyed a day in the sun with my friends Russ and Bara'a. I even got a bit of a sunburn, and I am peeling a little bit today. It was pretty fun. We went to the brand new Lost Paradise of Dilmun water park, rode on water slides, flipped on the tubes down the group rides, played in the wave pool, and lounged on the beach!

Counters, Laundry and the Internet

This week has been a momentous week. Here are some things that I've done for the first time

1. I set down groceries on my very own countertops in my apartment. I shed a tear of joy.

2. I did laundry in my apartment for the very first time since I've been back.

3. I made dinner in my apartment for the very first time.

4. I am writing this blog post from my apartment, with my very own internet connection! They finally came and hooked everything up!

You might be wondering what I did before this. Well... my clothes were very, very dirty.

Eid Mubarak! (and apartment pictures)

After 4 weeks of not being able to eat outside, the eid is finally here! Ramadan, the muslim holy month of fasting, ended yesterday.

During Ramadan, muslims are supposed fast from sun-up till sun-down, and the government helps that by making it illegal to serve food in restaurants or eat in public during the day. Meaning I could be arrested for a drop of water on a parched tongue.

Yesterday, it all ended. So now I can eat outside as much as I want and go to restaurants during the day to my little heart's desire.

At the end of Ramadan is the Eid break. Eid Mubarak! (happy eid) The actual Eid holiday is only three days, but we get a whole week off of school. Score. So I'll be hanging out for the most part. Some friends are fleeing paradise island, but others are staying, so it'll be fun to connect with some of those who I haven't seen in a while.

Some have wanted to see pictures of my new apartment: Well, here's a few to break it down for you.



My bedroom - though there is a wardrobe where the suitcase sits






















Entrance to the apartment - my dining room/office area again



my dining room/office area - from a different perspective



My kitchen - which still doesn't have a stove or counter space. soon, insha'alla















There is another room that is not pictured - a second bedroom that will serve as the living room. But there is nothing in there yet except for empty boxes and dust. Once I get what I need for that, put up some more pictures.

So that's it - my apartment. Its a nice place for one person.

I've moved in

First, let me say, if you haven't yet read "The Kite Runner", go to the nearest library or book store and get a copy. Its a phenomenal book (though my literature-savy friends don't seem to get as excited about it as I do).

ANYWAY.

Last weekend, I was able to sleep at my apartment. Amazing.

Now, let me explain this. I had paid for my first month's rent on the 1st of September. And I didn't start sleeping in my apartment till two weeks later. So that was about $250 gone. Maybe not wasted (I was still able to move some furniture in), but certainly not used the way I would like it.

The main problem was that my fridge wasn't up to par (see previous post) and I had no matress. Its just too hot to try and keep food without a refridgerator - and I certainly wasn't going to sleep on the tile floor.

But now, I'm actually staying here. I still have a few things to get - like living room furniture, another a/c, and a few kitchen items. Minor things.

The neighborhood is nice. Its downtown, and I'm right across the street from a mosque. I thought at first that the calls to prayer might wake me, but even with the loud speakers so close, they don't even phase me. I've walked around the neighborhood a little bit, trying to get a feel for what's in the area, what's with in walking distance, etc. Fortunately, I can get about everything I need within a five minute walk, except for meats and cheeses.

Well, I COULD get those... but there are just some things I'd rather not leave to chance.

Some day, when I have a camera that can take pictures, I'll take some of the apartment and put them up. All the women who read this can give me decorating tips.

That's all for now. School is going well. I've enjoyed the students so far. This next week, we start a research project with one class, and another finance project with another class. fun stuff.

The Velcro Fridge

Desparate times call for desparate measures.

I've been TRYING to move into my apartment for almost two weeks now, but I just can't seem to get my act together. I have no mattress yet, and, until today, my fridge was of no help.

You see, my fridge door doesn't close. I'm not really sure why, either. There was nothing blocking the doorway, and it didn't seem as if the hinges were bent. The only problem I could see was a small plastic piece broken from the bottom that SEEMED to be the latch for the door.

But of course, who really knows.

After searching for a replacement peice, I finally gave up and started looking for other options.

And now, industrial velcro forms a handle that latches my refridgerator door shut.

Tacky, maybe. But certainly effective.

Good News Bad News

Its August 31st, and I've been back in Bahrain for over a week now. 9 days in fact. During that time a lot has happened. Both good and bad. Here's a the run down.

Bad news: Apartments have become scarce and expensive in Bahrain (at least ones within my budget).

Good news: I found an decent apartment for a good price. And I signed the least on Wednesday night.

Bad news: Its oppressively hot and ridiculously humid.

Good news: It's less hot and humid than it was at this time last year.

Good news: School starts in less than 36 hours. The first shining faces of eager students walk through the doors at 7am Sunday morning!

Bad news: I don't feel so hot. Hopefully I will feel better by Sunday morning.

Good news: all of my stuff is in Bahrain.

Bad news: a bulk of my belongings (including a bed and desk) are stored in an apartment on the other side of the island, and the tenant has not returned to Bahrain yet (and there is a good chance he isn't going to return at all). So I have to figure out how to get into the apartment and get my stuff. Legally.

Bad news: I am the only male teaching high school.

Good news: we'll see how this one ends up translating into good news. I'm sure it will.

Bad news: I had $1000 of bank fraud on my bank account, and I spent the whole summer getting the bank to get their act together.

Good news: They DID get their act together, and they finally refunded me all of my money.

Bad news: I don't own a car.

Good/Neutral news: A friend is letting me borrow his car until he comes back next week (but I have to give it back when he returns).

That neutral threw you for a loop didn't it.

Anyway, that's all the important news for now. I'll try to be better about updating this as the year goes on.

Don't forget to write!

Strike Three May Be Coming

I have dodged death this summer - multiple times.

Encounter 1

While in Wisconsin, I went white-water rafting with my friend Lindsay. Now, if you know mountainous regions of Wisconsin, you know that there will be some difficult and dangerous rivers. We spent four hours braving the intense rapids and tumbling over waterfalls.

And "intense" I mean "sad". In all reality, we drifted peacefully (ie. boringly) along the river. Of those four hours, about 15 minutes of that was spent on "rapids" and waterfalls. Another 15 minutes was spent stuck on rocks that.

I did bruise my foot going over the last waterfall (once Lindsay and I finally got ourselves unstuck from the rocks). So I'll call that my first close encounter with death.

Encounter 2

Last weekend I visited my friends Amos and Meredith Anderson in Arkansas. Amos and I went hiking on Saturday morning in the sticks of Arkansas (and when we talk about the sticks of Arkansas, we know its out there). We had intended to go early enough to beat the midday heat.

But we didn't. And it was 110 degrees outside.

And we hiked for 2 hours.

We also had their dog with us, a black lab, who drank most of Amos' water. And Amos in turn drank mine. We quickly used up our already small water supply.

I like to tell people I'm almost died from dehydration and heat exhaustion.

Encounter 3 (maybe)

I am currently in Houston, with Hurricane Dean possibly on the way. As I write this, The Weather Channel is saying that "This is a very intense hurricane" and that it's heading towards Jamaica. The hurricane may or may not make it far enough north to affect Houston - we'll know by Monday.

The concern also regards my flight on Tuesday. On Tuesday afternoon, I fly back to Bahrain for another year of fun in the sun and teaching. But will my flight be able to leave? If it does, will the plane be sucked into the hurricane and be thrown off course? Will I be stranded on a mysterious island where monsters chase and a secret organization harasses me and the people I am stranded with?

Hopefully I'm not out after three strikes.

this post means nothing

checking the rss feeds

Moving On

So the end of the story - I was in Philadelphia, and I liked it. Who knows, maybe I'll move there someday.

But for now, I am in Minnesota. The Twin Cities to be exact. All over the Twin Cities to be even MORE exact. I've been hanging out with friends, doing some reading and even used the library at Northwestern to do some studying.

This weekend, I return to my childhood - Manitowoc, WI.

I think I've been in a different state every sunday since I've been back in the states.

Supa' Sta'

Some of you know, some of you don't - I am staying on the Eastern University campus outside of Philadelphia (in the 'burbs). Its a christian university, and like many colleges, opens its campus up to events throughout the summer while students are away.

Since I've been here its been soccer camps galor (which has been kind of fun. I have spent an afternoon or two watching the high school games).

Tonight, I was out doing my laundry, and I had to walk through a sea of campers, who were chilling after a hard day of playing. As I'm walking, a bunch of kids start staring at me, and a few start whispering to their friends.

I switched my laundry from the washer to the dryer and then walked back out. Again, the staring. I started to feel uncomfortable. I wasn't sure if it was good staring or bad staring.

As I walked back to retreive my laundry, the little pip squeaks were STILL looking at me! Finally, one came up to me, and with wonder and awe in his voice, asked,

"Do you play for Delco?"

And thus I realized why all the gawking. I am currently wearing an FC Delco jersy I was given five years ago for helping out with a soccer camp in Philadelphia. FC Delco is a sort of minor league soccer team. So apparently he thought I was athletic enough to play for the team. It was an ego booster.

Anyway, I laughed and apologized. I wasn't the superstar he thought I was.

I should have given him my autograph, though.

Stompin' Grounds

So I'm back in my old stompin' grounds - the late great city of Philadelphia. Well, its still a great city.

To be fair, I haven't been back at teh REAL stomping grounds. Yet. Tomorrow I will be moving out and about around the city, and I'll have a chance to take the 13 trolly down woodland ave to my old street of Rheinhard. My old roommate still lives on the street, and supposedly in the same house. I tried to get ahold of him, but it seems that he is as hard to get ahold of as every one has said.

So I'm just going to show up at his house. If he still does live there. Otherwise, someone else is going to get a surprise visitor.

I also realized how much I like the city of Philadelphia. Now, if I'm giong to be honest (and I am going to be), I will need to tell you that I'm not really in Philadelphia. I'm actually in the suburbs. And some very nice suburbs at that. So I guess I really like the suburbs of Philly. I'll let you know if the city itself is as great as I remember it being.

And it probably will be. The dirty streets of downtown, the hustle and bustle to get onto the trolly's and subways. The dunkin' doughnut on every friggin' corner of downtown. Yeah... those were the days... though it remains to be seen if my memories truly capture the moment - or if my brain has photoshoped the memories and dressed them up a bit.

Back in the ol' US of A

After about 25 hours of traveling, I have finally returned to Texas. In some ways, it is kind of surreal, but in another sense, it seems very... normal.

Surreal: When I got into the London Heathrow airport, I was struck on two different fronts. First, all of the signs seemed incomplete to me. For a while, I couldn't figure out why all the signs seemed to make me feel this way. Then I realized - there was no Arabic accompanying the English. Weird.

I'm so used to a language barrier - having to reexplain, use different words or pronunciation more clearly - that I found myself ready to strain to communicate to people. And when the first woman I spoke to (who wasn't white) was a brit, I found myself a little taken aback.

My mom and brother picked me up from the airport, and she asked what I wanted to do for dinner.

"Chipotle." The best burritos this side of the border.

What about other things I'm excited about? Well... I'm not really sure. There are so many western things in Bahrain, that sometimes I'm not sure what it is I've missed until I see it.

Don't worry. I'll keep you posted.

Books Books every where

So what do teachers do when they have a lot of time at school, and nothing to do? I'll tell you what one teacher did - read. Read a lot. A friggin' lot. Because I sat at school all day. All friggin' day.

Anyway, here's a list of books I put to rest, all recommended reads:

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail (Jerod Diamond) - Excellent book if you like history, sociology, or anthropology. Or any combination of the three. (thought not as good as the predecessor, "Guns, Germs and Steele").

The Unfinished Election of 2000 (various) - a deep look at the constitutional issues surrounding the Bush/Gore election. It was dubbed the "Unfinished Book" by my roommate, who declared it so after having spent the whole year trying to finish it. Good if you're a poli sci person, though I think most would find it less than interesting.

Hitlers Daugher - An interesting children's fiction book that supposes that Hitler had a child that no one knew about. I read it for professional development. Really.

Freakanomics (Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner) - Its economics but its INTERESTING (though I already like economics). I finished that one in about two days. It asks crazy questions like "Why do drug dealers live with their moms" and "What do the KKK and Real Estate Agents have in common?" They are random questions, but you will start to see the world a little differently after reading this book.

Besides those books, I've read various articles from "Foreign Affairs" magazine and a few short stories from Mark Twain.

Yeah... thats about all I have to say. Because nothing else has been happening.

The End is Near

So it has been over a month since I’ve posted anything, but not because nothing has happened.

Standard opening line of most blogs I’ve read in the last few months. BOH-ring.

Every once in a while I will stop and think, “I should post something soon – but nothing interesting has happened.” But then I remember that I live on the other side of the world, and how can that NOT be interesting.

Um... yeah.

But it is near the end of the year. We only have two weeks of school left, and both of those weeks are full of exams. Which means a little more free time for me.

I did have an interesting conversation with a student. The student told me that he had started talking to an American online - probably on MSN or myspace or something similar. They started asking usual questions: Whats it like? How do you live? etc. The ends of the earth have exotic and fantastic ways of living that fascinate us. So, in pictures, I shall show you how I live.

This is how I get to school every day:

This is the outside of the school:

And here is the entrace to my apartment.

Ok, so maybe I'm lying. But this is apparently what some people have in their minds.

Of course, you are probably dying to know what these pictures are and where they are from. And I didn't copy them from the Internet. I (or my dad) actually took them.

Click here to enjoy.

I found this on Fox News today.

One Heck of a Wild Sheep Case

Thousands of Japanese have been swindled in a scam in which they were sold Australian and British sheep and told they were poodles, News Australia reports.

Flocks of sheep were marketed as fashionable accessories — available at $1,300 each — by a company called Poodles as Pets. A real poodle retails for twice that much in Japan.

The scam was uncovered when Japanese film star Maiko Kawamaki went on a talk-show and wondered why her new pet would not bark or eat dog food.

She was crestfallen when told it was a sheep.

Click here to see a photo.

Hundreds of other women got in touch with police to say they feared their new "poodle" was also a sheep.

One couple said they became suspicious when they took their "dog" to have its claws trimmed and were told it had hooves.

Police believe there could be 2,000 people affected by the scam.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,268766,00.html

Mount Nebo

Below is a link to the video taken on Mount Nebo in Jordan, the moutain Moses stood on as God showed him the promised land (and where he later died).

The view starts due north from the mountain and starts turning to the west. During the turn you can see the Jordan River, Jericho and it ends with the Dead Sea off to the left.

I'll be honest - the youtube video isn't quite as dramatic as the actual view itself. But its the best I can do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA-hFgqP9Lo

Pictures are coming soon.

A week in Jordan

Not less than 24 hours ago, I was sitting on the runway in Jordan, waiting for my plane to take off.

Since then, I've slept, grocery shopped, done laundry, taught four classes, planned lessons, done some research on "The Epic of Gligamesh" and the actual location of Sodom and Gomorrah.

"But wait," you say. "How do you blather on about such trivial matters when you have just returned from such adventures in such exotic places as Jordan!?"

Well, I didn't actually take any pictures myself, so I need to wait for my dad to send me the highlight pictures. But I will say this.

1) Floating in the Dead Sea is pretty sweet. You really do float right at the top.

2) Petra is about as cool as the rumors say it is.

3) Looking off of Mount Nebo (Mhere moses looked at the promised land before he died) has an amazing view of Canaan.

4) I knew just enough Arabic to make people believe I knew a lot of Arabic. It boosted my self esteem. The soldiers at the Military checkpoints were especially amused.

The pictures will soon make their way onto this blog as soon as I receive them from my dad. But until then you will have to wait in eager anticipation.

Some Friends!

Maryam - the new addition to the family! She's only a few weeks old.




















The Proud mother and father - Mona and Abdul Fatah















Mohamed being silly with his sister




















"Ok, fine dad. I won't be silly."





















Hanging out a Geant Mall with the Boumati's

A few snapshots

Its been a long long time since I've posted anything - and not for lack of anything to write about. So let me cover some of the important things.

1. Bahrain got a CARIBOU COFFEE. And I WENT there and drank coffee and did homework. You can't find those outside the midwest in the US - so I'm not sure how one got to Bahrain.









2. I started an Arabic language class (which is the homework I was doing at Caribou). Currently we're just doing the alphabet and a few phrases. BUT, it doesn't mean I haven't had a chance to use the language.

I walked into the barber the other day and sat down. He said to me, in english, "name?"

"Josh," I replied. "Anna min wein?"
He smiled and after a moment replied, "India".

I realized later why he smiled. I didn't say "Where are you from?" I said, "Where am I from?" ("AnTA min wein") But he apparently still understood what I was trying to say.





3. I participated in an international tennis tournament here. I lost in the first round. But I did get a suntan.

Ok, so I make it sound too prestigious. It was a tennis tournament with the church. Which makes my loss even more painful.
















I tore up the court... after I had lost and finally got the hang of it.















Of course, there is ALWAYS more to say. But we don't want to spoil the appetite. To much at once will make you sick of this blog. More may or may not appear at a later time.

Jesus Loves Osama

The verse below the slogan is Matthew 5:44 - Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

And as a fellow blogger said, the chalk below the picture serves to drive home the point - even though Osama may hate Jesus, Jesus still loves Osama.

This was an advertising campaign by a church in Australia. It caused a lot of controversy, and even Australia's Prime Minister jumped into the fray. Some thought it offensive, others thought it untimely, others still thought it in bad taste.

I, for one, agree with the sign.

Lets Get This Party Started

So guess who supervised his first high school dance last night? Wait, before you start guessing, I'll tell you. It was me.

There is nothing like the torrent of emotions and hormones that spew forth during these parties. The dj arrived sometime around 6:30 to start setting up, and there were many students who had already shown up for the car show earlier in the day, hosted at the school. But eventually, the school filled up with around 300 kids (most of which were not from our school). And thats when the fun began.

It was different than the dances in the states, though. Here, the guys and girls don't really intermix their dancing. It was all guys on the dance floor, grooving to the music. The girls were on the side, watching and sometimes getting their own groove on.

For my part, I was content to watch. I roamed around talking to students, sometimes pretending to be cool. Which is a funny thing - the students don't know what to do with me sometimes. I'm young enough that, under different circumstances, I could be someone that they deem cool enough to emulate. But then, I'm a teacher. So I can see the wheels turning in their heads as the process whether or not to take me seriously.

In the end, they usually don't. And I go back to my corner and dwell on the fact that I'm STILL not one of the cool kids.

Dust Storms

Minnesota has snow storms.

Texas has hurricanes.

We apparently have dust storms.

Well, we haven't really had any dust storms. But I've heard stories. However, in the last week we've had large amounts of dust come over, aparently from Saudi Arabia. Its nothing more than slightly heavy fog. But it coats everything in this annoying dust.

And I know you are asking, "who left their apartment windows open?" Well, let me tell you. My roommates. Though I don't blame them. Its been a habit we've gotten into. But we came back to find all of our possesions clothed in the light brown desert deposits. Gross.

The 1st Week

This has been a week full of "firsts". Firsts embedded in firsts. And thus I have decided that the second week of February will for ever more be dubbed thus: The First Week.

In my first time living over seas, I was driving the first car that I did not pay for, yet drive regularly (except for my parents cars - but those don't count). After driving for two weeks, I had to fill it up at the gas station for the first time. I paid a mere $12 to fill it up - the first time I've spent less than my life savings on gas (though probably due to the fact that, for the first time, my income is actually able to increase my lifesavings fairly significantly). It was the first time I was so greatful to oil-rich countries who provide their residents cheap gas.

However, today I had my first flat tire. Ever. It was the first time I had to replace a tire on my own car, and for the first time, I figured out how to use those stupid little car jacks that come as part of your car.

And now for the finale: On thursday, for the very first time, I went ice-skating. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I lived in WI for 12 years and MN for 4 years without ever having laced up a pair of blades (and who would've thought my first time would not only be overseas, but in a desert country land). I went with the school, so all the teachers and students were there. I've rollar-bladed, so my first time wasn't too bad. It took me a minute or two to get used to, but after a while, I was doing my first cross-overs on ice. During this experience, I threw a snow ball at a student for the first time (I'm such a bad example).

Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures documenting any of these "Firsts". So, and not for the first time, you'll have to take my word that all of this actually did happen. But next time I go ice-skating, I'll take some pictures - for the first time.

PS - my first shout out. Ryan Lang is pretty cool. I talk to him on skype. Also, he has lots of great skills. Like finding girlfriends in China and teaching 5th graders.

And In Other News...

Mickey Mouse Heads for Bahrain

As one of my students said today when I mentioned the article in class - "Where are they going to put it?"

He wasn't joking, either.

Here Are Some Pictures to Wet Your Appetite

But to get the full meal, go to my web album. Link is on the left.

This is an ariel view of the balloon ride we took above the nile valley. It was pretty sweet.

The temple of Hapshetsut, near the valley of the kings. Ruined
















Our hotel building definitely looked British colonial, circa 1940. Well, the equipment was also from 1940. This, my friends, is a working switchboard for incoming phone calls.





















The brains behind our faluca ride on the nile. They guys were pretty cool. The ride was good, too.


















The friend we made while walking around Hapshetsut. He was kind enough to let us take his picture without giving him some baksheesh.

More Than I Bargained For

I knew I got more than I bargained for when

1) My airline scheduled 5 flights to leave from the same gate AT THE SAME TIME and 500 people were trying to get through a 4 foot wide door.

2) My hotel room had not been cleaned from the previous inhabitants, and the hotel attendant apparently thought this was ok.

3) I was advised to travel between cities in convoys with other tourists escorted by armed military vehicles, due to potential danger.

4) I was blatently asked for a bribe (yes, they used the arabic word for bribe) whenever a service was performed.

5) My cab driver was comfortable driving 100 mph while weaving through traffic (that was in kuwait). And I'm not even joking. He was doing 160 kph. I looked.

Overall the trip was good. I saw some temples, saw some heiroglypics and got hassled by all the shopkeepers. But whats a trip without a little hassling. We also ate some good egyptian food and had good conversation. Russ, who was with me, speaks fluent Arabic, so that was awesome. I'm sure we saved a lot of money simply because of his language skills.

We didn't see the pyramids. Those are in Cairo. We were in South Egypt, in Luxor and Aswan. But maybe I'll make it back there again and I'll visit Cairo and Alexandria in the North.

Pictures are coming soon.

I'm not going to lie. I sometimes feel like I'm living this odd existence where I live in the Middle East and travel to these exotic countries. And I do. And if feels strangely normal. But there are times when I have these "what the crap am I doing" moments. So I try to remember my strange life as I do the 'mundane' things as well - like teaching. Even that is an adventure, though. I would have never thought 8 months ago, that I would be teaching arab kids in the middle east. Its pretty sweet. Usually. Unless I'm frustrated. Then I have a bad attitude.

So I guess post-college life has been more than I bargained for, thus far. Fortunately, by grace, I have kept my head above water.

Knock on wood.

I can't decide which is better!

Today, I picked up a car. For free. Tomorrow, I'm leaving to travel in Egypt for four days. So all in all, its pretty sweet.

So about that car - I have a friend who went back to the States for an extended period of time, and wanted someone to be able to use her car. I was lucky enough to be that someone. I went today to pick it up - and its nice. A 2001 Honda Civic. Much nicer than I was anticipating. And to be honest, I'm a little nervous to drive it. Bahrain doesn't exactly have the Minnesota Nice driving I'd become so endeared to. Rather, there are no rules, and if I need to turn left from the farthest right lane (and crossing four lanes), I will do so. So I find myself being extra careful. Which is a good thing, I guess.

And Egypt? I was able to get cheap tickets to Egypt. Lucky for me, we have the Ashoora break next week along with the weekend. So I'm taking the opportunity to visit Luxor. And its got a lot of sweet stuff. Valley of the Kings, some ruins, some Hieroglyphics, but no pyramids. Those are up near Cairo.

When I return, school starts for real. The last few weeks had been a cake walk as I just gave tests. But now I have to start lesson planning and doing some prep work again. So my two months of bliss is in its twilight. But thats ok. I'm going to Eygpt. And I have a car.

Is this Home?

Well, maybe not yet. But after returning from Turkey, a few incidents may have marked a bit of a turning point.

As I was driving around the first day back, I felt a sense of familiarity. It was rather strange to have a familiar feel in a place that is as far away from home as Diraz - my little town in Bahrain. As I drove down Budaiya highway and noticed all the small shops and other random things that I had never noticed I'd noticed before.

Today, as I was waiting at the bus stop with my groceries, a woman (who was also waiting for the bus) started asking me directions. She needed to find a fax machine. Amazingly, I knew where to find one. And not only that, but how to get there, which bus to take, and how to find the 'taxis' (pick up trucks, really) for her to get back home. I was a bit surprised at how much information I'd amassed - a tribute to the fact that, yes, I do actually live here. I am not merely a tourist.

In other news - we have exams all this week and next. Which means that the kids come to school at 7:30, take one test till 9:30, and then leave. And then we have the rest of the day to do whatever we want. I do some work... but lets be honest. Its been an easy week. And all of next week will be like this as well. That means I feel less guilty about playing soccer at the neighborhood field and maybe even watching a movie or two.

Returning from my Adventures

Let me just say this: If you ever have the chance to see Turkey – go during Christmas. It was AWESOME. For the most part. If you will remember, winter break started back in mid-December, and I thus fled my Paradise Island for Turkey. I met up with Owen, a friend from high school, where we thus traveled around the country on random buses, seeing much of the Mediterranean coast. Here are the top 10 highlights (links to are pictures taken by me):

1) Seeing the Aya Sophia. This is a church built in the 4th century by the Emperor of Rome. It was destroyed and rebuilt a few times, each time bigger and better than the last.

2) Istanbul in general is a great city (minus all the shopkeepers). I would put it on the top 10 cities for history buffs (and any one else, too).

3) The Lycian tombs. It was amazing to see these on the top of the mountain, shadows of a past that seems more a dream than reality.

4) Apparently Turkish shop keepers think that the phrase “Where are you from?” means “Let me charge you an exorbitant price for mostly worthless merchandise.” I told them they needed to work on their English

5) Ephesus: The largest city of ruins in the Mediterranean. I stood in the church of Ephesus and read Ephesians.

6) A lot of the pieces of “ruins” were not ruins at all. Rather, they were made to look old and ruined, so as to the aura that was missing from the original ruins. Awesome.

7) Half the world Turkish population lives in the US, apparently. Every one we talked to had a brother or a cousin selling carpets in Chicago and New York!

8) Breaking (storming!?!) into the Castle in Selcuk. Shhh.

9) Randomly meeting a girl who I swore was the sister of my friend Cassie. But it wasn’t.

10) Hanging out with Marco, learning about the Turks from him, and him teaching us backgammon.

I am currently sitting in my living room on Saturday morning. This means two things:
1) Tomorrow is Sunday.
2) Sunday is the day school starts up again.

Now as a teacher, you would think that I am excited to go back to school, assign homework, and give students dirty looks. But to be honest, I’ve enjoyed sleeping in and not spending all of my time doing lesson planning. Such is life, I guess. Back to the grind.