Here I Am!

I case you were wondering, this is where I am. This is a bulletin board they put up in my old classroom. My CASS kids probably know Middle Eastern geography better than most American adults. I'm sure Derek has MapQuested and Google Earthed me already, and could tell you exactally how to get to my house! The other Derek would probably move to Syria to stalk me, but I'm sure he's too busy showing Ashlee the ropes.

Weeked Fun

I had a busy weekend. Thursday night started out with a birthday part at the Marine Bar. It was about as wild as the Marine Bar gets, which means a few beers, they guys play pool, and if things get real crazy, we dance. Home at 1:00, alone.

Friday night my neighbors, Maureen and Rene, had a party at their house. It was very convenient for me since I only had to walk across the hall. Maureen is from Beaverton, can you believe that? Rene is a Salsa dancer, so that was fun.

Last night we went into the Old City to have pizza. They are tearing Straight Street up, and it's a mess. Megan wanted to pick up one of the rocks because she thought it'd be neat to have part of the Old City. I didn't think the broken up concrete was all that old. You have to dig about 5 meters down to get to the real Old City because they just build on top of the old rubble.

I am trying to tame one of "my" cats. I've named it Habibi. She's so cute, and let's me hold and pet her, but when I shut her in, she went nuts. I let her out after the third time she banged into the glass door. We'll see what the vet says. She might just be a nice outdoor cat who comes in to visit occasionally.

Love your comments. My Uncles are trying to get a rafting trip together, anyone interested. Please apply to Curtis or Moe!!

I Love Rugs!

This poem is dedicated to my wonderful Uncle Curtis.

I love rugs in my home.
I love rugs where ever I roam.
I love rugs with lots of color,
I love rugs like no other.
I love rugs from the souk,
Rugs can cover stains of puke.
I love rugs and rugs on rugs,
The yearn to buy more (on eBay),
tugs and tugs.
I even love rugs for the hallway.
Just like my uncle, Curtis Holloway.

Remembering Steve

A year ago today, a terrible tragedy occurred in my family. My cousin Steve sadly lost his battle with mental illness, and took his own life. Today I’d like to remember Steve, not for how he died, but for how he lived.

Steve is my cousin by marriage, but in all my memory, Steve has been a part of our family. I actually have no memory of trips to Baker without Steve being involved. He was a great, big cousin to us visiting Nebraska kids. Steve took me on my first kayak ride down the Powder River, and rushed us to the beach so we could see our first ever sunset on the beach.

Steve loved a good discussion. We rarely saw eye to eye, but he was a great debater, and was very passionate about what he believed in. And did Steve ever love a good, long story (which he told with the same passion he debated with)! Steve was a details man, and never forgot on iota of information. It would drive me crazy and awe me all at once. Steve could remember times, dates, amounts, and historical events like nobody I knew!

Steve was the hardest worker I’ve ever known. He could work rain or shine, and was so loyal to Christensen Electric, even toting their logo on all his clothing! He was known as a gentleman, in the building where he worked, and was admired for having a genuine goodness that is not often found.

Most importantly, Steve loved his family. Steve was a devoted father and husband. There wasn’t anything Steve wouldn’t do for his family. He was a wonderful provider, and worked so hard to make a home for them. They are his true legacy.

In all my heart, I hope that Steve has finally found his peace. I hope he is in Heaven, hanging out with Noah, discussing cubits or throwing a few horseshoes with David. Maybe he’s even found someone who likes the Farming game! That would definitely be Heaven for Steve, and we all know that game does take an eternity to play!

Lisa, Joel, Holly, Carrie, and Jenny, I love and miss you, and want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Channin

30 Days

This weekend we had the school's 50th anniversary celebration. Make sure you check out Shutterfly to see all the pictures. Now that I am able to download onto my computer, I hope to get a little video made to put on my blog.

This weekend I spent 8 hours moving to a new classroom, so the classroom picture is of my old class. Needless to say, I was very upset about being called at home at 10 o'clock on my Sunday to come pack boxes of books. Of course, being the shy person that I am, I barely said a word! OK, so I didn't throw things. Well, maybe I tossed a few books into boxes with excess force, but whatever!

The weather is finally starting to cool down! I actually opened my doors to let the breeze in. Of course, the weird, walleyed cat thought it should come in too. It has one eye that looks up. I can't decide if it's cute or really creepy!

Today is my one month anniversary of being in Syria. I think I've learned about one Arabic word/phrase a day. If I keep it up, I may be able to speak to 3 year olds by the end of the school year. The men at the taxi "store" next to my house always greet me, so I learned to say, "good morning" and "good evening". The one guy was so excited he gave me a big high 5! Yea, I'm cool.

Tonight was our elementary school open house. No parents came to my table. I felt like the little kid trying to sell lemonade when nobody wants to buy. One of the teachers sat down and chatted with me so I didn't feel like quite a loser.

Don't forget...3 days until Ramadan!

I Am a Winner

A "special" thanks to Curtis for this picture. At last my secret is revealed and the burden lifted from my shoulders!

Things That Tick You Off in a Foreign Country

The director just put a handout in our boxes about the stages of adjusting to a new culture. They are happiness (tourist stage), hostility, humor, and home. Well, I am still loving it here, but I have to say, there are some things that seriously irritate me. It's not the big things, like taking your life in your hands everytime you cross the street or the clerk stalking you in every store. No, it's the great invention called electricity! I cannot tell you how much trouble I have here with all things that plug in. Most of the appliances are made for European homes, so the voltage is correct, but the plugs are too big. So, I go to the store and buy adaptors and a power strip. Problem solved? Oh, no, no, no my friend. That would be EASY! Some of my appliances work with one adaptor, but not the other, but only in certain outlets. Any guesses why? Me either. So today I toasted my waffles in the "room with no purpose" because the outlets in the kitchen don't seem to like my new toaster. I bought the power strip so I could plug in my hairdryer and table lamp at the same time, but again, it doesn't fit in the socket in my bedroom.

Then we get to the air conditioners! I guess I shouldn't complain too much because the living room and bedroom ACs work wonderfully. The AC in the kitchen has a mind of it's own, however! The remote says it's blowing at 70% at 16 C, but every time I try to turn the percentage up, it raises the temperature. 16C should be freezing me out, but instead my kitchen is roasting. Every once in a while the temp changes in 31 (which is 80F ish), so I think that is the true climate of my kitchen. The sad things is....the instructions are all in English!!

I have now conquered the gas stove and oven, which is good. I am about 90% on remembering to turn my water heater on and off. The hot water heater also heats the water for the radiators, so if I forget, the nice, warm, tropical climate in my living room is a good reminder!

Meg and I went to Cham City Center to go shopping yesterday. It's the biggest and nicest shopping center in Damascus. It really is nice too! It has a nice electronic store and supermarket where nobody stalks you as you shop!! There are many clothing stores, but I too busy getting the basics (mixing bowls, vacuum, toaster) to bother with clothing just yet. The mall isn't as adventurous as going to the Souks, but it's much more convenient.