Marqab Castle near Tartouse; Megan and me inside the castle
Sunday, February 24, 2008
It Takes a Tourist to Entertain a Village
An event-filled weekend. Thursday night I hosted a Bunko Night for our church. There were 16 people there which is a perfect, four-table Bunko group. Everyone had fun, prizes were handed out, we ate, laughed, and everyone went home. Well, almost everyone. As the evening waned on, we started to realized that Grace (an older, slightly special Iraqi woman) seemed to be making herself at home. Grace lives in Bludon which is a good 45 minutes from Damascus, and she really had no plans to go home. Finally, Chris (one of the elders) asked if she could spend the night, and I couldn't say no. All went well except Grace decided to take a "bano", but she couldn't really get into my tub, so when I went to go to the bathroom at 11:00, my bathroom had about 2 inches of water on it!! Luckily I have drains, so I opened those up, got the squeagy out, and drained my bathroom. My friends at church decided that keeping Grace cancelled any sins that might send me to hell. I am now carte blanche!!
On Friday night we went to Megan's to watch Sweeney Todd. It was her birthday, so we brought gifts of scanky underwear (musical hearts) and a rababa. Now we can play a duet at church (sans undies).
Yesterday, Chris (same Chris as mentioned above) invited Megan and I to go visit some castles with him and Sri-another guy from church. We had quite the adventure. Chris likes to take the road less travelled, so we were winding through small, rural villages asking for directions in our limited Arabic. We'd ask the way to Tartouse, they'd point the way, and we'd head off in the opposite direction. In one tiny village we passed the same group of guys 3 times. Two times we went down a "road" that ended at some houses with a bunch of chickens. The locals were so nice and came out to direct Chris as he reversed out. Then they wished us good luck as we (again) headed down the wrong road. We decided that we were the most excited thing to happen to that village in quite a while!!
Today, back to the grind. I caught the cold all my kids had last week, so I'm going to try not to be Miss Viola Swamp!
On Friday night we went to Megan's to watch Sweeney Todd. It was her birthday, so we brought gifts of scanky underwear (musical hearts) and a rababa. Now we can play a duet at church (sans undies).
Yesterday, Chris (same Chris as mentioned above) invited Megan and I to go visit some castles with him and Sri-another guy from church. We had quite the adventure. Chris likes to take the road less travelled, so we were winding through small, rural villages asking for directions in our limited Arabic. We'd ask the way to Tartouse, they'd point the way, and we'd head off in the opposite direction. In one tiny village we passed the same group of guys 3 times. Two times we went down a "road" that ended at some houses with a bunch of chickens. The locals were so nice and came out to direct Chris as he reversed out. Then they wished us good luck as we (again) headed down the wrong road. We decided that we were the most excited thing to happen to that village in quite a while!!
Today, back to the grind. I caught the cold all my kids had last week, so I'm going to try not to be Miss Viola Swamp!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I Owe My Soul to the Extra Market Store
It's difficult to determine if Syria has good customer service or not because it's avery bi polar industry. One on hand, a clerk might follow you around, pulling out items of various colors and sizes at your slightest interest, but then leave you waiting for ten minutes at the counter while he talks to his friend on his mobile phone. Here is my latest store experience...
Yesterday morning I went to the Extra Mart on my way to school. I got three cans of club soda and a diet Pepsi totaling 100 SP. I only had a 1,000 SP bill, and the clerk didn't have change (they NEVER have change in Syria), so he told me to come back after school when they had money in the till. I went in after aerobics class and bought a few more things equaling 225 SP. I told the clerk to add 100 SP more on because I owed 100 from the morning. He was all confused, called his friend from across the street (who doesn't work at the store) and I explained to his friend. He doesn't understand, so he calls his friend. Soon I'm arguing with three men that I really do owe them money! It wasn't a language issue, they just wouldn't figure out why I wanted to pay the money in the evening when I "borrowed" it in the morning! And to add to the whole sitation, the two friends who were called in were both standing in the store smoking!
The joys of living overseas. To quote my favortite 80s sitcom starring Nancy McKeon, "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and then you have, "SING WITH ME, "The Facts of Life, the Fact of Life".....Ah, if only George Clooney would deliver groceries to my house.
Yesterday morning I went to the Extra Mart on my way to school. I got three cans of club soda and a diet Pepsi totaling 100 SP. I only had a 1,000 SP bill, and the clerk didn't have change (they NEVER have change in Syria), so he told me to come back after school when they had money in the till. I went in after aerobics class and bought a few more things equaling 225 SP. I told the clerk to add 100 SP more on because I owed 100 from the morning. He was all confused, called his friend from across the street (who doesn't work at the store) and I explained to his friend. He doesn't understand, so he calls his friend. Soon I'm arguing with three men that I really do owe them money! It wasn't a language issue, they just wouldn't figure out why I wanted to pay the money in the evening when I "borrowed" it in the morning! And to add to the whole sitation, the two friends who were called in were both standing in the store smoking!
The joys of living overseas. To quote my favortite 80s sitcom starring Nancy McKeon, "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and then you have, "SING WITH ME, "The Facts of Life, the Fact of Life".....Ah, if only George Clooney would deliver groceries to my house.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Birthday Riley!!
Our Sweetest Valentine's present ever turns the big o-7 today!! I hope that you have lots of fun! I love and miss you.....Auntie
In the News
My first bombing.....and I slept right through it! As some of you may have heard on the news, there was a bombing two nights ago here in Damascus. It was in an area about 5 miles from me, called Kafer Soseh. It was targeted at a senior Hezbollah operative. He was killed, and one bystander was injured. The US Embassay announced that it is unaware of any threats to American in Syria.
Today marks the third anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. Several Lebanese leaders are holding a large rally in Martyr's SquareBeirut
So this weekend, I'm staying close to home, opening up the 20 left over mini boxes of Nerds, and watching Dr. Phil. If I get real crazy, I might dump the Nerds in water and pretend it's Kool-Aide.
Today marks the third anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. Several Lebanese leaders are holding a large rally in Martyr's Square
So this weekend, I'm staying close to home, opening up the 20 left over mini boxes of Nerds, and watching Dr. Phil. If I get real crazy, I might dump the Nerds in water and pretend it's Kool-Aide.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
A Day in the Life of an International Teacher
Today is one of the days my maid comes, so I try to stay at school until she leaves. I know, boo-hoo. I do hate being at home, eating BonBons and watching Oprah while a woman the size of Jeanette irons my clothes!
Sunday-Back to School after a fun weekend. Habibi is back from the vet. She's a new woman!!
Monday-We only have 12 play practices left before our elementary play AristoCats. Pretty scarey. We have about, well, one really talented student and maybe 4 more who aren't bad. That leaves us with 20 would can't tell left from right or step on a beat. I hope we have really cute costumes!!
Tuesday-Megan and I skip out 7th period prep to hit the commisary at the American Embassy. They have the nerve to run out of Fresh Step kitty litter. Don't they have a book about how to potty train cats?!
Wednesday- I came up with a grand idea (if I don't say so myself) to have a bake sale at the play. The procedes are going towards getting our school cats fixed! The students have named them Spot, Honey, and Larry, but if we don't intervene quickly will be adding a few more Curly and Moes than we will know what to do with. Of course, the world WOULD be a better place with at least a few more Moes!
Thursday-TGIT! They have a live band at The Bunker, so we'll probably go out. Nothing says, "Be My Valentine" like a few G&Ts and dancing to live 80s music in a room full of chain-smoking Brits!
And this my friends, is the wild and crazy life I lead in Syria!
Sunday-Back to School after a fun weekend. Habibi is back from the vet. She's a new woman!!
Monday-We only have 12 play practices left before our elementary play AristoCats. Pretty scarey. We have about, well, one really talented student and maybe 4 more who aren't bad. That leaves us with 20 would can't tell left from right or step on a beat. I hope we have really cute costumes!!
Tuesday-Megan and I skip out 7th period prep to hit the commisary at the American Embassy. They have the nerve to run out of Fresh Step kitty litter. Don't they have a book about how to potty train cats?!
Wednesday- I came up with a grand idea (if I don't say so myself) to have a bake sale at the play. The procedes are going towards getting our school cats fixed! The students have named them Spot, Honey, and Larry, but if we don't intervene quickly will be adding a few more Curly and Moes than we will know what to do with. Of course, the world WOULD be a better place with at least a few more Moes!
Thursday-TGIT! They have a live band at The Bunker, so we'll probably go out. Nothing says, "Be My Valentine" like a few G&Ts and dancing to live 80s music in a room full of chain-smoking Brits!
And this my friends, is the wild and crazy life I lead in Syria!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Bosra Trip
On Friday I went on a group tour to Shahba and Bosra, two historic sites here in Syria. I'm not a big fan of group activities, but it was a lot of fun.
Shehba is the birthplace of the Emperor Philip the Arabian who reigned in Rome from 244 to 149 BC-the only Arab to rule Rome. It has a some ruins and a little museum with amazing mosiacs. It also has the biggest Druze population in Syria. Druze began as a sect of Shi'a Islam. Some Druze consider themselves Muslim, but others don't. They are a very secretive group-they don't intermarry and you can't convert. The women wear white, crocheted shalls and the men have long beards and turbins. They seem to be the Islamic version of the Amish! There are Druze communities all over the world, and my tour book said you can check them out at www.druze.com!
Bosra is an ancient city dating back to 1334 BC. Bosra (referred to in the Bible) became one of the leading Nabatean cities before being made the capital of the Province of Arabia by its Roman conquerors (106 AD). It was a major commerce for caravans, with several market places and fine buildings, until the fall of the Roman Empire. Early Bosra was Christian, but it has it's link to Islam r According to tradition, thMuhammad's had a conversation here with a Nestorian monk named Bahira, who is said to have prophecized of his nephew.
Shehba is the birthplace of the Emperor Philip the Arabian who reigned in Rome from 244 to 149 BC-the only Arab to rule Rome. It has a some ruins and a little museum with amazing mosiacs. It also has the biggest Druze population in Syria. Druze began as a sect of Shi'a Islam. Some Druze consider themselves Muslim, but others don't. They are a very secretive group-they don't intermarry and you can't convert. The women wear white, crocheted shalls and the men have long beards and turbins. They seem to be the Islamic version of the Amish! There are Druze communities all over the world, and my tour book said you can check them out at www.druze.com!
Bosra is an ancient city dating back to 1334 BC. Bosra (referred to in the Bible) became one of the leading Nabatean cities before being made the capital of the Province of Arabia by its Roman conquerors (106 AD). It was a major commerce for caravans, with several market places and fine buildings, until the fall of the Roman Empire. Early Bosra was Christian, but it has it's link to Islam r According to tradition, thMuhammad's had a conversation here with a Nestorian monk named Bahira, who is said to have prophecized of his nephew.
Bosra was the first city in Syria to become Muslim. The minarets on the mosque are the oldest, still standing, in whole of Islam. Bosra was on the way to Mecca, so many people stopped their on their pilgramage. Prosperity lasted until the 17th century when the region was became unsafe and the pilgrims began to take a less dangerous route further west.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Eat a Good Breakfast!
It's that time of year-when parents around the world leave the Choco Sugar Puffios in the cupboard and make their children wholesome breakfasts with at least 2 of the major food groups. Yes my friends, it's time for the Iowa Test of Basic Skills!!
I cannot believe we are still torturing small, innocent (wink-wink) students with this test. I mean, WE took the ITBS when we were in school. Of course, it didn't seem so strange since we really were from Iowa, but you have to do some explaining to a bunch of kids from Syria and beyond who don't even know Iowa is a state. Well, you may have to explain that to some of the kids in Iowa too!
So now I have been handed the torch of wisdom from my great foreteachers, and I have bubbled in my pledge (with a sharp number 2 pencil) to monitor, encourage, but never help my students in this rite of passge. So to you I say, "Make sure you eat a good breakfast, and get a good night's sleep".
I should say goodbye with..
a. I'm outta here
b. So long
c. Ciao
d. none of the above
I cannot believe we are still torturing small, innocent (wink-wink) students with this test. I mean, WE took the ITBS when we were in school. Of course, it didn't seem so strange since we really were from Iowa, but you have to do some explaining to a bunch of kids from Syria and beyond who don't even know Iowa is a state. Well, you may have to explain that to some of the kids in Iowa too!
So now I have been handed the torch of wisdom from my great foreteachers, and I have bubbled in my pledge (with a sharp number 2 pencil) to monitor, encourage, but never help my students in this rite of passge. So to you I say, "Make sure you eat a good breakfast, and get a good night's sleep".
I should say goodbye with..
a. I'm outta here
b. So long
c. Ciao
d. none of the above
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