Just back from the Aquathon this morning where I was cheering on newly made friends. As well, yesterday afternoon was a MOI-sponsored mini triathlon. I've been thinking a lot about sports, health, fitness, attitude, approach to life, etc. It all ties in.
As background to my thoughts I'll explain a little about my attitude towards health and fitness. I've always been actively involved in my own physical, as well as mental and emotional health. But the path to emotional and mental health, in my opinion where I am concerned, is through physical well being. Since an early age, I've been both running and practicing yoga. I've always thought that the blend of these two activities are just perfect. If I could do more, I'd do a ballet workout, as well as become a strong swimmer. That would be total balance I believe.
Of course, there are limitations to all this, namely work. Perhaps even location can be a limitation I've come to believe. Maybe it is just a limitation of mind, but I will say that my last two years spent in SE Turkey had a limiting effect on my physical well being. I could do my primary series (astanga) yoga at home with some ease as it takes nothing but a mat and some space, but I didn't a lot. I stretched out, but my discipline waned for sure.
Sure I could have joined a gym- there were a few. But they were segregated, and this wasn't something that I wanted to engage in. I'm not sure exactly why, but I just didn't want to.
With running, I was fortunate to live across the street from Gaziantep University's track/futbol field. I lived in a place where running wasn't easy- in terms of no one else doing it. There were parks that I could travel to if I wanted via public transportation (no car), but I don't like to have to work too hard at doing sport. To get on the dolmus or light rail in running gear would draw attention. Sure, I lived in a city, but it wasn't necessarily so progressive that I wouldn't stand out. To be clear, this was more like a large village next to the Syrian border. Quaint, yet quiet. As well, as a single female living in a place where there weren't many expats, did I want to stand out? Not really. I can say that not many locals of the area were interested in running, or walking even, for fitness.
But the track solved everything. I could jot across the street and run my heart out, and I did. My friends were sometimes playing ultimate frisbee on the field as well. If I was running in the evenings, the track team was usually practicing. If on weekend mornings, the junior futbol clubs were gathering for their weekly scrimmages. I felt sort of like I fit in. I, typically, was the only female though so this still made me feel a bit shy I suppose. The track was exposed to a major thoroughfare so there were always 'watchers' who looked perplexed.
Now that I am in Bahrain, and nearly a month to boot, I've found that health is a big agenda here in the Kingdom. It's like I got to the island and hit the ground running. I immediately joined the Bahrain Road Runners Club and found that locals and expats alike are running! I found out that it is not a big deal. I found out that I could just be myself and fit in. Not that I need to feel a part of something, but just that other like-minded individuals, it's nice to find a group of peeps that share my enthusiasm.
I guess what I'm getting at is that I didn't have this outlet in SE Turkey. Like anywhere, there is comfort in numbers. I think back to Tunisia and this also existed, but my stay there was so short before the revolution erupted and I had to leave that I didn't get a chance to delve into the Hash House Harriers local unit there for example.
Back to Bahrain though, now I think about how my fitness style is evolving in comparison to back home in Hawaii. To set the tone of where this post is going, read this. It is an article from my favorite website about health/fitness/food, etc. Let me just say that the recipes are awesome. I've made quite a few. They are for diabetics,;they are for gluten-intolerant peeps; they are for health conscious peeps that think about their consumption and make choices with their food patterns in terms of healthy alternatives...
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11028/how-getting-older-has-changed-the-way-i-exercise.html
So, I just read this article above after coming back from the Aquathon- I didn't compete in this as I'm not a strong swimmer, but I now realize (while laying on my couch) that this should not limit me.
Now, back to Hawaii... When back home this summer, I was joyous at the thought of going on long trail runs in Makawao, or wherever I happened to be. While I was visiting family, I invested, for the first time, in something on the verge of me thinking I was starting to become... competitive *gasp* I mean, I've always been into exercise, but for me it was a solely internal thing. I did it. I felt great. I loved the adrenalin. I didn't feel the need to compete in anything. I just didn't have the desire. I didn't want to dedicate the time specifically. I had a lot else going on in my life- namely archaeology, and yoga. Yoga, traditionally and will ALWAYS be in my mind, is not a competitive 'thing', you know? This is about quieting the mind in your own terms. Of course, every athlete can say this about their (competitive) discipline. At any rate, this was my thought, and still is. With running, I only competed in relays because that was fun- it was a group effort and I didn't think of it as 'competition.'
So... I have a new Timex GPS Run Trainer on my wrist and a heart rate monitor strapped to my chest. I tried it out with trepidation. What would the results yield? When I hook up that watch to my Mac Book Pro, what would I see? What rabbit hole would I fall through never to return? Well, I was right! It is so interesting to look at the statistics of my body! Amazing I thought!
Knowing that I was moving to Bahrain soon, I started logging in miles and data to upload. I started reading about Bahrain, and difficulties I would encounter- in terms of weather. From doing research on Facebook, Twitter, etc. I already found out that I would have no problem 'fitting in' in terms of sport because I saw so many websites proving that health is on peeps minds over here. It is not an anomaly. I will say though that from what I've seen so far, it is expats and local men involved in sport competitions here. I do not see many local woman, comparatively, but it does exist. As another side note here, the walking track that I run on almost nightly (it's made of... brick) is packed full of women in their national outfits, as well as men power-walking.
In terms of all the fast-food chains that I see here, this is a good sign. How peeps don't take note of what fast-food chains have done to the average American, I just don't understand. I don't know for sure, but I would think that things like heart-disease and adult onset diabetes, etc are on the rise here. I see all body types out power-walking while on my runs. It is encouraging.
Anyway, back to my main storyline here... Back in Hawaii I was running up to 6 miles 4x a week. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I decided that I wanted to see the difference between Hawaii and Bahrain- in terms of how hard I am working my heart most especially. Well, what a humbling experience. The first two weeks here (of course with jet-lag considered), I could only run 3k at a time. The wall of heat I encountered each time was just too intense for me. For 2 weeks, I didn't even put on my heart rate monitor. Then I finally did it. I felt like I was starting from scratch all over again.
Upsetting in a way, but also intrigued because I knew I wanted to get back to where I was when I was in Hawaii. I'm slowly getting there now, but I've realized something else- perhaps even more powerful. Something that I never thought about before- competition... What I realize about the athletic clubs here is that they provide comfort. And with comfort, I feel I want to be a part of it- the inner sanctum.
Perhaps it's because I'm an expat. This isn't 'my' place. When I find time outside of work, I want to spend it with people. I'm here to explore. I'm here to work. I want to feel a part of the community- through many channels. Sports is a big channel here! I understand more now I suppose. I feel comfortable here. In the past 2 days especially at these events, I have met some of the most amazing human beings. One is stationed here in the Navy. SHE kicked ass in yesterday's triathlon, as well as this morning's Aquathon. I met a great couple from South America/Mexcio. I supported Lynette (my downstairs neighbor, the Fulbright Scholar); I recognized the Greek guy from both races; peeps from BRR I recognized from our weekly runs in Riffa. It feels good. It even felt good to get kicked out of the pool at Sofitel last night because we weren't guests...
So, as I read the above article, I realized something about myself. This article represents a lot of who I was in the past as a sportswoman. I wasn't into competition. I was not 'tough'. I had perseverance, but I didn't feel the need to display it, I guess. A lot of my views revolved around my yoga practice, and I just carried that over into the rest of my fitness regime.
To sum up, that was then, this is now. I'm ready to dive in! I'm signing up for the 5K, 10K and 15K next month. I'm already on for the half marathon in January. And, next weekend at the Ritz I'm going to do the running portion of their event (another new friend, Dana, is preggers so she can only do the swim portion so we'll tag-team it).
Another side note, many of the sheikhs here are avid sportsmen. They are also involved in local organizations concerning health and fitness and youth, etc. They help organize these events. They sponsor these events. They are positive role models in a society that is changing due to western influences. This is nothing new with many societies of course. Bahrain has a legacy of colonialism with England, as well as further back in history to Persia, Greece, etc.
Part of what I'm here for with this Fellowship from Georgetown is to get involved with the community. I want to get involved where it matters. For me, this is the youth and sports and peace. As a rep. for USA a few weeks back at the UN-sponsored Youth Peace Conference, I started to get ideas- ideas of what I can do to help make a difference. From that conference I walked away with some confidence that I can do my part, and I can do my part well. I've sat back and absorbed a bit, and now is the time to come up with an idea that turns into a plan that turns into a working reality.
We are organic beings. We live in an organic, ever-changing society- even if only detectable on a microscopic level. I've already witnessed my own growth within the time-span of 1 single month...that's lightning fast. I'm learning so much from this tiny island nation. I thirst for knowledge- always...
I'm ready to push myself- in many different ways. After all, life- it's a long, strange trip, IF you're lucky :)
9.27.2013
week 3 week 3 week 3 week 3...
Some notes from yesterday morning downtown:
Friday morning in downtown Manama at Cafe Lilou waiting for some friends to arrive for our "Ladies who Brunch" brunch where we get to munch yummy food, yet prolly not drink adult libations... I'm not sure yet actually. This is our second brunch session and I'm really enjoying getting out and about around the city and it's various nooks and crannies.
There is a lot to explore on Bahrain actually. Is such a small island, yet so many little neighborhoods and villages to explore. My trusty Sophie (GPS) gets me everywhere I need to go, yet there is so much construction around downtown that sometimes Sophie steers me awry... I went over a bridge this morning to another island and it was 7 km. before I could turn round...
This afternoon I plan on doing a reconnaissance survey to all the potential gyms/clubs I want to join. I received some unexpected funds from my Fellowship for " settling in costs" and I plan to used them appropriately... Of course, my initial concern is to have. 2-in-1 gym + beach membership. I've noticed in my short time here (3 weeks last night!) that beaches are few and far between... I have a total of 3 choices for my 2-in-1 scheme to pan out, and 2 are downtown Manama- which is about 10 km from my apartment which, of course isn't far for someone from Hawaii to drive for some quality entertainment... Additionally, petrol is so cheap here. It takes about 4BD (Bahraini Dinar) to fill my tank- which is about 10 USD.
Saturday morning in bed.
Yesterday was busy. I need my robot to bring me a cuppa joe right now. Hung with the Fulbright Crew last night. Now that we're turning into Mall Rats, we went to the mall... Bahrain City Center to be exact. We went with the intentions of going bowling and catching a movie. Now, all the other Mall Rats were out in force last night. Driving there was madness. Loads of cars with Saudi tags. We finally arrived and went to get our movie tickets so we could cruise around for a few hours first. The line was insanely long so... we aborted that mission to go eat. We headed to a place called "Fuddruckers" which is, apparently, huge in the US... I've never heard of it, but they got some good burgers going on there for sure.
After we were all experiencing food paralysis, we thought about bowling to relieve some of the heaviness weighing us down. It was about 10:30 and the place was packed so we had to abort this idea as well. We dutifully headed to the air hockey station where we got our aggressions out. Not long after we started though, it was all over. Rather anticlimactic with game over so soon (I did make high scorer list though :), we thought about checking on the movie situation again.
Off we trotted back to the theatre and got some midnite tickets for "Runner Runner". With an hour to kill we agreed on heading to the sports store as we are all endorphin junkies (not sure about the newest Fulbrighter to debut in-country though as she was likely headed for jet-lag syndrome having just landed in country the previous evening). After 45 minutes of cruising around in the store as if we had it all to ourselves, I walked out with:
a yoga mat
a weighted medicine ball
a swimming cap
We did have a ball in the store and L-netta even got on the inversion machine (mind you this is at 11:45 pm and after eating HUGE food at Fuddruckers)... We trotted out and to the theatre to get our Ben Affleck/ J. Timberlake action par-tay on. Of course it's freezing in the movie theatre and I was prepared, but the newest addition to the crew wasn't ready for it. As well, her eyeballs were starting to roll to the back of her head as the jetlag was settling in to invade her body for a few days. We got through it just fine, and the movie was pretty entertaining. The drive home went much quicker and it was right about 3 AM that we arrived back at the ranch.
So, another great week went down last week. No complaints here. The weather is cooling down. The air conditioner is getting ready to go on holiday... as well as myself actually.
Eid holidays are coming up. This means a week of travel. I'm thinking Oman. I'm thinking camping. I'm thinking mountain hikes. I'm thinking gorgeous beach sunsets. I'm thinking medina wandering. I'm thinking FABRIC. You all know how I love me some luxurious fabric...
On the subject of fabric, I hear the tailors here are awesome as well. Back in Gaziantep, Settar took Solo_ojo and myself to an awesome tailor downtown by the kale. Terzi Mehmet! Mehmet made me quite a few things: pants, skirts, jackets... There is nothing more thrilling, when on a shop/hunt expedition, than to find a tailor and make appointments for fittings during each step of the process. The drinking of Turkish coffee or tea, the chit-chat, the important details that you don't know are being understood because your tailor can't speak English, and you don't speak Turkish very well... Yes, it is the THRILL of the hunt indeed. Every trip to the tailor is like an unraveling of a unique present to yourself.
So in remembering this thrill, I bought a cool pair of Thai Silk palazzo pants on Maui before I left and I absolutely love them for over here. Long, wide-leg, light-weight fabric that breathes, and the movement the fabric produces when I walk... well I just like the entire package. So, on my trip into the medina, or souk here, I'm going to check out some fabric shops and tailors.
Well, my robot never showed up this morning. Must be some technical difficulties... so I got my arse outta bed and made my own cuppa joe. It's damn good.
Today is day 2 of finding a gym/spa/club. Yesterday didn't pan out too well. The thing is, I want the entire package: beach/lap pool/gym/cafe/steam room, etc. Proximity is important as well. We'll see what today brings. I might try to run with the Bahrain Hash House Harriers this evening. They are doing a run in Juffair. I can't imagine running there as it seems so congested. I know I don't feel like drinking a beer afterwards as I have loads of lesson planning to do so... might not happen...
That's all folks. I've got nothing. Typing this even bored me, but I'll still post it just to make you all read through the normal-ness that I experienced this week in Bahrain!
Friday morning in downtown Manama at Cafe Lilou waiting for some friends to arrive for our "Ladies who Brunch" brunch where we get to munch yummy food, yet prolly not drink adult libations... I'm not sure yet actually. This is our second brunch session and I'm really enjoying getting out and about around the city and it's various nooks and crannies.
There is a lot to explore on Bahrain actually. Is such a small island, yet so many little neighborhoods and villages to explore. My trusty Sophie (GPS) gets me everywhere I need to go, yet there is so much construction around downtown that sometimes Sophie steers me awry... I went over a bridge this morning to another island and it was 7 km. before I could turn round...
This afternoon I plan on doing a reconnaissance survey to all the potential gyms/clubs I want to join. I received some unexpected funds from my Fellowship for " settling in costs" and I plan to used them appropriately... Of course, my initial concern is to have. 2-in-1 gym + beach membership. I've noticed in my short time here (3 weeks last night!) that beaches are few and far between... I have a total of 3 choices for my 2-in-1 scheme to pan out, and 2 are downtown Manama- which is about 10 km from my apartment which, of course isn't far for someone from Hawaii to drive for some quality entertainment... Additionally, petrol is so cheap here. It takes about 4BD (Bahraini Dinar) to fill my tank- which is about 10 USD.
Saturday morning in bed.
Yesterday was busy. I need my robot to bring me a cuppa joe right now. Hung with the Fulbright Crew last night. Now that we're turning into Mall Rats, we went to the mall... Bahrain City Center to be exact. We went with the intentions of going bowling and catching a movie. Now, all the other Mall Rats were out in force last night. Driving there was madness. Loads of cars with Saudi tags. We finally arrived and went to get our movie tickets so we could cruise around for a few hours first. The line was insanely long so... we aborted that mission to go eat. We headed to a place called "Fuddruckers" which is, apparently, huge in the US... I've never heard of it, but they got some good burgers going on there for sure.
After we were all experiencing food paralysis, we thought about bowling to relieve some of the heaviness weighing us down. It was about 10:30 and the place was packed so we had to abort this idea as well. We dutifully headed to the air hockey station where we got our aggressions out. Not long after we started though, it was all over. Rather anticlimactic with game over so soon (I did make high scorer list though :), we thought about checking on the movie situation again.
Off we trotted back to the theatre and got some midnite tickets for "Runner Runner". With an hour to kill we agreed on heading to the sports store as we are all endorphin junkies (not sure about the newest Fulbrighter to debut in-country though as she was likely headed for jet-lag syndrome having just landed in country the previous evening). After 45 minutes of cruising around in the store as if we had it all to ourselves, I walked out with:
a yoga mat
a weighted medicine ball
a swimming cap
We did have a ball in the store and L-netta even got on the inversion machine (mind you this is at 11:45 pm and after eating HUGE food at Fuddruckers)... We trotted out and to the theatre to get our Ben Affleck/ J. Timberlake action par-tay on. Of course it's freezing in the movie theatre and I was prepared, but the newest addition to the crew wasn't ready for it. As well, her eyeballs were starting to roll to the back of her head as the jetlag was settling in to invade her body for a few days. We got through it just fine, and the movie was pretty entertaining. The drive home went much quicker and it was right about 3 AM that we arrived back at the ranch.
So, another great week went down last week. No complaints here. The weather is cooling down. The air conditioner is getting ready to go on holiday... as well as myself actually.
Eid holidays are coming up. This means a week of travel. I'm thinking Oman. I'm thinking camping. I'm thinking mountain hikes. I'm thinking gorgeous beach sunsets. I'm thinking medina wandering. I'm thinking FABRIC. You all know how I love me some luxurious fabric...
On the subject of fabric, I hear the tailors here are awesome as well. Back in Gaziantep, Settar took Solo_ojo and myself to an awesome tailor downtown by the kale. Terzi Mehmet! Mehmet made me quite a few things: pants, skirts, jackets... There is nothing more thrilling, when on a shop/hunt expedition, than to find a tailor and make appointments for fittings during each step of the process. The drinking of Turkish coffee or tea, the chit-chat, the important details that you don't know are being understood because your tailor can't speak English, and you don't speak Turkish very well... Yes, it is the THRILL of the hunt indeed. Every trip to the tailor is like an unraveling of a unique present to yourself.
So in remembering this thrill, I bought a cool pair of Thai Silk palazzo pants on Maui before I left and I absolutely love them for over here. Long, wide-leg, light-weight fabric that breathes, and the movement the fabric produces when I walk... well I just like the entire package. So, on my trip into the medina, or souk here, I'm going to check out some fabric shops and tailors.
Well, my robot never showed up this morning. Must be some technical difficulties... so I got my arse outta bed and made my own cuppa joe. It's damn good.
Today is day 2 of finding a gym/spa/club. Yesterday didn't pan out too well. The thing is, I want the entire package: beach/lap pool/gym/cafe/steam room, etc. Proximity is important as well. We'll see what today brings. I might try to run with the Bahrain Hash House Harriers this evening. They are doing a run in Juffair. I can't imagine running there as it seems so congested. I know I don't feel like drinking a beer afterwards as I have loads of lesson planning to do so... might not happen...
That's all folks. I've got nothing. Typing this even bored me, but I'll still post it just to make you all read through the normal-ness that I experienced this week in Bahrain!
9.19.2013
"X" marks the spot
Last night was "X". I didn't even know it was coming earlier in the day. After classes let out (Thursday is my heavy day with 3 classes), I finished up some other things and then headed out and back to base camp (how Sophie (my GPS) finds my dwelling). I only had about an hour to chill before heading out on our weekly Riffa run with the Bahraini Road Runners Club. I made a smoothie (yes I brought Chia Seeds, Flax Seeds, Super Blue-Green Algae, etc from Hawai`i with me) thinking that 1.5 hours was enough time to digest...
Well not necessarily. Nothing major, but I could feel it moving through my system while running. I'm still getting used to running in the heat so... At any rate, it was a good run. Feels so satisfying after crossing the finish line and receiving my card and hanging out afterwards chatting with everybody soaking wet. As we finished the run, the sun was setting into the horizon in a magnificent display. Something about that moment stopped me and made me feel really comfortable in my new environment. Eventually we all scatter and so off our trio of musketeers went (Lynette and John, the Fulbrighters, were with me). Sophie was acting up and brought us through a maze of roads, which was highly amusing. Upon reaching base camp, I realized that I had Sophie programmed to 'shortest route' instead of 'fastest route', or vice versa...
Anyway, at home I just lazed about and though I would eventually get motivated to do some lesson planning and get it out of the way for the weekend. Shower, dinner and ready to go? Nope. Couch and air con... Yep I was headed for my "crash and burn" night. Now I remember these fondly back on Maui. They happened every so often. I always enjoy them actually. My body just saying, chill the f*ck out. I passed out around 9:30 pm on the couch and woke up at 10:45 and trotted off to bed. 9.5 hours later here I am, in bed with my chilled coffee, feeling relaxed and gooey. Damn that was a quality sleep. Feeling like a million Bahraini Dinar now (which would be close to 3 mil USD)!
Now, there was a few things I didn't take care of last night though... like going to the phone store and getting my phone credits... Ugh. That must happen later this morning as I've friends in town from other kingdoms nearby.
This morning marks week 2 for me here in the Kingdom of Bahrain. So far so great. I've managed to get it all together and make a home that already feels homey. I have a bedroom that is cave-like and never sees the light of day- which I so adore. Makes me feel like I'm back in the jungles of Haiku. I also got all my paperwork finalized- meaning my car got leased! Yep I have wheels. This is a great, unexpected, part of the Fellowship details I must have overlooked earlier! Anyway, it feels great to be mobile. I haven't had a car for the past 3 years in Turkey and Tunisia so this is quite liberating.
The 3 Musketeers attended a cool function at the Crowne Plaza Hotel this week. We met up with all the local Fulbrighters that just came back from their missions in America, etc. It was amazing to talk to so many bright young minds ready to conquer the world with their smart ideas. I'll be working with some in the future. So, it was a great place to meet-up, connect and exchange ideas and think about the future. I had quite a few conversations about the historical and archaeological heritage of Bahrain, known as the ancient "Dilmun" and "Tylos", with some scholars and artists there. I realized from conversation that I really did do some in depth research about Bahrain so was pleasantly surprised that I had contributions to add to the conversation.You know I love me some history talk- especially ancient history! There is also a budding art movement here as well I found out. All in all, a very successful evening indeed.
As well, I've another swank function coming up this week too! I like that my social calendar is filling up. Makes me feel more settled into this place. I actually had to turn down an invite to go hiking this morning- due to my 'crash and burn' episode, which I am enjoying immensely.
Another highlight of this past week was finding out that there are no classes on Tuesdays so we can choose to come into work and work, or work from home- which is difficult I am finding out...
That about wraps up this past week for me. This weekend is full of visiting with friends, finishing up the very last bit of residency paperwork, and attend the Youth Peace Conference. This means little time for lesson planning except for the late nights... Speaking of which, it was announced that I became coordinator for the class I am teaching, so... a full plate this semester indeed. Good thing I had my "crash and burn" episode last night because now I'm off and running again...
Well not necessarily. Nothing major, but I could feel it moving through my system while running. I'm still getting used to running in the heat so... At any rate, it was a good run. Feels so satisfying after crossing the finish line and receiving my card and hanging out afterwards chatting with everybody soaking wet. As we finished the run, the sun was setting into the horizon in a magnificent display. Something about that moment stopped me and made me feel really comfortable in my new environment. Eventually we all scatter and so off our trio of musketeers went (Lynette and John, the Fulbrighters, were with me). Sophie was acting up and brought us through a maze of roads, which was highly amusing. Upon reaching base camp, I realized that I had Sophie programmed to 'shortest route' instead of 'fastest route', or vice versa...
Anyway, at home I just lazed about and though I would eventually get motivated to do some lesson planning and get it out of the way for the weekend. Shower, dinner and ready to go? Nope. Couch and air con... Yep I was headed for my "crash and burn" night. Now I remember these fondly back on Maui. They happened every so often. I always enjoy them actually. My body just saying, chill the f*ck out. I passed out around 9:30 pm on the couch and woke up at 10:45 and trotted off to bed. 9.5 hours later here I am, in bed with my chilled coffee, feeling relaxed and gooey. Damn that was a quality sleep. Feeling like a million Bahraini Dinar now (which would be close to 3 mil USD)!
Now, there was a few things I didn't take care of last night though... like going to the phone store and getting my phone credits... Ugh. That must happen later this morning as I've friends in town from other kingdoms nearby.
This morning marks week 2 for me here in the Kingdom of Bahrain. So far so great. I've managed to get it all together and make a home that already feels homey. I have a bedroom that is cave-like and never sees the light of day- which I so adore. Makes me feel like I'm back in the jungles of Haiku. I also got all my paperwork finalized- meaning my car got leased! Yep I have wheels. This is a great, unexpected, part of the Fellowship details I must have overlooked earlier! Anyway, it feels great to be mobile. I haven't had a car for the past 3 years in Turkey and Tunisia so this is quite liberating.
The 3 Musketeers attended a cool function at the Crowne Plaza Hotel this week. We met up with all the local Fulbrighters that just came back from their missions in America, etc. It was amazing to talk to so many bright young minds ready to conquer the world with their smart ideas. I'll be working with some in the future. So, it was a great place to meet-up, connect and exchange ideas and think about the future. I had quite a few conversations about the historical and archaeological heritage of Bahrain, known as the ancient "Dilmun" and "Tylos", with some scholars and artists there. I realized from conversation that I really did do some in depth research about Bahrain so was pleasantly surprised that I had contributions to add to the conversation.You know I love me some history talk- especially ancient history! There is also a budding art movement here as well I found out. All in all, a very successful evening indeed.
As well, I've another swank function coming up this week too! I like that my social calendar is filling up. Makes me feel more settled into this place. I actually had to turn down an invite to go hiking this morning- due to my 'crash and burn' episode, which I am enjoying immensely.
Another highlight of this past week was finding out that there are no classes on Tuesdays so we can choose to come into work and work, or work from home- which is difficult I am finding out...
That about wraps up this past week for me. This weekend is full of visiting with friends, finishing up the very last bit of residency paperwork, and attend the Youth Peace Conference. This means little time for lesson planning except for the late nights... Speaking of which, it was announced that I became coordinator for the class I am teaching, so... a full plate this semester indeed. Good thing I had my "crash and burn" episode last night because now I'm off and running again...
9.14.2013
learning the layout of the land...
Saturday morning here in my desert kingdom. This is, of course, our Sunday as it works out in the Gulf Coast Countries (GCC). I'm in bed drinking my coffee and pondering my first week of work.
Now, a short note. It is already quite hot. I'm not sure of the temperature right now, but surely it has already hit 90º and it is 8:30 am. It's much too late for me to go for a run, but not for a swim, so that is the idea after I pump out this episode… heh heh. Not that my life here dictates any drama to be had, but…
And a short note about the coffee trip here. I'm becoming accustomed to making my coffee the night before and refrigerating it so it is cold when I step out the door to go to work. This is a new endeavor, but due to the extreme weather, I find this working for me. Today, on the other hand, I am having my coffee piping hot- just like old times…
Because I am still without a car (I need to have my CPR card 1st- this is like a SSN), my work cannot lease a car for me), I either ride into work with the Fulbrighter that lives downstairs, or my driver picks me up. Now, my driver never seems to make it on time exactly, and then we go downtown into Manama to pick up 2 other professors temporarily staying at a hotel while they settle in. So my preferred method of transport is to go w/Lynette.
My work week went by fast. I/we all finally received our class schedules late Thursday afternoon- right before the weekend. We all attended a conference at the Gulf Hotel downtown Manama Thursday afternoon so no one was at the university to print out schedules, etc. I imagine that Sunday morning at the various printing rooms at the uni are going to be chaos! Anyway, while Lynette and myself were walking into the conference area of the hotel, we walked past the Sherlock Holmes Pub and Restaurant… Now, I've heard great things from a few dodgy contacts (I mean that lovingly of course, and I am talking about all you Kahoolawe gentlemen that I've worked with in my past life as an archaeologist), so I feel like I hit the jackpot with this discovery.
But I digress… work was pretty hectic this past week- as it would be for anyone at a new job in a new country. Miss Sameera, Mr. Majhmoud and Nasr especially have been lifesavers. The week was full of various workshops and missing various workshops because I needed help from professors that led various workshops that I was not able to attend earlier due to attending other various workshops… Phew… But when it was all said and done, I think I pretty well navigated around the place and figured things out to a sophomoric degree. My office overlooks some greenery! The air conditioning is freezing- apparently a problem throughout the uni, but if I keep my door open, it seems to be okay. There has been some talk about obtaining space heaters- which is amusing considering we live in a hot box!!! Alas… life in my desert kingdom. I think I am warming up to it rather quickly honestly.
Yesterday my friend Lynn showed Lynette and myself around Manama City. He had his big, bad jeep (that was currently sparkling clean- unlike after our escapades last weekend that left a big, bad mud puddle). We went to the fish market, the vegetable market, etc. What a delightful sight to see! It reminded me of my time spent in Tunis at the market downtown. We loaded up with fruit and vegetables and then headed into… City Center Mall. Now, this is a mega mallopolis if you will. We were there the previous evening to catch a movie- 2 Guns, with Mr. Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg which, BTW, was pretty entertaining. I didn't get to see the true 'girth' of the mall that evening though.
So, my main mission was to obtain a GPS unit so I can navigate my way around Bahrain fairly effectively (actually all the GCC and Levant countries as that is the maps application that came with the unit). After much research (both beforehand and inside the store), I made my final decision. It was exciting. I've never needed a GPS unit to get around before… Apparently I have 3 British English speaking voices to choose from. I am hoping one will sound like a Mr. Jeeves. Anyway, with constant traffic and road blocks, etc and no-no areas, I know that I will need it, so that is that. I walked out of the store with a blender as well so after this posting I will move on from coffee to a smoothie before breakfast…
COFFEE BREAK
In other mildly interesting events of the week, I completed my first 'race' with the Bahrain Road Runners Club! It was like running into a furnace, but I completed it and it was a great time. The BRR is a great group of people who dedicate their time to this endeavor and made me feel really welcomed. Hisham will have my official 'card' ready for me next week- which I can use for discounts at the Bahrain Organic Foods Cafe/Store in Al Seef Mall. This will be a big help as the products there are fairly expensive- yet they are there which is a blessing! It isn't exactly Mana Foods, but honestly it is pretty damn close. Instead of hippies, there are expats and elegant women gliding around there in their abayas and sunglasses perched perfectly atop their hijabs. So I feel kinda at home is the point of this… *wink*
My nesting at home has been fun as well. The apartment is so big that I have designated areas that are actually designated, separate areas. Lynn mentioned that the apartment complex reminded him of an Italian villa of sorts- which it kinda does- all whitewashed with loads of colonnades and arched way angles. The big, glistening swimming pool is always eerily quiet- except when I'm there trying to learn to develop a decent stroke… Unfortunately I will not make it in time for the Aquathon coming up next month…
One thing about the apartment- everything is there and it does what it is supposed to do. I set up my gas finally, with the help of Mohadeen- the apartment guy. The (2) large bottles of gas were already outside on my back porch and voila! BAM. Poof my work is done. As well with the washer in the kitchen. I fooled around with switches for about 5 minutes after it didn't automatically turn on, and BAM! All lights are green so GO!
The only thing that isn't there, which is amusing, is that there are no plugs in the bathrooms… yes, that is right- I have TWO bathrooms… or hammams as they call them there. Funny story there. Hammams, where I've been living the past 3 years) are places to go where you have steam baths of varying degrees. Usually there is a HOT room, a warm room, and a cooling room. Loads of running water and a central HOT stone where you can get massaged, or just relax, etc. So, I asked a female coworker where the hammams were 'here' (meaning in Bahrain), and she looked perplexed. After a few strange exchanges, she finally laughed and said that 'hammam' is the word for bathroom (as in toilet). So she must have been thinking that I haven't gone to the bathroom for a few days!!!
Today a coworker is taking us out to lunch in an area of the city called Sahr (?) I believe. The only other thing on my agenda is to just lesson plan the day away. I pumped out 2 Power Points yesterday- or updated them from what I had been using for the past 2 years in Turkey.
I think that this about wraps up this communique for the week here in my desert kingdom which, legend has it, could be the locale of the biblical Garden of Eden. More on that later so I will leave you with that cliffhanger (note to self: conduct more in-depth research on that last claim so I can discuss it properly next time).
smoothie time...
Now, a short note. It is already quite hot. I'm not sure of the temperature right now, but surely it has already hit 90º and it is 8:30 am. It's much too late for me to go for a run, but not for a swim, so that is the idea after I pump out this episode… heh heh. Not that my life here dictates any drama to be had, but…
And a short note about the coffee trip here. I'm becoming accustomed to making my coffee the night before and refrigerating it so it is cold when I step out the door to go to work. This is a new endeavor, but due to the extreme weather, I find this working for me. Today, on the other hand, I am having my coffee piping hot- just like old times…
Because I am still without a car (I need to have my CPR card 1st- this is like a SSN), my work cannot lease a car for me), I either ride into work with the Fulbrighter that lives downstairs, or my driver picks me up. Now, my driver never seems to make it on time exactly, and then we go downtown into Manama to pick up 2 other professors temporarily staying at a hotel while they settle in. So my preferred method of transport is to go w/Lynette.
My work week went by fast. I/we all finally received our class schedules late Thursday afternoon- right before the weekend. We all attended a conference at the Gulf Hotel downtown Manama Thursday afternoon so no one was at the university to print out schedules, etc. I imagine that Sunday morning at the various printing rooms at the uni are going to be chaos! Anyway, while Lynette and myself were walking into the conference area of the hotel, we walked past the Sherlock Holmes Pub and Restaurant… Now, I've heard great things from a few dodgy contacts (I mean that lovingly of course, and I am talking about all you Kahoolawe gentlemen that I've worked with in my past life as an archaeologist), so I feel like I hit the jackpot with this discovery.
But I digress… work was pretty hectic this past week- as it would be for anyone at a new job in a new country. Miss Sameera, Mr. Majhmoud and Nasr especially have been lifesavers. The week was full of various workshops and missing various workshops because I needed help from professors that led various workshops that I was not able to attend earlier due to attending other various workshops… Phew… But when it was all said and done, I think I pretty well navigated around the place and figured things out to a sophomoric degree. My office overlooks some greenery! The air conditioning is freezing- apparently a problem throughout the uni, but if I keep my door open, it seems to be okay. There has been some talk about obtaining space heaters- which is amusing considering we live in a hot box!!! Alas… life in my desert kingdom. I think I am warming up to it rather quickly honestly.
Yesterday my friend Lynn showed Lynette and myself around Manama City. He had his big, bad jeep (that was currently sparkling clean- unlike after our escapades last weekend that left a big, bad mud puddle). We went to the fish market, the vegetable market, etc. What a delightful sight to see! It reminded me of my time spent in Tunis at the market downtown. We loaded up with fruit and vegetables and then headed into… City Center Mall. Now, this is a mega mallopolis if you will. We were there the previous evening to catch a movie- 2 Guns, with Mr. Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg which, BTW, was pretty entertaining. I didn't get to see the true 'girth' of the mall that evening though.
So, my main mission was to obtain a GPS unit so I can navigate my way around Bahrain fairly effectively (actually all the GCC and Levant countries as that is the maps application that came with the unit). After much research (both beforehand and inside the store), I made my final decision. It was exciting. I've never needed a GPS unit to get around before… Apparently I have 3 British English speaking voices to choose from. I am hoping one will sound like a Mr. Jeeves. Anyway, with constant traffic and road blocks, etc and no-no areas, I know that I will need it, so that is that. I walked out of the store with a blender as well so after this posting I will move on from coffee to a smoothie before breakfast…
COFFEE BREAK
In other mildly interesting events of the week, I completed my first 'race' with the Bahrain Road Runners Club! It was like running into a furnace, but I completed it and it was a great time. The BRR is a great group of people who dedicate their time to this endeavor and made me feel really welcomed. Hisham will have my official 'card' ready for me next week- which I can use for discounts at the Bahrain Organic Foods Cafe/Store in Al Seef Mall. This will be a big help as the products there are fairly expensive- yet they are there which is a blessing! It isn't exactly Mana Foods, but honestly it is pretty damn close. Instead of hippies, there are expats and elegant women gliding around there in their abayas and sunglasses perched perfectly atop their hijabs. So I feel kinda at home is the point of this… *wink*
My nesting at home has been fun as well. The apartment is so big that I have designated areas that are actually designated, separate areas. Lynn mentioned that the apartment complex reminded him of an Italian villa of sorts- which it kinda does- all whitewashed with loads of colonnades and arched way angles. The big, glistening swimming pool is always eerily quiet- except when I'm there trying to learn to develop a decent stroke… Unfortunately I will not make it in time for the Aquathon coming up next month…
One thing about the apartment- everything is there and it does what it is supposed to do. I set up my gas finally, with the help of Mohadeen- the apartment guy. The (2) large bottles of gas were already outside on my back porch and voila! BAM. Poof my work is done. As well with the washer in the kitchen. I fooled around with switches for about 5 minutes after it didn't automatically turn on, and BAM! All lights are green so GO!
The only thing that isn't there, which is amusing, is that there are no plugs in the bathrooms… yes, that is right- I have TWO bathrooms… or hammams as they call them there. Funny story there. Hammams, where I've been living the past 3 years) are places to go where you have steam baths of varying degrees. Usually there is a HOT room, a warm room, and a cooling room. Loads of running water and a central HOT stone where you can get massaged, or just relax, etc. So, I asked a female coworker where the hammams were 'here' (meaning in Bahrain), and she looked perplexed. After a few strange exchanges, she finally laughed and said that 'hammam' is the word for bathroom (as in toilet). So she must have been thinking that I haven't gone to the bathroom for a few days!!!
Today a coworker is taking us out to lunch in an area of the city called Sahr (?) I believe. The only other thing on my agenda is to just lesson plan the day away. I pumped out 2 Power Points yesterday- or updated them from what I had been using for the past 2 years in Turkey.
I think that this about wraps up this communique for the week here in my desert kingdom which, legend has it, could be the locale of the biblical Garden of Eden. More on that later so I will leave you with that cliffhanger (note to self: conduct more in-depth research on that last claim so I can discuss it properly next time).
smoothie time...
9.06.2013
Welcome to Bahrain!! Desert communique #1
Saturday morning,
I think I'm pretty predictable in terms of my blog posts. Even though the time zone keeps changing for me, I am pretty much a creature of habit so- onward. I am sitting on the couch drinking my french press coffee!!! Yes, I'm back into action with the new french press that I bought in Marquette Michigan this summer during my Amerika summer 2013 Odyssey. It makes me happy...
The new addition to this equation is that I have never had to write a blog while under the intoxication of... air conditioning. Even in SE Turkey in the heat of summer I didn't NEED air con... So, this will take some getting used to. More on that later. Now let me recap my adventures yesterday.
This is my 2nd morning in Bahrain. Yesterday Lynette, the Fulbright scholar, and I went shopping! What a better thing to do when you move to a foreign place than nest, and buy things to make your nesting more comfortable! She has already been here a week so has things down. We hopped in her car and voom voom off we went to Lulu Hipermarket or something like that.
I have to say right off the bat that things are cheap here- at least when comparing to things in Turkey... Gasoline, groceries, alcohol, health foods, etc. As well, people speak English here, and quite well. No one is staring at me like I am 'out of place.' It is quite typical a scene here for the Gulf peeps to see foreigners.
I had made plans previously yesterday morning to spend the afternoon with another friend, Lynn. So as Lynette and I pulled up into the parking lot at the apartment after a successful shopping endeavor, Lynn was pulling up in his rig- a totally tricked out 4x4 jeep just made for this terrain. For the next 5 hours we cruised the island- many times off road. I'm talking off off-road... What a hoot. He is a big time geo-cache fanatic (listen up Katie-girl!!!) so we stopped off for some sign-ins, as well as setting up a new cache along some beach.
NOTE: just re-upped my coffee!!! Oh how I adore this routine. Of course, I should have taken advantage of my jetlag and went running when I was up at 6 am, but I didn't... Alas... I even had an offer to go running today with the Bahrain Roadrunners Club, but I just don't think I'm ready to deal with it on day 2 in the desert.
But I digress... So, we nearly circumnavigated all of Manama Island yesterday. BTW, Bahrain is made up of approximately 33 islands with Manama Island being the largest, as well as where the capital, Manama, is located. We hit up local fishing villages, went to the southern tip where this huge resort-style housing project is that is made up of a cluster of man-made island luxury villas. We went to/through the interior sand pile. We saw this famous "Tree of Life" which is interesting because in Hawaii we call this a Kiawe Tree and we generally don't like them- mostly because of the nasty thorns on them. These here don't have thorns. But it is so called the Tree of Life because it is in the middle of the desert with no other plant life to really speak about. Now, science tells us that Kiawe trees (also where Mesquite wood comes from and makes for a roaring hot BBQ) have root systems that dig deep. So, to me, the mystery isn't very mysterious. But at the very least, it is a tourist attraction in its own right. This certainly made me smile though.
We also went to a few beaches. You all know me- my heart was going 'pitter-patter pitter-patter' and then I saw the beaches. Not exactly what I'm used to, but it was thrilling to be hanging at the Arabian Gulf.
We went to some area where I can't remember the name of the city (selective amnesia) and it was interesting to say the least. Very colorful scenes I took in. Lynn was an awesome tour guide and I have to say, I was laid out the red carpet treatment. My kinda red carpet- the offbeat kind.
When I get deposited back to my apartment, which is quite cute BTW, I was already feeling the jet lag start to seep in. I didn't think I was really going to get hit up with it, but... It could just be that I was tired and dehydrated... At one point we got out of the jeep (he has this remote control that turns the jeep on as we're walking back to get the air con going before entering- tricky), and I was just a ball of sweat. We were looking for a micro (Geo)cache that was no longer there. So we put up another one. All in all, I think we hit up 4 geocaches yesterday. Okay, I know I am moving all around here with this written commentary... So just to keep up with this labyrinth of madness that is my mind, I'll digress even more...
I arrived here on Thursday night at about 8pm. The university had their man pick me up, get me through customs effortlessly- BAM , set me up with a sim card- BAM, and outta there we were. Ali was awesome. As we drove around, we had already solved the world's problems. He dropped me off at my apartment, that was already prepped with food, bedding, and air con on full blast- BAM.
I mean, the entire thing was first class. I didn't exactly have this experience at my last few places. I mean, they tried, but the first few days were rough. So this experience already had me in awe. (I have to say though that my Turkish Buddy in Gaziantep, Mihrican, was totally awesome in helping me move myself around when I first arrived there.)
About an hour later, as I was happily unpacking, Lynette knocked on my door (I've already introduced you guys to her). It felt so normal- already having someone visit me. We ended up going for a late night walk (it was already 11pm) at the nearby park with a running track/work-out area. 1 lap is 1 km so we went through a few rounds. What I noticed first off was that there were a few other females out as well walking/working out. One girl was walking alone in full abaya/hijab and looked totally at ease. Another girl was sitting on the ground using a bench to do sit-ups. I was amazed. At the other end was a few groups of guys sitting on the benches and talking. A couple guys also started to run on the track. Anyway, it was a relief to see that this is a typical thing to do and there is no need to feel out of place. Afterwards, I started nesting again and was up until about 4:30 am... I knew I was in trouble when I (faintly) heard the 4am call to prayer. It was time to have my first sleep. Incidentally, the bed is HUGE. It is prolly a California King size mattress. I mean, you get lost sleeping. I can prolly roll over 3x and still not fall off the bed... This made me laugh when I saw it as in Gaziantep we were provided with twin-size beds... Haha. This point does not go unnoticed...
So last night after a full day of adventures- both shopping and sightseeing- I was starting to get tired. Here it starts getting dark around 6pm. I think it is due to the haze. I'm not sure though. I'll research it. Lynette and I were going to grab some chow, but I pooped out. I was out by 9pm, and then up at 3:30 am... At least I didn't get outta bed until 6:30 am... It's now 7:30 am Saturday morning- our Sunday. I start work tomorrow... I don't believe classes start until the 25th or so though.
Speaking of which, work, I'm quite happy to be getting back to it. This is the first time I've taken full advantage of 3 full months off work. Gosh it feels great. I mean, summer was AWESOME this year. I traveled all around Turkey first, then flew back to Hawaii and went island-hopping all summer, went on a cross-country Amerika semi-truck odyssey. Visited family in the UP and went out sightseeing with them. Hit up the east coast and DC, and then some rest time back on Maui again.
Now it's time to get down to work, but first there is this last day of freedom! Lynette and I are going to go out and explore the island today. Not sure what that entails, but I'm hoping to go to one of my new co-worker's garage and pick up stuff that the last Fellow left for me (I love me some swag!) as well as head to the Organic Health Food Cafe/store by the... Seef Mall I believe. Those people have been so great with their Facebook page. This entire 3 months I have FB'd them questions about products that they carry, etc. I definitely want to meet them because... just because!
I should explain about my apartment a bit. First, it's huge. It's a 2 BD/2 BA with a huge living room, dining room table (with a hutch) and separate office area. The kitchen is fully equipped and there is air con in every room but the bathrooms. Fans are everywhere (duh), and I have both a front and back lanai ('porch' in Hawaiian). I have a washer in the kitchen! There is enough room to have a little garden (I brought seeds) and meditation area. The outside views are defined by white-washed buildings with stairs going up to rooftop patios. I haven't seen any neighbors yet, but I'm thinking that is due to the weather. There is apparently a large pool here at the complex, but I have yet to explore the area. Today's wishlist is just to find Mr. Raj and have him hook up my gas so I can start cooking, as well as, as I previously explained, go to a co-worker's garage and pick up house/work items that the previous Fellow left.
The weather has changed from yesterday to today, I think. This am there are clouds and it is windy. Does this mean that a dust storm is nearing? Eek! Okay, pictures to follow. I'm too lazy to get it all hooked up/downloaded, etc. As it is, I'm scarfing my neighbor's wifi until I get mine set up. Incidentally, that is why this communique is coming from my living room couch and not my bed- the wifi doesn't reach in there!
over and out,
HollyMissBerry
I must add, again, that this is not spell-checked. It is these very 'imperfections' that make this commentary all the more rich...
I think I'm pretty predictable in terms of my blog posts. Even though the time zone keeps changing for me, I am pretty much a creature of habit so- onward. I am sitting on the couch drinking my french press coffee!!! Yes, I'm back into action with the new french press that I bought in Marquette Michigan this summer during my Amerika summer 2013 Odyssey. It makes me happy...
The new addition to this equation is that I have never had to write a blog while under the intoxication of... air conditioning. Even in SE Turkey in the heat of summer I didn't NEED air con... So, this will take some getting used to. More on that later. Now let me recap my adventures yesterday.
This is my 2nd morning in Bahrain. Yesterday Lynette, the Fulbright scholar, and I went shopping! What a better thing to do when you move to a foreign place than nest, and buy things to make your nesting more comfortable! She has already been here a week so has things down. We hopped in her car and voom voom off we went to Lulu Hipermarket or something like that.
I have to say right off the bat that things are cheap here- at least when comparing to things in Turkey... Gasoline, groceries, alcohol, health foods, etc. As well, people speak English here, and quite well. No one is staring at me like I am 'out of place.' It is quite typical a scene here for the Gulf peeps to see foreigners.
I had made plans previously yesterday morning to spend the afternoon with another friend, Lynn. So as Lynette and I pulled up into the parking lot at the apartment after a successful shopping endeavor, Lynn was pulling up in his rig- a totally tricked out 4x4 jeep just made for this terrain. For the next 5 hours we cruised the island- many times off road. I'm talking off off-road... What a hoot. He is a big time geo-cache fanatic (listen up Katie-girl!!!) so we stopped off for some sign-ins, as well as setting up a new cache along some beach.
NOTE: just re-upped my coffee!!! Oh how I adore this routine. Of course, I should have taken advantage of my jetlag and went running when I was up at 6 am, but I didn't... Alas... I even had an offer to go running today with the Bahrain Roadrunners Club, but I just don't think I'm ready to deal with it on day 2 in the desert.
But I digress... So, we nearly circumnavigated all of Manama Island yesterday. BTW, Bahrain is made up of approximately 33 islands with Manama Island being the largest, as well as where the capital, Manama, is located. We hit up local fishing villages, went to the southern tip where this huge resort-style housing project is that is made up of a cluster of man-made island luxury villas. We went to/through the interior sand pile. We saw this famous "Tree of Life" which is interesting because in Hawaii we call this a Kiawe Tree and we generally don't like them- mostly because of the nasty thorns on them. These here don't have thorns. But it is so called the Tree of Life because it is in the middle of the desert with no other plant life to really speak about. Now, science tells us that Kiawe trees (also where Mesquite wood comes from and makes for a roaring hot BBQ) have root systems that dig deep. So, to me, the mystery isn't very mysterious. But at the very least, it is a tourist attraction in its own right. This certainly made me smile though.
We also went to a few beaches. You all know me- my heart was going 'pitter-patter pitter-patter' and then I saw the beaches. Not exactly what I'm used to, but it was thrilling to be hanging at the Arabian Gulf.
We went to some area where I can't remember the name of the city (selective amnesia) and it was interesting to say the least. Very colorful scenes I took in. Lynn was an awesome tour guide and I have to say, I was laid out the red carpet treatment. My kinda red carpet- the offbeat kind.
When I get deposited back to my apartment, which is quite cute BTW, I was already feeling the jet lag start to seep in. I didn't think I was really going to get hit up with it, but... It could just be that I was tired and dehydrated... At one point we got out of the jeep (he has this remote control that turns the jeep on as we're walking back to get the air con going before entering- tricky), and I was just a ball of sweat. We were looking for a micro (Geo)cache that was no longer there. So we put up another one. All in all, I think we hit up 4 geocaches yesterday. Okay, I know I am moving all around here with this written commentary... So just to keep up with this labyrinth of madness that is my mind, I'll digress even more...
I arrived here on Thursday night at about 8pm. The university had their man pick me up, get me through customs effortlessly- BAM , set me up with a sim card- BAM, and outta there we were. Ali was awesome. As we drove around, we had already solved the world's problems. He dropped me off at my apartment, that was already prepped with food, bedding, and air con on full blast- BAM.
I mean, the entire thing was first class. I didn't exactly have this experience at my last few places. I mean, they tried, but the first few days were rough. So this experience already had me in awe. (I have to say though that my Turkish Buddy in Gaziantep, Mihrican, was totally awesome in helping me move myself around when I first arrived there.)
About an hour later, as I was happily unpacking, Lynette knocked on my door (I've already introduced you guys to her). It felt so normal- already having someone visit me. We ended up going for a late night walk (it was already 11pm) at the nearby park with a running track/work-out area. 1 lap is 1 km so we went through a few rounds. What I noticed first off was that there were a few other females out as well walking/working out. One girl was walking alone in full abaya/hijab and looked totally at ease. Another girl was sitting on the ground using a bench to do sit-ups. I was amazed. At the other end was a few groups of guys sitting on the benches and talking. A couple guys also started to run on the track. Anyway, it was a relief to see that this is a typical thing to do and there is no need to feel out of place. Afterwards, I started nesting again and was up until about 4:30 am... I knew I was in trouble when I (faintly) heard the 4am call to prayer. It was time to have my first sleep. Incidentally, the bed is HUGE. It is prolly a California King size mattress. I mean, you get lost sleeping. I can prolly roll over 3x and still not fall off the bed... This made me laugh when I saw it as in Gaziantep we were provided with twin-size beds... Haha. This point does not go unnoticed...
So last night after a full day of adventures- both shopping and sightseeing- I was starting to get tired. Here it starts getting dark around 6pm. I think it is due to the haze. I'm not sure though. I'll research it. Lynette and I were going to grab some chow, but I pooped out. I was out by 9pm, and then up at 3:30 am... At least I didn't get outta bed until 6:30 am... It's now 7:30 am Saturday morning- our Sunday. I start work tomorrow... I don't believe classes start until the 25th or so though.
Speaking of which, work, I'm quite happy to be getting back to it. This is the first time I've taken full advantage of 3 full months off work. Gosh it feels great. I mean, summer was AWESOME this year. I traveled all around Turkey first, then flew back to Hawaii and went island-hopping all summer, went on a cross-country Amerika semi-truck odyssey. Visited family in the UP and went out sightseeing with them. Hit up the east coast and DC, and then some rest time back on Maui again.
Now it's time to get down to work, but first there is this last day of freedom! Lynette and I are going to go out and explore the island today. Not sure what that entails, but I'm hoping to go to one of my new co-worker's garage and pick up stuff that the last Fellow left for me (I love me some swag!) as well as head to the Organic Health Food Cafe/store by the... Seef Mall I believe. Those people have been so great with their Facebook page. This entire 3 months I have FB'd them questions about products that they carry, etc. I definitely want to meet them because... just because!
I should explain about my apartment a bit. First, it's huge. It's a 2 BD/2 BA with a huge living room, dining room table (with a hutch) and separate office area. The kitchen is fully equipped and there is air con in every room but the bathrooms. Fans are everywhere (duh), and I have both a front and back lanai ('porch' in Hawaiian). I have a washer in the kitchen! There is enough room to have a little garden (I brought seeds) and meditation area. The outside views are defined by white-washed buildings with stairs going up to rooftop patios. I haven't seen any neighbors yet, but I'm thinking that is due to the weather. There is apparently a large pool here at the complex, but I have yet to explore the area. Today's wishlist is just to find Mr. Raj and have him hook up my gas so I can start cooking, as well as, as I previously explained, go to a co-worker's garage and pick up house/work items that the previous Fellow left.
The weather has changed from yesterday to today, I think. This am there are clouds and it is windy. Does this mean that a dust storm is nearing? Eek! Okay, pictures to follow. I'm too lazy to get it all hooked up/downloaded, etc. As it is, I'm scarfing my neighbor's wifi until I get mine set up. Incidentally, that is why this communique is coming from my living room couch and not my bed- the wifi doesn't reach in there!
over and out,
HollyMissBerry
I must add, again, that this is not spell-checked. It is these very 'imperfections' that make this commentary all the more rich...
9.02.2013
Da Kine Red Wine up here in cowboy country
So I'm in one of those moods. I'll lay it out for you: last day in Amerika. Red wine, Hot Fuzz video (no it's not porn), and da kine, beautiful evening. I was at the beach today, with all others celebrating a lack of labor today. I was laboring away at finishing my book. With only 2 chapters left, it has no space for my limited space (3 70lb suitcases... ahem).
I believe I mentioned it in my last post. Well, I was just going to skip it due to lack of motivation mostly, but I just read a 'tweet' about Genghis Khan:
"Genghis Khan exempted the poor from taxes, encouraged literacy and established free religion, which is why many joined his empire" tweeted by (@UberFacts)
I mention this because the book I just finished reading, Indian Givers: How Native Americans Transformed the World, by Jack Weatherford was so interesting that I checked out what else the author had written. Of the half dozen or so, two stuck out:
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
and
The Secret History of the Mongol Queens
The book I read is listed as 'History: Social Science, Literary Criticism- Native American.' I really, really like this genre. As well, Dr. Weatherford is the DeWitt Wallace Chair of Anthropology at Macalester College in Minnesota, as well as a position in a Mongolian uni. I don't know about you guys, but a vague memory from school reminds me that I learned that he was a sort of heathen savage...
As for the Mongol queens, who doesn't love a dramatic storyline following the women who walk with great leaders. Sounds like lots of sex, betrayal, hamams, frolicking and folly. I can roll with that as well. I wanna know why Genghis Khan said, "Let us reward our female offspring."
But back to my book, there are a few highlights that I want to make note of. I also wanted to write a blog post tonight so I'm killing 2 birds with 1 stone. Bear with me, or not...
*Weatherford mentions "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" in his book. I loved that book. I gave it to L-Fezz. She loved that book. I need to check and see if Mr. Perkins has written something recent.
*Clio was the muse of history. She was the daughter of Zeus, or sometimes Uranus, & Mnemosyne- where we get 'mnemonic' from if my memory serves me correct...So as the story goes, Zeus slept with her for 9 consecutive days and they had 9 'muses'. As I like to think of myself as a history buff, I like this. Somehow I will weave 'Clio' into my fabric and come up with something delicious.
*Now, Native Americans were the true pathfinders of America as far as I'm concerned. This book looks at a range of ways that this has played out in American, and sometimes European history. From silver and capitalism (the mines of Potosi) to plant food/medicine to architecture and urban planning, this book has it all. Each chapter is dedicated to another endeavor that helped to make America great (that was then, this is now..), and of course, there is hardly a mention of them in any of the legacies.
I am highly suggesting this book. It reads quite nicely. Not academic in that sense that it puts one to sleep. It's not historical fiction (another genre that I deeply enjoy), and it's not fluff. It's about how so much of what we see every day in America has a lasting legacy going back to the original inhabitants of the Americas.
I bought the book up in Sault Ste. Marie on the Michigan/Canadian border, but I'm sure it's everywhere. I know that I saw both the Genghis & Mongol queens books at bookstores near the front displayed at the airport so they must be rather new I'm thinking- I could be wrong on that. At any rate, I have $200 in iTunes giftcards (Thanks Georgetown Apple Store) so... if I feel like I want an electronic book (which I don't), I would be inclined to purchase it this way. But, alas, I like the texture of an old-fashion book. I love turning the pages, writing notes and putting weird postcards to mark my page. I suppose almost all this could be accomplished with an electronic reader, but... but... but...
So it seems that Hot Fuzz has been playing and I have no idea what is happening in the film. It's time to put the electronics down and pay attention. Be kind, rewind...
8.29.2013
wanderlust: lusting to wander
Good morning from my Upcountry HQ in Makawao, cowboy country, Hawaii, Maui, USA, Solar System of the Sun, Space
yea, more like space out ya'll... Laying up in bed with the cool-ish morning breeze wafting in and birds chirping, dogs barking, roosters roosting, and... wait for it... COFFEE. So you see, I'm already back in my 'position' when I blog from afar. It honestly feels strange to blog in Amerika...
Anyhow... ROAR. I'm feeling it. Those of you in the know, know :) Anyway, yesterday was a major day in many ways for me. It was a flight finalization to Bahrain. It was a finally get the scale to weigh my bags day. It was a beautiful, sunny day with hardly any humidity.
So, what's a girl to do with these perfect conditions- reach the beach. What bikini to wear? Where to place my pareo in the sand? Where is the sun? Oh look, the sand is returning to Baldwin Beach on the right side after nearly all summer's absence. Oh the beauty I soaked up. No wind, no crowds, fizzy water, BBQ tofu, and my book- which, by the way, is so amazing that I have decided to do an 'annotated bibliography' of sorts with it as one of my future posts. More on that later though. So, back to the beach.
The only minor distraction was the thoughts of all the shark sightings and/or attacks in Hawaii recently... It got me thinking, when I wasn't reading or daydreaming or forecasting, why is this happening? What is it? Global warming- waters rising & food chain disrupted? Fukushima fallout w/prevailing currents bring all that waste here? Sharks getting too hot and going agro on us? Sharks losing food chain food as food chain is dying out due to increase in water temps along w/debris? Sharks have to come near shore to feed now? Have their feeding hours changed due to climate change- is it not typically just dawn and dusk they are out on the prowl for chow? Is it something simple (regional) like El Nino or La Nina? Is it just a natural metamorphoses that has been occurring on a geological scale that we can't observe because it's a long process and we're in it? WTF? I want answers!
So the weather has changed for the better yesterday. With that, my sunset-ish run was SWEET. It is the 1st run in a week where I haven't stopped- I'm talking only a 4mile run too... I realize that my days are numbered running here and soon I'll be running through another landscape! During my trot I started to think about my future running routes. What would they be like? Will I have to carry a little sweat towel? Will I have to carry water? Will I actually run at night (I did just purchase a neon yellow tee for this very reason)? Then I started thinking about yoga classes. What will they be like? And then my future apartment, my car, etc. All such newness coming up in about a week and I'm totally stoked. As a side dish, I was also thinking about work too...
One thing I didn't think about- the Syria conflict. I gave myself that. I gave myself an hour to not think about it. Actually it didn't even enter my mind. "IT" didn't even attempt to. There was a full hour where it had no bearing on my outlook. This I enjoyed. Much of my time this summer has been spent reading what has been happening throughout the region I just left- Gezi Park, Turkish PM RTE, Gaziantep, Syria, refugees, etc. Our political machine seems to be kicking into high gear this week and who knows about next week... My unsolicited thoughts: brains, not bombs. Syria needs aid. Everybody needs to ask Mr. Syria himself what he wants. Why not? While we're at it, let's ask everybody again. Why is this UN Security Council thing not working out properly? A decision should be made together- whatever it is. Don't stop talking until a decision. Maybe this is how it actually happens, but I get the idea the principles of the idea (of a council) have been lost to pomp and circumstance long ago. We need progressive think tanks. I guess we have them- of all persuasions. So, what is the problem? Is it that THE world machine is just too damn big now? There is no more hand-shaking... What seems to be concrete right now is Russia sticking to its UN Security Council tenet that anything outside of a full UN SC approval is thought to be an act of aggression (no quote on that one, just round-about). Who's the bully? There's definitely more than 1 bully. And it's not always a single entity anymore, is it? blah blah blah. I'm bumming out my zen-morning trip...
Let's see, what's on the agenda today? I had to alter my plans to go to Palauea and assist in a current archaeological dig. So... this leaves me free. Free to go to my post office box and pick up my 3 new Arabic language reference books (dictionary, workbook, and something else I've forgotten already), and a care-package from King-Cab. Then I am free to go to do my rounds of house-sitting deeds. And then the beach. And then a late lunch... You get the idea. I have no agenda for the day. I'm ready to fly the coop. Why? Because I've got a serious case of:
wait for it...
WANDERLUST: lusting to wander
yea, more like space out ya'll... Laying up in bed with the cool-ish morning breeze wafting in and birds chirping, dogs barking, roosters roosting, and... wait for it... COFFEE. So you see, I'm already back in my 'position' when I blog from afar. It honestly feels strange to blog in Amerika...
Anyhow... ROAR. I'm feeling it. Those of you in the know, know :) Anyway, yesterday was a major day in many ways for me. It was a flight finalization to Bahrain. It was a finally get the scale to weigh my bags day. It was a beautiful, sunny day with hardly any humidity.
So, what's a girl to do with these perfect conditions- reach the beach. What bikini to wear? Where to place my pareo in the sand? Where is the sun? Oh look, the sand is returning to Baldwin Beach on the right side after nearly all summer's absence. Oh the beauty I soaked up. No wind, no crowds, fizzy water, BBQ tofu, and my book- which, by the way, is so amazing that I have decided to do an 'annotated bibliography' of sorts with it as one of my future posts. More on that later though. So, back to the beach.
The only minor distraction was the thoughts of all the shark sightings and/or attacks in Hawaii recently... It got me thinking, when I wasn't reading or daydreaming or forecasting, why is this happening? What is it? Global warming- waters rising & food chain disrupted? Fukushima fallout w/prevailing currents bring all that waste here? Sharks getting too hot and going agro on us? Sharks losing food chain food as food chain is dying out due to increase in water temps along w/debris? Sharks have to come near shore to feed now? Have their feeding hours changed due to climate change- is it not typically just dawn and dusk they are out on the prowl for chow? Is it something simple (regional) like El Nino or La Nina? Is it just a natural metamorphoses that has been occurring on a geological scale that we can't observe because it's a long process and we're in it? WTF? I want answers!
So the weather has changed for the better yesterday. With that, my sunset-ish run was SWEET. It is the 1st run in a week where I haven't stopped- I'm talking only a 4mile run too... I realize that my days are numbered running here and soon I'll be running through another landscape! During my trot I started to think about my future running routes. What would they be like? Will I have to carry a little sweat towel? Will I have to carry water? Will I actually run at night (I did just purchase a neon yellow tee for this very reason)? Then I started thinking about yoga classes. What will they be like? And then my future apartment, my car, etc. All such newness coming up in about a week and I'm totally stoked. As a side dish, I was also thinking about work too...
One thing I didn't think about- the Syria conflict. I gave myself that. I gave myself an hour to not think about it. Actually it didn't even enter my mind. "IT" didn't even attempt to. There was a full hour where it had no bearing on my outlook. This I enjoyed. Much of my time this summer has been spent reading what has been happening throughout the region I just left- Gezi Park, Turkish PM RTE, Gaziantep, Syria, refugees, etc. Our political machine seems to be kicking into high gear this week and who knows about next week... My unsolicited thoughts: brains, not bombs. Syria needs aid. Everybody needs to ask Mr. Syria himself what he wants. Why not? While we're at it, let's ask everybody again. Why is this UN Security Council thing not working out properly? A decision should be made together- whatever it is. Don't stop talking until a decision. Maybe this is how it actually happens, but I get the idea the principles of the idea (of a council) have been lost to pomp and circumstance long ago. We need progressive think tanks. I guess we have them- of all persuasions. So, what is the problem? Is it that THE world machine is just too damn big now? There is no more hand-shaking... What seems to be concrete right now is Russia sticking to its UN Security Council tenet that anything outside of a full UN SC approval is thought to be an act of aggression (no quote on that one, just round-about). Who's the bully? There's definitely more than 1 bully. And it's not always a single entity anymore, is it? blah blah blah. I'm bumming out my zen-morning trip...
Let's see, what's on the agenda today? I had to alter my plans to go to Palauea and assist in a current archaeological dig. So... this leaves me free. Free to go to my post office box and pick up my 3 new Arabic language reference books (dictionary, workbook, and something else I've forgotten already), and a care-package from King-Cab. Then I am free to go to do my rounds of house-sitting deeds. And then the beach. And then a late lunch... You get the idea. I have no agenda for the day. I'm ready to fly the coop. Why? Because I've got a serious case of:
wait for it...
WANDERLUST: lusting to wander
8.26.2013
9 pm and all's well
It's 9 pm and all's well. I'm up at the Makawao HQ lying in my comfy bed after about 2 hours of perusing various websites dedicated to last night's VMA Awards. Yes, I confess, all the Miley talk had me curious so I had to check it out. Not that I give a shit either way, it was just interesting on an anthropological level to check out Homo sapiens' of all spices of life... Of course, from there it went to checking out all the fashionistas. Kudos to Rihanna's low-key fab look. Jessica Biel was also rocking a cool frock, which is highly unusual for her IMHO.
For some reason my fashion police sense is emerging. Many of you may not know this but my first foray into higher education came at the hands of a local college that had a fantastic fashion merchandising/design program. So... there's that. One of my besties is a long time fashion designer and I still love to check out the designs she's into these daze.
I have recently returned from DC (maybe I blogged about that, I can't recall) from a meet-up of the Georgetown University English Language Fellow conference. Since then I've been in wait mode: wait for my visa; wait for my travel arrangements to be made; wait wait wait. Well, it all came together yesterday (Sunday is a work day over on the other side of the world in the Middle East for all of you that don't know).
I received word that my work visa is ready. Today my flight plans are confirmed to Bahrain. Next week I board a plane en route to Bahrain and to my next chapter in my volume of life history. All loose ends are basically tightened up. I run a tight ship- mostly. Honestly I'm all planned out. I'm ready to be on that plane and just check it out live and direct.
I am, of course, keeping up-to-date with current news throughout the region. While it's relatively calm there, much of the outlying area is full of unrest. Syria is on my mind. My time as a next door neighbor gave me insights into the dual nature of the situation(s). After years of the world watching Syria being torn apart at the seams, it seems something is coming to a head- perhaps very soon. I hope peace can be obtained.
Now, back to Bahrain! I'm thrilled to go there as an ELF. It's interesting to see my life progress. I mean, we all do it. We are all self-critical as well as self-appreciative over certain aspects of our lives and achievements. I believe this evolution is monumental. I think you all might notice an ever-so-slight change in my penning perhaps. Of course, I'm just me. The island girl that tires of the island and yearns to be swept away to exotic locales.
In order to start the new chapter, I have to finish out this current chapter so here goes... In my last week here, I'm pondering the beauty of the Islands. Now, I have 3 residences to do this currently: Makawao HQ, and the satellite HQs in Paia and Kula. You can't beat that honestly. When it's hot, you simply flee to Kula. When you want to hit up the beach, you head to Paia. When I simply want to veg out, I stay Makawao.
As I still have a week here, I'm not sure how this chapter will finish out. Perhaps it will be a cliffhanger...
For some reason my fashion police sense is emerging. Many of you may not know this but my first foray into higher education came at the hands of a local college that had a fantastic fashion merchandising/design program. So... there's that. One of my besties is a long time fashion designer and I still love to check out the designs she's into these daze.
I have recently returned from DC (maybe I blogged about that, I can't recall) from a meet-up of the Georgetown University English Language Fellow conference. Since then I've been in wait mode: wait for my visa; wait for my travel arrangements to be made; wait wait wait. Well, it all came together yesterday (Sunday is a work day over on the other side of the world in the Middle East for all of you that don't know).
I received word that my work visa is ready. Today my flight plans are confirmed to Bahrain. Next week I board a plane en route to Bahrain and to my next chapter in my volume of life history. All loose ends are basically tightened up. I run a tight ship- mostly. Honestly I'm all planned out. I'm ready to be on that plane and just check it out live and direct.
I am, of course, keeping up-to-date with current news throughout the region. While it's relatively calm there, much of the outlying area is full of unrest. Syria is on my mind. My time as a next door neighbor gave me insights into the dual nature of the situation(s). After years of the world watching Syria being torn apart at the seams, it seems something is coming to a head- perhaps very soon. I hope peace can be obtained.
Now, back to Bahrain! I'm thrilled to go there as an ELF. It's interesting to see my life progress. I mean, we all do it. We are all self-critical as well as self-appreciative over certain aspects of our lives and achievements. I believe this evolution is monumental. I think you all might notice an ever-so-slight change in my penning perhaps. Of course, I'm just me. The island girl that tires of the island and yearns to be swept away to exotic locales.
In order to start the new chapter, I have to finish out this current chapter so here goes... In my last week here, I'm pondering the beauty of the Islands. Now, I have 3 residences to do this currently: Makawao HQ, and the satellite HQs in Paia and Kula. You can't beat that honestly. When it's hot, you simply flee to Kula. When you want to hit up the beach, you head to Paia. When I simply want to veg out, I stay Makawao.
As I still have a week here, I'm not sure how this chapter will finish out. Perhaps it will be a cliffhanger...
8.17.2013
any day now...
Any day now:
Any day now I will slow down and overcome my non-stop jet lag since arriving back in Amerika this summer. It seems every few weeks I'm off again to somewhere far enough away (it's always far when Hawaii is one's HQ) where I"m discombobulated for a few days.
Any day now I will learn to play the ukulele. Should be a bit difficult this year as I left my ukulele with Ada back in Gaziantep, Turkey. Maybe she can learn to play it and send me some YouTube videos. This would make me feel good.
Any day now I should be updating my blog with a proper post about what I did this summer... This seems a daunting task so far as I've done so many things that are, in my humble opinion, worth mentioning- ahem... *patting myself on the back* Just know that I have been writing about all my doings and I should be able to transfer that into my usual, traditional baffling postings... Some highlights though:
Driving across (most) the country in a semi-truck
Gambling while driving across (most) the country in a semi-truck
Hanging out at my mom's place with my brothers
Working in DC to prepare for stint as a Georgetown University English Language Fellow (Bahrain)
Lounging like a lizard on various Maui beaches as such a denizen does when they are home on RNR
Zipping around Maui's roadways on a cute, red moped gathering the most unusual observations
Touring some of Amerika's most famous sites (I am talking microbreweries here)...
Experiencing cocktail culture with MisSimone at various non-famous Maui watering holes
Island hopping with friends
etc. etc.
Any day now I will get it together to make it to my tax appointment. Oh wait, that is today... Don't worry Salma, All I need now is a calculator and I'm good to go
Any day now I will find a meaningful relationship with a member of the lesser species... "meaningful" being the key word there
Any day now I will start compiling all my writings from throughout the years and start to think about "the tell-all book" that will eventually rise from the ashes of it all... Lemme know now if you want a specific code name...
Any day now I'll figure out the 'tickings' of this mad, mad world and save us all, or just myself- IDK. I suspect it has something to do with Red Velvet Cupcakes, tequila from the Blue Agave plant, great inner circle of friends, great inner circle of family, a health regime consisting of running/yoga with a base of wholesome foods, Acai smoothies, a decent job, & access to first class while flying. If so, I'm doing pretty good- except for the first class shit. As a matter of fact, I'm writing this in bed after a full day's journey from Washington DC-Maui yesterday so yea, I'm jet lagged, again.
Any day now I'll stop buying books that I always have to lug around while moving to various locales around the globe. For instance, in DC last week (frickin AWESOME city BTW) I went on a walkabout from Woodley Park to KramerBooks- one of the AWESOME independent bookstores of the area (never made it to "Politicians and Poets"- next time). I bought 5-6 books I believe. And then, at the GU ELF ( Georgetown University English Language Fellowship) convention, I bought about 5 more... Oh yea, you guys are going to be seeing a lot of GU ELF here, so please familiarize yourselves with it. In fact, I know I read somewhere in the handbook that I need to make a statement about 'my views are my own', etc. for me to keep up with this blog- forthcoming for sure, if I remember...
I want to keep with this thread here by mentioning that we (expats) all do what we need to to not only 'survive', but to enjoy our time living where we do. It's not a vacation, we want to feel settled. For me, that usually consists of a cat and books in the apartment. The cat thing I haven't gotten around to yet, but the books- the books are key elements to enjoying my time at 'home.' I know most of 'us' use Kindles, etc, but I just can't do it. I need books. I need pages to turn. I need paper clips to mark my spot. I need books messing up my floor in a late-night fit of wonder and amazement. You know this kinda night expats- it consists of lying on the couch at first and reading something which then leads to something you remember (from a book) and then the intense desire to FIND that bit of information that isn't quite 'right' in your mind. You know you have it somewhere... While you are searching for said piece of information, you come across your Aleister Crowley Thoth set of tarot cards... YES! WINNING! Now it's time to put the voodoo to the burning question of, "Why did that relationship with that weird guy turn out so weird?" "Was he a spy?" Or, "Why does he still live with his mother?" Or, "Why does he drink so much tea and not beer?" Some more favorites:
"I wonder how old he is?"
"Why won't he go home?" (Rasmiyeh has secret knowledge to this burning question and I am forever in her debt for her assistance with this).
You know, this goes on for a while. Candles become involved (yes, I bring my own stash of soy candles from Mana Foods here in Paia on the lovely island of Maui. I typically bring "Tuscan Blood Orange" and "Mexican Chocolate" (those 2 being of the large, slow-burning variety) along with about 4 little candles of different scents). This has to be BTW. If you forget this key component in your luggage, you fail at all those anticipated "Bewitching Hour" (as I so affectionately call them) moments.
So, when that passes, then you get hungry. Why am I continuing on with this? IDK. I forget. Let's get back to the original line of thought...
Soooo yes, books. Any day now I will figure it out. This will segway into my next point:
Any day now I will have the MOST PERFECT luggage assortment. Honestly, I have loads of experience with this. Imma say right now that one can't possibly go wrong in securing a quiver of Da Kine Rolling Duffel Bags. I have 3. Currently 2 are in Gaziantep, with Ada, awaiting my return... So that leaves one left for me here- to accompany me to my next home, Bahrain. Now, while I was at mum's this summer enjoying the perfect North Woods summer temperatures, I was also doing loads of research. My brothers were amazed that I could spend so much time researching something so unassuming as luggage. Well, my time paid off. I purchased a French carry-on (Lippault) microfiber 4-wheel drive roller (not sure what you really call them). It is cool (like the material from the famous Prada bags). The color is eggplant. It is effortless. So, now that I have my carry-on, I need to purchase a large checked-luggage 4-wheel drive roller. This is, of course, to carry all those friggin books... and candles... etc. etc. I will also use my shitty Istanbul back-alley purchased large, flimsy rolling duffel as a 3rd if needed...
Any day now I will receive my international drivers license. I thought I would come back from DC to an int'l drivers license in the mail from AAA. BUT I didn't. It was returned because the photocopy of my Hawaii DL was too dark... Damn. Imma gonna get that photocopied, again, and send it off, again. And impatiently wait all week for the int'l DL. I might emphasize IMPATIENTLY again just because. This is emphasized because I'm, apparently, going to be driving a car in Bahrain. This is part of the 'in kind' wording of my contract. This is a pleasant surprise- I think. BTW, I don't even need an int'l DL to drive in Bahrain, but I still want to IMPATIENTLY wait for it. I love amassing documents for some unknown reason. I believe it stems from my mother being a librarian during my childhood. This is also the source of all my book collection addictions as well I'm quite sure. Damit.
Any day now I will receive my visa for Bahrain. It is still being 'processed.' All I know is that I'm leaving in prolly less than 2 weeks. That's good enough for me. That's a hella lotta beach days to IMPATIENTLY wait for my int'l DL.
Any day now I'm going to transfer all my info from my old Mac Book Pro to my new Mac Book Pro. Yes, I experienced a Mac Attack while in Georgetown with Leslie. We walked from Woodley Park to Georgetown specifically so I could drool over some new Mac products. I was not let down, of course. We couldn't walk back afterwards as it started pouring rain while we were eating falafels and chatting up the Turkish-loving dude that worked at the falafel joint. He was impressing us with his broken Turkish. Anyway, it was a DC moment that I got to share with a new friend (that would be Leslie) and not the Turkish-loving dude. We saw some more ELFs caught in the rain and were swept away in the safety of a DC cab (I'm thinking here only of my Mac Book Pro's safety).
Any day now MisSimone will get up and make us some coffee and we will start our crazy day. Might I add that every day spent with MisSimone is a crazy day! Imma miss those crazy MisSimone days. When she does get up this morning we will:
drink coffee
talk about Mexican food and margarita's from last night
talk about what a disaster her living room is
talk about where to travel next
talk about the need to get our shit together because we both have tax appointments this am with Salma.
talk about Katie-girl's wedding plans and all the fun I will miss cuz I gotta be on a plane for 2 days...
talk about how we are NOT going to shop today after tax appointments, yet going into Paia to shop...
etc. etc.
Any day now I'm going to post pictures, most likely randomly, on my blog of my most excellent summer. I'm so behind. I still haven't posted pictures from Portugal w/Solo_ojo from January/ February. What a loser. I also realize I've been remiss in my duties of updating my blog all summer. I apologize for this, but like I said earlier, I do have collected journal entries that should easily turn into blog postings (inshallah)...
Any day now Imma make it back to Alaska to see Svia- who I think about often and when I do, I smile.
signing off,
HollyMissBerry
Any day now I will slow down and overcome my non-stop jet lag since arriving back in Amerika this summer. It seems every few weeks I'm off again to somewhere far enough away (it's always far when Hawaii is one's HQ) where I"m discombobulated for a few days.
Any day now I will learn to play the ukulele. Should be a bit difficult this year as I left my ukulele with Ada back in Gaziantep, Turkey. Maybe she can learn to play it and send me some YouTube videos. This would make me feel good.
Any day now I should be updating my blog with a proper post about what I did this summer... This seems a daunting task so far as I've done so many things that are, in my humble opinion, worth mentioning- ahem... *patting myself on the back* Just know that I have been writing about all my doings and I should be able to transfer that into my usual, traditional baffling postings... Some highlights though:
Driving across (most) the country in a semi-truck
Gambling while driving across (most) the country in a semi-truck
Hanging out at my mom's place with my brothers
Working in DC to prepare for stint as a Georgetown University English Language Fellow (Bahrain)
Lounging like a lizard on various Maui beaches as such a denizen does when they are home on RNR
Zipping around Maui's roadways on a cute, red moped gathering the most unusual observations
Touring some of Amerika's most famous sites (I am talking microbreweries here)...
Experiencing cocktail culture with MisSimone at various non-famous Maui watering holes
Island hopping with friends
etc. etc.
Any day now I will get it together to make it to my tax appointment. Oh wait, that is today... Don't worry Salma, All I need now is a calculator and I'm good to go
Any day now I will find a meaningful relationship with a member of the lesser species... "meaningful" being the key word there
Any day now I will start compiling all my writings from throughout the years and start to think about "the tell-all book" that will eventually rise from the ashes of it all... Lemme know now if you want a specific code name...
Any day now I'll figure out the 'tickings' of this mad, mad world and save us all, or just myself- IDK. I suspect it has something to do with Red Velvet Cupcakes, tequila from the Blue Agave plant, great inner circle of friends, great inner circle of family, a health regime consisting of running/yoga with a base of wholesome foods, Acai smoothies, a decent job, & access to first class while flying. If so, I'm doing pretty good- except for the first class shit. As a matter of fact, I'm writing this in bed after a full day's journey from Washington DC-Maui yesterday so yea, I'm jet lagged, again.
Any day now I'll stop buying books that I always have to lug around while moving to various locales around the globe. For instance, in DC last week (frickin AWESOME city BTW) I went on a walkabout from Woodley Park to KramerBooks- one of the AWESOME independent bookstores of the area (never made it to "Politicians and Poets"- next time). I bought 5-6 books I believe. And then, at the GU ELF ( Georgetown University English Language Fellowship) convention, I bought about 5 more... Oh yea, you guys are going to be seeing a lot of GU ELF here, so please familiarize yourselves with it. In fact, I know I read somewhere in the handbook that I need to make a statement about 'my views are my own', etc. for me to keep up with this blog- forthcoming for sure, if I remember...
I want to keep with this thread here by mentioning that we (expats) all do what we need to to not only 'survive', but to enjoy our time living where we do. It's not a vacation, we want to feel settled. For me, that usually consists of a cat and books in the apartment. The cat thing I haven't gotten around to yet, but the books- the books are key elements to enjoying my time at 'home.' I know most of 'us' use Kindles, etc, but I just can't do it. I need books. I need pages to turn. I need paper clips to mark my spot. I need books messing up my floor in a late-night fit of wonder and amazement. You know this kinda night expats- it consists of lying on the couch at first and reading something which then leads to something you remember (from a book) and then the intense desire to FIND that bit of information that isn't quite 'right' in your mind. You know you have it somewhere... While you are searching for said piece of information, you come across your Aleister Crowley Thoth set of tarot cards... YES! WINNING! Now it's time to put the voodoo to the burning question of, "Why did that relationship with that weird guy turn out so weird?" "Was he a spy?" Or, "Why does he still live with his mother?" Or, "Why does he drink so much tea and not beer?" Some more favorites:
"I wonder how old he is?"
"Why won't he go home?" (Rasmiyeh has secret knowledge to this burning question and I am forever in her debt for her assistance with this).
You know, this goes on for a while. Candles become involved (yes, I bring my own stash of soy candles from Mana Foods here in Paia on the lovely island of Maui. I typically bring "Tuscan Blood Orange" and "Mexican Chocolate" (those 2 being of the large, slow-burning variety) along with about 4 little candles of different scents). This has to be BTW. If you forget this key component in your luggage, you fail at all those anticipated "Bewitching Hour" (as I so affectionately call them) moments.
So, when that passes, then you get hungry. Why am I continuing on with this? IDK. I forget. Let's get back to the original line of thought...
Soooo yes, books. Any day now I will figure it out. This will segway into my next point:
Any day now I will have the MOST PERFECT luggage assortment. Honestly, I have loads of experience with this. Imma say right now that one can't possibly go wrong in securing a quiver of Da Kine Rolling Duffel Bags. I have 3. Currently 2 are in Gaziantep, with Ada, awaiting my return... So that leaves one left for me here- to accompany me to my next home, Bahrain. Now, while I was at mum's this summer enjoying the perfect North Woods summer temperatures, I was also doing loads of research. My brothers were amazed that I could spend so much time researching something so unassuming as luggage. Well, my time paid off. I purchased a French carry-on (Lippault) microfiber 4-wheel drive roller (not sure what you really call them). It is cool (like the material from the famous Prada bags). The color is eggplant. It is effortless. So, now that I have my carry-on, I need to purchase a large checked-luggage 4-wheel drive roller. This is, of course, to carry all those friggin books... and candles... etc. etc. I will also use my shitty Istanbul back-alley purchased large, flimsy rolling duffel as a 3rd if needed...
Any day now I will receive my international drivers license. I thought I would come back from DC to an int'l drivers license in the mail from AAA. BUT I didn't. It was returned because the photocopy of my Hawaii DL was too dark... Damn. Imma gonna get that photocopied, again, and send it off, again. And impatiently wait all week for the int'l DL. I might emphasize IMPATIENTLY again just because. This is emphasized because I'm, apparently, going to be driving a car in Bahrain. This is part of the 'in kind' wording of my contract. This is a pleasant surprise- I think. BTW, I don't even need an int'l DL to drive in Bahrain, but I still want to IMPATIENTLY wait for it. I love amassing documents for some unknown reason. I believe it stems from my mother being a librarian during my childhood. This is also the source of all my book collection addictions as well I'm quite sure. Damit.
Any day now I will receive my visa for Bahrain. It is still being 'processed.' All I know is that I'm leaving in prolly less than 2 weeks. That's good enough for me. That's a hella lotta beach days to IMPATIENTLY wait for my int'l DL.
Any day now I'm going to transfer all my info from my old Mac Book Pro to my new Mac Book Pro. Yes, I experienced a Mac Attack while in Georgetown with Leslie. We walked from Woodley Park to Georgetown specifically so I could drool over some new Mac products. I was not let down, of course. We couldn't walk back afterwards as it started pouring rain while we were eating falafels and chatting up the Turkish-loving dude that worked at the falafel joint. He was impressing us with his broken Turkish. Anyway, it was a DC moment that I got to share with a new friend (that would be Leslie) and not the Turkish-loving dude. We saw some more ELFs caught in the rain and were swept away in the safety of a DC cab (I'm thinking here only of my Mac Book Pro's safety).
Any day now MisSimone will get up and make us some coffee and we will start our crazy day. Might I add that every day spent with MisSimone is a crazy day! Imma miss those crazy MisSimone days. When she does get up this morning we will:
drink coffee
talk about Mexican food and margarita's from last night
talk about what a disaster her living room is
talk about where to travel next
talk about the need to get our shit together because we both have tax appointments this am with Salma.
talk about Katie-girl's wedding plans and all the fun I will miss cuz I gotta be on a plane for 2 days...
talk about how we are NOT going to shop today after tax appointments, yet going into Paia to shop...
etc. etc.
Any day now I'm going to post pictures, most likely randomly, on my blog of my most excellent summer. I'm so behind. I still haven't posted pictures from Portugal w/Solo_ojo from January/ February. What a loser. I also realize I've been remiss in my duties of updating my blog all summer. I apologize for this, but like I said earlier, I do have collected journal entries that should easily turn into blog postings (inshallah)...
Any day now Imma make it back to Alaska to see Svia- who I think about often and when I do, I smile.
signing off,
HollyMissBerry
7.09.2013
What day is it?
Being back on Maui: Let's see, here is yesterday's recap: Get up 8:30 am & have coffee with Simone. She, reluctantly, leaves for work. I pitter-patter around her house doing various chores- put her laundry in the dryer, make breakfast (yogurt and granola) and figure out my day. My day:
figure out how to get to Kihei from Makawao to pick up moped- or 'scooter' as Simone, apparently, correctly refers to it. Hitchhike. Got it- in 3 rides:
1. ride from nice woman going to Mana Foods in Paia. She is a massage therapist. We exchange conversation about events in Turkey/Middle East/ US. While in Paia I check post office box for AMEX, renewed Hawaii driver's license, and BOH debit card. Then I go to Mana Foods. Then I do a little window shopping in Paia. I go into Nuage Bleu and catch up on Maui news with Terri. Whine a bit that I have to hitchhike into Kihei in the heat of the day. They console me a bit. I go
2. ride from young local (hapa haole) boy from Paia Bay to Hansen Road. He is figuring out the world. He has a 96 Toyota 4-runner- brings back memories of all my toyota 4-runners & trucks (3 total). We check to see if I know his family (originally Oahu born, but Cali raised). It seems I don't.
3. ride from older photographer of women dude. Fun conversation about Maui, politics, and Georgetown University. He takes me to Ed's doorstep.
I pick up scooter and chat with Lee-Bear and Jimmy Da Kine for long time. Heat of the day is still on high, but a constant breeze. I decide I'm ready to go back other side. I go.
All sorts of side stories of the day of course: I get my fav mineral water at Mana Foods. I run into Greg (another massage therapist) and we talk story. He was my neighbor when I last left Maui and was headed for Tunisia 3 years ago. He updates me on Stream's property @ 5 Corners. I feel nostalgia for my little shack there (I lived in 2 separate shacks there actually). I see all the progress at Vanderland in Kihei since my last visit. I have a random conversation with a Harley Davidson dude right next to me and my little scooter at a stoplight in Kihei. He is trying to impress me. He does impress me. He casually asks where I'm headed. The light turns green and I take off on my scooter with a smiling grin. Ahhhh Maui. I ride back to Makawao before rush hour traffic, yet still get stuck in Paia. Very liberating to see traffic piled up in Paia and I get to scoot right through on my scooter. That never happened before when I would be in my quiver of Toyota trucks waiting with the rest of the folk in Paia traffic. I whiz by and head up to Makawao. Wind is still blowing stink and I am ready to get off scooter. I decide no need run tonight. Rodeo General Store for organic Kale Caesar Salad and Shoyu Ahi Poke for dinner. Solve the world's problems with Simone in the evening while drinking beer and champagne...
So. That took up the entire day folks. I know. I know.
Now, Tuesday morning, freshly coffeed, lying on the couch, am ready to greet the day. Oh, I finally had Mexican food the other day. It was splendid. I need some Castor Oil for my eyelashes today. That's about it. The rest is beach and Mana Foods.
Next week I head to Portland where Mr. Johnny Stack (my Kahoolawe co-worker) will meet/escort me to the UP in Michigan in his semi-truck. That's right. I'm doing Amerika in style this summer. Troutdale, Oregon to Flint, Michigan and then a quickie drive up through Mackinaw Bridge/Island into the UP. I'll be videotaping of course. I need footage for my American Culture/History classes I will be teaching in Bahrain at UofB this coming year!!!
I believe that I don't even know yet how epic this odyssey is going to be. I mean, A FUCKING SEMI-TRUCK, truck stops with Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie, wifi, showers, etc etc etc...
I was on Moloka`i last weekend. Went to a wedding all local style on Papohaku Beach. Erica (another archaeologist I met a few years back at the annual Society of Hawaiian Archaeology ((SHA) when it was held on Oahu)). was the beautiful bride and James her groom. Had a great time with Katie-girl and her soon-groom Jamil and Laara from Seattle. We went holoholo all over. Molokai stays country. Nice to experience that feeling. Much love for Moloka`i long time.
Yea that's about it for now folks. Here are some pictures to leave you with. Enjoy!!!
 |
| nuff said... |
 |
| what are these? |
 |
| wedding prep |
 |
| more wedding prep |
 |
| wedding |
 |
| post wedding |
 |
| slippah blow-out, but I had back-up... |
 |
| hiking for a good cause |
 |
| good cause |
 |
| Kalaupapa down below |
 |
| palm trees impairing view of ocean... |
 |
| Halawa Valley lookout. Looks like a good day for a picnic |
 |
| ruins in Halawa Valley |
 |
| an offering |
 |
| trotting to Halawa Beach |
 |
| picnic (Katie-girl DO NOT show Jamil this pic...) |
 |
| feeling all biblical and shit |
 |
| Jamil- cuckoo for coconuts |
 |
| my choice |
 |
| self-portrait |
 |
| feeling all like it's the South Seas |
 |
| on the ferryboat home: the kids- all tired and shit |
 |
| a hui hou i hiki i ka la Moloki`i |
6.29.2013
Maui Daze in a Jet-Lag haze
I'm finally getting around to updating my blog. A now far-away friend just informed me that I haven't updated it in a while... so...
I made it back to Maui this week and have been in a jet-lag induced stupor ever since. I think I finally got a grip on it last night though. It took 4 nights, but I was able to watch the entire season 1-3 of Game of Thrones. Upon finishing epi 10 Season 3 last night, I was able to fall into a (drug-induced) sleep for 8 luscious hours.
It's now nearly 7:30 am Saturday morning, and I'm feeling alright. I've had no coffee yet, no morning run (I'm enjoying evening runs up here in Kula- my temporary HQ- until I move to Makawao to another temporary HQ- until I move to Maui Meadows to another temporary HQ, until Haiku, until Hana, etc)... Yep I'M BACK FOLKS!!!
Back home on Maui and it seems strange: slow-moving, peeps tanned/beautiful everywhere, no excessive stupidity where operating a moving vehicle is concerned, no cutting lines in queues... But mostly just beauty as far as the eye can see- natural beauty. Yea there's some building impeding some fantastic views, etc but really just lots of open space.
I've made some new discoveries as well: there are some decent tele series out there; there is this super cool machine, called YONANA, that eats up frozen bananas and spits out a banana freezie thing that is absolutely wonderful when you add shredded coconut and cinnamon on it; there are quite a few decent tasting as well as decent priced red wines available at Long's Upcountry appropriately called, "Menage A Trois" and "Monogamy"...
I have reacquainted myself with such delights as Caesar Salad (with REAL Caesar dressing), Acai berry smoothies, Hazelnut Milk, Mangoes so luscious that your lips swell. Mexican food? Not yet... I'm saving myself for that one. I don't know how much longer I can hold out though... First someone has to update me on the best Mexican food on isle as of late...
So I'm throwing myself back into the Maui spirit, which now that work is over (Driver's License renewal, Bank activity, post office box sorting out, etc) includes such shitty activities as having no certain place to be at any certain time, beach, hitch-hiking around isle, beach, eating HEALTHY, beach...
my stress level has been reduced to: wondering what I am going to wear to a friend's wedding on Molokai next weekend, and when exactly I'll be visiting my family on the Mainland so I can make a plane reservation QUICKLY before prices inflate.
Just a quick note about my new run because it's so wonderful to be running a route that is not a route at all, or even a track. This has been so liberating. Running in the upcountry lands around bridges and horse stables and on an empty feeder road in the hills of Kula in cool temperatures. Running and seeing beautiful things, and smelling beautiful smells of sweet grasses growing on the sides of the road. Even the smell of the dead, rotting cow over the bridge in a steep gulch has a certain feel of 'life' to it for me. Running without anyone looking at me like I'm weird. Running & having peeps walking their dogs and saying to me, "beautiful afternoon for a run isn't it". I ran by a horse arena last night and the smell of farm animals was intoxicating. And then the sound of the pigs squeaking or squealing- whatever it is that they do... The peacocks in the distance sounding off with their shrills- giving me a warning that they are nearby watching (yea peacocks are certainly GREAT unconventional watchdogs I have found out).
Okay this is all for now as my lovely hosts are making me breakfast- well Jamil is.. Katie-girl is entertaining me with stories of calorie-counting...
I made it back to Maui this week and have been in a jet-lag induced stupor ever since. I think I finally got a grip on it last night though. It took 4 nights, but I was able to watch the entire season 1-3 of Game of Thrones. Upon finishing epi 10 Season 3 last night, I was able to fall into a (drug-induced) sleep for 8 luscious hours.
It's now nearly 7:30 am Saturday morning, and I'm feeling alright. I've had no coffee yet, no morning run (I'm enjoying evening runs up here in Kula- my temporary HQ- until I move to Makawao to another temporary HQ- until I move to Maui Meadows to another temporary HQ, until Haiku, until Hana, etc)... Yep I'M BACK FOLKS!!!
Back home on Maui and it seems strange: slow-moving, peeps tanned/beautiful everywhere, no excessive stupidity where operating a moving vehicle is concerned, no cutting lines in queues... But mostly just beauty as far as the eye can see- natural beauty. Yea there's some building impeding some fantastic views, etc but really just lots of open space.
I've made some new discoveries as well: there are some decent tele series out there; there is this super cool machine, called YONANA, that eats up frozen bananas and spits out a banana freezie thing that is absolutely wonderful when you add shredded coconut and cinnamon on it; there are quite a few decent tasting as well as decent priced red wines available at Long's Upcountry appropriately called, "Menage A Trois" and "Monogamy"...
I have reacquainted myself with such delights as Caesar Salad (with REAL Caesar dressing), Acai berry smoothies, Hazelnut Milk, Mangoes so luscious that your lips swell. Mexican food? Not yet... I'm saving myself for that one. I don't know how much longer I can hold out though... First someone has to update me on the best Mexican food on isle as of late...
So I'm throwing myself back into the Maui spirit, which now that work is over (Driver's License renewal, Bank activity, post office box sorting out, etc) includes such shitty activities as having no certain place to be at any certain time, beach, hitch-hiking around isle, beach, eating HEALTHY, beach...
my stress level has been reduced to: wondering what I am going to wear to a friend's wedding on Molokai next weekend, and when exactly I'll be visiting my family on the Mainland so I can make a plane reservation QUICKLY before prices inflate.
Just a quick note about my new run because it's so wonderful to be running a route that is not a route at all, or even a track. This has been so liberating. Running in the upcountry lands around bridges and horse stables and on an empty feeder road in the hills of Kula in cool temperatures. Running and seeing beautiful things, and smelling beautiful smells of sweet grasses growing on the sides of the road. Even the smell of the dead, rotting cow over the bridge in a steep gulch has a certain feel of 'life' to it for me. Running without anyone looking at me like I'm weird. Running & having peeps walking their dogs and saying to me, "beautiful afternoon for a run isn't it". I ran by a horse arena last night and the smell of farm animals was intoxicating. And then the sound of the pigs squeaking or squealing- whatever it is that they do... The peacocks in the distance sounding off with their shrills- giving me a warning that they are nearby watching (yea peacocks are certainly GREAT unconventional watchdogs I have found out).
Okay this is all for now as my lovely hosts are making me breakfast- well Jamil is.. Katie-girl is entertaining me with stories of calorie-counting...
6.14.2013
No Noise Pollution Last Night at Rock & Rollah Bar in Istanbul...
You know, I cold probably just not write an entry today because the post title really says it all. But, for entertainment purposes I will try to weave a clever story leading up to all this, but my mind is kinda fried right now. Additionally, I can hardly get up to make myself some coffee this morning as we got all bus' up last night...
So, I left Gaziantep last week and made it to Istanbul. I've been frantically packing, unpacking, dodging tear gas (sometimes successfully but mostly not), playing musical apartments with my friends here that still seem to tolerate my aberrant behavior, walking, tweeting (in defiance of Mr. pm here of course, who deemed it 'evil'). Talk about motormouth that man... anything that he personally doesn't endorse, he doesn't see fit for Turkish citizens to partake in... I could go on and on about this, but I'm a bit burnt out on it- as with most my inner circle here I suppose.
To sum up the above paragraph, things seem to be winding down- in terms of the Gezi Park protests here in Istanbul. Ankara seems to be getting it this weekend... Perhaps the big rains yesterday morning dampened the protestors spirits- soaked more like it. Perhaps it was the pm's ridiculous demands, as well as the way he stated them in his Cro-Magnon dribble-speak.
So we made it all the way to Friday evening and oh what a night it was. The pauper twins showed up at SwissHotel for some tasty adult beverages while visiting friends from outta town. The trio of merry pranksters managed to come out unscathed (or still standing properly) and we all went on a field trip to Trio Pizzeria in Beyoglu with our guests. Damn it is good to eat good foot. I can proudly say that I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE FRICKIN KEBAP IN NEARLY ONE WEEK!!!
So after haggling with the taxi-cab hawkers and playing musical taxi-cabs, we got them off and back to SwissHotel for their next adventure- likely back to the Executive Club Lounge where we first started out. We, on the other hand, trotted off towards Nevizade looking for some action.
I remember one bar we were perched at and thinking, "Wow, there is nobody here." We decided that it had to be because of the ongoing protests. Weaving in and out of food traffic on Istiklal and the assortment of charming side streets, we made our way to a rock and roll bar- appropriately named Rock and Rollah Bar. Five hours later we emerged.
Met a great group of dudes from Germany. They (6) all knew each other in grade school, and take trips together once a year and visit a city and party. What an air guitar nation they comprised-along with us lip-synchers, etc. I will definitely put this one on the list for next weekend when Naz visits before journeying on to Amerika- land of the free...
I think that is all for now. I'm needing to rest some more and it hurts to think. I think I need coffee though...
So, I left Gaziantep last week and made it to Istanbul. I've been frantically packing, unpacking, dodging tear gas (sometimes successfully but mostly not), playing musical apartments with my friends here that still seem to tolerate my aberrant behavior, walking, tweeting (in defiance of Mr. pm here of course, who deemed it 'evil'). Talk about motormouth that man... anything that he personally doesn't endorse, he doesn't see fit for Turkish citizens to partake in... I could go on and on about this, but I'm a bit burnt out on it- as with most my inner circle here I suppose.
To sum up the above paragraph, things seem to be winding down- in terms of the Gezi Park protests here in Istanbul. Ankara seems to be getting it this weekend... Perhaps the big rains yesterday morning dampened the protestors spirits- soaked more like it. Perhaps it was the pm's ridiculous demands, as well as the way he stated them in his Cro-Magnon dribble-speak.
So we made it all the way to Friday evening and oh what a night it was. The pauper twins showed up at SwissHotel for some tasty adult beverages while visiting friends from outta town. The trio of merry pranksters managed to come out unscathed (or still standing properly) and we all went on a field trip to Trio Pizzeria in Beyoglu with our guests. Damn it is good to eat good foot. I can proudly say that I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE FRICKIN KEBAP IN NEARLY ONE WEEK!!!
So after haggling with the taxi-cab hawkers and playing musical taxi-cabs, we got them off and back to SwissHotel for their next adventure- likely back to the Executive Club Lounge where we first started out. We, on the other hand, trotted off towards Nevizade looking for some action.
I remember one bar we were perched at and thinking, "Wow, there is nobody here." We decided that it had to be because of the ongoing protests. Weaving in and out of food traffic on Istiklal and the assortment of charming side streets, we made our way to a rock and roll bar- appropriately named Rock and Rollah Bar. Five hours later we emerged.
Met a great group of dudes from Germany. They (6) all knew each other in grade school, and take trips together once a year and visit a city and party. What an air guitar nation they comprised-along with us lip-synchers, etc. I will definitely put this one on the list for next weekend when Naz visits before journeying on to Amerika- land of the free...
I think that is all for now. I'm needing to rest some more and it hurts to think. I think I need coffee though...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)