Being Patient

No news is good news, right? From, us you can pretty much expect that. We have done two days of orientation now, pretty much a lot of sitting and waiting, with a few little signatures here and there. Apparently there is a nice mall that is shaped like the Titanic in Hawally (the area where we live), so we might check that out this afternoon.

We are in one of the computer labs in the school right, just waiting for the minibus to take all of us newcomers back to the apartment buildings. I'm feeling a little crazy, like I want to go to the beach or bungee jumping or something today, but I doubt that will happen. Maybe we'll just try to get some lunch first! Tomorrow we are supposed to get our room assignments and our materials. In reference to my last post, that will hopefully happen. We've found that people are fairly fluid in their scheduling. Someone can say that something will happen tomorrow, but it will probably happen in about a week. We laugh because everyone says that they will see us in 10 minutes, or something will happen in 10 minutes, but it really happens in a few hours. We are learning to be patient!

10 minutes

Ten minutes here usually means about three hours or the following day, and forget about an hour from now. You're looking at two days. We've had a few funny experiences waiting for things.

+Photo by quitelucid

another day

I'm spending some time at the cafe while Chris and the boys are having poker night, complete with a recently purchased hookah. I had fun tonight making pizza in my new pan for dinner, and then kettle corn for the guys. I also came to the conclusion that I will never be able to make it like my friend Krista. If only I had a Whirly Pop!

We have tried some new foods lately, like garlic pickle for spice and are now using powdered milk. It seems more economical and can last longer; just add water and go! I don't really drink milk, and Chris seems to love it, so I think we'll stick with that for awhile. We also ate freshly made shwarmas at the market the other day. Check out all the juicy details about them on wikipedia.

I know that we've done a lot lately, but I feel like there isn't too much to tell. Last night, Chris and I took a long stroll through our block and walked through many of the local shops. It was interesting to do at night because they all have these wacky neon signs. I'll try to get a picture up soon. On Sunday night, we wanted to go to a church service and it took about 2 hours to figure out where we were going. They sure don't make them easy to find...Alas, we made it after walking through a construction zone, and actually met up with a really nice lady who was the information officer of the American Women's league here. She's also a teacher at a different school, and she plays the French horn, so she and Chris hit it off. We are all supposed to do something tomorrow night, but I can't remember what. I'd better call her!

Thursday is our first orientation day at school. I'm really looking forward to having something to work on consistently. Surely, I enjoy being able to do whatever, whenever, but I like routines, too. We'll keep you posted.

-Photo from the rail trail near West Boylston, MA

Coffee, anyone?

Thanks for your comments! Also, thanks for being patient as we don't quite have the internet yet. There's nothing better than running down the street to hop in a smoky, pink 3 feet by 3 feet cubicle to type away, so I'll try to it more often. Seriously, I enjoy doing this, but we haven't been able to get here too much.

Someone asked, "Why is everything white tile?" Well, to the best of my knowledge, I think it's to keep things clean and efficient. Due to the excess amount of sand laying about outside, it's really easy to clean and also doesn't absorb the heat of the sun throughout the day. Actually, there are three different shades of tile, but you'd never be able to tell unless you're standing on it. (hint: Come visit!)

The past few days have been kind of a whirlwind. Everyday, we awake at one of the calls to prayer around 3:45am, which is still somewhat disorienting. Each mosque has a minaret, a tall tower with louspeakers hooked to it, from which the mullahs (muslim priests) announce to the neighborhood that it's time to wake up. Right now there are 6 calls each day, and we are usually getting out of bed by the 2nd (around 5:30). Despite getting used to that, I'm on a somewhat regular sleeping schedule, though it seems I can't stay up past 9:00 or so. Anyone who knows me well may have already guessed that I am getting about 8-9 hours a night and holding a regular sleeping pattern. Chris still doesn't sleep...

We are having a lot of fun with the new teachers moving into our building, and it makes for quite a group. There are six of us- I'm still the only girl- and we hail from Boston, Detroit, the UK, and good ol' Indiana, PA. My imitation of a middle-class British accent is steadily improving.

For anyone who's wondering, we now have a lime green shower curtain. I intend to accent that with a lime green wall clock :)

Cheers,
Stephanie

The 10th floor

Our HUGE bed
We have a dresser and two wardrobes
the white aparatus on the wall is a water filter
the stove and into the laundry room (where the refrigerator is)
Our friend T McK adorns the fridge
Bathroom- still needs a shower curtain
Living room and balcony complete with Chris on the computer
Our windows are reflective to keep the sun out during the day. I'm standing about 3 feet away from the balcony doors looking "in."
The view by day with the city center in the distance
The view at night; I'll try to get some better shots.

In Kuwait

By my best count, I think we arrived in Kuwait at 2:40am local time, Saturday. I guess that makes today Day 3? This has already turned out to be quite an adventure, starting with our luggage being lost, supposedly sent to Addis Ababa (spelling check, please). Thankfully, we received it yesterday afternoon, and now have more than two changes of clothes each.

Given the tough time getting here, we are loving everything so far. It's hot. And when I say hot, I mean it hurts to open your eyes sometimes because the air automatically dries them out. We aren't outside that much though, and everything here is air-conditioned, from the apartment, to taxis, to the supermarket. Yesterday I did a load of laundry (we have our own machines), and the dryer just didn't seem to be doing the job. So, I put the clothes over the rail on the balcony, waited for about 10 minutes, and presto! Completely dry.

We have a new friend, too. He's a recent graduate from Detroit and will teach English with us at the school. He lives just a few floors up from us, so the three of us went out to supper last night at a place called the Fish Market. There, you walk along a counter that has fresh fish, pick one out, and they cook it for you however you like. I can't even remember the names of the fish, but we had Thai noodles and saffron rice along with it- a very satisfying meal.

We've also made it to the supermarket. Our new favorite buy is flatbread, costing a mere 50fils per pack of five (that's about 20cents per pack). We also stocked up on known favorites like eggs, apples, hummus, rice, and onions, and picked a few new things to try. Something we really like is called Labneh, a yogurty/pungent spread that's like cream cheese. Something we don't care for too much is called Halawa, a sweet, sesame base spread that you are supposed to use on toast. I don't care for it at all, but Chris thinks that it tastes like a cross between fluffer nutter and peanut butter. I don't taste either.

At the school, we just took a basic tour of where everything is. The campus takes up an entire block, so I can count on getting lost once or twice when I have to navigate it on my own. We are about to go on a downtown adventure, though I'm not quite sure where yet. We'll see!

+Photo by creativesam

In Dubai

I guess we're finally in the Middle East. Our plane trip from NYC to Dubai was about 12 hours, although getting on that flight was quite a challenge. It's about 10:30pm in Dubai, one hour behind Kuwait time, and we arrived about an hour ago. Here are some of the "boring" details.

Our first flight from Pitt to NYC was canceled due to weather, but not until after 11pm. The airline gave us a hotel voucher, but sent us to a hotel that was already booked solid. We headed across the street and did end up staying in a nice room, not going to bed until about 1:30am EST. Yesterday (Was it yesterday? I'm a bit lost.), we took the 6:15am out of Pitt, which didn't actually leave until 9:30am. Needless to say, we missed our 11:00am connection in NYC, but after the re-booking process, we got to spend the day with our great friends Erin and Megan, who live in Manhattan. We didn't have to be back at the airport until about 9pm EST, so we spent the majority of the day hanging out in Chinatown and being pampered by Erin; at that point, we really needed it.

We caught the NYC to Dubai flight last evening at 11pm EST. The Emirates flight was the best international flight I've ever taken; it provided good food and services, I watched Nim's Island, 21, Prince Caspian, and I am Legend, and slept for about six hours. Chris did not really sleep. We didn't sit right next to each other, but in the same row with two seats and an aisle between us. We could call each other on the in-flight phone and occasionally make faces, so I was grateful. I shared an end row with a girl whose parents are from Afghanistan, but they have lived in Dubai for the last 12 years. Each summer, they travel to the States to visit extended family for a few months. It was cool to get some insider commentary on the Middle East.

We leave Dubai at 1am here, and are to be in Kuwait at 2:30. Once the welcome service helps us with our visa, etc., our school's van driver will take us to our apartment. I'm really excited to sleep and shower!

We'll try to update again soon.
Were in good Hands.
Love to all,
Steph

Picture Wednesday

Enjoying a family wedding
+ Photo taken by Cindy Guile, edited by me

Kayak Extravaganza- Part II

Right, so we're trapped in the middle of a river with lightning ever-approaching. What should we do but keep going?

My efforts to have Chris escape the same swift current that Erin and I faced were successful, as he steered clear of the trees in which we were caught; however, he was unable to stop himself and kept moving downstream without us and with my paddle. At some point he was able to pull up on a bank, and waited for what he remembers as nearly an hour.

In the meantime, Erin and I tried to figure how to get back into the kayaks while still in the water. It was literally impossible for us to wade to the opposite bank without being swept away, so we painfully managed to balance ourselves against each other and both made it in. Since I had no paddle, I was at the mercies of Erin's steering capabilities and held on to the front of her kayak while facing backwards to maintain our balance. I'm sure there was an easier way to do this.

We caught up to Chris in about 1/4 mile and were all able to portage at a low bank. The damage was assessed, which turned out to be just a few soggy snacks and some lost water bottles.

We headed back out, and the river was basically quick-water from then on, with the exception of one more set of rapids. First, Chris- fine. Then, Erin- fine. Finally, Steph- capsized. This time I took on the rapids feeling confident, but obviously too confident. I don't even know how I turned over, but I was able to dump the water out of my kayak and get back in with only a few minor cuts and scrapes.

The rest of the trip was easy, and we even spotted a few of what we thought were Great Blue Herons before it ended. Pretty Amazing.

+ Photo by tsiya

Kayak Extravaganza: Part I

Since I was up until the wee hours of the morning, I must have forgotten picture Wednesday. Here it is.

Now to the kayaking extravaganza...the extended version.

After a few hours of research and a few days to ponder the best choice, I handed Chris a list of kayak rental shops and rivers to forge while in Massachusetts. Although it would be $32/day for each of us to rent the necessary equipment, my hubbie decided to bless me by taking me up on a crazy idea. I should preface this story with the fact that a few weekends ago, he experienced what he describes as a long, arduous-paddle-of-15 miles-on-flat-water-with-a-strong-head-wind trip. I also convinced our friend Erin of the joys to behold from a 9-mile rough river experience, to which she agreed whole-heartedly.

We headed to the Fin & Feather Sports shop in Upton, strapped our gear to the roof of one car, and sought our put-in location. After passing it twice and unloading everything we'd need for the journey, we took one car to the portage point and drove the other back to the beginning. The turtle picture indicates the glimpse of nature we took in while paddling down a flat canal, the first stretch of our trip.

After going about a mile, we had to portage over to the river (get out and carry our kayaks about 20 yds. across land). We pressed on in a "swimming" fashion until I decided it might be a good idea to put on my life jacket, due to the upcoming rough water and the looming dark clouds. We passed through like pros, but came upon a series of tributaries that challenged our navigational prowess. Erin finally figured out that we had to pass over A TREE to get going in the right direction, a task which she conquered first and then helped Chris and I.

Once through, we paddled around the bend to another sticking point. Erin was the first to break free, and as I looked back for Chris, then looked back at Erin, I saw her kayak filling with water as she caught under a tree. I don't know how she escaped, but in another three seconds she was no longer to be seen. I didn't want to experience the same fate, so I paddled with all of my might away from the tree; I didn't succeed and was caught under the same tree with my kayak filling with water at a rapid rate. I made a few quick decisions that went something like this:
1. If I don't get out, I'm going to get sucked under and probably cut my head open on a rock. I need to get out of my kayak.
2. My shoes are missing. If I try to walk on the rock bed I will probably cut my feet and be miserable. I think I'm supposed to float with the current.
3. This paddle is pulling me under. I'll give it to Chris as he goes by.

As I was being rushed away, I yelled with everything I had back to Chris, in hopes that he would escape the same tragedy as Erin and I. Did I mention that by this time, we were in the middle of a torrential downpour that included thunder and lightning?

To be continued...

Explanation

After a few days of recovery and another handful of mini-adventures, here is the abridged version of the story behind the pictures.

The first picture is from a store in North Market, a hall in historic Boston. This is right next to Quincy Market, an entire building filled with every kind of cuisine one could imagine. The three of us (Erin, Chris, and myself) ate lunch and then ventured over into this touristy gift shop characterized by giant lobsters on the outside. Once inside, we snapped a shot with Barack Obama and will always try to pass it off as real.

After the shop, we strolled around a bit and walked out the long wharf to check out the sailboats and water taxis; this proved for some delightful pictures. Long ago, Chris and I pledged to try and stay away from the Freedom Trail, a path of sorts that runs through many of the historic sights of the North End of Boston. Once again, we found ourselves on it, but on this occasion it proved enjoyable and leisurely with a good friend.

Just off of the trail on Union Street is a series of large glass columns that act as a memorial, hollowed out so that a walkway runs through them. The six columns represent the six million Jews that were killed during the Holocaust; on each column are the numbers 0000000 through 6000000 in semi-random order, again representing the six million. There were some piercing quotes by Holocaust survivors that proved to be thought-provoking for us, etched in the walkway stone and on nearby granite monuments.

Then, we strolled through the Old Granary cemetery where the remains of your favorite patriot/brewer and mine, Sam Adams, are laid. A few blocks from there is Boston Common, half the size but twice the cleanliness and beauty of Central Park in NYC. And that was just Friday.

On Saturday, we had an intense kayaking trip (which is poorly illustrated by the last four pictures) that deserves a blog entry all to itself.
Until tomorrow...

Too short

At this point in the weekend, my body is revolting because of the things I've put it through. With that disclaimer, I will leave you with a short story through pictures of our friend Erin's visit in Massachusetts.