In the Foreign Service, summer is always a bittersweet time because the majority of our transfers take place in the summer. My boss and about half of our staff are on their way out this summer, and I (and a few others) are remaining for another year. This will be my first three year posting- all my others have been two years- and so I am finding this transfer season a little difficult. Truthfully, I have mixed feelings about this issue- part of me can't believe that I extended here because if I hadn't, I'd be packing up to go somewhere else, somewhere where the religious police don't raid a high school prom. On the other hand, the thoughts of packing out all of my stuff right now makes me hyperventilate; I need the next year to sort and get rid of stuff!
I have a lot to look forward to in the coming year. We have travel planned (maybe a safari in August, a trip home in the late fall and maybe to Asia for my birthday in the early spring) and my mom and sis are coming out to visit us for Christmas which should make for an interesting holiday. I am glad we have folks sticking around because it helps with continuity and I'm glad I have some more time to take some trips in the region (Oman anyone?). Of course, as the temperatures climb, I'm sure I'll be questioning the decision to spend another summer in Saudi Arabia!
There are pluses and minuses to leaving and to staying- too bad those columns seem to shift on a daily basis!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
catching up, after a fashion...
I've been gone for a while- work has been crazy and then I got to go home for two weeks for training and vacation.
The picture above is from my 20 year high school reunion which just happened to providentially fall when I was home for class- that is 4 of the 6 people who made up my group in high school and it was great to see them back at our old stomping grounds. We had a class of 55 and my group gets together (usually in pairs but sometimes in larger bunches) fairly regularly but it was still a great night and I think we all look pretty good!
I'm back in Saudi now and the heat has certainly started with a vengeance. Between that and the jet-lag, I've been a bit out of things for a week but have high hopes this weekend will help me get back on track.
My sister and I came up with a manageable plan to help me get started on cleaning and organizing this large house to winnow down before my packout in 12 months. She and my mom are coming out to visit in December for the holidays so I have to get those guest rooms in order to give them a place to stay!
Friday, April 6, 2012
wow, Egypt is just wow!
My sister and I had a wonderful week in Dahab (Sinai coast) and Cairo- the weather was great, the scenery unbelievable, and the food delicious. It was astonishing how few tourists we saw; our guides in various places all said that numbers were down about 80% since the revolution which is astonishing. We felt safe everywhere we went and were certainly well received by the Egyptians we met along the way. I'll definitely return- partly to see Luxor and Aswan, and partly to sit again on the beach in Dahab in a pod listening to the waves lap gently against the shore...
More pictures are posted on the photos page if you want to see the highlights of the trip.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
vacation here I come
well not quite yet but soon. since my training in Thailand got cancelled, my sister and I switched up our plans and are heading here:
We'll also hit the Red Sea coast (maybe Sharm el Sheikh, maybe Dahab) and hope to squeeze in a day trip to Petra. It will be busy but hopefully fun and I sure could use a break after the last couple of weeks...
We'll also hit the Red Sea coast (maybe Sharm el Sheikh, maybe Dahab) and hope to squeeze in a day trip to Petra. It will be busy but hopefully fun and I sure could use a break after the last couple of weeks...
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!
Friday, March 9, 2012
desperately seeking something
It has been one of those weeks. Work is super busy and only likely to get worse in the coming weeks. The weather is killing me- or rather the flying dust is killing me; I haven't actually been able to breath easily since I returned back from Dublin. I had training scheduled in Thailand that was also going to allow for a short vacation with my sis; now that training is likely off and so the much needed vacation is up in the air. Even the things I do for fun are feeling like a chore rather than a joy so my blogging and book reviewing are falling behind.
Today is one of those days when I wish I was home rather than here. Heck, I wish I was anywhere rather than here. I know that feeling will pass. I know that I'll get excited again about work. I know that the weather is due to change soon. I know all these things but today I don't feel them; here's hoping tomorrow is better...
Today is one of those days when I wish I was home rather than here. Heck, I wish I was anywhere rather than here. I know that feeling will pass. I know that I'll get excited again about work. I know that the weather is due to change soon. I know all these things but today I don't feel them; here's hoping tomorrow is better...
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Q&A Meme
Responding to a challenge posted by scb here:
1. Which of your ancestors would you most like to meet?
I would like to talk to my paternal grandparents. The immigrated from Ireland before independence and landed at Ellis Island. They both passed away before I was born but I would love to know more about them and their story.
2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Huh, this is a hard one for me given the career choice. At the moment, I can't help but thinking "there's no place like home" and wishing we were living back in the US, but I know if we were, I would soon go stir crazy. If I had money, celebrity money, I would love to have a home in Venice. I would love to have a small place in Ireland where we could vacation and see family. If I was going to plant myself forever in one place, I would want to buy a house in the neighborhood where I grew up in DC, a fixer upper that needed some TLC to rediscover its former glory. Sadly, that also takes celebrity money these days!
3. If you could have dinner with three contemporary celebrities, who would you choose?
Hard one for me as I'm not a big celebrity person. I think Angelina Jolie would be interesting because of the work she has done for the UN around the world. I would also think Christiane Amanpour would have wonderful insights to share based on her work as a journalist. Finally, the Queen of England I think is a fascinating woman who has seen so much in her lifetime and has taken her country through such upheavals that dinner with her would be a chance to learn.
4. What is your favorite piece of music?
I never studied music and so don't have much a background in classical music- I recognize a lot of it because of years of ballet, but never know the names of the pieces or the composers. I have a tragic love of 1980s glam rock, and a deep affinity for Irish music.
5. What was your favorite toy when you were a child?
As a tot, I had a very odd stuffed duck- green gingham and very well loved. I left him on a bus once in Ireland which was a crisis that led my mom back out at the end of a long day to go to the bus station downtown to see if anyone had turned him in (no easy access to phones in 1970s Dublin). She was crossing the street when she saw the duck in the front window of a bus just passing her, leading to my mom chasing down the bus to retrieve my precious duck (a passenger had turned it in to the driver, who finished his route and was on his way downtown to turn in both the bus and the duck). I still have the duck. When I got older, my big love was Lego. I still have that as well!
6. What is the last movie you saw (either in the theater or at home)? Would you see it again?
We just watched Beauty and the Beast in 3D; Brad had never seen it before while I found myself able to sing along to every song. I've seen it before and I'll definitely see it again.
7. If you could hire someone regularly to do one chore around your house, what would it be?
I already have someone doing many chores around my house which is a delight. I think the chore I hate the most is cleaning the bathroom, though I am also terrible at laundry which to me is so much work and so futile because clothes just keep getting dirty. I hate doing laundry, especially the folding and putting away part.
8. When you think of your favorite holiday or celebration, what sound(s) come to mind?
My favorite holiday is Christmas and I think of the carols from church.
9. Which is your favorite season, and why?
Tough one. Spring and fall trigger my allergies, while summer in DC is hot and muggy, and winter is often cold and wet. Years living in the Middle East and on the equator have taught me that what I really love is HAVING seasons; we had about three minutes of rain a couple of days ago which could be all we'll get this winter in Saudi. I miss rain.
10. Which book do you wish YOU had written?
So very many- Pride and Prejudice. Jane Eyre. Anna Karenina. To Kill a Mockingbird. Harry Potter. A Busman's Honeymoon. Anne of Green Gables.
11. Tidy desk or messy one?
Messy. Really messy. I think the only times I have a clean desk are the first day I move into an office and the last day I move out of one.
1. Which of your ancestors would you most like to meet?
I would like to talk to my paternal grandparents. The immigrated from Ireland before independence and landed at Ellis Island. They both passed away before I was born but I would love to know more about them and their story.
2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Huh, this is a hard one for me given the career choice. At the moment, I can't help but thinking "there's no place like home" and wishing we were living back in the US, but I know if we were, I would soon go stir crazy. If I had money, celebrity money, I would love to have a home in Venice. I would love to have a small place in Ireland where we could vacation and see family. If I was going to plant myself forever in one place, I would want to buy a house in the neighborhood where I grew up in DC, a fixer upper that needed some TLC to rediscover its former glory. Sadly, that also takes celebrity money these days!
3. If you could have dinner with three contemporary celebrities, who would you choose?
Hard one for me as I'm not a big celebrity person. I think Angelina Jolie would be interesting because of the work she has done for the UN around the world. I would also think Christiane Amanpour would have wonderful insights to share based on her work as a journalist. Finally, the Queen of England I think is a fascinating woman who has seen so much in her lifetime and has taken her country through such upheavals that dinner with her would be a chance to learn.
4. What is your favorite piece of music?
I never studied music and so don't have much a background in classical music- I recognize a lot of it because of years of ballet, but never know the names of the pieces or the composers. I have a tragic love of 1980s glam rock, and a deep affinity for Irish music.
5. What was your favorite toy when you were a child?
As a tot, I had a very odd stuffed duck- green gingham and very well loved. I left him on a bus once in Ireland which was a crisis that led my mom back out at the end of a long day to go to the bus station downtown to see if anyone had turned him in (no easy access to phones in 1970s Dublin). She was crossing the street when she saw the duck in the front window of a bus just passing her, leading to my mom chasing down the bus to retrieve my precious duck (a passenger had turned it in to the driver, who finished his route and was on his way downtown to turn in both the bus and the duck). I still have the duck. When I got older, my big love was Lego. I still have that as well!
6. What is the last movie you saw (either in the theater or at home)? Would you see it again?
We just watched Beauty and the Beast in 3D; Brad had never seen it before while I found myself able to sing along to every song. I've seen it before and I'll definitely see it again.
7. If you could hire someone regularly to do one chore around your house, what would it be?
I already have someone doing many chores around my house which is a delight. I think the chore I hate the most is cleaning the bathroom, though I am also terrible at laundry which to me is so much work and so futile because clothes just keep getting dirty. I hate doing laundry, especially the folding and putting away part.
8. When you think of your favorite holiday or celebration, what sound(s) come to mind?
My favorite holiday is Christmas and I think of the carols from church.
9. Which is your favorite season, and why?
Tough one. Spring and fall trigger my allergies, while summer in DC is hot and muggy, and winter is often cold and wet. Years living in the Middle East and on the equator have taught me that what I really love is HAVING seasons; we had about three minutes of rain a couple of days ago which could be all we'll get this winter in Saudi. I miss rain.
10. Which book do you wish YOU had written?
So very many- Pride and Prejudice. Jane Eyre. Anna Karenina. To Kill a Mockingbird. Harry Potter. A Busman's Honeymoon. Anne of Green Gables.
11. Tidy desk or messy one?
Messy. Really messy. I think the only times I have a clean desk are the first day I move into an office and the last day I move out of one.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Sick and tired of planning
Today was one of those days where I am reminded of how much I miss home. We had a holiday for President's Day and I was doing a bunch of stuff around the house when I realized I really wanted to go out. Not for anything special, just to go wander the mall and be out of the house and off the compound. Alas, such simple pleasures were not to be.
First, I had to call and wait for a driver. Then after I ran into the grocery store to get onions and bread, I realized that the mall wouldn't be open because it closes between morning and afternoon prayers. I did pop into IKEA to pick up a picture frame and some plastic bins and got out about 5 minutes before it closed for prayer time.
Every outing here requires forethought and planning. As a woman, I can't spontaneously run out to do anything, and even with a driver, my options during the day are limited because of prayer closures. Hitting the mall or a restaurant at 11pm is no problem, but 1pm is pretty much impossible. Some days it all just makes me tired, and today was one of those days.
First, I had to call and wait for a driver. Then after I ran into the grocery store to get onions and bread, I realized that the mall wouldn't be open because it closes between morning and afternoon prayers. I did pop into IKEA to pick up a picture frame and some plastic bins and got out about 5 minutes before it closed for prayer time.
Every outing here requires forethought and planning. As a woman, I can't spontaneously run out to do anything, and even with a driver, my options during the day are limited because of prayer closures. Hitting the mall or a restaurant at 11pm is no problem, but 1pm is pretty much impossible. Some days it all just makes me tired, and today was one of those days.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
brrrrrrrr...
Friday was a warm and sunny 71 degrees- short sleeve weather to be sure. Yesterday and today? 50s dropping to 30s at night. Wool coat. Scarf. Gloves. House heat kicked on for maybe the second time all year. No heat in my office so the scarf and gloves actually stayed on all day today.
Yes, I know this is not real winter. My last overseas post was Bosnia- first snowfall Oct 5th, last snowfall early April. Heck, we got feet of snow in DC my last couple of winters there. Still, I'm living in Saudi and coats/scarves/gloves are not the norm.
Part of me wants the temp to creep back up. Part of me delights in the chance to wear my winter clothes a bit (especially the super-cute scarf and gloves I picked up at Avoca in Dublin over Christmas). Part of me wants to document this chill to look back on in a few months when our temps hit 120+ with 90% humidity.
No snow here, but still a hint of January weather to enjoy. I'll take what I can get...
Yes, I know this is not real winter. My last overseas post was Bosnia- first snowfall Oct 5th, last snowfall early April. Heck, we got feet of snow in DC my last couple of winters there. Still, I'm living in Saudi and coats/scarves/gloves are not the norm.
Part of me wants the temp to creep back up. Part of me delights in the chance to wear my winter clothes a bit (especially the super-cute scarf and gloves I picked up at Avoca in Dublin over Christmas). Part of me wants to document this chill to look back on in a few months when our temps hit 120+ with 90% humidity.
No snow here, but still a hint of January weather to enjoy. I'll take what I can get...
Thursday, January 19, 2012
DIY Withdrawal
OK, I'm not going to talk about how I utterly failed at last weekend's To Do list. I'm not going to comment on the ongoing clutter issue that I just can't seem to muster up the energy to cope with these days. I'm not going to focus on the things I know I should be doing; instead, I'm going to talk about the things I want to be doing.
I want a DIY project. A dresser to refinish, a chandelier to modify, a footstool to reupholster. Something damn it where I can combine some blood, sweat, and tears with a little creativity to transform something from trash to treasure. Just a little project that would be good for my soul- something I could really use at the moment.
Of course, with no Craigslist in Saudi and a house full of brand new furniture that I don't own, such projects are pretty much impossible to find. I need a fix baby, a DIY fix, and yet there is none to be found, so I'll have to continue to live vicariously through others who are recreating by renovating while dreaming of projects for my next vacation. Thanks in advance to all of you for letting me peek into your process and for helping to take the edge off of my DIY withdrawal...
I want a DIY project. A dresser to refinish, a chandelier to modify, a footstool to reupholster. Something damn it where I can combine some blood, sweat, and tears with a little creativity to transform something from trash to treasure. Just a little project that would be good for my soul- something I could really use at the moment.
Of course, with no Craigslist in Saudi and a house full of brand new furniture that I don't own, such projects are pretty much impossible to find. I need a fix baby, a DIY fix, and yet there is none to be found, so I'll have to continue to live vicariously through others who are recreating by renovating while dreaming of projects for my next vacation. Thanks in advance to all of you for letting me peek into your process and for helping to take the edge off of my DIY withdrawal...
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