tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4832137891777054642024-02-07T20:09:49.818+03:00Middle East MosaicKatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-52630507814087470442012-03-26T12:25:00.000+03:002012-03-26T12:25:07.539+03:00Riyadh and the Desert<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Flying off to Riyadh, was just another week-end excursion. I can pack an overnight bag blindfolded! Lesley was still recovering from appendix op, so I looked like a Filipino maid with our luggage. Not an uncommon sight here!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Arrived on time in Riyadh, but sat in the plane for 45 minutes waiting for something to happen... Nothing new!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqbITxoRHJjjj2VwsxiAJcLa_g_LwGVf_CavyAxjNBBUt3RTszWPbbpXdFRNbzuhPG6fRB7E673CfUDGNNzjkWEBLcVkqpPB6GnHygSUqILX5-GDcx932QG1LuP-9ux5h2tw9VTlSN4uN/s1600/Riyadh-20120309-01834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqbITxoRHJjjj2VwsxiAJcLa_g_LwGVf_CavyAxjNBBUt3RTszWPbbpXdFRNbzuhPG6fRB7E673CfUDGNNzjkWEBLcVkqpPB6GnHygSUqILX5-GDcx932QG1LuP-9ux5h2tw9VTlSN4uN/s320/Riyadh-20120309-01834.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Driving into town at night was as nice as I remembered. The city is lit up at night and everything looks bright and sparkly – a city alive. It is the capital city of Saudi, chosen by the king because of ancestral ties to the area. Highways are superb. Buildings impressive. Shopping malls to get lost in (but only if you have the money). And the cars don’t look anything like the fucked-up antiques we see in our part of the kingdom. Here the sight of a Porsche, Ferrari, Camaro is not at all uncommon. Even on campus, because that is where members of the extended royal family study.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">William met us at the airport. In Jeddah I have Douglas and in Riyadh I have William. You will look far to find better hosts anywhere in the world. I know, I am totally spoiled. I seem to gravitate towards men who can cook! Evening meal was Moroccan lamb dish with carrots and sweet potato and all the spices required! In the morning we had kiwi, mango, grapes, banana... a health fanatic’s dream!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ow4igCD0oNBXN2-M0Q7EGyp4-yfb9uvTfFS272a83hour0ZYUu4wOLjmpuJ12KKoa-dtM3uhv9-_eT6XXjdYSIA2SL6CgwZMUUaDcZjOHxguAL4iuQZuH6JfUHuKX9GGLn1yHG48F_np/s1600/IMG-20120308-00351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ow4igCD0oNBXN2-M0Q7EGyp4-yfb9uvTfFS272a83hour0ZYUu4wOLjmpuJ12KKoa-dtM3uhv9-_eT6XXjdYSIA2SL6CgwZMUUaDcZjOHxguAL4iuQZuH6JfUHuKX9GGLn1yHG48F_np/s320/IMG-20120308-00351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">William had gone in to his office whilst Lesley and self had Kingdom Towers and the Sky Walk on our agenda. We stepped out the door, and immediately had a taxi pull up. Clearly indicated. Smart car. Meter running! Everything you can’t find in Abha! We got dropped off at the Mall and felt like royals ourselves. The building is 99 floors high, and a sky bridge joins the two towers at that height. We had to pay for the ‘privilege’ of going with a lift (no other option available) – equivalent of R70 each. To find.... nothing. An ugly sight of Riyadh by day. Grey and drab as the rock and sand. It didn’t look spectacular, it wasn’t scary, there was no revolving restaurant awaiting us, .... nothing. At that point I felt that Riyadh was totally fake and that we had perhaps wasted our money. </span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We went down to a floor known as the Ladies Kingdom. Only women allowed, so that the head covering (face cover) can come off. We saw many westerners. We no longer stood out. This time we were staring at them, rather than the other way round. Faces! These Arab women actually have faces! We sat down to have coffee. We would have had to pay R60 a cup! We smiled and walked out. Hell man, let’s go make some nice coffee at home! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdJExk4gBDSkBdefXnwAtkBYGZuRApogkdpdrbJHx1jOXTdO-fWHGT-YZCCdsX5jY6PzjJ1wruAwhiUmxXQt095m628Z-zGEfpknKlmfLwuZqE0xw3ZndliqZ820rkXP8P8dKi6LC82wQ/s1600/IMG-20120308-00356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdJExk4gBDSkBdefXnwAtkBYGZuRApogkdpdrbJHx1jOXTdO-fWHGT-YZCCdsX5jY6PzjJ1wruAwhiUmxXQt095m628Z-zGEfpknKlmfLwuZqE0xw3ZndliqZ820rkXP8P8dKi6LC82wQ/s320/IMG-20120308-00356.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We had gotten into a taxi at home, but had no idea how to describe ‘home’ to the taxi driver upon returning. Here’s the text from William which will explain why we were ‘lost’<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Drive down Olaya str towards Faisaliah but make u-turn at Tahlia str in front of Centrea Mall to reach Ya Mal Asham (which is slightly down from Jarir Bookstore but on opposite side)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For lunch we went to an authentic Sushi restaurant. That was Lesley’s request. Riyadh is the diplomatic centre, so almost anything can be found there. It was so good, that we even ordered take-aways. Our Filipino waiter goes by the name of Khalid. I asked him why he was wearing someone else’s name badge. He said it was the name he had taken when he had converted! Apparently they get offered money to convert! Then a Saudi man walked in, sat down and asked the waiter if they had anything other than sushi on the menu! Hello, it is clearly a sushi restaurant and no hamburgers or pork served!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYpVwN7yd0P6sQrsUkQL1PYA7fwYfAq0WKcQCT0pb0gqM2KoT7FmhCxD7Fl2qhF9u5pxrAq6GKmsQ0_vcTmgwTpJ3vQda1tuO8rx9WTm0J1WGGk9vfrKu1L4pT8rPvd_c4aPsfSSyYbc5/s1600/DSCN4416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYpVwN7yd0P6sQrsUkQL1PYA7fwYfAq0WKcQCT0pb0gqM2KoT7FmhCxD7Fl2qhF9u5pxrAq6GKmsQ0_vcTmgwTpJ3vQda1tuO8rx9WTm0J1WGGk9vfrKu1L4pT8rPvd_c4aPsfSSyYbc5/s320/DSCN4416.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdBmL8BxqQH_VgiZZU8Y5nlEdHuvB_r5dkMS16mV0lqdurmM41MPdXo_zh9un4VGqh8KJPpEkQukMJncL8-FBMXJrlGgZqGCyfWqIvc5mvecwpmtGJZaMdnkMl2DoeVsl0MPx_UnBKE5C/s1600/DSCN4418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdBmL8BxqQH_VgiZZU8Y5nlEdHuvB_r5dkMS16mV0lqdurmM41MPdXo_zh9un4VGqh8KJPpEkQukMJncL8-FBMXJrlGgZqGCyfWqIvc5mvecwpmtGJZaMdnkMl2DoeVsl0MPx_UnBKE5C/s320/DSCN4418.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After that, off into the sunset. Road trip I – to the Edge of the World, about 70 k’s outside Riyadh. Very dull countryside. No colour. No nothing. Even when we left the main road and went onto the gravel and into the desert proper, it was still unimpressive. Bumpy ride. No soft sand. Was quite hard on our patient. Once we hit a bad bump and when William asked her: “Lesley, are you okay?” Her response was a chirpy “I’m fine. I’m still in the car!” We started seeing camels and made William stop. He even veered off the road to get us closer to them. We saw more and more and it wasn’t such a big deal any more. That is, until we spotted a lonely one who seemed to be watching over something. We were about to drive pass when I noticed the baby trying to get up and realised what it was. Instant u-turn! Close up. Baby must have just been born. It could smell its mother’s milk and was trying to get up. First the front legs. Then they buckle. Then the hind legs. And they buckle. This went on for quite some time. We took enough pictures and even a video. It was so awesome I really felt like crying. I was so touched by what we had witnessed. How special is that? Unique. Privileged. Blessed. We moved on because the Edge was awaiting us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJ8hDEELmIlRyOiO6k4i_WqUjHGe-O0IWLC3Bv_YIJz0MPojR3pfh7w_jfNTp_7p7bRYR5xhbo6ygeknliE45XZz90ePJ5WpQnZmSno_i5arJBqV6gMJusruacIRpo6o6geKAd_y_obMJ/s1600/DSC_0405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJ8hDEELmIlRyOiO6k4i_WqUjHGe-O0IWLC3Bv_YIJz0MPojR3pfh7w_jfNTp_7p7bRYR5xhbo6ygeknliE45XZz90ePJ5WpQnZmSno_i5arJBqV6gMJusruacIRpo6o6geKAd_y_obMJ/s320/DSC_0405.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nothing could have prepared us for the scenery ahead. We stopped, got out and scrambled up the little hill.....<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was speechless. I had seen photographs of William’s. I kinda knew what it looked like. But the reality is simply beyond description. It has to be experienced. Awesome, awesome, awesome. And unspoilt. We had the place to ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is an escarpment, which ends abruptly and falls down, almost vertical, to the valley below. You can see the future in the distance. Amazing rock formations. And somehow this used to be the bottom of the ocean at some stage and fossilised seashells can still be found. The highest point is reached by following a narrow foot path. About 15 to 20 minutes’ hike. Not really difficult. Very do-able. But have no fear of height or conquer it to conquer the peak. There are no safety barriers, no chains, no ladders. Not even a sign to warn you that you are doing this at your own risk. I thought I’d never ever have the guts to stand on the Edge. The fact that William was prepared to do it, had done it before and is not that comfortable with heights either, gave me the courage to say “Yes, let’s go!” I did not allow myself to think. Did not look around at the scenery to see how precarious it was. I kept my eyes focused on the next meter ahead. In my madness, I had left my running shoes in the car and was doing the hike in orange sandals. I never once stopped till I reached the top. Even then I was still staring straight ahead, looking towards the horizon, rather than down! But what a feeling!!! The moment was amazing. Awesome. Unbelievable. Incredible (fill in as many words as you like) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabbz61Ba1223ZA4eUFGymuetpaFSacqvfnCTBu9tqJGIiup2UVmkSWYpcQt9g205x8ef2wpLUFPlV6gcUFPFtbPbrq45zDDotCeel69xj5KYVwULvE2t3IqAhIl-p5LnQzfYZECjwGAr2/s1600/122.+DSC_0295+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabbz61Ba1223ZA4eUFGymuetpaFSacqvfnCTBu9tqJGIiup2UVmkSWYpcQt9g205x8ef2wpLUFPlV6gcUFPFtbPbrq45zDDotCeel69xj5KYVwULvE2t3IqAhIl-p5LnQzfYZECjwGAr2/s320/122.+DSC_0295+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then reality set in: What goes up, must come down, and going down, you can’t ignore the surroundings. Everything seemed higher, narrower and more precarious. It was my turn to be scared, but only for the briefest of moments, because there was no way round it but to descend. Pure adrenalin carried me through. My feet were firmly treading, but my soul was dancing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Having reached the safety of open space and gentle slopes, I started looking at the rocks and stones. Wouldn’t it be the ultimate to find a fossil! And I did!!!!!!!!! And then William found one too, but he called Lesley over and made her ‘find’ it. What an unselfish gentleman!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pyM6sa-P-Dcc7q5_dQztkfHdaQ43ZmB5inXgsK1qk5lRLpsb43XDYgzOyaoL-asA8CITTmX7CTgxRlnrO2TRY0UWffvi79j6vv3TT36UPwIqxvmem4LnPsPVSzxW4PaAdztMaQbuckR7/s1600/IMG-20120309-01756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pyM6sa-P-Dcc7q5_dQztkfHdaQ43ZmB5inXgsK1qk5lRLpsb43XDYgzOyaoL-asA8CITTmX7CTgxRlnrO2TRY0UWffvi79j6vv3TT36UPwIqxvmem4LnPsPVSzxW4PaAdztMaQbuckR7/s320/IMG-20120309-01756.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was almost dark as we started the journey back. (There was a song playing that I had wanted to remember. Bryan Adams or Bon Jovi. “If you could stay the night, it would last me forever.” It’ll come back to me later.) Have no idea how William managed to find and stay on the winding dirt track. If you miss a turn, you’ll continue into another wadi and another and another until you end up on the wrong side of some border! At some point one passes through a gate. We were alone in the wilderness. The gate had been locked! The gatehouse is almost a km further. As we were contemplating our next move, with Lesley getting excited about the prospect of spending a night out in the open, the Rangers arrived having spotted our lights. Freedom!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigETZW1Uddjmq16fNBUYeBWOS82-sxYfDrpnbVNGJ0i2nXhvQZbHHPdxVkTNpMYLMYI5vM7_1F0vhTrPNNXcdv57zRt2CJVkUpJ9ORoG9YqRIKjC8Mb40iTgPfzvdw4yQ_JLpUCYXkLMoC/s1600/DSCN4598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigETZW1Uddjmq16fNBUYeBWOS82-sxYfDrpnbVNGJ0i2nXhvQZbHHPdxVkTNpMYLMYI5vM7_1F0vhTrPNNXcdv57zRt2CJVkUpJ9ORoG9YqRIKjC8Mb40iTgPfzvdw4yQ_JLpUCYXkLMoC/s320/DSCN4598.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We were not done with the desert yet, only grateful to be on the other side of the gate. We found a nice-looking thorn tree to accommodate us. Made a fire. Ate take-away sushi. Saw a hedgehog scuttling along at one heck of a pace. Saw a genet. (muskeljaatkat) Enjoyed the full moon to its fullest and ended our day on a perfect note. It couldn’t have been more perfect!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrGZoUuSSYeNuGlzBjrqpC5a6r43sL5yLwxR3BHLnyyeiR21SIoTOkD953xgRmCMXtqTSJxD3HWxH6nRPJG51PFk89WS-kgfmIB9_4_6PhhyznRZeLxfsKWdiINZJjFGhGzXboWE6eGlS/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrGZoUuSSYeNuGlzBjrqpC5a6r43sL5yLwxR3BHLnyyeiR21SIoTOkD953xgRmCMXtqTSJxD3HWxH6nRPJG51PFk89WS-kgfmIB9_4_6PhhyznRZeLxfsKWdiINZJjFGhGzXboWE6eGlS/s320/DSC_0041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Day two started bright and early. Coffee in bed at five, starting our road-trip at six. We saw the sun rise, but because of haziness, it wasn’t at all spectacular. I kept thinking it was the moon. This time the journey was shorter. Instead of going to the escarpment, we stayed at the bottom in the wadi (dry riverbed) We past modern day Bedouins and camels, camels and more camels. We stopped to take pictures. I guess it was feeding time and we looked familiar. They all came wandering towards us and were ever so loving and charming. Not smelly. No bad teeth. Soft and adorable. I fell in love! Next time someone offers camels in exchange, I will be much less offended. I will see the compliment for what it is.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaT_K55YidxFKdD8m9z61CBTbYup4dWFnAOQHnQu1SxowWAcNlz_TiOxrj3HbpR7xid3_92xlSMSHnbk3VAHoUqOhIZ5zjoGhyphenhyphenquzKALp4SPisMZYP1IOianyRd3JdED3SmWRgnJo90Xt/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaT_K55YidxFKdD8m9z61CBTbYup4dWFnAOQHnQu1SxowWAcNlz_TiOxrj3HbpR7xid3_92xlSMSHnbk3VAHoUqOhIZ5zjoGhyphenhyphenquzKALp4SPisMZYP1IOianyRd3JdED3SmWRgnJo90Xt/s320/DSC_0203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We arrived at our destination, low and behold, yet another thorn tree. Not quite as spectacular and picturesque as the previous one, but William is good at spotting the right tree. Breakfast/picnic was set up in no time. Fresh fruit and yogurt. Of course, no picnic is complete without Kit-Kats. And then we just chilled big time, enjoying the quiet, the remoteness, the rock formation. Observing camels drifting pass. William reminded us that we could look for more fossils. We wasted no time. Scattering in different directions, eyes glued to the ground, we spent the next hour fossil-hunting, each returning with a bag full of treasures. (Okay, a handful!) It is an addiction once you start, simply because success is almost guaranteed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs8gS8jkYZ6jEZs1mReGk79Wu7Y5Bs5AsiqEwnqO9F-S25Ooo2fD9Gxg6eZWs_6HBlcCVSkepkK4QItQsPFUoHbXlF6He99Vn8Y-Y_eaj3VDiTFv4W8XLrD2dyRHack9Of7AsALVB6kHK/s1600/k32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs8gS8jkYZ6jEZs1mReGk79Wu7Y5Bs5AsiqEwnqO9F-S25Ooo2fD9Gxg6eZWs_6HBlcCVSkepkK4QItQsPFUoHbXlF6He99Vn8Y-Y_eaj3VDiTFv4W8XLrD2dyRHack9Of7AsALVB6kHK/s320/k32.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By now it was 10 o’clock and it was starting to get a bit hot. It was time to leave. Reluctantly. In the car we drove with open windows and listened to “Going back West”. The setting was superb. The company was good. The atmosphere something to treasure. I am blessed. I know that for sure.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47x6uTe9lTJzlww8VFUekjAM2qRS2O7NUiLt0fsbckfpkHKa0gBbflCLtCvPS8M2Kx7idEQsewZoe5jwVY1tuU40Bou46Ht4z4b9RcTFMSJruUIR12hQj8-O4s7ARvsOth2araWo3YOC5/s1600/DSCN5015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47x6uTe9lTJzlww8VFUekjAM2qRS2O7NUiLt0fsbckfpkHKa0gBbflCLtCvPS8M2Kx7idEQsewZoe5jwVY1tuU40Bou46Ht4z4b9RcTFMSJruUIR12hQj8-O4s7ARvsOth2araWo3YOC5/s320/DSCN5015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There followed another brunch, a siesta, a visit to Faisaliah building, and then the drive to the airport. We arrived back at Abha at 10 pm. Our transport arrived at midnight. For two hours we sat at this rural airport, irritating the Mutawa (religious police) because we were so visible and men were staring and taxi drivers were getting excited and we were laughing too much. What the heck, laugh I will. We would have to go back to work in order to recover. It will take about five days and we will be fit again for yet another exciting week-end in the kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-69401844279092855382012-03-25T12:20:00.000+03:002012-03-25T12:20:33.665+03:00Everest is Not in Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In South Africa we celebrated Human Rights day on March 21. Not sure if anything was achieved by it. At my school in the Middle East, we held an International Day. Each class had to choose a country, research it and present it by way of displays. At least I know something was achieved. They now know where Spain is. They also know that it is not home to the highest mountain! Here are their responses to the question: What did you learn? Their average age is 11 and they are mostly from Pakistan or Egypt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQGWVVuBSCvoS3wE0DBa_Y1bjLPc1brqoCnY2Xnxtp2b2_TG3F4hFK3hVRq7svMxJRFSBMl5U2fbtVGHacww_6rF3LdmmlLhcX3667J_fVwQpznmVrW5nvAsl2K3WbBq3Ns84N-5dF_Yd/s1600/DSCN5352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQGWVVuBSCvoS3wE0DBa_Y1bjLPc1brqoCnY2Xnxtp2b2_TG3F4hFK3hVRq7svMxJRFSBMl5U2fbtVGHacww_6rF3LdmmlLhcX3667J_fVwQpznmVrW5nvAsl2K3WbBq3Ns84N-5dF_Yd/s320/DSCN5352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What is the most interesting thing you learnt about Spain?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Something you didn’t know before.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JAMES<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The strange food – they eat octopus! <i><span style="color: red;">(Almost everyone found that fascinating – or hard to imagine)</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ALLAHDAD<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Counting in Spanish – I can still remember how to count to ten. <i><span style="color: red;">(and he can!)</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ABDULLAH<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That they have artists (such as Picasso and Miro) – their art is interesting. <i><span style="color: red;">(Spain is more than just football, glad Abdullah found that out!)</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="color: red;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXInj49Bmdlj4ehwxAr4TVI2qFhWuwpsD6ovAxjYYeAc27Kx_-Z-nICA1yKY24wxCNL3Cj7CdiVN5SAi3WxqdJXE2V0kDBBLRoYu5J4fnwJLA4Mh0zwI3YVg2ahQ4pqJribFRTfGMj0v5_/s1600/DSCN5377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXInj49Bmdlj4ehwxAr4TVI2qFhWuwpsD6ovAxjYYeAc27Kx_-Z-nICA1yKY24wxCNL3Cj7CdiVN5SAi3WxqdJXE2V0kDBBLRoYu5J4fnwJLA4Mh0zwI3YVg2ahQ4pqJribFRTfGMj0v5_/s320/DSCN5377.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="color: red;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">RAMI<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Words in Spanish and artists – I didn’t know they had so many wonderful artists. <i><span style="color: red;">(Indeed!)</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AIMUN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That Spanish people bury dead bodies under their houses and take out all their organs!!! <i><span style="color: red;">(No, Aimun – those were the Aztecs!)</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They eat octopus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MAYA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That Macarena is a dance of Spain, <i><span style="color: red;">(forgot about Flamenco?)</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and that Barcelona is a Spanish team.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also: I learnt about the king; their food; and that Spanish is spoken in South-America.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SjhiP7iFN2jrMsMF0AnCJjNKfwXQAt5U_vf53FafqvViw9Sj1x9maq_opEvjZ7TFIKT_g83PtrSOJHjdwT941t6d7RZYuu1wwx5b7uz_GoAI04HbxKb0ROhyphenhyphenNuZInxmViA4MMSdtVg6s/s1600/DSCN5362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SjhiP7iFN2jrMsMF0AnCJjNKfwXQAt5U_vf53FafqvViw9Sj1x9maq_opEvjZ7TFIKT_g83PtrSOJHjdwT941t6d7RZYuu1wwx5b7uz_GoAI04HbxKb0ROhyphenhyphenNuZInxmViA4MMSdtVg6s/s320/DSCN5362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MOSTAFA WAFAEY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Spanish eat octopus and love seafood. I eat crabs and squid but will not eat octopus. <i><span style="color: red;">(and the difference being…?)<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NAWAAL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That Spanish people like seafood. I thought they liked Burritos and Tacos, but then I found out it was the Aztecs (guess they learnt from the Aztecs)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and that Pablo Picasso was from Spain (I thought he was British)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ANGELIQUE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Its culture. I’ve always wanted to know about their culture, the food, the people, the music, what daily life is like. It is exciting to learn about a different country. To me Spain is a country with light, fun and passion.<i><span style="color: red;"> (Angelique is South African and non-muslim – it shows! She will enjoy Spain.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="color: red;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ALVINA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The interesting thing about Spain is that they have very good football skills and they even won the 2010 Fifa World Cup (I was so happy when I found out that they were the champions!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ALIA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They like to eat seafood (I thought they liked pasta, same as the Italians); that Goya is Spanish (because I thought he was French); its capital city is called Madrid (got confused with Lisbon).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MAZEN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They drive on the right-hand side all the time <i><span style="color: red;">(And how is that different from where we are now?)</span></i><span style="color: red;"> </span>Here they drive anywhere, even on the sidewalks!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MINNAH<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They eat pigs, and most countries in South America speak Spanish.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MOSTAFA MAHER<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That the coach for Real Madrid is José Mourinho <i><span style="color: red;">(The most interesting fact!)</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AYA ALSERMANI<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The parts of the body (Spanish words for it!) <i><span style="color: red;">(Aya made a beautiful drawing to illustrate it – she thought the word for ‘foot’ is very funny – ‘el pie’ </span>– </i>“it looks like a pie”)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ASEEL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That Spain is the third largest city in the European Union and it is in the Iberian Peninsula. <i><span style="color: red;">(I’m sure she means Madrid – third largest after London and Berlin)</span> </i>The population in Spain is about 48 million. I found it interesting because I didn’t realise it was such a big country.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NAGHAM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It has the highest mountain (Everest) in the world. <i><span style="color: red;">(moment of confusion)</span></i><span style="color: red;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Subsequent research: 3404m Aneto – Pyrenees mountain range <i><span style="color: red;">(thank you, Nagham!)</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AYA JAWAD<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That the capital city is Madrid and they have the most important teams in the world. Never heard of Real Madrid or Barcelona before!<span style="color: red;"> <i>(So proud of you Aya! Life without that knowledge is still life.)<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjxJoKNKA4O1slqoHwJRXbqGIhoV1kTNQ_uy8SJc1IG7uj86V8ltQpfimboxzKykl1UaWRj2kE2Mz62DcuRKCMHRRqgnJhLx868oNlFX4hVbEUH1BTJ7mGPbbg111SYX75ryzWNaqyd8U/s1600/DSCN5364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjxJoKNKA4O1slqoHwJRXbqGIhoV1kTNQ_uy8SJc1IG7uj86V8ltQpfimboxzKykl1UaWRj2kE2Mz62DcuRKCMHRRqgnJhLx868oNlFX4hVbEUH1BTJ7mGPbbg111SYX75ryzWNaqyd8U/s320/DSCN5364.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br />
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</o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SARAH<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">About the artists – I like Miro! I also didn’t know the Spanish football teams. I thought Real Madrid was in Argentina! <i><span style="color: red;">(Given the number of foreign players in their teams, this is an honest mistake.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">RAWAN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I learnt the numbers. It is nice to know another language and in the future I would like to learn Spanish.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqd7egJtarebCyg1kvaZf64CuBZMUmhB_5W-sEBhYshbrQ9oavL8VYf0aOIeaH70fC0v7ia-BH7dRKitGvmZlBBSllOtiuLNr5J5B7wJPKpIQ7_C5Z-Oo6cxD1w7VPdS121Qqa3S8OU6j/s1600/DSCN5358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqd7egJtarebCyg1kvaZf64CuBZMUmhB_5W-sEBhYshbrQ9oavL8VYf0aOIeaH70fC0v7ia-BH7dRKitGvmZlBBSllOtiuLNr5J5B7wJPKpIQ7_C5Z-Oo6cxD1w7VPdS121Qqa3S8OU6j/s320/DSCN5358.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As for me, I told them about “Don Quixote” and without exception they all wrote it down as: “Donkey Cote, Donkey Khotey, Donkey Khtas, Donkey Khote, Donkey Khotay, Donkey Ghote… No wonder they were so amused by it! – I also did not think that <i>Flamenco dancing</i> is equal to <i>Flamingos dancing!</i> (<i>flamenco</i> is indeed the Spanish word for flamingo) - <b>Ms H</b><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-49015911311290571092011-11-28T19:06:00.001+03:002011-11-28T19:23:05.855+03:00Red Sea Diving - Saudi, not Egypt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><strong>Life is now. There was never a time when your life was not now, nor will there ever be - Eckhart Tolle</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUi0v2u4EUthjEBKjGhkottizfL1dFHWvWsyBTB8t5AJ6ZiJKaKd0QLrHhN7HIvq18jtuF3xAyclmS2vG3cXFHDbwCNWXpaxx7fXj-ejy3IRHc7FpvzKsvAnD1raV1eaIKrRTwoxrInZJ/s1600/P1011162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUi0v2u4EUthjEBKjGhkottizfL1dFHWvWsyBTB8t5AJ6ZiJKaKd0QLrHhN7HIvq18jtuF3xAyclmS2vG3cXFHDbwCNWXpaxx7fXj-ejy3IRHc7FpvzKsvAnD1raV1eaIKrRTwoxrInZJ/s320/P1011162.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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“How was your week-end?”<br />
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“Piece of paradise. Yours?”<br />
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Didn’t really care about the answer, cause I knew it could be nowhere near as nice as mine. C’mon – Red Sea diving, live aboard, French company... How much better can it get? Of course, I may have been wrong about the French company. They are a strange bunch. Speak only French and stick to their own kind – big time. Out of the 25 people (excluding the Filipino crew) only four were not French. Forget about the accent – 48 hours of it almost did my head in. Trying to understand the instructor who looked and sounded like Insp Clouseau, was hilarious though.<br />
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I’m use to men wearing board-shorts on the beach. But the French, they like their tiny costumes, irrespective of their own shape or size. They put everything on display without shame. Even use the tight-fitting garments to store lighters, Gauloise and i-pods (apart from the obvious). Fricken bunch of characters. <br />
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We live in the highest part of Saudi - 3000m to be exact. Driving to the Red Sea means going down the escarpment. It also means hairpin-bends and traffic in opposite directions using the same lane to overtake! Problem is that if you don’t drive as they do, yóú actually become the hazard. I asked the French driver if he was religious and could see the question made him feel somewhat uncomfortable. He mumbled that he was born Catholic. Told him not to worry, as I was religious enough for the both of us and that I had every intention of praying all the way to the bottom. Just as well, cause we passed an accident scene with bodies lying around! Negotiating the mountain takes about an hour. Driving to Al Lith takes five hours. Once down the mountain, the highway along the coast to Jeddah is not too bad. But believe me, some drivers still manage to overturn their vehicles. <br />
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My job (self-imposed) was to keep the driver awake. I talked a lot (not a problem for me). When I got tired, I offered food (which only I ate). Then I resorted to intermittent “Are you still okay”-s. Eventually he asked: “Are yóú still okay?”, which is when I realised I was perhaps not doing a very good job.<br />
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Finding toilets along the route could be problematic. Here’s a hint – find a mosque! They always have washrooms. Think it’s compulsory. You may perhaps not find a female section, but when in need, I can’t see the problem. Scared the hell out of few men though! Won’t go into the graphics of squatting and hole in the ground stuff, but the thought did cross my mind – how on earth do the old ladies cope?<br />
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Arriving at the marina was heaven. Tried very hard not to look and seem too excited and unaccustomed to all of this – but WOW! Boat is called Dream Diver. That it was indeed. My compatriot, Blondie, had rocked up for a dive week-end without as much as a mask. Had to purchase a wetsuit at the harbour before taking off. Quite surprising then that she actually did the max dives – 7 in all. Or maybe not. Probably got youth on her side. And cute blonde looks. (She’s great company, by the way!)<br />
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French all had a great reunion. Some of them came from Jeddah. They celebrated with pastis.(an anise-flavoured liqueur and aperitif from France, typically containing 40–45% alcohol by volume) And then red wine. (home-brew) It was the only time they drank, because all are serious divers. We spent the first night on the boat, although we only took off the next morning, just before dawn. We slept below deck, but as the engines started up, everyone was up and on the top (open)deck – the safest place to avoid sea-sickness. Thus we saw the sun rise and set every day for the two days we were on board. For me, already a taste of paradise. Some more magical moments when dolphins showed up. (regular occurrence throughout) Then the first reef. The first dive. Calm sea. Warm water. Gentle entry. Gentle exit. Crew who does almost everything but dress you.<br />
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Diving happened morning, noon and night. At 8h00, 11h00, 15h00 and 19h00. It’s wall-diving at its best. People grouped together according to their experience. It kinda just happened, almost like some cosmic unspoken law. I dived with people whom I’d never met before, knew not their names, and yet felt comfortable with.<br />
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Diving is exhausting. Ask anyone who dives. It certainly takes it out of me. So we dived, ate and slept and dived again. I got very good at doing the sleeping thing. Diving and boat and (hate to admit it), but yes, inexperience got the better of me on day 1. None of that on day 2. Sooo.oo.oooo needed to have a day 3. (Next time!)<br />
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The guys who went deep (40m) saw sharks. At 20m, all I saw was fish – fairly small fish. Lots of them. Thus, on the last day, the last dive, I bailed and went to explore the little island of Mar Mar. It is a breeding ground for turtles. Didn’t see any turtles, but saw all their tracks. (The divers saw turtles) You know, anywhere else in the world, people would not be allowed anywhere near such an island. This seems to be in the middle of nowhere. Like the Life of Pi – in the middle of the ocean, you come upon a sandbank.<br />
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I can’t adequately describe what I saw, felt and experienced. Even the pictures do it no justice. All I can say, when asked about it:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I had a taste of heaven, a piece of paradise.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-56263189359740791842011-11-27T07:45:00.001+03:002011-11-27T07:50:44.117+03:00Qatar - where everything comes together<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Said I wanted to visit my friends, no matter if I had to travel halfway round the world or on to Siberia. Fortunately it was a lot easier than that - the neighbouring country of Qatar. Beautiful Doha, where the old and the new come together in perfect harmony.<br />
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I remember getting rid of the compulsory black abaya as I stepped onto the plane in Riyadh. I felt such a sense of freedom, and I felt that way the entire week that I was in Doha. This little country in the Middle East where one can actually be oneself without offending. Nobody stares. Everyone does his/her own thing. It is so amazing to see diverse cultures living together, untroubled and unfazed.<br />
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The airport was a happy place. It felt open and friendly. My companion on the plane was an Egyptian nurse, working in Riyadh and visiting friends in Qatar. She phoned the driver who had to pick her up, and said: “I’m wearing a black abaya and headscarf” How is that gonna help him?!!! At least another 100 also looking like that. I could have said: I am wearing jeans and an orange t-shirt. A lot more helpful, I would imagine. But I enjoyed her company and we were together on the return flight, chatting away like old friends.<br />
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In Doha I was welcomed by my dearest friends who had made a poster to welcome me. It was soooo..oo..oo special. The guard kept pointing me to the exit door, and I thought: I know, I can read...but then I saw he was pointing at the poster. That obvious, huh?<br />
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I have many memories and at first all the images was rushing through me at 100 mph. So much to see and take in. You can’t miss the skyline filled with skyscrapers. You can’t help but notice construction of new buildings. Its bubbling and vibey and spells: growth. Some kind of a future – 2022 and beyond! I still smile when I think of the World Cup night when they won the bid. Of course money is involved in any such bidding, but hey, I still think it was pretty amazing that they managed to pull it off. Go Qatar!<br />
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On Friday morning it was brunch-time at the Movenpick Hotel. I could have stayed at the sushi table all morning. But then Beef Wellington... how can you not say yes? And a chocolate fountain with fresh fruit to dip in. And a cheese platter to die for. Haven’t seen proper cheese in any form, shape or size for ages. Not part of the Saudi bouquet. Add to that copious amounts of bubbly and red, great company – and I can’t imagine it being more perfect than that. In good Welsh lingo: it was LUSH. <br />
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There was a day spent on the beach. Bit of a drive through barren landscape. And yet, the road was excellent - a modern highway with multiple lanes and clear signposts (in English) at every turn-off. God knows where it leads to! The signpost could be bigger than the place it’s indicating. Don’t have any preconceived ideas about the beach. Long stretch of sand that meets an ordinary-looking sea. Apart from us, we had half of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (whatever) enjoying it with us. Again, freedom to wear costumes and skimpy tops and simply be. I was so enjoying the beach and sun-worshipping, I never actually went into the water. Pity. I was leaving it till later, but the weather changed. How the hell does the weather change in the Middle East! Blown away by wind. Unreal! But I remember nursing a cup of tea (gotta love the British for that) and eating chicken off a barbeque made without the help of firelighters – Jay the miracle-worker to thank for that. Funny how good something tastes if you almost didn’t have it!<br />
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Qatar has got nice shopping malls. I’m not a Mall-rat, but having been deprived of it, I thoroughly enjoyed frequenting those. The joy of trying on clothes, drinking coffee, having MacD’s, window shopping, pretending to be very rich (didn’t fool anybody). In my own country I expect to be free and have almost everything available at all times. It’s not a treat. In Qatar, neighbouring Saudi, I didn’t know what to expect, and was therefore totally overwhelmed. To put it mildly: pleasantly surprised.<br />
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We did have a trip planned to the dunes – the singing sand dunes. Unfortunately that never happened because of all the unusual things one could experience, I also experienced rain in Qatar. Not a drizzle – proper rain. Bucketsful. And the dunes don’t sing when wet!<br />
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We spent a rainy day at the Souk Waqif. Now that is something to behold. I like the old stuff. Little alleys and shops and Bedouin-style jewelry and rugs. A street full of cafes and sisha’s where women are as welcome as men. The ambience is out of this world. Of all the places to be when it rains, we chose the best – holed up in a sisha cafe. Another perfect day. Must also make mention of the falcons and Arabian horses that fills a separate corner of the Souk. Tell you, if I had to live there, I’d skip the hotels and high rises, and head for the Souk as often as possible. That would be the place I’d like to hang out at.</div><br />
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I ate too much, drank too much, slept too little and talked too much. It was only a week, but felt like a month. It was worth it. Absolutely worth it. On the last day we went to the corniche and the Dhow harbour. The day before I went to The Pearl – super smart marina with luxury yachts. Nice to see, but once only. As for the Dhows and the simple fishing boats, that’s more my style. We went to look and take pictures, but my friends had a surprise in store – a ride on one of the dhows, impromptu, cheap, and the best way to end my visit to Qatar. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpc6KlVXMy1mf9NCPCaT7RgighHbrIN6tC-ahg3mccF3xJsAPzJ_q7OjNK0ZB7349AVwpVPQ0k9wfNhy6UC0E1CRaUd7utKZ__TbTHIWPbmm4tEPoCOoEmaNhb_DZj5JEDEiQJMgvMu38/s1600/P1011792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpc6KlVXMy1mf9NCPCaT7RgighHbrIN6tC-ahg3mccF3xJsAPzJ_q7OjNK0ZB7349AVwpVPQ0k9wfNhy6UC0E1CRaUd7utKZ__TbTHIWPbmm4tEPoCOoEmaNhb_DZj5JEDEiQJMgvMu38/s320/P1011792.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So many places to see and so many things left to do – not sure whether my journey will take me back to Qatar, but I’d like to think so.<br />
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</div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-8353652272634476342011-10-27T10:44:00.000+03:002011-10-27T10:44:25.548+03:00Movies - an escape<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VctTxvlb_XnCzGZlvwlp5GZyleqqcskSEnw7-nZ82EIkAqDOHqIAf8ZLhCjNXfJBTM5u-GSxNfaGpKi6o3_IMgF-AVpgtFwVSrNaP9AO0pFtW_6x1lzEIje99PnP_TOomjjTSot9Ub1n/s1600/atthemovies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VctTxvlb_XnCzGZlvwlp5GZyleqqcskSEnw7-nZ82EIkAqDOHqIAf8ZLhCjNXfJBTM5u-GSxNfaGpKi6o3_IMgF-AVpgtFwVSrNaP9AO0pFtW_6x1lzEIje99PnP_TOomjjTSot9Ub1n/s320/atthemovies.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>Watched today:<br />
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Paper Man – Jeff Daniels, Lisa Kudrow<br />
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Want to see (again): <br />
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Strawberry and Chocolate (Spanish/Mexican)<br />
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Movie list so far (downloaded for me by some1):<br />
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Paying it Forward (The song: calling all angels...)<br />
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A Star is Born (If you die, I’ll kill you.)<br />
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Requested: <br />
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As Good as it Gets (You make me want to be a better man... and the title)<br />
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Next request: <br />
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Capt Corelli’s Mandolin (The music!)<br />
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All time favourites:<br />
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Inn of the Sixth Happiness (First childhood movie memory)<br />
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Zorba (Teach me to dance.)<br />
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As it is in Heaven (That song!)<br />
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The Band (The setting)<br />
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The Concert (The story)<br />
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Babette’s Feast (The principle)<br />
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Out of Africa (The love...and Mozart’s music)<br />
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Favourite movie quotes (from Kiss of the Spider Woman): <br />
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I will find my escape in whichever form I damn well please (close enough)<br />
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and<br />
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What I understand is me offering you a bit of my lovely avocado and you throw it back in my face.<br />
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</div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-52774855899681586252011-10-14T14:04:00.000+03:002011-10-14T14:04:05.353+03:00Jeddah - City of Contrasts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One random week-end in Jeddah</span><br />
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PORT<br />
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Jeddah – city of contrasts, city of surprises. It’s a port city. Seaport, airport and principal gateway to Mecca, Islam's holiest city, which able-bodied Muslims are required to visit at least once in their lifetime. It is also a gateway to Medina, the second holiest place in Islam. I know King Abdul Aziz airport very well. Have spent many hours there catching connecting flights every time I travel. Started off sleeping with the pilgrims on the benches, then discovered the VIP lounge where you can buy your way in (legally, not through bribes!) and finally, after one glorious week-end, I now have friends with transport and proper beds that would shorten those uncomfortable hours of restless sleep. Heck, we will even take earlier flights into Jeddah and later flights out! <br />
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First contrast – Abha’s airport compared to Jeddah’s. We arrived at this fairly rural airport to catch the 8 o’clock flight. At 8 o’clock was told it was delayed till 12. At 12 told we would have to wait a further hour for an announcement and at 1 told the flight would now take off at 4 a.m.!!! Couldn’t be bothered to translate any of this. I almost boarded a flight to Riyadh as a result. What a start to the week-end. Missed the party organised for us in Jeddah. Disrupted our hosts’ sleep too and seriously did some re-thinking on regular visits to Jeddah.<br />
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Flew into Jeddah at 5 a.m. with almost no sleep and our time reduced to two days.<br />
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COSMOPOLITAN<br />
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The guys had organised some spear fishing. Their regular week-end entertainment. It did not include us. We had three hours sleep and then took taxi into town. Second contrast. Walk out the door. Catch a taxi. Difference between city and country life. Taxi’s are freely available. Women can travel with ease without being stared at all the time like you’re from some other freaking planet. In fact we even found a taxi driver who was a smoker and didn’t object to smoking in his taxi! We got dropped in the town centre and felt quite lost, ... for two seconds only. People in Jeddah are friendly and helpful. Cameras are not frowned upon either. We saw expats who were approachable. Asked two women directions. They were French but we managed. Then asked a Filipino lady – turned out to be a man. Never mind. Honest mistake. We weighed ourselves on a digital scale that measure your height and weight and gives you feedback. Don’t think I bothered to read my results. We walked inside, outside, across the square – saw pigeons! I swear their are no pigeons in Abha. Could have been Trafalgar Square or Church Square or any city’s square. Enjoyed watching the Arabs feed pigeons. Wow. Some outing! (sorry, that was maybe a bit rude)<br />
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“Jeddah has received millions of pilgrims of different ethnicities and backgrounds, from Africa, Central Asia, Russia, Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East, some of whom remained and became residents of the city. As a result, Jeddah is much more ethnically diverse than most Saudi cities and its culture more eclectic in nature (in contrast with the more geographically isolated and religiously strict capital, Riyadh). In comparison with other cities of Saudi Arabia, women have greater freedom of movement here; they are not required to wear a veil in public, and religious police are less active here. Jeddah is one of the most cosmopolitan, diverse, and tolerant of all Saudi Arabian cities.” Wikipedia Travel<br />
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OLD CITY - AL BALAD<br />
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Excavations in the old city suggest that Jeddah was founded as a fishing hamlet in 500 BC by a Yemeni tribe.<br />
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Al Balad is a warren of ancient buildings and traditional souqs (markets), and the teetering, multi-story coral houses that Jeddah is famous for. Unfortunately, coral is not a very durable building material, and most of the buildings are in disrepair. Spend time wandering around the old city and get lost in the seemingly endless souks. You will find yourself in another world and entirely 'in' the world, surrounded by people from all over the Arab world, Asia and Africa. (A photography permit is theoretically necessary, but in practice nobody seems to bat an eyelid as long as you don't stick your camera in people's faces without permission.) <br />
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What was left of the walls and gates of the old city was taken down in 1947. A fire in 1982 destroyed some ancient buildings, but much is still preserved. A house-by-house survey of the old districts was made in 1979, showing that some 1000 traditional buildings still existed.<br />
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When Jeddah began to become wealthier due to the oil boom, many Jeddawis moved north, away from Al-Balad, as it reminded them of less prosperous times. Al-Balad had insufficient parking space for large cars. Its stores did not sell expensive designer clothing. Poor immigrants moved in place of the Saudi population. Balad is a beautiful blend of the modern and the classic where the glass facades of modern skyscrapers rub shoulders with Historical buildings with the distinct horizontally embedded wooden beams that has come to symbolize Balad over years. <br />
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Balad can be a Shopper's Paradise. Balad has a plethora of upscale shopping centers with high-end fashion brands from Milan and Paris, along with the traditional street vendors and open air Souks. Many Saudi companies are headquartered here. The most famous of which is the National Commercial Bank. The award winning structural design is the widely regarded as the first Arab Skyscraper and features Gordon Bunshaft at his best.<br />
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NASSEEF HOUSE<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiA2WF7Y4xx01t5ltXwAzzNINpO3NIU9qz3uNn82PldVc7IsS1h7Pyb8oJ_J0LR4NIrwt5NmPO99BfOLKU7z0U13lKhFcfl-9d4Q0_XUj1txxGhKVds1UfvBDPjP64p0wPxuJhB1F6byI1/s1600/P1011269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiA2WF7Y4xx01t5ltXwAzzNINpO3NIU9qz3uNn82PldVc7IsS1h7Pyb8oJ_J0LR4NIrwt5NmPO99BfOLKU7z0U13lKhFcfl-9d4Q0_XUj1txxGhKVds1UfvBDPjP64p0wPxuJhB1F6byI1/s320/P1011269.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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The construction of Nasseef House on old Jeddah's main street, Suq al-Alawi, began in 1872 and it was finished by 1881 for Omar Nasseef Efendi, member of a wealthy merchant family and, governor of Jeddah at the time. When Abdulaziz Ibn Saud entered the city in December 1925, after the siege of Jeddah, he stayed in the Bayt Nasseef. During his early stays in the city he used it as royal residence and received guests here. John R. Bradley, author of Saudi Arabia Exposed: Inside a Kingdom in Crisis, described the Nasseef House as "kind of social salon" in the 1920s, as consuls and merchants gathered there.[ The house belonged to the Nasseef family until 1975, when Muhammad Nasseef turned it into a private library that eventually accumulated 16,000 books, which could be read by anyone visiting him. Today these books belong to the central library of King Abdulaziz University. <br />
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People used to recognize Nasseef house as "The House with the Tree" because it was the only house in Balad that had one. Obviously, growing a tree was not an easy task because of the scarcity of water. The tree grows on a little square on the north of the house and is a neem tree (Azadirachta indica). This may well be the oldest tree in Jeddah.<br />
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OPEN-AIR ART<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzAKxoIX3x528bm5lVrP10fnzJiQdB7Vwp4FQZXvvAap2AUXflfkHG4cxPcyPwFkdnph6TJRmlmwAm437bZGzHWb_edsR7cXF0xpX6kCqC1-whd-stxQcgX_mID02_ZpWuF_YQugkdvOY/s1600/1_1247851955_decorative-structure-jeddah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzAKxoIX3x528bm5lVrP10fnzJiQdB7Vwp4FQZXvvAap2AUXflfkHG4cxPcyPwFkdnph6TJRmlmwAm437bZGzHWb_edsR7cXF0xpX6kCqC1-whd-stxQcgX_mID02_ZpWuF_YQugkdvOY/s320/1_1247851955_decorative-structure-jeddah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZFLXgJ2ECn-kJTPPk_QU8c-PONsBjcxG9_lADX5mwoFAOgpaO8D-DEwdULd8oo6-aSphGwUDMEUPUOeogWhB5aj0ILZIPuL0-In-VJzQ1r2kUt7DgI-9DBUWsBOIJDvccZliYUuEdHZf/s1600/jedda+fist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZFLXgJ2ECn-kJTPPk_QU8c-PONsBjcxG9_lADX5mwoFAOgpaO8D-DEwdULd8oo6-aSphGwUDMEUPUOeogWhB5aj0ILZIPuL0-In-VJzQ1r2kUt7DgI-9DBUWsBOIJDvccZliYUuEdHZf/s320/jedda+fist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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During the oil boom in the late 1970s and 1980s, there was a focused civic effort to bring art to Jeddah's public areas. As a result, Jeddah contains a large number of modern open-air sculptures and works of art, typically situated in roundabouts, making the city one of the largest open-air art galleries in the world. Sculptures include works by a variety of artists, ranging from the obscure to international stars such as Jean/Hans Arp, César Baldaccini, Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Joan Miró and Victor Vasarely. They often depict elements of traditional Saudi culture: coffee pots, incense burners, palm trees, etc. The fact that Islamic tradition prohibits the depiction of living creatures, notably the human form, has made for some very creative modern art, ranging from the tasteful to the bizarre and downright hideous. These include a mounted defunct propeller plane, a giant geometry set, a giant bicycle, and a huge block of concrete with several cars protruding from it at odd angles. (I realise now why the camels looked more like giraffes and the horses were cut in half)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7OsfHOHCekpFQKbqN5PSxcexW6OPjbMeJgAlAYUJik5Ve6XyJlO6vzEMfVr3Jkoq5j1ybDCyQiLe6E_PIiFven8f9QsnCINZUR7FDorlU3jxhtZA2uuyxUNBw-bzTlfJXrXrG32nZdaf/s1600/JeddahCars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7OsfHOHCekpFQKbqN5PSxcexW6OPjbMeJgAlAYUJik5Ve6XyJlO6vzEMfVr3Jkoq5j1ybDCyQiLe6E_PIiFven8f9QsnCINZUR7FDorlU3jxhtZA2uuyxUNBw-bzTlfJXrXrG32nZdaf/s320/JeddahCars.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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SHOPPING<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJD0zbLrSxu9yHm2Gb5nDVZNR3ZUPvEqc8rBna6rQ4byHRwNSa6pldd8GCJjkxKR-Km2wKF1_8oqU7_iXyEmpCItoNKLpScAgNWAq6UpLl9thjZGsNYcSUw3UGwtmV88Ug9LFNEQZWzRJd/s1600/P1011281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJD0zbLrSxu9yHm2Gb5nDVZNR3ZUPvEqc8rBna6rQ4byHRwNSa6pldd8GCJjkxKR-Km2wKF1_8oqU7_iXyEmpCItoNKLpScAgNWAq6UpLl9thjZGsNYcSUw3UGwtmV88Ug9LFNEQZWzRJd/s320/P1011281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Jeddah markets are known for their reasonable prices. One of the most famous shopping districts in Jeddah is Tahlia Street.It is an important fashion and shopping street in the mid-town of Jeddah. It contains many upscale department shops and boutiques, such as Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Burberry, Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Versace, Massimo Dutti, Tod's, and many more. It has been renamed to " Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz Road". (Not only in South Africa – what’s with people and name changes!)<br />
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LANDMARKS<br />
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King Fahd's Fountain is a major landmark built in the 1980s and listed by the Guinness World Records organization as the highest water jet in the world at 312 metres. It can be seen from a great distance. <br />
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A proposed tower to be built in Jeddah by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal is the Mile-High Tower, or Kingdom Tower, that will stand 1.6 km into the air. Upon its completion, this would make this skyscraper the tallest in the world. (Please. Looking at the construction sites in and around Abha, how different is Jeddah, and will I trust their workmanship? They only use foreign (read: cheap) labour. Good luck! May Allah keep it standing)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4EX5z0Up7TqMCe6JxJN16JdWIRgd4n2Qo_iOZG-pKnKTxddGhagLqtwCHeAm1FUQ6fmi9Or_OCVROV6kBfyZiJsg5F9j6clVdYqmihTmd24gC4-8nFMjtBoLElWFXC5hj606VTVEUhdx/s1600/P1011371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4EX5z0Up7TqMCe6JxJN16JdWIRgd4n2Qo_iOZG-pKnKTxddGhagLqtwCHeAm1FUQ6fmi9Or_OCVROV6kBfyZiJsg5F9j6clVdYqmihTmd24gC4-8nFMjtBoLElWFXC5hj606VTVEUhdx/s320/P1011371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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RED SEA DIVING<br />
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Our second day in Jeddah was spent at a private beach. Nothing fancy about that, it just means it has restricted access. If you enter you sign an indemnity which is actually aimed at Saudis – you enter at your own risk and may not complain about anything you see which you might find offensive!!! But then photography is forbidden and there are some rules of ‘decency’ in place.<br />
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Some Muslim women swim in a full body suit, suitably covered (headscarf included) They actually turn it into a fashion, and if you are a bit self-conscious about extra weight, I can actually see the point. We did not follow suit. <br />
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Scuba diving is a major draw for expats in the Kingdom, although the Saudis themselves seem oblivious to the treasures that await offshore. We did not dive because we were due to fly later that evening. We did however snorkel. With incredible visibility it almost seemed redundant to dive. Apparently the flora and fauna are quite similar to what you'd see on Egypt's Red Sea Coast or off the Sinai Peninsula, only minus all the tourists. Brilliant way to end a great week-end. Amost.<br />
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AL BAIK<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQNgAamq0_SNh-Li9sSEB8V8z4q9HkB13PNV3tmgLTlECbxCg6QLu2zCIDiCuV0A5lcIRhdIJF17tcCjqSbFS3GD7CawQtZ2hGRdEV3d443v6IDgtnd_dB44heOz1lQeb8_cXcXWMhVc5/s1600/albaik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQNgAamq0_SNh-Li9sSEB8V8z4q9HkB13PNV3tmgLTlECbxCg6QLu2zCIDiCuV0A5lcIRhdIJF17tcCjqSbFS3GD7CawQtZ2hGRdEV3d443v6IDgtnd_dB44heOz1lQeb8_cXcXWMhVc5/s320/albaik.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Two friends started a fast food franchise called Chicken Broast. The one was of the opinion that they shouldn’t try and Americanise it, but stick to a Saudi style of fast food. They couldn’t come to an agreement and the partnership broke up. The Saudi supporter started Al Baik. It is now more popular in Jeddah than McDonalds, KFC or Chicken Broast. We stopped for some Al Baik. I was sent in because there was a male queue and a female queue, the latter being much shorter. And I must agree, you can’t visit Jeddah and not have Al Baik. Our final memory of Jeddah will be in my mind when I plan my next trip. <br />
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Can’t wait to go back to Jeddah!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UWIrxArUgaK6mqC59F-A8s3GYH0xQbzXqSCR5b0b7-m8ltLe5Mu9_ZDtQl15QL84_Sp4Cn4wUXT_4Z73bWyd1qViZWtJlQq5g9FlmCpCfSc6ec2DF9XeOlzYYO-ABP8Oi7p2hd07DaVh/s1600/jedda+at+nite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UWIrxArUgaK6mqC59F-A8s3GYH0xQbzXqSCR5b0b7-m8ltLe5Mu9_ZDtQl15QL84_Sp4Cn4wUXT_4Z73bWyd1qViZWtJlQq5g9FlmCpCfSc6ec2DF9XeOlzYYO-ABP8Oi7p2hd07DaVh/s400/jedda+at+nite.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-69058171523934880272011-06-15T09:55:00.001+03:002011-06-15T10:00:58.262+03:00FB status of teenage friends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have taught kids for some years now - they have enriched my life and I have been blessed by all who crossed my path. As they have moved on (and me too), they have allowed me to remain part of their lives. They allow me in (I think) because I don't pass judgement. I just let them be - a quiet observer. You learn a lot from reading their FB updates.<br />
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These were taken on one random day (the kids are South African and between the ages of 15 and 19)<br />
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<h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Vani</span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: normal;">The Hunger Games.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: normal;"><br />
<span class="messagebody">One of best books I've read in a long time :)</span><o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><span class="messagebody"><br />
</span></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><span class="messagebody">Lesedi</span></span></h6><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">Scenario: Guy's datin girl, Girl kisses other girl. Is that cheating?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><b>Terrence</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">Ja neh rytng IT on tuesday an its a practical gda no ma codein</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><b>Vule</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">I hate people that say, "He's a nice person once you get to know him." They might as well say, "He's a jerk but you'll get used to it."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><b>JJ</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">Are Japanese people also called Asians?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><b>Nihaal</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">I just wanna live. Don't really care about the things that they say. don't really care about what happens to me. I just wanna live.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><b>Badirile</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">So like black weddings are too much to deal with. My mom rates R50.k is the going rate for magadi. Lol ah watch me marry a Swedish man and keep this shit simple.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><b>Karina</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">If life gives you melons, you may have dyslexia :]</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><b>Rhanii</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">I set fire to the rain</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"> Watched it pour as I touch your face<br />
Well, it burned while I cried<br />
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name<br />
I set fire to the rain<br />
<span class="textexposedshow">And I threw us into the flames</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">When we fell, something died</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">'Cause I knew that that was the last time, the last time...</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Elise</span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">"Big or small, I don't like rabbits. They always look like they're about to say something but they never do".</span></h6><form><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p>Raj on Big Bang Theory :) </o:p></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 3pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-top: 1.5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; vertical-align: top;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-top: 1.5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; vertical-align: top;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Chloe</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-top: 1.5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">"If I could speak the language of rabbits, they would be amazed and I would be their king... I would be kind to my rabbit subjects... at first.... One day, I hold a great ball for the President of France, but the rabbits don't come. I'm embarrassed so I eat all the lettuce in the world.. and make the rabbits watch..."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><b>Shaylen</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">is missing the world cup</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><b>Shane'</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">life is actualy pretty complicated sometimes!! Ai</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><b>Lesedi </b>(again)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">No matter how you look at it, Sex changes things...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><b>Damine</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">Time to drink!!!!!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Ivana</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Most of my day was spent with Kiroshan to help me with maths. I think out of the 6hours I spent with him, only ONE hour was spent on trig. The rest, Talking... Oh but </span></span><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">♥</span></span><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I Love Kiroshan!</span></span><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">♥</span></span></div></form></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-66984832745509906932011-06-11T12:02:00.002+03:002011-06-11T12:12:04.806+03:00Ahmed loves Cricket<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have written a previous post about Football, which is the Year 6 boys' favourite activity. They would play it every day of the week if given half a chance. Since it invariably ends up close to another Middle East Revolution, I have limited it and introduced other games as well - the Pakistani boys were jubilant when we started with cricket.<br />
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We have made some adjustments to the game, to suit our unique circumstances. LBW doesn't count, because we do not have impartial umpires and I don't have the strength for their arguments. We have our own way of dealing with 'wides' and 'no balls' - coz half of them can't bowl. In fact, I don't even distinguish between bowling and throwing, in order to keep the game flowing. We have a high wall directly behind us, so if you hit it across the wall - you're out! But we still play and they enjoy.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Cricket has become almost as exciting as football, just a lot less murderous. This was last week:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Shoaib: ”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m having a wery bad headache</i>.” Crying because his team lost. Kept saying: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m the captain and it’s the 4<sup>th</sup> loss in a row. It’s wery bad”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">This week his luck changed: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vickets are raining!!! Hit the ball man, they’re vasting overs. Celebrations!!!” <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">(I’ve given up trying to correct the pronunciation of ‘v’ and ‘w’ which he swops around. I now find it endearing.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Our students are basically either Arabic-speaking, or Urdu-speaking. They do not refer to the latter as such, but rather use the term “non-arabic speakers”. Though there are many exceptions to the rule, it comes down to Egyptians and Pakistanis. When we have PE, the Arabic speakers all want to play football. The Non-Arabic speakers all want to play cricket. One should therefore take turns and never allow them the last say. The screaming match could drive you to the brink of insanity, and invariably ends in tears, for whatever reason. Man, they cry easily when they lose. First swearing, then fighting, then tears. And five minutes later, it’s all over and all is forgotten and forgiven. Till the next time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-21346300545642556892011-05-21T21:47:00.001+03:002011-05-21T21:50:42.502+03:00Every Death a Wake-up Call<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Wouter Weylandt<o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Born: 27/09/1984 Gent<o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Died: 09/05/2011 Italy<o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></h6><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRj4ojHe8hLhc0hNGraEGnZihBjB26uHQjOAawWWrY5K_ScCGp8vNsK6r8eO3jl4OZGIPcmnkO_NBAn4sVPFAbi-jcBPQMh3UglZvOkC4YaDZF2wE9rPVgjU4IC6R-DfaTV5aqWZ1V6h7P/s1600/ww+special.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRj4ojHe8hLhc0hNGraEGnZihBjB26uHQjOAawWWrY5K_ScCGp8vNsK6r8eO3jl4OZGIPcmnkO_NBAn4sVPFAbi-jcBPQMh3UglZvOkC4YaDZF2wE9rPVgjU4IC6R-DfaTV5aqWZ1V6h7P/s200/ww+special.png" width="200" /></a></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h6><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: MatrixScriptRegularLining, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Today, our team mate and friend Wouter Weylandt passed away after a crash on the 3rd stage of the Giro d’Italia. The team is left in a state of shock and sadness and we send all our thoughts and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Wouter. This is a difficult day for cycling and for our team, and we should all seek support and strength in the people close to us."</span></span></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h6><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Wouter Weylandt, verpersoonlijking van optimisme, is niet meer.</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002058028026"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Tim Bouwhuis</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> Gisteren is een muurtje, gewoon stomweg een muurtje, je fataal geworden.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></h6><h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 26.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h3><h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 26.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Every death is a wake-up call to live more fully, more presently, now.<o:p></o:p></span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am passionate about sport. In Cycling, the Giro d’Italia is only surpassed in significance by the Tour de France. The world of pro-cycling is small. If you make it to the top, you are GOOD! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Marc<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Wouter beoefende één van de mooiste sporten die er bestaan. Een sport waar Professionaliteit, Plezier en Passie perfect in elkaar samenvloeien.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I did not know Wouter Weyland. Had not followed his career. But when I heard the news of his death, I felt such immense pain and was overcome by sadness. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1011788802"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Ellen Janssens</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Het is zeer vreemd dat de dood van iemand die je helemaal niet kende, je zo kan raken.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Can’t say why I felt so deeply affected by it. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Laura<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin-bottom: 4.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Tranen, veel tranen en een gigantisch gevoel van ongeloof. Zo was het maandagavond en dinsdag. Ik wou, kon, wil en kan het niet geloven. Ik hoop dat hij - waar hij ook is - nog steeds even gelukkig is als dat hij het hier was.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He died doing what he loved. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001644641227"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Peter Kelly</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Cyclists are a big family and we have lost one of our own. I never met him but I feel sad that he died. May we all die when we are doing something that we love. Rest in Peace Wouter</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">His pregnant girlfriend will have his child as a reminder forever. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Ann-Sophie<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">België en de rest van de wereld mag fier zijn jou gekend te hebben. Een fantastische renner, maar daarnaast ook een fantastische spontane en vriendelijke mens... Bedankt Wouter, voor alle mooie momenten!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Het ga je goed...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The sadness can be overcome. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Marleen<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin-bottom: 4.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">STERKTE, Wouter leeft voort in zijn kindje... Dit laat niemand koud...maar als de stilte komt, zoek dan houvast in de mooie dingen die Wouter naliet!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So what was it?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe the fact that he was loved by so many. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=718238428"><b><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Demuysere Rosita</span></b></a> <span class="messagebody"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">het leven kan soms zo onfair zijn he…<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000142399038"><b><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Arne Vrebos</span></b></a> <span class="messagebody"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">dit is gewoon erg…<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1576441425"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Jef van den Driessche</span></a> <span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">damn, dat dit kan gebeuren...<o:p></o:p></span></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/frederik.huvaere"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Frederik Huvaere</span></a> <span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">het ga je goed...<o:p></o:p></span></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1771891733"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Tobias Wauch</span></a> <span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">no words , just tears…<o:p></o:p></span></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001277118545"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Gunther Houbrechts</span></a> <span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">gewoon verschrikkelijk…</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bob.delaet"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Bob de Laet</span></a> <span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">heb zitten wenen als een kind…<o:p></o:p></span></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></h6><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Chantal</span></b><b><span style="color: #8bafc1; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">woordeloos, machteloos, troosteloos</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">...<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></b><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></h6><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Close to him or not, they remember a life well lived. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">M. D'Haene<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin-bottom: 4.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Het leven is vergankelijk, daar ontkomt niemand aan...<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Alleen heeft het noodlot te snel te definitief afgerekend met je, Wouter.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Tientallen lofwoorden kunnen we schrijven: jong, leuk, talentvol, ambitieus, goedlachs, communicatief, speciaal, altijd bereikbaar, sociaal... maar dit is het voornaamste: je was - èn blijft - geliefd.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Dat de liefde die je gegeven èn gekregen hebt, een steun moge zijn voor je naasten ! Dat ze troost en sterkte mogen vinden in de herinneringen die je achterlaat, en uiteraard ook in het zich ontwikkelende leven dat voor altijd van jou zal getuigen.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Weet dat je niet voor niets bent geweest wie je was : de mate waarin je beste vrienden An-Sophie,je ouders en zus steunen en proberen bij te staan, is een weerspiegeling van jouw gulheid.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Geef je nu maar over aan het grote onbekende, je hebt je best gedaan ...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They cherish fond memories. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Marc Thielemans<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">We hebben er samen veel plezier aan beleefd langs de Schelde waar we allen konden profiteren van je machtige uitstraling, je krachtige pedaalslag, je eenvoudige en authentieke zélf onder de wielerfanaten van de Schelde tussen Zwijnaarde en Oudenaarde.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
Het zal nooit meer hetzelfde zijn. Dankbaarheid en schoonheid overheersen: je klasse en speelsheid: iedereen zal het missen.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
Wij met ons wielerbende zullen voortaan voorzichtiger zijn, zonder angst dat wel, jij had dat ook niet, maar wel alerter en goed geconcentreerd. Als eerbetoon aan jou, ook al heb jij daar geen bal meer aan.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
Het leven is hard, de dood nog harder en confronterend. Aan je vriendin, je familie, je vrienden kan ik niet genoeg steun betuigen. Dus alle (rouw)registers opentrekkend: aan al wie dit leest: trek je op aan zijn doorzetting, levenslust en vrolijkheid. Het kan zo snel voorbij zijn. De énige troost die ik voel: Wouter heeft niet lang afgezien, of zelfs niet, tijdens het beleven van de droomjob van zijn leven.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8W1V9QvhVXwnm13R2GYSXuwYGXklcG_wbZyQzWg9l8H5FtoWAj5seDjFUMoF8BHO7QFeCLhyphenhyphen9dCcc68WMsVsfw6dIq0Ch_FzZeXstBa1Zb9xDV2ZbmWiq1e9yuLN9ghuDFgwWGRzf2hyphenhyphen/s1600/wouter+wey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8W1V9QvhVXwnm13R2GYSXuwYGXklcG_wbZyQzWg9l8H5FtoWAj5seDjFUMoF8BHO7QFeCLhyphenhyphen9dCcc68WMsVsfw6dIq0Ch_FzZeXstBa1Zb9xDV2ZbmWiq1e9yuLN9ghuDFgwWGRzf2hyphenhyphen/s320/wouter+wey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="apple-converted-space"></span></span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br />
</b> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They write in poetic language.</span></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000969169363"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Karin Vermeir</span></a></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10.5pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">boom stil<br />
bloem stil<br />
niemand zo stil<br />
als zij<br />
jij stil<br />
<span class="textexposedshow">ik stil</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">niemand zo stil</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">als wij</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">om ons heen raast een wereld vol geluiden verder</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">blij dat wij nu even stil zijn.....</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They handle their grief with dignity. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Werner<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin-bottom: 4.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Geachte familie, vrienden van Wouter,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Ik ben geen wielerfan-van-het-eerste-uur, ik ben geen kenner, ik ben gewoon maar een mens die geschokt is door de dood van een knappe jongeman die nog zoveel tegoed had van het leven.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Ik maakte drama's als dit eerder mee met mensen die mij nauwer waren dan deze vader-in-spe, maar je raakt het nooit gewend: niks tragischer dan een ouder, een familielid, een vriend die zo'n jong iemand ten grave moet dragen.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Ik wens iedereen die dicht bij Wouter stond alle sterkte om met dit verlies te leren leven: vergeten doe je dit nooit, de datum van het tragische ongeluk staat voor eeuwig gegrift in de kalender van je geheugen, maar ik hoop dat de tijd de scherpe hoeken van het verdriet afrondt en U langzaamaan terug de kleur van het leven laat zien.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Zoek troost en kracht bij elkaar.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Met innigste wensen voor sterkte.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Als je moet afgeven wat je het meeste lief hebt<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
dan is er geen gisteren,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
geen vandaag<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
en geen morgen meer,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
dan is er geen tijd meer,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
dan is er alleen heimwee...<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Belgium has always surprised me. That small, almost forgotten country. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000064365031"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Gianmaria 'Marie' Framarin</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">You came from Belgium's straight wet tiny country roads, under tons of rain and snow, but it was on a winding downhill lane on a sunny afternoon in Italy that you looked back and suddenly it was all over…</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></b></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Sickman.css1"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Gianni Vannieuwenborgh</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Je was een groot persoon in de wielersport voor ons klein belgen landje. De eerbetoon van vandaag heeft echt ontroerd. ik kan het nog altijd niet geloven. De Wielerwedstrijden zullen nooit meer zijn zoals tevoren. Rust in vrede Wouter, Een ster was geboren in de wielersport nu schitterd ze aan onze blauwe belgische hemel. Respect voor het team Leopard trek. Heel veel sterkte aan de familie en vrienden van dit groot symbol.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So I have followed the mourning, and I have mourned with them. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Stijn<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Nooit was ik zo ondersteboven bij het overlijden van een sportman. Gisteren langs De Schelde gaan rijden met mijn gedachten bij de mensen die nu achterblijven. Veel renners gezien, allen ontredderd en stil. Er hing een raar sfeertje ...<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPNLg1BzM2_-3mzAAQ5Ol47tF4cOnS70dsTM4ByePOVh-2eANRfabaXihNFXRyhAL0PSExQzjr2jv29pJVm5guiG9FtUi0m9x4SlbTZgTIvqUFAyUgkwCq4VsT52QlBc5k-EVbKb135Rz/s1600/ww+finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPNLg1BzM2_-3mzAAQ5Ol47tF4cOnS70dsTM4ByePOVh-2eANRfabaXihNFXRyhAL0PSExQzjr2jv29pJVm5guiG9FtUi0m9x4SlbTZgTIvqUFAyUgkwCq4VsT52QlBc5k-EVbKb135Rz/s320/ww+finish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Allowed myself to indulge in the sadness of a final goodbye. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">kurt D<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Hey maat!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Dit zijn mijn laatste woorden zoals ik tegen jou zou gepraat hebben.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Eerst wil ik nog mijn innige deelneming betuigen aan jouw vriendin, toekomstig kindje, en aan jouw familie.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Je smste me nog in januari om te vragen wanneer we nog eens samen gingen trainen, heb ik nu spijt maat dat ik pas in maart terug met trainen ben begonnen. JIJ hebt me sinds lange tijd nog eens een traan laten rollen door wat je hebt voorgehad, ik zat net in de auto toen ik het vernam. Jij noemde me altijd den beer van de schelde, maar op dat moment was ik maar héél klein. Jij wou mijn job doen als je niet koerste en ik andersom dat was waarschijnlijk onze klik waardoor we meteen met mekaar overeenkwamen. Je hebt mij nog eens doen beseffen dat ik moet genieten van het leven terwijl we leven!!!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Ik zal u godverdomme missen kameraad, ook al zagen we mekaar zeer weinig. Ik vergeet zeker de momenten niet en u ook natuurlijk, ik zal mijn best doen, je kent mijn werk hé, om woensdag te komen en WIJ een laatste keer "jow" te zeggen!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000096798191"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Paske Meersschaut</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">I saw team mates and friends of Wouter in tears crossing the finish line in a group . as a team , as a group , as a family , just like the family member , brother , team mate you always were for them . I cried too , its hard not to if you saw those images ...</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001509887984"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Benny Impens</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">De tranen sprongen in mijn ogen bij het overschrijden van de finish, gaan u missen s'morgens langs de schelde.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW64c5F-1R8CIOwmJJ8walIao3JQJwBT7rtg9HkZfmK4RTnG1dx6ygVxSCWHnf-lyN6UEK-0sLIguG1w5fHG_3BWhLLxn96VlNFYkTJ1AH2N8uAZsB_fUY00PRl891bEKnT9eCudgCD8Q/s1600/ww+funeral.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW64c5F-1R8CIOwmJJ8walIao3JQJwBT7rtg9HkZfmK4RTnG1dx6ygVxSCWHnf-lyN6UEK-0sLIguG1w5fHG_3BWhLLxn96VlNFYkTJ1AH2N8uAZsB_fUY00PRl891bEKnT9eCudgCD8Q/s320/ww+funeral.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I live with death. We all do. Some of us are just more aware of it…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=702923207"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Dana Champion de Crespigny</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; tab-stops: 81.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="messagebody"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">I’m sure if there is a decent place to ride up there, you will find it,</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
<span class="messagebody">and by decent I mean impossible for the mere mortal</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></b><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.0pt; tab-stops: 81.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Ischa Dassen <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin-bottom: 4.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Daar hoog boven de wolken, zal hij nu rondfietsen…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/wim.christiaen"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Wim Christiaen</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Wouter, het ga je goed in je eeuwige ronde..veel sterkte en moed aan al die hem lief was...</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/spunky.pruneballs"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Dirk De Luxe Hart</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">rest in peace Wouter- may the wind be always at your back</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
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</div><h6 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1007207791"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">De Roeck Dominique</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6><h6 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Like a sunset</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
<span class="messagebody">Dying with the rising of the moon</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="messagebody">Gone too soon</span><o:p></o:p></span></h6><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-26650547034012247432011-05-20T19:00:00.001+03:002011-05-20T19:00:43.318+03:00Slow Living<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Visited the Souk. Nothing romantic about it. It’s downtown and dirty. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50VS0VB_rAW8MJCnZLHfnzJEhpz6eO6NOAagDUKvJ1pmFG4KyVwTe7Z1VqzFFPb4F7kTUgvWwinHTNbTpBEVPHsjTQLb1Y9Lm7Hmgc-MoSOzD1XWIN_dzjuTFALw6ByKt6qb8O2rwS8GX/s1600/P1011483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50VS0VB_rAW8MJCnZLHfnzJEhpz6eO6NOAagDUKvJ1pmFG4KyVwTe7Z1VqzFFPb4F7kTUgvWwinHTNbTpBEVPHsjTQLb1Y9Lm7Hmgc-MoSOzD1XWIN_dzjuTFALw6ByKt6qb8O2rwS8GX/s320/P1011483.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Strolled around and absorbed the atmosphere. Sat outside a teashop, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">on the stool normally occupied by the shopowner. Drank my tea and watched the world go by. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K0w5f0d2efcDatw4dfCew3MVR28PabIdTLsUPd6kbmpPcBaEcxKYq_-guQwZXp68-UtT8LrztUKBHiRV0vW2bdBm3tYrO_x0xIU8xsP1g7WMSz7VLeZpqkRvWTfkCCNY7k3VPt2B0Q7i/s1600/P1011512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K0w5f0d2efcDatw4dfCew3MVR28PabIdTLsUPd6kbmpPcBaEcxKYq_-guQwZXp68-UtT8LrztUKBHiRV0vW2bdBm3tYrO_x0xIU8xsP1g7WMSz7VLeZpqkRvWTfkCCNY7k3VPt2B0Q7i/s320/P1011512.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Narrow alley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Observed the taylor behind his old-fashioned sewing machine. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">He allowed me to take a picture. Maybe coz he’s young. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZqo_kjFAPFHw__fe4dKWYFeoUHvqw8ylFVgTCvG25ncCkTqXZWQSsEcdv9BJOA0FDYygKeitS52woxrdYU-o-6BB_BHwKK0GFXoPA8CcK76o9URC1TYLpFiqkEwWpJcD9x4ZjjIp-mPp/s1600/P1011536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZqo_kjFAPFHw__fe4dKWYFeoUHvqw8ylFVgTCvG25ncCkTqXZWQSsEcdv9BJOA0FDYygKeitS52woxrdYU-o-6BB_BHwKK0GFXoPA8CcK76o9URC1TYLpFiqkEwWpJcD9x4ZjjIp-mPp/s320/P1011536.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The teashop owner did not want his picture taken, but allowed me one of the kettles. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXHL2bpVEphVtkNPu_KIIULBZefGtj_1AVZn7ab6k_fMlSTpsH9Hd7stXuxam9kbfNqVzODzP98pI8cY5WERS0AfvUzc1z0K77vTCImKgjH6YhArNrWrKT_TnMlqYfOxza0ZHWoaL89tc/s1600/P1011531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXHL2bpVEphVtkNPu_KIIULBZefGtj_1AVZn7ab6k_fMlSTpsH9Hd7stXuxam9kbfNqVzODzP98pI8cY5WERS0AfvUzc1z0K77vTCImKgjH6YhArNrWrKT_TnMlqYfOxza0ZHWoaL89tc/s320/P1011531.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Later on had an omelette-roll. You don’t have to escape the rat race here. There is no race. Slow living at its best. Can’t imagine heart-attacks and hypertension being high on the list of medical problems. Bought some Indian/Pakistani sweets (desserts) – coconut and condensed milk – that’s what it tasted like. Heavenly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYqcn4UPhWzQbEGVM1aS6Pw1yysg9ykkB3SCCi2A509a5fflQUMm6aO35PSaTEzH20MTK_syRZNfW7yUZHL5rIx1BtRS8JRXe-VZzlN_FiIaDvrz9HpIZZU8ZWZsk8turfp9_oXBgV5ck/s1600/P1011543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYqcn4UPhWzQbEGVM1aS6Pw1yysg9ykkB3SCCi2A509a5fflQUMm6aO35PSaTEzH20MTK_syRZNfW7yUZHL5rIx1BtRS8JRXe-VZzlN_FiIaDvrz9HpIZZU8ZWZsk8turfp9_oXBgV5ck/s320/P1011543.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In ‘Kashmir Fabrics’ I indulged myself in the spectacle of colour. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNWvCx6le6atqkdD8Ubs05vocmRTmq2GwtkqjIZQ0pEVWhMk648DrUNS5_5UMOCkyISZ3l2cE8S3n7r3b2gBBdlLeZXEaEI_F0mwAOdhb142AvJibZip8ThvZq-QIQL344EwmpMuvU4O1/s1600/P1011484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNWvCx6le6atqkdD8Ubs05vocmRTmq2GwtkqjIZQ0pEVWhMk648DrUNS5_5UMOCkyISZ3l2cE8S3n7r3b2gBBdlLeZXEaEI_F0mwAOdhb142AvJibZip8ThvZq-QIQL344EwmpMuvU4O1/s320/P1011484.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The young man selling oud and frankincense also didn’t mind me taking his picture. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip46HMoXSNVCWjtNIgY7y42tLsA25tn3Yhlyy6bu59msPrHWd8DvbCoz2v9t2qOMGwfXuunIMp3oxTxCn0Ik-PKAc8c9IhQs0wYbtvEJUdXi_TvKY8_qvSK4hqESH9fFHQDs8T_O4W8lMZ/s1600/P1011513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip46HMoXSNVCWjtNIgY7y42tLsA25tn3Yhlyy6bu59msPrHWd8DvbCoz2v9t2qOMGwfXuunIMp3oxTxCn0Ik-PKAc8c9IhQs0wYbtvEJUdXi_TvKY8_qvSK4hqESH9fFHQDs8T_O4W8lMZ/s320/P1011513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHc_60OG2heilwezgxVR10dYxCOHPNiqRl1U7qlsSrACk1fmKtLSuySX78lBQvrBrMDO14xQGx0HhVYB98h1mjDaxoE7XsUHLpGfydQd98gVQhZ1Pg9t5S-SjPJQP7QH3PK3f6pnxzbvg8/s1600/P1011516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHc_60OG2heilwezgxVR10dYxCOHPNiqRl1U7qlsSrACk1fmKtLSuySX78lBQvrBrMDO14xQGx0HhVYB98h1mjDaxoE7XsUHLpGfydQd98gVQhZ1Pg9t5S-SjPJQP7QH3PK3f6pnxzbvg8/s320/P1011516.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I always ask. Half the time they say no. The other half is what makes it worth it. I don’t ask any Saudis. They’re pretty unapproachable. I thought to myself, this is as authentic as it gets. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwB-UnBeagnAhLh8bBVsvFTB4nJbcgMqL_5rHt1GdyrNz7U6Irr3iVLPehLhl75M43csEAbzPRlkQp99VKfXVAAN3TakIvr7SiAHmlhiMPdsJt4V06oy9fB8e05jdKn4kxhF20xGMBnHMK/s1600/P1011519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwB-UnBeagnAhLh8bBVsvFTB4nJbcgMqL_5rHt1GdyrNz7U6Irr3iVLPehLhl75M43csEAbzPRlkQp99VKfXVAAN3TakIvr7SiAHmlhiMPdsJt4V06oy9fB8e05jdKn4kxhF20xGMBnHMK/s320/P1011519.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How many people in the ‘outside world’ ever get to experience this? Very few. I consider myself blessed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Only the trained eye will find what is essential. Actually, it is romantic after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUL5zY66sKbaQ8g8A6tfVkSLUyr9aPaWCaXr5RG1eLpsekmWNjwcENoVtoP89wP0CNzxX6B_-Ia9eqrMYtDp8JJbqmfGpVqki9XrQaTuV1zS7UL3_nv3WcufNzM_JwmbyqWrSs6WZCZf3/s1600/P1011515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUL5zY66sKbaQ8g8A6tfVkSLUyr9aPaWCaXr5RG1eLpsekmWNjwcENoVtoP89wP0CNzxX6B_-Ia9eqrMYtDp8JJbqmfGpVqki9XrQaTuV1zS7UL3_nv3WcufNzM_JwmbyqWrSs6WZCZf3/s320/P1011515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-41487112462038327582011-04-22T11:43:00.000+03:002011-04-22T11:43:55.386+03:00Meeting the Parents - High Expectations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Around the world, teachers and parents meet. It's pretty much the same everywhere, and then again it's not. It becomes curiously interesting when we all come from diverse cultures and have to find common ground. Not to mention crossing the big language divide. (Actually the religious divide is bigger, but we won't mention that.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Two evenings with parents. Too many kids (in school and per family). And they all show up. Maybe not all on time, and maybe not on the evening that was booked for them, but they still show up. Except for one, the one you needed to see most. (That's the part that doesn't change.) </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I loved meeting the parents. I enjoyed getting to know them. Mostly doctors from across the region. They all have high expectations for their kids. The headmistress said "They have never heard the expression: You can't make a silk purse out of sows ears." Being unfamiliar with the expression, I heard "you can't make a silk purse out of Saudis"!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Meet the boys (and two girls) and their parents:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Tc1WawWFVX3GREPddVDmfR9-rcXmWPQjD8bwlb9pqlliiBpq3isz277F0avKOxeJSbzCZ0bJch_FD8I6N1iMB_riGdTXcQMimsilOxMLVs1h6_DRkzV8B24FyncL98YB3Ax7MauCxbe0/s1600/DSC03309fb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Tc1WawWFVX3GREPddVDmfR9-rcXmWPQjD8bwlb9pqlliiBpq3isz277F0avKOxeJSbzCZ0bJch_FD8I6N1iMB_riGdTXcQMimsilOxMLVs1h6_DRkzV8B24FyncL98YB3Ax7MauCxbe0/s320/DSC03309fb.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48ZiP4vc0Wz8GSv8sc1VgNkw8Uvl0RFEvv6rx8BDsS7FIZ0j_XM_4IS09EetMgPqN-HOdeBUwe40y36LQ34QZRQ2X-VDPeCCiSZmjulmci0ccgiCqKCe7URASJvSv-X0xTelVi7TpqUEE/s1600/DSC03301fb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48ZiP4vc0Wz8GSv8sc1VgNkw8Uvl0RFEvv6rx8BDsS7FIZ0j_XM_4IS09EetMgPqN-HOdeBUwe40y36LQ34QZRQ2X-VDPeCCiSZmjulmci0ccgiCqKCe7URASJvSv-X0xTelVi7TpqUEE/s320/DSC03301fb.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Osama’s mom (Jordanian) is a tonic. Needs ‘The Nanny’. (Her words!) Laughs as she tells me she’s a bad mother who can’t discipline her boys.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Amna’s dad (Pakistani) says ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yes mam</i>’ to everything I say. He’s an army officer. The mother says nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Tom’s father (Indian) has the broadest smile. A dentist I think. The only non-muslim in the class.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Hytham’s father (Sudanese) is special. Big man with a small boy. Doctor Mubarak. <i>Pater familias</i>. Devout muslim. Halfway through parents’ evening he asked for a place to go pray.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Medhat’s parents (Egyptian) only came in to thank me for making a difference. (I allow their son to be as clever as he is without feeling threatened when corrected by him. Happens frequently! Ask him anything – speed of light, infrared, gas or liquid, how much…? He is my walking encyclopedia.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Shoaib’s mother (Pakistani) kept referring to him as ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">careless</i>’ . When the father came, he used the word ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">carefree’</i> and I realized that was the word she was looking for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Nasrallah’s dad (Palestinian) told me how busy he was. I tried to explain his son’s ADD tendencies to him. He says: ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You know his mother was Russian</i>.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Now<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that explains everything. These damned Russians!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Salma’s parents (Egyptian) were great. She’s new in class. Whispers instead of talks. (So I whisper back!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I realize that I saw more fathers than mothers. And when together, the mothers said nothing. NOTHING. Why is it that only the fathers speak? Only the teacher-parents have very outspoken mothers. Two of them Egyptian (and loud), one Syrian (and quiet but strong)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">They all love their children dearly. That much is blatantly clear. They also think that their children are exceptionally gifted and talented. They do not like hearing that the kids struggle with English and that I am happy with a result of ‘<i>average</i>’ coz we are comparing them to British kids who were born and raised English. ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Average’</i> does not feature in their vocab. ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Minimum requirement’</i> is an insult. ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Distinction’</i> is all that matters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Precious little girl - my hope for the future!</span></span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-61312092156113424322011-04-11T23:26:00.000+03:002011-04-11T23:26:29.502+03:00From Pilgrim to VIP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Seven months and still counting. Had a new teacher, a youngster, with us on the flight back. Good thing she had company and experienced people to assist her. Her presence made me think back. I could compare my own journey. I’ve come a long way. A lo..ooong way. I checked myself in. Had time for breakfast. Got rid of the local currency. Organised where to sit so I could have four seats to myself. Watched a movie and several TV shorts during the flight. At Jeddah, my usual laid-back self, going through the motions with ease. Some luggage went missing (not mine) – it did miraculously appear before our onward connection. The Headmistress and her ex-husband <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>got stuck in Rome for almost an entire day, arriving at Jeddah after us. I kept a VERY low profile, but thought it was hilarious, which is why I kept a low profile. As she commented later: If they weren’t already divorced, the papers would certainly have been on its way after that little detour. He through a hissy-fit in the middle of Rome airport; left her at Jeddah to check in their luggage and find them a hotel; then promptly disappeared with her passport and ticket (apparently being desperate for the loo); and topped it all by telling her off for a delivery that went wrong. Of course, that is her side of the story. I have no doubt that there is an equally believable other side to this story. But not my problem. I parked off and slept on a couch from midnight till morning , waking up five minutes before boarding. It is a gift and a blessing to be able to sleep anywhere any time. I have to admit, it was worth paying for the comfort and quiet of the VIP lounge. Much better than sleeping with the pilgrims, draped over uncomfortable chairs with arm rests poking one’s back. From pilgrim to VIP – some journey indeed.</div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-2666202577786440052011-03-17T13:08:00.002+03:002011-03-21T16:54:57.066+03:00"Gotta love NZ" - Blog4NZ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The joys of language… </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">and of teaching a bunch of 11-year old Middle Eastern kids about New Zealand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Why did you choose New Zealand</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Coz you know nothing about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Gotta love NZ”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Is that Maori?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tourism</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> - Pakistani boy keeps saying ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">terrace’</i> instead of ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tourists’</i>. Sounds like ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">terrorists’</i> who should visit NZ to experience and appreciate its ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">awesome nature, mountains and…uh…uh… other stuff like that</i>’.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Other stuff being: rivers, forests, volcanoes, geysers (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What’s that</i>?), glaciers (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What’s that</i>?), fjords (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What’s that</i>?), lakes, adventure sport, Maori culture – urghhh!!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Look at the pictures! Just describe what you see.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> National Parks? </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> (Reading off the calendar’s cover page)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Three World Heritage Sites!” (and don’t say ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What’s that</i>?’)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tattoos</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> – “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they use needles with ink and stick it into your skin until the ink takes the shape of the tattoo. You can’t put water on it for three weeks </i>(horrified)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. If you did not have a tattoo, you were useless</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“No, worthless”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He writes ‘worse-less’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Name three <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cities</b> in NZ – “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Auckland, Wellington and Nepal.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sport</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> – “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they are the world champions in rugby and swimming.” ( </i>No, sailing<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.)<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The rugby team is called All Blacks, the football team is called All Whites. It refers to their clothes! The football team is not very good</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.” (Don’t say that. They won’t like it.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Jordanian boy does a whole power point presentation on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">agriculture</b>. When he’s finished, he asks: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What does agriculture mean?</i>”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kiwi</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> – they know it’s a bird and a fruit. They love the fruit. If the NZ kiwi board ever wants a good add, these kids would be superb!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Would you like to visit New Zealand? – “I don’t understand the question.” (Explain) “No, because I will be working in Syria.” (Something wrong with my explanation?)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Did I make a difference? I’d like to think so. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They can find NZ on a map. They do know about Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. They know the Skytower is higher than the Eiffel Tower. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They can do a Haka (though not a very intimidating one). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They know the highest mountain is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mountain Cook</i> (sic). They know who Edmund Hillary is. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The famous explorer who discovered NZ!</i>) No, seriously, they do know. They even know who the Head of State is. (They can’t spell her name and they’re not sure she’s still alive, but still!) They know what the NZ flag looks like and they know that there are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">spelling mistakes</i> in the National Anthem. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There is no such word as “thy</i>”!) They probably know a lot more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They will grow up and maybe one day, when the opportunity presents itself, they will take a break from their jobs in Syria, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, India, Saudi… and say: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s go visit the youngest country in the world; the land of the long white cloud; that small innovative little place at the bottom of the world, next to the penguins.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-52376604003631958172011-03-04T22:16:00.001+03:002011-03-04T22:17:15.238+03:00Eat, Pray, Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to write about how I feel after six months in Saudi and what I’ve gained/lost/learnt. It meant having to go back, and that made me sad, and so I stopped.</span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7jeb8ChruZa0Cr8DHluCMDk2bFuKcpLRiLaXGnYl5GAMadNRRtscGy4HImrQmTF5_94r2scfeYnRGW5sXi_zoH6MPazhDY8AKUrwQldhh3-2jkX_SROJ-bpPMDMCLjRPVtqaoDMGAxTK/s1600/DSC05516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7jeb8ChruZa0Cr8DHluCMDk2bFuKcpLRiLaXGnYl5GAMadNRRtscGy4HImrQmTF5_94r2scfeYnRGW5sXi_zoH6MPazhDY8AKUrwQldhh3-2jkX_SROJ-bpPMDMCLjRPVtqaoDMGAxTK/s400/DSC05516.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I’ll give you the shortened version: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am myself again. I am happy. I am at peace. I do as I please (within reason!) I have grown spiritually – I understand the universe better and the principles on which it operates. I understand the law of attraction. I understand that ‘<i>as you speak, so it shall be</i>’. I am learning day by day the value of positive thinking. I apply it. And it works. When I don’t apply it, it still bloody works.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have more compassion. I notice kindness. I think the universe is an awesome place. I love the Middle East. I don’t understand all of it, and I certainly don’t agree with half of it, but I appreciate the place and its people. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People are people are people. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I love them all. </span></span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-73347997423901838772011-02-28T23:19:00.000+03:002011-02-28T23:19:10.153+03:00Do Not Cut the Bougainvilleas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The king has given us all the day off. Probably trying to keep his subjects happy. The first Saturday in the kingdom that I actually get to spend as a Saturday! Decided to do some gardening. Trying to figure out why I’m paying a gardener. It was a nice day. We went from winter straight into summer. One minute shoes, next minute sandals. It changes as quickly as that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaSp2zkiMKdu-_ckd2ATdsQzF6djeqLKTOHIHYwLwph_4g0lIXhqobkDZ1SBAx7qIlsSQyDj97cyDYU8B50SkR4tMYiIXQhxJ5o3eqdBcQHC8I_E55S9JsAwF74CVRz0Erec75KG3hzLv/s1600/DSC05375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaSp2zkiMKdu-_ckd2ATdsQzF6djeqLKTOHIHYwLwph_4g0lIXhqobkDZ1SBAx7qIlsSQyDj97cyDYU8B50SkR4tMYiIXQhxJ5o3eqdBcQHC8I_E55S9JsAwF74CVRz0Erec75KG3hzLv/s200/DSC05375.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0suRGHnwZmIB4SY3vU4gwsEeEBqlve9s3gwrzgEDEsn4D7L2DXkcwImBtw4YXvOLjhQDQFYfBri990makAjFZauppaKE9AOU6aZ1q9oNb0U3tBNcor0CxUaTQ5msgv3RuRsVmM-8ZnfHF/s1600/DSC05384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0suRGHnwZmIB4SY3vU4gwsEeEBqlve9s3gwrzgEDEsn4D7L2DXkcwImBtw4YXvOLjhQDQFYfBri990makAjFZauppaKE9AOU6aZ1q9oNb0U3tBNcor0CxUaTQ5msgv3RuRsVmM-8ZnfHF/s320/DSC05384.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The cats enjoyed me being at home and pottering in the garden. I stuck to the patio and was getting pots ready. Planted seeds – basil, thyme and oregano as well as some green pepper seeds which I had been saving since November. (The one and only time I made a salad.) In addition, I planted broccoli. Imagine that – broccoli!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Got the seedlings from Elle’s Pakistani neighbour. Really appreciated the gesture. She added some succulents and a very special geranium. All cuttings. Can’t wait to see the results.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My cactus has flowered for the second time since I got here and there is a white rose to complete the picture. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0G5xXuXFDhu2vq4WvHn7fRfLgLGBTOQazKuT1vjF3mIHO6ZOS2jbaqrywc-TZXFXwgW2UgcDvKsNV3X4Ej0b2if8gjCroKGC65F_DZQG6d0PQaFA7PPknIj6Z4JdiH0Di1n_WgnRrzlZ/s1600/DSC05370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0G5xXuXFDhu2vq4WvHn7fRfLgLGBTOQazKuT1vjF3mIHO6ZOS2jbaqrywc-TZXFXwgW2UgcDvKsNV3X4Ej0b2if8gjCroKGC65F_DZQG6d0PQaFA7PPknIj6Z4JdiH0Di1n_WgnRrzlZ/s320/DSC05370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">The aloe is also flowering. It is as confused as I am by the sudden onset of summer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRADY5g3dZcXBwsb7g4tGv41_Ky9Mcs80LZJAPs_CG5dp2NY_DsrixPnN-LGnxKqh4SB8BEVPAA78Ay8pyjeorAyoTkSdh1lA8u0EzO0JB-uvoLY70TE79ueJsTVrNqvNxOFcLc5IwM0vY/s1600/DSC05373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRADY5g3dZcXBwsb7g4tGv41_Ky9Mcs80LZJAPs_CG5dp2NY_DsrixPnN-LGnxKqh4SB8BEVPAA78Ay8pyjeorAyoTkSdh1lA8u0EzO0JB-uvoLY70TE79ueJsTVrNqvNxOFcLc5IwM0vY/s320/DSC05373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPffbN7plXT1AU52WhIZcu69pFofJZXdcA-ViYq33FifNrTBe6PKp63r1UqQavmefExjcYX2KqghMI8Bdzk6FZMqJBE4R-e1MTBlkO1Gd06q_IDdPWfp9r6Aj2WX1C_xy46z15Onm-pyai/s1600/DSC04781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPffbN7plXT1AU52WhIZcu69pFofJZXdcA-ViYq33FifNrTBe6PKp63r1UqQavmefExjcYX2KqghMI8Bdzk6FZMqJBE4R-e1MTBlkO1Gd06q_IDdPWfp9r6Aj2WX1C_xy46z15Onm-pyai/s200/DSC04781.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">I managed to grow rosemary off three cuttings. It is a first for me. The geraniums are doing well and the stupid snails agree.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkXr-3W5Q53p2Z3Zi4EMsQJFKDKgmPgUjoKBBsuqj_ew5WUYz4oKp6hsIc4YXSNngmGOrR96nMgDqajJOdYOlcDiPXfcz5JMzeQebJPG67IurVLRYjMDQJNusk2835CZkonle5YEf3BrD/s1600/DSC05371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkXr-3W5Q53p2Z3Zi4EMsQJFKDKgmPgUjoKBBsuqj_ew5WUYz4oKp6hsIc4YXSNngmGOrR96nMgDqajJOdYOlcDiPXfcz5JMzeQebJPG67IurVLRYjMDQJNusk2835CZkonle5YEf3BrD/s320/DSC05371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">I have two bougainvilleas. Must remember to tell the gardener NOT TO PRUNE THEM EVER AGAIN.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVekmhW1LVUVdzKXMBXsvO-AQKOBsuvBr2_A3O1l2bBZvHsUe4x3Q2hbrl-1JUWRonuJqDePTq0CpWikwexjZvIGDTlJkSZfD5MsHQW2Ia35ck-5PogzFsjmB-EDmx-6vLJQvWDtWCbdnf/s1600/DSC05379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVekmhW1LVUVdzKXMBXsvO-AQKOBsuvBr2_A3O1l2bBZvHsUe4x3Q2hbrl-1JUWRonuJqDePTq0CpWikwexjZvIGDTlJkSZfD5MsHQW2Ia35ck-5PogzFsjmB-EDmx-6vLJQvWDtWCbdnf/s400/DSC05379.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Next time (it’ll have to be my Thursday-Saturday) I will have to tackle the side and front. Going to change the side into a sunflower show with three different varieties – standard, teddy bear and music box. I hope it looks as good as it sounds. In the front it will be a mixture of anything that flowers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QhbtRm-CVQzfafKUVNtxScBZexz-yHIsSq8f5fp2TSW28kRgwOvDbyQYSIWnxS-NaGjTY7PTkApSw0iWT23zVdfR3yCU8X9Ku4VjVAUxnWuHto5T63XhTUEQ5DUdJfsSGZW6T5PG6j-F/s1600/DSC05394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QhbtRm-CVQzfafKUVNtxScBZexz-yHIsSq8f5fp2TSW28kRgwOvDbyQYSIWnxS-NaGjTY7PTkApSw0iWT23zVdfR3yCU8X9Ku4VjVAUxnWuHto5T63XhTUEQ5DUdJfsSGZW6T5PG6j-F/s320/DSC05394.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">My grandfather loved gardening. My mother still does.</span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-54421159194308567572011-02-26T11:21:00.000+03:002011-02-26T11:21:25.599+03:00Hanging Village<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The city where I live is on a high plato. I never realize how high till I travel to the escarpment where one can look down into the valley. It seems strange, because one doesn’t think of Saudi in terms of mountains.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EkQyMVGjlKtfvpc9s4g-NCopL4X1_WkJQZ0Z9ooKj9IAGuFCSfX6_PIPX4rmeODDljXFrdaOnfUHcCn-XNXT_0yTx-Qwjqlt9fYYxDNAYlJvC151pzNaCioEEnzpFmCTfE2c-BGsOXgu/s1600/33+rock+valley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EkQyMVGjlKtfvpc9s4g-NCopL4X1_WkJQZ0Z9ooKj9IAGuFCSfX6_PIPX4rmeODDljXFrdaOnfUHcCn-XNXT_0yTx-Qwjqlt9fYYxDNAYlJvC151pzNaCioEEnzpFmCTfE2c-BGsOXgu/s200/33+rock+valley.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAXg5plNBBk-IUvnVep5rcRRCzMEl7LFwZibG4txoIwm6QKLT7HHrWL-bI14Sg53_QCCPkWpEit5aLBfsGPqi7HnFIMplorSRjQHn8IB6iElzv1_-9JbRdiVZ6lA1N_nSY9-oJ7-E3979/s1600/34+cliff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAXg5plNBBk-IUvnVep5rcRRCzMEl7LFwZibG4txoIwm6QKLT7HHrWL-bI14Sg53_QCCPkWpEit5aLBfsGPqi7HnFIMplorSRjQHn8IB6iElzv1_-9JbRdiVZ6lA1N_nSY9-oJ7-E3979/s320/34+cliff.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Hanging Village is precariously perched on the side of a mountain, at the bottom of a huge cliff, with an even bigger drop to the floor of the valley. God knows how the original inhabitants got there, and how they made a living. But they were safe from invading Turks, and that is probably all that mattered at the time. Apparently they used ropes and baskets to get themselves in and out of there. It has long since been abandoned, and in its place is a modern reconstruction. A cable car takes one down to the village. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDv9lNOb692QkLYrQNXDDCo0eFazEg_KnDf1Rz8on83_aWim_QPuaM7T53S56UZ2M24DA_nxBegGS0paf7iDKcW343qyM56QVUwfdu-jkmXzlQHZ1B7sDRh3jxJT6j1bVcRzOgJbYIIMg/s1600/10+cable.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDv9lNOb692QkLYrQNXDDCo0eFazEg_KnDf1Rz8on83_aWim_QPuaM7T53S56UZ2M24DA_nxBegGS0paf7iDKcW343qyM56QVUwfdu-jkmXzlQHZ1B7sDRh3jxJT6j1bVcRzOgJbYIIMg/s400/10+cable.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The houses were made of stone and wood and as one wonders up and down the narrow pathways, it is still possible to find original remnants such as carved wooden doors and tools.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbfUDK6pYDDu_6aBFyd_Z6mrc5dyzO8zbAM8twgPXbl4G_iiDQfYUNEkdj6eRbh3wAsq_Y4lrSIdO7-bBIQL-3eGCZosoWW3x23Z5czpQjFl6nWmVSwWbJsYpIIvLaf33eMkbuCSnsyK7/s1600/13+old+doors.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbfUDK6pYDDu_6aBFyd_Z6mrc5dyzO8zbAM8twgPXbl4G_iiDQfYUNEkdj6eRbh3wAsq_Y4lrSIdO7-bBIQL-3eGCZosoWW3x23Z5czpQjFl6nWmVSwWbJsYpIIvLaf33eMkbuCSnsyK7/s400/13+old+doors.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One thing is for certain, it is not for the fainthearted or those suffering from vertigo. Even today. The Saudis don’t seem to worry or care too much about railings and safety. I was intrigued and wanted to see everything, but I kept to the side of the mountain and had my feet firmly planted at all times. Carpets are scattered around on rooftops where one can sit down and have a picnic. I took pictures, but kept my distance. Zoom lenses are marvelous! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1tLp3k0hKgY7wDvHvjTX6IUcNWJt9E8AGvUgwuSdvUi2wX-f6joWuHrcm2w8A793N3bJhEGhzIu2FC_t21KCfSYCIYNC-RIM9UZgryP9NuTPCTKhLWSMSnuuGCB7zQ2fsSOfjfCnkM21/s1600/36+cushion+carpet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1tLp3k0hKgY7wDvHvjTX6IUcNWJt9E8AGvUgwuSdvUi2wX-f6joWuHrcm2w8A793N3bJhEGhzIu2FC_t21KCfSYCIYNC-RIM9UZgryP9NuTPCTKhLWSMSnuuGCB7zQ2fsSOfjfCnkM21/s320/36+cushion+carpet.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4_KEAjL8FxTB_yil4319psA3lW_2O_9osaUJIJouCA7m0QJnNSgoqu4OzIoCoB2ZhHDtXwRd3_V-YANHwqTFwNKLJPITmJa3ErMvvGFFjvfYfu1N5pnXPKlTcR-8JlatmW5-Y3B-HZ8h/s1600/35+lone+mosque.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4_KEAjL8FxTB_yil4319psA3lW_2O_9osaUJIJouCA7m0QJnNSgoqu4OzIoCoB2ZhHDtXwRd3_V-YANHwqTFwNKLJPITmJa3ErMvvGFFjvfYfu1N5pnXPKlTcR-8JlatmW5-Y3B-HZ8h/s320/35+lone+mosque.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course the small mosque is definitely a more recent addition.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was spring when we visited. How fortunate, because spring only lasts one day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaYh7GpNJJyUoPkVcjXtLx3FtGnpVmh7zf2uGdUtoM0CsesBjp32JnS_C_VlhZtt1uzhTeMSad0ZYfNhDHdORFnWXu509D8FwEwdgb9946XMaKEX2b8JHb6rTx0GB05TGu_t5drc3Ej0t/s1600/16+spring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaYh7GpNJJyUoPkVcjXtLx3FtGnpVmh7zf2uGdUtoM0CsesBjp32JnS_C_VlhZtt1uzhTeMSad0ZYfNhDHdORFnWXu509D8FwEwdgb9946XMaKEX2b8JHb6rTx0GB05TGu_t5drc3Ej0t/s320/16+spring.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02GcfD5dv3qaOd5Vka047RmJMnaCU3RZ_Kf_WrBjYr-Ywi2yh4Y6j9sN1nGUw9FRWiOzf6XvDZ_R5aO0ae_RzvpapRZ5M_lcyqpLaW32tpLtPCQft0M2M2w20Dg2bbHqyioFi0Xwa4RKy/s1600/37+bougain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02GcfD5dv3qaOd5Vka047RmJMnaCU3RZ_Kf_WrBjYr-Ywi2yh4Y6j9sN1nGUw9FRWiOzf6XvDZ_R5aO0ae_RzvpapRZ5M_lcyqpLaW32tpLtPCQft0M2M2w20Dg2bbHqyioFi0Xwa4RKy/s320/37+bougain.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Across the valley on the other side of the mountain, a modern village is clearly visible. Don’t know how modern, but at least there’s life. Can’t imagine how one survives in such a harsh, inhospitable environment. But there it is.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCQzqondr42Bv7J6eKoUXAKE8L4eJaslrbMcX9oI4J9dMbC-Kqf2pBmmA5YQNjx0bkhPrfmLMjdOhc0X0QlrkqyxePmO58l-gvnmPGNI6BfEGRu3IvhHYa9jlfG1tNcITb0Thd9B38mEl/s1600/37+village.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCQzqondr42Bv7J6eKoUXAKE8L4eJaslrbMcX9oI4J9dMbC-Kqf2pBmmA5YQNjx0bkhPrfmLMjdOhc0X0QlrkqyxePmO58l-gvnmPGNI6BfEGRu3IvhHYa9jlfG1tNcITb0Thd9B38mEl/s400/37+village.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We went on a quiet day. So quiet that I was struck by the awesomeness of the vast landscape. At some point the birds and the monkeys annoyed each other. Still not sure whether it was birds of prey or crows. But the sounds matched the scenery and provided us with a good soundtrack. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Saudi never ceases to amaze me. It is not merely a country of oil wells and armies; princes and sheiks; white robes and black abayas. If you care to explore, look at it more closely, venture out, you’ll find a beauty that can be treasured. Made more special by the fact that not many people get to see it. Ever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVb2p4VmrqVupE4tFgYs_Dlw5rJalaDGSuDSApd5mryzCMzLmKH9CJ-M2-AiZM2pIhsL3rBclBODuIkgTpad84ZDEBZ0y1fcrJAR3CSkjSEB4zKWOxBOGedl-MTdDxUNz95E7JywNu3DhO/s1600/26+mount+tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVb2p4VmrqVupE4tFgYs_Dlw5rJalaDGSuDSApd5mryzCMzLmKH9CJ-M2-AiZM2pIhsL3rBclBODuIkgTpad84ZDEBZ0y1fcrJAR3CSkjSEB4zKWOxBOGedl-MTdDxUNz95E7JywNu3DhO/s320/26+mount+tree.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-33286027153136766702011-02-25T20:42:00.000+03:002011-02-25T20:42:45.910+03:00Fun in the Sun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">People in the southern hemisphere know about sport. They know how to throw a ball; catch a ball; kick a ball; hit a ball; run, swim, jump and even somersault.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So here I am, stuck in the Middle East, doing my first sports-day at school. Sports day, my foot! Stupid little games. And these kids can’t. They simply can not. Hoola-hoop – not too bad. Even the boys. Kick a ball – gets better. Beanbag toss. My item.<span> </span>No-one knows how to throw, let alone aim. About fifty kids, (aged 8 – 12) – not a single child managed to toss a beanbag into a bucket 3m away. Less than half of them got it into a bucket 1.5m away. I found it uninspiring and not fun. Not fun at all.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then followed the races. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sack races in sacks that were too small and therefore tore. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Egg-and-spoon races with wooden eggs. I remember using real eggs and real spoons and if yours fell and broke, you were out of the race. At least there was an element of fun in it! (Okay, maybe we were older!)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KpOUqxrgi_MHp53MCjsNnwxHhMtaAFWnoonoTpEwJAbUG1u0tbnk0_tegoLN7kMZVG4R-yqmIQhiRrXb7DfLTCmVziZH3vkJt0x8e46JFH9MAwGTuG5N3BsQfws7Q0W9ZBVAe2bF4AD6/s1600/09+egg+two.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KpOUqxrgi_MHp53MCjsNnwxHhMtaAFWnoonoTpEwJAbUG1u0tbnk0_tegoLN7kMZVG4R-yqmIQhiRrXb7DfLTCmVziZH3vkJt0x8e46JFH9MAwGTuG5N3BsQfws7Q0W9ZBVAe2bF4AD6/s320/09+egg+two.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGK9QpMeF1HAbgl311u-qguDHgcf3uVUa5tis6jIHY74fVh5FQypC8BNrQG3rZTn6FmGzO6vGKaVjnUtfRDSlm4CqofZkoH7bfqOi8c3IUBM4N08RjGdMZP9n2lWR8s6rxT9XhghobeOc/s1600/08+egg+spoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGK9QpMeF1HAbgl311u-qguDHgcf3uVUa5tis6jIHY74fVh5FQypC8BNrQG3rZTn6FmGzO6vGKaVjnUtfRDSlm4CqofZkoH7bfqOi8c3IUBM4N08RjGdMZP9n2lWR8s6rxT9XhghobeOc/s320/08+egg+spoon.JPG" width="253" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The dress-up race was stupid. (I thought) </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The water race, which could have been fun, got canceled.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And finally, we were to finish with an obstacle race. My effort of bringing some fun and excitement into it. Bit of a challenge. Well, the bloomin challenge was that the teachers never got the hang of it. They were the challenge. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The whole thing is cock-eyed. The teams aren’t equally spread. In my Year 6 class of eleven, five are green and one is yellow. Two red and two blue. So it might even out with perhaps the year 3’s having more yellow and less green (not so), but even then it means the top-end of one team is loaded. Secondly, numbers are <i>per se</i> uneven. You would then have red with 15 members and green with 13. That means that in the green house two people have to run twice – naturally the strongest two. The younger ones get too confused. So the red team has a spread of talent whereas the green team get to run their best athletes twice. The biggest team will always be at a disadvantage. And so it goes on. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To top it off, and about this I could go ballistic, there’s this one Pakistani teacher with her holier-than-thou attitude. (Her being Pakistani is not the point.) Never opens her mouth. Never makes any contribution. Never gives an opinion… until the actual day of the event. Arrives in her high heals and evening gown. (Well, almost!)<span> </span>A round robin means you change at set intervals and when every one is done. And normally you’d go clockwise. If they choose to go anti-clockwise here, I would still accept. But crossing diagonally, makes no sense! Not to me, anyway. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeJAfPvXHv8ycFvHfIQHDco6oGLzuIcV24PEfPjNe8mDaNOp9-5vO-jEm1ZzzwpKDLsyXDDp2PlwAIGzQ-qL4gKRAfRoIpUHKHyWLe7aV76Zmbd2CeyAvtSOKEpOItOOYmF3Z5jZ5cW7w/s1600/10+sofia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeJAfPvXHv8ycFvHfIQHDco6oGLzuIcV24PEfPjNe8mDaNOp9-5vO-jEm1ZzzwpKDLsyXDDp2PlwAIGzQ-qL4gKRAfRoIpUHKHyWLe7aV76Zmbd2CeyAvtSOKEpOItOOYmF3Z5jZ5cW7w/s400/10+sofia.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And so, back to the races. Madam High Heels, waits till we’ve finished three of the races, and then tells me that the red house has one extra child which hadn’t been taken into account. I got annoyed and responded “Where were you when we made the arrangements? Why didn’t you say something then?” She quickly (which is not very quickly) ran to Madam Headmistress, who doesn’t enjoy any of this anyway. And then proceeded to take over the arrangements for my said obstacle race. Could have been ‘cause I was standing, at that point, with my hands in my pockets, staring into space. Needless to say: the kids saved the day ‘cause they carried on with the race regardless of the ‘minor’ changes and adjustments made by Paris-bloody-Hilton. (Excuse my French)<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So why do I feel the need to share this boring account? Honestly! Basically because I want to say: I miss good sport. I really, really miss good sport. For that matter, any sport. And secondly, ‘cause I needed to blow off steam.</span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-1139898204377530302011-02-08T18:16:00.000+03:002011-02-08T18:16:35.941+03:00Network Not Working<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Day 1</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> - Internet problems. Very frustrating to say the least. So dependent on my fb connections. I can do e-mails at school, but no fb. Boo-hoo. Went to the service provider but the two young men only speak Arabic. I just refused to leave and finally got one of the customers to translate for me. Not sure whether we actually achieved anything, but at least I got them to smile. I talk to them in Afrikaans and they find it very confusing coz it sounds similar to Arabic – lots of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ggghh</i> and guteral sounds. I mean, they don’t speak English, so why bother with it. Said I should delete the program and re-load it. (Didn’t work)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Day 2</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> – Emotionally drained. Decided not to attempt any further communication with the service provider. One needs to be mentally strong. So I gave it a rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Day 3 </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">- It seems the internet payment had dissapeared down a black hole. I tried my best to explain that the money on the pre-paid card went off, that I had therefore paid, and that it wasn’t my fault it didn’t register with them. And the young man kept telling me that there was no money in the account. Going around in circles. Saw the other customers getting somewhat irritable. Irritable enough to actually start translating. No choice but to pay again. This time got a receipt, made them load it and tested it on my laptop there and then. Said I would be back next month. The response: ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No need, you can do it from home with a pre-paid card</i>’!!! *silent yelling going on inside head*<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No, I don’t think so. You’ll have to put up with me every month . Sorry for you. I came here to make money, not lose it!</i>’<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Walking home, a Pakistani doctor stopped to give me a lift. Stays in the same compound as me but I’ve never seen him in my life. Had his toddler with him. Got in with great trepidation and only did so because I wasn’t wearing walking shoes. In this harsh country, kindness is a rare gift and it touches me deeply everytime I experience it. Realise now how out of place I must have looked – white lady, black abaya, orange shoes and scarf, bag over shoulder and briefcase in hand – nobody here walks, especially not women. It’s not dangerous. It’s just not done. And here’s me, peak-hour traffic, trying to make my way home on foot. No wonder the poor doctor stopped. I flatly ignored him at first and thought it was some stupid Saudi harrassing me. Only looked up when he spoke in perfect English. Now that, the Saudis can’t do. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Turns out the “Pakistani” doctor is actually from Kashmir. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">‘So does that make him Indian then?’</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">"No. it makes him Kashmiri'. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-10304913688803574752011-02-03T16:03:00.000+03:002011-02-03T16:03:10.711+03:00Crossing Roads<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Will convinced me to go shopping after school (4 o’clock) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for the sake of company</i>. He went to Panda (Pick-n-Pay/Asda) and I went to Mango. (The one and only.) Mango had a sale and if you are buying for someone young and slim and opposite seasons, bargains are to be found. (Some lucky kid at home better be grateful!) So we’re meant to catch the 5 o’clock bus – which came dead on time. I watched all the Filipino ladies get off. Then I watched the bus take off. Then Will came. He thought I was joking when I told him we’d just missed our bus by five seconds. Fortunately I had my running shoes with me coz of PE. I sat there in the mall, taking off my high heel boots and putting on my comfy non-fashion shoes. Busses run every hour and I was certainly not going to sit there and wait. I discovered a shortcut and saw a beautiful mosque and a huge big mansion. We walked three quarters of the way home before I called it a day and said we should wait for the next bus. Didn’t feel like crossing the bridge. My hips are wider than the narrow walkway across! Walking home at peak time, we had to cross crazy main roads with any number of lanes running either way. (One has to remember to look the right way coz they drive the opposite side to what we’re accustomed to.) My running shoes came into their own as I sprinted across. Pedestrians are not common in Saudi and pedestrian crossings definitely non-existent. I remember how shit scared I was the first time I had to cross a road. It still scares me, but I’ve become a lot braver and certainly more comfortable with doing it. Crossing where there’s no middleman, is not advisable but sometimes unavoidable. The white line in the middle means nothing to no-one. I went halfway and turned my back – that way I would at least not see a hit coming. I probably scared some kind Saudi sufficiently - he slowed down, put on his hazards and allowed me time to finish the crossing. Good thing I understood his intent. Saudi drivers are downright mad. They speed – no-one ever cruises. Whenever I sit in front on a bus (something I never do by choice), I always tell the driver to go slow. I know how to say that in Arabic! And if there is an age-limit, it is certainly not enforced. Kids as young as 12 are sometimes on the roads. I teach 12-year olds and know exactly how great they are at making judgment calls! They are certainly not known for their common sense or quick responses. Small cars aren’t to be found. Guzzling big SUV’s, Land Cruisers, Chevrolets and the likes, abound. They advertise the fact that they have oil but no water. Clean cars – what’s that? I told one nurse that, given the way they drive, it was surprising how few accidents there were. Her answer was: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">true, but when they do have accidents, it’s almost always fatal</i>. Exactly my cynical (practical) answer to Will: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It will be over before you even know what hit you.</i> His main concern is still that you will feel pain in that instant before you die. And on that happy note – enjoy your time on the road and please be careful!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-20655130037890597112011-01-29T21:42:00.000+03:002011-01-29T21:42:04.538+03:00Football Fanatics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span">Boys and their football annoyed me today. Not an uncommon occurrence. There’s always something going wrong – and I don’t mean injury-wise. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1wIa3AE2OonjiXzDq3nddr81Biz6yF7JoKHwmtTAt5eSZdvQVogThwvO_S7aIWHSt32hNQ7rIasd6Yo63x48QcGyZAIEkL6xbZg928qCvNB3v3ke3CQBtiT61EWACHpdXoqtWmVOIwoh/s1600/socr+arg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1wIa3AE2OonjiXzDq3nddr81Biz6yF7JoKHwmtTAt5eSZdvQVogThwvO_S7aIWHSt32hNQ7rIasd6Yo63x48QcGyZAIEkL6xbZg928qCvNB3v3ke3CQBtiT61EWACHpdXoqtWmVOIwoh/s320/socr+arg.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Ahmed M refuses to be goalie. As a protest he goes and lies on his back in front of the goalpost and pretends to be sleeping. When he does get the ball, he never passes but tries to impress with his footwork. And then misses! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">Ahmad O is the big guy. Relies on his size and bullying tactics. Forfeits a free-kick-potential-goal by deliberately kicking into his opponent to inflict pain. Worth more to him than the goal. The victim, Ahmad E, after having recovered, starts chasing Ahmad O around the field and pretty soon they’re at each other’s throats. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5S63_1FXIeDcujoqTW9z5HxKco-CJXpwIhICyabpNUwLj3b9jLoWi_idgPDBCI9pDMvKgupwsrBNSR7VESjx9h9v24ezd88n_lbJqPU4f8uTvv1dlH4O8ksZ_R7O4xuMHWrgT6cbkBK32/s1600/os+and+mag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5S63_1FXIeDcujoqTW9z5HxKco-CJXpwIhICyabpNUwLj3b9jLoWi_idgPDBCI9pDMvKgupwsrBNSR7VESjx9h9v24ezd88n_lbJqPU4f8uTvv1dlH4O8ksZ_R7O4xuMHWrgT6cbkBK32/s320/os+and+mag.JPG" width="251" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>The big guy and the reluctant goalkeeper</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Ahmed M2 walks off the field crying because nobody wants to pass to him. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Ahmad A also ended up crying because I made an “unfair” call which allowed the other side to score. My unfair call was that the big guy didn’t have the right to play goalie for 5 seconds to cover his handball mistake. (They may sometimes switch goalies but have to call it. He called after the fact!) </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">As for Ahmed S, the only time he got his foot to the ball, was to score an own goal. He said to me afterwards – it shouldn’t have counted because it was an accident. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The annoying part is that the whining doesn't end when the game ends. They never ever accept defeat. It’s always unfair!!! Told them I thought they needed to do some growing up before I would allow them to play again. Now we know why the Asian Cup final was between Japan and Australia. And why I don’t bother to watch the Middle East play.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-48852641011202627742011-01-27T22:04:00.001+03:002011-01-27T22:06:12.548+03:00@ the Souk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Found a real souk this morning. No women in sight! Went with young British family. Elle and self had a child each to hold onto. With Jay in front, we didn’t look too uncommon. Man with two wives. Joseph is six or seven. I asked him if he knew why there were no women. He said: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I think the women say, in Arabic – You go do the shopping. I’ll stay home and be lazy.</i> He emphasized the fact that they said it in Arabic, not in English. He also invited me to come live with them. I asked him where I would sleep and if he would be willing to give up his bed. He said I should sleep with his parents because their bed is huge and can easily accommodate three adults!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You can find anything at the souk, and I mean: ANYTHING. Streets and alleys and squares. All the shops selling the same stuff in the same street. The fruit-and-veg market is visually pleasing. It looks like a painting, as if it’s set up specially for the likes of me. At the spice-and-nut shops you can feast your senses. And where they have the animal section, you have to quit being sensitive. (SPCA would have a fit) Chickens and doves a plenty. Roosters fetch good prices. Even saw budgies and love birds. One little rabbit in a box. And a snake in a bird cage – no glass! I tell you, that snake looked poisonous enough to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone stared at us. I felt like I was on a catwalk. Refrained from doing the catwalk walk with head held high and hips swaying. People at the souk aren’t Saudis. They come from all around. Judged by their clothing - lots of Afghans and Pakistanis. And no-one speaks English. To be understood, you should at least be able to count in Arabic. For the rest it’s “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">salaam halaikum</i>” and “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shokran</i>” as far as you go – the traditional greeting and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thank</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i>. Even if that’s all you ever say, you are accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-32775636874715390852011-01-23T19:36:00.000+03:002011-01-23T19:36:30.404+03:00Medical Emergencies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Working at a hospital school – not a school for the patients, but for the kids of doctors. School is on the hospital premises. Medical emergencies shouldn’t be a problem. Hell, it shouldn’t even be happening. Can’t recall ever having had so many incidents in such a short period of time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Playing basketball. Ahmad had a bad catch and bent his middle finger 90 degrees backwards. (bent in the middle) Before I could vomit, he had pulled it straight himself. I have seen rugby players (big men) do that, but not a child. His mom took him to ER. They bandaged it and told him to be careful.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Playing football. Ibrahim made a tackle, tripped and landed on his knee. He was in agony and couldn’t walk. I carried him back to school. He was taken to ER. They bandaged it. Two days later he was running x-country and sprints!</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Ahmad was also running x-country. His knee packed up and he stopped running. He’s been limping since. He refuses to stop playing games. He insisted on playing football. He stood in the middle of the field and blocked the ball when it came his way. (He was not the worst player on the field!) Week later he was playing tennis (still with that leg not healed) Told his mother I didn’t think he should be doing any sport and that they should have it checked out. (Father is a doctor – what do I know?)</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Ahmad ran back after break, tripped and hit the pavement with his hand. Thumb immediately swollen. By now, I’ve had it with all these accidents and surely doctors should know how to take care of their own. I pressed a pack of frozen peas in his hand (Discovered the peas in the staffroom fridge/freezer – I now know why it’s there!) His father took him for x-rays. Nothing broken. They bandaged it. Day later, bandage is off. Handwriting dodgy but normal.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Ahmed not feeling well. <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Lies on his arms. Looks pale. Wants to vomit. Phone parents to come fetch him. When they pitch, he’s at midday-prayer. First time this year! Either he thought he was being punished and had to repent, or he was trying to impress them coz he knew they were on their way over. This happened today. I am not concerned. He will be back tomorrow as if today never happened.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i><b>Closing note</b> – I have twelve boys in my class. Six of them are named Ahmad. Above incidents happened to four different Ahmads. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>And for future reference</b>: Keep the frozen peas handy, make sure the problem area is bandaged and wait 24 hours. After that, return to normal. Guaranteed to work. </span></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-87616735814431860722011-01-18T19:41:00.001+03:002011-01-18T19:49:47.458+03:00No Problem<div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And how is it now, being back?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I checked in all by myself at the Airport. Got myself a Cappuccino and muffin and relaxed. When it was time to board, I walked to the gate and met the others. There were eleven of us who knew each other – teachers and nurses from various places. Teachers have same holidays and flights are limited so you actually meet regularly travelling between Saudi and wherever. I was so relaxed that I almost scared myself. Watched “Happy Feet” during the flight. (own choice) “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What’s wrong with being different? I like different.”</i> Had to spend the night at Jeddah airport, waiting for a connecting flight. Everybody was getting agitated and excited because they should have provided us with a room. I simply found myself a suitable corner and slept as soundly as the pilgrims. Then the flight got delayed and two more hours were added. No problem. And it has been my attitude ever since: </span><span style="font-family: Gigi; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">No Problem!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Had to get a hospital id. (employees have to) Sounded like schlep and I kept postponing it. Re-energized, I decided to get it done and ran across to security during break-time. Was told to come back later. I asked if I could bring my class along and make them quietly sit outside. They thought it was funny. (I was actually serious.) Got the art teacher to look after my class and promptly returned. Was then told I should get a signature from head of security, “next building, turn right” – Looked at the one with most stripes on the shoulder and said: “Please, can’t you send someone with me to show me? I have gotten lost so often in this place I’ll end up at the Souk” Obviously I amuse them cause someone did walk with me – totally against the norm. Then it was photos and computer-work (typing very slowly with one finger) and only the senior guy that can do it. I indicated with my fingers that I was looking for the guy with 3 stripes. The junior pointed out that it was actually 5 stripes. Low and behold, I got it done and felt so proud.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Next mission was buying a 3G card for the internet. The 3G adaptor, toggle, dongle, dangle, whatever, was a mission. After work, bus dropped me off at Panda, aka The Store for All. (Busses run every hour.) Got to the counter with four youngsters ahead of me who wanted to look at cellphones, cameras, camcorders etc. Before I could talk to the assistant, it was Sala – and off to prayer they go! An hour later he reappears, taking his sweet time and then starts with the youngsters who had also been waiting. At that point I lost it. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Please, I don’t want to look, I don’t want to test, I don’t want to ask questions or compare. I SIMPLY NEED SOMEONE TO GIVE ME A BANDLUXE STICK SO I CAN GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS FUCKIN SHOP!”</i> That certainly got his attention. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh, I saw you an hour ago.” “Yes, and at this rate I’ll be here for another hour cause I’m gonna miss my bus.</i>” I should have had that little outburst sooner because after that things happened quickly, except that I did miss my bus and did have to wait the extra hour. Oooooh, Patience! Got plenty of that now. Shopped for groceries. Read my book. Made the bus (and the others) wait whilst I uploaded my bags (same as all the Filipino ladies) and arrived home, still in one piece. Just to find that my key was now missing. Left everything on the doorstep and ran back to the gatehouse to get spares. Upon my return, found the whole neighbourhood’s cats trying to get to my food…. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Still unmoved, still in one piece.</i> One hectic day in the Kingdom! (Couple of days later when I was putting on my running shoes for PE, I found the missing keys!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The rec. centre organizes weekly outings (free of charge) There are only about four places worth visiting, and I’ve already been to one. I asked around as to how one should go about joining, but none of the veterans seemed to know and had clearly never been. After four years! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">So kan ek waaragtig nie sit en vrek nie!</i> I’m not like that. Went to the rec. centre. Got introduced to the manager. Booked a place. And it’s as simple as that. (Almost) The outing will only take place if there are at least ten people. My first effort got cut short because there were only nine takers. But I put my name down for the next one and I’ll just keep booking until it one day happens.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Will and I resumed our Thursday (read Saturday) walks to town. I put on my abayah, cover my head (not that I have to, but I’m sure it helps) and off we go. Saudis shop at night so when we go early morning, it’s very quiet. The walk takes us an hour either way. We do it to get exercise, we talk all the way, and sometimes we buy stuff just to make it seem worthwhile. I bought myself blue salad spoons to celebrate the New Year. (Any excuse, as I always say.) (Don’t worry about Will. He’s a colleague and a friend and offers a degree of protection as a male chaperone – when in Rome…)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My villa has windows on three sides. The fourth wall is joined to the neighbour’s. I have only ever opened the curtains of the sliding door. It opens onto my patio from the bedroom. Totally private. The next window, in the lounge, is by the side and then the front windows look out on the street. I don’t have net-curtains so have kept the curtains drawn. After having returned from my holiday (and four months into my stay), I felt more at ease and more comfortable in my own skin, and opened the side curtains. I realized it was still private and that I could see the mango tree. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And all this time I was missing the beauty of looking at a mango tree!</i> Then one afternoon I opened my front door to let the sun in. And finally today, I wanted to watch the rain and so opened the front curtains. It’s a secure compound. No strangers prowling around. I’m not scared of “beyond the garden wall” anymore. I live my own life. I let the light in. I find it very symbolic and nurturing. I have weathered the storm and have found calmer waters. I am experiencing my own peace on earth. It may not last. I may encounter new storms. But I’m okay with that. I consider myself exceptionally blessed. What will be, will be.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">“I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button‚ movie</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-46071440933177805222011-01-14T10:38:00.000+03:002011-01-14T10:38:45.445+03:00Laughter<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">My New Year’s resolution: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"></span><span style="font-family: Gigi; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Laugh as much and as often as possible.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">So what has been funny, thus far:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> *Old Year’s Eve: Youngster singing along with Jack Parrow, swearing like a trooper, then looking at me apologetically saying: It’s no me, it’s the lyrics. “Dans, dans, dans. Ek wil fokken fokken dans!” I think it is hilarious, even when nobody else does.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> *</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Walla (fat boy) jumping in the only puddle on the playing field and splashing water all over the headmistress.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> *</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The headmistress holding up clothes from lost property, except the box got mixed-up with clothing donated to charity – lots of pyjama pants!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> *</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Staff meetings, more aptly known as briefings, cause your input is not required. Normally quite outspoken, I picked up on this early on and now shut the fuck up. It serves me well. It is the interaction of the others that I find amusing. A quiet observer, I watch their futile efforts as they offer suggestions. What follows is predictable, harmless and bloody funny. Funny because it’s repeated every day and they still don’t get it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> *</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The kids’ bizarre hats. One day these kids (currently dressed by their parents) will grow up, see pictures of themselves, and be mortified.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> *</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Watching the Filipino ladies get on the bus with their month’s groceries. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">You are all beautiful. You are all magical. Deserve to be adored.</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> - Parlotones<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483213789177705464.post-14898791507515686272010-12-16T12:37:00.000+03:002010-12-16T12:37:38.784+03:00Day of Reconciliation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16pt;">Thursday 16 December 2010 </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Forgiveness is not a choice one should ponder. Just something we should do. Even when the forgiveness has not been asked for. Even when it doesn’t come easy, for it never does. Did the man harm me? Of course he did. Did he hurt me, take from me, insult me, humiliate me, anger me …. yes, he did all of that too. But guess what, I choose to move on. I have a life and my life is worth living. I choose to live, therefore I choose to forgive.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Bloedrivier. Dingaansdag, Day of Reconcilliation…</span></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15153320716568489134noreply@blogger.com0