Back in the free world

So, I'm back and now that the initial euphoria of being home is wearing off, I realize I have to deal with some deeper issues. Do I want to stay in Syria? Can I handle it? I am going to regret moving back to Canada when things get mundane? I just watched a movie last night with Amber and Zaak called "Cairo Time" with Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig, it showed some of the cultural differences that I've been experiencing. One example is how the main character ( a blonde women in her 40's) walks around Cairo and gets stared at by men of all ages, as well as going in to an only men cafe. It's difficult for me to express my challenges in Syria, so it was interesting to see it expressed in a film. A bit of humor was when Patricia goes for a boat ride on the nile, and Alexander asks why she looks uncomfortable and she tells him that she doesn't swim. He then says "doesn't everyone have a swimming pool in their back yard" and she says "don't you have 4 wives". Stereotypes go both ways...

Baby shower

Yesterday evening I went to a baby shower and forgot to ask about the dress code. I was shopping with a friend right before, I was wearing dressy boots, jeans and a nice top but when I got to the apartment, all the other ladies were wearing dresses,jewels, nylons and heels and hair done... I almost went back home to change, but sucked it up and decided to remember this lesson, when in doubt always overdress!

A home

I think if we had found a house right away, it would have made us feel I part of this community more. We saw another apartment last night, I hated it with every fiber of my body! Really strange layout with a long corridor to get to the kitchen, low ceilings and small poky bedrooms. They tried to sell the sea view, but when you're on the balcony you have to crane your neck to the left (where the neighbors' balcony is) and the rest of the view is other buildings. I had no idea it would be so difficult to find something decent! What's the point of living so close to the Mediterranean when you can barely see it!?

Confusion

Now that I'm leaving in two weeks, I'm trying to wrap my head around how I feel about this place. People are going to ask me, and I have to come up with something short and sweet... Something positive or negative will happen and I'll feel justified in either writing this place off or endorsing it, but I can't seem to find a happy medium. Maybe being out of the country will give me some perspective...

Wedding fever

Last weekend we had 2 weddings; one on Thursday evening and the other on Friday. The first one was a the former secretary from the consulate, and they did things very differently. Their party was literally on the beach, in the sand! This is really uncommon here, and the person who drove us was fretting about her expensive dress trailing in the sand and her satin shoes... We ended up leaving early, right after the power went out. The second wedding was more typical for here, a lot of pomp and circumstance. The reception location was new, and a little small but we had a great time! Their happiness was so tangible that it spread like a virus! Now that our wedding anniversary is fast approaching, I hope people had a fun time at our wedding, because we did!!

Back to Canada for a visit!

We're leaving for Canada on November 20, which means a little more than a month! (Not that I'm counting :)
So, I'm really excited to leave and see friends, family and my old life. I'm excited about wearing whatever I want,
being able to do everything on my own, and being an unknown. I finish this session at the consulate next Saturday,
and it will be a rather nice break. I've been working non stop since July, with only one or two days between sessions.
It will be interesting to see how I feel about things when I'm back in Canada...

Cooking

Yesterday I FINALLY went to buy my own produce at a little stall nearby... I don't why I waited so long... I thought maybe they wouldn't speak English or that I would get ripped off, but it was fantastic!
I bought some limes, necatrines, potatoes, carrots, a melon, some apples for about $3! I also soaked some white beans overnight and cooked them for an hour and a half, adding some bacon, potatoes, garlic and beef stock, it was amazing!

October 1st

A year ago, I was an excited bride to be, starting a new adventure.
Today I'm happily married but I'm not sure what will happen to us next...
The question of to stay or go is a difficult one to make, with many grey issues.
But at the very least, I have another year of EFL experience to add to my resume and a host of other interesting experiences in a foreign country. Now I can say to my kids "When I was in Syria...

Expenses

The cost of living is a lot higher than I anticipated, there are some things that are cheaper and some things that are out of this world!
Hair: wash and blow dry= $4
Manicure and pedicure=$7
Cleaning your house= $10
BUT! (keep in mind I'm getting paid $11/hour)
OPI handcream= $20
bathing suit= $40-80
Cocktail dress= $100-500
Going to the beach = $22/person
Cars= because of taxes, nearly double of what you pay in North America

Nearly one year

We moved to Syria October 3, 2009, and the one year anniversary will be here next week. We both said that after one year, we would look at our situation and re-evaluate. The economy isn't doing well, the housing market is lousy and there aren't a lot of good buisness opportunities that are without a lot of risk and that will generate income right away. This means we're leaning towards coming back to Montreal, both of us working and eventually starting a family.

The Silk Road Festival

I've just found out that this festival has already started this week! Silk from the far East (China) passed through Syria on its way West for centuries. This week are many historical and cultural activities for the public. I hope to participate in a few, including the birthplace of the alphabet (Ugarit) and Saladin castle. I'm so happy that these activities are taking place, making it more interesting and rich for locals and tourists.

It's all the same

Living in Montreal for the last 10 years, a city of so much variety in terms of cultures, food, activities and points of view compared to here is like going from an oasis to a desert. Although the culture, history and food is rich, there is just one... Most people do the same things, watch the same series, eat the same food; day in, day out. It's a big adjustment.

The serenity prayer

Although this is used for AA meetings, I think it suits my state at this time

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.

Leap of Faith

I recently finished the biography of an American born woman who became Queen Noor of Jordon.She was in her mid twenties when she met the King of Jordon whom she later married. She moved to Amman, started a family, charitable organizations and became involved in the political upheavals of the country. She wrote "... the path to victory sometimes requires us to submit and trust so to transcend"

September

It's the middle of September, and the cooler weather is helping me with the transition into fall. I realize now that fall is probably my favorite season. It's full of newness, new courses when I was a student, new job at a school, new school year... A time of harvest and different foods and dishes leading up to Thanksgiving.

Point of view

Living here has taught me to understand that this society communicates in a very indirect way, with little to no confrontations. I realize how direct I am, and how I need to become more diplomatic in this society. It means I need to understand people better before I try to accomplish anything. My boss for example,I have to make nice with him so I can have a good reference until I find a different job. Being straightforward is a trait that I appreciate and practice but is seen as rude; this will take some adjustment.

Cooler

Finally, the weather is cooling off!!! The evenings are down to 22 degrees and it's lovely not to be sweating 24/7!

New students

I have a new batch of students and on the first day during the break here were the comments:
"I don't like Canadians because they're all afraid of the dark"
After I asked questions I found out that this student bases his info on Canadians from the sit com "How I met your mother" which is set in the US with one Canadian character.

"You have American teeth"
I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not... LOL

Good stuff

So far what have I learned? To put up with shit and deal with it. That anything that doesn't kill you makes you stronger. That all the things I used to complain about in Montreal are kind of laughable now. That I have great friends who listen to me and help me...

My gym

Today I stayed at the gym for a total of 20 minutes. Why? The air conditioning barely works, the one treadmill is on the fritz and I got rust on my hands from the machines. Also the speakers are fuzzy and the place is dusty!!! I have to stop getting annoyed at things like this, otherwise I will go crazy.

Another day

I'm going to a wedding today, and I'm getting to the point where I'm no longer jealous or sad that I'm not the bride anymore... it's been almost a year! Last week, we participated in a pre-wedding tradition where the bride moves all her belongings to her new house with music, friends and food. We followed her luggage, honking horns and then helped her upack her lingerie (after she showed it off) and then we danced! I thought it was a great way to make the transition and to enjoy this time.

A great time!

We went to a party on Sunday night in the mountains where it was a bit cooler. The party started around 11:30pm, we danced until nearly 4am! This is one of the best things about Syria, people love to dance! I had a great time... it made me feel part of the community here.

A realization

I've realized that although this culture is very family orientated and generally people think as a collective, there is a lot of selfish behaviour. People drive as if they are alone on the roads, no signalling or shoulder checking. Pedestrians crossing the street cross without looking to see if cars are slowing down or if where they are crossing is convienent for others. Students cheat on their exams so they can get ahead, people take and give bribes to make things happen for the good of the community?! Or for themselves...?

The weekend

After an 8 hour teaching day, we chilled out and watched a poor quality "Clash of the Titans" which I thought was incredibly lame. I hit the hay and as usual after such a long teaching day, dreamed of teaching! I woke up at 10:30, did some yoga, had breakfast and now am blogging. I will probably do some corrections later and then see how hot it is before making other plans.

Electricity

The infamous humidity has hit Lattakia... with this humidity is electricity rationing, which means teaching for some of the time without AC, or waking up without any electricity. It makes you appreciate cooler places!

Typos

The English menus in Syria are a mix of English, French and Arabic. It sometimes takes a bit of pondering before you can figure it out.
Others are just plain spelling mistakes
Freach orange juice
chooklate creep
milk check

Fruit

Figs are in season and are they ever good! The only time I ever had figs were in the totally disgusting fig newtons that mom was addicted to... Fresh ones are quite a different story! They actually make me think of what brains look like! They are crunchy and sweet, while still being refreshing. Also, apple and pistachio season is starting, so I don't feel TOO sorry for myself

The grass is always greener

I'm trying to get out of the funk I'm in; being negative and only seeing the bad things about this place... sometimes I triumph, other times I wallow... I have to take it a day at a time, since the honeymoon phase of living here is over and accept the things I cannot change. But I have always taken on difficult challenges, Haiti, the French school system, I know I can get through this one!

The Syrian dream

Perhaps it seems petty that at this point in my life, my needs and wants revolve around material things. I am tired of having no storage space, sick of not having my own washer and dryer and am fed up with saving the planet by not owning a car for the last 10 years!! Finding and purchasing a home right now is at a standstill, prices are extremely high and choices are limited. I had no idea it would take this long to get settled in, that parking is so ridiculously difficult and that my mother in law would be washing my unmentionables...

Cheating

Seems to be a very normal activity here. After telling my ADULT students to please refrain from talking during the exam, they do. I give them a chance, I stand beside them, they keep talking. They didn't even seem to care that I noticed. So I told them to go right ahead, talk all they want, and I walked out of the classroom. A few mintues later as I was cooling down, a student had the nerve to tell my boss in front of me (in Arabic) that on God's name he wasn't cheating...

The book I just read

I finished reading "A million little pieces" by James Frey which was about a 23 year old man, who is severely addicted to several drugs and goes into rehab. I thought it was very interesting. His brother sends him a book on Chinese philosophy that helps him. For example: "If you understand that all things change constantly change, there is nothing you will hold on to, all things change. If you aren't afraid of dying, there is nothing you can't do. If you realize that what you have is enough, you are rich truly rich"

Boring!

Nobody likes to read happy things! Today I felt really annoyed with everything... I'm tired of comparing/competing with other women. They look like they've been tanning since May.... their accessories, their heels at the beach. I'm just sick of it. The "Miss Lebanon" pageant is playing, and my significant other wants to know why I don't want to watch it...

Being thankful

I don't want people to think that my life is horrible and that I'm never happy, so here are some things I'm grateful for:
- friends who speak English
- work is close to home
- internet that works
- air conditioning
- English TV channels
- excellent food

The road from Damascus

After a lovely engagement party last night, filled with great food and dancing outside with the bright moon, we had to come back to Lattakia. The road TO Damascus was relaxing, comfortable and nice and chilly. The road FROM Damascus was hot, nerve wracking and long...We rode with my in-laws on the way back, each with their own idosycracies such as driving too fast while trying to work the radio, or gum snapping interuppted by singing along to the music.I guess there's nothing like a rough rode trip to make you happy to be home.

Two blondes, twice the fun

I've just met an American woman here, her name is Valerie and she has lived here for almost 2 years. We went shopping today, and the usual stares I get alone definitely increased with her with me! When we enter shops they think we're tourists, which makes bargaining more difficult. We're planning a joint Canada day/4th of July which will include fireworks, watermelon, hamburgers... anything else?!

To Damascus

We're going to Damascus on Friday for an engagement party. There are three phases to marriage here; first is the pre-engagement where the famalies meet, the groom's family asks the brides family for her hand, some type of jewlery is given and then it is accepted by the community for this couple to be seen together. So last week Gabe's neice had a party after the first phase, which I referred to the 'pre-engagement after party'

Hmmm

I've tried to post something about 12 times so far... not sure what is up!

To the gym...

Since I'm not working too much this month, I'm trying to go the gym at least 2x a week. Gyms here have different hours for men and women. Women get the mornings and early afternoons, and men get the evenings. Women at the gym either stare and then ignore me, or they are friendly and speak to me in English. I don't dress up for the gym, and my face gets red easily when I jog AND I sweat, which isn't the norm.

Post attempt #3

Wow, this is what you call self editing! I've written a post 3 times now, and it changes every time... sigh
Today is a bit of a blah day, feeling sorry formyself for reasons that are kind of lame when you write them down, so I won't!
I think I secretly crave drama (like mother...) and so put myself in situations that have a lot of possibility for all kinds of drama....

Lonely planet, not for me

So, I tried posting on lonely planet, but really didn't find a lot of others who are actually living abroad and want to talk about it. I also find that it's too public to post stuff about myself. So, here is a new way to talk about how my life is here in Syria.

Fucking hell!

What does it take so fucking long to get anything internet related done in this country?!!! It's not rocket science!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!