Friday, December 4, 2009

Thanksgiving!

Well, I celebrated Thanksgiving with my coworkers on Wednesday; it was an awesome time! I went over to the science teacher's house where I and her daughter made biscuits from a mix that was sent to me from a friend back in Michigan (thanks Meredith). The eight year old had never seen biscuits before, and when I asked if she knew what they were, she quickly explained that they were thin and crispy ... ahh the British influence on her language is telling. I guess one can expect nothing else from someone raised in Egypt. I took this opportunity to show her the picture on the package and explain that an American biscuit is not the same as a British biscuit.

She read the instructions and proceeded to help me stir water into the powder that was just poured into the bowl. Unfortunately, we had to guess as to the amount because we had no measuring cup. As I have made biscuits in the past, I had some idea as to the proper consistency, and I think we made them a little watery. No matter, we mixed away and dropped the mix onto the waiting cookie sheet as the oven heated. Of course there was no way to tell if the oven was at the proper temperature as it is a gas oven with no thermometer inside. So, as every amateur cook knows how to do, we guessed yet again.

Now, I wanted to make the biscuits small as they generally rise better that way, but Selma, the girl, thought better of this and made them bigger. Of course this caused them to break a little when they were taken off the pan, but the eating of them was wonderful! They were just the right texture, the flavor was almost like home, and with honey or blackberry jam, there was no doubt this was a necessary contribution to the gastronomy of the day.

The turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy were all expertly prepared by the two English teachers who live above the science teacher. It may have been late, but the food was definitely about as traditional as one could get. And to be there spending time with friends was the thing I was most thankful for.

Following this, we watched the new Star Trek movie, and then I went home, sans hat! The little one had stolen my hat and told me that I could have it back when I next cam for a visit! The nerve of some people...how dare she steal my hat? It was one of the nicest things she has done to/for me. Knowing that I am welcome is a great feeling. I did go back and get it just yesterday (Thursday).

Of course it wasn't just for this reason that I went back. They actually came to see me. I had messaged them that I had just moved into the downstairs apartment, and they came to see it. It is a wonderful 3 bedroom apartment very similar to the one upstairs. This one, however, has bigger beds, a bathroom connected to the bedroom as well as the main shared one which has a BATHTUB!!! This apartment also comes with a new roommate. He is from Baghdad originally, but has been living in UAE for the past nine years. He seems very nice.

As of now, it is not comfortable living here. I did sleep very, very well, the best since I have been here, but I have yet to get the washer, drying rack, refrigerator, stove, blankets, microwave, etc. I don't think it would actually be considered legally inhabitable in the US. Ahh, but it feels good to not have to feel like I am at work all the time. I also don't have to worry about constant visitors anymore! I am very happy about it. Hopefully I will be able to start focusing a little more now as well. I guess only time will tell with that though.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Eid holiday has come!!

Eid has come. I think the actually day itself was this past Saturday, but I cannot be certain. My break lasts from last Thursday at about 3pm (mostly because none of the students showed up) until when I go to work on Sunday morning. It is a long break in which I feel nothing of any consequence will happen. But this is good for me, I do not want anything overly exciting to happen. I want to just take a day or two to relax without having to worry about people and being around them.

This of course is a disadvantage to living with two very social (and socially controlled) Lebanese. Does it matter that they are Lebanese? Normally I would want to say 'no', but the truth of it is 'YES!" Of course it matters! Much of what they do, they do because of their culture. They are constantly inviting the other Lebanese employees over for shisha, dinner, or just to hang out. They had a Lebanese BBQ two days ago which I helped with (and was the only nonLebanese there). I didn't really have much of a choice, but at least they told me the night before that they were planning to do it. That is an improvement over all the other times. They expect me to be alright with all of the visitors and have no problem with them coming over. I, however, get very tired from being around other people and need a break once in a while. This does not mean that I don't want them to come over; it just means that I need to be able to be prepared for it and to have a day or two to myself as well. This is apparently a foreign concept in this part of the world.

I didn't have the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving last Thursday, so a few of my coworkers and I are going to do so this Wednesday. I think it will be a nice chance to sit and relax and eat. And I will have enough time afterward to be able to recover from the experience. I am really looking forward to it because it means that I will get a chance to spend time with my coworkers 8 year old daughter. It is a great boost to my mental health to be able to interact with a child again. I miss being around children, and I don't have much of an opportunity to do that here.

I am still attempting to learn Turkish, though it is coming very slowly. I need to become more focused with just about everything I do, but especially this! I have been too long out of studying that I am no longer used to it. I need to change that as I would like to eventually go back and do some more studying. I want that PhD!

With so many changes, I am glad that this break has come though. The dean left and the new dean has come in. I am not sure what types of changes this will bring with it, but we shall see. I have also had to pick up more teaching hours as they appointed one of the new English Instructors as the Academic Coordinator (or something like that). She will take on a lot of administrative type duties and, therefore, had to lessen her teaching load. Now I will teach 28 hours a week. My Mondays will be the toughest because I will be working from 7:45am - 6:00pm and then have Turkish class until 8:30pm! Hopefully this will not be too much for me. This will continue until we leave for break on the 18th of December. This is not an overly long time, so I should be alright.

Next semester is anticipated to be worse. They are saying anything specific, but it is the whole "we have to go down before we come up" routine. We shall see what happens, I suppose. Wish me luck in everything; I am sure I will make it!!