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a nomad in the land of nizwa

~ an American English teacher in Oman

a nomad in the land of nizwa

Category Archives: Americas

weekly photo challenge: in the background

25 Saturday May 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Al-Dakhiliyah Region, Americas, Jebel Akhdar, Middle East, Oman, postaweek2013, Richmond, Sahab Hotel, United States of America, Virginia, Weekly Photo Challenge

≈ 42 Comments

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Oman, postaweek2013, United States of America, weekly photo challenge

Saturday, May 25:  Friday’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is In the Background: The places that we pass through day after day, or even once in a lifetime, leave in their small way, echoes and traces of themselves upon us. But so often when taking self portraits or pictures of friends, the places themselves become a soft blurred mush of indistinct semi-nothingness, the limelight stolen by our smiling faces. In today’s challenge, let’s turn the tables. Take a picture of yourself or someone else as a shadow, a reflection, or a lesser part of a scene, making the background, or — as in the example above — the foreground, the center of attention.

I’m not sure I really “get this” challenge, but here are a couple of attempts.  Adam, with his mouth watering, is the blurry background with the tofu sandwich as the center of attention.

there's Adam, all blurry in the background, mouth watering  over his vegan sandwich

there’s Adam, all blurry in the background, mouth watering over his vegan sandwich

In this one, taken at the Sahab Hotel on Jebel Akhdar, the blurry background of the Sahab is shown upside down and in the foreground, in the glass of wine.

The Sahab Hotel in the background, but again in the foreground, upside down in the wine glass

The Sahab Hotel in the background, and again in the foreground, upside down in the glass of beer

Alex is behind the glass, so covered completely, but you can see his face in the foreground in the wine glass

Alex is in the background, covered completely by the glass, but you can see his face in the foreground in the glass of beer

And finally, in this picture of a vintage shop window in Carytown, Richmond, Virginia, it’s hard to tell the background from the foreground.

Vintage Shop window in Richmond, Virginia

Vintage Shop window in Richmond, Virginia

And finally, in Dubai, UAE, the Burj al Arab in a mirror, though we’re still in the foreground!

Us in the mirror with the Burj Al Arab in the background

Us in the mirror with the Burj Al Arab in the background

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weekly photo challenge: escape

19 Sunday May 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, postaweek2013, United States of America, Weekly Photo Challenge

≈ 44 Comments

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Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, postaweek2013, United States of America, weekly photo challenge

Sunday, May 19: The WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is Escape:  Depending on your current mood and headspace, or time in your life, this word can evoke different emotions and conjure a variety of images. Maybe the end of your semester is near, and you yearn for vacation and release: the desire to disappear and run away, the need to unplug and shut off. Or perhaps you imagine quite the opposite: Lost in a maze. Stuck in a room, feeling boxed in, with the worst company. Frustrated in your own thoughts, wondering what to do next.

This week is final exams and then the spring semester is over at the University of Nizwa.  I still have 39 days left until my last day of work, and I’m not sure what the university will give me to do to keep me busy.  All I know is that I’m waiting to escape my job here in Oman and return home to the USA for good.  On the way, I plan to make a month-long stop in Spain and Portugal.

Here are some pictures of the good old U.S.A., taken last summer at Deep Creek Lake in Maryland.  We won’t be going to Deep Creek this summer, but it does represent the quintessential escape for me.  Lots of green, cool weather, a beautiful lake, boating, swimming and kayaking.  Hanging out with my family playing games and just general relaxing.  Oh, how I yearn to escape!

Life jackets and kayak paddles ready to go

Life jackets and kayak paddles ready to go

these feet are ready for an escape

these feet are ready for an escape

kayaks at Deep Creek Lake

kayaks at Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake

an escape into a nice relaxing hot tub on the deck of the cabin

an escape into a nice relaxing hot tub on the deck of the cabin

perfect escape, a drink, smoke and computer on the deck at Deep Creek Lake

perfect escape, a drink, smoke and computer on the deck at Deep Creek Lake

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sunday post: mother’s day

12 Sunday May 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Africa, Americas, Asia, Daegu, Delhi, Ethiopia, Family, India, Jakesprinter, Lalibela, South Korea, Sunday Post, United States of America, Virginia

≈ 43 Comments

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Life, Sunday Post

Sunday, May 12:  Today is Mother’s Day in the USA, and Jake has given us a challenge to post something in honor of mothers everywhere (Jakesprinter’s Sunday Post: Mother’s Day).  He writes: Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March or May.

Here are some mothers I’ve encountered in my travels.

a mother and her son in Pokhara, Nepal

a mother and her son in Pokhara, Nepal

A mother bathes her child in Bhaktapur, Nepal

A mother bathes her child in Bhaktapur, Nepal

a mother and her children at the Lalibela Saturday market in Ethiopia

a mother and her children at the Lalibela Saturday market in Ethiopia

Indian mothers at the Lotus Temple in Delhi, India

Indian mothers at the Lotus Temple in Delhi, India

my Korean friend Julie and her two children

my Korean friend Julie and her two children

And finally, in honor of my mother, who died over 10 years ago: Happy Mother’s Day!

My father and mother and their four children (one was still to come!)

My father and mother and their four children (one was still to come!)

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travel theme: beaches

11 Saturday May 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Africa, Al Musanaah, Americas, As Sifah Beach, Asia, barr al jissah resort & spa, Beaches, Busan, Crete, Ethiopia, Europe, Greece, Jordan, Lake Langano, Middle East, Muscat, Oman, Plakias, Sangju, Sangju Silver Sand Beach, Shangri-La Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa, South Korea, The Dead Sea, Travel Theme Photo Challenge, United States of America, Virginia, York River, Yorktown, Yorktown Beach

≈ 64 Comments

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travel theme

Saturday, May 11: Ailsa’s Travel Theme for this week is Beaches. Here are some beaches I’ve encountered in my travels.

Let’s start at the beginning.  Here is the beach of my childhood, on the York River in Yorktown, Virginia.  I spent many of my teenage years hanging out with my friends on this beach.

Yorktown Beach with the York River Bridge in the background.  This is my hometown.

Yorktown Beach with the York River Bridge in the background. This is my hometown.

In general, I prefer deserted, quiet, peaceful and unpopulated beaches, NOT beaches packed with people and umbrellas and chairs and tents and inner tubes like Guryongpo Beach near Pohang, South Korea or Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand.  Most beaches in South Korea are crowded, as Korea is a tiny country with a huge population of 48 million people.  Haeundae Beach in Busan is nice enough in early April, when this picture was taken, but it’s usually quite crowded.

the tacky, crowded Guryongpo Beach near Pohang, South Korea

the crowded Guryongpo Beach near Pohang, South Korea

another crowded and tacky beach in Phuket, Thailand

another crowded beach in Phuket, Thailand

Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea

Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea

It’s not so bad if the beach is set up with mostly EMPTY beach chairs and umbrellas, like this beach in Plakias, Crete, Greece.  At least it’s on the Mediterranean, and what could be better than that?

Plakias Beach, Crete, Greece

Plakias Beach, Crete, Greece

Plakias Beach in Crete, Greece

Plakias Beach in Crete, Greece

Sometimes it’s nice to hang out at a hotel beach, like this beach at Shangri-La Resort near Muscat, Oman. It has a huge pool and a lazy river, so you can dip in the fresh water and wash off the salt and sand from time to time.

Beach at the Shangri-la Resort near Muscat, Oman

Beach at the Shangri-la Resort near Muscat, Oman

Beach at the Shangri-la Resort near Muscat, Oman

Beach at the Shangri-la Resort near Muscat, Oman

Some beaches in Oman are quite deserted or are used mainly by fishermen.  Every time I’ve been to these beaches, they’ve been so extremely hot, I don’t find them enjoyable.  Some of the beaches are so deserted they’re used only by campers.

As Sifah Beach near Muscat, Oman

As Sifah Beach near Muscat, Oman

Omani fisherman at Al Musanaah Beach, Oman

Omani fisherman at Al Musanaah Beach, Oman

Seashells on the beach at Al Musanaah in Oman

Seashells on the beach at Al Musanaah in Oman

a deserted beach where people camp on the east coast of Oman

a deserted beach where people camp on the east coast of Oman

This beach on the Dead Sea in Jordan is quite small, and it’s really impossible to swim in the water because of the high salt content.  No matter what you do, you end up in a position like you are sitting in an armchair, with your arms, legs and head floating on the water’s surface.  Only your rear end sinks in the water.

beach at the Dead Sea in Jordan

beach at the Dead Sea in Jordan

Some beaches are just little strips of sand situated on a lake shore, like this beach at Lake Langano, Ethiopia.

a small beach at Lake Langano, Ethiopia

a small beach at Lake Langano, Ethiopia

Luckily, there are some picture-perfect beaches like Sangju “Silver Sand” Beach in South Korea.

Sangju "Silver Sand" Beach in South Korea

Sangju “Silver Sand” Beach in South Korea

Sangju "Silver Sand" Beach, South Korea

Sangju “Silver Sand” Beach, South Korea

To see more beaches, check out Where’s my backpack? Travel Theme: Beaches.

38.893151 -77.357877

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happy birthday to sarah!

26 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Americas, Family, Life, United States of America, Virginia

≈ 26 Comments

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Life, United States of America, Virginia

Friday, April 26:  Today is my daughter Sarah’s 29th birthday!  I wish I could be there for this special day, but since I can’t, I will have to do a lot of making up for lost time when I return home.

Sarah works as a waitress at Joe’s Inn in Richmond, Virginia while also attending school at Virginia Commonwealth University.  She lives in a row house in Richmond’s Fan District with two close friends and her dog named Bagel.  She’s a wonderful writer and wants to write for a living one day.  She’s got a great sense of humor and a sharp wit.  In high school she loved drama and she played the part of Alice in Wonderland in a school production.  She also has run a half-marathon and a number of 10k runs.  She loves healthy food, wearing dresses, and collecting cute things for her house.  We enjoy going out together to eat at Richmond’s many great restaurants and going shopping at her favorite stores, including Target, anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. We also enjoy toasting each other with glasses of red wine. 🙂

Happy birthday to my little red-headed munchkin.  All my love goes to her on this special day.

Click on any of the pictures below for a full-sized slide show.

Sarah, Adam and Alex
Sarah, Adam and Alex
Mike gives Sarah flowers after finishing his triathlon
Mike gives Sarah flowers after finishing his triathlon
Me with Sarah at Christmas 2009
Me with Sarah at Christmas 2009
Sarah and Adam
Sarah and Adam
Sarah as flower girl at Mike's and my wedding
Sarah as flower girl at Mike’s and my wedding
Sarah at her Nana's house
Sarah at her Nana’s house
Sarah in 2009
Sarah in 2009
Sarah in her Nana's garden
Sarah in her Nana’s garden
Sarah at Christmas
Sarah at Christmas
Sarah, Alex and Adam in Hilton Head, South Caroline
Sarah, Alex and Adam in Hilton Head, South Caroline
Sarah as a baby
Sarah as a baby
Sarah in Richmond 2011
Sarah in Richmond 2011
Sarah in Richmond 2011
Sarah in Richmond 2011
Alex, Sarah and Adam
Alex, Sarah and Adam
at her Nana's house at Christmas
at her Nana’s house at Christmas
Sarah and her snowman
Sarah and her snowman
Sarah rides a pink shoe
Sarah rides a pink shoe
Sarah's high school graduation picture
Sarah’s high school graduation picture
Sarah riding a fire engine??
Sarah riding a fire engine??
Sarah playing the part of Alice in Wonderland in high school
Sarah playing the part of Alice in Wonderland in high school
Sarah and her bubble lawnmower in Richmond, Virginia
Sarah and her bubble lawnmower in Richmond, Virginia
Sarah plays dress up
Sarah plays dress up
Me and Sarah drinking some wine in Richmond
Me and Sarah drinking some wine in Richmond
Sarah changes her name to "Sal" at summer camp
Sarah changes her name to “Sal” at summer camp
Sarah gets flowers after her performance of Alice in Wonderland
Sarah gets flowers after her performance of Alice in Wonderland
Me with Sarah in Richmond, Viriginia Around 1987
Me with Sarah in Richmond, Viriginia Around 1987
Sarah in 2009
Sarah in 2009
Sarah
Sarah
Sarah in Richmond
Sarah in Richmond
having a picnic
having a picnic

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weekly photo challenge: change

14 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Americas, Photography Challenges, postaweek2013, United States of America, Virginia, Weekly Photo Challenge

≈ 45 Comments

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postaweek2013, United States of America, weekly photo challenge

Sunday, April 14: I have been struggling for three days now to come up with something for the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Change.  I first thought I would post a picture of my children and how they have changed, but I realized that would take hundreds of pictures.  Then I thought of posting about how my life has changed since I decided to live and work abroad, and still, that would have taken too many pictures.  I thought of posting one photo of me in my graduation gown accepting my Master of Arts degree. Or at my first wedding.  Or my second.  Or, I could have posted pictures of the change of seasons, flowers growing, leaves dying, snow falling.  The possibilities were endless.

The problem, of course, is that EVERYTHING CHANGES.  Every minute of every day, change happens.

Finally, after spending hours looking through my archives for something that would inspire me, I decided to show something that is ALWAYS changing but NEVER changing.  This is my friendship with four women, Louise, Martha, Rosie and Charlene, that has spanned decades.  Four of us met in 6th grade, in 1966, when my family moved to Yorktown, Virginia and I attended Yorktown Elementary School for the first time.  I moved from the “big city” of Newport News to the rural Yorktown, and it was a rude awakening.  I arrived on the scene wearing a plaid dress with layers of crinoline, delicate lace-bordered ankle socks and patent leather shoes.  The girls I met at Yorktown Elementary wore A-line skirts, button-down shirts, athletic socks and tennis shoes.  My friend Louise always tells me she can never get that picture out of her mind of me arriving in that dress with those black shiny shoes.

Louise & Martha have been my friends since that time.  I was elected to be Vice-President of the SCA (Student Cooperative Association) in 6th grade, and Rosie was elected President.

I'm on the left as Vice- President of the SCA, and Rosie, second from the left, was President.

I’m on the left as Vice-President of the SCA, and Rosie, second from the left, was President.

When we merged with another elementary school in 7th grade, at Yorktown Intermediate School, we met Charlene.   Though I had known Rosie ever since I arrived in 6th grade, our friendship didn’t solidify until we were in 10th grade, at York High School.  Since then, the five of us have been good friends.

Yearbook staff at York High School: bottom row: Rosie, me, Martha, and Charlene standing back right.

Yearbook staff at York High School: bottom row: Louise, Rosie, me, Martha, and Charlene standing back, second from the right.

Rosie, Josh, and Charlene in 1973

Rosie, Josh, and Charlene in 1973

Rosie, Martha, me and Louise at a party in 1973

Rosie, Martha, me and Louise at a party in 1973

me, Rosie, Louise and Charlene at Lake Gaston, 1973

me, Rosie, Louise and Charlene at Lake Gaston, 1973

partying in 1974.  I'm the one with my mouth open and Rosie's standing beside me

partying in 1974. I’m the one with my mouth open. Rosie’s sitting beside me

Building pyramids at York High School, 1974

Building pyramids at York High School, 1974. Me top tier on right, Charlene and Louise middle tier on left.

Charlene, Mickey Mouse and Rosie at Disney World, Spring 1974

Charlene, Mickey Mouse and Rosie at Disney World, Spring 1974

me, Donald Duck and Louise at Disney World in Florida on our senior class trip

me, Donald Duck and Louise at Disney World in Florida on our senior class trip

Louise and Gary, me and Paul in 1974

Louise and Gary, me and Paul in 1974

We have each constantly changed: married, divorced, had children, had grandchildren (except me), and moved to different parts of the country and the world.

At Charlene's bachelorette party: Rosie, Louise, Charlene and me

At Charlene’s bachelorette party: Rosie, Louise, Charlene and me

me and Louise (and our mothers) at Charlene's wedding

me and Louise (and our mothers) at Charlene’s wedding

Our bodies have gotten older and chubbier.  Yet.  Despite all the changes we have gone through, one thing has remained constant: our friendship.  Despite 40 years, we are still best of friends.  Whenever we get together, it as if nothing has changed, even though, in reality, EVERYTHING has changed.

Louise, me and Charlene in New York City

Louise, me and Charlene in New York City

Rosie and Charlene in New York City

Rosie and Charlene in New York City

me, Rosie, Charlene and Louise in Yorktown, September 2007

me, Rosie, Charlene and Louise in Yorktown, September 2007

Louise, Charlene, me and Rosie in Yorktown in February 2009

Louise, Charlene, me and Rosie in Yorktown in February 2009

Rosie, Louise, Martha and me in Yorktown in April 2009

Rosie, Louise, Martha and me in Yorktown in April 2009

Charlene, Rosie and me in Yorktown in June 2009

Charlene, Rosie and me in Yorktown in June 2009

Rosie, me and Martha at Rosie's brother's house in August 2009

Rosie, me and Martha at Rosie’s brother’s house in August 2009

Charlene, me, Rosie and Martha in May 2011

Charlene, me, Rosie and Martha in May 2011

Louise, Rosie, me, Martha and Charlene in May 2011

Louise, Rosie, me, Martha and Charlene in May 2011

Martha, me and Rosie in front, May 2011

Martha, me and Rosie in front, May 2011 at a York High School reunion. (Standing in front of a port-a-potty, not the best choice for a photo!)

I know without a doubt that our friendship will be something we’ll have for the rest of our lives.  🙂

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friday meditation: optimism vs. pessimism

22 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in "Happiness", Death, Friday Meditation, Life, Optimism, Pessimism, Spirituality, United States of America

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

Life, Optimism, Pessimism, Spirituality, WPLongform

Friday, March 22: I have been continuing my meditation practice, while simultaneously reading Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill, by Matthieu Ricard. This week, I was intrigued by the chapter: “Optimism, Pessimism, and Naiveté.”  As I read and meditated on this, I couldn’t help looking at myself and trying to determine if I’m a pessimist or an optimist.

a plant has to have a lot of optimism to take root in a harsh environment like this

a plant has to have a lot of optimism to take root in a harsh environment like this

I’ve always called myself a pessimist because, when presented with an obstacle or challenge, I usually think about the worst things that could happen.  That way, I tell myself and others, I’m prepared for the worst.  If the worst doesn’t happen, then I’m pleasantly surprised.

For example, now I’m starting to prepare myself for leaving Oman in 3 months.  On April 1, I need to put my car up for sale.  I keep thinking, Oh no, what if I can’t sell it for what I need to sell it for?  What if I can’t get enough to pay off my loan?  What if I have an accident before I can sell it?  What if something major goes wrong with it in the next couple of weeks?

An optimistic outlook enables you to take one step at a time to overcome obstacles

An optimistic outlook enables you to take one step at a time to overcome obstacles

As you can see, I’ve thought of a number of obstacles I could encounter.  But instead of letting myself become engulfed by worries, I’ve made a plan and written it on my calendar.  I must go to the leasing company and find out what the loan balance is and find out if it’s possible for a buyer to take over the payments.  I must go to the Toyota dealer and get an estimate of the value.  And then I must advertise it.  Finally, I thought of the worst things that could happen.  If I wreck the car, it’s insured.  If I have to spend money to fix something major, then I just have to do it.  And if worst comes to worst, and I cannot sell it, I can ship it back to the USA.

When I read this chapter in Happiness, I started wondering if I really am the pessimist I have always believed myself to be.

The choice: move forward one step at a time, or stay stuck where you are.

The choice: move forward one step at a time, or stay stuck where you are.

According to Ricard, “An optimist is somebody who considers his problems to be temporary, controllable, and linked to a specific situation.  He will say, ‘There’s no reason to make a fuss about it; these things don’t last. I’ll figure it out; in any case, I usually do.’  The pessimist, on the other hand, thinks that his problems will last (“It’s not the sort of thing that just goes away”), that they jeopardize everything he does and are out of his control (“What do you expect me to do about it?”).  He also imagines that he has some basic inner flaw, and tells people: ‘Whatever I do, it always turns out the same way’ and concludes, ‘I’m just not cut out to be happy.'”

When I read this, I thought: Maybe I’m not quite the pessimist I think I am.

Though I call myself a pessimist, and have some of the tendencies toward worry, ultimately, I think I'm an optimist

Though I call myself a pessimist, and have some of the tendencies toward worry, ultimately, I think I’m an optimist

I continued to read on with curiosity.  Ricard goes on to say: “For an optimist, it makes no sense to lose hope.  We can always do better (instead of being devastated, resigned or disgusted), limit the damage (instead of letting it all go to pot), find an alternative solution (instead of wallowing pitifully in failure), rebuild what has been destroyed (instead of saying “It’s all over!”), take the current situation as a starting point (instead of wasting our time crying over the past and lamenting the present), start from scratch (instead of ending there), understand that sustained efforts will have to be made in the best apparent direction (instead of being paralyzed by indecision and fatalism), and use every present moment to advance, appreciate, act, and enjoy inner well-being (instead of wasting our time brooding over the past and fearing the future).”

The optimist uses several tools to live his life: HOPE, RESOLVE, ADAPTABILITY, SERENITY, & MEANING.

Ricard goes on to note that psychologists define HOPE as “the conviction that one can find the means to attain one’s goals and develop the motivation necessary to do so.”

another plant that must be optimistic to live its life here

another plant that must be optimistic to live its life here

The optimist has RESOLVE; she doesn’t give up quickly. “Strengthened by the hope of success, she perseveres and succeeds more often than the pessimist, especially in adverse conditions.”

Optimists are ADAPTABLE: When they encounter what seem to be insurmountable obstacles, they react in a constructive and creative way, while pessimists tend to “brood over their misfortunes, nurture illusions, dream up ‘magic’ solutions, and accuse the whole world of being against them.”

An optimist, even in meeting with temporary failure, is “free of regret and guilt feelings” and able to maintain SERENITY while trying to solve the problem.

Finally, the optimist sees the potential for transformation in every human being, giving MEANING to human life.

So, Ricard says, “The ultimate pessimism is in thinking that life in general is not worth living.  The ultimate optimism lies in understanding that every passing moment is a treasure, in joy as in adversity.”

Hope springs eternal

Hope springs eternal

I don’t see myself as a hopeless person; conversely I see myself as HOPEFUL and ADAPTABLE.  My problem is in maintaining SERENITY in the face of obstacles.  Often I get annoyed, irritable, worried, depressed and angry when I’m faced with obstacles.  The only positive is that these states of mind come and go like fireflies on a summer night.  But ultimately, I have enough confidence in myself to believe that I can solve any problem that is thrown in my path.  I never feel like life isn’t worth living; neither am I ever willing to play the victim.

I know a number of people in Oman who are absolutely miserable; they’re true pessimists.  Never do they try to make the best of their situation.  They see their situation as hopeless, that they are stuck here under the university’s dictatorship, that they have no other options, that they don’t have a country they can return to.  They don’t take walks in nature or try to get out and explore the beautiful country.  As far as I can tell, these are choices they make.  Every day, I believe people can take small steps to change their lives.  An optimist can see this easily; a pessimist cannot.

So, which am I?

Early this morning, my dear friend from high school, Rosie, lost her beautiful niece, Megan, to stomach cancer.  I didn’t know Megan very well, though I’d met her on several occasions.  I do know my friend and her sister Janet, Megan’s mother.  Their family is close-knit and loving, and they are fighters. I’ve known this family almost my entire life and I know what they’re made of.  Megan herself, in the face of being diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer, went to battle for her life.  She wrote a blog about her struggle with cancer:  This is Our Fight: We’re fighting cancer, fighting for the life we dreamed of.

From right to left: Janet (Megan's mother), Megan, and Adam (Megan's husband)

From right to left: Janet (Megan’s mother), Megan, and Adam (Megan’s husband). Taken when Megan was perfectly healthy, in January 2010.

My own insignificant struggles were put into perspective by Megan’s death.  While I have been struggling daily with a horrible job and thinking about the upheaval of moving back to America in 3 months, this beautiful and talented young woman was facing the ultimate struggle, for her life.  This morning, she lost that battle, but during her struggle she was able to keep an optimistic outlook. To me, that’s amazing.

I wonder how optimistic I would be in the face of the ultimate struggle: with death.  I really don’t know.  But I certainly admire a person like Megan who met death with courage and the certain conviction that SHE, if she had her say, would choose life.

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happy birthday, alex!

10 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Americas, Family, United States of America, Virginia

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

Birthdays, United States of America

Sunday, March 10:  Today is my oldest son Alex’s 22nd birthday.  He is a kind and gentle soul who loves bananas, difficult gymnastic moves, history and heavy metal. I wish I was home with him today to celebrate his birthday, but since I’m not I thought I would do a little photo collage to celebrate his big day.

Click on any of the images below to see a full-sized slide show.

Alex and Adam at Stribling Apple Orchard in Virginia
Alex and Adam at Stribling Apple Orchard in Virginia
Adam and Alex with long curly hair
Adam and Alex with long curly hair
Pebbles and BamBam, aka Elizabeth and Alex
Pebbles and BamBam, aka Elizabeth and Alex
Alex
Alex
Alex and his best friend Elizabeth
Alex and his best friend Elizabeth
Alex at Deep Creek Lake in Maryland
Alex at Deep Creek Lake in Maryland
Alex and I play Ticket to Ride in Daegu, South Korea
Alex and I play Ticket to Ride in Daegu, South Korea
Alex tries on hats at Home Plus in Daegu, South Korea
Alex tries on hats at Home Plus in Daegu, South Korea
Alex at the Boseong Tea Plantations in South Korea
Alex at the Boseong Tea Plantations in South Korea
Alex does a handstand at Swallowtail Falls in Maryland
Alex does a handstand at Swallowtail Falls in Maryland
Alex signs autographs in Chojeon Elementary School, South Korea
Alex signs autographs in Chojeon Elementary School, South Korea
Alex in Jeongju, South Korea
Alex in Jeongju, South Korea
Alex in Jeongju, South Korea
Alex in Jeongju, South Korea
Alex at Maisan, South Korea
Alex at Maisan, South Korea
Alex does a handstand at Al Alam Palace in Muscat
Alex does a handstand at Al Alam Palace in Muscat
Alex does one of his gymnastic move at Al Alam Palace
Alex does one of his gymnastic move at Al Alam Palace
Alex at the Silk Road in Muscat
Alex at the Silk Road in Muscat
Alex in Daegu, South Korea
Alex in Daegu, South Korea
Alex and me at Camp Al Areesh
Alex and me at Camp Al Areesh
Alex in Ibra
Alex in Ibra
Alex at Camp Al Areesh in Sharqiya
Alex at Camp Al Areesh in Sharqiya
Alex at Wadi Shab
Alex at Wadi Shab
Alex at Kargeen in Muscat
Alex at Kargeen in Muscat
Alex on the left, Adam on the right at Mutrah Souq
Alex on the left, Adam on the right at Mutrah Souq
Alex and his gymnastic bars in the backyard of our Oakton, VA house
Alex and his gymnastic bars in the backyard of our Oakton, VA house
Alex does his gymnastic moves
Alex does his gymnastic moves

Happy birthday, to my sweet darling Alex!  All my love ~ Mom ❤

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feeling sick in nizwa ~ and a “brothers & sisters” final season marathon!

02 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in "Brothers & Sisters", Family, United States of America, Virginia

≈ 24 Comments

Saturday, February 2:  On Tuesday, January 29, I started feeling all achy and tired and sick to my stomach.  It almost felt like I imagine Chronic Fatigue Syndrome feels, with stomach troubles thrown in for good measure.  It came upon me by degrees on Tuesday and lingered Wednesday morning.  Wednesday afternoon, I thought I was feeling better and then WHAM!  By Wednesday night, I went progressively downhill and was totally wiped out.  Every cubic inch of my body was aching, I had a throbbing headache and piercing neck pain, and my stomach was in total disarray. Utter chaos. After having read about the diseases one could catch in Nepal, I had a temporary panic attack that I had contracted spinal meningitis!! Or Amoebic dysentery.  However, there was no fever, so I reassured myself that meningitis could not be the problem.  I treated myself by barely eating anything, staying in my pajamas from Wednesday through Friday night, and drinking lots of fluids to avert dehydration.

I rarely EVER get sick.  However, I have to say, in some bizarre way, I relished having an excuse to stay in my pajamas and in a reclining position all weekend.  I have been continually on the go since January 1, when Mike and the boys arrived, until I returned home from Nepal on January 25, where I was constantly cold and uncomfortable.  I think my body just decided to put a stop to all my shenanigans and knock me out for a few days.

Since I barely felt like doing ANYTHING, I just lay on the couch and alternately read a new book of Nepali short stories I bought in Kathmandu AND watched episode after episode of the 5th and final season of Brothers and Sisters, which I had the boys bring me from the U.S.

Sometimes those Walkers got on my nerves!! Big time!!  It frustrated, even infuriated me, the way they put every other person who came into their lives on hold, ALWAYS, as they attended to family business. Or family crises. I couldn’t understand how beautiful French Luc put up with being constantly ignored and belittled by Sarah. Especially as Luc was FABULOUS!!  And why every relationship Nora had always fell by the wayside as she sacrificed her own happiness for her self-centered children.  And why there was nothing sacred, or private, between any of them.

Overall, I loved their messy but loving family, the family that stuck together throughout all tribulations.  My family of origin, the Birdsong clan, used to be like this.  I can see, in the Walker family, how we used to be back in the day, before my brother died in 1988 and my mother died in 2002.  My brothers and sisters were, and still are, the most fun-loving, most intelligent and witty people I have ever known. I enjoyed our family gatherings immensely.  I felt at one time that I was the glue that held us together after my mom died, but then my sister took over holding us together as my family fell apart.  My other sister lives in California and doesn’t like to fly, so it’s been years since I’ve seen her.  And my brother has gone missing from our lives because he’s going through struggles of his own.  We barely ever see or talk to each other any more.

The Walker family in Brothers and Sisters kept growing and changing and morphing into this motley and crazy collection of people.  Yet.  I found, as I watched episode after episode, I didn’t want to tear myself away.  I felt like I was part of their family.  Surely Nora Walker would welcome me into her home; after all, she called her dead husband’s mistress, Holly, a “friend;” she accepted basically any misfit who tumbled into the midst of their family.  I found myself getting teary-eyed as Kevin and Scotty tried to cobble together their own family from a foster-home-adopted Olivia to their surrogate-conceived son Daniel, during the last several episodes. As Kitty finally got pregnant and decided to try to have the baby despite the risk to her own health.  As Luc reconciled with his mother.  And as Sarah and Luc celebrated the wedding of a lifetime.

me, Joan, my mom, Rob, Stephanie, and Dad probably around the year 2000??

me, Joan, my mom, Rob, Stephanie, and Dad over 20 years ago!

I found myself missing my extended family.  Of course, I miss my own family, especially my children, but what I missed while watching this marathon was my bigger family.  In all their craziness and uniqueness.  And their messiness.

At the end, at Sarah and Luc’s wedding, Nora Walker quoted from George Eliot:

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

Maybe we can’t be the Walkers, but I believe it’s never too late to be the Birdsongs we might have been.

38.893151 -77.357877

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the boys arrive safely in oman

01 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by nomad, interrupted in Family, Oman, United States of America, Virginia

≈ 23 Comments

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Oman

Tuesday, January 1:  After a 23 hour trip from Washington (2 hour early check-in, 16 hour flight, 3 hour layover in Frankfurt, and 2 hour transition through immigration to my Nizwa flat), my 3 boys arrive safely tonight in Oman.  They’re smiling and ebullient.  We hug and hug and I shift my mind to our new paradigm, being together as a family in a foreign land.  The boys are relaxed and confident; they’ve been here before and they’re pros at this.  Adam tells me he’s happy to be back:  “I feel like this is my second home!”  Their dad looks exhausted.  He tells me he’s only slept 5 hours since Sunday because he’s had so many loose ends at home to tie up: work, packing, taking care of our dog, household stuff.

Mike, Adam & Alex arrive at Seeb International Airport in Muscat

Mike, Adam & Alex arrive at Seeb International Airport in Muscat

I try to see my world through their eyes.  I remember the first time I came to Oman in September of 2011.  At that time, I arrived late at night.  It was sweltering and humid even at 11 p.m. at night.  Everything seemed surreal, with the haze of humidity in the air, the long curvaceous road to Nizwa in the dark, the mountains sporadically looming up beside the road like solid alien sentries.  I know for Mike, it must seem this way, dreamlike and bewildering. Though it’s not hot now on January nights, there is a haze of dust in the air that lends a strange aura to the landscape.  On the other hand, I sense a whole different experience for Alex and Adam.  They’re comfortable; they feel a kinship with this place.  They carry a memory of our shared experience and now they look forward to sharing it with their dad.  As do I.

Our drive to Nizwa is filled with reminiscences about last January, when Alex and Adam were here with me.  They talk about where they want to go again while here: “Wadi Shab!  Camp Al Areesh!  We should make Dad drive through the Empty Quarter to Salalah!!”  There’s a debate about the treacherous drive over the Hajar Mountains: Alex felt car-sick and uncomfortable the whole time and doesn’t want to do it (this might have to do with the fact that I almost killed all three of us on that drive!). I tell them there is plenty to do, and they can do anything they want.  I tell them our plan for the weekend.  They’re enthusiastic to embark on our new adventure.

They point out the Omanis parked along the highway, sitting on the ground in the dark, hanging out with their friends.  Adam says, “That’s so cool.  I want to do that!”

I love having them here.  It will be fun to see Oman anew with their enthusiastic eyes.  Stay tuned for the coming adventure. 🙂

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Heading to Spain and Portugal!!

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Blogs I Follow

Blog of the Year 2012

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Oman Blogs

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  • Andy in Oman
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  • English Girl in Oman
  • Hallucinations of a Kitten
  • How to live like an Omani Princess
  • Hunting the Lost Insurgency: Oman
  • Matthew Heines
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  • Samir's Home
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Oman Information

  • Albahja Cinema
  • Background Note Oman: U.S. State Department
  • Bait Muzna Gallery
  • BBC News: Oman Country Profile
  • CIA World Factbook ~ Oman
  • City Cinema Shatti
  • Destination Oman
  • Embassy of the United States – Muscat, Oman
  • Lonely Planet Oman
  • Ministry of Information: Sultanate of Oman
  • Oman Daily Observer
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Travel Blogs

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Fairfax County Emergency Information

Official Fairfax County Government Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Website

~ wander.essence ~

where travel meets art

Living in Paradise...

SterVens' Tales

~~~In Case You Didn't Know, I Talk 2 Myself~~~

PIRAN CAFÉ

Word Wabbit

Wrestless Word Wrestler

Cardinal Guzman

Encyclopedia Miscellaneous - 'quality' blogging since August 2011

Pit's Fritztown News

A German Expat's Life in Fredericksburg/Texas

Fumbling Through Italy

Empty Nesters on a Green Global Trek

snowtoseas

Cornwall in Colours

inspired by the colours of the land, sea and sky of Cornwall

Slovenian Girl Abroad

A blog about travel adventures written by an Slovenian girl living in Switzerland

Let Me Bite That

Can I have a bite?

Running Stories by Jerry Lewis

Personal blog about running adventures

Finding NYC

exploring New York City one adventure at a time

The World according to Dina

Notes on Seeing, Reading & Writing, Living & Loving in The North

Cornwall Photographic

snippetsandsnaps

Potato Point and beyond

SITTING PRETTY

Fairfax County Emergency Information

Official Fairfax County Government Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Website

~ wander.essence ~

where travel meets art

Living in Paradise...

SterVens' Tales

~~~In Case You Didn't Know, I Talk 2 Myself~~~

PIRAN CAFÉ

Word Wabbit

Wrestless Word Wrestler

Cardinal Guzman

Encyclopedia Miscellaneous - 'quality' blogging since August 2011

Pit's Fritztown News

A German Expat's Life in Fredericksburg/Texas

Fumbling Through Italy

Empty Nesters on a Green Global Trek

snowtoseas

Cornwall in Colours

inspired by the colours of the land, sea and sky of Cornwall

Slovenian Girl Abroad

A blog about travel adventures written by an Slovenian girl living in Switzerland

Let Me Bite That

Can I have a bite?

Running Stories by Jerry Lewis

Personal blog about running adventures

Finding NYC

exploring New York City one adventure at a time

The World according to Dina

Notes on Seeing, Reading & Writing, Living & Loving in The North

Cornwall Photographic

snippetsandsnaps

Potato Point and beyond

SITTING PRETTY

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