tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61652934742719368722024-03-05T19:24:36.464-08:00Kronicles of KuwaitLaurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-77474990170635142852012-09-27T04:16:00.002-07:002012-09-27T04:17:16.063-07:00Life in The Sandbox Take Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
First of all, I'd like to start by saying I am completely aware of my failure to fulfill my commitment of blogging more this year that I did last year. I totally thought I would have a less eventful year this year and be able to focus more on personal things. I was completely wrong! Not only have I been super busy socially, I am making a conscious effort to have healthier sleep habits, I've become more active in different committees at work, and I've joined a gym. With that being said, please bare with me. I'll blog as much as I can, but it won't be as much as I originally anticipated.<br />
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So to answer the burning question, yes. My life in Kuwait is still wonderful. I've had a few hurdles to jump this year already, but overall its coming together quite nicely. My car isn't functional at the moment, I live 25 minutes from downtown, I've experienced two flat tires, I hardly see my friends from last year, I live where they build buildings before roads and sewage/water lines, I got stranded on a balcony, my massive effort to get my diploma certified this summer was for nothing, I have massive roaches, sometimes my electricity goes out, it isn't uncommon to run out of water in my apartment, and the closest shawarma stand is...who knows. I haven't seen one in my hood. But, with all of that happening, I still have a smile on my face all of the time. I still love living here. I still love the people, lifestyle, weather, travel opportunities and kids. <br />
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When I first got here, I tried to continue the same routine I had last year. Go to work, spend the entire rest of my time with my friends, deprive myself of sleep and start all over again. I was getting so frustrated. Why couldn't I just do what had made me so happy last year? Before I left the states, I wrote a blog about how this year I'm not going to make countdowns, time limits or live by a check list. I genuinely meant that, but I don't think I really knew how much I would really follow that commitment. Living so far away from everyone has really made me focus more on my career. I've always said I work to live, and I'll never live to work. I've always just looked at work as something I do during the day and I completely leave my work at work. This year has been so much different. I'm not sure if it's the 3 classes a day, the block schedule, the awesome positive energy, the coffee club, the amazing students, or living so far away from anyone that I can't even fathom doing anything during the week. Either way, I've been forced to commit to this new lifestyle. I hardly look at the clock. I enjoy being at work and I never have a dull moment. I helps that I'm being more than just a teacher at work. I've been more involved outside of the classroom, which is super fun! I'm also pretty happy to be teaching Chemistry only again. <br />
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Today I had a kid ask me why I don't have a clock in my room. My response: "What is time, but a number?" He liked that answer. It was mostly a sarcastic answer, but there's some truth in it. When I first started traveling last year, I started dealing with so many different currencies. It made me start thinking, "What is money, but a currency?" The more currencies I accumulated, the more I felt like I was playing monopoly. That's kind of how I feel about time right now. Jumping from time zone to time zone has just made me realize that it doesn't matter the hour you do something. What matters is what you're doing with the time you have. Are you living for the moment, or trying to conform to what society is telling you to do at that moment. Take advantage of your surroundings while you have them. I'm in Kuwait in a Chemistry classroom with 25 kids. I'll take advantage of that and use what I have to show them as much as I can with the time I have. Eight months from now, I wont have them. So, I'm going to add to my last post. Not only will I not dwell on countdowns and lists, but I'm going to take advantage of the situation I've been given. I'll always be 100% there. Whether I'm in the classroom, at dinner with friends, somewhere in Europe hiking across the continent, or in an aerobics class at The Palms, im 100% there. Who knows when I will be stripped of these opportunities?<br />
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So...for today, I have open house and then quality time with friends. I'll be there 100%. :) <br />
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I'd upload pictures, but I've been told that's not allowed because of the limited bandwidth at school. I'll post later...inshallah. :) </div>
Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-90560589851748360142012-08-18T16:07:00.002-07:002012-08-18T16:07:41.612-07:00Mr. A-Z is my new life coach...here's why<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last weekend I was so privileged to go to Jason Mraz's sound check before his concert at Gexa Energy Pavillion in Dallas. I totally wish we could have stayed for the concert, but it wasn't an option. Since then, my friend and I have become quite the Mraz researchers. I've liked him since I was a sophomore in college. I knew every word of his all of his songs. I never really read up on him at the time, but I'm quickly finding out that he's much more than just an awesome musician. He's an amazing human being. He strives to travel the world and build community wherever he ends up. Here are a few links to some awesome videos for you guys to get an idea of how awesome he is!<br />
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This one is one of his newest songs. If you've never seen VH1 storytellers, what happens is he explains the motivation behind the song before he performs it. I absolutely loved this song when it came out, but now I love it even more knowing the reason for the writing. It really hit home for me. When I first went to kuwait, I knew I was making the right move, but I was so torn. I'm struggling with this again as I pack up and head back to the sandbox. I've rekindled old friendships and it's hard to get in a mindset to leave it all again. Before he sings, he talks about having to make a decision to drop everything and stay with a girl, or to go navigate the world and grow. Listen. It's great.<br />
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<a href="http://www.vh1.com/video/misc/768816/i-wont-give-up-vh1-storytellers.jhtml?xrs=share_blogger">I Won't Give Up (VH1 Storytellers)</a>: Jason Mraz performs "I Won't Give Up" for VH1 Storytellers in New York City.
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This video is a segment of something that may or may not become a documentary. Everywhere Mraz travels, he makes a short clip of his time. This has been an inspiration to me. I've been so horrible at documenting my travels this past year. Pictures are great, but I always rely on someone else to take them. Listen to John Mayer's song "3x5". It will explain my thoughts exactly. This year, I'm going to be better at documenting. I'll definitely blog more and I'm going to buy a flip camera that's simple to carry around a pull out any time I want to document something. This is Mraz's clip from Morocco - somewhere I'll probably never go actually.<br />
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Lastly, this is a new favorite of mine of his. He has a heart for traveling, so a lot of his songs hit so close to home, but this is one is my favorite. It's another VH1 Storytellers clip. Listen to his personal definition of "home". It's pretty amazing!<br />
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<a href="http://www.vh1.com/video/misc/768815/93-million-miles-vh1-storytellers.jhtml?xrs=share_blogger">93 Million Miles (VH1 Storytellers)</a>: Jason Mraz performs "93 Million Miles" for VH1 Storytellers in New York City.
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If you weren't a Mraz fan before this, I hope you're one now. He's definitely figured it out.<br />
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-79308425550832410002012-08-15T13:42:00.002-07:002012-08-16T11:37:46.178-07:00...and that's a wrap!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was sitting at a friends house the other day and there was a picture of a path...kind of like the one above. It was through a foggy forest. You can't see where the path ends, and it looks a bit scary to walk alone. My friend's had this picture hanging in his house since before I knew him, but this time when I visited, I had a different view of it. I never really gave it much thought before. I remember his mom telling him once that its a horrible picture to have hanging in his house. It doesn't offer balance and warmth that a house should have. I kind of laughed it off, but the more I looked at it this time around, the more I understood what she meant. Who wants such a lonely picture welcoming you home? Who wants to take a path that leads to the unknown...alone? It's not normal for use to want that. As I was sitting there thinking to myself and all of these interpretations were going through my head, I blurted out, "Why can't I be normal and be satisfied with a normal life - life in suburbia with a house, husband, family and security? Why do I have to choose this path that I walk alone into the unknown?" Alex quickly replied, "Because you're not wired that way. You enjoy adventure and the unknown." I accepted the answer. I do live for adventure. I jump out of airplanes without question. I pick up and move to the middle east with little hesitation. I travel across Thailand in an overnight train, ferry, bus, plane...whatever gets me there. I eat at fish markets with no USDA regulations. I have dinner with strangers and hear stories I'll never hear in my local Starbucks. I go to islands off the coast of Kuwait and play in old Iraqi tanks while being stranded because our car wont start. I feed sea turtles and dig in gem mines and drink king coconut milk in a local's house in Sri Lanka. I wouldn't take it back for an extra year in suburbia with security and food regulations. My question is, how long does this chapter last, or is this a lifestyle change? Whatever it is, how do I make the most of it?<br />
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When I left Kuwait for the summer, I was dead set on this visit to America being just that - a visit. I had found paradise in Kuwait. I have such an awesome group of friends, gas is cheap, I can get anything delivered, I can fly anywhere in the world for not much at all, and they love Americans. Is that what this gift of life is all about - having an easy life? This trip to America this summer has definitely exceeded my expectations. My travels typically do, but my travels are normally venturing off into the unknown. America's not the unknown for me. I've traveled it quite a bit. I expected to visit old friends, see a few places I've missed and jump on a plane back to my paradise. I'd say there's truth in that, but as I said - my expectations were surpassed.<br />
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I was able to catch up with old friends, make new ones, and strengthen friendships that were just mere acquaintances before I left. Sadly, I didn't get to see everyone that I planned to visit this summer, but I challenge you to visit everyone important in your life in just a summer. It's impossible, unless of course I cut some trips short or skipped out on a few things here and there, but if you know me at all, you know I'm not wired that way.<br />
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I had a guest speaker my first year of teaching that I will never forget. His motivational speech was so simple, but it stuck. He said that as Americans, (and I've learned this past year that this goes for human beings in general), we all naturally live for the next milestone, or the next thing to check off the list. As teachers, we watch the clock for the bell to ring and the next class to come, for the day to end, for the week to end, for the next break, for summer break, for retirement, etc. How often do we "stop and smell the roses" of the moment? I'm so guilty of this, especially the vacation thing. I counted down the days to Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Dubai, Jordan and wherever else I got to go this past year.<br />
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I always look at my Grandpa and Grandma Wagner and say to myself, "they've figured it out." They genuinely embrace every day given to them. When I visited them this summer, every day was filled with simple things, but each moment was cherished by them, and by me. My grandfather has a woodworking shop in his backyard that is the most make-shift shop I've ever seen. He's created his own saw dust vacuum, and used other tools to do jobs of tools he doesn't have. To see his excitement while he told me all about the little things he's made brought it all together for me. Life is what you make it. You can choose to check off the next milesone, but what happens when everything checked off? What's the next milestone? You're funeral? Have fun with that. I never want to finish a checklist of life.<br />
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As I was thinking, how can I be more like my grandparents? How can I appreciate all of the blessings given to me? I may not be wired to have the normal suburbia life and go through the normal stages of life, but how can I better appreciate the life God so graciously granted me? When I thought of my grandparents' life, it dawned on me, of course they soak up every moment. They have no job, no children at home, no deadlines. They have volunteer work, traveling, mass, and daily walks to complete. I got a little taste of retirement this summer. No deadlines, no job, clearly no children, no obligations - just travel, visit people and enjoy. I've had a job since I was old enough to work, sometime a few jobs at a time. When we have responsibilities that others are dependent on, we automatically make it a job to complete those obligations. What happens when you have no obligations? I was a bit nervous about having the entire summer off. How would I stay busy? What if I get bored? I can't even sit still for 5 minutes! So, as I traveled and went nonstop, I was naturally able to stop and enjoy it all. I could take detours and it didn't affect anything. I could stay an extra day here or there and it was fine. I was able to take a walk with my grandpa and we had one of the best talks ever! He gave some great life advice and encouragement. I was able to sit with Danielle and watch the sun set over the Dallas skyline, and see a ton of sunrises with her as well. :) I was able to have fun day with Zach Ray, story time with Alex, a road trip with my dad, pool time with the Hendersons, and a fancy dinner catered to us by the Chef at Borgne in New Orleans with Mike and Matt. I was able to meet the coolest group of Canadians while dancing around Lollapalooza with them. I was able to visit my Aunt Heidi one more time before she was called home. I never made a checklist of these things and I didn't really sweat it if something didn't get done. I think that's how it should be. Matthew 6:34. Look it up.<br />
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My Texas flag!</div>
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A glimpse of my road trip with my dad</div>
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pool time with the Hendersons</div>
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Borgne in New Orleans</div>
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Fun Day with Zach Ray</div>
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So many memories made with her this summer</div>
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My new awesome Canadian friends!</div>
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Lollapalooza - definitely becoming an annual trip.</div>
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Some quality time with an old friend - Alex</div>
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So how do I carry this way of living into the school year? How do I balance both work and staying focused on absorbing every moment? A lot of people tell me I'm doing it right. They tell me they always wish they would have taken a few years before "starting life" just to travel. They tell me they wish they had the guts to just pick up and leave everything to go overseas. I totally recommend it to everyone, but I advise anyone who chooses this path to make the most of every moment, and document everything. I promise you, you wont remember everything, and for those introverts out there, you'll have to come out of your shell and become extroverts. It's a must!<br />
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My goal this year is to live every single day with the same mindset I've had this summer. Who cares if I have work 5 days a week? Who ever said that teaching can't be treated as a treat? People always say, if you pick a career that you love, it wont be a job at all, but rather a privilege. Although teaching wasn't my original career patch, it quickly became a privilege rather than a job. I was able to embrace every moment this summer because I was doing exactly what I wanted to do, no matter the day or the time. Teachers, you know those classes where the bell rings and you're in complete shock and so are the students? You look at each other and you say, "Is that the bell already? Are we on a shortened schedule? Alright...fine. No homework. We'll pick up here tomorrow." This typically happens more when you have motivated students (it happened a lot more in Kuwait). My point is, as cliche as it sounds, "Time flies when you're having fun."<br />
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That's my challenge this school year - have so much fun that time flies, but not for reasons I used to want time to fly - reach the next deadline, bell or vacation, but rather it would be because I'm embracing the moments given to me. I'm so blessed to have this life I've been given. I'm glad I'm wired the way I am. Why rush through it? You teachers know that if the students can see motivation and passion in teachers, they too will be motivated to be passionate.<br />
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Work is just one category of my life that serves as the best example of how I'm going to try to love my life more. I'll try to spill this challenge into the smaller things as well - the drive to work, chores, exercise, socializing, travel, etc. I know...I sound like some sort of person who's high on life and you pessimists out there are laughing at me right now, but that's ok. Too many times we get caught up in the obligations of life that we forget that it's the best gift ever given to us. How often have you received a gift and seen it as an obligation, chore or series of checklists that you're ready to be finished with instead of a blessing that you're thankful for? Not often? Then why treat life that God so graciously handed to us as an obligation, chore or series of checklists instead of a gift? So, my challenge to us as human beings is to treat life as a gift, use the heck out of it, love it and cherish it. Live each moment as its the most precious one given to you. Don't get caught up in the deadlines, chapters, stages and obligations. I don't believe that's what the instructions say.<br />
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Farewell, America. It's been an awesome ride. Kuwait, I'll see you in a few days! I hope you're ready!</div>
Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-4738208949291853532012-07-24T15:19:00.001-07:002012-07-24T15:21:38.968-07:00Skimming Through the Table of Contents<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A lot of times when we start a new chapter of our lives, we typically use the metaphor, "When one door closes, another opens." This summer, I have made an effort to go back and visit people that I haven't seen since the last door closed and this one opened. I've spent several hours driving all over this beautiful country and have genuinely learned how to appreciate what my own home country has to offer. Those several hours driving have literally forced me to sit still (with reference to the car, for my nerdy physics friends), listen to some awesome tunes and really reflect on the last year, as well as this short summer.<br />
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The mindset I've had since I left Kuwait for the summer is that I have found paradise. Kuwait really is a place I don't mind calling home. I've reached a new happy chapter of my life, and I couldn't ask for more. I honestly was a little afraid to step back into my old stomping grounds. What should I expect? Who would still be around? Who got married? Do we still all go to Molly's on Mondays and Stan's on Tuesdays? Thanks to Facebook, there were far less surprises than I could have encountered. For the record, no Molly's on Mondays. They shut down, but you better be at Stan's on Tuesdays.<br />
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I've absolutely enjoyed catching up with everyone. I have literally been going non-stop since I landed. As soon as I landed, I visited with my parents for a bit and then headed straight to a friend's gig followed by a comedy show in which I was featured. :) The next few days were spent catching up with friends at local hang out spots and indulging in foods I haven't had in a year. I went on a road trip with my dad that included, Albuquerque to see family, Santa Fe, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas to spend time with more family, and the Grand Canyon. I stayed a few more days in Dallas before heading to Houston and New Orleans to visit some awesome friends. I just got back in Sherman yesterday to go visit my aunt who has been battling cancer for years. She's reached the end of her rope. I've also just planned a spontaneous trip to Waco for the weekend. After that, I'm off to Chicago! I'll go into much greater detail about all of these trips a bit later.<br />
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What I've realized in this adventure of which I'm halfway through is that our lives aren't much of a novel at all. Novels are fictional. Novels lack one thing - a table of contents. Why? Because a fictional story wouldn't be the same if you started in the middle. You never have to refer back to previous chapters because it flows so easily already. I feel like looking back in life has always gotten a bad wrap. We should only face forward and see what life has to offer for our future. I'm learning that this isn't always necessarily true. Old doors are never locked, and you can always refer back to your personal table of contents. Pick up where you left off with old friends, and reunite with people who you haven't seen since chapter one.<br />
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I came up with this metaphor on the spot in class a couple of years ago when my students asked why I never go on dates. I told them we are all big tall sturdy trees. In order for trees to stay strong and thrive, they have to have a good set of roots. The people who keep me grounded are my roots - my mentors, family, best friends. Trees also have leaves that come and go with the seasons. Why spend your time on ones you know will just be leaves? Leaves are the ones who make an impression and I share my life with, but when seasons change, we don't keep in touch. This past year has shown me the importance of the leaves. It's important to keep in touch with the people God blesses your life with. Don't take the leaves for granted. I've made more of an effort to make time for every leaf, root and whatever else in my life the last month, that I did the whole time I lived in this country. When there's a time limit on things, it makes you make time for stuff and people that you might have thought was that important in the past.<br />
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So, I challenge you to make time not only for the roots, but also for the leaves - the grocery clerk, the Starbucks barista, your old college roommate you haven't seen since you were a freshman, the family you babysat when you were 18, family you've never met, friends you met once, etc. God created leaves for a purpose, figure it out. Slow down, water them and see what they become. What's the rush anyway? Flip through your table of contents, read old chapters, and make sure there's nothing you missed the first time around. Just remember which chapter you're currently in, and always grow. I have four more weeks left in my old chapters, lets see what else I missed the first time around!<br />
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Here are a few pictures! ...totally out of order<br />
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This is a pretty special group of kids...definitely roots. </div>
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He's totally a natural!</div>
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I was trying to capture the neverending rain in New Orleans, but I ended up with a pretty picture of the porch view instead.</div>
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Fish in a bag!!! So delicious and totally worth it!</div>
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Everyone in the south is so hospitable, even the chef!</div>
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I met these two guys over a year ago in New Orleans. I made a trip out there is summer, and they totally became roots! Danielle enjoyed the trip as well. :)</div>
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Bourbon Street New Orleans.</div>
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I went to Vegas to visit my Uncle Joe and Aunt HuiSu who I haven't seen in 20 years. They're great people and I don't make enough time for them!</div>
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My dad braved the longest leg of my summer road trip with me. This is at the Hoover Dam</div>
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Hoover Dam</div>
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I love my Grandpa. We visited him in Albuquerque and he took us to a nuclear museum, Madrid and Santa Fe.</div>
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We stopped at the Grand Canyon on the way back to Texas. Breath-taking!</div>
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This is my youngest cousin. I met her for the first time the day before. She cried when we left. They're such a sweet family!</div>
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My grandpa has it all figured out. There aren't many grandpas that would choose to go get pedis with their granddaughter. He's definitely a root!</div>
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<br /></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-40415957339986326942012-05-30T02:01:00.002-07:002012-05-30T02:01:56.959-07:00The Prodigal Blogger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
That's right, my friends! I've returned. Before I moved to Kuwait, I was a naive American with close to zero travel experience. I totally thought I would get here and have no social life and be forced to really find myself. I've always been caught up in the fast-paced life that I tend to lead and never really stop to make time for myself. I knew this was going to be a huge lifestyle change for me. But, just as life always turns out, my expectations for this year have been exceeded beyond belief. I've had indescribable life experiences and have met some incredible people whom I hope end up being life-long friends.<br />
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And to let you know, I genuinely tried to add pictures right here, but yet again the internet sucks. I'll try again at home!<br />
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So what have I been doing since November? I've added a few countries to my list of travels. After Sri Lanka, I absolutely fell in love with traveling. It's an expensive hobby, but Kuwait's location makes it extremely convenient. I went to Jordan (Petra, Aqaba and Wadi Rum), Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan), Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul. Everyone asks me which place was my favorite, and that's an impossible question to answer. They're all so unique and intriguing in their own way. It's so amazing how much history, art and picture-perfect landscapes this world has to offer. God knew exactly what he was doing when he built this place! Traveling from far east asia to India to the middle east to the European side of Turkey has been interesting. You can really see the similarities and the things that fade as you go more west. I'm going to focus more on Europe with my travels next year. I also want to backpack Nepal and go to the Maldives before it becomes a lost island! My goal next summer is to backpack Europe for 4 to 6 weeks. Anyone want to join me?<br />
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When I got here, I immediately decided that this would be a one-year experience and I would move back to the states after I'm done. The longer I stayed here and sadly the less I kept in touch with people back home, it got harder and harder to say I wouldn't be back. I decided in January that I wasn't ready to return to the western world quite yet...or ever, but I didn't know if I really wanted to stay in Kuwait. I started searching and had a ton of offers in far east Asia and South America. Some were great, but I couldn't say yes. My friends here convinced me to apply to a school here in Kuwait. I did and a week later I had a job offer. The superintendent called me around 6:30am after I had just landed from traveling in Dubai. He had been trying to get ahold of me about the position all weekend. Without even thinking, I told him on the phone that I accept the job. After the spontaneous decision, I didn't look back. I started planning for life in Kuwait for two more years! When I moved here, I was told that Kuwait sucks people in and they stay for years. I never thought I'd be one of them, but I believe I have. I absolutely love this place. It doesn't have the prettiest scenery and there are a few laws that are a bit inconvenient, but that's what makes Kuwait what it is. It's such a small country with a huge expatriot community. Everyone knows each other and they're all so welcoming! I love going to dinner with a group of people and having about 10 countries represented. It's a rare occasion when I'm not the only American at the table. There's never a lack of stories to be told. It's refreshing, and it's not a bad lifestyle at all! <br />
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One group of people who have really brought this experience full-circle is my students. After the first semester, I went from teaching 4 sections of physical science and one section of physics to teaching 1 section of physical science, one section of physics, 2 sections of chemistry and one section of fitness, not to mention coaching track and basketball. My workload was so overwhelming and I started getting really frustrated with how much work I had compared to other colleagues with not much help. I'm not a stressor, so I never broke down or felt like I couldn't handle it, but I definitely couldn't teach at the level I was teaching the first semester. The two classes I had all year really struggled with this. I didn't have time to give them pretty outlined notes and be available 100%. I felt insufficient. My friends were put on the backburner during the week and all I wanted to do on the weekend was sleep. My personality didn't agree and I was really stretching myself thin and hardly keeping my head above the surface. I stopped trying to plan perfect lessons and just went straight through the curriculum and improvising lessons - something that is quite frowned upon. Surprisingly, my kids loved it! I always have been kind of theatrical and I was really able to do that with no script to follow. When we reached the end of a section, I asked them to figure out which day they want to test. They really proved to me how mature, strong and motivated they are. They learned, I kept up and we bonded...massively. I couldn't have asked for a better group of young ladies. I'm going to miss the heck out of them. One thing I've done is had "story time" with them. They LOVE hearing trivial little stories I have - cab rides, walking home from school, meeting interesting people. They've asked me to send them a bedtime story every day when I'm in the states. I have to try my hardest to stick to this. It'll be fun!<br />
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There's one girl in particular that has really taken a pretty large chunk of my heart. She showed up the first day of basketball tryouts and we immediately connected. She started coming to my classroom after school every day just to hang out. She's one of the most amazing teenagers I've ever met. I have been going to the reception every day after finals to say bye to her. Finals are strict here and they aren't allowed in the hallways at all. They take exams in the auditorium, cafe and gym and never come upstairs...so I go to them! I asked how her English exam was today and she told me she wrote about something I told her. I had no idea what it could be. I tell her so many random things that it could really be anything. The topic was to write about a recent life lesson you learned. About a week ago, she came to me a little upset because I'm not coming back to ACA. She said it was ok because teachers come and go here all the time and she'll find another teacher to love. She's been saying this to me for a few months now...as a joke. This time she was really upset and she isn't really sure how to handle the situation. I could tell it was really bothering her. I'm not one to comfort people when they're upset, but she's special, so I made the attempt. :) Here's what was said:<br />
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Me: "Do you want to know a secret of mine?"<br />
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Ahad: "What is it?"<br />
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Me: "Never make goodbyes a big deal. I move around a lot and I meet so many awesome people. If I stressed every time I had to say goodbye, I'd be a mess! The people who are genuinely important to you and you to them, you'll keep in touch with. I don't stay in touch with every awesome person I meet, but I naturally connect often with those who I'm close to. You're one of them, and I'm not leaving forever. I'm here for two more years. We'll keep in touch. No doubt. Don't be upset!"<br />
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Ahad: "Ah. ok! Promise?"<br />
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Me: "Wallah!"<br />
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...and we hug fighting the tears. :) <br />
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I'm going to miss the heck out of seeing this girl every day! I told her about one teacher I had in middle school. I was good friends with his son and he was a part-time pastor so he was more of a mentor than a teacher to me. We're still in touch and I still totally look up to him. He has one more year until retirement and to this day tells me there hasn't been another Lauren who's come through the classrooms. I can totally see it from his perspective now. I honestly never think there will be another Ahad. She grabbed my heart on day one! <br />
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And this, my friends is why my career is cooler than yours. Yes, we get an enormous amount of vacation, but the best memories happen to be in the classroom. The pay may not be as great as the corporate world, but the rewards are priceless. I wouldn't change these experiences for anything and I'm thankful for this life I've so undeservingly been given.<br />
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Western fellows, I'll see you in 23 days!<br />
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</div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-71400296232616446892011-11-10T23:00:00.001-08:002011-11-11T02:14:00.852-08:00The Discovery of Sri Lanka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I started thinking about blogging about my trip to Sri Lanka, I was overwhelmed with how much I have to talk about! There wasn't a second of the trip that isn't blog worthy, so I've decided to break it up. I'll probably cover about a half of a day or a day for each blog, but for now I'll just give a basic outline.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sri Lanka is located off the southeast coast of India and about 75% of the population consists of Sinhalese. I hadn't ever heard of them or their language but apparently Sri Lanka is one of the most literate countries in Asia. When we first saw the writing of the language, Andrea coined the term "Curly Cue" so we stuck with that until we gained further knowledge. Although the island is fairly small, it takes forever to travel anywhere. They have no highways - only somewhat two-lane roads that run through village after village. Road signs don't exist and maps are pretty much useless. Even our driver who is a native of Sri Lanka stopped every now and then to make sure we were heading in the right direction. Most of the transportation consists of tuc-tucs and scooters, and when passing someone, it doesn't even matter if there's on-coming traffic. The trip was a never-ending game of chicken. The beaches and mountains are beautiful, and so are the people! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's a little roadmap of our travels:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSknbz6CqbetHQuEvcvpRU44kvhtNyKH6ACs5E77bc78FZYxugBWlgdHzrFPKWDbsqyA6R8BZOZWxnj3ATngipAADVkdUNLuvhMKfqDcIkuV1sBGix3XfXk686Kfe7RsK4l4INXCjMGk9z/s1600/Sri+Lanka+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSknbz6CqbetHQuEvcvpRU44kvhtNyKH6ACs5E77bc78FZYxugBWlgdHzrFPKWDbsqyA6R8BZOZWxnj3ATngipAADVkdUNLuvhMKfqDcIkuV1sBGix3XfXk686Kfe7RsK4l4INXCjMGk9z/s640/Sri+Lanka+Map.jpg" width="457" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Colombo --> Hikkaduwa --> Ratnapura --> Polonaruwa --> Sigriya --> Kandy --> Colombo</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Day 1:</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Arrived in Colombo</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Drove to Hikkaduwa</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Party at Mambo's (hotel down the beach) with the locals</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-f7HEPivCz89iLLYboeQcwwOHLpcTsUghePzAW319QHgB3-y1MEw3s2HrYa5zsgMqhMK7OBr9dW3-9nYIs7DLIkPvC-n77KWDNhz8MC1XKuhOim_KlZPEd28E6hK3cfRVYCeRBv1BznNV/s1600/DSC_0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-f7HEPivCz89iLLYboeQcwwOHLpcTsUghePzAW319QHgB3-y1MEw3s2HrYa5zsgMqhMK7OBr9dW3-9nYIs7DLIkPvC-n77KWDNhz8MC1XKuhOim_KlZPEd28E6hK3cfRVYCeRBv1BznNV/s640/DSC_0768.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The waves were great for surfing, but the undertow was pretty strong. I didn't get a chance to try to surf. This is the beach right outside Rita's where we stayed in Hikkaduwa</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtBKRkOJUeLdN9n1QYvpO4jL6rqVUqSkMgDAbezqNtswicO0DWvN1EArLUN0uLcjNhWsjK-UQbMekRiDo7uexhEuIH77pEW__I0oqMPF8bAu8r6JHdesGhWgXEEEGRD2Fkr6o034zqfBr/s1600/Hikkaduwa+day+1+-+37.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtBKRkOJUeLdN9n1QYvpO4jL6rqVUqSkMgDAbezqNtswicO0DWvN1EArLUN0uLcjNhWsjK-UQbMekRiDo7uexhEuIH77pEW__I0oqMPF8bAu8r6JHdesGhWgXEEEGRD2Fkr6o034zqfBr/s640/Hikkaduwa+day+1+-+37.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the beach at Mambo's where we went the first night we were there. There were a ton of locals, Australians, British and a few Germans there...and then of course about 20 Kuwait teachers!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Day 2:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Shopped for souvenirs around Hikkaduwa</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Took a tuc-tuc to a lagoon, temple, and fed sea turtles</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hung out at Mambos with more ACA teachers until 5am</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtxbHpKrduAueQdObKqXDpUPS5WeSc_f-BkzO3bwu87K40rZAJGb1LpnXH2uIkBrlBdUkSe57mDnd4e8wubiM4y80uw9LtP-n0bMJpPsfVfuMEFVZsRiOka6I5FKhByZdbzsCr-sKNqzh/s1600/Hikkaduwa+day+2+-+25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtxbHpKrduAueQdObKqXDpUPS5WeSc_f-BkzO3bwu87K40rZAJGb1LpnXH2uIkBrlBdUkSe57mDnd4e8wubiM4y80uw9LtP-n0bMJpPsfVfuMEFVZsRiOka6I5FKhByZdbzsCr-sKNqzh/s640/Hikkaduwa+day+2+-+25.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is at the lagoon the tuc-tuc driver took us to. They had several different plants. This one was cinnamon.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig261s7K9fGmZ6bcOIiSv4k3AEtKBAUh3CwyPIPnF9slX7XklEGyA8gGu3HexG_ragG1yFh5ZbHvAQQHS4ShfSKoRWYDsREJqFzL14atkUkTdEtFb0FDOipgQEHCc-Ra03ZgIhRZsfSbpA/s1600/Hikkaduwa+day+2+-+40.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig261s7K9fGmZ6bcOIiSv4k3AEtKBAUh3CwyPIPnF9slX7XklEGyA8gGu3HexG_ragG1yFh5ZbHvAQQHS4ShfSKoRWYDsREJqFzL14atkUkTdEtFb0FDOipgQEHCc-Ra03ZgIhRZsfSbpA/s640/Hikkaduwa+day+2+-+40.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the catamaran we rode in around the lagoon. It can fit up to 7 people.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKa8GATm5eEmwV7TKxBXMuQZNs9T56iNroDZZTsYjmHMvOKSEuHcZ1UE_aT669iOCWaKc9i1i0_7BmnEXkgMAn6sTtVE9aKypJnCKrb_IHdfxV85MTmfQFnVcl75cxDYMZ9ENtCUse7tQo/s1600/Hikkaduwa+day+2+-+157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKa8GATm5eEmwV7TKxBXMuQZNs9T56iNroDZZTsYjmHMvOKSEuHcZ1UE_aT669iOCWaKc9i1i0_7BmnEXkgMAn6sTtVE9aKypJnCKrb_IHdfxV85MTmfQFnVcl75cxDYMZ9ENtCUse7tQo/s640/Hikkaduwa+day+2+-+157.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the sea turtle we fed on a beach down the street from our hotel. Once I fed him, he kept following me. I thought he was going to bite my toes off!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Day 3:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Andrea, Kristina and I branched off from the group. We decided not to do a guided tour. Our tuc-tuc driver was so awesome so we asked him to be our driver for the week. He ended up getting his brother in law to take us because his van was broken. We had a vague idea of what we wanted to do, but we made up our trip as we went. We jumped in the van at 6am and headed to Ratnapura.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Saw a waterfall</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Picked up a local</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dug for gems</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Went to a temple</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWKxCLuHjhQwvVE-7cPtKPu3KRNYIoM5iw1dMP6KXvL2kU8xEsbdDiWADHScTgDJX16anVqk_d3c3R4qTqYE0bsz5Az8UBGi8N3d4IvMDs3cQtZPvJ6Cmhyphenhyphen1_vfnTQj27t5dDAekjx2sQ/s1600/DSC_0560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWKxCLuHjhQwvVE-7cPtKPu3KRNYIoM5iw1dMP6KXvL2kU8xEsbdDiWADHScTgDJX16anVqk_d3c3R4qTqYE0bsz5Az8UBGi8N3d4IvMDs3cQtZPvJ6Cmhyphenhyphen1_vfnTQj27t5dDAekjx2sQ/s640/DSC_0560.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is where the workers dig for gems. It's definitely different from digging for gems in Arkansas!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5_kuZliF09y_jBSDl5bBtgcUI-C74Jr8QUgQarEMnJOGOQFxvQfr5-uCGvn7SkUkM7MgmcT209D26wdDhXd5P5H70zdab3vH2_ANzm2fmWtQ-RbxDueHsR4OovmU7X1bNQMcZrgGaESD/s1600/Ratnapura+day+3+-+Bobath+Falls+-+17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5_kuZliF09y_jBSDl5bBtgcUI-C74Jr8QUgQarEMnJOGOQFxvQfr5-uCGvn7SkUkM7MgmcT209D26wdDhXd5P5H70zdab3vH2_ANzm2fmWtQ-RbxDueHsR4OovmU7X1bNQMcZrgGaESD/s640/Ratnapura+day+3+-+Bobath+Falls+-+17.JPG" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the waterfall we went to before we dug for gems. It's used as a bathing place for the locals.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxOswRDa9oPLXrgd4SNxPJ4c2CLWhNL588sQ-w3ZIAZUP172u_LYrFpnjxe4wzkOcE2zU38O_ZC1HJdQK2nnzfbwAxDasf39ohX-MMM9AV2oauaC_CVcGnvOY6owg8ZQryurfBn1HvgPP/s1600/PB071833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxOswRDa9oPLXrgd4SNxPJ4c2CLWhNL588sQ-w3ZIAZUP172u_LYrFpnjxe4wzkOcE2zU38O_ZC1HJdQK2nnzfbwAxDasf39ohX-MMM9AV2oauaC_CVcGnvOY6owg8ZQryurfBn1HvgPP/s640/PB071833.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After we went to the gem fields, we went to a man's house we met on the fields. He was trying to sell us gems, so we went and checked them out. Let's just say that when you buy gems from the miners, the prices are a lot more reasonable.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUNnHMydjGTgp49e-U4K1qKF2E6ehJGiJsFj-ZmoBLQcbOeOLWyyP_eCW6SZleJmFQ9amOLGsMZNPSQNDHM1vJKCPJf8sDkW9xIAYNTNqyR_wDboM4O2zAgRUCk6Bzy_TYUkYod1XDgDY/s1600/PB071832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUNnHMydjGTgp49e-U4K1qKF2E6ehJGiJsFj-ZmoBLQcbOeOLWyyP_eCW6SZleJmFQ9amOLGsMZNPSQNDHM1vJKCPJf8sDkW9xIAYNTNqyR_wDboM4O2zAgRUCk6Bzy_TYUkYod1XDgDY/s640/PB071832.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He showed us how he cut the gems. It flew off the holder a few times and almost hit me in the face!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUbIxZMHDtqp7jeTczY0K2de3JSkrPK1rlxQm1ixu82szNsd1wWISATw1VDKOJvdfsHgoySg_wss2LQzpR5b-qTjq1onmDeGTRvmtHEKXhtSwxsw-B4RaKwTdMnN8gI7dlxRRg0NioklP/s1600/PB071831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUbIxZMHDtqp7jeTczY0K2de3JSkrPK1rlxQm1ixu82szNsd1wWISATw1VDKOJvdfsHgoySg_wss2LQzpR5b-qTjq1onmDeGTRvmtHEKXhtSwxsw-B4RaKwTdMnN8gI7dlxRRg0NioklP/s640/PB071831.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the man we met at the gem fields. When we got to his house, it started pouring, so we had King Coconut milk (he's cutting the coconut here), and we also had tea.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Day 4:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Drove to Polonura</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Saw the ancient city and several statues</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Went to a woodshop</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Drove to Sigrya</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSLNvie_5nLdKTGRv8ZxAyC9dWlaHhMzDGB10JAHk68oc4ZQAx7BAK0Pgtio00j0rLkfCj-9bVQAy6gi8570VKyFC3zE6Y9HaQXt-sJ7nIBRkd_GGPLAxC8nNeP1oxbQVs1kwO5OLEoQ_/s1600/DSC_0813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSLNvie_5nLdKTGRv8ZxAyC9dWlaHhMzDGB10JAHk68oc4ZQAx7BAK0Pgtio00j0rLkfCj-9bVQAy6gi8570VKyFC3zE6Y9HaQXt-sJ7nIBRkd_GGPLAxC8nNeP1oxbQVs1kwO5OLEoQ_/s640/DSC_0813.JPG" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is one picture of a temple in the ancient city. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqHqwZp7dwcgVfG4RQxlT9lc1l3NesyNG9m-LISKFGzfu7GsnwdaNh6kTYb8cURlgWC41xA166hojbSQGxRR1XO1g3Q8Xi9wnXZD4_0KYQfexJ711062wCa7VNVoXzpcNaENpYzH_E-tw/s1600/DSC_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqHqwZp7dwcgVfG4RQxlT9lc1l3NesyNG9m-LISKFGzfu7GsnwdaNh6kTYb8cURlgWC41xA166hojbSQGxRR1XO1g3Q8Xi9wnXZD4_0KYQfexJ711062wCa7VNVoXzpcNaENpYzH_E-tw/s640/DSC_0755.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm not sure what he's carving here, but they said it'll take about 2 months to finish.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqd3k65Y3g3Gnjh1TdPSQUk3XI6tSpEU-378zNFzXcbgi3sj53yRDO7W2vIMuj9JDvtjKFDfhsd9X02xz0FKMhXJV_vkbWCGpi7d9qknOabywOylXxFfvyAKKymc8Dcy1T0Ry_Z3GHGqf/s1600/DSC_0853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqd3k65Y3g3Gnjh1TdPSQUk3XI6tSpEU-378zNFzXcbgi3sj53yRDO7W2vIMuj9JDvtjKFDfhsd9X02xz0FKMhXJV_vkbWCGpi7d9qknOabywOylXxFfvyAKKymc8Dcy1T0Ry_Z3GHGqf/s640/DSC_0853.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We weren't allowed to take pictures with the statues, so we tried to be sneaky...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsDpedFIP0uSPuc1_8xZm2BjEqh5RE8aH6lc_OB4sUwvIk-L8gMgLuyZchQyaphTsira3JXvDkZJgtzlkLcNRO4aJIMuUQsU2M7UwIzYFu7gG9nZ0ZOUhgfroxGMY-_GnOAPq8HblPClc/s1600/DSC_0869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsDpedFIP0uSPuc1_8xZm2BjEqh5RE8aH6lc_OB4sUwvIk-L8gMgLuyZchQyaphTsira3JXvDkZJgtzlkLcNRO4aJIMuUQsU2M7UwIzYFu7gG9nZ0ZOUhgfroxGMY-_GnOAPq8HblPClc/s640/DSC_0869.JPG" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And then we found out that we can take pictures, but we can't stand with our backs toward the statues. There were bats flying all around this one!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Day 5:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Climbed Lion's Rock</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Drove to Kandy</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Went to Ceylon Tea Plantation</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Saw Sri Lankan Dancers</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Drove to Colombo</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08pXbHSTHsFdbYEdm0DO5TtNoyZNZhoFvRVBQ6COb9Ubf16R0bvHkCGCq0cBv1oecKlS7wnofCN28tyQE_DexpRoSabKwmqq5A0sROByi9pHZKlTJwmjsryltneRyOvCWqp_eSCYDBXpJ/s1600/DSC_0910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08pXbHSTHsFdbYEdm0DO5TtNoyZNZhoFvRVBQ6COb9Ubf16R0bvHkCGCq0cBv1oecKlS7wnofCN28tyQE_DexpRoSabKwmqq5A0sROByi9pHZKlTJwmjsryltneRyOvCWqp_eSCYDBXpJ/s640/DSC_0910.JPG" width="424" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lions Rock! What a climb...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-hE9Ucq7ABXuSM19HlkOGglpGZiC75fwBioScWHjNGvoKQv5DN9oRpAxk9UQvJXeoB5N3ZKX8wEnCGErcq2HS6fAW7fV_C4_8EUIq9pUh43yFXplcqI60BiXLd4yG56oKMzry0nCXgIg/s1600/DSC_0950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-hE9Ucq7ABXuSM19HlkOGglpGZiC75fwBioScWHjNGvoKQv5DN9oRpAxk9UQvJXeoB5N3ZKX8wEnCGErcq2HS6fAW7fV_C4_8EUIq9pUh43yFXplcqI60BiXLd4yG56oKMzry0nCXgIg/s640/DSC_0950.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">About halfway up about 1000 stairs later, we started taking a ton of goofy pictures to keep our mind off the climbing.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJ8MsSFJ-HQUQueEj-KetpWmONVdPDcvyjFOcTKY4rN_63HUUYbHPoUa-kpXg3EB_x4EjFJrjdzLNZUtKdYcpDTE7xcM9pzwh-ggUURPfDIy_X5dJc4XYN8P0GiXOmCfBOUeUKV-yabPs/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJ8MsSFJ-HQUQueEj-KetpWmONVdPDcvyjFOcTKY4rN_63HUUYbHPoUa-kpXg3EB_x4EjFJrjdzLNZUtKdYcpDTE7xcM9pzwh-ggUURPfDIy_X5dJc4XYN8P0GiXOmCfBOUeUKV-yabPs/s640/DSC_0056.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We finally made it! We decided nobody ever actually tried to talk to the king if it took that much effort to do it. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCyJjdVMKCYOYxRgXi-sEcmeMZa3fmKoDeQ0U52XP5ZUAj4MTau0mtEHvUMbTaCLTQeFJSiCcqObLkHfhHyMJptOCsf4hT8lyeyJUeSvS_CEYBcJhA66jgDUuvfbEbxcgom6cqZ2rP-Qf/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCyJjdVMKCYOYxRgXi-sEcmeMZa3fmKoDeQ0U52XP5ZUAj4MTau0mtEHvUMbTaCLTQeFJSiCcqObLkHfhHyMJptOCsf4hT8lyeyJUeSvS_CEYBcJhA66jgDUuvfbEbxcgom6cqZ2rP-Qf/s640/DSC_0024.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These are some tea pluckers that were finishing up their day. We took a picture with them and gave them about $10 USD to share. They thought they won the lottery. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx6mrk-acyYIy3S0jCT7jkZ9DGT7eI8s3Ua4w91cfYYmpdlshWBsnkLJieARmknicpT0c-9w5gaNpsD9GDkGGNkFgjTwqQCX2Ur2zMUyAUL576K9E12MlX5gDiOutY2dHaz4OlCxLTFCW/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx6mrk-acyYIy3S0jCT7jkZ9DGT7eI8s3Ua4w91cfYYmpdlshWBsnkLJieARmknicpT0c-9w5gaNpsD9GDkGGNkFgjTwqQCX2Ur2zMUyAUL576K9E12MlX5gDiOutY2dHaz4OlCxLTFCW/s640/DSC_0034.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The whole 3 km up the mountain to the tea factory was full of tea bushes. It's definitely not what I expected...way more awesome.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPY8JWj_wZzNnt11wM5YIVLJv1RlOHKAj_DrJFzMUSjY3wVeSM8rnTNtE-wvFS3bCfLgqNq-p71iTwl3WydahbkmvaUDiqmyXlDrRcvVicfZJCpWZ95Si5ARMaHe55hHhpOWdhzQaRIkv/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPY8JWj_wZzNnt11wM5YIVLJv1RlOHKAj_DrJFzMUSjY3wVeSM8rnTNtE-wvFS3bCfLgqNq-p71iTwl3WydahbkmvaUDiqmyXlDrRcvVicfZJCpWZ95Si5ARMaHe55hHhpOWdhzQaRIkv/s640/DSC_0042.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the first step in the factory. There's a huge fan that takes the moisture out of the leaves here.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Day 6:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Flew back to Kuwait</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's a few pictures more from in between each stop!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK4ZA0iCVr4glANCG75TFJbdfk4bAtE0ugoLe_Xhnp8RtEheqyzuNZmsQo_1oeePG68tI6gyhy_hx7ZxHs5JbB-zTqOzjRpbjZPMLT7_jEqOIggNXa5HlktH1HUseOmfy-EwczwExk_Kq/s1600/Ratnapura+day+3+-+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK4ZA0iCVr4glANCG75TFJbdfk4bAtE0ugoLe_Xhnp8RtEheqyzuNZmsQo_1oeePG68tI6gyhy_hx7ZxHs5JbB-zTqOzjRpbjZPMLT7_jEqOIggNXa5HlktH1HUseOmfy-EwczwExk_Kq/s640/Ratnapura+day+3+-+8.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Along the way we would stop at these little shacks to eat. The food was good, but SO spicy so I didn't eat much. My driver told me to eat sugar. It worked miracles! I'll definitely be using that trick again.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3WoZPthej0XRpYnOSiIf2oGW426CC2ZfM_japm1PoWO6DrwvSETi7XinZy0l_aOB9FNZLcIZirn6md6hWK_qAo8e-ULz20edTi78HmDDPpe7EI_Wi7GZCwDG98srEjel5LIZE7KM44h9/s1600/DSC_1020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3WoZPthej0XRpYnOSiIf2oGW426CC2ZfM_japm1PoWO6DrwvSETi7XinZy0l_aOB9FNZLcIZirn6md6hWK_qAo8e-ULz20edTi78HmDDPpe7EI_Wi7GZCwDG98srEjel5LIZE7KM44h9/s640/DSC_1020.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the Curly cue language I was talking about. I've never seen it in my life. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVR6fh_hUCupHrnPPzwGY3bfD1KOBzALGByhnFGu48vNVwKZNqJJY1-9tgWj4V8IsGMOBjYKVbP3bi7x1ZrEocB8ERe2osHlBBkPOBvduaQAuppCFCQ_uuSGWRKl_LJtg2GOJ2oGKoojq/s1600/Ratnapura+day+3+-+Bobath+Falls+-+38.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVR6fh_hUCupHrnPPzwGY3bfD1KOBzALGByhnFGu48vNVwKZNqJJY1-9tgWj4V8IsGMOBjYKVbP3bi7x1ZrEocB8ERe2osHlBBkPOBvduaQAuppCFCQ_uuSGWRKl_LJtg2GOJ2oGKoojq/s640/Ratnapura+day+3+-+Bobath+Falls+-+38.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When we saw someone bathing an elephant on the side of the road, we stopped. The monks stopped to help as well. Apparently monks never get in the river or bathe elephants, so we were lucky to see them do both!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9WFdZ15Qm1REcnQV1nz_lzuayWD6ZowMQG7C-9ADT2RvAo6iyDFlPAYYAIgThkqfkgNDVogZ6llshChpElU3qnl2BfnXTKAUo9jtZEhdeyvoJURfWEf_gRSSQIjso7H6w6sdWDkaBRpG/s1600/DSC_0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9WFdZ15Qm1REcnQV1nz_lzuayWD6ZowMQG7C-9ADT2RvAo6iyDFlPAYYAIgThkqfkgNDVogZ6llshChpElU3qnl2BfnXTKAUo9jtZEhdeyvoJURfWEf_gRSSQIjso7H6w6sdWDkaBRpG/s640/DSC_0777.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is a tuc-tuc. three people can fit in the back and the driver sits up front. You steer with handle bars, not a steering wheel. I heard they are priced at about $3,500 USD. For a lot of Sri Lankans, this is their business in tourist cities.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNtsB5GRU9BW1eUaSvE-vTyseo7qDpgKYoBzrF2SFjhf436ov9p_CvuTZi6znKXMyppUt3Z_e2_wkpdAZt1utNkFq4Ek6FDUSBgwdA6yDWikX7hMQgIrHhpNsy27jpi9k6qZ7W1cwH14_/s1600/DSC_0901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNtsB5GRU9BW1eUaSvE-vTyseo7qDpgKYoBzrF2SFjhf436ov9p_CvuTZi6znKXMyppUt3Z_e2_wkpdAZt1utNkFq4Ek6FDUSBgwdA6yDWikX7hMQgIrHhpNsy27jpi9k6qZ7W1cwH14_/s640/DSC_0901.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is another elephant we saw on in a river. He seemed pretty sad when his owner tried to get him to lay down.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's a wild elephant. We also had a night when we were driving when an elephant was stopping traffic by walking in the middle of the road. They apparently are known for hitting cars and breaking windows as they walk by. We didn't experience this, thankfully.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XjR0L0YYimXP3J000ja6lPkd6sJBsKs9WOdJRdhI4SAUbOvPVyd12VNTGbLSP6maup7Dh9uU-qYs-ECKY_v-jlt2goY_7mfWStpGOPP_EGWZnC4XpZ-qv3Li6MVayO-lDDKzkn2yF9Lc/s1600/PB061818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XjR0L0YYimXP3J000ja6lPkd6sJBsKs9WOdJRdhI4SAUbOvPVyd12VNTGbLSP6maup7Dh9uU-qYs-ECKY_v-jlt2goY_7mfWStpGOPP_EGWZnC4XpZ-qv3Li6MVayO-lDDKzkn2yF9Lc/s640/PB061818.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He was a nice elephant. They had him chained up by his ankles to make sure he stayed put. I felt sorry for him! I wish they could all just run free.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Next time, I'll tell you all about day 1! It was probably the most uneventful of the trip, but we all needed on day of a little R&R.</span><br />
<br /></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-24412331564103925102011-11-03T04:37:00.000-07:002011-11-03T04:38:06.806-07:00I've been having entirely too much fun to find time to update!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't even know where to start! I've been the worst updater ever. I really wish I had the discipline to post no matter how tired I am before bed. Part of it is the fact that my internet is worthless at home, but I'm sure I would still find an excuse if it was fabulous. Remember that whole expectation I had of being able to sit in my apartment and be productive in the evenings because I have no car and I really wouldn't have a life here? Yeah that didn't happen. We find ways to entertain ourselves every single day. If we aren't doing anything right when we get off work, I desperately take those few hours to recharge my batteries. There's always someone (normally Meghan) who is willing to cook, we tend to find ourselves wandering down Bin Khaldun or some other random street in Hawally. We've really had some great networking opportunities the past few weeks. To sum it up, here are a few of the things that have been going on:<br />
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1. Canadian Thanksgiving (yes...it's been that long since I've posted)<br />
2. Rugby Ball<br />
3. Desert camping/paintballing on the Saudi Border<br />
4. Bahrain<br />
5. Up next - Sri Lanka!<br />
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I would love to break this post up into a few different posts and go into major detail of all of my different adventures, but I have a feeling I'd never get through all of them if I do that. I'm still really enjoying it here. I miss Dallas like crazy, but its definitely a fair trade-off.<br />
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School's still completely amazing. I really wish we started later than 7:30am, but the 2:30pm finish is a good compromise. Andrea, one of my floor mates who has turned out to be one of my closer friends has gotten me to start walking to school, which is about 2 miles. In order to get there before 6:30, we leave around 5:45, so it makes for an early morning! Very rarely do I get to go to sleep before 11pm. By the time the weekend hits, im completely exhausted, but we just have so much planned that I have to push through and keep going! You can sleep when you die, right? My grandpa Wagner used to tell me that. It's become a very common phrase here in Kuwait for us fellow adventurists! <br />
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The students are still great! They do everything I ask and are still serious abou their grades. I can't say the same about my one class of seniors. They've already starting checking out. Today was the last day before the holiday not one of them showed up for my class. I was so confused and went and told my principal. She wasn't even phased by it...so I didn't worry. Some of us are really starting to think about staying next year. After we get back from the Eid holiday, we'll be halfway done with November. They offer contracts in January. December is packed with several weekend get-aways, so we pretty much have to really start thinking about it! Kristina and I have pretty much made a pact that we are staying here. We just have to decide if it's going to be for 1 or 2 years. The traveling is such a major perk. I'm going to really expand my list of countries seen while I'm here. Before the end of February, I'll have Kuwait, Bahrain, Dubai, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and possible Lebanon, Petra, and Oman. That's so crazy!! I love it!<br />
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Alright...so for the adventure updates...<br />
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Canadian Thanksgiving:<br />
This was definitely an experience! There are so many Canadians here so we all had a huge potluck dinner for Thanksgiving. There were about 30 of us so Ali had the brilliant idea of setting up cushions and tablers in the hallway. It was a little bit of a mess for serving food, but once we all got situated, it was such an awesome idea! We sat and ate and really got to enjoy everyones company. These people are my Kuwait family and its times like these that make the greatest memories. Every Thanksgiving, I'm sure we will all think back to that day where we all hardly knew each other and came together for a nice meal...kind of like the Pilgrams and Indians! :) <br />
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That's a great looking group of people! :) We are doing an American Thanksgiving on the Friday after Thanksgiving and my Uncle David is going to fry a couple of Turkeys and get us a ham! We're pretty excited about that. </div>
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Rugby Ball:</div>
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I was a bit hesitant to participate in this one, but you know me. I'm addicted to social interaction so I couldn't say no. It was 25KD (almost $100) for the ticket, and we also kind of went all-out on it. We got pedis, our hair done, bought new accessories and shoes. It was a lot of hard work preparing for it! I am the least girly-girl ever so this was a lot of energy for me. It was fun getting all dressed up. We went with some firefighters from America. They live about 5 minutes from the Hilton where the ball was held, so we all went there and played xbox Kinect before. It was definitely worth all of the planning. It was one of the best nights in Kuwait so far! </div>
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This is all the girls before we left for the ball!</div>
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Desert Camping/Paintballing:</div>
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This was so much more fun than I ever imagined! A lot of my close group here didnt go. They aren't really campers. Kristina and I went and we are so happy we did! I was originally not going to paintball because they ran out of guns, but I ended up sharing with two guys we met, Olly and Chris. Chris is a former Marine and now trains Kuwaitis to fly helicopters, and Olly is from England and is a financial advisor here. It was at an old satelite post/communications post on the border of Saudi. It was bombed or something during the war and is now the perfect paintballing site. The buildings are all cement and have wires and metal rods hanging out everywhere. There are holes in the floor so if you're not careful where you're running, you could fall all the way down. The erosion of the sand has built up so much that you can climb up it and get on the roof of one of the buildings. We tried to catch the sunset, but we were literally seconds too late. After the sun went down, we all cooked and the DJ set up a dance floor with lights. The built a fire and fireworks were set off. It was such a blast. Who would have thought things like this went on in Kuwait! I'm so ignorant to so many things in this world and I'm so blessed to get these opportunities! I tried sheep's heart and tossed a football around in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of Canadians. </div>
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This is the group before we left the apartments to head to the border.</div>
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This was actually taken during the day before the sun went down. We are all new teachers in this picture!</div>
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Chris is suiting me ups for the red team! Super excited.</div>
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We got a little anxious and set up the shade cover in the hallway. :)</div>
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I'm not sure if I'm ranking this one as the best overall because it actually was, or if its just the freshest on my mind, but either way, I've never had such a great time in my life! I have a feeling I'll be saying that a lot. First of all, it was nice to sit down at a table with my new friends and enjoy a real adult beverage. I haven't had one of those since I had a glass of wine with the person sitting next to me on the plane coming into Kuwait for the first time. I got to sit and watch sports and listen to some random Phillipino band that was actually quite nice! We met one of the most fun groups of people I've ever spent time with as well! We went to the "Castaway"...which is really the Causeway, but I liked Castaway better. Its a huge elevated sandbar bridge thing that connects Bahrain and Saudi. It was really just something that we all wanted to say we've seen. Other than that it wasn't too exciting. We went to a mall and then decided we really didn't feel like shopping. The last night we were there we ended up at a Texas bar....seriously, of all places? There were Indians (from India) dressed as cowboys. I couldn't get over it, but it was such a blast.</div>
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We can all thank Andrea for such an awesome weekend!</div>
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This is the group of girls who traveled to Bahrain for the weekend! What a fun time.</div>
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As always, I tried to upload several more pictures, but the internet wasn't having it. I can't wait to get to Sri Lanka tomorrow! We have a few things we really want to do. The rest of the time we are just going to get lost and find whatever we run into! I truly feel like I'm soaking up every second of life right now. I'm so blessed to get these opportunities. Before coming here, I took my time for granted. I never stopped to really embrace life. My routine was the same and I could guide myself anywhere I went with my eyes closed. Life was predictable and every corner was lit. When you're put in a situation where every experience is a new one and around every corner is a new experience, it really makes you stop and appreciate it. I am thankful every day for the newness of my life. It can get addicting. I'm afraid I'll never be satisfied with a repetitive rountine or a consistent life. I love being forced to embrace every minute of life. I'm not sure what made me decide to leave everything I knew to discover the life waiting for me here, but I'm glad I did. </div>
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As Master Oogway on Kung Fu Panda would say, "One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it." </div>
</div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-5857811887821923422011-10-05T04:55:00.000-07:002011-10-05T05:06:40.364-07:00The honeymoon's over...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel like I am always starting my blogs off about how much I love this place and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. Guess what! I just started another blog off with it, because it's still true! I love it here!</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know when you have a bunch of your friends in the same place and you use the expression "My worlds are colliding." Have you ever felt the exact opposite - all of your friends are spread out and no matter how hard you try, you'll never get them all together? I'm totally feeling this right now. I've been here for over a month now. When I was counting down the days until I'd board the plane, I never really got sad about leaving Dallas. I figured I'd have a moment here or there where I'd think of sweet memories with friends back home and have a few seconds where I just think to myself "Aw, I miss Dallas!" but I didn't expect this. No offense friends/family back home. If you know me at all, you know I hardly ever get feelings and I never actually show them. I kept thinking I'd see you guys next summer...no big deal. The truth is, I miss the heck out of you guys! I've never experience homesickness until now. I miss everything about Dallas - the people, the atmosphere, driving a car, stupid weather patters, daylight past 6pm...everything! No matter how much I love my current experience, you guys are irreplaceable. I've made some awesome friends here and I couldn't make it here without them, but there's just something about Dallas. It will always be my home.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone back home keeps posting pictures, check-ins and statuses (stati??) on facebook that make me wish I were right there beside them during all the excitement. Keep them coming guys, and know that I'm there in spirit! Drop me a line or two when you get a chance. It's good to hear from y'all every once in a while. I have toyed with the idea of coming home in January, but I don't want to be tempted to stay! Well, also that I have the whole world to discover over here. :) </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My routine is getting pretty normal here. I have the typical school day with my awesome kids, bus it home with all the teachers, meet up with my group for who knows what. We typically venture down Bin Khaldun, Beirut, or Qutaiba street to see what shawarma/juice shack we can mosey into. We live in one of the least westernized areas of Kuwait, so its fun to see how excited they get when we come in and test out their dishes. Last night, we went to an arabic place for shawarma. Kristina and I have been three times, but this time they gave us this dish to try and placed it on a little table outside (the only table in the restaurant), and told us to try it. It was amazing! I think it was called fathah snouber, but I could be way off. After that, we went into the Western Union to wire money home. We got some tickets from the clerk for an Indian concert on Saturday! It should be interesting. He laughed when we got excited. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My teacher friends can appreciate this part... Our progress reports are due next week. Our gradebook just started working about 2 days ago. I'm actually one of the luckier ones. Some people wont have a gradebook before the reports are due. It's software on the computer, and I have to keep a hard copy just in case anything goes wrong (which happens all the time). I can't mass assign scores, and I must enter all assignment in each class separately. My computer has a short in it, so it likes to turn off on its own a lot. Our contact with parents is completely based on what the kids decide to give us on day one. You guys know how reliable that can be! </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I actually have nothing but great things to say about my students. I just gave my first test, and I made it rather difficult for them. They tried so hard and studied so much, and they did well! They weren't all A's, but considering they have to translate it in their head first and then figure it out, they did awesome! I'm learning what it means to teach all ESL kids. After seeing the brains on these students, I think all kids should start learning a second language at 4 years old! It's awesome how much they think and problem solve without me coaching them along. It's amazing how they can switch from Arabic to English so easily. They actually take two classes a day in Arabic - Arabic and Islam. The rest are all taught in english. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last weekend was really exciting. We went to The Palms Resort for the day and just relaxed. Google it. It's legit. Some of us have decided to start scuba diving classes there. I'm super excited about that! I swam in the saltiest water ever! It's crazy how much I float in salt water! I want to take my students there to swim in the pool then jump in the gulf. We also finally booked our flight to Sri Lanka. We definitely learned our lesson on waiting to book. The prices jumped about 50KD (180USD) in a couple weeks since we are traveling on a holiday. It was pretty stressful. We tried everything we could to book it on our own, then we gave up and marched down to one of the several travel agencies on one of our main streets (Bin Khaldun). They were the first one we saw open, and about the 6th one we passed. We went on Friday - their holy day and nothing is open if it's owned by Muslims. We are just happy it's booked and we are on our way to Sri Lanka on the 4th! Nine of us booked it that night and another 5 or so booked a few days later. I'll tell you what all we have planned in another post. It could be pretty long. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next weekend, we are all going to the rugby ball at the Hilton. I wasn't too excited about it, but apparently its "the thing" to go to here. We are all going dress shopping tomorrow! It'll be fun! We met a man at Lulu's (the local target basically) who is here opening restaurants. He heard me say "holy canoli" and knew right away we had to be from the western world. He told us his story, but to sum it up, he's lived everywhere opening restaurants and studying different cuisines. He invited us to sit at the "Chef's Table" when his next restaurant opens in November. It's called "Z Brgr" and it'll be a high-end burger/vegetarian restaurant that's attached to the palms. He hired a nutritionist who is our age and she just moved here. He asked us to network with her since she's stuck around a bunch of old guys all the time. We contacted her and she's shopping with us tomorrow! </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love how easy it is to network here. We've met so many awesome people - some that are from the western world, and some who know no english. Every experience is a new adventure, and memories are being made on the daily. All of them are reaffirmations that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stole these pictures from Alexis. I've been bad about bringing my camera everywhere with me!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HOmNrt3eUSmqE320sl2Bbsf6uvzEP0ddb3V4_BkncH3dKM-FvFGD_SQJqZP6BStoLFj9xztAVeQMsNpDM_WHLY9IdBHwgWp1s1LVOZydPLx6X-37RWxLPNvAGy4zUfe98ch0adC3eXMa/s1600/dom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HOmNrt3eUSmqE320sl2Bbsf6uvzEP0ddb3V4_BkncH3dKM-FvFGD_SQJqZP6BStoLFj9xztAVeQMsNpDM_WHLY9IdBHwgWp1s1LVOZydPLx6X-37RWxLPNvAGy4zUfe98ch0adC3eXMa/s320/dom.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This is the crew at Dominick's birthday. We're pretty good at all getting together to celebrate an occasion - speaking of which, Canadian Thanksgiving is Friday night!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LJ5KMWce5ROQ2bz8A8FztfjNbO8lxGWAZini72hr4zPzZoeIXeAlQLAkF5bmmtZTOeNUc8aaa7FpGSrrtENlYsnHks6C8ajlYZ6Rl4roV5qcaGhuUhWqIBErTBqb9Eltvtrh4upYsxiK/s1600/sri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LJ5KMWce5ROQ2bz8A8FztfjNbO8lxGWAZini72hr4zPzZoeIXeAlQLAkF5bmmtZTOeNUc8aaa7FpGSrrtENlYsnHks6C8ajlYZ6Rl4roV5qcaGhuUhWqIBErTBqb9Eltvtrh4upYsxiK/s320/sri.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is just after we finally booked/paid for our trip to Sri Lanka! Abdullah spoke very little english (I helped him spell thousand on the receipt) but was extremely patient with us. He hounded me for a copy of this picture!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
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</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh...and GO RANGERS! I might not be home to celebrate, and it might be the middle of the night when they play, but its the first thing I check when I wake up!</span></div></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-36576103011170011982011-09-21T04:28:00.000-07:002011-09-21T04:41:51.851-07:00They say if you do something for 21 days, it becomes a habit...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: white;">As of yesterday, I've been living in Kuwait for exactly three weeks. I think I am finally settling in and catching on to things here. I can tell cab drivers how to get me to my apartment, I know how to say "God Willing" "Peace be upon you" "I swear" and "shut up"... That's all I need, right? My students, cab driver and heiress have been teaching me words here and there, but it's definitely a hard language to pick up. They don't even say the same sounds as we do. I really respect my students for knowing two completely different languages. I have my daily routine down pretty smoothly, and we now all have cell phones to contact each other! This is huge. Going to several different floors to knock on doors to try to make plans with 10 different people isn't super convenient. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Now that I've had a chance to settle in and embrace where I'm going to call home for the next 9 months, I have also had a chance to slow down and remember where I'm from. I am starting to miss home a bit. I miss my friends, family, Scooby, the convenience of driving, sports, the sun rising later than 4:30am, and the sun setting later than 6:30pm, grass...etc. I really do love it here. I've met so many awesome people, and my students are out of this world! I gave them vocabulary yesterday, and since there are 24 words for the first chapter, I gave them until Sunday to turn it in. I'd say about 90% showed up with it done in class today. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">I am starting to get a little antsy on the weekends. For fun, everyone shops and eats here. I typically just spend time with my new friends and spend all day saturday planning for the next week. I'm still waiting on my Civil ID and my resident's visa. Until then, I'm not allowed to leave the country. If I do, it will mess up the entire process. The school has my passport anyway. Back home, I normally go out of town or have something major planned about once a month. I think I'm getting a little impatient to travel. I'm really excited to see this side of the world. We have started planning our first trip, and I can't wait! Meghan's birthday is during our first break, so we let her decide where we will go. She chose Sri Lanka. A lot of the teachers went last year and loved it! It's going to be a great time! We've been looking at this website for a couple of weeks. </span><a href="http://www.srilankatourism.org/"><span style="color: white;">www.<b>srilanka</b>tourism.org</span></a><span style="color: white;"> We are going to go to an elephant sanctuary and feed them with big bottles!! I'm excited, and you know I'll take a TON of pictures! Lets just hope I can upload them. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">My week's almost over. Tomorrow's my Friday and I have absolutely nothing planned for the weekend. We did just get an announcement that our ATM cards came in, so maybe that means I actually have a bank account now! I also got the official offer to coach track, and I was also asked to assist with JV basketball, so that's exciting! I told my counselor today that I'd like to start tutoring as well. They are big on that here. It pays well and the kids are awesome, so it's a good experience! I think once everything starts up, I won't be sitting at home twiddling my thumbs as much. Those of you who know me, know that sitting on my couch in the evenings isn't on my list of favorites, so it's killing me! </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Not much has gone on this week. I lost my phone, I taught, I slept, I cooked a few good meals, and I hung out with the Salmiya crew and walked to the mall. My Uncle David has a birthday this week, so we went to dinner and walked along the gulf. I found a seashell! It was fun, and it was good to see a different part of Kuwait. I've learned that I live in the slums of the state. I'm alright with it...but I can't wait to see what else there is here!</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">I tried to upload pics, and it's super slow. I'll try again later! Good morning, my American friends (and good afternoon to my new friends in Kuwait)!</span></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-36797460304679162812011-09-14T11:31:00.000-07:002011-09-14T11:31:26.994-07:00A Different Time Zone, A Different Routine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Tomorrow I finish my first week of school in Kuwait. I really love it here. A lot of it is exactly what I expected, but a lot of it is totally different. I'm still trying to figure everything out, but that will take a while. I haven't had much direction with anything. I actually got in trouble today for not getting my classes books yet. I'm use to getting books the second week of school due to schedule changes and such. I say I got on trouble, they just came in and told me I had to get them today no matter what. A lot of the school is ran like this. I was never told that books needed to be checked out by Wednesday. A lot of the procedures are assumed to be understood. <br />
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I love the girls. They are so eager to learn and they are so interested in knowing all about me. I think it would be really interesting to grow up in a school where each teacher is from somewhere new. They want to know our stories and they really hold us in high regards since we are from America and Canada. They have all been to America. One girl today said, "I love America, you have everything there! Every type of pen, pencil, sock, cheese, everything is there!" It was weird that those are the things that she used for examples, but I think she was trying to make the point that even trivial things have varieties. They listen to everything I say. I never have to repeat myself, and when I assign in class work, 100% are on task. There aren't any lazy workers or anyone trying to hide their cell phones under their desks while they text. They really are engaged, and its great! It's amazing how much more motivated I am to explain things until they all understand when they are all so eager. I had a girl do a test run on her email the second day to make sure she could contact me when she needed to. <br />
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Today I guess I was still half asleep when I was making my lunch, or maybe it was because I was preoccupied skyping. I accidentally stuck my cheese container in my backpack instead of my lunch. I told my kids that I was certain that their brains have reached capacity this week, because mine has. I couldn't even pack my lunch correctly! One of my sweet 9th graders came in my room right when lunch started and offered me a pear, cookies and juice. I told her I wouldn't take her food, but I really appreciate the gesture. She left it on the table and said she wouldn't leave the room with it, so she was leaving it there. It's a very generous culture here, and they take a lot of offense if you don't accept the gifts they give, so I took it. That really touched my heart. It's only been 4 days of school and these girls are already teaching me lessons. <br />
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We started writing mock lab reports yesterday. They were all about them. When I gave them an in-class assignment with 5 minutes left of class, they all worked straight through the bell - every single class. When I told them on day one that I dismiss them, not the bell, they listened. I had to actually tell them to stop working and that we would finish them next class. It might just be that its the first week of school and they're all trying to really stay engaged, but I really hope I can keep their attention this much through the entire year. They were telling us in orientation that its extremely competitive at the school because they're all competing for scholarships to go to America for college. Only a certain amount can go, and they can only go to certain schools, mainly Ivy League. Their school is paid for and they also get a ridiculous monthly allowance while they're in America. Grade 9 is when GPA starts counting, so they're jumping in full force. I really hope they are all successful. <br />
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My routine has drastically changed here. In the states, my day started no earlier than 7:30am. I would get to school around 9am and I'd have my planning period until almost 10. I'd teach 3 classes, have an hour lunch, and teach three more classes. I'd go through the starbucks drive-thru in the morning and maybe get a bite to eat. I never even thought about lunch in the mornings because I could go drive somewhere and pick something up. Dinner was always with friends somewhere in Dallas, and I was normally playing kickball or working the league. I NEVER cooked at home. My weekends consisted of extreme social time. Brunches, nights out, dinners, pool time, concerts and whatever else we could find to entertain us. It's completely different here. The sun is up at 4:30am, and I'm up by 5:30am to catch the 6:30am bus with 25 other teachers. I get to school around 6:45 with my backpack full of everything I need for the day that was packed the night before, my french pressed coffee in hand, and wide awake ready for the day. I drop off anything that I need copied (someone else does all the copying...that's an entire other blog entry in itself), and I head to my classroom. My daily schedule is different everyday. I have all of my classes on Sunday and Monday (5 each day), but not at the same times. Tuesday and Wednesday, I teach 4 classes, and Thursday I only teach 3. I have a ton of planning time, which is great. I only have a 30 minute lunch, which is more than enough time since I have to pack my lunch. I think I'm allowed to walk across the street to the Bakala if I need to, but I still have to sign out with security at the front. I'm done at 2:30, on the bus at 3:15, and back home by 3:30. I've been taking about an hour nap when I get home, then visit with people here for a bit. I normally just leave my door open and my new friends come and grade papers (or as my Canadian friends call it, mark papers) and talk about our days here. Sometimes we'll order food, which is always entertaining. Our building is really hard to find considering there aren't street names here. Trying to tell someone how to get here who doesn't speak English is sometimes a huge failure. I've had to carry my phone down to my heiress or security guard to help get the delivery guy to the right place. I shower at night, which I never did in the past, and I'm in bed by 9:30-10ish. I'm still getting use to having my weekends on Friday and Saturday, but I like it! Who wants to work on Friday anyway?<br />
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All in all, it was a great week, considering the circumstances. I walked in my classroom on Sunday morning and my dry erase board was back off the wall, I had a smartboard with no power supplies or anything else, I had a computer with no cables, and a projector that worked, but no computer to hook it to. Luckily I brought my lap top and was able to connect the projector to it and throw together a power point presentation as a back-up plan. I haven't been able to make copies at all, so we've been creative with nothing but a projector. We've made it work, so its all good. I talked to my principal today about some of the things that need to get worked out. Hopefully it gets all put together soon. <br />
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The rumor on the street is that when they offer new contracts in January, you have to sign for 2 more years. I really like it here, but I'm not sure if I can do 3 years. I needed to get out of Dallas, and I'm so glad this is where I ended up. I love the culture, the people, my colleagues, the travel opportunities, the sunrises, my sweet girls and definitely the food, but Dallas is my home and its irreplaceable. I wanted to travel, and I wanted to experience living on this side of the world, and that's exactly what I'm doing. I am 100% overly satisfied with my decision. Nothing can replace the friendships I made in Dallas and the people in the states who were a huge influence on how I became who I am today. They're my family and I miss all of them. I have a lot of thinking and praying to do the next few months to figure out which paper I'll sign in January. I wouldn't mind a few prayers sent my way. :) The group of friends I've made here have already decided that we are all going to sit down and make a group decision. If we stay, we want as many of us to stay together as possible. I think it's a good idea.<br />
I have so many pictures to share, but my internet is still very slow here at the apartment. My wireless card works extremely well at school, so maybe I'll be able to upload some tomorrow while I'm planning. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZJtivzQW0oXY2a9TOfGJTrRf-vwX7WVJ4M6oZZGfC1V-ZSyXATK2uwQ_3sm0S3hz11W74QJzPPq0r8PkpVqa_vQq0AZVqfiyadkn3o6lyYsW94O2qcWBmXSjCZoYpwL2WiX3MEU6ivIN/s1600/DSC_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZJtivzQW0oXY2a9TOfGJTrRf-vwX7WVJ4M6oZZGfC1V-ZSyXATK2uwQ_3sm0S3hz11W74QJzPPq0r8PkpVqa_vQq0AZVqfiyadkn3o6lyYsW94O2qcWBmXSjCZoYpwL2WiX3MEU6ivIN/s320/DSC_0232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is at the dock at the Marina Mall. That's the Kuwait City skyline in the far background. It was beautiful, but the water's pretty gross. Look how big the sun is! Sunsets and sunrises are beautiful here. I am on the 9th floor, so I can see the sun hitting the endless amount of white buildings in the morning all across the flat land. It makes me smile knowing I get to wake up to this view.</div></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-77277289143072431622011-09-10T10:46:00.000-07:002011-09-10T10:52:01.987-07:00Two Weeks to Prepare for Tomorrow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I got here two weeks ago today, and it's been exponentially more than I ever imagined! A lot of us keep catching ourselves forgetting that this is home for the next year. We keep trying to cram as much in as possible every day thinking that we are just here on vacation. I haven't been able to post much because of the internet connection. My entire 11 story building is all on the same server, so it tends to get a bit slow. I bought a wireless card from one of the local cell phone providers, but it's actually worse than the apartment's connection. I'll catch you up on the remainder of orientation when I can figure out how to get a better connection.<br />
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The returning staff got here a week ago and we all started back to school getting our rooms ready and such. It's been complete chaos. I came from a school district that had their stuff together pretty well. I didn't realize it until I came here. Everyone except the Arabic and Islam teachers and a few assistants are from overseas, which means not much gets done in the summer. They have tried to get everything done in the last three weeks. They keep telling me that everything will magically come together on Sunday. I walked into a classroom with no projector, computer, or the promised smartboard and an unhung whiteboard. After my principal popped her head in to tell me I might be gaining another class, and she noticed that I had nothing, a few people started paying attention. The "wasta" at the school came in and started getting things put together. They all started speaking in another language, but it's good to know that it might actually get done now that the right people know. Turns out filling out a maintenance/IT request form really doesn't mean anything.<br />
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I took so much for granted in the states. Small things like making copies or logging on to see class rosters, or even having a computer are conveniences that I never even thought twice about...not to mention having toilet paper instead of a bidet. I still don't have class rosters, but I am hoping the people that show up in my class are where they are supposed to be. I'll make rosters from those who are present. <br />
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I'm typically not a complainer, and I'm really not that frustrated about the whole situation. All of it is completely out of my control, and worrying/stressing over it really doesn't bring anything positive to the situation. I decided at the beginning of the year that I wanted to go experience teaching in another country, and that's exactly what I'm doing. I am thoroughly absorbing all of it...the good and the not so good. My job is still the same: educate the next generation. Tomorrow morning at 7:30am (I just called Waheed to pick me up at 5:45 so I can get there earlier than everyone else to take advantage of copying), the girls will come in to start another year of school. I'll be starting my fourth year as a teacher, and in so many ways, it feels like my first. I don't know what to expect this year. I'm not sure if I'll absolutely love it, or if I'll be counting down the days until I can restart life in Dallas. Either way, I'll make the most of this school year. I'm going to completely take advantage of this opportunity. It's not very often that we can just up and leave a life that's so familiar to us just to go experience a different culture. <br />
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On a more positive note, we had orientation on Thursday. I have never had more than a hand-full show up for orientation when I was working in Texas. I made about 20 copies of all of my documents for orientation, and I had to go make more. I had about 65 of my 125 students show up. The parents are really supportive of their daughter's education. Several of them asked if I needed anything to make the school year better, and they all gave me an extremely warm welcome to Kuwait. The girls were anxious to get their syllabus and had several questions about the course. I'm really looking forward to working with all of them!<br />
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I tried uploading a few pictures, and this is as far as I got with my connection. I really have to figure out how to get this internet better!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeS0fXWlNi1X-Fhtc29DXatQSbEvKhrG-PQRXurWi7AWfnWj1nQvwWkB0gICZQRsBFrp8vNI-Ar1e_Q10OieK-kgBejMt1Fj6twfNSW7DgWaoFp4gKv_iUri8E34_hkLThggWG82gIXi6/s1600/DSC_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeS0fXWlNi1X-Fhtc29DXatQSbEvKhrG-PQRXurWi7AWfnWj1nQvwWkB0gICZQRsBFrp8vNI-Ar1e_Q10OieK-kgBejMt1Fj6twfNSW7DgWaoFp4gKv_iUri8E34_hkLThggWG82gIXi6/s320/DSC_0259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a view of my room from my desk. We have a separate room for a lab, but I haven't seen it yet. We also have a lab tech who sets up/puts away labs for us! I'm also pretty excited about my window. I've never had one in my classroom. :) </div></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-14924079019937206302011-09-01T22:32:00.000-07:002011-09-01T22:32:08.428-07:00Orientation Day One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If it weren't for living in an entire complex filled with a bunch of people with the same daily agenda, I guarantee I would have missed my first day of orientation. One of the downfalls of this time change is that I have no idea what day it is. Especially since I've been keeping in touch with people at home who are 9 hours ahead of me.<br />
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Yesterday we started the day off by meeting downstairs in the lobby while we all got cleared for dress code. After we were all ready, we loaded up on our buses, we headed to the girls campus, the one I will be teaching at. I was actually pretty impressed with the school. When I looked it up a few months ago, it looked a bit shady, but it's not so bad! It's not a rich American school you'd find in the states, but it isn't bad. Sand and the heat really wears on the buildings here, so you have to take that into account.<br />
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When we arrived at the school we all went into the auditorium to meet the principals of each school and a few other administrators. I was actually a bit nervous because just the night before Gillian was telling us how there are cultural differences between us and Muslims when it comes to shaking hands. I didn't want to offend anyone by offering my hand, but its just habit. They are use to us doing that so it didn't offend them, but they later explained how to approach parents and such. They told us to always keep something in our hands to keep us preoccupied so we aren't so tempted to stick our hand out there to greet them with an American gesture.<br />
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After meeting everyone, we all sat down and were introduced to Ludna. This lady is so awesome. She is Muslim and grew up in Kuwait. She's the director of staff orientation or whatever, so she is the one behind all that's going on this week, and getting us here to Kuwait and setting us up in our apartments. She has the best sense of humor and really lightened the mood. I've been told that she has a lot of pull in Kuwait and can pretty much get anything done. On the plane ride over, the man sitting next to me told me the first word I'll learn is "wasta". This is a person you go to if you need anything...big or small. Ludna is said to be the wasta of the school. She really takes care of us. The principals said a few words to greet us. It was really refreshing actually. I absolutely loved working in Wylie, but I didn't realize until now how negative orientation felt there. Obviously everyone was happy to see everyone after the summer, but everyone dreaded the meetings and introductions, including myself. Here at ACA, the atmosphere is so welcoming and upbeat. I love it!<br />
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Next we had to all wait around to talk to a few people to get our move-in allowances and reimbursements for excess baggage on the flight and any visa costs we had. We were also given our contracts to look over and return in a few days. Most of it is translated, but it kind of makes me nervous signing something that I can't read. I might need to get someone to translate. This was kind of a lengthy process. There are about 30 new teachers this year, so it took a while. It wasn't too bad though because we all got to sit around and meet everyone. It's really awesome hearing everyones stories. All of the teachers are from America and Canada. It's fun to hear the differences between the two. I definitely look forward to getting to know everyone better!<br />
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It was about 1:30 when we finally wrapped everything up and headed to a lebanese restaurant on the gulf. I can't remember the name of it, but it was delicious! My friend Alaa from college is Lebanese, so I'm pretty familiar with the food. I ate way too much and just wanted to go back and sleep afterwards. We were introduced to the travel agent and the assistant superintendent at lunch. It's really been interesting putting faces with names. I've been emailing back and forth with a lot of them for a few months, so its nice to finally meet them. After fresh-squeezed mango, strawberry and kiwi juices, hummus, baba ganoush, shawarma and the best coffee ever, we all got up, took and picture and loaded back up on the buses. <br />
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<div closure_uid_wu0tro="111">The next stop was the Sultan Center which is a chain of grocery stores here in Kuwait. I wasn't really looking forward to this since I had already been out shopping this week with my Uncle David. There were a few things I could've gotten, but I could've done it in 15 minutes and would've had to wait for everyone else to finish in about 2 hours. Luckily, Ludna announced that a bus would be taking people back to the apartment for those of us who don't need to shop.</div><div closure_uid_wu0tro="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_wu0tro="111">I came home with every intention to go down and work out, work on some planning for the first quarter, cooking some food and going to sleep. That didn't happen. I ended up sitting around for a bit, taking a cat nap that turned into almost three hours and then went down and ran and shot some hoops. I made dinner and was able to get back to sleep around 11:30. I woke up close to 6am which was awesome! I actually slept the greater part of a full nights sleep! I think I might finally be on the downhill slide of this jet lag! This is seriously a huge landmark, and it deserves a grand celebration...seriously. </div><div closure_uid_wu0tro="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_wu0tro="111">Today we are going to the Avenues Mall to do some shopping, touring the Grand Mosque and eating at Souq Shark. I have no idea what to expect, but I'm definitely excited!</div><div closure_uid_wu0tro="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_wu0tro="111">Sidenote: I've never been much of a blogger. I've tried several times, but being here in this new experience and having so much to take in, I love blogging! I am constantly experiencing things and thinking in the back of my mind how I can't wait to blog about it. I definitely understand how moms always blog now. These are little moments of life that will be easily forgotten. I might have vague memories in a few years, but I am going to love coming back and reading the little details of it all.</div><div closure_uid_wu0tro="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_wu0tro="111">Here are a few pictures from yesterday.</div><div closure_uid_wu0tro="111"><br />
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<div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="425" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpTqqu3alGF8dm-4xmoID13jmw08gASmfrwIzOnaT6XX5LRLuuRfX787FOJt9gN6urPFDoTM0kMY6H6EpA46ZAbeavFeYW2KKtK0zn5rKvQMJj_IR_FFTO1OGE1dK4l_GU84k9MmJ_jS4/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpTqqu3alGF8dm-4xmoID13jmw08gASmfrwIzOnaT6XX5LRLuuRfX787FOJt9gN6urPFDoTM0kMY6H6EpA46ZAbeavFeYW2KKtK0zn5rKvQMJj_IR_FFTO1OGE1dK4l_GU84k9MmJ_jS4/s320/DSC_0073.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="425" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Gillian sitting on top of the engine in the bus. :) She is one of the welcome committee and picked me up from the airport. It's her 6th year here and she's been super helpful!</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="425" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="442" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcmulc5Z_frkEZLSklopjRcQRCD4ki81ju2i1uryEIfbMah3O01Z9nMVrEq5cqMtvhpLT8VqrKZewaRgTvSKo5GV8ldn98f3uCfxJTQH31p_ikQA-CybnkcuW93KR0dsQxJk2sJb_UJgG/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcmulc5Z_frkEZLSklopjRcQRCD4ki81ju2i1uryEIfbMah3O01Z9nMVrEq5cqMtvhpLT8VqrKZewaRgTvSKo5GV8ldn98f3uCfxJTQH31p_ikQA-CybnkcuW93KR0dsQxJk2sJb_UJgG/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="442" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a random building on our way to the restaurant. I just want to make sure all my American friends know I'm not living completely third world. :)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK3SIzBUTl3oSX7P8QHY3V9aVh1YtSc21BOw-bmShIkkLHvmSk_fnwofWCbEdmUwqrHcBQDzeUPKcEVxsrxAR-cikFaH0BAt4jAVwFr5xrw7x7N1CkvRotTWMqwpiBGkUSC9lyzJz5W-A/s1600/DSC_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK3SIzBUTl3oSX7P8QHY3V9aVh1YtSc21BOw-bmShIkkLHvmSk_fnwofWCbEdmUwqrHcBQDzeUPKcEVxsrxAR-cikFaH0BAt4jAVwFr5xrw7x7N1CkvRotTWMqwpiBGkUSC9lyzJz5W-A/s320/DSC_0075.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love seeing Arabic everywhere! It's a pretty language.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepVx_sGsGUJ_rW01_C5vcBo_kwKOnO7dbc3GCnwexlM_ZukPTL4nflO7LbM-lJ77tXolkDxN7cdZ47L-c1wwtmCZdRUtY33Z1g6IP4-gUtEA_NEl188C6y8lNazDXheZ6YrwKrYpT0EWQ/s1600/DSC_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepVx_sGsGUJ_rW01_C5vcBo_kwKOnO7dbc3GCnwexlM_ZukPTL4nflO7LbM-lJ77tXolkDxN7cdZ47L-c1wwtmCZdRUtY33Z1g6IP4-gUtEA_NEl188C6y8lNazDXheZ6YrwKrYpT0EWQ/s320/DSC_0077.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I loved that they had valet at the restaurant. I thought this was an American luxury.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ASLUaGNfb2gGjN9Vfq_1jkAnJ9OeeKYrKfOekZs8HqtxeLeaIZSXYveo7aISbO77_xJLuGQfFaX_hqVCeRKkM8NE2R3BX6fRn6wyy3SWgPfuqNd8PfcOCUi5EP94Z4l269T22iXWmn2Y/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ASLUaGNfb2gGjN9Vfq_1jkAnJ9OeeKYrKfOekZs8HqtxeLeaIZSXYveo7aISbO77_xJLuGQfFaX_hqVCeRKkM8NE2R3BX6fRn6wyy3SWgPfuqNd8PfcOCUi5EP94Z4l269T22iXWmn2Y/s320/DSC_0078.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alexis and I at the Lebanese restaurant before they brought out ridiculous amounts of food!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEI2PP-im3oDBTTeYADeM2lHl5fo6rFjYAo4K_GfmGPQvKLbHOFyoHYjSRln5A506Rtx0ghDr6MYheJMuSYmKMWC25_7guOkYgwKpNoAYtEHqC72Rqzd_c8jfQ9YbSLnkgNHPCGZJoSs7/s1600/DSC_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEI2PP-im3oDBTTeYADeM2lHl5fo6rFjYAo4K_GfmGPQvKLbHOFyoHYjSRln5A506Rtx0ghDr6MYheJMuSYmKMWC25_7guOkYgwKpNoAYtEHqC72Rqzd_c8jfQ9YbSLnkgNHPCGZJoSs7/s320/DSC_0079.JPG" width="184" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="523" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Obviously I was so excited about these fresh squeezed juices that I put the focus on them instead of Kim. :) She likes to be an Asian tourist on occasion.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBrhdC320nkcTtNokRt9EKVsby-8B71Hr0WXkp__YPDioHw15fvBVBANpFKeowBSt9tUPVUr1otmLQtHgd1I3rDTiBsgqIMMltzHfXKqJ5WTXEy_5geRkyuJCopHrrvbuFdWeDa7AxmHQ/s1600/DSC_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBrhdC320nkcTtNokRt9EKVsby-8B71Hr0WXkp__YPDioHw15fvBVBANpFKeowBSt9tUPVUr1otmLQtHgd1I3rDTiBsgqIMMltzHfXKqJ5WTXEy_5geRkyuJCopHrrvbuFdWeDa7AxmHQ/s320/DSC_0080.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The walls were made out of hay and some sort of clay or something. It was a super nice restaurant, but I thought the walls were pretty interesting.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvQXyVkgsEBrZSU_EjBEB2FPp1Pczil4RlKwIZ7149To_Dk-TWYoTae70ousH_aeBJVpVShWDFLB5Kn_peK7FOyvxHAxJDq_hOM0GaJ8tQtb_b2eUDShM5MzX_IHZFjkFVFT5HTW69skC/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvQXyVkgsEBrZSU_EjBEB2FPp1Pczil4RlKwIZ7149To_Dk-TWYoTae70ousH_aeBJVpVShWDFLB5Kn_peK7FOyvxHAxJDq_hOM0GaJ8tQtb_b2eUDShM5MzX_IHZFjkFVFT5HTW69skC/s320/DSC_0081.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For starters we had hummus, baba ganoush, really yummy salad and some empanada looking things.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuLvyOJ-vH6ApQmF7WL8wCgoPekGvpO_Hhk7P28UyPWr355Bh6yXxNnlI_F2gyruYchwf7V6b1UQ8CQDjgyUQZbZNIYK6kKDf7RfxOHUoKUVqWE6PKAUb4nta6RMhD0BstnMB0wxWXt9-/s1600/DSC_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuLvyOJ-vH6ApQmF7WL8wCgoPekGvpO_Hhk7P28UyPWr355Bh6yXxNnlI_F2gyruYchwf7V6b1UQ8CQDjgyUQZbZNIYK6kKDf7RfxOHUoKUVqWE6PKAUb4nta6RMhD0BstnMB0wxWXt9-/s320/DSC_0082.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the best little cup of coffee ever. I dont know what kind it was, but I'm pretty sure it was french pressed. Delicious!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="609" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDn5J0rAyqRvwjflkiEOkoSVQv6Gv9eWWwkpVKRCFdI9ZHkMpuDS18DKxDY5xAItK9052L0avvPZqfUL06BDHWYEZ9smqSoQMbvVmNGqRX1ysCCQLAiKAkIG23x9tk-pScmb4W91TeBFNg/s1600/DSC_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDn5J0rAyqRvwjflkiEOkoSVQv6Gv9eWWwkpVKRCFdI9ZHkMpuDS18DKxDY5xAItK9052L0avvPZqfUL06BDHWYEZ9smqSoQMbvVmNGqRX1ysCCQLAiKAkIG23x9tk-pScmb4W91TeBFNg/s320/DSC_0083.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="609" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had to take a picture with our spot of tea and tiny cup of coffee. Perfect end to an amazing meal!</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="609" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="754" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYiNVXNgp-jiJlaqbFPVe_bndTx7VVMa5hw2c0bDwY3L7TXSmk2EO8mPKQ4yYmoO1JQnkbCoD9WzTUsmFheRMzLX3JgByx873oc3nnISDXk7tRKtlyIPkeTeess19UsFnp3ElPhlP8FZF/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYiNVXNgp-jiJlaqbFPVe_bndTx7VVMa5hw2c0bDwY3L7TXSmk2EO8mPKQ4yYmoO1JQnkbCoD9WzTUsmFheRMzLX3JgByx873oc3nnISDXk7tRKtlyIPkeTeess19UsFnp3ElPhlP8FZF/s320/DSC_0084.JPG" width="243" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="754" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I dont know why I like this building, but I do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_wu0tro="628" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5HMN4uyjW2jFdlaYRC119wo9DChoay5SZxiW2YlJUCFmUhu-2P21fuZbSi3YNlIDk9_Gfu5Or9pHVs7iSoQpDymdBOead6xnG4NL_2OF5Vp8TVytzb-nh60I-3FP2k4t2y0gSrux3fFX/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5HMN4uyjW2jFdlaYRC119wo9DChoay5SZxiW2YlJUCFmUhu-2P21fuZbSi3YNlIDk9_Gfu5Or9pHVs7iSoQpDymdBOead6xnG4NL_2OF5Vp8TVytzb-nh60I-3FP2k4t2y0gSrux3fFX/s320/DSC_0085.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is one of the buses we take everywhere. I've never seen one before but they totally beat a school bus.</div></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-56152349971373479672011-08-31T18:21:00.000-07:002011-08-31T18:21:06.113-07:00First Lesson: Progress Takes Patience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">One of the things I really took for granted in the states is routine. Most of you know that I never have a set routine and I'm completely flexible when it comes to spontaneous plans. The one thing that was out of my control is when the sun set and when the sun rose. Because of this, my internal clock always had me go to sleep within a 2 to 3 hour window which always made me wake up at a certain time. I always prided myself in being able to stay up late and not requiring much sleep to be functional the next day. If my routine was a little off, it hardly phased me. </div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">I keep joking about how jet lag is a weird thing and that I sleep at random times because of my internal clock. It's beginning to be a bit of an inconvenience. Two nights ago (actually early Wednesday morning) I stayed up until about 7am. That would be about 11pm in Texas. I couldn't sleep at all. Since I stayed up so late, according to Kuwait time, I made myself wake up around 12pm to make sure I could sleep when it became a decent hour to go to bed. I woke up, did some unpacking, went to this random little shop and bought an alarm clock, came home and ordered pizza with a couple of the other teachers and was in bed by 10:30pm or so. I woke up around 2:30am and laid there for about an hour before I just got up. I've never had a problem sleeping straight through the night so this is new to me. In so many ways I feel like an infant. Not only are they so many new stimuli around me which are constantly helping me figure out my new world, but I also praise myself for sleeping one more hour when it's bed time. I've heard that it takes one day for every hour of difference there is in time change. That means that it will take me 8 days to completely sleep through the night and feel like my internal clock matches up with the Kuwaiti sun's clock. I'm totally buying me a cake on day 8. </div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">Patience is definitely not one of my strong points. In some areas, I have a ton of patience. I typically have zero patience with the situations that are out of my control, such as getting use to a different time zone. One major one back in the states is dealing with Sprint customer service. It gets me going every time and I probably end up causing the service to be worse because of the way I react. When I decided to come over here, I first asked God for a peace about my decision. I definitely wanted to go, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going for selfish reasons. The second thing I prayed for is as many learning experiences as possible to mold me into the person He meant for me to be. I got in a huge rut living in Dallas. It was a fun rut and I wouldn't take a second of it back, but it wasn't a good rut for growth. I'm beginning to think patience is lesson number one. Waking up at 2:30 this morning solidified that for me. I initially wanted to get frustrated, walk down to the bakala (convenient store about the size of my living room located on the corner across the street/alley) and buy some benadryl or something. That'd solve my problem short-term, but I'd probably be pretty miserable around 7am when my alarm goes off. After I laid there, I decided to get up. It's all a learning experience. </div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">In hindsight, there was more than just the jetlag that helped me with this. Here's a few:</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">- The entire visa process </div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">- Working with the people at the airport in Istanbul took patience to deal with the language barrier.</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">- Trying to locate my bag at the airport at 1:30am while also dealing with a language barrier </div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">- Leaving the airport not knowing if I'll ever see my clothes again took a little faith and some patience.</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">- Getting to my apartment and realizing I had no adapter in to plug anything in to call or email people back home. My phone and laptop were completely dead.</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">- Going back to the airport 24 hours later to only be greeted with "maybe its on the next flight" </div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">- My Ipod freezing (believe me, I tried to unfreeze it by holding down buttons for 10 seconds). I think its a gonner.</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">- Pandora radio not being an option in Kuwait.</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">All of these are completely out of my control. I can't change the rotation of the sun, go search every airplane that comes through, change the outlets in Kuwait, or magically fix my Ipod. These things are also short-term. It's all going to work out and I'll look back and laugh at how trivial it all was. I'm not freaking out by any means and I'm not losing my patience. I think that's what I'm supposed to get out of all of this. I definitely think I'm going to experience several other obstacles that will make me step back, assess the situation, and react accordingly. The past few days have taught me exactly how to do just that. </div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">With all that said, I am absolutely enjoying Kuwait. It's such an awesome place. The majority of the people are nice. We have a cab driver that we can call anytime. His name is Wahid and he takes good care of us. He said he's been helping people at this complex for 9 years. When we asked him about alarm clocks, he took us to this store, walked us in, took us to the right counter and translated for us. It was great! He also told us if we ever get in a cab and the driver doesn't speak english, we can call him and he'll talk to the driver to translate. He's from a small village in Syria. </div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">Another fun little sidenote: I was walking through one of the little shops where Wahid took us and I was looking for a grill lighter. I've almost burned my hand off a few times trying to light my stove. This boy, probably no older than 10, came up to me and mumbled something. I asked him to repeat it and I kind of heard something that resembled "where" and "from" mixed in the somewhere. I told him I'm from America and he smiled. I asked him where he's from and he said "Syria" in the coolest accent ever! His dad immediately called him over to keep working. I loved that little moment! I haven't been able to interact with any kids yet and I love kids, so it was refreshing.</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111">Here are a few pictures from yesterday. I still don't know what's acceptable as far as picture taking goes, so I've just started snapping ones to see how people react. I think they're ok with it. They stare, but they stare when I don't have my camera, so I'm not too concerned.</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_sb5ik5="153" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHyzbDSDQkLN9H24q3T22mpew24-srnmcFvnLu89upeL0sXD2NOdDLh_oaZo_HjiD8v4pTsWVe5HKSonsZWqaWakI2e_Xc6wPcRmPW8799IPoxsER57PzCjHeXckvngMu6mjQe_24O4YM/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHyzbDSDQkLN9H24q3T22mpew24-srnmcFvnLu89upeL0sXD2NOdDLh_oaZo_HjiD8v4pTsWVe5HKSonsZWqaWakI2e_Xc6wPcRmPW8799IPoxsER57PzCjHeXckvngMu6mjQe_24O4YM/s320/DSC_0069.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_sb5ik5="153" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a random little find not far from where we are staying. It's definitely not anything like the Targe we have in the states, but it was nice to see the sign.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PjTZlEX8CMNbXwhJI2YtJlfVC44HOLRNt4SX4UThm_XlEQEBM4ZkIgjjCVv0EibTAU4LsZnNhXUx9hdaDBGwcCzYtbvTtU8ruqD9H9TODCdBlxhAToKBU5edCF2-RM1vkGuX0egtuj9C/s1600/DSC_0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PjTZlEX8CMNbXwhJI2YtJlfVC44HOLRNt4SX4UThm_XlEQEBM4ZkIgjjCVv0EibTAU4LsZnNhXUx9hdaDBGwcCzYtbvTtU8ruqD9H9TODCdBlxhAToKBU5edCF2-RM1vkGuX0egtuj9C/s320/DSC_0070.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My friend Alex back home always has these bags of rice in his apartment. The first time I saw it I laughed and asked where he found a bag of rice like that. He told me he gets it at an Asian market. Turns out he can just get it at the local Target here in Kuwait!</div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_sb5ik5="170" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MRmnpgcsQmm8ALB5zrUuQ3zGlj5dMsVllue_bxkH8p2GIef4B5ndU4WL6qT3_-Jrve51NBuC1BbGiGbLv3FHId_1m_3F0ieg3mgE_VDXpI_-SLBmIL9upDmr3TWsJaYTo-9ts_DvjgfJ/s1600/DSC_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MRmnpgcsQmm8ALB5zrUuQ3zGlj5dMsVllue_bxkH8p2GIef4B5ndU4WL6qT3_-Jrve51NBuC1BbGiGbLv3FHId_1m_3F0ieg3mgE_VDXpI_-SLBmIL9upDmr3TWsJaYTo-9ts_DvjgfJ/s320/DSC_0071.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_sb5ik5="170" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was walking around my complex trying to find this pool and gym they keep talking about. I found both. We have two pools. I also found a little baskeball court! Totally wearing this thing out.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXDy3DZH311OFNsMM8xvV-ivB4snko9MsKOPqS7zaPhhV9FlB1FO78r-eaZ-BAh5pwc6sIqzYbAZ-jk_1T91IfmL1M_TEMTd7VRFdZQqGkHkcDF9MHtQJyyabJyvxU3ptrDHSlCp3apyC/s1600/DSC_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXDy3DZH311OFNsMM8xvV-ivB4snko9MsKOPqS7zaPhhV9FlB1FO78r-eaZ-BAh5pwc6sIqzYbAZ-jk_1T91IfmL1M_TEMTd7VRFdZQqGkHkcDF9MHtQJyyabJyvxU3ptrDHSlCp3apyC/s320/DSC_0068.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the teachers here found this in a little store that had absolutely no familiar American brands, but they had kid clothes with her college on it. Random!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cB2snJcb1g6_KLGFKJzQKez-sOkGkiPdbviweaooQ93I_Fj26rp0h1T-sYVnOSxSAB8OY0xCeZrGF2mKDS1juPhMaONiNIgQRhf3lRaVzau6EeyyrRZx0cg32X6SWT3tUlXBL_bw4B1n/s1600/DSC_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cB2snJcb1g6_KLGFKJzQKez-sOkGkiPdbviweaooQ93I_Fj26rp0h1T-sYVnOSxSAB8OY0xCeZrGF2mKDS1juPhMaONiNIgQRhf3lRaVzau6EeyyrRZx0cg32X6SWT3tUlXBL_bw4B1n/s320/DSC_0064.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are the coffee mugs they gave me for my apartment. I was wondering why they were shaped weird, then I poured a cup of coffee and saw the shape! I love it!</div><div closure_uid_sb5ik5="111"><br />
</div></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-42572819095196995012011-08-30T21:13:00.000-07:002011-08-30T21:13:23.286-07:00Destination Reached<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111">To say that the last two days have been exciting yet hectic would be an extreme understatement. As always, I have so many things to blog about, but when I finally get the chance to sit and reflect, I hardly remember a thing. I need to start a little tablet of things to help me remember stories. I'll do my best this time. Bare with me...it might be a long one with very few pictures.</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111">I had so many things planned to do the weekend before I headed out of the country. Friday I went to one last Wylie football game to see some students that insisted on me going. I got to see a few of them, but not nearly as many as I wanted to see. After that, I headed to improv where I was called up on stage and they did a 30 minute improv of my life. It included Tom Bean, cowboys, grimlins, Full House, Kuwait and who knows what else. It was quite entertaining! As soon as I get the video, I'll share it with you guys. Saturday I enjoyed one last brunch and headed off to a birthday party. I had so many other plans Saturday and Sunday before I headed out, but instead I took a nap after the party and slept until Sunday morning around 9. I normally don't allow sleep to ruin plans, but this time it was completely out of my control. I had officially overworked myself. I ended up waking up only to get food and finish packing up. I headed to the airport around 1:30 for my flight at 4.</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111">When I got to the airport, my parents were there to help me get everything in the airport and checked in. I ended up having to move a few things around to make one of my bags under 50lbs. I sat and visited with my parents for a bit before I had to go through security to get this trip started. I boarded the plane for my flight to Chicago. When I got there, I had a 4 hour layover. I spent most of it trying to get in as much internet/call time as possible before I left the states for 10 months. I had no idea what my situation would be when I got to Kuwait, so I wanted to take advantage of the time I had.</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111">For those of you who know me, you know that being nervous, worried and scared are things that seldomly happen to me. I'll tell you that when I boarded the Turkish Airlines plane in Chicago, I unknowingly was at least the first two. It was one of those planes with a middle row and I was smack dab in the middle of two very much grown men who had not yet discovered deodorant, or at least failed to acknowledge that they were in need of some. I started wondering if this middle eastern world was really for me. I have a perfect life in Dallas - great friends, close to family, something to do any minute of the day, a comfortable life that I'm use to and a currency that I relate to. A part of me wanted to take the money I set aside for this trip and buy a return flight back. Instead I took the complimentary eye covers, put them over my eyes and cranked up my "home" playlist on my Ipod. I fell asleep off and on for the first 8 hours of the flight. The last two and a half were spent nibbling on breakfast that was served (I didn't have much of an appetite at this point), and watching the movie 127 Days on the screen on the back of the seat in front of me. It was really cool. It had about 50 movies you could choose from, music, email, texting, video games and more. It even had a map that you look at to track the flight, and a video camera to watch from the cockpit. That was new to me. I watched us land from the screen. When I landed in Istanbul, there were no tunnels for the planes to pull up to. Instead they bring a ladder to the back door and you get out and jump on an overpacked bus which took you to a terminal after dodging a few luggage cars driving on the tarmac. My ticket for Kuwait didn't have a gate number on it and I wasn't completely sure if I needed to get my passport stamped if I was just flying through, so after a few conversations with major language barriers, I had my questions answered. I had another 4 hour layover, but this time I was in a country to which I had never been. I ventured off to some duty free shops, sat down at a starbucks, checked some emails and of course updated my facebook. </div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111">When it came time to board the plane, we had to all go through security. I had never seen individual security stations at every gate, so that was new. We boarded at 10:30pm and it was only a 3 hour flight. I sat next to two pretty interesting people. One guy was from Iraq but has lived in Los Angeles for the last 20 years and was going to Kuwait to visit friends, then go to Iraq to visit family. The other guy was from Columbia and decided to try to work overseas as an engineer about 30 years ago and has been doing so ever since. He has worked in several places, but to name a few - Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, France, Egypt, Dubai, Venezuela and now Kuwait. He was on his way back from a month vacation in Spain and Greece with his son who goes to Baylor! He gave me his card and told me to contact him if I ever need anything. He gave me some pointers and showed me a map to help me understand how to get around Kuwait. We both got a glass of wine on the plane in honor of not being able to have any over here at all. It's funny how you end up by the most interesting people. Never pass up an opportunity to meet someone. You never know who they are.</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111">When we landed in Kuwait, I helped my new friend with some luggage and headed to the baggage claim area. There were 3 other teachers on the plane with me, so we stuck together when we landed. I started loading up my things on a cart, but couldn't find one of my bags. Like I've said before, I don't worry much. I was calm, probably mostly due to 27 hours of traveling, and walked to the counter to declare my lost luggage. It was nowhere to be found, so I just went through customs and headed out. My uncle was there to greet me along with some people from the school. It was great to see a familiar face in such an unfamiliar place. After we all introduced ourselves, we loaded up on our bus and headed to our apartment. When I got to mine, it was stocked with some food and water to last a few days. I took these pictures the next morning to give you guys an idea of my living quarters for the next 10 months. </div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="160" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i9nu4ShyR23M3Bie04JA612g4hV0-TEYkWSrKdyb23U9eCXVnHftPCu_Zbllo3CXDlil0W89Bn-SK828S6UdIp0PBFeMFp3kT3vAMkEMfOPCuFBn7JYJbse9Hlp0bBGcg44E48lJ-Brm/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i9nu4ShyR23M3Bie04JA612g4hV0-TEYkWSrKdyb23U9eCXVnHftPCu_Zbllo3CXDlil0W89Bn-SK828S6UdIp0PBFeMFp3kT3vAMkEMfOPCuFBn7JYJbse9Hlp0bBGcg44E48lJ-Brm/s320/DSC_0040.JPG" width="214" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="160" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I woke up this morning and cooked some eggs and toast. My stove runs on a propane tank, so I have to light it every time I use it. I prefer gas stoves, so I'm ok with it. I just have to remember to turn off the tank when I'm done. :)</div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="161" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MHSBy1Lt9AvKCDdufi-23I-p6g71kLNFbG33wepZdiTJVMQMy5uaWIxIwfgO7w6z5UxT7UylRBRMGmICx8FKej8-34CMSXBl33RJKFYsXO4wcym2NdSB_O1BzGYofo0o9IxeAfjGpZp2/s1600/DSC_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MHSBy1Lt9AvKCDdufi-23I-p6g71kLNFbG33wepZdiTJVMQMy5uaWIxIwfgO7w6z5UxT7UylRBRMGmICx8FKej8-34CMSXBl33RJKFYsXO4wcym2NdSB_O1BzGYofo0o9IxeAfjGpZp2/s320/DSC_0043.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="161" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made eggs and toast. I had poorly planned and failed to realize that my kitchen was not equiped with a spatula or a toaster. I flipped these eggs with a large spoon and a fork.</div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="162" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98dUUupUgLS0iJbsO1c_p7QA3Bwm_GDbaDCiAgR7AB6T_X49aqFwkrpfgn7y4qGA0MNFVhTt6LLpnlr47jKmiO8BQ5fxpt60wNdC3vc-xAKPhcJOyt-j2OT7TfNXSIQ9py26sk8pUTjDg/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98dUUupUgLS0iJbsO1c_p7QA3Bwm_GDbaDCiAgR7AB6T_X49aqFwkrpfgn7y4qGA0MNFVhTt6LLpnlr47jKmiO8BQ5fxpt60wNdC3vc-xAKPhcJOyt-j2OT7TfNXSIQ9py26sk8pUTjDg/s320/DSC_0042.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="162" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I cooked the toast in the pan... It didn't turn out too shabby considering the circumstances.</div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="163" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbfd_7Iwbr2uXRBq4yXeAATpGhaoQEEdn14W4UnuLecrArJ2Iu70Be-8VoAnI8CThgKOPoikfqRhjtFivEz67M2nx1iLHt4T83omSHB-_J6r_qN6E69bng4PoNvzkEjkrLLyxFUpeniTN/s1600/DSC_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbfd_7Iwbr2uXRBq4yXeAATpGhaoQEEdn14W4UnuLecrArJ2Iu70Be-8VoAnI8CThgKOPoikfqRhjtFivEz67M2nx1iLHt4T83omSHB-_J6r_qN6E69bng4PoNvzkEjkrLLyxFUpeniTN/s320/DSC_0044.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="163" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the most uncomfortable bed I've ever encountered. It's definitely going to need some work. It's a pretty small room, but it works. </div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="164" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHLmhM1KrGCDFQjfc1XKNP45eBQGb7OxXaYRjSL9Vy3dRWZyNz3CK_VB1oqPCZ9xt-81uL9kd52FlmfS0ECTDYzPhmHM3nyIfZcb_fKf61mn0uCMvDIjKN5h52eFCnuEANs4NoBcaw0Fm/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHLmhM1KrGCDFQjfc1XKNP45eBQGb7OxXaYRjSL9Vy3dRWZyNz3CK_VB1oqPCZ9xt-81uL9kd52FlmfS0ECTDYzPhmHM3nyIfZcb_fKf61mn0uCMvDIjKN5h52eFCnuEANs4NoBcaw0Fm/s320/DSC_0045.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="164" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a view from the corner. I went to buy hangers today and they're so expensive! I'll be folding a lot of my clothes.</div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="165" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtYxrLToY3FNi-tripQYW15m9bCkdCRG0MQFm-N5Y30LG9JHd1V4K8serzYLrHFh5OgfDh4yfpEHaINhJrkKsESRV6-twco-aQG9HAfKxYCKjWIlLcl_iHoAOCOVh0YiTMkqJkZhh4OjP/s1600/DSC_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtYxrLToY3FNi-tripQYW15m9bCkdCRG0MQFm-N5Y30LG9JHd1V4K8serzYLrHFh5OgfDh4yfpEHaINhJrkKsESRV6-twco-aQG9HAfKxYCKjWIlLcl_iHoAOCOVh0YiTMkqJkZhh4OjP/s320/DSC_0047.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="165" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My apartment is on the 9th of 10 floors in my apartment building. Notice there's not a window in the way here. I can open it up all the way without a screen. It freaked me out at first.</div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="167" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobba382OFRacO13tGsMw__TlDt4Y4oUi4W79vmwBHfm4GPZsndk3OjeoCLbwVDFAzNyhXsEnEDlr7oRUyFSsqlhhMHJy58JlCcttb8vnCQp4ATzlpTrhCpGBey2MNioqckj60eK55a2Ok/s1600/DSC_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobba382OFRacO13tGsMw__TlDt4Y4oUi4W79vmwBHfm4GPZsndk3OjeoCLbwVDFAzNyhXsEnEDlr7oRUyFSsqlhhMHJy58JlCcttb8vnCQp4ATzlpTrhCpGBey2MNioqckj60eK55a2Ok/s320/DSC_0049.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="167" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see hwy 40 here. I was really impressed on how nice the roads are. On that note, the bus filled up on the way to the airport to get my lost bag and he paid 4.500KD (approximately $14) for 74 liters. Now we know why they're all rich here. They're totally banking on America's demand for their oil.</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="166"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="168" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gCLttgFyU_KsrLLGayefIlhqRqJ-HtiDNLuvD9E-RdfFxDEE89bFUhS1xui62vif1j45Ho75r25Yomh3YTSHMsmM3l_opzj76F0RPKQmBBRa0mFXEJ2jkXP_fVQyEQjB6MkAj1v12BAX/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gCLttgFyU_KsrLLGayefIlhqRqJ-HtiDNLuvD9E-RdfFxDEE89bFUhS1xui62vif1j45Ho75r25Yomh3YTSHMsmM3l_opzj76F0RPKQmBBRa0mFXEJ2jkXP_fVQyEQjB6MkAj1v12BAX/s320/DSC_0051.JPG" width="214" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="168" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My humble kitchen. Pay attention to the detail. I have marble countertops. There's a water filter on the wall and a key on the refrigerator...just in case I want to lock it up. It's ridiculously small also.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlrV_stEmjqZCsYB3Mp8oqqpGUA4ZDREIOYqOAH1QAZ_bbTBBuELquQZxG4inu96IxagTewX2cXC0EUkY-DHhehMq2-JlKf4kFWxcsVrCa_gnjjlYJ1TRd2lHWizC_YsYlixbyE_sPTEi/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlrV_stEmjqZCsYB3Mp8oqqpGUA4ZDREIOYqOAH1QAZ_bbTBBuELquQZxG4inu96IxagTewX2cXC0EUkY-DHhehMq2-JlKf4kFWxcsVrCa_gnjjlYJ1TRd2lHWizC_YsYlixbyE_sPTEi/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a view from my kitchen looking at my dining room and part of my living room.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="211" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7ZtmGhl-ECOXWepg6jgzOhkboBD_VAi0jZQKjJIDlwhYAf1X0tg0fVdJrUc2PUBZfiKvSqX9mohK-lx3LNQQEBIeQYLud7zLS4HmvZD7qF6BOSlUn_1la93GP4uSl2IlPQH5PtPqXgSt/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7ZtmGhl-ECOXWepg6jgzOhkboBD_VAi0jZQKjJIDlwhYAf1X0tg0fVdJrUc2PUBZfiKvSqX9mohK-lx3LNQQEBIeQYLud7zLS4HmvZD7qF6BOSlUn_1la93GP4uSl2IlPQH5PtPqXgSt/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="211" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are the outlets here. The first thing I bought at the mall today was a converter. You also have to flip a switch on all the outlets for them to work. </div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="211" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="230" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrovhGqJbgjAdQSXaIZ1D6HJ-JX6c3C9owjwuahIcvsmYOJ6bq4uQP2Mgo6pXOg6Kl4fuAZjhqzSX6Bjsv35YBbmu4SrNndSmXoXnVhTXBxrRNfY-KI4OkCnSgwkkL8VYBNOoYdo-kNFKU/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrovhGqJbgjAdQSXaIZ1D6HJ-JX6c3C9owjwuahIcvsmYOJ6bq4uQP2Mgo6pXOg6Kl4fuAZjhqzSX6Bjsv35YBbmu4SrNndSmXoXnVhTXBxrRNfY-KI4OkCnSgwkkL8VYBNOoYdo-kNFKU/s320/DSC_0054.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="230" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and this is my living room. This is before I went to the basement and rummaged. I got a little laptop stand to use while sitting on my couch. In fact, I'm using it now.</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="230" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="232" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgBGU6Ptz8nd4meHRieL-FAJoNadA8ZNbBcGJBGQbOENK1V9KvuroobJBB0O246pSPySx_D4RKPSur5dLr9M0SIGtcQVihI8Pv2y9vyozvQ5w-La0gaXJT1weEXQGABqxZHAWpefQmlWf/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgBGU6Ptz8nd4meHRieL-FAJoNadA8ZNbBcGJBGQbOENK1V9KvuroobJBB0O246pSPySx_D4RKPSur5dLr9M0SIGtcQVihI8Pv2y9vyozvQ5w-La0gaXJT1weEXQGABqxZHAWpefQmlWf/s320/DSC_0039.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="232" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I turned the tv on this morning and 30 Rock was on. It was in English with Arabic subtitles. It made me laugh. </div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="232" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="239"> After breakfast and a little nap, I met up with a few other teachers to go to the mall to get a few things. We took a cab to the Avenue Mall. Side note: if you're a female and ever cab it in Kuwait, never get in the front seat. It's not allowed. My Uncle David met us at the mall and was a ton of help! He helped us with questions about internet, where to find the cheapest groceries, what to do about cell service, and he gave us a ride back to our apartment. He also met me at the airport with a cell phone, which helped so much. He's been such a blessing these first couple of hours in Kuwait. Thanks Uncle David! We got hungry while we were shopping, so where did we eat? Yeah, that's right...Applebees. 90% of the restaurants at the mall were American. I also got some much needed Starbucks at one of the six that are at the mall. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="238" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M1AbAvkKVIYPovPO_PkRxlfZ7PtCwGPuU8zq0YtYV_JleUwC4bspSZEzpanDr1O36mK7vdmspcxZexfWwBlhTVx3yfLGId2CbRRLVK7_qduUs7oFpf50sNlM_Dq1nlS-OJu8M0GEeHp6/s1600/DSC_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M1AbAvkKVIYPovPO_PkRxlfZ7PtCwGPuU8zq0YtYV_JleUwC4bspSZEzpanDr1O36mK7vdmspcxZexfWwBlhTVx3yfLGId2CbRRLVK7_qduUs7oFpf50sNlM_Dq1nlS-OJu8M0GEeHp6/s320/DSC_0062.JPG" width="224" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="238" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were leaving a grocery store in the mall and my Uncle David told us to take the carts down this escalator flat ramp thing. We eventually trusted him when he said the wheels would lock in the ramp and the cart won't move. It was awesome! In the back is a couple I met today, Krystal and Nick. Alexis is pushing our cart. We have been talking on facebook for a few weeks, so it was good to finally meet and put a face to the name. Getting off the ramp was kind of like getting off an escalator for the first time...kind of awkward. The ramp led right into the parking lot, and off we went!</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_vebvg0="238" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111" style="text-align: left;">As soon as I got home, I immediately plugged my computer in and connected to the world. It's great to be back! I skyped with my mom for a while. If you have a skype name, add me! My skype name is on facebook. After that, I went downstairs to meet up with the welcoming committee to hitch a ride back to the airport to get down to the bottom of the lost bag situation. On our way to the airport we hit some really bad traffic. A city bus had been severely rear-ended by an SUV. The entire engine was gone from the SUV and the back of the bus was pretty smashed. The culture shock for me was that there was nobody directing traffic. There were about 4 cop cars that were surrounding the scene and the cops, who had to be no older than 18-20 were all standing around. Everyone just had to find their own way around it. As soon as they did, they were going 120mph to make up for lost time. The people on the bus told me that they always just push the cars to the side and let them sit there for a while to serve as a lesson to everyone in Kuwait. Nobody drives with caution here and wrecks always are fatal. </div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111" style="text-align: left;">One conversation that I had with the welcoming committee is if we had sports at the school. I just happened to be asking the athletic director and I am officially coaching track next year! It's not as intense as track in America. I train them for a month and there is one track meet. It will be a great experience. She also wants me to start up a running club for the kids, which would be fun. I'll keep you guys up to date on all of it!</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111" style="text-align: left;">As soon as I got to the airport, I went to the baggage services desk. Luckily, the guy remembered me from the day before and he was super helpful. I was able to leave with luggage in hand! I also left with some leftovers from a chinese stand. It made me laugh when I was eating it. He asked if I'd like it spicy, and I said yes. It had absolutely no kick to it at all. Coming from Texas, I love spice, and I'm learning that that is a relative term. </div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111" style="text-align: left;">That brings me up to date. Its past 7am here, the sun is up and I'm hardly tired. I think I'll sleep a few hours and try to deprive myself of sleep tomorrow to try to get over this jet lag. It's not a problem now as I have nothing going on during the day, but as soon as we start all of the orientation stuff on Thursday, I'm going to be wishing I didn't have jet lag. </div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vebvg0="111" style="text-align: left;">It's been great so far. I've had so many new experiences. Some have been challenging, some have been absolutely awesome, but all of them have forced me out of my comfort zone and served as a lesson. I am so glad I decided to tough it out between the smelly men and catch my flight to Kuwait. I can't wait to see what God has in store the next several months! </div></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-75807291026218829932011-08-17T13:32:00.000-07:002011-08-17T14:05:06.839-07:00I'm going to miss these moments...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I can't believe that when someone asks me how much time I have before I leave, I answer with, "A week and a half." The whole moving to Kuwait for a year has been more of a dream than a reality up until about a week ago when my travel agent asked me what I would like for dinner on the plane. Just this week I have really started getting serious about packing and getting rid of things. Everything's on craigslist, my parents are the new owners of my tv and my dog, goodwill got a ton of clothes, and my visa is on its way back from the embassy. It should be in my hands tomorrow morning!</div><br />
I don't think I've appreciated quality time enough in the past. These past few weeks I've really started doing just that. I've always taken for granted that I can call my friends up and in 15 minutes we're sitting at the dinner table together talking about random moments of our day. I know that I'll meet new friends when I move there, but they can't replace the ones I have here. Each one of them is unique and all together they make the best group of friends anyone can ask for! I'll definitely be keeping in touch with them, but its the tangible time that can't be replaced.<br />
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A few weeks ago I made one last trip to Chicago (excluding my 4 hour layover I have there next Sunday). My friends had two gigs in one night and it was insane! Mike picked me up at the airport around 5:30 and we got to the venue when the band before them was singing their final song. Talk about cutting it close! Then after that, we had to rush home, get their gear for a full set, since the first one was only acoustic (amazing), and we headed off to the next place with just enough time for them to come up with a set list. Here are a few pictures I took of them:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYD7HBZtH1USMT1VSDlnKjtDqC8ahQ-Elu5l99s1BICc62qX8RvLRW-tFCLvYXtI2l7NaJHbHuPP_M_KAD_Sh9Vwa2eDbBO7wPQOnB2YN9lOedwfs-q_dUTOlkPlvD8qWc0ZzdrLjRwIMx/s1600/BB3%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYD7HBZtH1USMT1VSDlnKjtDqC8ahQ-Elu5l99s1BICc62qX8RvLRW-tFCLvYXtI2l7NaJHbHuPP_M_KAD_Sh9Vwa2eDbBO7wPQOnB2YN9lOedwfs-q_dUTOlkPlvD8qWc0ZzdrLjRwIMx/s320/BB3%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Ballroom Boxer, and they're awesome! If you're ever in Chicago, let me know and I'll tell you where you can find them. :)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWP9JglTJ3H41LRF13D1VTdIj4M_zpk6Q5a7LotZ9SvEmaak9R0gaaGC-jROYS_HnyyNRlV66swi_Z8-IgOdxBks-CHqSc3U2ChNINDSpeZU5yVmL2T0bTGyEEI_0Bpd2ha6_HCmJN8tS/s1600/Dave2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWP9JglTJ3H41LRF13D1VTdIj4M_zpk6Q5a7LotZ9SvEmaak9R0gaaGC-jROYS_HnyyNRlV66swi_Z8-IgOdxBks-CHqSc3U2ChNINDSpeZU5yVmL2T0bTGyEEI_0Bpd2ha6_HCmJN8tS/s320/Dave2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dave and I fight like brother and sister...and he hates my guacamole.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeURyVs4UDVmh-7wWhXcYGQ7V8UkcwJ0EzitNA3M1V2JzL5MNKfvx1IGvE70U23lcAyRm1HdroeoP6CLpQpUPlDivVwoFut62gaOmd8M0rkrvorpHO-FX4k7GaJDEWNZmTZvGbD9MS85z/s1600/Mike4%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeURyVs4UDVmh-7wWhXcYGQ7V8UkcwJ0EzitNA3M1V2JzL5MNKfvx1IGvE70U23lcAyRm1HdroeoP6CLpQpUPlDivVwoFut62gaOmd8M0rkrvorpHO-FX4k7GaJDEWNZmTZvGbD9MS85z/s320/Mike4%25281%2529.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mike's legit...and crazy, but I still like him! Him and Dave are brothers, and if I'm ever telling you stories of my Chicago adventures, chances are Mike was right beside me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been to Chicago several times, but the one thing I did this time that I haven't done before is go to the beach. It was so awesome! It's not like it is here. We don't have a lake that freezes in the winter, so halfway through the summer, our lakes are practically bathwater. Lake Michigan was FREEZING!! It was refreshing! It's also nice to lay out with a cool breeze instead of it feeling like a sauna like it is in Dallas. I definitely fell asleep on the sand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh58YWkT-2xjwe2pu_ZAbSoi2HdWXwlpnu0PDNNIDO4uPNtdsdrX-NBSTCMVzYfUpXscWhkwr8aQRlBzxO3x86IpNVn-61cCDDWNZpabZJlfkCYWB_VmF-hlF8EnGoQFlDTTJYebIhXfIB/s1600/Chi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh58YWkT-2xjwe2pu_ZAbSoi2HdWXwlpnu0PDNNIDO4uPNtdsdrX-NBSTCMVzYfUpXscWhkwr8aQRlBzxO3x86IpNVn-61cCDDWNZpabZJlfkCYWB_VmF-hlF8EnGoQFlDTTJYebIhXfIB/s320/Chi.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a picture of part of downtown as we crossed over the highway on the bridge going from Lincoln Park to North Ave Beach.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_adq1A6O1Z-3PK_sH-TPETfrr3hMtBf-6bZzPaV1wzJrzeHCQD2cmK47M1YfJuryBkSzxnRi_3h01VZDPfUqAHCvX4KjJFVoLQF7Gw4sQJl50dOZKS0tBw1WXyeMmAV3XsSXfeXptx7r/s1600/NorthAve5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_adq1A6O1Z-3PK_sH-TPETfrr3hMtBf-6bZzPaV1wzJrzeHCQD2cmK47M1YfJuryBkSzxnRi_3h01VZDPfUqAHCvX4KjJFVoLQF7Gw4sQJl50dOZKS0tBw1WXyeMmAV3XsSXfeXptx7r/s320/NorthAve5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was surprised at the amount of people out on the beach on a Monday afternoon! I think the majority of them were high school kids on summer vacation. :)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2B6WhgXqY5Zc2riVpWmSPlXxyZ7KazdrlI0PAjVaJPhf17-AtxZXGLLfg2hzzs1Bs5MioN8nqZtK9qhLlaexPHG2JwMWMhLiWZnhv17phRsa7f6DTmJUTgfr-BoXHNBDsS_KDXiM0qpq/s1600/NorthAve2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2B6WhgXqY5Zc2riVpWmSPlXxyZ7KazdrlI0PAjVaJPhf17-AtxZXGLLfg2hzzs1Bs5MioN8nqZtK9qhLlaexPHG2JwMWMhLiWZnhv17phRsa7f6DTmJUTgfr-BoXHNBDsS_KDXiM0qpq/s320/NorthAve2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It's crazy that this awesome beach is right in the city. I'm telling you, Chicago is an all-in-one city. Love it.</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The last night I was there, I cooked for Mike and Dave. They always let me crash at their place when I am in town, so I decided to appreciate them a little bit with some fajitas! After dinner, Mike and I spontaneously decided to go watch the fireworks that they do on the Navy Pier every Wednesday and Saturday. There was no way we were making it to the pier in 15 minutes so we watched them from the beach instead. We ran through the park, over the bridge and down the beach and got there just in time! It was awesome! Then we walked back along the beach. It was peaceful. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9ZMS0eXj6jVsfTjJVWpOnGkEY3kpFz3qnfS01_wSmbGHlFevoFG3Grm0NsXr8ojFM2q1c1UAmuAKLQcBYP_lxNEK4AAhk49cx8SDgz2Ink76Aov4eHKI7Et3-ZEe2R0lG0_u7CEb_Roe/s1600/DSC_0921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9ZMS0eXj6jVsfTjJVWpOnGkEY3kpFz3qnfS01_wSmbGHlFevoFG3Grm0NsXr8ojFM2q1c1UAmuAKLQcBYP_lxNEK4AAhk49cx8SDgz2Ink76Aov4eHKI7Et3-ZEe2R0lG0_u7CEb_Roe/s320/DSC_0921.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fajitas! I had to bring some good tex-mex to Chicago.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XH67Ar-sVvJiFh7AYL4Z98b95kHOChqoIU-6Y7CzDsTUdL4hEvkUqbGfixt69ij2OTQ9pdTf4tGZpHskS4x2Nq5yL127yQkra-22vuWsBR61GuCMiUXodjry4tLMsHTY6tvFQVqeEwNJ/s1600/DSC_0927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XH67Ar-sVvJiFh7AYL4Z98b95kHOChqoIU-6Y7CzDsTUdL4hEvkUqbGfixt69ij2OTQ9pdTf4tGZpHskS4x2Nq5yL127yQkra-22vuWsBR61GuCMiUXodjry4tLMsHTY6tvFQVqeEwNJ/s320/DSC_0927.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't believe they do this twice a week! It wasn't a lame show either.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLJT9kIsdhXCrftCIIfGeuck-eLuXerNl3Bm4BfC4VRMzvkPNSNWqmJ15qNRZflA79_Ayc1iiJ4PIzWKojHOlo0E_3LB-FNeF0WBmvEeYYtEp6t4EpnR-xrvtHouox_SpL0i-0HJpRLKZ/s1600/DSC_0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLJT9kIsdhXCrftCIIfGeuck-eLuXerNl3Bm4BfC4VRMzvkPNSNWqmJ15qNRZflA79_Ayc1iiJ4PIzWKojHOlo0E_3LB-FNeF0WBmvEeYYtEp6t4EpnR-xrvtHouox_SpL0i-0HJpRLKZ/s320/DSC_0940.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love this skyline.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMemFO2pVxmiNpVBeRZJNaCWayZwAhW2pgUA-T-HDt7vUSVio3XhtC0KLhWIDq4qFMIypW7QIOdyESqlbkTXfhGXOOomOAoaLI8KpkTg-b80eUq_1OPHzMPue_hs2DK7EX_62n-3NcoG_/s1600/DSC_0942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMemFO2pVxmiNpVBeRZJNaCWayZwAhW2pgUA-T-HDt7vUSVio3XhtC0KLhWIDq4qFMIypW7QIOdyESqlbkTXfhGXOOomOAoaLI8KpkTg-b80eUq_1OPHzMPue_hs2DK7EX_62n-3NcoG_/s320/DSC_0942.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was so peaceful standing out on the pier looking at the city.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieW0HMSb_iUDjYXK2AXHxK1KjIc7cVEfVTLekrYbVycig0v6KFeq8TPLzbkq80YCuE_4ai1EfWFfZd5rNgck1YvByyXW9Q04-1qc3y_RYkU-ylwF700p4mTOEJUazoIyLpXQK3fhDks21W/s1600/DSC_0944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieW0HMSb_iUDjYXK2AXHxK1KjIc7cVEfVTLekrYbVycig0v6KFeq8TPLzbkq80YCuE_4ai1EfWFfZd5rNgck1YvByyXW9Q04-1qc3y_RYkU-ylwF700p4mTOEJUazoIyLpXQK3fhDks21W/s320/DSC_0944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seriously the best city ever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chicago will always be a city I'll visit every summer. I still would love to live there one day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last weekend we had a going away extravaganza! Fifteen of my closest friends all went to Hibashi for amazing food! It was good to see everyone. After that, more people met us out for arcade games and lifesize Jenga and Connect Four. It was a blast! Sunday, more people came out to my favorite pool in Dallas and we ended it with amazing pizza and shuffle board at Bryan Street Tavern. I'm seriously going to miss my friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfkiQWzay3rIbl35qC1xNpntoHWsXkS6CEhjxb9KtHD25LE5E1PFKWO1uflQ6YtpiKG-Z0r5gFTL_FkjBzjXwyku5xBZeRlOOjS9zSCjkc5ZisPPkLZgWEe6YM7f82PNoA3iy_bdYQcye/s1600/Alex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfkiQWzay3rIbl35qC1xNpntoHWsXkS6CEhjxb9KtHD25LE5E1PFKWO1uflQ6YtpiKG-Z0r5gFTL_FkjBzjXwyku5xBZeRlOOjS9zSCjkc5ZisPPkLZgWEe6YM7f82PNoA3iy_bdYQcye/s320/Alex.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The chef tossed some rice in Alex's pocket, so he had to get it out. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosuqEsnySJYpni1c8guFqI4hGMtlcvqPgaIjbE-esj958Hi0f0qkkJpE7HrbsY5OG3LeTGoyzYTAzBhO58pQEwiY9yQOZXjxDxP_2YXDAvDmGnnIE6nTL17Io91QqSWzC0pPMtOhaN7uf/s1600/chef2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosuqEsnySJYpni1c8guFqI4hGMtlcvqPgaIjbE-esj958Hi0f0qkkJpE7HrbsY5OG3LeTGoyzYTAzBhO58pQEwiY9yQOZXjxDxP_2YXDAvDmGnnIE6nTL17Io91QqSWzC0pPMtOhaN7uf/s320/chef2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was a great chef!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_l0WUVsqypZtiIHTn0xctWSG052DdRQ-7siAI_ibhyphenhyphengX25HhQkTM7t_wClWwP90Fx6K6OLeRKEe5A33BnfJTCMaqcDdZPpVYueaj9v3oxrR8WZg3XG4cE1qqfjVKxOdqk7Bw2H4Dgt-3/s1600/Christi+and+Lauren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_l0WUVsqypZtiIHTn0xctWSG052DdRQ-7siAI_ibhyphenhyphengX25HhQkTM7t_wClWwP90Fx6K6OLeRKEe5A33BnfJTCMaqcDdZPpVYueaj9v3oxrR8WZg3XG4cE1qqfjVKxOdqk7Bw2H4Dgt-3/s320/Christi+and+Lauren.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Christi!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD13Jq8qEj-A4Yeo3nlzR48sZwXxu26rHmhRuW6zyMWKd2v0cwkmC0UCCrT0GHJkX8k_uBdo73fdKxy8zuKOad1Cu4_0sopg5r8_ch_67c2bp204h5JMFBEykCG5ucHBRKeOZGjq75zcis/s1600/friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD13Jq8qEj-A4Yeo3nlzR48sZwXxu26rHmhRuW6zyMWKd2v0cwkmC0UCCrT0GHJkX8k_uBdo73fdKxy8zuKOad1Cu4_0sopg5r8_ch_67c2bp204h5JMFBEykCG5ucHBRKeOZGjq75zcis/s320/friends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had to catch up with my Tom Bean crowd!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEzIriwaOlrXcvCBQftisZf1ROzBjA47AeNS2_i3ZEwufam7HlSpI5Z8YyYqyoIx2y4xh4ctuzeG8NB2TU7y1oQ4aDr1jABB_cWPTsKa4fs4sKUJV5oUtFCfkqtyModcKlYJZNfuH2MJg/s1600/Lauren+and+Alex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEzIriwaOlrXcvCBQftisZf1ROzBjA47AeNS2_i3ZEwufam7HlSpI5Z8YyYqyoIx2y4xh4ctuzeG8NB2TU7y1oQ4aDr1jABB_cWPTsKa4fs4sKUJV5oUtFCfkqtyModcKlYJZNfuH2MJg/s320/Lauren+and+Alex.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alex was awesome and made the reservations for me. I'm going to miss this guy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEsc1dSqTszhsRbxydVWOFTd_O_-JY6uBh4lR1Ng6KZlVUaO2BXaB2VuFvA0BuwsaeCBPZXGF32cMylpOjGwlJTHco5bvqkGpdce3CCe-aDkzyzkb8aMCqVrR53NhTsyVaYkLV7iVV5qw/s1600/Molli+and+Drew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEsc1dSqTszhsRbxydVWOFTd_O_-JY6uBh4lR1Ng6KZlVUaO2BXaB2VuFvA0BuwsaeCBPZXGF32cMylpOjGwlJTHco5bvqkGpdce3CCe-aDkzyzkb8aMCqVrR53NhTsyVaYkLV7iVV5qw/s320/Molli+and+Drew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Molli and I had the same major in college and lived in the same complex. We never see each other anymore so I was glad her and Drew were able to come out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX83yxna3cguGwHaP8W5owprjYLYu9cHsYfFunBDH4JubeDWY8wSOG4Xb6yVD5iQ3GKz_LXYr1P7YLycwwHDlh2VkczLX9pZ7ywC6TU9A4Si6h9l2npMH8m_LCRL-J4ws1p7qlPWyiXGU6/s1600/Shawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX83yxna3cguGwHaP8W5owprjYLYu9cHsYfFunBDH4JubeDWY8wSOG4Xb6yVD5iQ3GKz_LXYr1P7YLycwwHDlh2VkczLX9pZ7ywC6TU9A4Si6h9l2npMH8m_LCRL-J4ws1p7qlPWyiXGU6/s320/Shawn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shawn tried to toss the egg. The first time was a bust, but he caught on very quickly!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaZ0dA0SqFGi6h-sPGI7VsRqwPdEVRI3zv2d2d6Nhk5n1j0S9k9r3sQ9diOulK9LEet8aVtr9M6TbVVK240SzJPB7gUwJFPbKDPL7UAjLl7r_YWUtgk8FkJF-4-fxBjvegMvAQlq__ms7/s1600/sushi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaZ0dA0SqFGi6h-sPGI7VsRqwPdEVRI3zv2d2d6Nhk5n1j0S9k9r3sQ9diOulK9LEet8aVtr9M6TbVVK240SzJPB7gUwJFPbKDPL7UAjLl7r_YWUtgk8FkJF-4-fxBjvegMvAQlq__ms7/s320/sushi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They have awesome sushi! We didnt want to fill up on a ton of rice and sushi before our main course, so we got the cucumber wrap and it was tasty!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFa6HjEyELVtyHUQULq3gjmpyGOyxxtaKv3KQbpqH8bJsVkPYUUrBRathBxSqk06F6CUhUJkrF-iHjZ11R62fYsuYwOZXpt3iunbfjTDlvUciKcejq4-4s-SIqnTOiACM2h3uAFvZ5k6v/s1600/Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFa6HjEyELVtyHUQULq3gjmpyGOyxxtaKv3KQbpqH8bJsVkPYUUrBRathBxSqk06F6CUhUJkrF-iHjZ11R62fYsuYwOZXpt3iunbfjTDlvUciKcejq4-4s-SIqnTOiACM2h3uAFvZ5k6v/s320/Group.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Such a great group of friends!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FEZd4HclF-2q-xe0lLDnsFPCphCA-rw4XsUL1Ee4Aptb4iJteZXqHKA6agdF0-TFoBqM1AzG3bArVbqKBl9yENTdPjpt_hz1k8FzTQ9JndOgjOxQ1Jo6Byyo98_pzI817CvisL6T8mAS/s1600/risk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FEZd4HclF-2q-xe0lLDnsFPCphCA-rw4XsUL1Ee4Aptb4iJteZXqHKA6agdF0-TFoBqM1AzG3bArVbqKBl9yENTdPjpt_hz1k8FzTQ9JndOgjOxQ1Jo6Byyo98_pzI817CvisL6T8mAS/s320/risk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love that they have these signs. It really can be dangerous when they all fall down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_iZUmVdC3sN9lZamLHFy0a61B_qEVXXnXaHVhe_ejN7VwACpF5y1jw_kzjmlV7w9jlqJ4zkgeapcp-USeBxvwECU7LUyIXFb4svKhau_di7m2ZepZ284FWzq5X6Qn_4TbeGC6H_K3rqD/s1600/jengabrian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_iZUmVdC3sN9lZamLHFy0a61B_qEVXXnXaHVhe_ejN7VwACpF5y1jw_kzjmlV7w9jlqJ4zkgeapcp-USeBxvwECU7LUyIXFb4svKhau_di7m2ZepZ284FWzq5X6Qn_4TbeGC6H_K3rqD/s320/jengabrian.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I worked with Brian for 3 years. We started teaching at the same time and we went to a teacher retreat together. He bought me some Airborne for the flight. Thanks to him I'll be nice and healthy when I arrive in Kuwait!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG_THlyuVODCcvbQ04_f0qrAEWBS3uKHfWU7D16NT7YTo8cPk24EZ3bhIB_kSdt-ae9MIl2TNnwJlZBfQSvaQGzZVFemNfFRLmlr6Dm5oQW5SdFGQbFCrYJixCVNn0Fmm-8QX84NuOXME/s1600/connect+four.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG_THlyuVODCcvbQ04_f0qrAEWBS3uKHfWU7D16NT7YTo8cPk24EZ3bhIB_kSdt-ae9MIl2TNnwJlZBfQSvaQGzZVFemNfFRLmlr6Dm5oQW5SdFGQbFCrYJixCVNn0Fmm-8QX84NuOXME/s320/connect+four.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was more about the Jenga, but they loved the Connect Four!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really am excited about this new adventure, but like I said before, these guys are irreplaceable. I'm going to miss them so much! I'll come see you next summer, so get ready! Now its time to get busy packing and selling my furniture!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-5118695792496565362011-07-20T10:11:00.000-07:002011-07-20T10:11:12.755-07:00Last trip to Houston as an American residentMy employment in America has officially come to an end. The school year was over about a month ago and my last week of camp was a week ago, and everyone made my last day a memorable one! I've been running this camp for the last 3 summers and its really evolved into an awesome summer experience for these kids. I walked into camp on my last day, and this is what I was greeted with!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTpJ-HdeOlFNK_16HgFDqFoUQtwEoQPtgOgLxzJSvJKFFhXzEfEb9vvZqtJyTJFEWeMxZ4RzOArkuYGAqg_P_ZP8oL7WZWdfGhL6pEM54HAVQs5Rw4-fnzUw1kFtLTUR2inhcWXyW-WzB/s1600/DSC_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTpJ-HdeOlFNK_16HgFDqFoUQtwEoQPtgOgLxzJSvJKFFhXzEfEb9vvZqtJyTJFEWeMxZ4RzOArkuYGAqg_P_ZP8oL7WZWdfGhL6pEM54HAVQs5Rw4-fnzUw1kFtLTUR2inhcWXyW-WzB/s320/DSC_0659.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUXz3T-D4qDImTbrScGYOI1u-uHhJDJljrNRhwlf8NUN69O5zwP8RhKAR1LMh6W2qYaYqyTenLXQl0Kd3bMIenJM1TheTOFH3kOWwnlHDtGEWMK9KtEh34LISqWSrwkO04NrTtxd8NZnv/s1600/DSC_0666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUXz3T-D4qDImTbrScGYOI1u-uHhJDJljrNRhwlf8NUN69O5zwP8RhKAR1LMh6W2qYaYqyTenLXQl0Kd3bMIenJM1TheTOFH3kOWwnlHDtGEWMK9KtEh34LISqWSrwkO04NrTtxd8NZnv/s320/DSC_0666.JPG" t$="true" width="214" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEwYKDV1OMms3BGo6JumcQtUE3yNmZr3L5G5LcPEI_hgiVfUap4UJxix6GiLNFy2AUMdRF3imqZ2w4pq1tWPNBRRV8o1WJ6Bmy3DgarIsvprsHbUsZjKkGuRUdzk1aart2hu0rcAPwBdF/s1600/DSC_0667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEwYKDV1OMms3BGo6JumcQtUE3yNmZr3L5G5LcPEI_hgiVfUap4UJxix6GiLNFy2AUMdRF3imqZ2w4pq1tWPNBRRV8o1WJ6Bmy3DgarIsvprsHbUsZjKkGuRUdzk1aart2hu0rcAPwBdF/s320/DSC_0667.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I dressed up as Hannah Montana during the morning meeting one week, so this is what one kid drew on the poster. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSm_QgnUnrxvnRuG4PSe7vE_hV8QAY0up8CY4C7z5iI2mqEV1yCNAtN6akpoxa326d8yQN_9qIVFLeXVm-2VMa_mdMwML5po8MuTHLGSqd21hL_zaDR1bt5gGSmsvm8Uvy7XRKYOnt1VBV/s1600/DSC_0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSm_QgnUnrxvnRuG4PSe7vE_hV8QAY0up8CY4C7z5iI2mqEV1yCNAtN6akpoxa326d8yQN_9qIVFLeXVm-2VMa_mdMwML5po8MuTHLGSqd21hL_zaDR1bt5gGSmsvm8Uvy7XRKYOnt1VBV/s320/DSC_0677.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This girl has been my Chemistry student, Physics student and camp counselor. She's awesome!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFKaGe89Je542-LiqNm6WJkgzy7CeNfaJ4A_1A4rpJ_vNWdgZstWl7RjH0KwnhVzCvgYHUOOjBM4IHvKBCL1CgQe3eM0LuJJP9Jmv1z1QNHBpSW8l7MpNgsXHfIzeAI58ym968GXD-rUA/s1600/DSC_0680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFKaGe89Je542-LiqNm6WJkgzy7CeNfaJ4A_1A4rpJ_vNWdgZstWl7RjH0KwnhVzCvgYHUOOjBM4IHvKBCL1CgQe3eM0LuJJP9Jmv1z1QNHBpSW8l7MpNgsXHfIzeAI58ym968GXD-rUA/s320/DSC_0680.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAwMXtbvnp2CTazf-LG_8Fffgr3V0CKNgOD8ZQM6hKf6YqILbkUtTileaNfPqu5DRqFuHQsVjR5msbnRrIhxq5Wzskwt9TAVWxklLGWs4MDCQslGCORLl79kdhBqHnzFtGoeCi629m7kZ/s1600/DSC_0679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAwMXtbvnp2CTazf-LG_8Fffgr3V0CKNgOD8ZQM6hKf6YqILbkUtTileaNfPqu5DRqFuHQsVjR5msbnRrIhxq5Wzskwt9TAVWxklLGWs4MDCQslGCORLl79kdhBqHnzFtGoeCi629m7kZ/s320/DSC_0679.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuxZxQ2kJno_l36ousW8oVZ3ibTsi8qBH23ajPrpyyzmhc0rGTCUMJ_03rmUtUxzY811FdZL5_uvnYTmjhyk5DHYi3ySV-adi9Jjwj__-5AROYuCIGCYmdnswOr7WYLzRUyM_nNBWqT_C/s1600/DSC_0676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuxZxQ2kJno_l36ousW8oVZ3ibTsi8qBH23ajPrpyyzmhc0rGTCUMJ_03rmUtUxzY811FdZL5_uvnYTmjhyk5DHYi3ySV-adi9Jjwj__-5AROYuCIGCYmdnswOr7WYLzRUyM_nNBWqT_C/s320/DSC_0676.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I went over to the rec center and my bosses had a cake and a little party for me. They're so good to me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtYllvwNYYf9IgGYhndccSz0doPgW76oWsalEkfnMAt0NUX3sSXFT52F5nvlG0R1ZOYhnCHjkwoaDPbyMW50YlLh6Wp39GmpEJXEMKa7T5xGVFeqaqdkzYyBUDADZZiC3UM4XIgv2sE8m/s1600/DSC_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtYllvwNYYf9IgGYhndccSz0doPgW76oWsalEkfnMAt0NUX3sSXFT52F5nvlG0R1ZOYhnCHjkwoaDPbyMW50YlLh6Wp39GmpEJXEMKa7T5xGVFeqaqdkzYyBUDADZZiC3UM4XIgv2sE8m/s320/DSC_0661.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the front entrance of camp. I'm sure the parents loved playing limbo all day. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>I have planned a few trips to see some special people before I leave for 10 months. My first trip was to Houston and it was so much fun! I went on Monday and stayed with the Hendersons for a few days. They adopted Ruthie exactly 2 years ago on Tuesday so we went to Moody Gardens and celebrated. My mom also asked Ginny if she'd take a few pictures of my while I was down visiting, so our trip to Galveston turned into a photo shoot. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRKWlPCt6U99dw5zwCd0oMqLiRX6YjDpCYHizJyTRN_YhjdK6x8KT0QyV1TUmSR6TDpuEgPkqVA9FPYX8pE2K7j1YVmvJJoPrQwn9kugmnCmBGNcmDVV4b-Wdfpteepvk82_WB3o-vqrL/s1600/Yaya+%25281+of+23%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRKWlPCt6U99dw5zwCd0oMqLiRX6YjDpCYHizJyTRN_YhjdK6x8KT0QyV1TUmSR6TDpuEgPkqVA9FPYX8pE2K7j1YVmvJJoPrQwn9kugmnCmBGNcmDVV4b-Wdfpteepvk82_WB3o-vqrL/s320/Yaya+%25281+of+23%2529.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went on an adventure the first day I was there to get Ginny a cover for her camera and we were testing it out underwater. It was pretty awesome! Ginny posted several more on her blog <a href="http://www.4uruthie.blogspot.com/">http://www.4uruthie.blogspot.com/</a>. You should definitely check them out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV934NsMlhC2AAbGhvxpFNRKo6FTRUrV7Au6yqIpaa5rks5M_CuD1VmaC-1YghUNvyMg1cLp5LAEVaXPqnI4m2F_A7AV-FQE5ukkL8ZfK-IkiXayT6O6nbS8PnEC3g6vmZjGfIu94SVIIc/s1600/Yaya+%252813+of+23%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV934NsMlhC2AAbGhvxpFNRKo6FTRUrV7Au6yqIpaa5rks5M_CuD1VmaC-1YghUNvyMg1cLp5LAEVaXPqnI4m2F_A7AV-FQE5ukkL8ZfK-IkiXayT6O6nbS8PnEC3g6vmZjGfIu94SVIIc/s320/Yaya+%252813+of+23%2529.jpg" t$="true" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is at the Rainforest in front of a cool door.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGn85VdPuvF5S8VeyUzgOWEOSuH3i-PxMSCq1OBfDPvZVVVHmAM4lygdfKx7XA8fCxaCWcNFEqCtn3QvVAj3hUWGxhJuEEaHMe10sfSNHJ10T-FEp2x5925XRG2yWGcGZN4FCRNMpgXcnl/s1600/Yaya+%252820+of+23%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGn85VdPuvF5S8VeyUzgOWEOSuH3i-PxMSCq1OBfDPvZVVVHmAM4lygdfKx7XA8fCxaCWcNFEqCtn3QvVAj3hUWGxhJuEEaHMe10sfSNHJ10T-FEp2x5925XRG2yWGcGZN4FCRNMpgXcnl/s320/Yaya+%252820+of+23%2529.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam had to tickle me to get a genuine smile. :)<br />
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<div align="left"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I was able to spend some time with some old college friends. I had dinner with Dustin one night, dinner with Michelle (my roommate from my freshman year). We still joke about how I taught her how to use a hand-held can-opener, start a load of laundry and make a bed. She'd be lost without me!<br />
<br />
Another major highlight of my Houston trip was skydiving! I absolutely loved it! We went to Skydive Spaceland just outside of Houston. I went with my old college neighbor Al and a few of his friends. The weather wasn't great and it delayed out dive by about 9 hours. It was a lot of waiting, but completely worth it! I made some great new friends in the process! As soon as I upload the video, I'll share it. Here are a few pictures that the cameraman captured. I definitely plan on going back every year!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5lwUZHylfY6j_JGlpXkmbtrBXrRiiktchHRlV7pzCXJ_L1pDwX6s4hxOVyEMYEpFb8Cj_vER2tDX-EAvmpjTJgGcSxFPC8wExjJNHNVCNppoYyYvwSQgMCkBEqrpfiBq6uOfSxe1Igsh/s1600/IMG_1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5lwUZHylfY6j_JGlpXkmbtrBXrRiiktchHRlV7pzCXJ_L1pDwX6s4hxOVyEMYEpFb8Cj_vER2tDX-EAvmpjTJgGcSxFPC8wExjJNHNVCNppoYyYvwSQgMCkBEqrpfiBq6uOfSxe1Igsh/s320/IMG_1023.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhYb_aFB-_k33bQgNhTnjO_BUKYGTJOPi4_PNlP_gbEStNZYVFN2DXFfOjBnnt0cGI0f3PdBnZZ4TOqJPtsh2_mhcm8c8sEc-C7cxPN3_J5FeitmOwsR7ryaFbeCWyuTeh4FUCnN4STqm/s1600/IMG_0963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhYb_aFB-_k33bQgNhTnjO_BUKYGTJOPi4_PNlP_gbEStNZYVFN2DXFfOjBnnt0cGI0f3PdBnZZ4TOqJPtsh2_mhcm8c8sEc-C7cxPN3_J5FeitmOwsR7ryaFbeCWyuTeh4FUCnN4STqm/s320/IMG_0963.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the whole group! They were a fun bunch to jump with. </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pyfWw1yPcdI2GthC5j__5FlekuuDA8ZQW5fw7Y8pAPfkfceOB2wWiy9K7c8rLCVgA9h9tt_rae2aMh3GAepOmXjY117Kxvmt1aeFCwAbfn7mqzPjPET_Y3051bc7H_Ij5QdM3DwlaEDY/s1600/IMG_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pyfWw1yPcdI2GthC5j__5FlekuuDA8ZQW5fw7Y8pAPfkfceOB2wWiy9K7c8rLCVgA9h9tt_rae2aMh3GAepOmXjY117Kxvmt1aeFCwAbfn7mqzPjPET_Y3051bc7H_Ij5QdM3DwlaEDY/s320/IMG_0978.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is right before we jumped...14000 feet!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjw41hZDPWQb7R4oh7qhNmGd9VJqyWQboKUOWfKCY1jlmA-nF1IE36EbDd58mTHsEl0m0xBFk82hJvLPshxTTdX52dCP9atS14opUjjWKT8WqwkDozrPafFziais6mYSdE9FZ659iA8Ds/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjw41hZDPWQb7R4oh7qhNmGd9VJqyWQboKUOWfKCY1jlmA-nF1IE36EbDd58mTHsEl0m0xBFk82hJvLPshxTTdX52dCP9atS14opUjjWKT8WqwkDozrPafFziais6mYSdE9FZ659iA8Ds/s320/IMG_0984.JPG" t$="true" width="298" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8shOUiIUYInqBpESahb0v8AkVXBsGfRVk3my4Gk8z6xof7HG19wVcfSk6EDInBAv9o_q9B1L9_ybnKtzT_SN5gGwnYWckZbEIP_H3rBhku4VYrAgHmvyVATwimaHB6ZJewp1YJEThyNBo/s1600/IMG_0988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8shOUiIUYInqBpESahb0v8AkVXBsGfRVk3my4Gk8z6xof7HG19wVcfSk6EDInBAv9o_q9B1L9_ybnKtzT_SN5gGwnYWckZbEIP_H3rBhku4VYrAgHmvyVATwimaHB6ZJewp1YJEThyNBo/s320/IMG_0988.JPG" t$="true" width="298" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1pf0uVaebo_4-5PzuwyRG_bYWHepWhd0sdf8jYw3nmZYUa2u7Z9HkZtz3nUP12uLvlYCPM1VAFCqoRDJL52NDhrK-urmtLh3JO1W2sOxU3RFdOCW90XOcCPUj6gVJRK0YG6mi2b7xr4E/s1600/IMG_1012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1pf0uVaebo_4-5PzuwyRG_bYWHepWhd0sdf8jYw3nmZYUa2u7Z9HkZtz3nUP12uLvlYCPM1VAFCqoRDJL52NDhrK-urmtLh3JO1W2sOxU3RFdOCW90XOcCPUj6gVJRK0YG6mi2b7xr4E/s320/IMG_1012.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I definitely had the coolest instructor. He said next time we wont do the video and do some stunts in the air. Apparently thats not really allowed when you jump tandem.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBJoer2cAgmq6gIJQW-jVkLAcgVJGO0dcmDLd13pQIBL_en4cbDS7hjFRyH2ymZwkVACgbzfiUk_p56izad5l0uWkGnzUHW1HQwMEWcTJr-VV3Yh9QBnlYresstrWIHnicuQ05MkA5HFg/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBJoer2cAgmq6gIJQW-jVkLAcgVJGO0dcmDLd13pQIBL_en4cbDS7hjFRyH2ymZwkVACgbzfiUk_p56izad5l0uWkGnzUHW1HQwMEWcTJr-VV3Yh9QBnlYresstrWIHnicuQ05MkA5HFg/s320/IMG_1016.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AqMqwOdW-LXOBsV3hKtuejdtQpz2bgSTb-3zu4NN-oxgcjNcnwP0BZ35n25QB1bknexdY6H8hnzObPDPFejuSsml8ZHUddBr2xdyiK3EdzTzDInlPz0LR1DvTQRLUhQUgIfl09hZKIP5/s1600/IMG_1032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AqMqwOdW-LXOBsV3hKtuejdtQpz2bgSTb-3zu4NN-oxgcjNcnwP0BZ35n25QB1bknexdY6H8hnzObPDPFejuSsml8ZHUddBr2xdyiK3EdzTzDInlPz0LR1DvTQRLUhQUgIfl09hZKIP5/s320/IMG_1032.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wasn't warned on how hard the pull was when the shoot opened. I pretty much went straight back up almost kicking myself in the face.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgq1Ect2pJjKhPyIb2vSI9kO8Dk1aR2-EMPSNfBa0drq9G7tjWt9fZcR3G0TapqFC5UF8DvItiX8xBkjFAr_W46a2bP4_ph_4s2pM-kWES2EcUOWPHIrL2IURz67iZ1rhx6LiV6VwT_yL/s1600/IMG_1040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgq1Ect2pJjKhPyIb2vSI9kO8Dk1aR2-EMPSNfBa0drq9G7tjWt9fZcR3G0TapqFC5UF8DvItiX8xBkjFAr_W46a2bP4_ph_4s2pM-kWES2EcUOWPHIrL2IURz67iZ1rhx6LiV6VwT_yL/s320/IMG_1040.JPG" t$="true" width="298" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXA7AG9u3H5G5JOYgGODf_MgRDo6UlF9SX-YkKZC9s8OQzhVJV_GIe24y2xqakreK8ITThmIn9IRO2FzjRAJKev3UMHZKVIIRKByO6KVgopu8el5sldL2d0p-tS9eAa0FaJTVW_fegDoTp/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXA7AG9u3H5G5JOYgGODf_MgRDo6UlF9SX-YkKZC9s8OQzhVJV_GIe24y2xqakreK8ITThmIn9IRO2FzjRAJKev3UMHZKVIIRKByO6KVgopu8el5sldL2d0p-tS9eAa0FaJTVW_fegDoTp/s320/IMG_1043.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great capture of the excited I had after the dive! Totally doing this again and again and again...<br />
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</tbody></table>Sadly, I had to come back to Dallas after such an awesome time in Houston, but it was good to see my Dallas family again. I will definitely miss my Houstonians while I'm overseas! Next trip: Chicago.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-30623311418189693852011-06-02T21:42:00.000-07:002011-06-02T21:42:58.979-07:00One valuable door closes...Today was my last day with my wonderful students in Wylie. They honestly are a great group of kids. Yes, they're teenagers and they are living every bit of their teen lives, but I wouldn't trade the last three years for anything. They've made me into who I am now. I have been way too busy this week to even stop and realize that when I walk into the school tomorrow, my students won't be there. I'm sure I'll see several of them around at the rec center and such this summer, but some of them I'll never see again. Tomorrow I turn in my keys and start the march to the next door with Kuwait written all over it. <br />
<br />
I've narrowed my teacher paraphernalia down to one crate and two plastic bags. I'll probably only take half of that with me. There is still so much to do before I leave. I need to sell everything in my apartment. I've decided to have my parents hold onto my tv, bed frame, dog and car. Everything else is going. Its crazy to think that everything (which isn't much) I've built up since I moved out 7 years ago is about to be in someone else's posession. Everything that has given me a sense of belonging will be nothing but memories. Anyone who knows me knows that I've had the desire to travel since I was a little girl. Those who meet me for the first time know that I can't sit still for 5 minutes. When I told my parents I've decided to go to the other side of the world to teach for a few years, or possibly forever, they didn't even blink. They both started putting me in contact with people right away. <br />
<br />
So much has to be done before I leave. I never keep a planner. I'm not a list person, and I typically do things right at the last minute. This adventure has made me do the exact opposite. I started a planner, I have sticky notes everywhere, and there's no such thing as last minute. Let me just list a few things that are on the agenda before departure:<br />
<br />
1. Say my goodbyes at school tomorrow.<br />
2. Graduation <br />
3. Supervise a summer camp for half the summer. I normally do this all summer, but its not possible with everything I need to do.<br />
4. Make a trip to Houston.<br />
5. Make a trip to Waco.<br />
6. Make a trip to Chicago.<br />
7. Make a trip to Austin/San Marcos.<br />
8. Go skydiving.<br />
9. Be a tourist in Dallas. This sounds ridiculous, but I've lived here for 3 years and there are so many things I havent done. I need to be a tourist and appreciate Dallas before I leave. <br />
10. Spend some quality time with the family. <br />
11. Love my dog as much as possible so she doesn't forget who I am.<br />
<br />
My friend left a few weeks ago to fish in the Kodiak Islands for a few months and then travel a bit. I asked him if there's anything I needed to know about packing up your life and moving to the unknown. He said the hardest part is figuring out what you're storing, what you're getting rid of, what you're taking and what you're going to do with the little things you need for the last few days of your residency in Texas that you won't need when you leave. I'm trying to balance all of that out, which means lists upon lists. <br />
<br />
I know this blog is mainly about my travels overseas, but I want to be able to look back through these when I'm missing my home in America and see all my memories of my summer before I left. The rest of my blogs will be about American travels I'll be doing in the next few months. Knowing that I'm leaving soon has made me really live every single moment of life even more than I already do! This also makes me a list taker...Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165293474271936872.post-58017009646998233152011-05-16T10:23:00.000-07:002011-05-16T10:23:38.165-07:00Lets try this again...My blog was deleted somehow. I was told that blogger had a glitch last week, so I'm trying the same name again. I don't think they would delete it based on the fact that I have Kuwait in the title, but you never know. If it's deleted again, I'll have to come up with a different name, or use a different blogger. <br />
<br />
Happy Monday!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070437391821218067noreply@blogger.com0