The Gondola's and our friend Emily at the Grottos
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Pictures
The Gondola's and our friend Emily at the Grottos
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Thanksgiving and the Grottos
This is the lower cavern of the Jieta Grottos.
This is part of the upper-cave of the Grottos.
Last weekend we took a cab up to the Jieta Grottos. They are about a 20 minute drive up the mountains from Beirut. We went with 6 of us and crammed into a hatchback (known to the cab company as the big car) and headed out. The drive up was full of lots of traffic and since no one stays in a lane, there aren't even any painted on the roads, we spent a lot of time idling next to another car an inch away and enjoying their gas fumes! The Lebanese believe its good for the soul. Just kidding, they don't care either way.
However, when we got to the Grottos, we headed down a long road into a valley and the air immediately cleared and the scenery was beautiful. There were lots of trees and some water. There were people with huts on the side of the road that walked towards your car trying to sell you stuff.
I saw two guys a week ago with crates in a big truck on the side of the highway and they were selling snails. It was super gross they were everywhere. I don't just not want to eat snails but I definitely don't want to eat ones off the side of the highway. I was with my mentor when I saw them and she spent 20 minutes explaining Escargot to me, she does not have a lot of faith in my American education or understanding of any culture but my own. =)
The Grottos have been turned into a bit of a tourist trap, we rode up to the entrance of the Cave in a Gondola. It was very exciting until we got to the top and realized it just took us up a hill and we could have easily walked. Normally, I would choose a Gondola over a walk, but in a country where there are minimal laws and regulations, getting in a device that suspends you high into the air, is a brave thing to do. When was the last time this Gondola was serviced or taken in for repairs? HMM, some questions are better left unanswered and if we died they would simply say, "its Lebanon, we have other things to worry about." We here this about everything from the trash in the Sea to the cat shit on the side of the road.
Thankfully we all made it safe and sound and the Caves were well worth it. They were nominated as the 8th wonder of the world but got 2nd place to a place in China. You can not take pictures inside so I suggest you google Jieta Grottos. In the lower cavern you get to take a flat bottom boat and drive underneath the low hanging rocks. Super fun!
There was also a train that took you down the hill but it took too long so we decided to walk. I was very disappointed in this. I am a big fan of I paid for it, I will wait for it. However, I did think about the safety features again. Also, not even the kids riding it looked happy, so I think I won in the end.
We also got a to watch a 15 minute video that pretty much wasted my life. I would like my money and my 15 minutes back from the creator. It was one of the last remaining videos from 1970. They mostly just played trickling water, so all I learned was where the nearest toilet was. I also learned that in a foreign country, toilet is always a more understood word than bathroom. *Fun Fact*
There was also a "zoo" that was really depressing. They actually had a squirrel in a cage with a tree in the middle. It was so sad to watch him run up and down the tree over and over. It seems like it would have been better not to put him with a tree. I bet he runs it a 1000 times everyday, not remembering that it leads to nowhere. Who needs a squirrel in a cage anyways. They are everywhere!!! It was so weird, but don't fret he also had two turtle friends. I never thought I would see a squirrel in a cage for viewing. If I want to see one I just have to sit outside for 5 minutes.
With all that being said the Grottos were truly amazing!
We had a very nice Lebanese Thanksgiving. We got the day off because it also happened to be the Lebanese Independence Day from France. So, that was a nice coincidence. We went over to the President of our schools house with the other foreign hires. It was about 30 people in total. The Presidents catering staff took care of the turkey and we all brought a dish to share. I made Michaels rice stuffing that Michael loves, it was not as good as hers but I will get better. Michael made his amazing pecan pie. It was really wonderful since we couldn't be with family. We then did a white elephant gift exchange and I think Michael and I, not very shockingly, took the cheap gift limit a little too far. Michael brought toilet paper and fiber crackers we have had since we arrived. I stuffed our broken soccer ball with a used oven mitt. In the oven mitt I put chopsticks from our junk drawer and coupons to our school cafeteria that I got for free. So, I didn't even spend the $5 limit. A spouse from our school ended up with that gift so she can't even use the coupons, I found it all to be very hilarious. I ended up with a bottle of wine. Combses win again!
Then we watched some football and went to bed early because we had to work the next day. Several teachers at school wished me a Happy Thanksgiving which was very nice.
The day before Independence Day the preshcool dedicated the whole day to honoring their Lebanese heritage. It was very cool, however, everyone in the teachers talked in Arabic all day. So, I had little to no idea what was going on most of the day. It was quite overwhelming. They do a dance here called the Dobke, you should Google it, it is quite entertaining to watch. Someone did a flash mob of it in the airport and put it on Youtube, that is also fun. So, some kids wore traditional hats(they look like fez hats) some girls wore traditional dresses. It was fun to be a part of. Then at noon all the kids met on the playground and everyone danced and sang the national anthem and waved flags around. I think from now on in the states I am going to be much more enthusiastic fro the 4th of July. Look out everyone with all my free time I might just create a dance. The whole event just further confirmed my theory that the Lebanese love to dance and dance and dance.
In a side note to Tim, the Salsa dance night was cancelled so no more "look me in the eyes" and no more because "I am a good dancer." I am not sure why it was cancelled, I painted it in such a positive light. haha. Its a sad day in Lebanon for sure when Salsa night can't stand the test of time.
However, there is always a bright side and it rained really hard last night so today the sidewalks are free of cat shit! It is a great day in Lebanon after all.
On a another side note, everyone in the States that has a smartphone should download the app Viber. Then we can text message and call for free, as long as we both have internet. It isn't prefect but its a nice option. If you have an Iphone we can text if you have your Icloud on.
Today I am going to go see the last Twilight movie. I am pretty excited actually and even if it is in Arabic, I think because of the high quality of acting known in the films that I should be able to tell what is going on and how people are feeling. They are just so good..=) Obviously, I am kidding. Mom keeps asking me what language our movies are in and once again English rules the world. There are Arabic subtitles since they are the mast majority and should have to read that their movies, but I am not complaining!
Less than a month til Barcelona! Beyond excited!!!
Fun Pictures just because..
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Great News!
Thanks to all my hairbrush man blog supporters! Mostly my Mom because she might be the only one who saw my blog yesterday but the Hairbrush man is BACK! So, glad he is ok. I guess it is true that you can get what you ask for!!
Finally, my Mom informed me that my pootp (thats slang for poo toilet paper) talk was embarassing since her friends read my blog. All I can say is that pay back is sweet for all the times you "accidently/intentionally" embarassed me in front of my friends..MUAHHHAHAHAHAHA.
However, the real moral of yesterday's toilet paper rant was a warning that you might not want to invite Michael and I to your houses this summer because we know longer know how to properly dispose of toilet paper! Just a friendly head's up!
I found out today that a student in the KGII (that is the equivalent) of Kindergarten wrote that her favorite thing about school so far was reading with me. It was so sweet. I can't even remember when I read with her but I am glad she does. It seems I am finally finding my niche here and it feels great.
It was also interesting to be in a forgein country during a Presidential election. Several, of the teachers at the school mentioned it and seemed to be Obama fans. Most however did not real feelings one way or another. Not surprisingly. I know everyone complains about our government and our Presidents but maybe we should just be thankful we are even allowed to vote. A teacher said today, "you think your government is unstable, you don't even get to pick ours." Let's all remember the privileges of being an American and stop bitching! I am pretty sure not many of us ran the risk of getting hit with a car bomb in America in the last few years!
Anyways, that is my rant for today!
I started a Christmas break holiday countdown today, it is a little farther away than I would like.
Can't wait to see everyone!
More pictures down this way, if you are still reading..=)
This is more of Byblos that our friend Tyson took and our awesome/insane new curtains
This picture is a little close to my face for my liking but I thought my Mom would like it.
The one house left near the castle in Byblos!
Yes those are flower cut outs in the curtains
These curtains a. match our bed perfectly (not!! yeah I brought not back) and b. are the shiniest material known to man. Michael could make a fine kings cloak or put on a drama theatre with them.
Finally, my Mom informed me that my pootp (thats slang for poo toilet paper) talk was embarassing since her friends read my blog. All I can say is that pay back is sweet for all the times you "accidently/intentionally" embarassed me in front of my friends..MUAHHHAHAHAHAHA.
However, the real moral of yesterday's toilet paper rant was a warning that you might not want to invite Michael and I to your houses this summer because we know longer know how to properly dispose of toilet paper! Just a friendly head's up!
I found out today that a student in the KGII (that is the equivalent) of Kindergarten wrote that her favorite thing about school so far was reading with me. It was so sweet. I can't even remember when I read with her but I am glad she does. It seems I am finally finding my niche here and it feels great.
It was also interesting to be in a forgein country during a Presidential election. Several, of the teachers at the school mentioned it and seemed to be Obama fans. Most however did not real feelings one way or another. Not surprisingly. I know everyone complains about our government and our Presidents but maybe we should just be thankful we are even allowed to vote. A teacher said today, "you think your government is unstable, you don't even get to pick ours." Let's all remember the privileges of being an American and stop bitching! I am pretty sure not many of us ran the risk of getting hit with a car bomb in America in the last few years!
Anyways, that is my rant for today!
I started a Christmas break holiday countdown today, it is a little farther away than I would like.
Can't wait to see everyone!
More pictures down this way, if you are still reading..=)
This is more of Byblos that our friend Tyson took and our awesome/insane new curtains
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Randomness/Awesomeness
I was going to name this blog public announcement, help needed, but I was worried it would panick people.
In my around town slideshow I introduced you to this man....
In my around town slideshow I introduced you to this man....
However, no one has seen him in the last few weeks. I am super disappointed and actually a little worried about him. I am sure he had the finest hairbrushes a person could buy from a folding table in the streets and now I will never get to experience one.
Unless we find him. So, everyone out there reading this ludicrous blog and finally understanding just how much free time I have at work. Think good thoughts and hope one day that my sidewalk hairbrush man will return!
Another sad note the club that did our Salsa dance lessons on Friday nights cancelled the last one. I hope this is not a premenant thing because that would mean no more time with my "I am a good dancer," friend and I am not sure a world without him is a place I want to be.
In other news Michael and I are thinking about our trips this year and its looking pretty exciting! The reasons we came are more evident when you think of all the traveling.
First its Barcelona and Paris in a little over a month.
Then for our second winter break in Feburary we are going to Istanbul!
One of the spring breaks we will be going to Greece. We have not decided about the weekend one yet. Yeah thats right two spring breaks! If I was still in college and had two spring breaks I might have died...haha
Then this summer we are doing Portland, Va, and hopefully, if we can handle being in a suitcase that long, Croatia, Vienna, and Prague.
Kinda loving life right now!!!
Final news! I have managed to go a whole month without accidentally putting toilet paper in the toliet. However, I have not been able to go a whole month without wanting to throw up in my mouth when I have to put poo paper in a trashcan and co-mingle it with my husbands. There is just something inappropriate about spouses poop hanging out together in the trash. Its even grosser when you have to share your poop trashcan in public places. I would not want to ever work in a restaurant here for that fact alone. Its bad enough you might have to clean up someone's drunken vomit but their poo trash too...unacceptable!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Its been a bit!
So, let's start with the bombing from two weeks ago. I wrote down all my feelings and thoughts after it happened, but I am not sure about posting it because of the lack of freedom of speech in Beirut. So, I will try and sum it up.
We didn't even know the bombing happened until we read about it, we did not feel it at all. It occured about 15 minutes away. We stayed in our building and in our local area for the weekend. There was no reason to get ourselves in any potentially dangerous situation. There was a lot of tire burning and protests. Once and awhile the smell of burning rubber would waft its way to our building. 2 days later the city was back to its busy, loud self. The Lebanese recover very quickly!
I have decided that since this new job allows me a lot! a lot! of free time that I would try and set some professional goals for myself. Please notice that none of my goals involve working out which is ridiculous since I get done with work everyday at 2.
My number 1 goal is to be complimented on an outfit I wear to school. Not by an American. I am definitely the nerdy American teacher at the Preschool. The local teachers wear outfits that I would wear out for a nice dinner or for drinks with a friend. A woman the other day literally wore a tube top! Needless to say a tube top and my Ann Taylor loft wardrobe do not match. Since, I no longer own tube tops, I have to think of something else. I have been banned from Pajama jeans from my husband, but I am pretty sure they would get me the win in this goal. Shelby and Molly have banned me from diaper pants so again, I am way behind. I think I have the shoes nailed down because almost everyone owns a pair of converse shoes with spikes on them..no joking! So, I just have to find the longest spike shoes possible! Any other ideas is appreciated. I will keep you posted on my progress.
My number 2 goal is to get my 5 year re-certification done for Virginia and begin working towards a General Education endorsement. I am really excited about this but the time change is making things a little more difficult because I can't call and ask questions whenever I want. But, I am confident this will work out. Although my track record with getting things done in the teaching world isn't great.
My number 3 goal is to learn how to make cake balls. They are a delicious treat sold in a bakery here and I am obsessed with them and they make me giggle whenever I talk about them. They are small, round balls of undercooked cake in a multiple of favors. I am pretty sure this goal is impossible but I am going to do my best to try!
Finally,
This past weekend we had a 4 day weekend and we made the most of it. On Friday we created a building wide decathlon and had a blast. There was beer pong, flip cup, and roof drop just to name a few.
Then on Sunday we went to Byblos which is an amazing fishing town about a half an hour away and had a great time. There is a crusader castle there that is over a 1000 years old. Oh the stories it could tell and the amount of people that have been there. Crazy! It was also super nice to get out of the city for awhile and not hear honking horns every 5 minutes.
Pictures from all weekend events are below
Rooftop Drop. We dropped napkins rings from the roof into a bucket!
The black raincoat team!
The columns in Byblos
This was found after an earthquake. There may or may not be a dead body in there..=)
Byblos!
We didn't even know the bombing happened until we read about it, we did not feel it at all. It occured about 15 minutes away. We stayed in our building and in our local area for the weekend. There was no reason to get ourselves in any potentially dangerous situation. There was a lot of tire burning and protests. Once and awhile the smell of burning rubber would waft its way to our building. 2 days later the city was back to its busy, loud self. The Lebanese recover very quickly!
I have decided that since this new job allows me a lot! a lot! of free time that I would try and set some professional goals for myself. Please notice that none of my goals involve working out which is ridiculous since I get done with work everyday at 2.
My number 1 goal is to be complimented on an outfit I wear to school. Not by an American. I am definitely the nerdy American teacher at the Preschool. The local teachers wear outfits that I would wear out for a nice dinner or for drinks with a friend. A woman the other day literally wore a tube top! Needless to say a tube top and my Ann Taylor loft wardrobe do not match. Since, I no longer own tube tops, I have to think of something else. I have been banned from Pajama jeans from my husband, but I am pretty sure they would get me the win in this goal. Shelby and Molly have banned me from diaper pants so again, I am way behind. I think I have the shoes nailed down because almost everyone owns a pair of converse shoes with spikes on them..no joking! So, I just have to find the longest spike shoes possible! Any other ideas is appreciated. I will keep you posted on my progress.
My number 2 goal is to get my 5 year re-certification done for Virginia and begin working towards a General Education endorsement. I am really excited about this but the time change is making things a little more difficult because I can't call and ask questions whenever I want. But, I am confident this will work out. Although my track record with getting things done in the teaching world isn't great.
My number 3 goal is to learn how to make cake balls. They are a delicious treat sold in a bakery here and I am obsessed with them and they make me giggle whenever I talk about them. They are small, round balls of undercooked cake in a multiple of favors. I am pretty sure this goal is impossible but I am going to do my best to try!
Finally,
This past weekend we had a 4 day weekend and we made the most of it. On Friday we created a building wide decathlon and had a blast. There was beer pong, flip cup, and roof drop just to name a few.
Then on Sunday we went to Byblos which is an amazing fishing town about a half an hour away and had a great time. There is a crusader castle there that is over a 1000 years old. Oh the stories it could tell and the amount of people that have been there. Crazy! It was also super nice to get out of the city for awhile and not hear honking horns every 5 minutes.
Pictures from all weekend events are below
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Fun times in Lebanon
I had a lot of firsts last week in Lebanon and most of them turned out great.
I went on Friday night to a dance club with a co-worker. We got a half hour Salsa lesson and then a band came on and continued to play Salsa music. I really enjoy dancing usually but I have found that I do not enjoy being in close dancing proximity to strangers. I am unable to be comfortable making eye contact with a stranger who is practically nose to nose with me. Thus, making it very challenging for me to be a good dancer. I am also not good at following and letting the guy take the lead, shocker there..I know! So, I will take the knowledge of not liking to dance with strangers touching me into my future and check off the box on my list of things to do for know yourself better..=)
I also danced in the lesson with a young guy who just kept insisting on telling me that he is "just a really good dancer." I don't know anything else about him, except that he is a really good dancer. Do not think when you read this that maybe there was a language barrier and that was all the English he knew. He knew lots of English words about himself, hence "I am a very good dancer and a dentist." We strangely enough did not reunite on the dance floor after the lesson. So, the number 2 thing I learned this week. I do not enjoy really good Lebanese dancers.
If I keep on at this pace of knowing myself in 2 years I will be the most self-aware person in the world!
I also decided to try the world of maintence here in Lebanon. By maintance I mean I needed my eyebrows waxed or I was hoping to get them waxed. I had asked several of the girls in my building where they went for personal grooming and since all the names are Arabic my brain refuses to accept or memorize them, so I often venture off in the general direction someone pointed me and hope for the best.
Anyways, lucky enough for me there is a beauty salon two buildings away from our apartment, so I was able to avoid getting lost..=) I walk by there every day and there is often a group of employees just sitting on the stairs and they all watch you when you get a haircut. It is a very unusaul experience and makes me again for uncomfortable...haha. But, I had to go to this place because, of course, I could not remember the name of anywhere else to go. Stupid Brain!...So, I walk in and in offensively slow ( i am trying not to be one of those people who thinks talking louder to someone who speaks a different language makes a difference so in turn I talk really slowly and take lots of long pauses, intermixed with lots of confused faces..works super well.) and ask to get my eyebrows done. A nice lady offers to help me and I spend the whole walk trying to tell her I just want an eyebrow wax. I am asking her general questions and she just keeps nodding along.
I have to preface this by saying I am asking lots of questions because some of the people here in Lebanon do not believe in eyebrows consisting of hair. They much prefer it to be hairless but filled in with make-up. I do not believe in this and I wanted to make that abundently clear to my new friend.
Long story short, I still have eyebrows but I did experience threading for the first time, along with the most plucking any human has ever had to endure. I spent what felt like an eternity, wincing and cringing and wiping tears from my eyes. I am sure the lady thought I was one tough cookie. I personally find plucking to be one of the worst and most annoying thing ever! Its like being pinched 100 times. It takes all my self-control not to swing a right hook on whoever is closet. Thankfully, there are no laws in Lebanon so if by accident I hit my new eyebrow friend, she can do nothing about it.
The couple across the hall from Michael and I are awesome. The wife is from Thailand and she makes amazing Thai food. I subtly hinted to her that I love Thai food and now whenever she makes extra she brings Michael and I a plate to share. It is freaking fantastic. Although, it is some of the spiciest food I have ever eaten. Last weekend she invited a bunch of us over to have a Thai cooking class. We made fried chicken with mango salads and it was all super delicious. Now, everytime our doorbell rings I am very wishful it is her with more food.
Mango chicken salad!
This week we also started the process for getting our work permits. Without them we can not leave the country. So, you have to go about a half an hour away, depending the worlds worst traffic to general security. The school has a driver that gives you a ride. There are a lot of them so it is always a surprise who you will get. Moving on, we get to general security and a guy who now works for our school, calls you from the curb to get out of the car in the middle of traffic and follow him. Next time I will know that follow him means run as fast as you can because he is not waiting. We walk through metal detectors into a room that is the DMV but without any rules or regulations. I know the DMV can take forever and super suck, but imagine a DMV with no lines or ticket numbers or order ( i think i have mentioned it before, but Lebanon literally does not believe in lines, anywhere). You just push as hard as you can to get to the desk you need to go to. Then you go upstairs (two at a time) to another set of desks that you push your way to. Then you finally go to another room where you wait in a tangled mess outside of until you can push your way through. Thankfully, the guy who was with me knows everyone who works there so we skip all lines and go to different desks.
Good news is I will get my permit in a week Lebanese time..so 3 weeks American time and I will be ready for Barcelona and Paris!!
Finally,
If you have made it this far. I have attached a few photos. I feel like all the pictures Michael and I post of our things and not us and since I know you all love to see us. Here you go!
Me after walking in the pouring rain to one of favorite places Dar. Our friend Nadia's cousin owns it and we met her this night. She was probably really jealous of my hair!
Me working..aka...looking at people.com
Michael working...writing and responding to parent emails ...
I went on Friday night to a dance club with a co-worker. We got a half hour Salsa lesson and then a band came on and continued to play Salsa music. I really enjoy dancing usually but I have found that I do not enjoy being in close dancing proximity to strangers. I am unable to be comfortable making eye contact with a stranger who is practically nose to nose with me. Thus, making it very challenging for me to be a good dancer. I am also not good at following and letting the guy take the lead, shocker there..I know! So, I will take the knowledge of not liking to dance with strangers touching me into my future and check off the box on my list of things to do for know yourself better..=)
I also danced in the lesson with a young guy who just kept insisting on telling me that he is "just a really good dancer." I don't know anything else about him, except that he is a really good dancer. Do not think when you read this that maybe there was a language barrier and that was all the English he knew. He knew lots of English words about himself, hence "I am a very good dancer and a dentist." We strangely enough did not reunite on the dance floor after the lesson. So, the number 2 thing I learned this week. I do not enjoy really good Lebanese dancers.
If I keep on at this pace of knowing myself in 2 years I will be the most self-aware person in the world!
I also decided to try the world of maintence here in Lebanon. By maintance I mean I needed my eyebrows waxed or I was hoping to get them waxed. I had asked several of the girls in my building where they went for personal grooming and since all the names are Arabic my brain refuses to accept or memorize them, so I often venture off in the general direction someone pointed me and hope for the best.
Anyways, lucky enough for me there is a beauty salon two buildings away from our apartment, so I was able to avoid getting lost..=) I walk by there every day and there is often a group of employees just sitting on the stairs and they all watch you when you get a haircut. It is a very unusaul experience and makes me again for uncomfortable...haha. But, I had to go to this place because, of course, I could not remember the name of anywhere else to go. Stupid Brain!...So, I walk in and in offensively slow ( i am trying not to be one of those people who thinks talking louder to someone who speaks a different language makes a difference so in turn I talk really slowly and take lots of long pauses, intermixed with lots of confused faces..works super well.) and ask to get my eyebrows done. A nice lady offers to help me and I spend the whole walk trying to tell her I just want an eyebrow wax. I am asking her general questions and she just keeps nodding along.
I have to preface this by saying I am asking lots of questions because some of the people here in Lebanon do not believe in eyebrows consisting of hair. They much prefer it to be hairless but filled in with make-up. I do not believe in this and I wanted to make that abundently clear to my new friend.
Long story short, I still have eyebrows but I did experience threading for the first time, along with the most plucking any human has ever had to endure. I spent what felt like an eternity, wincing and cringing and wiping tears from my eyes. I am sure the lady thought I was one tough cookie. I personally find plucking to be one of the worst and most annoying thing ever! Its like being pinched 100 times. It takes all my self-control not to swing a right hook on whoever is closet. Thankfully, there are no laws in Lebanon so if by accident I hit my new eyebrow friend, she can do nothing about it.
The couple across the hall from Michael and I are awesome. The wife is from Thailand and she makes amazing Thai food. I subtly hinted to her that I love Thai food and now whenever she makes extra she brings Michael and I a plate to share. It is freaking fantastic. Although, it is some of the spiciest food I have ever eaten. Last weekend she invited a bunch of us over to have a Thai cooking class. We made fried chicken with mango salads and it was all super delicious. Now, everytime our doorbell rings I am very wishful it is her with more food.
This week we also started the process for getting our work permits. Without them we can not leave the country. So, you have to go about a half an hour away, depending the worlds worst traffic to general security. The school has a driver that gives you a ride. There are a lot of them so it is always a surprise who you will get. Moving on, we get to general security and a guy who now works for our school, calls you from the curb to get out of the car in the middle of traffic and follow him. Next time I will know that follow him means run as fast as you can because he is not waiting. We walk through metal detectors into a room that is the DMV but without any rules or regulations. I know the DMV can take forever and super suck, but imagine a DMV with no lines or ticket numbers or order ( i think i have mentioned it before, but Lebanon literally does not believe in lines, anywhere). You just push as hard as you can to get to the desk you need to go to. Then you go upstairs (two at a time) to another set of desks that you push your way to. Then you finally go to another room where you wait in a tangled mess outside of until you can push your way through. Thankfully, the guy who was with me knows everyone who works there so we skip all lines and go to different desks.
Good news is I will get my permit in a week Lebanese time..so 3 weeks American time and I will be ready for Barcelona and Paris!!
Finally,
If you have made it this far. I have attached a few photos. I feel like all the pictures Michael and I post of our things and not us and since I know you all love to see us. Here you go!
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Day to Day
Hi friends.
I have added a video of some pictures from our daily lives in Beirut. I hope it works. If it doesn't work right please let me and I can send it to you in an email.
Things have been great here the past few days. The temperature has started to cool down and there is a nice breeze. So, we are enjoying spending time outside. We had a building bbq last night and a few people from the another international school came and it was a wonderful evening. The weather was perfect and everyone could not have been friendlier. We are excited to get to know more and more people outside of the IC family.
I was going to include pictures of the Corniche (its the walkway) along the Sea by our house, because I just wanted to show our main walking routes so you can visual what our walk to and from school and doing regular things looks like.
We also went to the driving range with the President of our school last week and plan on going again on Tuesday. We got a golf pro ( i don't know how pro a person can be in Beirut) but he seemed to have good advice. Its a nice past time especially with the nice weather. It is considerably cheaper than the states but we have to go in a taxi and pay a few fees so we will see how often we continue to go.
Things are getting better at work, I am starting to find my way slowly but surely. These next two years are definitely going to be the most unique teaching experiences we are probably going to have. So, we will learn to enjoy it while we are here before we have to go back to the States and all the pressures of No Child Left Behind.
We miss everyone terribly! Hope you are all well while reading this and enjoying the blog.
We also decided to name our wall Octupus Clumsy, but every since he has come into our lives I have become more clumsy, so I am going to rename the Octupus multimillionaire in hopes that rubs off on us as well.
Just a little over 2 months before Barcelona and Paris..WAHOO!
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