Month: February 2012

keeping flexible

If you’re related to me, you heard the news yesterday that we won’t be traveling home this summer. You know that whole US budget problem thing that has been happening for a while now? Yeah, it affects us too. Hydroponic plant, hydroponic plant . . . taking my roots wherever I go . . .

Moving on. We are excited about living in Bahrain and the idea of taking extra time to explore the capital city of Manama instead of hurrying back to the states is appealing. Maybe not as appealing as relaxing in my parents’ backyard surrounded by my favorite Trader Joe’s foods while petting my cat, but whatever.

And by going directly to Bahrain, we won’t suffer a temperature shock like we would if we were in 115 degree humidity, then spent time enjoying California’s lovely 75-80 degree days and then had to go back to 115 degree humidity. It will be much easier not having to adjust to those sorts of temperature swings. It’s practically providential.

Another bonus? Those pesky goodbyes. Since we won’t be going home to visit, we won’t have to say goodbye to everyone as we leave again. This change of plans is looking better and better all the time!

If you really know me, you know that this is all tongue in cheek and after the initial surprise wore off (Hey honey, guess what? We’re actually not going home this summer!), I can truly say that I am content. One of my favorite quotes is from the 1995 award winning film,* The Brady Bunch Movie, where Mike Brady tells the kids that they don’t need to worry about losing their house because “wherever you go, there you are.” That’s how I feel about things. As long as I’m happy with who I am and happy with my family, it doesn’t matter where we live or where we’re sent.

*award given by me in the category of Best Parody of The Brady Bunch

Of course it would be nice to go back to America and see all of our friends and family, and it would be nice to have the family reunions we were hoping to plan, but we don’t know enough about where we’re going to anticipate what will be nice about this new development. And who knows? We may get word next week that makes this change of plans null and void. Aren’t you glad that you have me in your life to keep things exciting?

hydroponics

I was at a women’s conference last weekend on the book of Ruth and during a “get to know you” time around our table everyone was sharing where they were from and how long they’ve lived in Oman. I shared that we had been here almost a year and were moving to Bahrain this summer. Hearing that, one of the women was surprised that we were here for such a short time and asked how long we’d be in Bahrain. She seemed a little worried that we were only planning to be there for two years. Then my friend added that Oman was just one stop in a long string of moves, including our extremely short time in Egypt. To that she responded, “My goodness! You’ve been uprooted for a long time!”

The conversation moved on, but I started thinking about my roots. I pictured them being pulled out of the ground unceremoniously, with dirt clinging to the tiny fibers. The way they might die off as they are shoved into each new hole, each new space. 
In all our years of moving around, I’ve never experienced being uprooted. I don’t feel like my roots are exposed and naked. They feel healthy and strong as if they are continually growing and filling each new space we occupy. How can I move and not feel uprooted? It doesn’t make sense.
Then I thought of a gardening equivalent:  a hydroponic plant. These are plants that are grown without any dirt. It doesn’t seem like they should be able to grow without soil, but they are fed by the water that surrounds their roots. As long as nutrients are continually added to the water, the plant thrives. You can pick it up and move it around and the roots are never disturbed. It doesn’t know the difference between a bowl of water in in one place and a bucket in another.

I’m glad that my roots are happy in great water. 

screen sharing

I figured out how to play Netflix on my Macbook for baby while I read and blog on the other half of the screen. The last few days she’s been saying “TV? TV?” and pointing at the screen. Since I don’t know how to work the TV and it is currently stuck on snow (don’t ask — it has 3 remotes that all do different things, it’s hooked up to Arabic satellite, the computer, and the sound runs through our stereo, and since I can’t watch Project Runway or Top Chef on it, it’s as good as dead to me) the TV is out of commission until Josh comes home.

But I realized that I could open a window in Chrome and start Netflix, then resize the window to make it smaller and open a resized Safari window. She gets to watch in the top left corner, I get to play in the bottom right. We snuggle and are both happy.

a screenshot — technology love

On the Netflix homepage she says “up? up? up?” as she asks me to keep scrolling through the shows. She settled on Shaun the Sheep, which is perfect because there isn’t any mindless kid-show dialogue to endure, just claymation-style animation with music and sheep sounds every once in a while. It’s cute, funny, and not annoying. win. win. win.

snuggled on my special chair — everyone is happy

Mama’s girl now loves coffee, chocolate, and TV. I’m so proud. She also loves music, but I can’t take credit for that one. That’s all daddy.

Omani tent day

The last day of Discover Oman, the younger elementary students celebrate by dressing in traditional Omani clothes and going out to the tents that are set up on the playground to take part in other Omani traditions.

Everyone in Caleb’s class looked great. The little guy in the blue dishdasha is Omani and you could tell that his clothes were authentic and not costume quality because the fabric was so nice. The second graders were patient all morning and finally got the OK to head to the tents!

First the children all got to try dates and another type of dessert. A sweet round thing that looked like a ball of dough that had been fried. It must have been good since all the kids went back for seconds. 


Next, they all smelled the Arabic coffee that is flavored with cardamom.


Then she poured them each a cup of “special coffee”(grape juice)


Face painting time — the Omani flag

Henna application. The boys got khanjars (traditional Omani curved knife — Oman’s symbol) and the girls were given traditional flower and vine designs. 

The henna is squeezed out through a small hole in a plastic bag, like piping frosting on a cake. The designs are all drawn free-hand. You leave the henna alone until it dries and flakes off. The henna stains your skin and the rust colored design lasts for about two weeks. 

The shirt I’m wearing is made out of a massar, which is the scarf that the men wear wrapped around their heads.

Back in the day when camels were the main form of transportation, the men would put perfume on their tassels to keep the camel stink away. The boys all got perfume to put on their tassels. 


She was so fast and so detailed with her designs

When they decorate brides before the wedding, they apply the henna all the way up to the knee


ETA: I almost forgot about the music! They had traditional singers and drummers and some of the kids had fun dancing. (not mine though)


Another great day at school. Time to head home for a nap!