Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Now I Feel at Home
If I can walk and see nature then I feel at home. We managed to take a walk this morning and we saw green, gardens, stones, rocks, mountains, ancient, rundown adobe abodes and the local community going about the start of their day. Children were waiting for their bus, teens walking with books in hand piled 10 inches deep. It was a beautiful morning, a part of the day and world that brings me much joy and peace.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Nizwa, Oman; Friday Night for us is hump day in America
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Nizwa, Oman; Friday night for us is hump day in America
Entry numero uno as a resident of Oman
Where to begin . . . just begin . . . Gus and I got in to Nizwa about 2:00 am, September 7th. We checked into our hotel, the Safari Hotel, where we were to stay until our apartment was ready. Within a day and a half we were dragging, rolling and carrying our 4 giant suitcases and 2 rather large carry ons on up 2 flights to Apt. 15. We have a spacious, airy 3 bedroom apt. And when I say airy . . . well, that’s a story I’ll talk about later.
We’ve had 5 days of “work.” Seminars from 9:00am to 12:00pm. After 12 we are free to take care of documentation, computer glitches, and getting settled into our apartment. The first night we were in our apartment there was no gas so our amazing neighbors, Dalia and Reg, invited us in for supper. Dalia is superwoman, taking care of us by day at the University and by night, helping us to acquire cooking gas and feeding us. This is a welcome relief while trying to get to know our way around Nizwa. She is our director's administrative assistant.
Our apartment is in the Firq section of Nizwa, half way between downtown Nizwa and the University. There are shops across the street – hardware, restaurants, some choice housewares (iron, coffeemaker, toaster - yippee!), gasoline station, and small grocery stores. I believe there are four apartments here that house English Center “lecturers.” There are also some other lecturers from other departments of the University.
So it is our Friiiiiday night AND it is the eve of Ramadan – that is if the moon is seen tonight in it’s first sliver in the waxing process. Gus and I have stocked up on enough to eat for 3 – 5 days (uh, well, I mean nights). We will head to the center of Nizwa tonight and go to the internet cafe to send emails and possibly post to our blogs. Tomorrow is a free day with no obligations except to pay the electricity bill that came today – it is from the previous tenant. Thankfully the University will reimburse us. We will most likely go back to the I.C. (hmmm . . . is that intensive care or internet café?) We need our big dose as we haven’t been able to sustain the internet habit for days and days. Withdrawal symptoms appear, such as nervous laughter when we hear things like “it took me 2 hours to down load a 32 minute audio sample on dial up.”
Ah, yes, dial up. If we get internet at our home it will have to be dial up. For the last 6 years I have said, “If I have to go back to the pace of dial up internet I will not use the internet.” Ah! as I’ve told a few friends and family, this will be a year of learning patience. I am, by nature, a pretty patient person, depending on the situation, of course. Now, I must learn perfect patience. What does that look like? Does it mean losing all attachment to all outcomes? Does it mean having faith that what must get done will be completed in its own sweet time? Does it look like a Buddhist monk? I will need a complete psychic transformation in order to not react to things that don’t get done when I want them done – a completely different perspective on what matters. Perhaps a change in my value system.
What is my value system? What is most important to me? 1. Treading more lightly on the Earth; 2. Being present and helping others. 3. Growing emotionally, spiritually and mentally. 4. Doing my best. 5. Being non-judgemental and being compassionate and understanding of others joys, pains and perspectives.
Yesterday, during seminars, we were treated to an amazing guest speaker, Khalfan Al Esry. The title of his Seminar was “Living and Working in Oman Made Easy and Enjoyable.” The subtitles of the talk were 1. We all experience culture shock; 2. Definitions may be different (ex: Definitions of time, work, business, etc.); 3. Value ladders are different (influenced by origin, race, language, beliefs, country, society, tribe, family, and organization); 4. People are different & values are changing as we transform. There’s that word “values” again.
As I live in this culture I must question my values and change my attitude about time and organization. Khalfan Al Esry asked the mostly western audience, “What’s more important, efficiency or effectiveness?” I believe that effectiveness is more important although “efficiency” implies that ones performance is “effective.” I have always said that I am a type “B” as opposed to a type “A.” Type A’s can do the amount of work I do in 48 hours in half the time and not have a mess to clean up. They seem to be more concerned with compartmentalizing the different aspects of their life into neat segments of time – work: 8 hours; dance class after work; home with family or out with friends for the evening. Me? whenever I get home from work, I get home from work. My work doesn’t go home with me but, when I’m teaching, I do spend more time at work than I do at home. My job never feels like it’s finished. There is always more to do.
We Westerners can learn a lot from Arab culture – The person we are dealing with, in any given situation, is more important than the project, the job, the goal. We need to establish trusting, helpful and considerate relationships with all we come in contact with – colleagues, bosses, employees, family and friends.
Nizwa, Oman; Friday night for us is hump day in America
Entry numero uno as a resident of Oman
Where to begin . . . just begin . . . Gus and I got in to Nizwa about 2:00 am, September 7th. We checked into our hotel, the Safari Hotel, where we were to stay until our apartment was ready. Within a day and a half we were dragging, rolling and carrying our 4 giant suitcases and 2 rather large carry ons on up 2 flights to Apt. 15. We have a spacious, airy 3 bedroom apt. And when I say airy . . . well, that’s a story I’ll talk about later.
We’ve had 5 days of “work.” Seminars from 9:00am to 12:00pm. After 12 we are free to take care of documentation, computer glitches, and getting settled into our apartment. The first night we were in our apartment there was no gas so our amazing neighbors, Dalia and Reg, invited us in for supper. Dalia is superwoman, taking care of us by day at the University and by night, helping us to acquire cooking gas and feeding us. This is a welcome relief while trying to get to know our way around Nizwa. She is our director's administrative assistant.
Our apartment is in the Firq section of Nizwa, half way between downtown Nizwa and the University. There are shops across the street – hardware, restaurants, some choice housewares (iron, coffeemaker, toaster - yippee!), gasoline station, and small grocery stores. I believe there are four apartments here that house English Center “lecturers.” There are also some other lecturers from other departments of the University.
So it is our Friiiiiday night AND it is the eve of Ramadan – that is if the moon is seen tonight in it’s first sliver in the waxing process. Gus and I have stocked up on enough to eat for 3 – 5 days (uh, well, I mean nights). We will head to the center of Nizwa tonight and go to the internet cafe to send emails and possibly post to our blogs. Tomorrow is a free day with no obligations except to pay the electricity bill that came today – it is from the previous tenant. Thankfully the University will reimburse us. We will most likely go back to the I.C. (hmmm . . . is that intensive care or internet café?) We need our big dose as we haven’t been able to sustain the internet habit for days and days. Withdrawal symptoms appear, such as nervous laughter when we hear things like “it took me 2 hours to down load a 32 minute audio sample on dial up.”
Ah, yes, dial up. If we get internet at our home it will have to be dial up. For the last 6 years I have said, “If I have to go back to the pace of dial up internet I will not use the internet.” Ah! as I’ve told a few friends and family, this will be a year of learning patience. I am, by nature, a pretty patient person, depending on the situation, of course. Now, I must learn perfect patience. What does that look like? Does it mean losing all attachment to all outcomes? Does it mean having faith that what must get done will be completed in its own sweet time? Does it look like a Buddhist monk? I will need a complete psychic transformation in order to not react to things that don’t get done when I want them done – a completely different perspective on what matters. Perhaps a change in my value system.
What is my value system? What is most important to me? 1. Treading more lightly on the Earth; 2. Being present and helping others. 3. Growing emotionally, spiritually and mentally. 4. Doing my best. 5. Being non-judgemental and being compassionate and understanding of others joys, pains and perspectives.
Yesterday, during seminars, we were treated to an amazing guest speaker, Khalfan Al Esry. The title of his Seminar was “Living and Working in Oman Made Easy and Enjoyable.” The subtitles of the talk were 1. We all experience culture shock; 2. Definitions may be different (ex: Definitions of time, work, business, etc.); 3. Value ladders are different (influenced by origin, race, language, beliefs, country, society, tribe, family, and organization); 4. People are different & values are changing as we transform. There’s that word “values” again.
As I live in this culture I must question my values and change my attitude about time and organization. Khalfan Al Esry asked the mostly western audience, “What’s more important, efficiency or effectiveness?” I believe that effectiveness is more important although “efficiency” implies that ones performance is “effective.” I have always said that I am a type “B” as opposed to a type “A.” Type A’s can do the amount of work I do in 48 hours in half the time and not have a mess to clean up. They seem to be more concerned with compartmentalizing the different aspects of their life into neat segments of time – work: 8 hours; dance class after work; home with family or out with friends for the evening. Me? whenever I get home from work, I get home from work. My work doesn’t go home with me but, when I’m teaching, I do spend more time at work than I do at home. My job never feels like it’s finished. There is always more to do.
We Westerners can learn a lot from Arab culture – The person we are dealing with, in any given situation, is more important than the project, the job, the goal. We need to establish trusting, helpful and considerate relationships with all we come in contact with – colleagues, bosses, employees, family and friends.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Well, it's been a long while since I've posted. I apologize to those of you who got in the habit of checking in here. You know by now that Cyclone Gonu put a dent in Gus' and my internet usage. I think it's the ethers way of saying, "Amanda, don't be so obsessed with quick communiques & instant information!"
We certainly survived the cyclone with no damage. It wasn't a pleasant experience for us but worse than that the cyclone did billions of dollars of damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. Even more devastating was the unnecessary loss of lives. The last official report I read said 49 had died due to the storm. The unnoficial count is now between 500 - 1000. These were people who were living close to the wadis (the usually dry riverbeds)in bungalows or shacks.
And now their families - uncles, brothers, cousins - are all laboring long days to put it all back together. The availability of day laborers, mostly from India and Pakistan, is huge. The speed with which water, electricity and highways are being put back together is phenomenal.
Gus and I escaped Muscat for 5 days and nights total on our quest for jobs. We spent 3 nights in a mountain city called Nizwa where we spoke with 3 directors of English programs for 3 different colleges. Each visit was wonderful. There were no appointments set up at specific times yet the directors took us into their offices and chatted with us for an average of 2 hours each. What a wonderful and humane experience. I will never again put up with a 20 minute interview where typical questions are asked without time for discussion! Even my interview at the American International School was like a visit with friends. The director there spent a good hour and a half with us. I am glad he's taken on more the style of the Middle East than to keep the American mentality of the quick, cold interview.
So, Gus and I were offered the job that we most wanted - at the University of Nizwa. We will both be working in the same school, same department. Just like we'd hoped. And we'll be working with a director whom we greatly respect. He is a Tunisian and knows how to bridge the culture of the Western teachers to the culture of our Omani students and their families. We spent a good 2 hours with him and talked like we were old friends. He gave us a good picture of what is expected of us and how best to connect with our students. We are looking forward to our return here on Sept. 1st.
And we are also looking forward to a summer in Bucks County. We miss the cool nights and the smell of green. We'll have all of July and August with family and friends. We'll use much of our time to unclutter our home to make more space for our boys, Aaron and Christopher. They are a Godsend - taking great care of the home and animals on Old Bethlehem Road. I also hope to fly on down to Ft. Lauderdale to spend time with Michela, Ameenah & Zaikiah. Hopefully they will come enjoy a long weekend with us up in PA as well.
We certainly survived the cyclone with no damage. It wasn't a pleasant experience for us but worse than that the cyclone did billions of dollars of damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. Even more devastating was the unnecessary loss of lives. The last official report I read said 49 had died due to the storm. The unnoficial count is now between 500 - 1000. These were people who were living close to the wadis (the usually dry riverbeds)in bungalows or shacks.
And now their families - uncles, brothers, cousins - are all laboring long days to put it all back together. The availability of day laborers, mostly from India and Pakistan, is huge. The speed with which water, electricity and highways are being put back together is phenomenal.
Gus and I escaped Muscat for 5 days and nights total on our quest for jobs. We spent 3 nights in a mountain city called Nizwa where we spoke with 3 directors of English programs for 3 different colleges. Each visit was wonderful. There were no appointments set up at specific times yet the directors took us into their offices and chatted with us for an average of 2 hours each. What a wonderful and humane experience. I will never again put up with a 20 minute interview where typical questions are asked without time for discussion! Even my interview at the American International School was like a visit with friends. The director there spent a good hour and a half with us. I am glad he's taken on more the style of the Middle East than to keep the American mentality of the quick, cold interview.
So, Gus and I were offered the job that we most wanted - at the University of Nizwa. We will both be working in the same school, same department. Just like we'd hoped. And we'll be working with a director whom we greatly respect. He is a Tunisian and knows how to bridge the culture of the Western teachers to the culture of our Omani students and their families. We spent a good 2 hours with him and talked like we were old friends. He gave us a good picture of what is expected of us and how best to connect with our students. We are looking forward to our return here on Sept. 1st.
And we are also looking forward to a summer in Bucks County. We miss the cool nights and the smell of green. We'll have all of July and August with family and friends. We'll use much of our time to unclutter our home to make more space for our boys, Aaron and Christopher. They are a Godsend - taking great care of the home and animals on Old Bethlehem Road. I also hope to fly on down to Ft. Lauderdale to spend time with Michela, Ameenah & Zaikiah. Hopefully they will come enjoy a long weekend with us up in PA as well.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Sat. June 2 - Monday, June 4
Saturday, 2 June 2007
It’s the first day of the workweek. We had a nice weekend with Ken and friends.
Wed. night we started out with drinks at the Grand Plaza Hotel just up the street.
Or was that Thursday night? No, that was Wed. night. Gus and I had a beer and Ken had sparkling wine. This, of course, is a novelty because if one doesn’t have a license to buy alcohol (wine, beer, hard liquor) one has to go to a hotel bar. It’s a good time to live without it! After our cherished drink we went off to an Indian Restaurant where Ken told the waiter to make everything very, very hot. I quote “Kill us!” Boy did they. Arghhhh. He’d been complaining to us that they never make it hot because of all the British residents who don’t like spicy hot. Well, the waiter & cook took him seriously. I managed to eat the leftovers with yogurt. Lots of yogurt. Yogurt is good here and plentiful.
On Friday we had some of Ken’s friends over, all English teachers. They are very helpful in giving us a good idea of what we are getting into and on giving us advice about who to talk to for work.
Saturday we were off to the races to go see the recruiting firms. We met with Edmund of GlobNet to urge him to place us . . . he said it was not up to him but would certainly place us once he got our CV’s with Ken’s signature on them. Ken had sent them to him months ago. So, we’re getting a bit of the run around but this is what it is like. We must play our cards right – have them all lined up in a row. We’ll visit with each deciding party of which there are 3 – the hiring firm, the Higher Education Ministry (which Ken is a part of) and the directors of the English programs. In the end Edmund said he and his boss both agreed that Gus’ age is not a problem but my lack of experience teaching adults is. They will then try to place us in either Shinas or Ibri, not Muscat.
We enjoyed our meeting with Edmund. At one point he asked us, out of the blue, if we were Republican or Democrat. Well, it wasn’t completely out of the blue. We had said we prefer to teach in a laid back country like Oman rather than a major business center like Dubai because we wanted to get away from commercialism and shopping malls. So, Dem or Repub? Neither. So then he asks, “Green?” He knows a lot about US politics it seems.
Monday 4 June 4, 2007
Another day with early morning brisk beach walk and a swim. I swam over 100 breast strokes. And a much needed afternoon siesta! After my siesta I couldn’t bear to put on any of my heavy linen clothes so I put on my new Indian tunic and pants, turned on Indian radio and prepared an Iranian eggplant appetizer with saffron, walnuts and yogurt (mint, turmeric, garlic, onion, lemon juice, fresh mint, lots of oil to fry the eggplant, salt & peppah). Now it chills. To serve, sautee a small amt. of onion, pour small amount of olive oil over top of dip, sprinkle onion on and garnish with mint. Should be good, eh? It was a little more labor intensive than I like. The recipe called for using corn oil, mayonnaise and butter. I skipped the mayo and butter. Next time I’ll brush the thin eggplant slices lightly with olive oil and broil. Then chop it up and mix in to my tastes – garlic, saffron, pine nuts, yogurt, and whatever else is at hand.
Things I find pecular:
• Water usage seems a bit high – irrigation of landscaping, the need to keep one’s
car clean (there are fines for having a dirty car in Muscat)
• Wearing black in the sun on a day that is above 65 degrees F, let alone above
100!
• Over use of plastic bags.
• In a country preparing for living with less oil I am surprised they are not building
public transportation systems and conserving paper, electricity and
plastics (less dependence on plastics is needed)
It’s the first day of the workweek. We had a nice weekend with Ken and friends.
Wed. night we started out with drinks at the Grand Plaza Hotel just up the street.
Or was that Thursday night? No, that was Wed. night. Gus and I had a beer and Ken had sparkling wine. This, of course, is a novelty because if one doesn’t have a license to buy alcohol (wine, beer, hard liquor) one has to go to a hotel bar. It’s a good time to live without it! After our cherished drink we went off to an Indian Restaurant where Ken told the waiter to make everything very, very hot. I quote “Kill us!” Boy did they. Arghhhh. He’d been complaining to us that they never make it hot because of all the British residents who don’t like spicy hot. Well, the waiter & cook took him seriously. I managed to eat the leftovers with yogurt. Lots of yogurt. Yogurt is good here and plentiful.
On Friday we had some of Ken’s friends over, all English teachers. They are very helpful in giving us a good idea of what we are getting into and on giving us advice about who to talk to for work.
Saturday we were off to the races to go see the recruiting firms. We met with Edmund of GlobNet to urge him to place us . . . he said it was not up to him but would certainly place us once he got our CV’s with Ken’s signature on them. Ken had sent them to him months ago. So, we’re getting a bit of the run around but this is what it is like. We must play our cards right – have them all lined up in a row. We’ll visit with each deciding party of which there are 3 – the hiring firm, the Higher Education Ministry (which Ken is a part of) and the directors of the English programs. In the end Edmund said he and his boss both agreed that Gus’ age is not a problem but my lack of experience teaching adults is. They will then try to place us in either Shinas or Ibri, not Muscat.
We enjoyed our meeting with Edmund. At one point he asked us, out of the blue, if we were Republican or Democrat. Well, it wasn’t completely out of the blue. We had said we prefer to teach in a laid back country like Oman rather than a major business center like Dubai because we wanted to get away from commercialism and shopping malls. So, Dem or Repub? Neither. So then he asks, “Green?” He knows a lot about US politics it seems.
Monday 4 June 4, 2007
Another day with early morning brisk beach walk and a swim. I swam over 100 breast strokes. And a much needed afternoon siesta! After my siesta I couldn’t bear to put on any of my heavy linen clothes so I put on my new Indian tunic and pants, turned on Indian radio and prepared an Iranian eggplant appetizer with saffron, walnuts and yogurt (mint, turmeric, garlic, onion, lemon juice, fresh mint, lots of oil to fry the eggplant, salt & peppah). Now it chills. To serve, sautee a small amt. of onion, pour small amount of olive oil over top of dip, sprinkle onion on and garnish with mint. Should be good, eh? It was a little more labor intensive than I like. The recipe called for using corn oil, mayonnaise and butter. I skipped the mayo and butter. Next time I’ll brush the thin eggplant slices lightly with olive oil and broil. Then chop it up and mix in to my tastes – garlic, saffron, pine nuts, yogurt, and whatever else is at hand.
Things I find pecular:
• Water usage seems a bit high – irrigation of landscaping, the need to keep one’s
car clean (there are fines for having a dirty car in Muscat)
• Wearing black in the sun on a day that is above 65 degrees F, let alone above
100!
• Over use of plastic bags.
• In a country preparing for living with less oil I am surprised they are not building
public transportation systems and conserving paper, electricity and
plastics (less dependence on plastics is needed)
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Oman Monday - Tuesday, May 28-29, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
On Saturday we walked up to the Royal Plaza Hotel and rented a car. It seemed odd to me to have to do this but I realize most folks do that when traveling abroad. I’ve just always skimped – tried to do what the locals do --> hop on the back of a pickup, pay a pittance and smell exhaust while the driver went around hairpin curves and passed other vehicles without enough view of what might be oncoming . . . or by bus, taxi or train. In Muscat there is not that option. We will be traveling to other cities to look at universities and hopefully get some interviews.
Renting the car was a positive experience. The man we rented from is an Omani and is the only Omani we’ve had a conversation with. He mentioned that he is a welder and that it comes in handy because his family has animals. Of course I lit up and asked what animals they had. Birds (doves, parrots), goats, dogs, chickens, a cow. He did mention that the family has some land somewhere outside of the city. I assume it is a farm. The truly delightful moment in our conversation came up when he said that Islam forbids the keeping of dogs (It is “haram” – forbidden), but he pointed out that he thinks it’s fine to have dogs and that it really depends on how one feels in their heart. Basically, he was saying that it is what you believe. Ah! now he’s speaking my language. It is all about one’s beliefs and conditioning.
Yesterday I had an interview at the The American International School of Muscat (TAISM). It was a wonderfully long interview and I believe the World Language Coordinator and I are a good match for 2nd language acquisition philosophy. The job would be part time (50%), teaching Spanish to 3rd – 6th grades. I would really like the job but it will depend where Gus can be hired. If he gets a position in Muscat I will most likely go for this job, although I will interview for other posts teaching English as a Foreign Language. I really should try to get into that as it will help me grow as a language teacher. Not that working for TAISM won’t be growthful. It seems it will definitely be growthful as there is a lot of support and colleague collaboration .
Just 5 hours later – 3:29PM – and our calendar is full of visits, interviews and entertainment – thanks to Ken. Tomorrow Gus has an 11:00 interview at the Modern College of Business and Science. We hope to then drive to a city where there is a college Ken recommends and will meet the English Dept. director. Then back to the house by 5:00 to freshen up for a dinner talk given by Mike, the author of the Tagine and Masala recipe book. That should be fun . . . and delicious. More on that afterwards.
Wednesday we meet the director of the Eng. dept. of Naswah – Ayatolah. If all goes well he will want us to come up to his college in Nazwah. This city is known for its goat market. I can’t wait to see lots of goats. If we live there maybe we can purchase a milking goat . . . hmmm. There apparently won’t be much else to do but read, write, and meditate. I’ve always wanted to be stuck somewhere with Gus with nothing to do. Trapped with him and lots of good books. Nazwah might be just the place.
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Gus and I had a driving adventure yesterday. The streets in this city are not laid out on a grid. It’s been pointed out to us that they couldn’t do so because of the geology. This area used to be little villages and villas tucked into areas where it was possible to build. The geological layout is rock. To create a joined Muscat they’ve had to blast much of the rock and have built a major highway running through. Of course the building continues as the demand for housing grows.
Our adventure started out with the search of the Modern School of Business and Science.
Ken showed us where it was on the map saying it was close to the skating rink (yes, ice skating in the desert). Our map is not accurate nor is there such a thing because the layout of the land, the roads and building continue to change every day. But, the map was the only guide so we took the roads that were to lead to the college and stopped to ask directions when we knew we were in the vicinity. I went into an office in a strip mall and asked the clerk at the front desk. He said he did not speak English well enough but signaled that he would get someone. He called into the back room and apparently explained where I wanted to go. The man tried to tell the clerk what to tell me and the clerk motioned for him to come up to the front and talk directly to me. I guess the English speaking Omani was shy. At first our English speaker told us we were to drive another 12 kilometers so I emphasized the name of the college again and the fact that it was near the skating rink. Phew! The next set of directions were perfect and got us to the college quite easily.
The interview turned out to be not quite and interview – just a meeting. We met with Dr. Mouhiba (everyone refers to her on this “first name basis” plus, with a PhD. she is a Dr. – Ken too is a doctor – Dr. Ken – somehow Dr. Mouhiba sounds more official to my ear), a Tunisian, who casually mentioned she was sorry Dr. Bernard was not there and that we’d have to meet with him. Funny, cause the appt. was set up for that moment. Dr. Mouhiba almost seemed to not know why we were there. We enjoyed talking with her and left her with all our teaching documents. Then off we went to find our way to the highway to drive north to Al Musana where we were to meet Nihad, director of the English dept. at the Tech. College. Ken urged us to meet with her even though she would not hire us.
The drive was about 2 hours going 119 kph – once our speedometer hit 120 (the speed limit) an alarm went off in the car. The first time it happened there was a police car passing us on the left. Was our car alerting us? Did the police send out a signal? No, apparently every car has this alarm once it hits 120. Hmmm . . . then why are all those cars passing us at 125 or 130? Earplugs? No. There are 3 or 4 guys per car, relaxed, talking. They have an alarm going off too?
Our meeting with Nihad was very nice. She gave us a lot of information about what the students are like and what the department’s expectations are. Again we were told that classes would have to be very structured and that we were to be very strict or else the students would rule the class.
Ah! I almost forgot to mention, I got a call from the director of the American School (TAISM) to let me know they would like me to take the 50% position teaching Spanish to 3rd – 6th. The following year should grow to full time. My taking the job will all depend on where Gus gets hired.
More to come . . .
On Saturday we walked up to the Royal Plaza Hotel and rented a car. It seemed odd to me to have to do this but I realize most folks do that when traveling abroad. I’ve just always skimped – tried to do what the locals do --> hop on the back of a pickup, pay a pittance and smell exhaust while the driver went around hairpin curves and passed other vehicles without enough view of what might be oncoming . . . or by bus, taxi or train. In Muscat there is not that option. We will be traveling to other cities to look at universities and hopefully get some interviews.
Renting the car was a positive experience. The man we rented from is an Omani and is the only Omani we’ve had a conversation with. He mentioned that he is a welder and that it comes in handy because his family has animals. Of course I lit up and asked what animals they had. Birds (doves, parrots), goats, dogs, chickens, a cow. He did mention that the family has some land somewhere outside of the city. I assume it is a farm. The truly delightful moment in our conversation came up when he said that Islam forbids the keeping of dogs (It is “haram” – forbidden), but he pointed out that he thinks it’s fine to have dogs and that it really depends on how one feels in their heart. Basically, he was saying that it is what you believe. Ah! now he’s speaking my language. It is all about one’s beliefs and conditioning.
Yesterday I had an interview at the The American International School of Muscat (TAISM). It was a wonderfully long interview and I believe the World Language Coordinator and I are a good match for 2nd language acquisition philosophy. The job would be part time (50%), teaching Spanish to 3rd – 6th grades. I would really like the job but it will depend where Gus can be hired. If he gets a position in Muscat I will most likely go for this job, although I will interview for other posts teaching English as a Foreign Language. I really should try to get into that as it will help me grow as a language teacher. Not that working for TAISM won’t be growthful. It seems it will definitely be growthful as there is a lot of support and colleague collaboration .
Just 5 hours later – 3:29PM – and our calendar is full of visits, interviews and entertainment – thanks to Ken. Tomorrow Gus has an 11:00 interview at the Modern College of Business and Science. We hope to then drive to a city where there is a college Ken recommends and will meet the English Dept. director. Then back to the house by 5:00 to freshen up for a dinner talk given by Mike, the author of the Tagine and Masala recipe book. That should be fun . . . and delicious. More on that afterwards.
Wednesday we meet the director of the Eng. dept. of Naswah – Ayatolah. If all goes well he will want us to come up to his college in Nazwah. This city is known for its goat market. I can’t wait to see lots of goats. If we live there maybe we can purchase a milking goat . . . hmmm. There apparently won’t be much else to do but read, write, and meditate. I’ve always wanted to be stuck somewhere with Gus with nothing to do. Trapped with him and lots of good books. Nazwah might be just the place.
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Gus and I had a driving adventure yesterday. The streets in this city are not laid out on a grid. It’s been pointed out to us that they couldn’t do so because of the geology. This area used to be little villages and villas tucked into areas where it was possible to build. The geological layout is rock. To create a joined Muscat they’ve had to blast much of the rock and have built a major highway running through. Of course the building continues as the demand for housing grows.
Our adventure started out with the search of the Modern School of Business and Science.
Ken showed us where it was on the map saying it was close to the skating rink (yes, ice skating in the desert). Our map is not accurate nor is there such a thing because the layout of the land, the roads and building continue to change every day. But, the map was the only guide so we took the roads that were to lead to the college and stopped to ask directions when we knew we were in the vicinity. I went into an office in a strip mall and asked the clerk at the front desk. He said he did not speak English well enough but signaled that he would get someone. He called into the back room and apparently explained where I wanted to go. The man tried to tell the clerk what to tell me and the clerk motioned for him to come up to the front and talk directly to me. I guess the English speaking Omani was shy. At first our English speaker told us we were to drive another 12 kilometers so I emphasized the name of the college again and the fact that it was near the skating rink. Phew! The next set of directions were perfect and got us to the college quite easily.
The interview turned out to be not quite and interview – just a meeting. We met with Dr. Mouhiba (everyone refers to her on this “first name basis” plus, with a PhD. she is a Dr. – Ken too is a doctor – Dr. Ken – somehow Dr. Mouhiba sounds more official to my ear), a Tunisian, who casually mentioned she was sorry Dr. Bernard was not there and that we’d have to meet with him. Funny, cause the appt. was set up for that moment. Dr. Mouhiba almost seemed to not know why we were there. We enjoyed talking with her and left her with all our teaching documents. Then off we went to find our way to the highway to drive north to Al Musana where we were to meet Nihad, director of the English dept. at the Tech. College. Ken urged us to meet with her even though she would not hire us.
The drive was about 2 hours going 119 kph – once our speedometer hit 120 (the speed limit) an alarm went off in the car. The first time it happened there was a police car passing us on the left. Was our car alerting us? Did the police send out a signal? No, apparently every car has this alarm once it hits 120. Hmmm . . . then why are all those cars passing us at 125 or 130? Earplugs? No. There are 3 or 4 guys per car, relaxed, talking. They have an alarm going off too?
Our meeting with Nihad was very nice. She gave us a lot of information about what the students are like and what the department’s expectations are. Again we were told that classes would have to be very structured and that we were to be very strict or else the students would rule the class.
Ah! I almost forgot to mention, I got a call from the director of the American School (TAISM) to let me know they would like me to take the 50% position teaching Spanish to 3rd – 6th. The following year should grow to full time. My taking the job will all depend on where Gus gets hired.
More to come . . .
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Oman
Muscat, Oman,Thursday, 24th of May, 2007 (days 1,2 & 3 – all together make one long day)
3:36 your time plus 8 hours makes it almost midnight for us. I’m still up, mind going, going with the flow as it is our first day here in the Gulf region. It’s all new but just like I pictured it. I haven’t experienced such heat with humidity (youmidity, like Ronnie would say), but I had visions of what a world of sand, ocean, and Middle Eastern architecture would look like. However, it is more awesome than I’d imagined. The strength and presence of each building is a statement that all things made here must be substantial. No cutting corners, only quality and beauty. Okay, so this is just my first impression after getting the car tour of Muscat - the outside of the Sultan’s palace, mosques and homes. Some of the homes I might take for a mosque or the Sultan’s palace. I would have mentioned “malls” as being part of that car tour but I wouldn’t want to put it in the same sentence as “mosque.” To me it seems disrespectful. That’s my own opinion as I am not a passionate shopper. However, I have been told that shopping is the national past time here and even more so in the Emirates and Saudi Arabia. And, yes, there are malls. They aren’t sprawling like in the States.
I must admit, that is what we did today – shop. So, besides the tour by our friend Ken, we shopped. I needed hair clips and barrettes and something more casual than the clothes I packed. Gus and I also needed a cell phone to be able to keep contact with schools that will give us interviews for work next year. Well, I found what I needed and more. Ken led me right to the Indian clothing in the Lulu’s department store. When I saw all the beautiful cloth and embroidery I said, “some other time Ken . . . it will take me too long to select something,” to which he said, “oh, we’ll give you time. You stay here and look it over, try a few things on and we’ll be back in 20 minutes.” In 10 minutes I selected 3 beautiful outfits to try on. Each outfit was on sale for $15 and included a tunic, loose pants and a scarf. So, I went gaga! They’re beautiful! I’m in heaven. If we move here I don’t know how I will keep from having a collection of 50 of these gorgeous pieces of art! I selected 2 out of the three pieces and went on to find a hair clip to go with the dressier of the two. (Did I hear myself say “sweat shop labor?”).
We went to the souk on our tour where there is store after store of Indian clothing, scarves, trinkets and cheap things made in China. We went off hours and found 2 or 3 stores open. Ken bought a mosque clock that calls you to prayer. I imagine it goes off 5 times a day. One can turn it down. I have heard the real call to prayer both in Abu Dhabi (A.D.) and here and find it hauntingly beautiful. Our friend in A.D. says it depends on the voice that is singing the call. She says there is one voice that is irritating and sounds angry.
Today is the first day of the weekend here – a Thursday. Ken refers to it as Saturday. Friday, of course, is Sunday. Understandable when you are used to one’s first day off as Saturday and the second day off as Sunday. We have tomorrow to recuperate more before we get out into the world of Muscat to interview for teaching jobs. This is good as our bodies are not in this time zone yet. We feel a bit floaty during the day here. The heat doesn’t help but I’m sure we’ll get used to it. To make matters a little more confusing, Dubai and Abu Dhabi take their weekend on Friday and Saturday.
Tonight we had a wonderful dinner of fresh fish, purslane salad, rice and a sautéed carrot and green bean dish. I made the salad and the carrots & green beans. We had an honored guest here tonight - a Brit who has lived and taught in countries throughout the Middle East. He is also a writer and has just published a book on Tagine and Masala recipes. I was truly honored that he had seconds of my salad – my first experience with purslane.
I am chomping at the bit to be able to communicate with family and friends back home but dear Ken is not wired for internet. We will have to go to Starbucks down the road and pay for connection, or go sneak into a hotel that has wireless. I am writing this babble off line for now and will send it when we can take the time to connect to the www.
Tomorrow (25th of May) our dear friend Angela, who teaches in Dubai, will join up with us for brunch. We haven’t seen her in 2 or 3 years. She is here with a Japanese friend who needs to get a visa renewed for her stay in Dubai. I presume she had to leave the Emirate in order to renew.
So, we’ve been in Muscat for 24 hours and in the region for 42 hours. The first 12 hours were spent in Abu Dhabi where we visited friends Jo and Bill. Angela, Jo and Bill are friends from the School for Int’l. Training where I did my Masters. They too did their Masters in Teaching second languages, specializing in English. All three are phenomenal teachers.
It is becoming more and more apparent to me that we are meant to be here. With 4 close friends in the region and quick connections with their friends and colleagues we will find the right program to work with and feel right at home. My dream is to be able to connect with our students and their families and to be able to relate to them on a real and whole level. There are major cultural differences and I want to feel what it’s like to see the world as they do.
Muscat, Oman, Friday, 25 May, 2007 – 9:43
Starbucks
Okay, so I’m a tourist going after that perfect cup of coffee. One can always count on Starbucks. Ah! but they don’t have half & half. I am amazed I can even get a huge cup of Colombian here. The native drink of java is cardamom with a bit of coffee. I have yet to try it here. Gus and I make it this way at home but our recipe is coffee with a bit of cardamom.
What really makes me a tourist is that I want that big starbucks coffee mug that has “Muscat, Oman” and a picture of an incense burner on it. In Philly and Doylestown I scoff at the starbucks mugs with “Doylestown” or “Philadelphia” on them. I wish I’d brought a couple to give as gifts. There are some Omani men sitting in the center of the cafe. One has an espresso cup and another has the giant mug. I wonder if there was Colombian in the large mug and if he enjoyed it.
I am still typing this message to you on a word document because I haven’t been able to connect to the internet. I’m disappointed it isn’t as easy as “1-2-3” or just “1 (one)”! In the Ashland, OR airport one just gets online as if she were in her own home with wireless. The whole city of Ashland has wireless for universal access. I guess that’s the way the citizens like to spend their taxes. Here there is enough money to provide access for all BUT there may be some issues of censorship or control. Not sure. To get on I must register and pay. I don’t think it’s expensive but to register we need a phone number. We are purchasing a cell phone here and prepaying our minutes. This takes time. We are still getting used to business hours here.
Ah, alas, whatever happened to traveling in distant lands with no way of communication except for snail mail. Those days took much more conscientious planning, yet one didn’t think twice about it. It was just the way it was. One didn’t moan and groan about the slowness of it. Now I get a little anxious when I can’t rush a message off to my mother or bosom buddy just to say, “We’ve arrived! More later.” I am always saying “if our internet access slows down like the days when we had to dial up, I’ll quit using it.” Could I quit? I am addicted to speedy communication and finding answers to questions.
Just a moment ago I thought of a word I wanted to look up. At home I’d google it. By the time I get on the internet here I will not remember what the word was. The “need” for information is lost in a second and I am just as well off as I was before I had the thought.
As I mentioned last night today is Oman’s “Sunday.” Ken took us on a tour of the embassies – Palestine, Pakistan, Iran, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Emirates, France, Spain, England, US and more. The ugliest was, by far, the French Embassy and Egypt’s was run down. The US & Great Britain’s were off on their own with police on patrol and barriers to entering. They also had signs that said “No photographing.” Shameful empires. If you have to live in fear then you know you are doing something wrong, no?
Here at the Starbucks I am hearing many of my favorite singer songwriters – Amy Mann, Feist, Rufus Wainwright. Wild, huh?. In this city it is not easy to feel Omani life. Unless we begin to learn their language it will be difficult to see what Omani life is like. (Will we find a place where we can hear traditional music?) Mike (the man we had dinner with last night) knows Arabic from living in Tunisia at the age of 21. He knows enough Omani Arabic to make connections with locals. I’ve seen and met more Indians than I have Omanis. If we get jobs and live here for a year or two we will surely connect. Let’s see what this month’s stay brings us for any kind of understanding of the way things are done.
I just finished a book by Tahir Shah, “The Caliph’s House,” about his first year in Casablanca where he purchased and renovated an old home. It had belonged to the Caliph of that area generations before. Tahir had grown up and lived in London prior to moving his family (wife and two young children) to Casablanca. Their first year in Casablanca was a huge struggle. I don’t think I could have stuck it out with all the obstacles they had to having a peaceful life there. It took a year to begin to learn the ropes and understand how things got done in Morocco. They had to put up with the Jinns (Ginis) or people’s belief in the Jinns. In the end it seems Tahir was a believer himself.
They say there are Jinns here in Oman. I will have to find some writings on life in Oman – whether the writer is Indian, American or French, or, better yet, Omani. I believe Omani life is very private and the foreigner is not invited into their realm.
Saturday, 26 May 2007
Our weekend is over and now Gus and I can step into action. We are off to rent a car and continue our search for internet access so we can let our children, my mother and brothers know we are safe and thriving here in Muscat. One needs a car to get around Muscat and all of Oman. There is virtually no public transportation. There are taxis but, unfortunately, they are very expensive – or at least cost inhibitive. Great for an emergency but not for everyday. We will need to get around for interviews and the daily errands of life.
3:36 your time plus 8 hours makes it almost midnight for us. I’m still up, mind going, going with the flow as it is our first day here in the Gulf region. It’s all new but just like I pictured it. I haven’t experienced such heat with humidity (youmidity, like Ronnie would say), but I had visions of what a world of sand, ocean, and Middle Eastern architecture would look like. However, it is more awesome than I’d imagined. The strength and presence of each building is a statement that all things made here must be substantial. No cutting corners, only quality and beauty. Okay, so this is just my first impression after getting the car tour of Muscat - the outside of the Sultan’s palace, mosques and homes. Some of the homes I might take for a mosque or the Sultan’s palace. I would have mentioned “malls” as being part of that car tour but I wouldn’t want to put it in the same sentence as “mosque.” To me it seems disrespectful. That’s my own opinion as I am not a passionate shopper. However, I have been told that shopping is the national past time here and even more so in the Emirates and Saudi Arabia. And, yes, there are malls. They aren’t sprawling like in the States.
I must admit, that is what we did today – shop. So, besides the tour by our friend Ken, we shopped. I needed hair clips and barrettes and something more casual than the clothes I packed. Gus and I also needed a cell phone to be able to keep contact with schools that will give us interviews for work next year. Well, I found what I needed and more. Ken led me right to the Indian clothing in the Lulu’s department store. When I saw all the beautiful cloth and embroidery I said, “some other time Ken . . . it will take me too long to select something,” to which he said, “oh, we’ll give you time. You stay here and look it over, try a few things on and we’ll be back in 20 minutes.” In 10 minutes I selected 3 beautiful outfits to try on. Each outfit was on sale for $15 and included a tunic, loose pants and a scarf. So, I went gaga! They’re beautiful! I’m in heaven. If we move here I don’t know how I will keep from having a collection of 50 of these gorgeous pieces of art! I selected 2 out of the three pieces and went on to find a hair clip to go with the dressier of the two. (Did I hear myself say “sweat shop labor?”).
We went to the souk on our tour where there is store after store of Indian clothing, scarves, trinkets and cheap things made in China. We went off hours and found 2 or 3 stores open. Ken bought a mosque clock that calls you to prayer. I imagine it goes off 5 times a day. One can turn it down. I have heard the real call to prayer both in Abu Dhabi (A.D.) and here and find it hauntingly beautiful. Our friend in A.D. says it depends on the voice that is singing the call. She says there is one voice that is irritating and sounds angry.
Today is the first day of the weekend here – a Thursday. Ken refers to it as Saturday. Friday, of course, is Sunday. Understandable when you are used to one’s first day off as Saturday and the second day off as Sunday. We have tomorrow to recuperate more before we get out into the world of Muscat to interview for teaching jobs. This is good as our bodies are not in this time zone yet. We feel a bit floaty during the day here. The heat doesn’t help but I’m sure we’ll get used to it. To make matters a little more confusing, Dubai and Abu Dhabi take their weekend on Friday and Saturday.
Tonight we had a wonderful dinner of fresh fish, purslane salad, rice and a sautéed carrot and green bean dish. I made the salad and the carrots & green beans. We had an honored guest here tonight - a Brit who has lived and taught in countries throughout the Middle East. He is also a writer and has just published a book on Tagine and Masala recipes. I was truly honored that he had seconds of my salad – my first experience with purslane.
I am chomping at the bit to be able to communicate with family and friends back home but dear Ken is not wired for internet. We will have to go to Starbucks down the road and pay for connection, or go sneak into a hotel that has wireless. I am writing this babble off line for now and will send it when we can take the time to connect to the www.
Tomorrow (25th of May) our dear friend Angela, who teaches in Dubai, will join up with us for brunch. We haven’t seen her in 2 or 3 years. She is here with a Japanese friend who needs to get a visa renewed for her stay in Dubai. I presume she had to leave the Emirate in order to renew.
So, we’ve been in Muscat for 24 hours and in the region for 42 hours. The first 12 hours were spent in Abu Dhabi where we visited friends Jo and Bill. Angela, Jo and Bill are friends from the School for Int’l. Training where I did my Masters. They too did their Masters in Teaching second languages, specializing in English. All three are phenomenal teachers.
It is becoming more and more apparent to me that we are meant to be here. With 4 close friends in the region and quick connections with their friends and colleagues we will find the right program to work with and feel right at home. My dream is to be able to connect with our students and their families and to be able to relate to them on a real and whole level. There are major cultural differences and I want to feel what it’s like to see the world as they do.
Muscat, Oman, Friday, 25 May, 2007 – 9:43
Starbucks
Okay, so I’m a tourist going after that perfect cup of coffee. One can always count on Starbucks. Ah! but they don’t have half & half. I am amazed I can even get a huge cup of Colombian here. The native drink of java is cardamom with a bit of coffee. I have yet to try it here. Gus and I make it this way at home but our recipe is coffee with a bit of cardamom.
What really makes me a tourist is that I want that big starbucks coffee mug that has “Muscat, Oman” and a picture of an incense burner on it. In Philly and Doylestown I scoff at the starbucks mugs with “Doylestown” or “Philadelphia” on them. I wish I’d brought a couple to give as gifts. There are some Omani men sitting in the center of the cafe. One has an espresso cup and another has the giant mug. I wonder if there was Colombian in the large mug and if he enjoyed it.
I am still typing this message to you on a word document because I haven’t been able to connect to the internet. I’m disappointed it isn’t as easy as “1-2-3” or just “1 (one)”! In the Ashland, OR airport one just gets online as if she were in her own home with wireless. The whole city of Ashland has wireless for universal access. I guess that’s the way the citizens like to spend their taxes. Here there is enough money to provide access for all BUT there may be some issues of censorship or control. Not sure. To get on I must register and pay. I don’t think it’s expensive but to register we need a phone number. We are purchasing a cell phone here and prepaying our minutes. This takes time. We are still getting used to business hours here.
Ah, alas, whatever happened to traveling in distant lands with no way of communication except for snail mail. Those days took much more conscientious planning, yet one didn’t think twice about it. It was just the way it was. One didn’t moan and groan about the slowness of it. Now I get a little anxious when I can’t rush a message off to my mother or bosom buddy just to say, “We’ve arrived! More later.” I am always saying “if our internet access slows down like the days when we had to dial up, I’ll quit using it.” Could I quit? I am addicted to speedy communication and finding answers to questions.
Just a moment ago I thought of a word I wanted to look up. At home I’d google it. By the time I get on the internet here I will not remember what the word was. The “need” for information is lost in a second and I am just as well off as I was before I had the thought.
As I mentioned last night today is Oman’s “Sunday.” Ken took us on a tour of the embassies – Palestine, Pakistan, Iran, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Emirates, France, Spain, England, US and more. The ugliest was, by far, the French Embassy and Egypt’s was run down. The US & Great Britain’s were off on their own with police on patrol and barriers to entering. They also had signs that said “No photographing.” Shameful empires. If you have to live in fear then you know you are doing something wrong, no?
Here at the Starbucks I am hearing many of my favorite singer songwriters – Amy Mann, Feist, Rufus Wainwright. Wild, huh?. In this city it is not easy to feel Omani life. Unless we begin to learn their language it will be difficult to see what Omani life is like. (Will we find a place where we can hear traditional music?) Mike (the man we had dinner with last night) knows Arabic from living in Tunisia at the age of 21. He knows enough Omani Arabic to make connections with locals. I’ve seen and met more Indians than I have Omanis. If we get jobs and live here for a year or two we will surely connect. Let’s see what this month’s stay brings us for any kind of understanding of the way things are done.
I just finished a book by Tahir Shah, “The Caliph’s House,” about his first year in Casablanca where he purchased and renovated an old home. It had belonged to the Caliph of that area generations before. Tahir had grown up and lived in London prior to moving his family (wife and two young children) to Casablanca. Their first year in Casablanca was a huge struggle. I don’t think I could have stuck it out with all the obstacles they had to having a peaceful life there. It took a year to begin to learn the ropes and understand how things got done in Morocco. They had to put up with the Jinns (Ginis) or people’s belief in the Jinns. In the end it seems Tahir was a believer himself.
They say there are Jinns here in Oman. I will have to find some writings on life in Oman – whether the writer is Indian, American or French, or, better yet, Omani. I believe Omani life is very private and the foreigner is not invited into their realm.
Saturday, 26 May 2007
Our weekend is over and now Gus and I can step into action. We are off to rent a car and continue our search for internet access so we can let our children, my mother and brothers know we are safe and thriving here in Muscat. One needs a car to get around Muscat and all of Oman. There is virtually no public transportation. There are taxis but, unfortunately, they are very expensive – or at least cost inhibitive. Great for an emergency but not for everyday. We will need to get around for interviews and the daily errands of life.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Fingerprints
As I was spring cleaning, this balmy day in February (32 degrees fahrenheit), I noticed finger prints on the kitchen ceiling and on the painted surface of the top of a doorway. The ones in the doorway are noticable from a certain angle in certain light. A vision popped into my head of one of my son's standing there in the doorway, talking to me with his hands splayed at the top of the doorway, as he leaned forward, stretching his upper arms back.
Some of my cleaning was inspired by this son, who, quite tall, can see the top of our refrigerator. Leave it to our children to keep us in the light, teach us through their full honesty, tellin' us like it is. Today I honor our children for mirroring back to us what it is we need to learn . . . when we are ready (sometimes ready or not!). I hope that my imprint on their life has given them all they need to keep learning and look at themselves from a distance to be able to see who they truly are. Amazing beams of light.
Some of my cleaning was inspired by this son, who, quite tall, can see the top of our refrigerator. Leave it to our children to keep us in the light, teach us through their full honesty, tellin' us like it is. Today I honor our children for mirroring back to us what it is we need to learn . . . when we are ready (sometimes ready or not!). I hope that my imprint on their life has given them all they need to keep learning and look at themselves from a distance to be able to see who they truly are. Amazing beams of light.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Why I Teach
I became a teacher believing it was Spanish Language and Hispanic Culture I wanted to share with my students. As I’ve developed as a teacher, I find that it wasn’t a choice. It was a gift.
The gift came from my intuition, from parents, who were both teachers, and from the positive learning experiences I have had.
Creating a safe learning environment has been my top priority. Without a feeling of safety and trust there can be no learning. With this in mind, it is the learner, or student, who takes top priority, not the subject being taught. With 15 – 30 students in a classroom it is therefore the learning community that takes priority.
I will do my best to facilitate all my students learning and guide them to success. It must be in a community spirit, established through my joy in learning and genuine interest in each person. This gift is about love of learning and caring for humanity and the earth. This gift comes from the heart.
The gift came from my intuition, from parents, who were both teachers, and from the positive learning experiences I have had.
Creating a safe learning environment has been my top priority. Without a feeling of safety and trust there can be no learning. With this in mind, it is the learner, or student, who takes top priority, not the subject being taught. With 15 – 30 students in a classroom it is therefore the learning community that takes priority.
I will do my best to facilitate all my students learning and guide them to success. It must be in a community spirit, established through my joy in learning and genuine interest in each person. This gift is about love of learning and caring for humanity and the earth. This gift comes from the heart.
Monday, January 1, 2007
Pray and Act for Peace
Fourth Grandmothers Council Gathering Dharamsala, India
(What I took away with me in writing and in my heart from a presentation given by Barbara Simmons & Jeannine Vannais, Sunday, December 10, 2006)
Yesterday I heard my dear friend, Barbara Simmons’ and her friend and assistant, Jeannine Vannais, talk about their trip to Dharamsala, India, to attend the International Council of Indigenous Women. Barbara was invited to interview the thirteen women who have been meeting twice a year for 2 years. These interviews will be the subject of a half hour program on Peacetalks Radio
The Thirteen Grandmothers include healers and shamans from the Arctic, Amazon, Gabon (a country in Africa), Nepal, Tibet, Cenral America, Mexico (Mayan), and North America (Lakota, Hopi, Cheyenne and Takilma). They came together after Jyoti, director of the Center for Sacred Studies, had a prophetic vision.
In another profound prophecy Grandmother Rita, as a child, was given by her grandmother 13 bundles of corn husks, each wrapped around a stone, and an eagle tail feather. She told Rita to save them for the day when she would be meeting with 12 other indigenous women at which time she was to pass these bundles out. Although sixteen women were invited to the first meeting in October, 2004, in Menlo Park, NY, only thirteen were able to come. Thirteen is a significant number. Grandmother Agnes, of Oregon, points out that “there are 13 planets in the heavens (in a year) and . . . 13 moons in the year.”
The Grandmother’s Council and Barbara believe that “It’s time for the female voice (to assume leadership). For many centuries leadership has been of the male voice (and) we have war. We are in the 11th hour.”
This meeting was extra special for Barbara to attend because the Grandmother’s Council met with the Dalai Llama in his residence in Dharamasala. Barbara said that meeting with him “was like being with your favorite grandfather.”
The Grandmothers held prayer ceremonies three times a day – morning, lunch and evening. Attendees of the council were asked to walk down to the Dalai Lama’s temple to learn about Buddhism from a nun or monk each day for 3 to 6 hours. Barbara, being a woman of action, could not sit still for 3 hours and would go out and find a way to help two people a day. She said that “India is the kind of place that cracks your heart open. . . It is a place of paradoxes.” Everywhere you go there is disease, poverty and homelessness. She couldn’t just sit and pray. She had to find a way to feed someone. She is an activist as well as a deeply spiritual human being.
The overwhelming message of the Grandmothers was to pray and act. The Earth needs our “prayer and action.” It “doesn’t matter where or how you pray. . . When the Grandmothers pray it is out of gratefulness.” One exclaims, “We have united as one, isn’t that a miracle?”
Three other messages I came away with were:
1. “The young people can be the legs of the action. . . . It’s not about us. It’s about ALL the grandmothers of the world. It includes grandfathers and young people.”
2. “Don’t be scared or overwhelmed. We have the tools – all we need is the voice and the will.”
3. “If we want to see the change we need to feel peace inside . . . then we need to be patient with those who haven’t arrived there yet.”
And a quote from Grandmother Bernadette of Gabon, part of which Barbara quoted during her presentation:
“I would favor an education about peace from the start, from the basis of life. I would see in the programs of preschool and school until the universities a different way of teaching and to give greater room to spirituality because, in fact, this is the basis. When we speak about love, it’s not to go wash your face, it’s in your heart, and there in your head. And so a Spiritual education really has its place and to apply this new educational methods about peace on the long term we are going to change the mentalities. And I would like on this occasion, to really talk to the toy makers, to stop teaching children violence from the beginning. We give to a 3 year old child a gun as a toy. The same child looks at television and has its toy. The child imitates very quickly what is bad. He learns hardly what is good and so manipulating these toys he learns by that the physical violence and the visual violence through the television. But if we are looking in to different ways to make the toys favoring love and tenderness and affection, the child will start from his young age with a different education, hoping that the films will be censored.”
Grandmother Bernadette’s quote is soooo perfect as the Peace Center, of Langhorne, PA, where Barbara worked as volunteer and executive director, has put on a Peaceful Toy Fair for many years, educating families about the importance of choosing toys wisely.
Barbara is a great teacher and mentor for me as were the Grandmothers for her. One learning experience she related which speaks deeply to me was when one evening she was interviewing Grandmother Margaret (Red Spider Woman). There was a storm brewing outside and Barbara found herself distracted and concerned about the storm. Grandmother Margaret continued talking. Suddenly the window blew in and broke into pieces all over the floor. Barbara became extremely anxious but Grandmother Margaret continued as if nothing had happened. Barbara learned something about focus, saying, “You can let what’s happening outside of you rattle you if you choose.” I am at a time in my life where I find it much easier to not react to what’s going on around me if it is out of my control. But to be able to completely focus on the task at hand no matter what is going on around me will take more practice and inner peace.
One more story I want to relay is that during a prayer ceremony with Grandmother Agnes, thirteen kites were swirling around above them. At the end of the ceremony a condor swooped down over them all making them duck down out of his reach. The story goes that when the Eagle and the Condor meet we will see the change that is needed to save the Earth. I recently heard this prophecy from a woman who had been to a Pachamama Alliance fundraising dinner in San Francisco -
If we want to see change we need to be a part of it. You know the saying – “Be the change you want to see.” And, “am I part of the problem or part of the solution?”
The four considerations we need to make are:
1. Mentor young people
2. Speak up!
3. Run for office
4. Support Grandmothers’ Council, Peacetalk Radio and/or the documentary
makers of "For the Next 7 Generations."
Go to their websites.
International Council of Indigenous Women – http://www.grandmotherscouncil.com
"For the Next 7 Generations." – http://www.forthenext7generations.com
Peacetalks Radio – http://www.peacetalksonline.org
Center for Sacred Studies – http://www.sacredstudies.org
Pachamama Alliance – http://www.pachamama.org
The reason I write this is really to internalize these messages and thoughts I want to keep with me as I take each step forward. It is so easy to forget and be numbed by the lifestyles we Westerners (Western Civilization) live. Lifestyles of materialism, abundance of food and drink, and the ability to fly anywhere, leaving our local community and home to continue in their alienation. Many on this earth are going through a dark time. I am included. Or, maybe I should speak for myself! I want to work for Peace. In order to know “how to act” or “what steps to take” I will have to pray, clear my head and my heart, to find clarity of action. And, Take Action.
I hope that all who read this and come in contact with the Grandmothers Council have been fed a little light and can join me on our journey to connect with the Earth and each other and through this, end war.
Peace in our Hearts
Peace in the World
(What I took away with me in writing and in my heart from a presentation given by Barbara Simmons & Jeannine Vannais, Sunday, December 10, 2006)
Yesterday I heard my dear friend, Barbara Simmons’ and her friend and assistant, Jeannine Vannais, talk about their trip to Dharamsala, India, to attend the International Council of Indigenous Women. Barbara was invited to interview the thirteen women who have been meeting twice a year for 2 years. These interviews will be the subject of a half hour program on Peacetalks Radio
The Thirteen Grandmothers include healers and shamans from the Arctic, Amazon, Gabon (a country in Africa), Nepal, Tibet, Cenral America, Mexico (Mayan), and North America (Lakota, Hopi, Cheyenne and Takilma). They came together after Jyoti, director of the Center for Sacred Studies, had a prophetic vision.
In another profound prophecy Grandmother Rita, as a child, was given by her grandmother 13 bundles of corn husks, each wrapped around a stone, and an eagle tail feather. She told Rita to save them for the day when she would be meeting with 12 other indigenous women at which time she was to pass these bundles out. Although sixteen women were invited to the first meeting in October, 2004, in Menlo Park, NY, only thirteen were able to come. Thirteen is a significant number. Grandmother Agnes, of Oregon, points out that “there are 13 planets in the heavens (in a year) and . . . 13 moons in the year.”
The Grandmother’s Council and Barbara believe that “It’s time for the female voice (to assume leadership). For many centuries leadership has been of the male voice (and) we have war. We are in the 11th hour.”
This meeting was extra special for Barbara to attend because the Grandmother’s Council met with the Dalai Llama in his residence in Dharamasala. Barbara said that meeting with him “was like being with your favorite grandfather.”
The Grandmothers held prayer ceremonies three times a day – morning, lunch and evening. Attendees of the council were asked to walk down to the Dalai Lama’s temple to learn about Buddhism from a nun or monk each day for 3 to 6 hours. Barbara, being a woman of action, could not sit still for 3 hours and would go out and find a way to help two people a day. She said that “India is the kind of place that cracks your heart open. . . It is a place of paradoxes.” Everywhere you go there is disease, poverty and homelessness. She couldn’t just sit and pray. She had to find a way to feed someone. She is an activist as well as a deeply spiritual human being.
The overwhelming message of the Grandmothers was to pray and act. The Earth needs our “prayer and action.” It “doesn’t matter where or how you pray. . . When the Grandmothers pray it is out of gratefulness.” One exclaims, “We have united as one, isn’t that a miracle?”
Three other messages I came away with were:
1. “The young people can be the legs of the action. . . . It’s not about us. It’s about ALL the grandmothers of the world. It includes grandfathers and young people.”
2. “Don’t be scared or overwhelmed. We have the tools – all we need is the voice and the will.”
3. “If we want to see the change we need to feel peace inside . . . then we need to be patient with those who haven’t arrived there yet.”
And a quote from Grandmother Bernadette of Gabon, part of which Barbara quoted during her presentation:
“I would favor an education about peace from the start, from the basis of life. I would see in the programs of preschool and school until the universities a different way of teaching and to give greater room to spirituality because, in fact, this is the basis. When we speak about love, it’s not to go wash your face, it’s in your heart, and there in your head. And so a Spiritual education really has its place and to apply this new educational methods about peace on the long term we are going to change the mentalities. And I would like on this occasion, to really talk to the toy makers, to stop teaching children violence from the beginning. We give to a 3 year old child a gun as a toy. The same child looks at television and has its toy. The child imitates very quickly what is bad. He learns hardly what is good and so manipulating these toys he learns by that the physical violence and the visual violence through the television. But if we are looking in to different ways to make the toys favoring love and tenderness and affection, the child will start from his young age with a different education, hoping that the films will be censored.”
Grandmother Bernadette’s quote is soooo perfect as the Peace Center, of Langhorne, PA, where Barbara worked as volunteer and executive director, has put on a Peaceful Toy Fair for many years, educating families about the importance of choosing toys wisely.
Barbara is a great teacher and mentor for me as were the Grandmothers for her. One learning experience she related which speaks deeply to me was when one evening she was interviewing Grandmother Margaret (Red Spider Woman). There was a storm brewing outside and Barbara found herself distracted and concerned about the storm. Grandmother Margaret continued talking. Suddenly the window blew in and broke into pieces all over the floor. Barbara became extremely anxious but Grandmother Margaret continued as if nothing had happened. Barbara learned something about focus, saying, “You can let what’s happening outside of you rattle you if you choose.” I am at a time in my life where I find it much easier to not react to what’s going on around me if it is out of my control. But to be able to completely focus on the task at hand no matter what is going on around me will take more practice and inner peace.
One more story I want to relay is that during a prayer ceremony with Grandmother Agnes, thirteen kites were swirling around above them. At the end of the ceremony a condor swooped down over them all making them duck down out of his reach. The story goes that when the Eagle and the Condor meet we will see the change that is needed to save the Earth. I recently heard this prophecy from a woman who had been to a Pachamama Alliance fundraising dinner in San Francisco -
If we want to see change we need to be a part of it. You know the saying – “Be the change you want to see.” And, “am I part of the problem or part of the solution?”
The four considerations we need to make are:
1. Mentor young people
2. Speak up!
3. Run for office
4. Support Grandmothers’ Council, Peacetalk Radio and/or the documentary
makers of "For the Next 7 Generations."
Go to their websites.
International Council of Indigenous Women – http://www.grandmotherscouncil.com
"For the Next 7 Generations." – http://www.forthenext7generations.com
Peacetalks Radio – http://www.peacetalksonline.org
Center for Sacred Studies – http://www.sacredstudies.org
Pachamama Alliance – http://www.pachamama.org
The reason I write this is really to internalize these messages and thoughts I want to keep with me as I take each step forward. It is so easy to forget and be numbed by the lifestyles we Westerners (Western Civilization) live. Lifestyles of materialism, abundance of food and drink, and the ability to fly anywhere, leaving our local community and home to continue in their alienation. Many on this earth are going through a dark time. I am included. Or, maybe I should speak for myself! I want to work for Peace. In order to know “how to act” or “what steps to take” I will have to pray, clear my head and my heart, to find clarity of action. And, Take Action.
I hope that all who read this and come in contact with the Grandmothers Council have been fed a little light and can join me on our journey to connect with the Earth and each other and through this, end war.
Peace in our Hearts
Peace in the World
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