Speechless

That is how you have left me. I hardly have any words to express my feelings about what happened last night in Sassine Square in Ashrafieh, Beirut. Eight people dead, and around eighty people injured. But hey, at least no politicians were harmed, so we can all have a good night's sleep. Shame on you.

Shame on you for creating chaos and disorder in people's lives, over and over again. Shame on you for thinking yourself gods, able to decide who gets to live and who doesn't. Shame on you for ripping apart families. Shame on you that doctors have to deliver bad news to mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, children, friends ...Shame on you that those abroad waited in anxiety, hoping their loved ones would pick up the phone and assure them that they were well. Shame on you that some have to remain abroad, separated from family, while knowing that all is not well in their beloved country that you have mutilated.

One day, you will be held accountable for your deeds and your sins. 

Ironing shrinks your clothes.

Being poor and in a new city (and having shed a few kilos), ironing has been a relatively new but much appreciated blessing. I'm afraid my life is not very fascinating at the moment. Today, I will have the first low key night for a few days now. I'm just gonna change into my comfy pjs, and soak up the wonders of Narnia along with some warm tea for some throat. Teaching is sick nasty to the vocal cords.

Life is good. I am surrounded by great colleagues, and all around by warm and loving people. It has been a blessing, being away from home. I play soccer in the park with a five year old, I go to the gym, I watch football games. I have become a new person in this strange new city. Yet I cannot wait to be back in B-town over Christmas break, hanging out with my family over holiday hot chocolate and wine, with the karaoke machine blaring, and father belting out the lyrics of the same song for the fifth time, walking in the rain and having snow fights. Also, I cannot wait to hit up the snowy mountains with my family's new husky.

Christmas, you're only two months away.

On pink eye and getting kicked out of the country

I love being an elementary school teacher. Really, I do. The kids are adorable and they always want to hug you. And anyone who knows me should be grateful that I am getting my share of hugs from the kids. :) But little kids are boogers. They get their hands on unspeakable things and they are little adorable carriers of germs and infections. As a result, I have a cold and possibly pink eye. I am not sure if what's going on with my eye is due to my wearing contacts.

Anyway, after I have astounded you with the fascinating details of my life, I want to ask you to pray for rest for me, that I would be able to find a rhythm and adjust to life here, instead of just functioning on warp speed all the time. I want to be able to enjoy life and learn as much as I can about culture in Dubai. The other day, I learned that wealthy people pay for their license plate numbers to be a lesser amount of digits. The richer you are, the less numbers you have on your license plate. I also learned that people have to leave the country when they are sixty. Something about them no longer being productive to the society. Not sure how accurate it is, but in any case, Ouch.

Much love to all you lovely readers,

His,
Carmen