A Reflection

In September, I posted a quote from The Book Thief. It's one of my favorite quotes from the book, but it's incomplete. Actually, the complete quote is this:

I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn't already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race--that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.
None of those things, however, came out of my mouth.
All I was able to do was turn to Leisel Meminger and tell her the only truth I truly know. I said it to the book thief and I say it now to you.

"I am haunted by humans."

I am haunted by humans.

Most of the time, I see us like this:

If the history of humanity were the clinical case history of a single human being, the diagnosis would have to be: chronic paranoid delusions. a pathological propensity to commit murder and acts of extreme violence and cruelty against his perceived "enemies"--his own unconsciousness projected outward. Criminally insane, with a few brief lucid intervals.

--Eckhart Tolle

It's deeply cynical, and I'm not proud of it, nor am I soothed by it for it omits the human propensity to do good, and the incredible talent of joy.

How can humanity be both criminally insane and compassionate? I wonder this all the time, and consequently find myself talking about it all the time. Conversations about delusional, selfish humanity, that exploits young girls, and works to exterminate entire races. The humanity that abuses animals and betrays loved ones. I can't help but marvel at its cruelty.

A few weeks ago, it came up with my roommate and we shared stories of maids and enslaved migrant workers, and about the elephants she saw being beaten in Sri Lanka. I told her that the night before, I had a dream about rescuing a cat from a sadistic cat-torturer. It was only a dream, but I was disturbed by it because I knew it was also a reality. From the comfort of our living room, we looked out over humankind's depravity.

Later that afternoon, I went to Ikea. The conversation was still fresh in mind as I stood picking through sheets.

What size is my bed, anyway? None of these say 'single'. Does Ikea really expect me to know the dimensions in centimeters? I wondered. And why am I even bothering with sheets? I already have sheets! And a bed. Some people don't even have a bed, and I'm stressing about sheets.

My rationale argued back. The point isn't to deprive yourself of sheets; The point is to live so that everyone can have a bed with clean, non-scratchy sheets. Not buying sheets won't make anyone else's circumstances better, including your own.

Okay, but what color? And threadcount? Do these even have threadcount? Ugh. Threadcount. Can't I just be grateful for the sheets?

I wandered to the next aisle, still unsure of my mattress size, the color I wanted, and why I was even bothering.

A toddler with big rosy jowls and a smile like sunshine waved at me from her cart.

Hi! Her whole face was a smile.

Hi! I returned the wave, and her grin gave way to a fit of giggles. She excitedly waved again. Hi!

She was so excited, I couldn't help but giggle, too. I'd never seen someone so happy to be in Ikea!

I lifted a pack of sheets so it covered my face, then moved them quickly away again. Hi!

Oh, how she laughed!

And in the middle of that busy Ikea, surrounded by (surely) ill-fitting sheets, I did too.

How could I not?

One minute I'm guilty over buying sheets, and the next I'm laughing with a stranger. Isn't that just like humanity?

Her mom came up then and together they began walking to the aisle I had just come from. She looked past her mom, to me, and waved again.

Ma Salaama! (In Arabic, 'goodbye' is actually '[Go] with Peace'.)

It stunned me. She looked Asian, and too small to be able to speak.

Her mom turned to me and laughed a little. Yeah, she says 'Salaam aleykum! An Arabic greeting that translates to, Peace be upon you. Sometimes she gets mixed up and says, 'Ma salaam aleykum!'

Amused, I smiled at both of them, then lifted my hand and waved goodbye to the girl. Ma salaam aleykum! Goodbye! I called after them.

She waved back. Go with peace!

She was beaming.

I beamed, too.

_____


I am haunted by humans. And as I think this, another line from The Book Thief comes floating back to me: I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both.

Hmm.

What I've Been Up To

1. Work. So much work.

2. Travel.

3. Doing 2 for 1.

4. Halloween, for which I did not dress up.

5. Achieving Parallel Parking Victory!

6. Touring Philadelphia (see #3). It was fantastic.

7. Falling back in love with the US. I've decided to move to DC or New York. In 2012.

8. Visiting my BFF in Atlanta, and buying a brand new computer (because during number 7, I left my computer on the plane. Sha-WING!). Other fantastic highlights: fall in Atlanta (WOW), trying every flavor at Wonderful World of Coke's tasting station (we made a suicide of all 60 flavors. YUM)

9. Finding a heart-shaped radish leaf.

I have pictures for all of these and I was going to post them, but man, posting pictures is a pain, so Imma just ...

10. go to bed before 10. It's what I do these days and boy howdy do I adore it. I will give you a much more interesting (and visual!) update soon.

Much love,

This Little Ray (of SUNSHINE! :D)

So Legit

Hey! Remember that time I tried to parallel-parked?

Well, this weekend I went out with some friends for some delicious, authentic, affordable Asian food (YUM) in Dubai. Like most urban areas, Dubai has few parking options and so I went with the only one I had: to park parallel busy urban road.

DID I SUCCEED?


*ahem*


Front wheels:


Back wheels:

I KNOW!! Such exactness! Such perfection! Such parallels!

I was made for the city.

Another Thought

"If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life?

It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony. We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth."

Mitsugi Saotome

I've been thinking a lot about the purpose of life lately, and about the purpose of Death, too. I have nothing to say about this quote except that it resonates with me. Life is meaningful because of love, and you can't have love without each other.

But, the cost of love is hate and misery and tragedy--and people bring these things about, too.

Is that our collective purpose in living? For Harmony?

Dutch: It's The Way To Go

I once knew a Dutch kid named Marco. I did not like him.

A combination of my senior year with Marco and several layovers in the Amsterdam airport led me to conclude several years ago that I did not like the Netherlands, nor its tall, skinny, jerky, smoking people.

An unfair judgment, I know. I knew it then, too. But until I met a Dutch person I liked, I was determined to look upon Hollanders with disdain.

And then this July I attended a conference in Prague. 80+ students from over 30 nations around the world gathered for a week of leadership activities, and one night of culture-sharing. The first act of the night was a tall, skinny, non-blonde named Yori, who explained a bit about the bizarreness Dutch National Anthem, and tore off his shirt while singing it. I can't remember why he did, but I distinctly remember agreeing with him that, yes, that is not all that's strange about the Dutch.

The next day, I got to talking to him in one of the activities . I didn't mention my prejudice against his people, but I did bring up the Amsterdam airport, and--more importantly--that Holland is home to the best peanut butter in the world.

Ah, Calvé Pindakaas!

What? Yes! You know it! They used to sell it in Dubai, but now I can't find it anywhere and I loooove it.

Well, I can send you some!

I got a very nice email a few weeks later apologizing for the delay, but his parents had eaten the pindakaas [peanut butter] intended for me (see? it really is the best!) and of course that delayed the sending somewhat. But no matter. It's in the mail and should arrive in 8-10 days.

Sweet! I thought. And then I left for Europe and forgot all about it.

Until today.

It came!! All 2 jars and 20 (!) Euros of it.

I still think lowly of Marco and the Amsterdam airport in all its toxic secondhand haze, but overall, I'm feeling very kindly toward the Dutch.

Very kind indeed.

My only problem is: What to send back?

(more Dutch awesomeness.)

A Thought

I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn't already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race--that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.

--The Book Thief

By Markus Zusak

I LOVE FRANCE

I had every intention of telling you about how freaking wonderful Munich is, and how beautiful the weather was, and how much I enjoyed walking along its quaint little streets. Oh, and how well organized, easy, and efficient its underground is! And how everyone just assumed I was German, until I had to reveal I wasn't in order to pay for my soft Pretzel (mmmmmm). I have great pictures for you, and great things to say about Munich. But right now, all I want to talk about is how much I LOVE Paris!! I love it. All I've done is wander along its streets, stopping every now and then to snap a picture. I love cities. I love wandering around cities. I love wandering around Paris. I love, love, love this city!

I have so many great things to say and pictures to post that I hardly know where to begin! How about with today? Highlights:

I ran into an acquaintance from Salt Lake City! A guy from my ward whom I didn't know well. He was standing outside a store with a camera around his neck.

I have this game I play when I travel--it's especially fun in Europe--called "Spot the American" and whenever I correctly identify someone as 'American', I win! It seems like a boring game that would get old fast because of course it's always the fattest, loudest, worst-dressed people that are the Americans (sorry, fellow citizens, but these Europeans are a slim, stylish bunch) and spotting them is like spotting a kool-aid stain on a white polo. But I don't spend much time in touristy areas (read: places with lots of Americans) and so the game maintains its appeal.

So, I spotted the American loitering along the sidewalk and then realized that wasn't just an American--that was a UTAHN. Whom I KNEW. But how? And what the crap was his name?

I stopped right there on the street, not 5 five feet away, and pointed directly at him.

"You." It was all I could say, since I couldn't remember his name or how exactly I knew him.

For a second he looked alarmed, and then recognition dawned and he said, Yeah, I do know you from somewhere--as though he was answering some unasked question.

And then I remembered! A roommate of a friend from the ward. (I still couldn't recall his name.)

Yep. That was it.

Turns out he was on vacation with his mom! SLC flights directly to Paris, you know. Oh, and his name is Steve.

I never get tired of these small-world incidents.

_________

I visited 11 Rue Jacob today. I know that doesn't mean anything to you, but it's haunted. I know that because I've listened to this story 13 times (iTunes play count!) and decided it made a much cooler landmark than the Eiffel Tower, which I didn't visit.

_________

I ate a fabulous French lunch today. It was expensive and fancy and had an entree AND a main course. (Who even knew an entree wasn't a main dish?) Anyway, it was superb, expensive, downed with Evian, and didn't cost me a cent. Bada. BING.

__________

That's why my job is awesome. It pays me to travel to cool places and eat lunch on other universities' dimes.

___________

It also gives me a per diem--a daily allowance--for food and transportation. I haven't wanted to take the time to sit down and eat a proper meal (too much to see!), so instead I've just bought lots of ice cream. If you learn only one word in French, learn this: glaces.

Mmmmmmmm.

___________

I still haven't eaten a croissant :(

____________

I visited Notre Dame today.

It's so beautiful.

____________

Tonight, my pre-dinner gelato cost a fortune (3.50. EUROS!) but it was chocolate and raspberry and shaped like a flower! A scoop of chocolate in the center surrounded raspberry petals. I'm so sad I didn't discover that place last night.

____________

I'm really proud that no one speaks English to me. It means no one assumes I'm American. In my book, if you can pass for local in TWO European countries, you are a legit traveler.

(This rule doesn't apply in the Middle East.)

___________

I have work to do now. The rest of the week is work and travel and business meetings, and then it's back to the office.

Hm. Come to think of it, I think I'll just take a bath instead. I won't get another vacation until November and I think I need to take advantage of this night.

Plus, I went to Sephora tonight. That bath cube ain't gonna dissolve itself!

More to come,

Paris Paris Paris!

Finally! A Post About TRAVELING!

I am typing this from a wee hotel room hotel in Munich, Germany. Tomorrow, I will be typing from a (hopefully much less wee) room in PARISSS!!! I am so excited. Want the full details of my European tour?

View Europe September 2010 in a larger map
Weeeee!

I spent Thursday preparing for the trip by eating the rest of my food (chicken, homemade soup (!) and zucchini pasta(yum!)), packing and shopping. Yes, it is important to buy new clothes if you are going on a business trip to Europe. It is also important to borrow from your awesome roommate's stash of business attire and designer bags! And to adopt her too-small heels. Yeah!

When you fly internationally, you should be at the airport 3 hours before your scheduled departure. I never, ever break this rule. It often means I have a good 1-2 hours of empty time at the airport, but better empty time in Duty Free! than not enough time at check-in! I always say.

My flight (to Munich vai Paris) was scheduled for a 1:45 takeoff Friday AM and so a 10:45 airport arrival would leave me with plenty of time for check-in, duty free browsing, and my traditional buying of the Jelly Bellies (they're like 2 bucks at the airport! I buy a pack or two every time I fly and while eating them, tell each little bean how it was made and the cool state they are from.)(Just kidding. But wouldn't that make a great story for the person next to me? 'So how was your flight?" "Dude, I sat next to the craziest lady!' haha) Uh, so I don't remember where I was before that parenthetical tangent.... Oh right, so I thought I was leaving at 1:45 but I checked my itinerary around 10 PM (I had just finished packing my suitcase for the 8th time. Only one carry-on suitcase for 8 days!) and realized it said: 0045! oh no! WHAT HAD I DONE?

I was like, Roommate, I got the time wrong!

She was like, What's the rush?

I was like, 3 hours!

She does not believe in that rule, I learned, and so we pulled up to the airport just after 10:45 (I live 10 minutes away) and it was a MADHOUSE. You know how it is traveling in the US around the x-mas holidays? It was like that. (because it was the start of the Eid holiday and everyone and their mothers, brothers, and children were leaving the country!)

I waited 45 minutes to check in (You never have to wait when you're 3 hours early!) and then the lady asked me about my carry-on and was like, Uh, I'll need to weigh that.

It was overweight by 1.6 kg and she was like, You can check it.

And I did, even though inside I was like Nooooooooooo! I really hate checking bags. I packed a carry-on sized suitcase just so I wouldn't have to! But really, what other option did I have?

That was bad, but not as bad as the next thing she said to me: The only seat available is in the middle.

WHAT?? (Because my travel guy always books me an aisle seat!)

You need to make your seat selection when you reserve, she scolded.

I was like, But my travel guy always books me an aisle seat! Is that really my only option?

And she said, Well, let me check.

And 10 minutes later: A window seat. bada BING.

VERY IMPORTANT TRAVEL TIP: BE NICE. Always. Even when you're freaking out because you arrived 2 hours early instead of 3!

This lady volunteered to find me a better seat (middle seats suck! especially on international flights!), and when I was in Prague in July, I was allowed to take on my overweight carry-on because I asked nicely. My mom's colleague has gotten upgraded to business this way several times. Nice, folks, is not over-rated.

I made it to my gate just under an hour before take-off, and so I rewarded myself with Jelly Beans :)

Slept all the way to Paris, even though I was in the bulkhead. Do you want to know how I feel about the Bulkhead? Let me quote fellow short-person David Sedaris:

He was at the front of the cabin, in a single bulkhead seat, and I recall feeling sorry for him, because I hate the bulkhead. Tall people covet it, but I prefer as little leg room as possible. When I’m on a plane or in a movie theatre, I like to slouch down as low as I can, and rest my knees on the seat back in front of me. In the bulkhead, there is no seat in front of you, just a wall a good three feet away, and I never know what to do with my legs. Another drawback is that you have to stow all of your belongings in the overhead compartment, and these are usually full by the time I board. All in all, I’d rather hang from one of the wheels than have to sit up front.

Taken from this piece, which is SO FUNNY. It also appears in his book, When You Are Engulfed In Flames (of which I have a signed copy. boo yaw) as Solution to Saturday's Puzzle.

Thank you, David. I hope I run into you while I'm in Paris this week!

So, I slept uncomfortably, but I wasn't in the middle seat! (haha. I accidentally typed 'middle east' first.)

I arrived in Paris and they don't have a train to take you from terminal to terminal so I walked FOREVER to get to my next gate. It turned out okay, though, because I had a 3-hour layover :)

Then I slept all the way to Munich.

At the airport, I picked up my luggage and found a money exchange, and then had to figure out how the heck to get to my hotel. Would a taxi know the address? I asked the lady at information.
She said, Yes, but of course that is ridiculous, you silly little American, because a taxi will be 60 Euro and you can get there on the train for 10! Then she shoved a map at me and started helping the next person.

Germans, I hear, can be a little brusque.

I paid for the taxi, because 1 it's not my money 2 I don't know how to use the train!!

****This part is, uh, a little on the 'adult' side. Under-18 year olds: ye be warned!***

As we all know here on this blog, I have a talent for attracting, ah, 'interesting' taxi drivers. Turns out that in Germany, they're a little more interesting than in Jordan.

This man never asked me to marry him, never demanded I sit in the front seat with him, and really never made me feel even a little uncomfortable. This is significant considering our conversation, in which he revealed that if he could 'to change' he would be German woman because girls can have--how do you call it?--'one-night stays' with many men--hundreds even!--and it is okay. A woman can approach a man in a disco and ask for a night and he will not say no. No man will say no to this! But if he goes to a woman in a disco and asks for a night, she will tell him, No! You are crazy!

I said, Well, you can say no! You don't have to say yes just because you were asked.

He said, No, you not understand me.

What he meant was: He wants to be able to sleep with any woman he asks. Men can't. But women? The woman have options! Except not a woman in Africa and Arab and these places. They are with man one time and get killed! No, I want to be German girl.

I said, No, it's not okay for a woman, either. If a woman sleeps with many men, she gets a bad image and she gets called bad names. (<--Broken English is an important skill to master, if you are one to travel a lot.)

He said, Maybe in US, but not in Germany.

(I guess German doesn't have a word for 'slut', or any of the other degrading-exclusively-to-women words like 'ho', 'bitch' and 'whore'. I wonder if it also missing words like 'pimp' and 'player'?)

He said, Why don't you have boyfriend?

I said, Why don't you have a girlfriend?

He doesn't want a girlfriend. (Just the one-night stays), and marriage is for much later.

When I told him I had friends my age who already had two kids , he could not believe it. I tried to explain that for some people marriage and kids brought much greater happiness than one-night stays. He couldn't believe that either. But maybe when he is 35 or 40. For now, just the one-night stays.

I changed the subject to talk about Munich. He said I was very near--how do you call it?--downtown and asked me what I wanted to do. I said, I have a meeting, and then I want to sleep. (I slept on both flights, but was still soooo tired!)

Alone?

Yes. I just want to sleep, and just sleep.

But is Friday! You are nice girl! You can go to disco and downtown. Why sleep alone? You can call me even!

haha. No, I really just want to sleep.

He told me of an American woman he spent a week with (he even showed me her business card). She cried when she had to go home. I asked him if he was sad, too, when she left. He said yes, but that he tells women he is just want the sex, not uhhh...

A relationship? I volunteered.

Right. My English is not so good. I didn't learn in school.

What? But I thought everyone in Germany speaks perfect English! How did you learn, then?

He smiles. 'Women.' He told me I will learn better from a man. A man from a woman and a woman from a man--this is the best way. A man from man or woman from woman--not good.

Or, I could take a class! That's another good way.

He just chuckled.

We arrived at my hotel. The meter read 62.70 (!!).

He wished me a pleasant stay as he handed me my luggage, and though he may have thought me a terrible waste of a Western woman, electing to spend the night alone in a hotel when I could so easily spend it with a stranger(!), he didn't indicate it. Just shook my hand and went on his way.

***********

Now I am off to see the city. I would leave you with a picture, but my computer is being funny and won't let me upload any :(

Ah well. Hopefully I can post more when I get back!

Much love,

This Little Traveler

View from a Balcony

I'm sitting on my balcony right now, listening to the air conditioners on the building run and enjoying the warm breeze as it passes across my face and shoulders.

I'm moved in, but my room is far from complete. Actually, it's more 'mess' than 'room' and I imagine it will be that way for several more months. I have clothes in my closet and toiletries in my bathroom and I just don't have time, space or energy to do any more than that now.

I have a lot of negative energy coursing through me at the moment. I'm stressed and tired from work. I'm really tired of and annoyed at the drivers around here. My feet are sore from a very long day. And I just keep thinking about the impossible amount of work that has to get done this week.

I'm going to Europe next week. I thought it would be a great way to pay for a European vacation--do business half the time and enjoy Europe with the rest.

Turns out: it's a terrible way.

I could have 9 days of unstructured time to relax, read, watch TV, get settled into my room, make bread, go shopping, enjoy the calm before the storm that is the start of a new semester. Instead, I get 3 days. I mean, that's not bad or anything--one day in Munich and two in Paris. But I have to visit 4 different cities in two different countries, fly 6 different airplanes, figure out how to get a damn TGV ticket, have several meetings, give a presentation, and attend a conference all in the wee space of 7 days. Not to mention how much of my three days of vacation are going to be absorbed in email because the semester is starting and new students are coming, my boss is gone, and I have 3 orientations to prepare.

A terrible way, indeed.

It's hard to be stressed right now, though. The airconditiong units in from the building across from me sound like rushing water. The far-away sounds of the freeway add a nice white noise to this still, warm night. Even the periodic interruption by a low, loud airplane passing overhead is calming.

In this crowded, noisy place all I hear is quiet.

And it is wonderful.

Postcard from The Real World

Sigh.

I like my job. I like helping people. I love traveling. I love helping students to travel abroad.

But sometimes I can't help. Sometimes there are rules to follow that people would like to circumvent--would like me to circumvent--and I can't. So, they put up a great fuss, and get their family members to call me and other family members to visit me in hopes that making an even greater fuss will somehow get them around the rules.

Oh how exhausting it is to be fussed with. So exhausting, in fact, that when it was through, I took a nap under my boss's desk. (Her office is carpeted.)

The problem is I'm soft. I have this bleeding heart and people sense it and do their best to exploit it. It reminds me of that line from the Princess Bride:

Once word leaks out that a pirate has gone soft, people begin to disobey you, and then it’s nothing but work, work, work, all the time.

Work work work all the time--and all because word has leaked out that I'm a big softie.

Except that I'm not! I really want to make exceptions, but I don't! I'm getting better. In fact, I'm sure that pretty soon I'll have earned my reputation as the Dread Pirate Ray, and it will all be thanks to Mr Burns for his inspiration. From now on, this is how I am going to deal with unwanted visitors:

That'll teach those fussers!

(seriously, you guys gotta check this out)

-------------------------------------------

The only thing getting me through these awful, draining incidents is my upcoming trip to France. I'll be hitting up Germany, too, but I'm most excited about Paris, Nice, and Nantes :)

Ten more days.

Until then, I just have to keep telling myself:

Just keep swimming.

Postcard from Dubai

There's a fabric district in Dubai called Satwa. It's full of wonderful fabricky things and amazing tailors to stitch them all together.

I really like this area of Dubai because it's so full of flavor. There are colors! Textures! Stores with funny names! And, best of all, very, ah, interesting marketing strategies.

For instance, today, I stumbled across this delight of a picture.

This is the display window to, well, some sort of store. I'm not sure what kind of store exactly, or who arranged the display or--and this is really the point--to whom precisely they hope to sell:

Click on it. Enlarge it. Puzzle over it.

Sequined ninja children? Warriors from the tribe of Christmas?

I really don't know.

Other things I can't figure out:

• The mannequin heads along the ground. Kind of a morbid touch, I think. (Though the headgear is really quite fabulous.)
• The fellow to the centre left. I mean, is he (she?) wearing a ski mask? That is pink? And resembles a dog? What is with the (ill-fitting) wig? And the bow? And oh my gosh is that scalp at its feet??
• The feather child.

I don't understand any of it, including the presence of the two abbaya-ed women on either side of the scene (I mean those abayyas are much too demure for this kind of a place), but I am a great appreciator of The Bizarre and so, in spite of my bewilderment, I adore this photo, this store, this place. It's like....well, I can't think of it now, but who's that director that always does straaaange movies? Or that poet who wrote......that other thing I can't think of?

Well whatever. It's bizarre like this and when I find a better example, I"ll let you know.**

**Okay, I just watched that video and actually it's not like that at all. Sorry. Just go back to appreciating the picture, please.

Awesomeness Documented

This morning I did something incredible:

(That there is some mighty fine parallel parking for one who's never done it before!)

Or at least it felt incredible--until I stepped out of my car:

D'oh!

For a Monday Morning

When she learned that she

Didn't have to plug into
Someone or something
Like a toaster into a wall

When she learned that she
Was a windmill and had only
To raise her arms
To catch the universal whisper
And turn
turn
turn
She moved.

Oh, she moved
And her dance was a marvel.

--Carol Lynn Pearson

It's a new week.

Make it marvelous.

Cool Middle East Stuff

It's been 6 years and two days since I moved to Emirates! For the first time, I mean. How crazy is that?

-----

Here's a link to my parents' photos from the Middle East: here It's really cool, and I am so jealous of their travels.

-----

Tomorrow I'll be checking out the Organic foods store in Dubai Mall. I'll take the Metro, which unfortunately smells like portapotties. What is up with that? It's worth the 40-minutes of Stank and the ten minute bus ride to get there. The more I go to that mall, the more I like it. I hope to take lots of pictures. Whether I post or not is another matter entirely.

-----

My friend and I cooked and ate dinner at my sweet new apartment tonight. I forgot to take pictures though :/

The weather was lovely today. On the way to my sweet new apartment, I looked at the dash and then said to my friend, Wow! It's only 40 degrees! I love this!!

Later, we were sitting on my balcony (I have a balcony!) eating guacamole and asparagus and talking about what a lovely evening it was.

How lovely exactly? Well, you can find out for yourself at temperatureworld.com. Or:

104 F

I really love the summer. Even when I don't have any ice cream to eat :(

-----

What else do I love?

These folks:

From left to right that's: Jyms (I guess it's actually "James" but the way he says it, you can't tell), Me(!), Isaac, Esther, and Evans. Today they taught me that "Mambo" in Swahili means 'Hello'. So does 'Jambo' (which *always* reminds me of that one part in Mean Girls). Esther is going back to Kenya this week :( but said I could visit any time! :) So the only question now is: Who's coming with me? Safari, baby! YEAH! Also: Kenyans! Woohoooo!

-----

I know I still owe pictures of....everything. I might get around to them sometime.

For now, here are some photos of me eating ice cream:

Being spoonfed chocolate ice cream in Salt Lake City, 2009

Spoon Me! (fro yo) with Kalli during my visit in 2010

Some put on a game face. I prefer, well, this:

More Spoon Me :) Acai Berry and Chocolate with strawberries, raspberries and chocolate chips :d

In front of the Astronomical Clock, Prague, July 2010 That's my second serving (4th scoop!) of raspberry and chocolate gelato. I got one (two) more before the night's end :)

Bakdash Ice Cream in Damascus, Syria, 2010. Raspberry and Chocolate again. One of the guys gave me a free cone (not pictured). I love this place, and not just because of the free scoops :)

May your summer be filled with exotic travels, beautiful people, hot (but insanely gorgeous!) weather, and lots and lots of delicious ice cream.

Until next time,

Le Ray

FOUND

Last Fall, the phone I'd had for five years--my very first cell phone ever that I (my parents) bought when I first moved to the UAE--finally gave out. I was unemployed and broke at the time, so I went to the store and got a cheap-o replacement.

Then this summer, my genius self managed to leave that phone in Utah. After a month of being out of touch, my dad insisted I replace it. This time, I went to the store and found an ever CHEAPER cheap-o replacement, but it was Motorola and I really loathe Motorola phones. I was lamenting the situation to my boss one day (before the crappy ol' Motorola entered the picture) and suggested I get a work phone.

And I was like, Oh great. A work phone so I can work all the time and never again have any excuse for missing an email or call or text or facebook notification.

But then I learned I could get a Nokia, and I really love Nokia phones.

So yesterday, nearly two months after ordering the phone, I got it! The Nokia C5. She's soooo lovely. A little dumb--I still haven't been able to access the internet?--but beautiful and easy to use and oh how I missed my Nokia!!

I didn't realize until yesterday, though, how much I missed having a camera on my phone.

Check this out:

This is the view from my desk:

I call it my office 'sweet' (heh heh)

Last night, I went grocery shopping with my Kiwi BFF at a store called "HyperPanda". (I am not even lying.) One of the great things about this store is it has bargain bins! DVDs for less than 10 bucks, baby. Yeah. That's where I found this:

It's Hercules in Arabic!! I didn't buy it.

But the even cooler thing about HyperPanda, other than its name obviously, is its Best Sellers bin.

Sweeney Todd, I Am Legend, Blood Diamond, The Departed, The W--whaa?

Yep. The Work and the Glory--all 2 of 'em! But I don't mean, Only 2 DVDs. They had dozens of copies of The Work and the Glory! At HYPERPANDA! In the UAEEE.

This, friends, is why I love having a camera phone.**

**Well obviously a real camera would have been just as good. But my stupid battery is dead and I'm moving and can't find the freaking charger and it's a US charger anyway so even if I did find it, I would also have to find the adapter and I really don't know where that guy is loiterin' these days.

Also, I'M MOVIIING! Pictures to come!

Soon!

Probably!

Maybe?

:/

Do You Know TED?

Guys, I am not even going to get into my love for TED. I won't even mention my secret desire to win the lottery for the sole purpose of going to TED every freaking year for the rest of my life no matter where in the world I am or how much it will cost to get to TED.** And I certainly won't mention that I love good talks so much, I have an iPod playlist devoted solely to speeches.

Nope. Today, I am just going to share with you THIS amazing man:



And this one, too:



because he is amazing for completely different reasons. He's also an excellent speaker with AWESOME things to say.

Watch both. And then explain to me how THE HECK Keith Barry does it. WOW. He blew my mind. And does he not have such a cute little accent? I like in the beginning (~:29) when he's like, And various 'udder' techniques. haha.

Oh, and if anyone is keeping track of these things: I just had a birthday. None of you got me gifts. (I keep track of these things.) I think, if you want to make up for it, you should really get me this, You can pool your money if you want! I'll do the rest of it.

**Please don't remind me that cost is not the only factor in attending this conference. *sigh*

23! ...again

Today is my birthday. (Happy birthday to me!)

Last year was my 22nd birthday and it was really lame. Partly that was because I had moved to Jordan a few weeks before and got into the habit, at age 21, of telling cab drivers I was 23. I didn't ever consciously decide to be 23. It's just that one day a cabbie asked me my age and I blurted out 23, only to realize that I hadn't even turned 22 yet. What??

And then I did turn 22 and not a soul in the country knew about it. That was lame, but then again, how often do you get to celebrate your birthday in secret? I bought my friend Maranda dinner at the mall (Indian food!), and then we went shopping at Carrefour (oh man. if only you knew how funny that really is) where I bought myself The Alchemist and single-serving containers of ice cream, which we ate while watching the third Pirates of the Caribbean.

I think I'd have preferred ice cream cake, candles and celebratory comments, but it was alright. Indian food, ice cream and Johnny Depp really make for a great celebration :)

Today was much different. I was with a hundred other people with whom I've spent only the last 48 hours, and they were awesome! First thing this morning, they were sending me birthday wishes. This afternoon, they sang to me TWICE. And this evening, they bought me a little ice cream cake and lit a tealight on top. It was so sweet (and delicious!).

Oh yeah, and I'm in Prague right now. Here are three of today's pictures:

This city is beautiful. ♥ ♥

This is me and Jeanne:

She is Australian and over 60 and the coolest woman ever. She's here with her husband Bob, and last year she went to Peru and hike Machu Picchu! She's also spent a night in the Burj al-Arab. I adore her and wish I could take her home with me as a birthday gift for myself.

It's late now and I must wrap up this post. And since you all can't be here with me, I'll bring a bit of me to you:

Shirtless Europeans!!

♥,

Me

A few things about life that are cool

First of all, meet Kandee Johnson. She's a makeup artist/blogger/YouTube guru who is just so awesome that my usual emphasize-by-capitalization won't even do her justice (so I didn't even bother). She has lots of great videos, ladies, but I think my favorite is this one:



Be nice to yourself--and your skin--today and try the Lemon Trick. It's *so awesome*. And funny! For the Win! (I use fresh lemons on cotton rounds.)

She's also the one who taught me about the wonders of olive oil. She didn't lead me to this page, but something in one of her videos led me to do a search which ended in this page. So who, besides Genius Makeup Artist Extraordinaire Kandee, knew that olive oil actually helped cleanse your skin of OIL? How cool is that?! Guys, it's so cool that if you were here with me, in person, right now, I would totally let you caress my face. And yes, 'caress'. Because with skin this smooth and moisturized, it's all you would think to do. Mmmmmm.

Try that, too--the oil, I mean. (Caressing will come later.) I recommend doing it right after The Lemon Trick. Your skin will freaking glow! It's so awesome.

Second, last night was taco night and our friends made salsa. Made salsa. Mmmmmmmm.

Third, Toy Story 3. I saw it this weekend. As with the above, I will dispense with the usual hyperbole and write simply: Go see it.

Fourthly, Spain and Germany are playing tonight. I'm a little bothered that The World Cup has boiled down to three European teams, but you know what? Spain is in! And that's what counts. I can't wait to watch.

5thly, I'm getting an apartment this weekend. Or, more accurately, starting the month-long process that will end in the keys to a sweet new Dubai domicile. Yessss.

And finally, next week is my birthday. After another year of waiting, it's here again! And I will be spending it in Prague. Unfortunately, I'll be wrapped up in conference stuff all day, though that is decidedly better than being wrapped up in office stuff all day in the hot, humid university-by-the-landfill. I'll be in Prague! I hope I get to eat really good bread.

You know what else I hope to eat? Good vegetarian dishes. They asked me on the application if I had any special dietary needs and I said I was vegetarian.

I hope I don't regret it.

Love,
Me

Music for a Monday Sunday Morning

(because Sundays here are Mondays)

I read in a magazine a few years ago that on average, a person will have three bad days a month. Ever since reading that, I have paid careful attention to the bad days I have and you know what I have found? I have, like, one bad day a month. Or maybe half a day. Like, guys, I just don't have bad days.

Sometimes I wake up grumpy, but usually I wake up singing.

Often I wake up headachey, but I never feel crappy enough not to laugh.

I am a thoroughly happy person.

Today, though. Today, right now, it is 8:38 AM and I am ready to crawl back in bed and hide under the covers and drown myself in my crappy feelings. I hate today.

I feel physically lousy, probably because last night I ate a Krispy Kreme donut and I haven't had one of those in *years* and I don't think my body can really handle that sudden onslaught of crap.

I feel stressed like you wouldn't believe because.....whatever. I don't even care to explain. But I'm half the stress-case my father is, and with my mother out of town and it being summer and their departure date hurtling towards us, he nags. And worries and stresses and pressures and my only escape is the House with the Cats That Follow Me Around Meowing With An Impressive Degree of Obnoxiousness. Also, they claw me and knock things over and why did I agree to sit them again?

UGH.

Anyway, the point of all this is:

Last night I watched the US vs Ghana game and IT WAS SO AWESOME. Well, up until the overtime when I fell asleep. But DUDE. Are you all watching the World Cup?? Oh my gosh I love it. My one complaint--my singular complaint!--is why FOUR YEARS? This one isn't even over and I'm already excited about the next one. Rio! It's going to be so awesome!

Today sucks, but do you know what doesn't?
Music. Shakira. Africa.

Foootbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalll.



This video will be the thing that gets me through the day.

Today

1. I am at work.

2. I arrived at 7:46, which is really early.

3. But it's all good because Imma leave at 3:46. Summer hours rock.

4. I am not working.

5. Instead I am passing the time reading Yes and Yes (that song is awesome. Check it.) and dreaming about travel.

6. I wish I were traveling now.

7. I woke up this morning at 4:30.

8. The cats were tossing around and pouncing on a stuffed rat and a mix of their enthusiasm and jingly little collar-bells kept me up.

9. It is waaaaaaaaaarm.

10. It feels like a good day for the beach, but I know the water is too warm, and the sand much too hot.

11. I am wearing flip flops that don't belong to me, and an awesome pair of pants that does. Life is good.

12. The air smells like the ocean. I'm just a few miles from the shore, but just a few blocks from a landfill, so normally I just smell rotting garbage. It's so nice to smell the ocean.

13. I wish I were at the beach.

14. Eating ice cream.

15. Instead, I am just going to get back to work.

How to Have Fun In a Blackout

1. Get a MacBook.

2. When the power goes, open up Photo Booth.

3. Take a creepy photo of yourself:

4. Show it to Mom:

5. Break out the Maglite:

6. Take more creepy photos of yourself:

7. Blog about it.

Two Days

It is currently Wednesday morning. I leave for the States Friday night.

Work is slow. School is out. Folks are on vacation.

And I am counting down to my own.

Remember a few months ago when the power went out? Repeatedly?

Well, the internet's been off and on and off the last two days, and last night the power went out. I hear there are parts of campus that are still out.

So basically: There isn't much to say. Not even about LOST because I still haven't finished the series!! (See: Outages: power; internet)

But that's not going to stop me from posting!

See, I know what y'all have been wondering: How COOL would Anna's eyes look on Macro?

Eh. Not that cool.





OH WAIT!

Is that a CAMERA in her pupil?
Guys, it totally is!

(But seriously: Isn't that cool? It looks like my eyelashes are reaching out to eat it....Or aren't they?)

And this is what I look like when I'm focused:

Ah, so rare.

And finally...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

:D Stay Tuned! Next time, Imma show you what I look like when the power goes out and all that's left for entertainment is a fully-charged MacBook and a blue Maglite.

Grey's

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

One of These Days...

I will write a proper post. For now, a smattering of thoughts:

I'm listening to Lady Gaga. Again. All day. I've been converted to the Church of Gaga and I'm loving it.

Two weekends ago, I spent a lot of money at Sephora. Well, not a lot by Sephora standards, but more than I've ever even imagined spending before in my life. It was a little nerve-wracking (no returns! ACK!) but dang I am glad I did it. I love Sephora and its expensive, amazing product lines. I can't wait to go to the States and spend MORE there.
Important lesson in all this: I didn't splurge. I planned very carefully ahead of time exactly the products I was going to buy, and after trying out a bunch of products in the store and comparing DHS prices to online prices and accounting for sales tax (which doesn't exist here), I purchased everything on my list (4 items). No Buyer's Remorse here, which is good because Seph products are spendy little devils.
So: spend wisely. Good products are worth the investment, but an investment is required.

Is anyone else annoyed by GAP's vanity sizing? I bought a skirt the other day that was a size 4. A 4!! Do you know the last time I was a 4? High school. I'm not in high school anymore, The GAP! I'm 23. So please, enough with the lies. It's annoying, and a little offensive to be forced into a smaller size. Yeesh.

I'm talking a lot about shopping because it's become my latest favorite hobby. A(nother) new mall opened up in Dubai, not far from Sharjah, with a great mix of stores--American and European, high-end and PAYLESS SHOES. So it's basically my new favorite place to be.

In totally not-shallow news: I have a mosquito net hanging over my bed. I used to get several bites a night a few nights a week and I HATE MOSQUITOES and their stupid itchy bites and missing out on sleep because of them!
I paid a few bucks for a net from my friend and hallelujah! THREE mosquitoes have tried to get me on three different nights and: THWARTED. I love mosquito nets.
I normally limit my charity donations to womens' rights and counter human trafficking organizations (without limits, I just get overwhelmed) but I have recently added this one to my list. It's grassroots. It saves children. It's totally affordable. And I HATE MOSQUITOES. So, there's my not shallow plug for the day.
Make a $10 donation. It will save a life, decrease the spread of disease, and: mosquitoes suck! Let's not encourage them, okay?

I'm flying back to the States in 9 days. YAY! I love flying internationally. I love being in the US. I'm so excited to visit friends and family.

Finally:

I LOVE SUMMER!


Until next time,
Me