POLYGLOT TELEPHONE

(January 26, 2014)

Q: What happens when you put an Egyptian and an American in a kitchen?

A: They speak French, of course!

On one of the first evenings here we played telephone, that age old game of American school yards and junior high parties. The word “hydraulic” becomes vastly more interesting once filtered through several Arabic dialects.

Little did I know, this would become my life.

I'm meeting people from around the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. One person says something in Egyptian Arabic to the Palestinian Arabic speaker, who then translates it into English, then it is translated into French. The Central American makes an exclamation in Spanish, then translates it into English, and the comment makes its way back through the circuit.

 The joke the first person said has finally made it to the end of the line and so, of course, it's funny all over again to see them laugh. Sometimes, the Egyptian can tell by the gestures of the American what is so funny and the joke leaps across language barriers, causing all to explode in riotous guffaws. I haven't laughed this hard in ages.

*A polyglot is a person with a knowledge of several languages. Or a mixture/confusion of languages.

SILVER TONGUE

It's always wise to become somewhat familiar with the language when you enter an unknown country: “Hello”, “goodbye”, “yes”, “no”, “Where is the bathroom? I just ate your street food and I desperately need one”. You know, the basics. 

Here is the sum of my Arabic vocabulary upon arrival:

Habibi – my (male) love/beloved. This word can only get me in trouble

Emir, Caliph, etc... – various titles of rulers

Qur'an – the Muslim holy book

Shukran – thank you

Salaam Alaikum – Tradition Muslim greeting meaning “Peace be upon you”

Salah ad-Din - a revered military hero, who united the region and fended off the Crusaders. Even the Crusaders considered him a noble and valiant figure.

Food words – like hummus, shawarma, and falafel.

Basically, I can greet a ruler, mention a historical figure to him and his favorite book, deeply offend him by calling him my love, then attempt to smooth it over with some hummus. Wow. With language skills like this, I just can't fail.

* Silver tongue: Having or exhibiting the power of fluent and persuasive speech; eloquent. (www.thefreedictionary.com)

SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE

(January 27, 2014)

Garlic hair oil. So this is where I've been going wrong all these years. If I'd only known that garlic was the scent to go with!  

*Click on the images to enlarge them.

MARHABA

(Hello) 

(Friday, January 24, 2014)

After about a 30 hour trip I am finally here! After a night of jet lagged sleep (if you call that sleep), I was introduced to the morning by the muezzin's call to prayer from the local mosque. It is probably the most elaborate Muslim call to prayer I have ever heard and he is extremely talented. After dragging ourselves out of bed, we headed downtown by foot to get cell phones and to take a look-see. This video below is not mine, but is extremely accurate to what I experienced today. You'll see what I saw. Enjoy. 

COME ALONG WITH ME!

Where do you suppose we're going?

1. This country is the Hashemite Kingdom of ___________
2. The queen of this country is the most beautiful of the world's monarchs. That's a fact. Not opinion.
3. If you're into the Nabataeans, an ancient and fascinating people group, you should come here to explore their city carved from stone.
4. Many refugees from Palestine, Syria, and Iraq currently reside in this country. 
   
   

Limbo

(Wednesday, January 22, 2014)

Sometimes boring is nice.

“There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.” Calvin and Hobbes

Neither here nor there. For some, the airport layover is the annoying waiting period until you get where you're going, useful only for it's internet access or phone time. For others, it is the sweet respite where your history lies behind and you are not yet responsible for anything in the future. It is a time to gather yourself back together and let your thoughts take their course. You may stare out the window with a cup of hot tea and do absolutely nothing at all.

*Ok, so I admit, I did very little of this “nothing at all” espoused in this entry. But man, it sounds nice, doesn't it? 

Goodbye America. 

Steps of Faith

(January 2014)

Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. So, it's been about three years since I have posted anything. Here's what happened in the interim:

Travel wise:

I had the opportunity to go to Hawai'i to listen to Aung San Suu Kyi speak. She is an opposition leader in the hopefully evolving Burma/Myanmar political scene. She's kinda like the Burmese version of Mandela. Check her out: http://www.biography.com/people/aung-san-suu-kyi-9192617

Two of my aunts and I got to hang out on the East Coast: North Carolina and New York. (Cilic and Murray at the US Open)

I started working with 100foldstudio.org, a non profit architecture firm. We went to Nepal for a work trip up in the middle of nowhere. Afterward, a coworker and I were able to take a few vacation days. We chose to explore Rajasthan, India. (Nepalese girl from the village we trekked to.)

Life wise:

Spent time with these guys.

And this little guy. (Nieces and nephews are the best!)

Kept a garden.

Played outside. (Attempting to look like I know how to fly fish.)

This next adventure is very exciting to go on but it is very difficult to say goodbye to life in Kalispell. Every “yes” we say means we must say “no” to something else. If you are like me, you aren't always sure if it is worth the risk, since so often the “yes” means yes to something strife with unknowns. So, goodbye stability, security, and comfort. Hello, well, who knows what!