My life in Syria

My journey to a new land, a new people, and a new me.

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Houston...We Have a Problem

If I ever thought it was possible for anything to be easy in this country I must have been dreaming or high. Once again we are in a melee of problems and inneptitude of the school, it's owners, and affiliates. In typical NSA fasion we were mistakenly shown a very nice new apartment to live in for next year. It is blatantly obvious that this place it off limits. It took one week to get a commitment to see this sanctuary again, and even still we won't actually know if this will happen or not until this evening. Our adoration for this new nook only comes with such fervor after our attempts of seeing it again, and/or moving in, have been sideswiped by a futile attempt to put us into another one of the school's classic "shithole" aparments.

In the past few days we have looked at every rat-trap apartment that "Friends of NSA" own, lease, or knows someone who does the same. After much arguing, and generally trying to be a pain the ass we have earned an apointment to see this castle with an actualy key to get in - BONUS! I swear if we don't get into this apartment I will make everyone involved's life a living hell until I am either deported or my last bag is put away into my new abode. I am tired of the run-around.

On a special note: To Syrian Salma about teaching her people English
I think it is the only thing you can do here to affect change. The literacy rate for Arabic isn't amazingly high, and if you can teach anyone the business language of the world (English)at least they will have a chance at being informed. Even for me to be informed at a world level in Syria I must read at least five different sources. I don't know that all of these sources are available in Arabic so mostly people here, like people at home, get their news from one biased source and in their native language. And another thing, if you do come to teach try to teach from the top down because this isn't a place where change happens from the bottom up. I would love to know more about you and your ideas. Please email me at chrisinsyria@hotmail.com. I would love to hear your point of view on a few things.

OK kids I am coming home. I don't know exactly when (I don't have return tickets, a place to live for next year, or a contract for next year yet) but I should be home in a matter of a few days to a few weeks. I plan on sleeping in, hanging out, playing, and generally doing nothing, unless you have a project to do in which case I would love to help becuase I havn't gotten to build or fix anything all year.

If you are wondering I also plan to keep blogging from home this summer just in case there are any mind-opening realizations I have concerning the US and the Middle East, Syrian and American society, dating, food, or just about any other thing I can think of that is a complete opposite or exactly the same.

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Fond Fun Due

It HAS been a while since I have written anything...I forgot my logon name!

Well the end of the school year has come. I have about seven more days of school, and I fly home at the end of the month. I can't wait to do nothing all summer. Tomorrow I finish my first week in a two-week run of half-days at school. The most idiotic system I have ever seen: come to school, take a test, mess around until noon, and then go home and study for a test the next day. These aren't even comprehensive tests! I am testing on stuff we have been learning for a month to two weeks. Who needs two weeks to study for that? Agh....the Syrian way!

Chris and I have been entertained with the school fiasco and having fun with friends. We both miss Ben and Monika very much. They were two like minded people in a place where Western thinking is hard to come by...and they were our travel partners. Now we have to go see the Euphrates without them. Sorry guys.

On a better note, I scored the best goal of my life yesterday playing football (soccer for the Americans). I was very frustrated with a high level of individuality and lazyness that was being shown on the pitch, and traded up to come out of goal to attack from the midfield. Chris and our friend Bill were playing great; passing wonderfully around each other, and in general they had amazing energy and effort. I ran toward the goal from the midfield after our attack had been bunched up to the front right of the goal. Chris was fighting hard to get the ball back and Bill just gently pushed it out to me as I was approaching from about twnety yards. I was so angry that my focus allowed me to nail the ball over the crowd, off the goalie's hands and up into the left corner of the goal. It was BEAUTIFUL. At first I didn't believe I actually pelted the ball to where I intended it to go. I was so amazed at it's beauty that I totally forgot I was the one who struck the ball. After this split second reckoning I ran away with my fingers pointing out in a pseudo-celebratory run. It was great. Cheesy, but great. :)

I am making a list of the things to bring back next year. I have this feeling of not being done here. Me being me, because this place pisses me off so much I want to come back again. I want to do better at teaching, explore more of this world, and learn to deal with frustrating situations better. Syria is a hotbed of frustrating situations. You know...the whole "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" thing. I eat that shit up. From my moments of weakness and inability I have taken away a drive to have the hardest situations thrown at me and to learn from them. I don't like feeling I don't know how to handle difficult situations, and the only way to change that is to be in them. So here I go again.

As I am making a list of things to bring back in the Fall, I will need a list of things to bring home when I come. Anyone need anything from Syria? I have the short list from those of you who I have kept in touch with, and anyone else who knows me just shoot of an email of what you want. I come in peace!