So many stories

This snap was taken coming down out of them mountains into Khasab, Oman. The blue sky that day was amazing.

When I was swimming yesterday, I got to chat with the lifeguard a bit. She was from China and had been here for 2 years. Her fiance is an officer in the army in Tibet. They are getting married some time in the Fall. He'd bought a house for them, and she'd been saving money to decorate the new house from her job as a lifeguard.

Everyone I meet here has a 'story'. People don't just decide to move to another country for the thrill of it. Most are supporting family back in the home country, or they needed work, or the opportunity was way too amazing to pass up. Everyone has a story.

I've been reading stuff in the news about the 'Swine Flu' or Piggy Virus (my own name for it). I'm calling it Piggy Virus since it gobbles up the news, gobbles some people's lives, gobbles up energy, gobbles up emotions, and gobbles up money preparing to deal with it. Along with everyone else, I hope and pray it fizzles itself out and does not spread any further. And as I think about all our friends who are planning extensive summer holidays away from this region, I hope it doesn't gobble up much needed summer holidays (sorry, bit shallow - but I'm being honest).

I can't remember if I've written about this yet or not, so my apologies if I'm repeating myself. It looks like we're going to be here for another 2 years. And, we get to stay in our same flat. Joy! No relocating to a different flat!

Also, I recently spoke/wrote elsewhere I think, about an area published 'code of conduct.' So far, myself and my friends have not noticed any kind of difference in everyday life. I'm sure there may be the occasional story now and then, but nothing particularly noticeable so far.

Peace.