Summer is on the way and things are heating up

First, I'd like to direct you to give this post a read:
http://danandjillian3.blogspot.com/2011/03/tale-of-two-roundabouts.html? I am hoping that the two round-abouts is not an indication of negativity to come. Great blog. Many many thanks for your work. It is very much appreciated.

In the 'Dan and Jillian' blog, "Once the heat returns, how many of these protesters will be left?" Rather insightful. I hope that the horrid heat in the region, does help to calm things down.

I read the New York Times this morning. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/world/middleeast/16bahrain.html?pagewanted=1&ref=world Even though Bahrain is a major 'home' to the U.S. Navy, I don't really think there's much the States can do to help the situation. Granted, I don't know a thing about diplomacy but....it's an Arab country. Anytime the States meddles in an Arab country, it feels like people get angry and the situation gets worse. It is going to be very interesting to watch what happens now that other GCC countries are involved. The crazy question that I'd like to ask in all this....some countries are suggesting to their citizens to leave Bahrain. How can they? Can they get to the airport? Can they drive across into Saudi? I don't know. It just feels like once these types of notices come out from consulates, it is going to be difficult to leave.

So...thinking along those lines....what do you do as an ex-pat to prepare for an emergency? Hmmmmm... Here's my personal list....
1. Have cash on hand - local currency and 'hard currency' like dollars or euros.
2. Never let your gas tank get so low that you can't drive to the airport.
3. Keep a mental list (or written) of what to grab in case an airport run is necessary. For me, that's my laptop, a couple of photographs of my munchkins, printed copies of school records for the munchkins, and other important family documents.
4. Always keep a week's worth of food and water on-hand. Water gets tricky, but I always keep bottles stashed in my kitchen, just in case.
5. Maintain an international calling plan mobile phone based in your home country - a mobile that works in any country. Pricey? Yes, but only if you use it. And, it could be an important life-line.

Here's to hoping only the weather heats up more.

Peace.

Latest and greatest....maybe [Warning: loads of opinion]

More than anything, these types of posts are so my mum and dad can read what I'm reading. I have other family members who like to read what I read. Blogging is just way easier than putting together a bunch of emails.

http://muscatconfidential.blogspot.com/2011/03/things-start-to-get-out-of-hand-in-oman.html A highly opinionated piece.

Just heard on the BBC that the U.S. had 'no warning' that troops (BCC says 'Saudi') were going to go into Bahrain. Give me a break. It's common chatter amongst ex-patriots that eventually this would happen. If I'VE heard people talking about this then..... well, anyhow.... Long-term ex-pats have always been a bit concerned about Bahrain (my opinion).

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/gcc-forces-in-bahrain-to-help-restore-order-1.777144

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/world/middleeast/15saudi.html?hp

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/03/14/how-stable-is-saudi-arabia/what-makes-the-kingdom-different

The husband wanted to do some business travel this week. I told him, "NO WAY! We're in the middle of moving house AND there's a bunch of mess in the region. NO WAY!"

Time to get back to packing boxes and bags.

Peace.

Geology revisited

I had to take Geology when I was an undergrad. It was a very interesting class. But, the following article from CNN totally blew my mind:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/12/japan.earthquake.tsunami.earth/index.html#

Watching the video coming out of Japan, I feel like I'm watching a flood from 'the time of Noah.' Not only is it horrifying to watch, it is even more horrifying to hear and read comments from people saying that Japan is being punished, or it's the end of the world.

Well......horrid things have happened throughout the entire 'geologic' history of this planet. I am not going to worry about the world ending tomorrow. I would much rather spend my time figuring out how I'm going to attach the wire mesh I just bought to the bottom of my garden fence so my dog doesn't end up roaming the neighborhood.

Rather than worrying about the possible end of the world, it would be much better to figure out, 'How can I help the people who have now lost everything because of this natural disaster?' It is a far more spiritual, far more difficult thing to offer aid then it is to sit at home and 'worry' and proclaim doom and gloom.

Peace.

A copy of this, a copy of that and your left kidney

Part of the joy of living in the Middle East is the paperwork {dripping with sarcasm}. As part of our move, we have to do all the usual stuff - electric, water, phone, internet blah blah blah. To get anything turned on, here's a sample list of documents I have to provide (plus don't forget deposits! Some can be close to $1,000.) For my readers in western countries, this list may look rather foreign. But here, it's totally the norm.

• Passport photocopy (husband's and wife's)
• Visa photocopy (husband's and wife's)
• Lease agreement/tenancy contract
• Signed paperwork from landlord/owner giving permission to have thing hooked up
• Landlord/owner's passport photocopy
• Landlord/owner's visa photocopy (if applicable)
• Paperwork proving landlord/owner owns the property
• Passport photo(s)
• Letter from husband's company with all kinds of pretty inked stamps giving permission to hook stuff up for our villa (must be signed by the top boss at the company which is some cases is very strange if company is run by the husband)
• Copy of company's trade/business license saying that the company the husband works for is a real/legal company and has thus paid all their appropriate fees - again nice to have all the pretty inked stamps
• Letter of no objection from the husband saying that I may sign grown-up adult paperwork (yes, really)
• Deposit (may have to use a credit card from a local bank, but remember that cash is always king)
• And of course, your left kidney {sarcasm is going drip drip drip}

Now, you have all the documents ready. You get to go stand/wait to deal with a human being who can actually assist you. FORGET about doing ANYTHING over the phone or the internet - that would be simple and easy. It is so much more fun to stand/wait {drip drip drip}. Finally get to speak with a human being. "So sorry madam. You need to have the kidney authenticated by our embassy in your home country and stamped by your consolate." {drip drip drip}

Peace.

[Postscript: Just read this blog post. The comments are also interesting reading. Enjoy.]
http://www.muscatmutterings.com/2011/03/some-thoughts-on-protests.html

And the press was quiet.....

Here's what I've been able to read/find on what is going on in Oman.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/opinion/08al-zidjaly.html?_r=4&hpaybe I'm with the writer in that I'm stunned. Still totally stunned....

http://muscatconfidential.blogspot.com/2011/03/ministers-sacked-wholesale-hm-feeds.html An interesting viewpoint.

http://danandjillian3.blogspot.com/2011/03/oh-no-you-didnt.html Stuff that I doubt you'll see in the regular press.

In the midst of everything, we are more than half way moved into our new place. We'll be totally finished by next weekend, enshallah.

Peace.

Watching, reading and packing

I loathe packing, especially when I can't really move the stuff yet. For now, our packed stuff is being stuffed into the laundry room while the rest of the villa is being worked on. But, I am very thankful for the fact that we'll now have a laundry room! Big forced air clothes dryer here I come! I'm so looking forward to fluffy warm towels, sheets and socks! Yippeee! Simple joys.

In the middle of all the packing, I take a break now and then to read what's out on the internet. Here's a current morning sample:
http://danandjillian3.blogspot.com/ In thinking about the comment in one post about the Dairy Queen, I've watched people in the region buy more ice cream at McDonalds than burgers. Seriously. Huge ice creams. Fascinating....
http://www.muscatmutterings.com/2011/03/seriously-big-changes-in-omans.html The number of changes in the govt is staggering to my mind. Watching the Oman government at work is amazing to me. The little I know of world history is just spinning like a million little hamster wheels in my head. WAY too much to think about.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/protesters-in-oman-to-continue-until-all-demands-are-met-1.773146

And, a glimpse into things in the region that has NOTHING to do with protests. I just think it was interesting reading (for my 'western' readers):
http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/politics/new-rules-for-next-elections-to-fnc

Oh yeah, I'm also thankful for the freedom to roam beautiful wadis. This is an amazing beautiful place.

Peace.

Watching

Well, I am closely watching the news. I also read a large number of blogs (no surprise there!). It's a good thing that I have a family to care for or I'd spend hours each day reading.

Here are some links to some interesting reading:
http://muscatconfidential.blogspot.com/2011/03/middle-east-populist-contagion-reaches.html

http://www.muscatmutterings.com/2011/03/hm-issues-more-royal-decrees-as-result.html#comments

I've been reading news coming out of the States. I am horrified to see the level of hate language being used against people of a specific minority religion in that country. It is one thing to say, "I don't agree with that person's politics," or to say, "I don't agree with those beliefs." Those are things that are very much protected by the First Amendment. And, people in the States are free to practice their religion. BUT, it is not helpful to scream at someone using hate filled words to 'go home', and to yell nasty personal accusations at someone. Hate filled words are not helpful. Hate leads to more hate.

Pretend for a moment that you are a small child. You are walking along the street with your family. Some person, of a different religion, comes and yells at you to go home and begins to insult your father. How will 'you' ie the small child feel as an adult about the people of the other religion? Hate leads to more hate.

It is very difficult to have constructive conversations about religion when those involved have different view points. But, constructive conversation is the mature thing to do. Hate filled words are ignorant and childish. I have seen children on school play yards behave with more intelligence and maturity. People in the States need to be loving and supportive of their fellow Americans. Productive conversations happen with open minds and open hearts, not with closed raised fists.

Peace.

Moving out

Moving out of our flat. I really should be packing rather than typing. Oh well.

I'm happy not to hear new info coming out of Oman. I hope things are quiet and peaceful there. Oman is such a lovely wonderful place.

Munchkin #1 is currently away on a school trip. It feels so very odd not to have him here at home. Munchkin #2 had to remind me this morning not to pack his lunch kit. Sigh....

We've been here almost four years now. As we ready for the move to the villa, I feel like I'm on the edge of my next adventure. We're only changing locations/towns this time rather than country, but I just feel like it's going to make a huge impact on our lives. I'm hoping the impact is positive.

I dearly love my family. I'm really hoping that with the move to the villa, more family will come and visit us. This is an amazing place. And, if Oman stays quiet, the travel/hiking/snorkeling/shopping/dining possibilities are massive! (That's a good thing.)

Change of subject - I found a local place that does 'frozen Coca-Cola'. It's about 3X as much as I'm used to paying, but at least I can get it when the craving is great. I guess that means staying here is going to be ok.

Peace.

Feeling stressed? Love a dog

How can you not just love this face? I can not believe how much I enjoy having a dog again. She never barks, she's well behaved, and we have not yet had any accidents in the house. What more could a dog mum ask for?

Well, things in the region have been a bit of a zoo lately (very mildly put....). The news from Monday was very sad to see. I've been watching the press, and I have not seen anything new today. So, I'm hopeful. Here's a news sample:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/world/middleeast/01oman.html?_r=1&hp

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/oman-protestors-call-for-fight-against-corruption--374524.html

The food price issue may be why the LuLu Market appeared to be on fire? In this region, in my opinion, LuLu caters to shoppers with less money in their pockets. Compared with many other places, I have found that LuLu prices can be very good deals. Oman strikes me as such a reasonable place. LuLu? It just doesn't make any sense to me.

My family loves Oman. Mussandam is stunningly beautiful. Muscat is exotic and has one of our favourite restaurants on the planet. The hiking is superb. There are many reasons to love Oman.

And, in the midst of everything....we are moving from our flat to a villa. It is high time. We have so loved our flat but after nearly 4 years in what was supposed to be for only 2 years, it is time. It is my hope and prayer at this point that things stay safe for our family.

Peace.