A blog about what daily life was really like in the Middle East and the daily ramblings of an ex-pat mum. That's how I started the blog. We are now home, so I'm just going to continue with life here. I am a deeply committed Christian. I love to teach about and share my faith so you'll see some of that on the blog as well. Got a comment? Please feel to comment at the end of a post. May our Creator's peace be upon you.







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Saturday, June 9, 2012

Mowing the grass- what to do with the clippings?

Ok. This is just too crazy not to post.

The husband woke up early this morning to mow our grass in the back garden while it was still cool outside. Because the grass was long and we have a large garden, there were about 10 big bags of clippings to dispose of. The local community gardeners dump all the grass clippings and hedge trimmings in big piles around  the neighborhood.  Since we are not allowed to dispose of grass in the trash bins or large dumpsters, we bag it just like the gardeners and leave it where they leave it for the trash crews to come pick-up. We've been doing the same routine for the past year.

The husband and I had to run errands today. We had a very pleasant day. Bought blinds for our living room, a new pot for one of our indoor trees and visited furniture stores for a new sideboard to put in the room with the billiards table.  The munchkins stayed home finishing up last minute school projects and doing chores.  A community/neighborhood security guard rang at our gate while we were out. The munchkins didn't know how to communicate with him, so I phoned the guards' building once we arrived home.

Here's the conversation:

Me: "Hello, I was out running errands and the children said you came by our villa."

Security: [Very angry tone of voice] "Madam, you must move the black bags of grass clippings".

Me: "I am confused. What grass clippings?" 

Security: "Your grass clippings."

Me: "If they are my clippings, where do I put them?"

Security: "In your villa."

Me: "I can not put grass in my villa. Where do I put bagged grass for pick-up?"

Security: "You must move the clippings."

Me: "Where are grass clippings supposed to go?" {I'm thinking...we're only doing what EVERY gardener in the neighborhood does!!!!!!!  I KNOW the local gardeners are not hauling bags of grass off on their bicycles!!!!!!!  I passed 3 massive piles on our way home through the compound!  We're even using the neighborhood employed gardeners' piles!!!!!!!}

Security: "You must move the clippings. No grass clippings in common areas."

Me: "No grass clippings in common areas? Ok. Then where are grass clippings supposed to go because they are not allowed in the bins?"

Security: "You must move the clippings."

Me: "I am very confused. You need to speak to my husband." 

I should know by now that being a 'girl', I shouldn't even bother trying to talk with some folks about things.  But, I still try. I feel so frustrated and helpless here some days.  Security is coming by at 5pm today for a face to face meeting with the husband.  The really frustrating bit is how did security know they are ours? My guess? Well, my guess is our new neighbors are hacked that my husband was out mowing on a Saturday morning instead of at like 12 noon in +100F heat like the poor neighborhood gardeners.

It would be nice if I spoke more local languages. I'm so very ready to deal with one culture and one language for a few weeks.

Peace.

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