Change of Plans

So Madain Saleh didn't happen this weekend. Instead, record and destructive rainfall happened. The 111mm in 3 hours surpassed the 90mm in 4 hours tally of 11/25/09, the date of the deadly Jeddah floods. And it didn't just rain for 3 hours. It rained for 9. After raining for 3+ the day before. needless to say the city is flooded and in a state of emergency.

Jeddah is in bad shape. we ended up spending the night at the Consulate - there was no choice. I'm home safe now, as are most if not all of my colleagues, thank goodness. but things are bad. I'm worried about the thousands of people who are in the lowest-lying and hardest-hit areas.

I will blog about it later, but I need some sleep and relaxation first. for the time being, see photos/videos here: http://www.alriyadh.com/en/article/598488/heavy-rains-hit-jeddah. Or http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article243514.ece.

Al Baha

This week I am lucky to have two trips inside Saudi Arabia scheduled - one for work, and one for fun. For fun, I'm joining a group of colleagues for a weekend trip to Madain Saleh - Saudi's version of Petra. More on that after Friday.

For work, I joined our Consul General on his first official visit to this small but mighty province. Al Baha is KSA's smallest province but with an estimated population larger than some Gulf states. (*cough* Bahrain.) It's a 5 hour drive (or 30 minute flight) from Jeddah. We flew; I'd like to have driven. Al Baha is geographically and climatically very different than the rest of the country - it's mountainous and has changing seasons and varied weather. On our short trip, we saw the famed fog - so thick you could barely see a car's brake lights in front of you - as well as a clear, but chilly, day. I thoroughly enjoyed the brisk weather (it probably only got down to about 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit), but everyone was decked out in winter weather gear. Most of the men had on winter jackets over their thobes, while a few sported floor-length fleece/fur overthobes (my own made up word).

The views on a clear day are absolutely spectacular. I've included a few in a photo collage here. We went up to a panoramic lookout point in Raghodan Forest, but, unfortunately, we went on the foggy day. So I missed out on the really great views. But what we saw was pretty awesome anyway! There's considerably more vegetation in Al-Baha than in most of KSA - some low, scrubby bushes/trees but also taller, conifer-like ones. I heard of olive tree farms nearby, and the honey from Al Baha is famous. We didn't go anywhere that sold either, unfortunately.

Al Baha tends to be a conservative area, but I had no problems as the only female member of the delegation. In fact, I was the only one who got to see women at all! Seriously, we did not see a single woman in the streets, in cars, in shops, in the hotel, at the university, anywhere. I have heard that's not uncommon in some parts of the country, but I had yet to experience it. I visited with a group of women at the Literary Club and was treated to the most adorable performance of a welcome song, in English, by some local schoolgirls. I gave them certificates and took pictures with them afterward (none on my camera, sadly) - it was great. The women were impressed/amused by my Arabic and kept giving me things to read (slowly). I had a great time with them, and they gave me two bouquets of flowers (see below photo). I had a wonderful time.

Perhaps the best part of Al Baha, for me, was the baboons. Those who know me know that I am an animal lover. My (two) move(s) to South Africa were based at least partly on the existence of penguins and elephants. Ditto Thailand on the elephants. I could spend weeks, even months, at a time on safari. I desperately miss wildlife living in Jeddah, so the baboons were a welcome change. They appeared at the hotel in the morning to scavenge for food. Unlike those I encountered in South Africa, these baboons were fairly small and not socialized at all - both good things! (I'll save my I-was-attacked-by-a-baboon story for another post...) I spent a good half hour walking around and taking photos and a couple videos. I think I may have to go back to Africa for my next post, simply for the proximity to national parks...

Anyway, the Al Baha trip was short and sweet, and we had some great interactions. I'll post about Madain Saleh next week!

(the photos in the collage below are pretty low-res, as a better quality copy wouldn't load here. apologies.)

Impulse Travel

I've been trying to plan where to go for President's Day weekend for several weeks now. And having procrastinated dearly, my cheap flight options were dwindling. I did dozens of searches to find a relatively inexpensive flight to somewhere new, but even places relatively close by were more expensive than I would have liked. Finally, I happened upon a cheap flight to a new place; even better, the flight times were relatively ideal.

So. I'm going to Sri Lanka!

I don't know anyone living there and have only done a little bit of research into what to do, where to go, and where to stay. I have three full days and three nights there. So I'm opening it up to the wonderful FS  (and beyond) community for any suggestions you might have. Have any of you been to Sri Lanka? What should I definitely do or definitely not do?

Thanks!

Two Countries, Three Religions, Four Days

I am just back from a wonderful long weekend visiting friends in Jerusalem.  My A-100 seatmate and a good friend from Arabic class both had babies within a few days of each other, so it was a good excuse to see a new country, spend some time with friends, and hold babies.  Those are among my favorite things to do, so it worked out well!

I have long been curious to visit Israel, and Jerusalem in particular, and I had a wonderful time.  There is so much history in the area; it is really overwhelming at times.  I did not have an agenda or list of things I had to do, so I was able to take time to wander around and soak everything up at a leisurely pace.  I went during the Saudi weekend but the Jerusalem work week, so I was on my own for a couple days.  The first day I jumped right in and spent a very long day exploring the Old City.  I got lost dozens of times, visited each quarter (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Armenian), and visited a few sites.  I toured Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was a site I knew very little about before visiting.  I spent an hour or so at the Western Wall, watching the faithful in prayer.  Several bar mitzvahs were going on, so I got to peek over the wall at the men's side to see the pomp and ceremony.  I found it quite funny that a relatively high wall has been erected to allow the pilgrims a modicum of privacy, as well as to separate the genders, but dozens of tourists (and perhaps locals as well) were standing on the plastic chairs provided for contemplation in order to get a better view.  I timed things right to be able to access Temple Mount, where I got to see Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque up close.  The area is beautiful and peaceful and has some architectural gems around every corner.  I ate lunch in a square overlooking Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter.  The Old City is absolutely packed with phenomenally important religious and/or historic sites, and I only saw a few of them.  I only visited Jaffa Gate, didn't go to any museums, and missed dozens of other churches, mosques, synagogues, and other landmarks.  There's lots to do on a future visit! 

The Old City is packed with souqs - alleys overflowing with vendors of various wares.  I was surprised (and slightly dismayed) to find that some were as aggressive as those I encountered in Cairo.  The only things I bought all day were a few pieces from an Armenian ceramics artist.  The store was tucked into a corner on a very quiet street in the Armenian Quarter.  Christmas carols blasted from the radio as I browsed.  I love the Palestinian/Jerusalem/Armenian pottery style (they call it each or all of those names); the color blue features heavily in the decorations, and pomegranates and birds, fish, and/or deer adorn most of the pieces. 

I indulged in several Old City favorites while browsing.  I had a great bagel and cream cheese for breakfast, fresh pomegranate juice for a snack, and a falafel pita for lunch. 

On Friday I took things a bit easier, having overdone it a little the day before with the miles of hills and stairs and meanderings.  I headed to Mahane Yehuda market two hours before Shabbat.  I was curious to see the market itself, but, more importantly, I wanted to take in the famous pre-Shabbat rush to do shopping and get home in time for sundown.  It did not disappoint.  Thousands of people crowded in the market, bargaining over produce prices, finding the perfect breads and pastries, stocking up on spices and dried fruits, and buying just about any other fresh food product you can imagine.  My friends had told me how much they love Jerusalem for its fresh, local, quality produce, and I could see exactly what they meant.  It was truly amazing.  I had a leisurely lunch of mezze (and an obligatory cup of sahlab, a hot, milky drink) before one more wander through the market.  This time I happened upon a pottery cooperative.  As you may know (or are coming to realize), I adore handmade pottery and frequently seek it out for souvenirs and gifts.  I bought a beautiful pomegranate figurine (a popular creation in Jerusalem) and a whimsical spoon rest.  I could have bought significantly more if I'd had room in my suitcase...

Friday night we went out to dinner for my friend's birthday with some other friends and colleagues.  The majority of restaurants in Jerusalem are closed Friday evenings for Shabbat, and the streets are largely deserted.  It's quite a sight.  Similar in some ways to Saudi in the daytime during Ramadan.  We had a wonderful dinner and lots of laughs.

Saturday was the one overlapping vacation day my host had, so we headed farther afield.  We drove down the coast of the Dead Sea, past Qumran (where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found), past the garden centers with camels out front as advertisements, and down to Ein Gedi.  I imagine in the summer this is a very busy beach with lots of floating tourists, but it was empty and quiet and wonderful.  We didn't go all the way down to the water, as it was an awkward access point if we weren't actually swimming (and it was way too cold to even think about doing that!).  Hard to believe we were at the lowest point on Earth.  We headed a bit farther south and went to Masada, the site of the last siege during the First Jewish-Roman War between CE 66 and 73.

Masada is located on a plateau high above the valley floor.  You can take the Snake Path up, a winding, 45 minute, strenuous climb up hundreds of stairs.  We opted for the cable car.  It took three minutes.  We wandered the ruins and dodged tour groups and admired the spectacular views.  The Dead Sea is not very wide, and we had great views of Jordan on the opposite bank. 

Travel in the West Bank is severely limited for FS personnel (even those on personal travel).  There are a couple of main roads you're allowed to drive during the daytime, and Jericho is an allowed destination.  So when we finished at Masada, we headed up to Jericho.  My understanding is that Jericho and Damascus tussle over which is the oldest continually-inhabited city in the world, but they both have a pretty long and impressive history of which to boast.  Jericho is also one of the lowest cities on the planet, lying just a few kilometers from the Dead Sea.  We drove through town, which was largely deserted at that time in the afternoon.  It really felt like being in a different country - signs in different languages, different license plates, different feel.  We ate lunch at a great little restaurant on the main drag, ordering a ton of mezze and splitting a delicious musakhan, a traditional Palestinian dish.  It's a roasted chicken in savory spices and onions over bread.  Absolutely delightful. 

To end the day, we stopped at the house of my friend's colleague, who has a connection with olive wood artisans and sells their wares at wholesale prices.  I bought lots of Christmas ornaments, a camel figurine set, a mortar and pestle, some great spoons, and a cheese board.  I was ecstatic! 

We went for drinks at my A-100 colleague's home; she also had visitors in town.  It was a great way to cap off a wonderful weekend.  Unfortunately my flight yesterday morning was hellishly early, but my amazing host drove me to Ben Gurion in the middle of the night.  I got through security with no problems, but my flight was delayed over an hour due to bad weather in Amman.  The flight between Tel Aviv and Amman is very interesting; both times I was in a wide-body Airbus plane, but our flight was 25 minutes cruising at about 9000 feet. 

No delays coming out of Amman, no problem getting back into KSA, and I was home by 4:30.  Just in time to go to a 4.5 hour dinner event.  What day off?!

Pictures will be forthcoming; my priority for tonight is unpacking and sleeping.

Am I Wrong to Complain?

I am spending today in Amman's airport waiting for my flight to Tel Aviv.  I am going to visit friends and new babies in Jerusalem and have a nice, relaxing break for a few days.  And even though I'm on vacation, I'm having a bit of a hard time calming down after events this week.

Sometimes I feel like all I do is complain about my house.  Maybe it's because I had such horrible luck with my Oakwood apartment.  I wasn't blogging much then, but I had my share of ridiculous issues.  There was no heat in the winter; they were working on the A/C (which means turning it off) during the summer.  At one point it was so hot in my seventh floor apartment that I seriously considered moving into the front lobby for a few days, dog and all.  They provided a portable A/C when I suggested that.  (And got State's PCS housing people involved, which helped a lot.)  The elevators were frequently broken or out of order, which meant frequent trips up and down the six flights of stairs (2-3 times a day) with a stair-phobic dog.  Then there was the time Hattie and I got stuck in the elevator for 35 minutes on a Sunday night.  Or the time a steel beam fell out of the ceiling and hit me in the head, knocking me to the ground.  Luckily it missed Hattie.  Or maybe the two (!) times I came home to find all of my UAB and HHE piles moved and disorganized so they could work on the HVAC systems.  And that's just what I remember off the top of my head; I know there was more.  So I'm a little sensitive about housing.

I've (mostly) gotten over the fact that my apartment here is small, has few kitchen cabinets, and the furniture is icky and dorm-like.  I can deal with that.  It's not ideal, but it's a place to live and I don't have to pay for it.  Bed bugs were something I couldn't overlook. Now that that's solved (it only took almost three months...), I am much more relaxed.

Except for this week.

I came home Saturday night to find my kitchen flooded.  The water cooler had started leaking.  Looking back, maybe the fact that I no longer could get super cold water out of it was the first sign.  But still.  Even though it was a GSO cooler, I got the compound guys to come over and unplug it (the plug was duct taped to the extension cord!) so I didn't have to walk into the flooded kitchen and risk electrocution.  They also very nicely mopped it up.  But no potable water for a couple days.  Lots of bottled water instead.  They're supposed to put the new one in today, so everything should work out.

Yesterday I came home, ready to pack and get to bed early.  As I walked into the stairwell, I was hit by an overwhelming odor.  Sort of like paint, but stronger and more toxic, like floor waxing polish or some industrial cleaner.  The floor was sticky and slippery.  So were the handrails and walls.  I made it upstairs to find my door coated as well.  I went inside hoping for relief,  but instead I walked into a literal cloud of toxic-smelling whatever.  I immediately had to throw up.  It was so bad.  I threw open windows and doors to air the place out.  I grabbed the cat I could find and took him into my bedroom, which was a bit better since I keep that door closed during the day.  I couldn't find the second cat.  I was terrified he jumped out a window when my back was turned or had passed out from the  lack of fresh air somewhere inaccessible.  After 15 minutes of frantic searching, I found him under the couch, wide eyed and terrified.  I've never seen him like that.  I managed to pry him out and get him into my room.  He ran under the bed and resumed frantic position.  I held the other cat up to the open window to let him breathe some fresh air.  He seemed to revive a bit (he'd been lethargic).  I called Maintenance.  They told me it was a fogging treatment for mosquitoes.  They seemed totally nonplussed when I explained that it was making me and my cats sick.  I rolled a towel and put it against the door to try to keep the pesticides out.  After about 10 minutes Callaghan finally came out from under the bed.  I let him breathe fresh air, and then he cuddled right up to me, obviously feeling better.  We stayed in my room for more than an hour while I let the rest of the place air out.  It was almost bearable when we emerged, and I kept the windows and screen door open all night.  This morning it was almost back to normal.  Almost.

So there you go.  I needed to get all my complaints out in one place.  And now I have to ask.  Am I wrong to complain?  Is this normal in the FS, particularly for leased housing?  Should I just bite my tongue and buck up?  I just can't imagine that there are this many serious problems everywhere.  I consider myself pretty patient and tolerant, but at this point, I've been losing my cool more and more easily.  I went to all those health/safety briefings at FSI, and my impression was that pests, pesticides, and floods in the home were pretty serious problems that would get solved in a timely manner.  Or prevented from happening.  Was that just a rosy picture of things?  I'd love to hear from some seasoned veterans about whether I'm being unreasonable.  If I am, I'll accept that.  I just have a hard time believing this is the norm.  Thanks for letting me vent.

A Week of Eating Well

One thing Jeddah has in spades in good restaurants.  I have rarely been disappointed when eating out, and all tastes and budgets are covered here.  Some people find comfort in the existence of most big American chains; I feel the need to name all those that come to mind because I find it incredibly fascinating (and frightening) how prevalent they are here.  I can happily say I have not been to the overwhelming majority of these places.   McDonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Papa John's, Dunkin Donuts, KFC, Starbucks, Little Caesars, Costa Coffee, TGI Friday's, Chili's, Applebee's, Fuddruckers, Ruby Tuesday, Benihana, Subway, Baskin Robbins, Quiznos, On the Border, The Cheesecake Factory (cheesecake only, not the restaurant), Pizza Fusion, and probably more I can't remember right now.

There are some regional chains and some local chains as well.  For instance, Al Baik is the local fried chicken fast food chain.  They're a step above KFC and very popular, but it's still fast food fried chicken.  I haven't tried any of the other fast food chains, because, frankly, there's so many other good restaurants that there's no need.

In the past week I've managed to go to four really good restaurants, two for the first time.  One I'd been to before is called Bab Al-Yemen and serves, predictably, Yemeni food.  The restaurant is well-appointed and comfortable, the management and service is excellent, and the food is top-notch.  I've gone a couple times with big groups where we order everything on the menu, and nobody is ever disappointing.  There's a lot of lamb and goat on the menu, which I don't eat, but the chicken and shrimp dishes are delicious.  And they have amazing bread.  Plus, everything is VERY reasonably priced, so it's tempting to go often.

Another local favorite is Byblos.  It's a higher-end Lebanese restaurant not far from work.  They have a companion shisha lounge called Bubbles attached.  I've eaten on both sides.  The food is good, the ambience is awesome, the service is decent.  However, this is the one place I've ever been hassled about not wearing an abaya in three+ months, so I am a little down on them at the moment.  (They hassled me out of fear they'd get in trouble with the religious police, but it still wasn't cool, since the religious police are few and far between here.  Plus, I was dressed conservatively and agreed to put my scarf around my shoulders (which were covered anyway, but who knows).)

I joined some colleagues at the new favorite lunch spot, Marhaban, this week.  It's a Pakistani restaurant with a really nice lunch buffet.  Lots of good salads, briyanis, lentil dishes, etc.  But the best thing is the dessert - they have a carrot halwa that is absolutely to die for.  And, again, very reasonably priced.

My favorite find of the week, though, is a newer restaurant called Salad Boutique.  I think the name throws people off a bit, but maybe that's a good thing.  This restaurant is located in a relatively new strip of restaurants on the water, behind the Park Hyatt Hotel.  I've been to one of the other restaurants there for brunch, which was so-so.  But Salad Boutique is awesome.  We went for dinner and sat outside, under softly-lit palm trees.  The weather was perfect, the view was great, and the atmosphere was reminiscent of Miami.  If you could overlook the men in thobes and women in abayas.  When the waiter handed us our menus, I fell in love.  Any place that has its menus on iPads is already cool with me.  Plus, the menu was exciting.  Soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, appetizers, risottos, entrees, etc.  Something for every taste and very reasonably priced, especially considering the real estate.  I ordered soup and a sandwich.  Wow.  The soup, a creamy four-cheese soup, was incredible.  And hearty.  I ended up not being able to eat my sandwich (a steak & mushroom panini) and had it wrapped up.  (I had it for lunch the next day, and it, too, gets rave reviews.)

There are more restaurants I've been to that are good, so this is just a sampling of this week's fare.  (I don't usually go out to eat four times in a week, but that's the way things worked out.  Kudos to one of my colleagues for suggesting all of these and organizing the outings.)

The other nice thing about dining in Jeddah is a website called jeddahfood.com.  It's a user-generated site with reviews and information about hundreds of local restaurants.  It's very popular here and frequently updated.  It makes finding new places fun and easy!

Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Rain.

You don't realize how much you miss it until you live somewhere where it almost never rains.

In Jeddah, rain now is synonymous with death, destruction, and frustration and causes widespread panic.  In November 2009, floods devastated the city, killing more than 120 and stranding thousands.  The government was slow to react, but the people of Jeddah filled that void with a volunteer effort that has birthed an entire movement here and throughout Saudi Arabia.  I've met lots of volunteers, and every conversation references the floods of 2009.  The tragedy was something of a turning point, and it's quite amazing to see what has come out of such a dark period.

Last Wednesday, I watched from my office as the sky darkened.  Distant rumblings of thunder grew closer.  And then, all of a sudden, down came the rain.  This wasn't the five minutes of a few droplets we had a few weeks ago.  This was a true downpour and thunderstorm.  My colleagues and I were giddy, rushing to the windows and doors to feel the rain and take pictures.

Within a few minutes, though, the flat landscape became waterlogged.  One of our entrances was blocked by flooding.  Parents started receiving calls that schools were closing.  The traffic sounds became more frantic, and more people got on the roads to try and get home.  We received word of leaks in our events hall and had to cancel an afternoon event.  In the excitement, a colleague and I decided to go out for lunch.  We drove, as we thought we'd go a bit farther afield.  We ended up literally across the street; the streets were flooded and jammed, and it was easier to stay close.  In some places it was just a couple inches of water on the road, but there were people wading through with water up to their mid-calf.  After just 30 minutes of rain. 

Getting back to work was a nightmare.  It took us 80 minutes.  I heard similar stories from other colleagues who ventured out.  It's all relative.  In Thailand, during monsoon season, the roads occasionally flooded up to the car doors, but we always kept driving.  While people canoed past us.  But here, with rain barely over the bottom rim of the tire, the panic and phobia caused massive traffic jams. 

Driving home several hours later was better, but the roads were still saturated.  And with predictions of another storm with up to an inch of precipitation the next day, people were visibly shaken.  Parking lots had turned into lakes.  Side streets were canals.  Swimming pools were now filled with brown water. 

Things were better by the time we went out to dinner that night.  But people still seemed freaked.  As I walked home from the shuttle stop, lightning flashed in the distance.

I woke up on Thursday to winds lashing my windows.  I opened the curtains to see driving rain and another thunderstorm.  I settled in for a gray day at home.  The rain didn't last as long as predicted, and it cleared up by mid-afternoon.  I ventured out after the last prayer Thursday night to try to pay my internet bill.  The first two branches were closed, presumably due to weather.  The third was open, but packed.  The roads were still flooded, impassable in some places.  Cars were stuck in a number of places.  It was quite a sight.  Even after a full day of dry weather, the roads didn't drain all that much, as I noted Friday night.  Last night, while at the Consulate, I passed by Hattie's burial site.  I was a little worried it would be flooded, but luckily it is on slightly higher ground. 

One local news outlet, Arab News, has a couple of good reads in English, complete with pictures here and here.  There's also an interesting editorial here. 

Luckily I don't have the same worries about flooding that most of the city's residents have, but I sympathize with their plight after seeing how bad things could get only after just a little rain.  Definitely a cultural learning experience...

State Department Blog RoundUp

On the last day of 2010, it's only fitting to reflect on the year that was and look forward to 2011.  Here's wishing that, wherever you are in the world, you're celebrating the new year with family and friends.  

Here’s a look at how the Foreign Service Blogosphere is ringing in the new year... 

I’ll start it off with my own post.  2010 had its ups and downs, but I’m so happy to be where I am, and I am excited for a new year of (mis?)adventures!

Just US is taking full advantage of living in Israel and getting more in touch with her spirituality.  

Pulling Stakes, with her usual dose of wit and wisdom, tells her family’s 2010 story in numbers.  Kate, you deserve some new shoes after a year of barf!

Small Bits has had a tumultuous 2010 but is excited about savoring each moment of the next year.  (She is also doing a very ambitious RoundUp in a couple of weeks - don't forget to submit and check back!)

Beyond the Cornfields has a poignant reflection not just on 2010 but on her family’s journey in the Foreign Service. She has some great advice for those of you just starting this adventure.  

Sass and Sweet is savoring a holiday at home with family, before heading to Beirut and a more complicated trip home for the holidays. 

Crafty Foreign Service is hosting the second-annual Foreign Service Swap.  (Information and instructions on her page.)  I’ve already signed up, and you should too! What a great way to meet new people and learn about a new place. 

You Can’t Get There From Here shows us the hilarious highlights of Rosetta Stone.  The commentary is genius; I’m still laughing out loud. 

Four Globetrotters has a New Years Resolution based on past experience – triathlons should
only be undertaken after careful consideration.  Oh, and training.  

Two Crabs is famous!  Check out their post to find out how.  

Linsey at Rambles and Ruminations, who is hosting next week’s Round-Up, made a beautiful photo tribute to 2010.  Her family had awesome adventures on three continents!  

Wife-Mommy-Woman also did a wonderful photo tribute.  Next year will include another face in the photos! 

Life in the Land of the Long White Cloud reflects on his and his family’s many life events in 2010.  As usual, his way with words and beautiful tributes to the people in his life make it a great read.

The Dinoia Family had a furry houseguest this week, and the whole family agrees puppies are a whole lot of work!

Global Geraghtys had an exciting 2010 and are eagerly anticipating the adventures to come in 2011. 

Kim at Scrivners has many reasons to be excited about 2011 (and continues to be ever-poetic and a wonderful photographer).  

Here’s hoping A Daring Adventure feels better soon so she can enjoy family time in Florida.  

Life in Jerusalem finally made it to the beach after having to spend an extra day at home playing video games because of the snow.  

Bfiles, who starts A-100 next week, quickly learned that flexibility is key, after a blizzard canceled her packout!  Good luck Bfiles, it sounds like you have things well under control. 

What Were We Thinking? celebrated their first Christmas in Tijuana; Lisa managed to keep her husband’s present a surprise for several weeks and several thousand miles – impressive!

Kitty Non Grata has a new work Blackberry; she’s a little uncertain about what this means for her free time.  

Looking for Geckos proves that a picture (or two) is truly worth a thousand words.

Don’t forget to submit a post for next week’s RoundUp at Rambles and Ruminations, and sign up to host a week at A Daring Adventure.  (It’s painless and fun, I promise!)

And with that, Happy New Year!!

The Times, They Are a-Changin'

I am hosting the State Department Blog RoundUp this week, with the predictable theme of reflecting on 2010 and looking ahead to 2011.  I am not big on making New Years resolutions, but I am very good at reflecting and pondering.

This year has been a roller-coaster of emotions, with some wonderful highs and tragic lows, interspersed with less dramatic ebbs and flows.

Now that I think about it, the weather I've experienced this year has also had highs, lows, and weird in betweens.  I was in DC for two blizzards (and two wonderful weeks of several days with no work) and then in Saudi Arabia for August and September.  With a few weeks of NH winter and months of DC summer thrown in for fun.  Today, it rained for about 30 minutes, and the city came to a complete standstill.  It took me 80 minutes to drive (well, ride) a block and a half. 

In June, we celebrated my grandmother's 90th birthday with a huge family reunion and party.  It was three days of laughter and great food and lots of hugs and story-telling.  Grandma became a great-great-grandmother a few weeks later, which I consider pretty awesome.  To have five generations of family living at the same time is quite an impressive feat. 

In July, we bid farewell to my other grandmother.  As devastating as her death was, I am thankful I was able to say goodbye and support my father during that difficult time. 

August was a tough month.  I moved to Saudi Arabia and immediately, and tragically, lost my beloved Hattie.  I know I mention it a lot, but my life changed so dramatically and needlessly at that time that it's a vivid punctuation in the year.  Two weeks later I welcomed two beautiful kittens into my life.  It may have been too soon, emotionally, but they've become an important (and cuddly!) part of my life.  They're perfect.

This was the year that I truly began my dream career, as a diplomat.  I spent much of 2009 in training, but nothing compares to actually being overseas and knowing I'm serving my country.  It's a source of pride for me, and sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure it's not a dream.  I absolutely, truly love my job, even at its low points.  Not everyone can say that.  

I've met many amazing people this year.  The Foreign Service family is truly a global community, and it's nice to have that network and support system.  Plus my job enables me to meet fascinating people on a daily basis.  And I have a place to stay in some pretty awesome places on every continent...  (I promise to reciprocate when I'm posted somewhere with a vibrant tourism industry.)

After a few years of not traveling much, I finally got back into the swing of things.  I had a great time in WA with my mom and brother in April, my first time to the Pacific Northwest.  I'll be back, definitely.  I visited two new countries (Saudi Arabia, Egypt), in a region that's totally new to me.  I look forward to exploring it more in the next two years.  Mom and I had an awesome musical journey to Forth Worth, TX and started a new tradition, following Lyle Lovett around the country.  Not to mention the many trips up and down the I-95 corridor and out to WV, and a pleasant winter weekend in VA Beach. 

So what will 2011 bring?  Lots more travel, starting with a January trip to Israel to meet some beautiful babies and see some awesome people :-).  At least a couple family weddings, where we'll (officially) welcome some pretty awesome people into the clan.  New challenges, opportunities, and experiences at work.  I'm trying not to look too far ahead, but I get to bid again next summer, so the anticipation is building.  I fall in love with a new potential post every month or so.  (Today's find:  Asmara.  Look it up.)

The last few days of the year are always filled with a frisson of anticipation for the new year.  I'll ring in 2011 with friends and colleagues (and then maybe wake up early the next morning to skype-celebrate it with my family as well).

One thing's for certain:  I will continue to torture my cats for my own entertainment.  Right now they're wearing ruffled collars with jingle bells.  Because the box of Christmas presents I ordered them (myself?) just arrived.  To be fair, I used to dress Hattie up in ridiculous things as well.  That's a tradition that will never change.  And sometimes, it's good to have some stability.  Especially in a career/lifestyle that's so dependent on frequent and drastic change. 

And on that poignant thought, I'll end.

Happy New Year!

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