Wednesday, November 19, 2008

My first adventure in Oman

(On a side note, soon to come to my blog: A photo album. ooooooo
Another side note. I am still getting used to the formating of this site, so there is alot of white space.)

Now my story of a hike. I now believe that going down a mountain is more difficult than going up! It all began on November 11, 2008. I had backed up a day's worth of food and clothing to take part in the scouting trip for the annual all school field trip. The plan was to camp one night, get up early and descend Jebel Ahkdar. My colleague, Greg, and I left school at 5:30 and a driver took us to a campsite on Black Top Mountain to meet up with our other colleague, Robert, and the guide. The pristine campsite is now adjacent to a new goverment housing building. Good for the people who will get a free house, but unfortunate for the families that have been camping there for years.



The next morning we started our hike at 7:30 am. Our driver and guide had gone down to the villaige to get someone to show us the best route down the mountain. The six of us climbed the short distance to the summit. I immediately felt the elevation change and wished that I hadn't slacked on excersise since I have been here. Our guide, Khaluf, kept asking me if I was okay and telling me, "Breathe, like this." He lifted his arms to his side in a slow motion flapping motion. I assured him I would make it and rested when I could.
When we reached the summit (not far since we had camped close), Greg and Robert's eyes bulged as stood at a cliff. The young man from the nearby villaige pointed down the cliff indicating that the trail was straight down! It took me longer to register that we would be going straight down, no ropes, on loose rock. (mom and dad, you would have freaked out).
Luckly the first leg wasn't nearly as scarey as it looked. Turns out there was a "trail" of somwhat level ground and some good holds. The worst part were a couple of tricky areas with shale. Khaluf taught me that you had to walk fast on the loose rock so you don't fall. It took the entire day to convince me cause when you are on a steep mountain you don't exactly want to go fast.
We stopped for lunch and I could barely feel my legs. I had ripped a hole in the backside of my pants. I welcomed the break for lunch. We all shared our snacks, veggies and cheese with each other.
The next leg of the trip was even harder than the first leg. The holds were farther apart and the mountain was steeper. There was more loose rock. A few times Khaluf had to literally pluck me off one rock and put me down on another. I felt like a little kid being helped by my dad. At this point my self respect was shot. I had thought that the trip would be challenging climb with switchbacks. I was expecting to be tired, but now I felt it would nearly be impossible to make it down. I felt out of shape, my legs were barely functional and I couldn't do it by myself. I kept praying for strength.
Funny thing, strength didn't come as I would expect. Instead I had to rely on Khaluf to help me down the mountain. It was impossible by myself. At one point I slipped and fell on some of the loose rocks. I didn't hurt myself, I just sort of slumped down and started to cry. I have learned when I stretch myself thin I cry. Khaluf told me not to think about the mountain or the difficulty in the task we had to do but to tell myself I was happy. Slide down a rock, see no problem, I am happy. Scale the mountain, see no problem, I am happy. Actually this worked. I even started singing "It is well with my soul" to myself. Then I began to think of a book I will write when I am 50, entitled "An Amatuers Field Guide to Life: A spritual mountain Treck." It will be a comedy with dramatic relief.




Then about an hour later, there was a REAL TRAIL. One we could see. I wish I had a video of my making my way down the switch backs. Hilarious. I could now see the happiness of the situation. I had to walk very slowly since my legs were beyond dicfunctional and now were sore along with my feet and ankles. Then I was about 1Km from the end of the trail and an older gentleman from the village past Me on the trail. He had come from the gardens at one of the bases of the peaks. The villagers plant their gardens wehre the water from the mountian drains. I think that he made some comment to the men I was with about making me do such a hard hike or something. He was chuckling as he teased Robert and Khaluf (I think Greg was alreay done at this point).

When Khaluf and I finally reached the wadi, the flat, very flat last leg of the trip. He said, "See are you happy?" I was. Although to exhausted to show it really, but I was. I might have hugged him because I was happy. We reached the villaige of Hal Hal, Robert, Greg, and our driver was there to greet us with seven other men from the village. they had brought us dates and coffee, a common Omani hospitality snack. One of the men yelled as he saw me approach them, "Look, strong woman!" Hee, hee. Thanks.


All in all it was an experience I would never had done if I knew what I was in for. An even though it has taken five days to be able to walk normally again, I am glad I went.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

All is Well...It is end of semester

All is well and it is the end of the semester, so all you teachers know what that means. At the moment I am sitting in my classroom and students have just finished some test make ups.
Next week we have a special holiday to observe National Day. Today is the actually NAtional day, but it is never on the day, but around it. It happens to fall near Thanksgiving, but I won't really being doing anyting special. A Thanksgiving meal with friends, writing exams and preparing final grades. I am required to write a unique comment for all my students so it takes a bit of time. Our finals are on Dec 2, 3, 6, and 7. Last day of school is the 8th. I am not sure yet what we do that day. I think the students pick up their final grades and exams. I will officially be done with the first semester on Dec 8th at 12pm.
But it doesn't feel like the holidays, because it is 71 degrees outside. I haven't seen a rain drop since hmmm, must have been April? I will be going to Scotland on December 10th for 10 days. I will definately see rain there.
Coming soon, the report of the treck down Jebel Akdhar, more than I bragined for!!

Monday, September 15, 2008

It's Been A Long Time










Views of my apartment




Here is a brief update with pictures of my apartment. The pictures do not capture the vastness of it, but...you get the idea.





So since I last typed in my goings on:










  1. I have run a total of 20K in the hot Omani evenings with the Muscat Road Runners





  2. Bought a Yaris





  3. Got lost and was late to a race.
  4. ME running


  5. Sang in the worship band at church and learned how to work the visuals (it is a glorified PowerPoint)





  6. Cried twice in Ultimate, hmm adjustment to team sports is rough.





  7. Found plain tortilla chips




  8. Got lost and was late to dinner.




  9. Laughed to histerics with Sara walking home from school exhausted, but enjoying the walk through the Wadi.




  10. Found a gym, haven't joined yet though.




  11. Been to the ambassodor's house for a teacher reception.




  12. Got lost and was...not late to a social run. Phew! I think I'm getting the hang of this.




  13. Got sick, got better




  14. Bought a wadi mat (a.k.a. a really big plastic carpet to sleep or sit on in the desert)




At the moment I am making a mix CD to share some tunes with another teacher at school who I go to church with. It is great to listen to music. There are so many memories of all y'all. When I listen to Robin Mark Revival in Belfast 2, it reminds me of driving to El Dorodo Hills via 49. I can see the golden Cali grass. Sara Gazarak reminds me of the going to the jazz club in Long Beach with Sommer and the summer days in Orange. Elton John's Tiny Dancer...I won the Colfax HS staff football pool in 2005 as Tiny Dancer! Then during Come Thou Fount I remember playing in Anne and Josh's wedding in Ben Lomond. Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus? Dancing with Christine of course. On on the note of G2, I surrender...Sunday morinings with the talented G2 worship band. And finally, Chan Chan takes me back, way back to eating pancakes before work at the Kresge Cafe at UCSC. Yes I see the fog resting on the redwoods.




Oh such wonderful memories that I cherish. Although this entry was more of a journey back in time, it is important to remember home while I am creating memories in a new home. New songs, new memories. Oh I love life!

The Grand Mosque at Night

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Souks


The Old Souk
Muscat is amazing. In the souk in Muttrah (by the port in side the gates) one can find a collection of delights. The coffee shops just outside serve anything from blended mint lemonade to all beef hot dog sandwiches (no pork here). You can look at the old but very active port as you refresh before a few hours of shopping.
The new and old souk now merge into one large block connected by small allies. It is possible to get lost, but not for long, because if you ask a local to help you they will tell you what passage to take to get back to the center and main ally.
The photo to the right is one view outside the Muttrah souk. Two traditional Omani fishing boats are on display in the port.
Below are the purchases I made at the latest souk adventure.

The Plant Souk

One of the other teachers here took Sara, Zach and I to the plant souk. (Sara and Zach are two of my buddies here, we have done nearly everything together. In fact the boat photo is Sara's photo.) The plant souk is a long stretch in of nurseries in Seeb, west of where I live.

To the left, the moment of purchase at the plant souk. The photo was taken by our host who had made us tacos for dinner complete with plain tortillia chips. Yes!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Day ?

I am settling in slowly but surely. I have most things at home that I need. I am now working on my classroom (photos soon).
Oman is a fabulous country. The people are very kind. It is reletively easy to drive around and find things. There is one main highway. One thing, I kept getting in the wrong lane and exited the freeway. Most freeway exits have a roundabout. Straight, leads back on the freeway; U-turn, freeway in the opposite direction. Then right or left will take you to the business and such. Last night on my way back from The Sultan Center (Huge store with anything you would ever need and/or want except for plain tortilla chips) I exited the freeway at my exit, only to find myself back on the freeway again. I eventually found my way back. Now I know where things are, right?
Some of you who have travelled, know that there is always one thing at home that you cannot get in the particular country where you are. Most of the time it is food related. Oreos, plain m&m's, DQ Blizzards, drip coffee or tortilla chips. Well all of that is in Oman (Just not necissarily at the Sultan Center). Yes all of it. Let's play a game. Someone think of something they couldn't find while abroad. Let's see if I can find it!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Arrived 9:50 Muscat time

I made it safe and sound and so did all my bags!
I found the ethernet cable this morining so I am online. Still trying to figure out the phone situation. More on that later.
I have a huge air conditioned apartment. I am not far from the school. Today I will be going to the grocery store, school tour, and pool party. Eventually I will unpack.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

School's Out for Summer

Well my bags aren't packed yet but my classroom is. An era has ended for me at Colfax. Thank you to all my students who made my years at Colfax enjoyable. Thank you to all my students who helped build my character. Last but not least Thank you to all the Colfax teachers, admistration and staff that mentored me through my first few years of teaching. Your support kept me sane and your company kept me human.
I would also like to thank the PUHSD staff especially Cam, Bev, Cathy, and Bart for your help with various district tasks.
So this may be a good bye in a way, but it is really a hello to ADVENTURE!!
Next Blog will be on August 7th, 8th or 9th depending on when I can write once I get to OMAN!