Where will you go? I don’t know How will you get there? I don’t really care Who will you see? That’s not up to me What will you do? Every day the same … About the poem: I have noticed that since I shifted my focus to how I behave, my challenge is pretty much […]
Poem: Flying through the night …a Haiku
Pedaling my bike Sailing through pools of street light Flying through the night — About the poem: What freedom! Do you know when I lived in Saudi Arabia, riding my bike was the biggest thing I missed? Now, riding my bike around town on summer nights …flying like a crazy witch on a broom. Great!
Poem: Lanterns Sway …a Haiku
Pink, yellow and blue Lanterns sway, ajummas pray, Make my dreams come true! — * ajumma = elderly lady in Korea — About the poem: Touring a Buddhist temple in Seoul today, the grounds are decked out with paper lanterns. Each has a blue prayer note attached, with a handwritten request for good health […]
The right to exercise
As I finished class on Friday here in Korea, I asked my fifth-grade student what she would be doing this weekend. She answered, “Studying!” “Oh,” I said, “well, make sure you get plenty of rest and get some exercise!” “I can’t. I have to study.” Another friend who has completed high school, told me that […]
Love Your Students
Change your lesson plan. Renumber your objectives for the day and make number one: Love your students. I’ve taught English to students in the US, Korea and Saudi Arabia. One thing’s for sure. You can’t always teach your students what you want to teach them. Or what you think you’re supposed to teach them. You […]
Home of the Free
Walking around on the streets of Denver, I’m in awe of our freedoms. I just got back from two months in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Wow, look at that lady walking alone, head uncovered, no abaya, walking a dog!!! A big dog! And over there, people sitting outside. Women sitting outside with men. And on the […]
Going for a Swim
Here in Riyadh, many compounds (expat residence communities) have swimming pools. But if you don’t have a friend on a compound, can you go swimming? Yes, you can!, my teacher friends told me. Here’s the scoop: You have to have a driver take you to the Diplomatic Quarter. You must also arrange for them to […]
Extra Money: Saudi Budget Surplus
While the US posted its third consecutive highest annual deficit ($1.3 trillion), the Saudi government is faced with the problem of what to do with its latest surplus. That’s right. The Saudi government has an extra $81.6 billion at year end. BBC News – Saudi Arabia posts huge budget surplus (December 2011)
Big Family Vehicles
This is a place where big cars are popular: – the average family size is six (down from higher numbers in recent years, and still lower in Riyadh than in smaller towns where the average size is 7-8) – no public transportation – gasoline sells for less than $1/gallon – male drivers The other day […]
Class-y Dressers
Class-y Dressers Sure, it’s the case that in any place, that the clothes one wears hints at your station in society. And it’s definitely the case here. For example, you often see men dressed in traditional Saudi garb: white robe (thawb), red and white checked headscarf (shumawg), and round rope-like coil (iqal). (More info on […]