Category: Learning Curve

Yessir, that is me! I am now the proud owner of a BRAND NEW (not even new-to-me) LEATHER chair for the living room!!! HEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEE I had a chair that I loved before Cairo.  It was called a “chair-and-a-half” and was big enough for me to snooze comfortably in.  I also had the hassock that went… Continue reading All Growed Up

In that whole “Crap, I’m not dealing with this readjustment thing very well”, here’s my day. We’ve been home for a month – OY, has it been that long? – during which I have been blissfully not required to go to work.  Jobs in education have a FEW advantages (June, July, August!). Since our return,… Continue reading Only makes sense to me

NSTIW – we had been home for 4 days.  During that time, I’d freaked out numerous times because of the HUGE, shiny and expen$ive shopping experiences that were necessary. On the day in question, I’d decided it was time to COOK AT HOME.  (For Cairenes you know how strange and impressive an idea this was!) … Continue reading Things are Different Here

I had my brief, stream-of-consciousness post about finishing my divemaster certification, but many people have asked, “What does that REALLY mean?” So here goes: The certification is through PADI (officially: Professional Association of Diving Instructors; unofficially: Put Another Dollar In), the largest SCUBA certification organization on the planet. I have been diving since 1987 (yes,… Continue reading You may call me…MASTER!!

Most of you will think that this is a “mountain-out-of-a-mole-hill” thing….. I FINISHED MY DIVEMASTER TRAINING. I AM A DIVEMASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the “intro” level of SCUBA instructional levels. I can’t teach SCUBA classes, but I’ve learned how to manage other divers underwater, deal with stressful situations, and assist in the teaching of SCUBA. Basically… Continue reading I DID IT!!!!

No, it is not as bad as all that! I began SCUBA diving when I was 19 year old. I was Open Water Certified (Level 1) in university. At that time, I thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to dive for a living?” Years went by. In grad school, I returned to diving… Continue reading Be careful what you wish for…

It seems that everyone (especially Gozi – Arabic for my husband) knows that the idea of us moving to another flat, even within Zamalek, is INSANE. Everyone, that is, except me. Until last night. Back story: in my last installment, I talked about us TRYING and being DENIED a flat in Zamalek. Just after posting… Continue reading More Chaos – and closure

So I have a new version of the blogging software, with all kinds of cool, whizzzz-bangy features. I’m learning how to use them, so watch out! One of the features is that embedded video is “easier” (for some value of easier). So I’ve been going thru all my old, short, point-and-shoot videos. First point –… Continue reading New Technology

I received an e-mail today from a dear friend. Her great excitement of the day was a gift from her Northwest garden, the opening of a beautiful poppy, the first of the season. That got me thinking of flowers and how certain regional flowers have marked my passage thru life and geography. I grew up… Continue reading Life’s path and its flowers

Jack and I began taking Arabic lessons as soon as we arrived. I have had a number of different tutors, gone to a language school for “intensive” Arabic, and have amused my co-workers with my attempts to speak their language. From the beginning, Arabic has been a challenge. First, it reads from right to left… Continue reading What’s the difference?