happy holidays

Greetings from a foggy morning in Kuwait.

It is the first day of holidays and I slept in until 7:20am- what a blessing. There is no natural light seeping in the apartment due to the aforementioned fog. First time for everything- it has been quite rainy here, but I've never seen fog like this.

I am attempting to write a "Christmas letter" but am not sure how that will go. Most of you keep relatively up to date with the old blog so I do not have to summarize. Then again, my egomania causes me to think every one of you is so interested in my daily life. In the words of the Indigo Girls "it's only life after all..."

2006 has been an interesting and challenging year for me. As I have spent most of the year living in Kuwait plus travelling around the Middle East and Eastern Europe, I have been exposed to a wide variety of cultural nuances. I enjoy the expat lifestyle quite well. It is an odd phenomenon in Kuwait, where it is very difficult to befriend local people. Though I have more friends than I thought possible here, only two of them are Kuwaiti. Some friends are expats from other Middle Eastern countries and most are Westerners.

Some of the highlights of my year were the trips to Jordan (if you go nowhere else in the world, go there) and to Eastern Europe in the summer. Of course, one of the best parts of the year was the road trip with Jen to the Winnipeg Folk Music Festival. The long, open road, clear blue sky, clean air, good music...camping at the folk site, listening to great music all weekend. I loved the dragon flies that were almost the size of hummingbirds- they were absolutely gorgeous! if only I had taken pictures...and of course, we loved the coffee and the Indian food and the Rock Creek cider...hopefully we can go back on the annual pilgrimmage and bring others with us.

Since returning, however begrudgingly, to Kuwait, I have found it much easier and enjoyable than last year. Straight away, it was wonderful to see friends, colleagues and students again- they are such lovely people! I am so close with my students it is almost ridiculous. I admire their creativity and energy and their innocent perspectives and kindness. I love my job and feel I am truly blessed to love what I do for a living. I am far more fortunate than most people in this country and honestly, in the world.

I have begun, by chance, to make friends with people outside of the teaching profession, which is a blessing. The jazz band I am in, though mostly teachers, is a nice group of folks who are generally good to be around. All three women in the band are Sagitarius and we are getting on quite well. Karen and I have great plans for playing horn together and for hanging out and learning some Stan Rogers tunes to play at folk club.

Life here is fine and I think it is my attitude and perspective that makes it so. This is the most important part of this journey so far from the home and the life I have known for 28 years. I have been challenged to leave every aspect of my comfort zone and develop my own life independent of close friends who guide and influence my decisions. I have begun to embrace my independence and see it as a useful personality trait. I have made time to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses and am working on developing behaviour patterns that are consistent and healthy. I have been actively changing what I do not like about myself and accepting what I cannot change. I am combatting my passive-aggressiveness and am accepting my inherent introvertedness and need for time alone. I have learned to care for people without feeling an immense sense of loss when they move on. I am developing the art of living in the moment while planning for the future. I am pleased, though not smug, about my personal progress. I have a long road to travel. I have decided it crucial to develop and redevelop lost musical practices. Practicing guitar gave so much more meaning to my every day life, but then I got busy...I need to make time for music and yoga daily. Then life will be as good as it can get, even if I become a hermit!

I want to tell you- I did want to come home for Christmas, but the flight was almost a month's salary and the jet lag would have been horrendous on each side. So as I leave to Delhi by plane tomorrow, I will think of you all fondly. When I am on the train to Haridwar and hanging out doing yoga in Rishikesh, and hopefully visiting a nature reserve...know that I am home in several senses. I am home in Mother India, land of peace and hippies, musicians and vegetarians...I am home in my body because my mind and heart are at peace and I am home in spirit because my love and gratitude is with you.

I send you kind thoughts and best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.

Someday I will return for toque and toboggan season.

hugs and kisses,
r