An update- with good news!

January is always a tough month. Many folks get the January blues. I think in education, it's the worst month as it's a "new year", but still a continuation of what you left off with a few weeks earlier, and it is not even the halfway point of the school year. This year, my stress was increased with the pressure of seeking employment for next year. While searching for jobs is exciting- thinking of all the places you could go, the new things to see and do and learn, until it's settled, it is a bit stressful.

The most challenging part of my job search was trying to find places where it would be possible to be in a decent proximity to Bashar, or at least someplace where he can visit without a huge ordeal to get a visa. After becoming frustrated with these limitations, I began to apply to any job that appealed to me. Strangely, the school that appealed most was one in Beirut, where there was a Middle School music opening. My second choice, for a while, was a school in Kiev, Ukraine, which would be very difficult for the relationship. A school in Thailand was in touch with me, and then did not respond after I sent a copy of my teaching certificate. Thailand would be okay and B could come there easily.

After a couple weeks of waiting, I was talking to a Lebanese friend who asked why I didn't say sooner I was interested in the job in Beirut. Her cousins attend the school. So, she made some phone calls and within 32 hours, the headmaster was calling me from his recruiting tour in the USA to offer me a job. A couple days later, I was signing and faxing a contract and making plans to visit the school during my short break to Lebanon at the end of February. I have been sighing with relief ever since. Ahhhhhhhh...

Reasons why I am excited to live in Beirut:

Lebanese people are nice, polite, professional, stylish- simply lovely.
They have sidewalks and a nice corniche and it's easy and safe to walk around.
I will walk to work in 5-10 minutes a day.
Lebanese law require employers to pay their employees and transportation fee of $4 a day. So I get PAID to walk to work.
There are nice wine caves in Lebanon and I can drink wine with dinner whenever I desire. The local beer is also good.
There are concerts, music and film festivals regularly.
There are nice yoga and pilates centers.
The school is affiliated with the University, where I can attend concerts and lectures.
I can continue studying Arabic (which I finally started to do in January).
I can practice French (most Lebanese speak French)
Most of the produce I buy in Kuwait comes from Lebanon, so I can save it a plane trip. Great produce...
There are plenty of nearby opportunities for skiing, hiking, camping, sunbathing.,
There are seasons in Lebanon, though a nice Mediterranean climate in Beirut.
I can take the bus to Syria to see Bashar and he easily visit Lebanon.
Friends from Kuwait and my Lebanese friends will visit frequently.
It's a CHANGE!!!

Lebanon is the only country in the Middle East without a desert. Today, after waking up to howling winds at 2:00am and not sleeping well after that and then inhaling dust all day in a bad sand storm, I am very happy to leave the desert behind.

So that's what's happening here.

Take care...