L. Kris Gowen's Blog, page 7
March 28, 2015
Celebration and missed naps
“Camels!” Dave exclaimed as he looked outside our window. We were just about to take a nap when he looked out our window and saw a parade across the street – a celebration to honor the return of Sultan Qaboos from Germany, his good health, and Oman in general. We were tired, but went up […]
March 25, 2015
The Sultan has returned!
On March 23rd, Sultan Qaboos returned from Germany, having spent the last eight and a half months (258 days, to be exact) receiving “successful treatment” for an undisclosed illness. To celebrate his arrival in Oman that night, people went out to their cars to drive around, honking horns, waving flags, and sitting on the window […]
March 18, 2015
After class
Today the female students linger, instead of rushing out the door as soon as class is dismissed like they usually do (the men never stay longer than necessary). Then only one remains. She is smaller and quieter than many others, rarely speaking with her friends even after the boys have left. During independent work times, […]
March 15, 2015
I found the real Dubai
I look down and see the whole world below me. Traditional clothing spanning many continents. Workers pushing carpeted-covered carts full of bags of rice. Women pushing strollers. Tourists carrying backpacks and cameras. Shop owners standing outside scanning for customers. Cars honk and move slowly. Across the way, balconies house dilapidated furniture, air-con units, and drying […]
March 11, 2015
Beauty comes at a price
I am currently coloring my hair without supervision*. Dave has gone off to get the oil changed to get ready for our trip to Dubai tomorrow. This leaves me home alone with hair dye and without glasses. The apartment is poorly lit. I can only guess and hope that I covered most of my head. At […]
March 3, 2015
Cherishing the mundane
We missed the rain last weekend. Not on purpose – I would have loved to have seen it, listened to it, been trapped by it. Supposedly it came down very hard for a good three hours and flooded the streets the way it always does along the Wadis. We saw evidence of its force in […]
February 25, 2015
Alison’s Rule
My office mate has worked at the college for over ten years. When I first arrived, she was quick to offer words of comfort and advice about how to navigate this new culture. One of the first rules she told me was, “Only expect to get one thing done each day. That way, if something […]
February 22, 2015
Everything old is new again
Facebook, WordPress, Twitter, ResearchGate, and now add Goodreads to the list. These are the social media platforms I am on where I publicly admit that I am a writer. Or at least trying to be one (again). Or something. While I am not sure exactly what it is I am trying to do by getting […]
February 17, 2015
Today is a day where I just wish I could wear what I want...
Today is a day where I just wish I could wear what I want. Go outside with my knees bared, or perhaps not be too concerned that a little cleavage is showing. I want a different pair of shoes. I imagine boots, a short skirt, and a shirt that flatters my neckline – my round […]
February 13, 2015
Taking chances in the kitchen
I made lentil soup today. It’s a lazy Friday; Horst, our car, is in the shop, so we are trapped in our apartment and remote village for the day. Later it will be cool enough to go for a walk, but for now the day is spent doing laundry, surfing the web, and cooking. Cooking […]
