Similarities

Last summer, I posted some obvious differences between the two cultures we live in that I observed right away upon arriving to the States. This summer I took note of the many things that just seem to be the same all around the world:

1. After a very long and involved battle with a cockroach invasion in our house in the Middle East, we came 6,000 miles to the West and had a very long and involved battle with horse flies. Life has troubles wherever you may find yourself.

2. From the pick up games of football {soccer} that happen in the street in front of our house in the Middle East to the pick up games of basketball that happen in the driveway in front of our house in the States. No matter the language, age, or family background, if there are kids playing, other kids will join. Don't you wish adults would learn more lessons from kids?

3. Around dusk {cue the creepy music}, anywhere around the world, you must be very careful while driving. Did you know there are 60,000 deer/car crashes in our State every year? Did you know that there are 60,000 trashy cats that live by our dumpster in the Middle East? Watch out. I'm not really sure {and don't want to find out} which would cause more damage on a car - a deer or a trashy cat. I do believe the trashy cat would cause more psychological damage.

4. McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut - Why, oh why have these places invaded the entire known world?

5. Of all the places we have traveled in the world, I have observed that for the majority of the population, life is very much about family. A job that provides. Health. Peace. Love. When looking at these factors, the world really does become a small place.

Here's to enjoying your small slice of life in the world today!

Horse flies and all. {swat}

Diary of a Jet Lagged Family

Sorry. I was too jet lagged to get this photo in focus.

There is nothing funnier than the strange things that happen while one experiences jet lag. I documented our experience the last time we traveled from the States to the Middle East.

This is a story about a family who traveled ahead of time and lost almost a day and most of our sanity too.

• We ate dinner at 4:30 pm
• Boarded plane at 9 pm
• Ate dinner (again) at 10:30 pm
• Slept on and off and watched movies until 6 am
• Ate breakfast at 7 am
• Had a cup of coffee with my breakfast, which I realized was about 3 pm at our destinations local time {that could cause trouble}.
• Arrived at first destination at 10 am body time {BT}, 6 pm local time {LT}.
• Drove to guest house, showered, watched a bit of TV, ate candy bars.
• Kids requested food, I fed them oatmeal at 8 pm LT, 12 pm BT .
• I went to bed and 8:30 pm LT, 12:30 pm BT and slept until 1 am LT, 5 pm BT.
• Hubby went to bed at 9 pm LT, 1 pm BT and slept until 1 am LT, 5 pm BT.
• Son went to bed at 8:30 pm LT, 12:30 pm BT and slept until mid-night LT, 4 pm BT. Played.
• Daughter colored until 10 pm LT 2 pm BT and then slept until 2 am LT, 6 pm BT.
• 2 am LT, 8 pm BT we all ate Cocoa Pops.
• I read. Hubby read. Kids watched another movie.
• I went back to sleep at 3 am and slept until 5 am.
• Hubby and kids went back to sleep at 4 am and slept until 5 am.
• We all got in a taxi and headed back to the airport at 6 am.
• Had coffee and breakfast.
• Flew home.
• Cleaned house {loads of desert dust!} and unpacked.
• By 10:30 am, I was starving, so I started making lunch. My hubby told me I was crazy and sent me to bed.
• Kids watched another movie {that was probably #10 in the last 24 hours!} and both fell asleep.
• I woke up at 1 pm and we all ate lunch. The kids cried multiple times they were so tired.
• We perked up a bit and went swimming to help us stay awake.
• We all headed to bed at 8 pm and slept 15 hours straight!

Another Year: In List Format

In 24 hours we will be on a plane headed back to the States for our summer vacation! I took these fun comparison shots from the airplane window on our trip home last summer.

Taking off from the Middle Eastern desert.

Landing 13 hours later in the green Midwest.

All that keeps going through my head is: we survived another year!
{I celebrate that no matter what country we live in.}

Our year in review:

• I didn't accidentally say any racial slurs. {At least that I was aware of}
• I didn't make any obscene hand gestures that started a riot. {At least that I saw.}
• I only walked into one men's restroom {and that was in London...where all the signs were in English!}
• I survived all my driving adventures and mis-adventures. If I got paid a dinar for every time someone turned left from the right lane in front of me, I would have made a lot of money this last year.
• I traveled thousands of miles without getting patted down in too many uncomfortable places. {and I didn't loose any luggage...or kids}
• I had the privilege of experiencing many different cultures.
• I kept my blog rolling.
• I enjoyed working with all the amazing ladies at Green Creations.
• My baby girl learned how to read!
• I got to see Queen Rania with my own eyes!
• I got rid of all my gray hair.
• I learned more Arabic.
• I got to live in a house with a sea view!!
• I survived a few rocket attacks on my city.
• I didn't conquer my fear of scuba diving.
• I was not abducted by trashy cats.
• I survived a near deadly amoeba.
• I made friends with great people from all corners of the earth.
• I fell in love with London.
• I laughed a lot.

It was a good year.

Now I'm ready to go experience some reverse culture shock for a bit.
{and eat lots of ice cream, go to Target, and speak some English}