ramadan kareem

There was no internet in the dump today, an exam I was supposed to grade is missing, and I got the clearance form today from HR.  Did anything good happen I can’t remember? 

When times feel rocky and unsure, when I feel as if someone is trying to place a curse on me, when I feel the impending dread of running around to leave this place honorably, remember, it’s just feelings.  Emotions can’t be trusted. 

Remember your first year here there was no internet.  I had no computer!  And that was alright.  And I have never lost an exam.  What emotion can I blame here?  Fatigue?  No.  How could one have separated from the pack?  I thought when I came home I’d find it lying there on the dirty table between the lumpy sofa and the tv, I pushed away and lifted the sofa, nothing underneath except two years of dirt.  I went through the garbage bag, looked in the toilet, in the bed, in the shower, in the fridge and freezer, nada.  When I go back to the office tomorrow I’ll look through the desk…again, after that, I have no freaking idea where that exam is.  Shit.

The Times of Oman has a story today:  those who eat or drink in public during Ramadan will suffer a fine and up to ten days in jail.  THIS is so wrong.  This IS so wrong.  This is SO wrong.  This is so WRONG.  A believer can’t fast on his own accord? He can’t fast because he wants to, freely, because of his faith? Is there real faith in numbers, is it like the Hindu who says he is identified as a Hindu when everyone in his village says so.  Social contracts between man and God-Om still require a personal decision to follow.  

Such punitive rules may have always been on the books but I’ve never seen them go public and it’s hurting my spirit.

6.17.15

Another day of disconnection in the dump, I found the missing exam, right where I guessed it was in the piles on my desk, I invigilated two exams, finished second marking my own class, and got an email confirming my request to fly to Khourasan from Dubai.  Good news though that means I have to buy another ticket back.  And that’s ok, in the big schwarma for three nights I can stock up on everything I’ll need.  And what pray tell do you think you’ll need?

In light of the new plan I opted out of Hamburg and Copenhagen, I mean, really, Copenhagen looks just too clean.  So, it’ll be a few nights in the big A and then a four day exploratory trip to Leuven.  What do I expect to see and learn, well, a lot I hope.  I’m interested in taking a class online if they do that which of course means registering there.  So, we’ll see.

I drove to the Buraimi Hotel for a beer the night before Ramadan begins and lo the place is closed, red and white construction tape sloppily crosses the front glass doors, inside it is dark and in the car park two large tourist buses prepare to take the staff to the airport for their holiday.  I was looking forward to that beer.

I also said so long to Kebin today, the Sri Lankan dude who managed the snack center outside of the E building.  He can’t wait to return his lush green island and heavy rains.  I gave him my email address and asked him if he heard from Patrick to send it along.   I told him I was headed to the wild frontiers of central Asia and then he understood why I was growing out the gnarly beard.  A Taliban will less likely shoot at me or the beard will give me that extra second to dodge trouble before anyone knows I am Irish Catholic. 

Maybe the internet disconnect is related to the tasty free holiday on the horizon.  Shit, I still got twenty one days here.  The blue donut spins, it wants to connect, it knows there’s something out there, like outside my door the wireless blinks green, it’s connected somewhere, come on baby, I need to book a room for three nights in Amsterdam.

6.18.15

In the cool empty office I finished required scanning of exams and assessments for my coursework file, and I look at this clearance form staring at me.  It won’t be difficult to complete except I have no idea how to complete it.  The most significant check off is when I take the form to finance with my final utility bill and bank (?) statements.  Does this mean I’ll have to close my bank account before the university gives me my last payment, I don’t know but if I do have to close it I’ll travel with wads of cash.  And really, it’s too hot out there when one is arm wrestling sweaty stresses of uncertainty. 

Ramadan Kareem.