Pressure cooker

A special thanks goes out to my adored friend Louli. The day after I moved into my apartment, I was able to use the coffee cups she gave me, along with the little spoons. They were actually my ONLY spoons. I even treated myself to having a cup of coffee and used the saucer that goes with it, which I never take the time to do. But these days, I take my time taking my morning coffee, and I even refill my cup several times. While the coffee is on the stove in my Italian coffee maker, I take my morning shower. I don't sleep past 5 or 6am, so I'm on a great schedule. Another special thanks to my friend Louli again, for the AWESOME pressure cooker, as I actually made a loubia tajine in it today, and it works SO well and is easy to use. So I thought of Louli and smiled. Thank you my dear friend!
It has been another fruitful day. Yesterday, I visited a daycare which I have been in touch with while in DC, I wasn't impressed. Ok, I will be honest, my nose told me that it was not the right place. It smelled like kids and a school. I'm horrible I know! Well, my nose is horrible actually. This morning, while I was happily driving to work (for the first time) excited to see my office on the 11th floor for the first time, I noticed a Methodist Church which had a sign saying Enrolling Now, so I immediately pulled into its parking lot. Now mind you, suddenly pulling into places is not a problem in Knoxville, because there is usually no cars behind me. To make a long story short, I loved the place and will sign my little one up there next week. She will be singing about Jesus and saying grace before lunch, but heck, I decided to make peace with my Methodist ancestors (my maternal grandfather was Methodist, and I went to a Methodist school). A Pakistani woman working there, told me, "we believe in Jesus don't we?" I said "asolutely!" Well, I just LOVED how clean the place was and how it smelled. My nose and the smile of the people working there were decisive factors. So, Miss Meems will be in schoold 5 days per week, from 9am until 2pm. Now I am looking for a student to be the girls' nanny 3 days/week.
After my early morning discovery, I happily headed to campus, where I was happily helped by the dept. secretary who is so sweet. I'm moving into my office this w-e so she lent me her key. After checking out my office way high up on the 11th floor and WITH A WINDOW (I requested the window because I'm clostrophobic) I headed to parking services, where I met a very unhappy man, who helped me, after awhile but he was the first person in TN I met who did not smile. I should have asked him: "Are you from DC?" Just kidding!
Another moment I had today, was going to the grocery store after I was done at school, where there were probably 5 customers.
Now, I had to rush to Target yesterday to invest in an iron and an ironing board. It was never my intention to spend hours ironing my clothes, however, when ironing a shirt costs 5.75 then you're better off spending long nights doing so on YOUR own! I painfully took 2 suits to the dryclean, everything else, I have piled for my own self to iron. I was excited about NOT wasting time on ironing, but then I figured, I'd rather iron than spend THAT kind of $$ on clothes that will be soaking and very messy within an hour after putting them on.
I decided I was well set since I have maids coming every week and that is already all set. Yey! They are GOOD too! I so look forward to having my apartment sparkling every Monday or Tuesday.
Piano and swimming lessons have been put on the schedule for the month of Sept. for the girls. I'm still researching soccer and figuring out how to fit in the karate. I'm especially excited about getting a nanny to take care of these chores and help Lili with her homework at least 3 days/week.
Ok so far life has been very nice and relaxing. I don't want to give myself the evil eye. I also enjoy spending A LOT of time alone in my apt. I almost want to say I miss traffic jams, but I'd be lying. I have seen the Knoxville police twice since I've been here. Thank God, because today I went half way through a red light. Oooops! I was distracted by 2 signs saying "Farmer's Market", one pointed to the right the other pointed to the left. I was quite confused and intrigued.
I can't believe that only 20% of Knoxvill'ans' go to Church. By the way, I was told at one school that I needed a 'letter from my pastor' indicating that my daughter doesn't eat pork... and No, this is NOT a joke. I said, "I have no pastor and I have to religious affiliation" I really wanted to scream, "I HATE organized religion dammit!" but I didn't. I simply said, I will write you a letter explaining that my daughter doesn't eat pork.
I look forward to more adventures. I have been asked 3 times "what is THAT?" on my feet... It almost makes me wanna forget Henna, although I doubt I ever will::))

Another day in Tennessee

Apparently Harry Potter is out in Syrian dialect. Ok... For anyone who doesn't know this, the actual Harry Potter books have been translated into Arabic. Leaving around 80-90 year old women, has made me wonder if I will be that slow at their age. That is, if I make it. At the end of my day, I find myself listening to Pitbull's "give me everything". It reminds me of my days in Tunisia, when was that? Not that long ago!!!! I'm starting to get psyched about living in the Bible belt because everyday is a learning experience. And, as everyone who knows me knows, I'm anti-routine, anti-everyday, anti-stagnation, anti-borrrrrrrdom... So I guess it's not that bad after all. The first 24 hours, I dreamt of 'stability'... Occasionally I have 'une crise de stabilite'... Soon enough, it's over and I'm back to my nomadic nature.
Tomorrow's adventures will start with a visit from the handyman since I have leaks in the bathroom and the kitchen, then, I continue unpacking boxes while awaiting for my furniture to arrive. I so look forward to sleeping in a bed although my best friend's airmattress has been bliss. I'm doing laundry, and procrastinating on my work, which I should be doing... Instead of listening to Pitbull... How is it that someone like me listen to Pitbull just proves my strangeness.
I didn't apply to that fellowship. My mother sent me an email giving me orders to do so asap so I didn't do it, just because I wanted to be contrary to my mother and because I'm 34 and my mother still tells me what to do. She also finds excuses for the asses in my life all the time. But again, she's my mom and although I beat her on the 'weirdometer' she's pretty out there herself. Enough on my mom, she's great!
Anyhow know how the hell do I register to elect in October? If I need to drive back to DC to register at the embassy, I will do so immediately. I have a few business items that have not been taken care of out there, so I have no problem driving 8 hours North, after driving 8 hours South.
Ok, off to reading, as I prepare to lecture about 'malaise'... Je souffre d'un malaise moi-meme ::)) Not really!
Apologies for all my dear friends who call me and I can't pick up. I have no reception in my apt. I live in a jungle. I have to walk out on the street to get reception on my cell. Skype has become a better action, until I take over mommy duty. The idea of having a mattress, a bedside table is so blissful right now!

In Knoxville at last

So after arriving at my new apartment and crying my eyes out (probably because of fatigue), it took me 24hours to get into the Tennessee groooooove... And I did get into it. It's scary first of all, that I found myelf wearing a grey t-shirt and shorts this morning... I never wear shorts, but it seems like it's the official outfit for the state here, and it is so hot.
One of my big surprises, besides the leak in the 2 sinks I woke up to, is the weather. I didn't expect humidity to be worse than DC, but it is. Well, luckily there is AC everywhere.
Everything has been smoothe in the move, the driver arrived with his huge truck on time yesterday at 8am, and I can proudly say that I am almost unpacked. So my apartment is starting to look like my home.
It is almost how funny the way I got SO excited about buying furniture yesterday. I found a wholesale furniture place, right across from a Used Books store close by. Everything is off of Kingston Pike and everything is close to me. The grocery store is 3 minutes away. I still haven't used the pool or gone for a walk, which I am dying to do, but I am on a mission: to get settled, unpacked.
I am so happy to have a place of my own to myself. I needed the solitude and the space and I have been enjoying both. Life became a lot more interesting once I got connected to the internet.
How I changed my voicemail from french to a TN English (is it really English), is a proof of my attempt to blend in. Now, how much can I really blend in with the henna on my feet and people asking me:"what is that???" in total shock, and me saying "it's not dirt! It's henna, it's a dye that goes on the body." I've had the patience twice so far, to go through a cultural enlightenment process. Other times, I've been my usual bitchy self!
An old lady knocked on my door. She saw I was moving so brought me a snack which I gave to the truck driver, as it had bacon in it. I wasn't that hungry all the same! I thanked her a lot and she told me how she lived in DC and met her husband during WWII... A real spring chicken she was. There is something about the beautiful faces of these old ladies that populate the building I live in, they have aged beautifully, and still have the most kinder souls. I helped one of them yesterday who got stuck in the door coming inside the buildging. She told me that 25 years ago, she was young, but that is no longer the case. I told her that she was great and doing just fine. But I thought to myself, she looks like she's 90, so did she consider herself young at 65? My math is correct right? Ok, youth is definitely up for discussion.
Ok off to Target. I have never been so excited about a trip to Target, but I am. I'm hoping that I will hear the song I like so much on the radio. I love hearing the 'traffic updates' on the radio station... The idea of congestion on I-40 is something else.
Tomorrow I will be more human with a bed and a couch. So exciting!

To go today, or not to go

I was up at 6am, showered, finish loading the car which is going to slow me down because of the weight, but after find myself unable to leave and instead, am laying in my bed, staring at the ceiling, realizing how hard it is to actually make the final move. I simple move that I make every day in my life: I get in my car and drive. Now, I'm blocked. I heard about the artist block, I've also heard of the writer's block, but I driver's block? Sure, why not.
I'm exhausted, and emotionally drained. The house is empty almost, it echoes, is dirty, and I have no energy to change the last part. I've cleaned this house to many times over the past 6 years. I even cleaned it when I was working full-time, pregnant, tired, taking care of my first daughter and trying to work on my PhD. I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned, and now, I am trying to tell myself that I need to look forward cleaning my new home, in Knoxville TN. I'm dying to order my furniture, but I have no idea how this apartment looks like and I have very little spacial vision, so I have to wait until I get there. I'm tempted to call all my friends in town, one last final goodbye, but I realize that good byes are so difficult that it's better to just say, see you later. Or call up once moved, and say, 'Hey! I'm now finally in Knoxville TN!'
I rarely give myself the credit of how strong I really am. The reason I mention my strength is because it's hard to reconcile the mushy sensitive being that I truly am with this hard tough person that I must be. So, to go or not to go???

Post-Revolution Notes

I am so happy that I made the decision to come to Tunisia this summer, though my stay is so short and has gone by so fast. But no Tunisian could understand the real state of Tunisia unless he or she actually hopped on that plane and came here to see with his/her own eyes. I so needed to get a feel of what this revolution was about and to hear people's opinions. One friend told me that the peace that we see on the streets of Tunis, has simply to do with the good and peaceful nature of the people, who feel that it is too hot to cause chaos and that the beaches are too beautiful not to be laying on. Of course, there is no true order, because a state of political chaos remains, in the sense that there is no real future vision. These past few days, as the weather and the Egyptian people's temperatures went up in Tahrir Square, we have watched Egyptian TV at night, to follow current events, although dad is sick of watching the news, so we end up watching an Egyptian movie. But to go back to Tunisia, despite my mother's isolated optimism, as she peacefully waters her plants and crafts mosaics on a beautiful orchard16Km from Tunis, Tunisians are depressed and disappointed, because they probably expected their world to change after January 14th, when not much did. It felt good after January 14th to finally TALK freely, but even talking becomes boring after awhile.
My first choc was the Bouazizi myth... So, it turns out that the woman who slapped him across the face was the reason why we had a revolution according to some. He was rude to her and I don't want to relate what he said to her, because I wasn't present and he is dead and not around to defend himself.
In any case, Bouazizi turned out not to really be the 'martyr' we all thought he was. Fine... But then comes the disappointment... the post-revolution disappointment of the 11million Tunisians. There was a line today when I went to the bank and no one cut in front of me although the man behind me was a little too close, but still, there was a line. I did have to push myself onto the bus the other day. Actually, to be accurate, I didn't push anyone, I found myself pushed onto a bus. Nothing unusual about that. Maybe we will see change, within a few years. It may also take a few generations, one or two. I did notice that cops are very nice these days. The military officers smile as they have become super-stars after January 14th.
I maintain, Tunisia is beautiful! And life here, is so much more relaxing. People still take the time to have coffee or tea together. It is true that people are aggressive especially on the road,and driving here is from hell. But I find that sticking my hand way out of the car and asking other drivers nicely to please let me through even when MY light is green, with a big smile, gets me by.
It is true that trash is pretty much everywhere. I used to get upset seeing beer cans all over the road, now it makes me smile. I tell myself, I guess Tunisians still enjoy their beer and a good laugh with their buddies!
Summer 2011, first summer after the Tunisian revolution, and the beaches are crowded as ever. A lot of women are veiled and men are enjoying growing out long beards which I suggest they braid, but they still go to the beach and take their children in the sea for a refreshing swim. Have things changed? Not that much, but it feels good to be able to say WHATEVER one wants... Finally! No more whispers, no more turning off cell phones when having a private conversation because the secret service is listening in.
I'm personally impressed, that despite all the burnt buildings, they have already been painted and restored. The police station, the local pharmacy, and the bank are back in business. Good as new. I would have never known they were burnt down had I not been told so.
It simply feels good to be here. The food is amazingly fresh and tasty. The trick to a close-to-perfect life here, is to KNOW someone everywhere. I get my produce from a specific vendor at the local market, whom I've known ever since I was 6 years old. In fact, he went to school with me. He became a farmer, I became a professor. He makes more $$ than I do, but my hands are softer than his. I buy my butter and my milk from the same guy my dad goes to. I also take all my empty water bottles to recycle (he pours all his milk products into the plastic bottles) and I feel great about it. He also thanks me and tells me 'yarham weldik' and that makes me so happy! I buy my sunflower seeds from the same guy I have known for years, who went to school with my brother. I cut and dye my hair at my friend's salon. I've known her ever since I was 12!
On the beach, boys still scream 'Ben Ali gatta3' (Ben Ali ran away) and I smile, because it still feels good to hear.

The right time, finally!

I realized two hours ago that my cell phone has been an hour ahead of the real time here, for the past 3 days that I've been here... Insanity! The worse part about this, is that I swore up and down that it was 8pm when it was actually 7pm and I dared to argue over it, and I even dared to dare my aunt that all her clocks were wrong. It never crossed my mind that even cell phone clocks can be wrong sometimes. This evening, Lili is off with friends and I just put Mimi to sleep without dinner she was so exhausted. I sort of fell asleep by her side, but then, I guess the Cafe Glace my aunt made me 2 hours ago has kicked in. I'm hiding in my bedroom because I don't feel like having dinner with my parents in their patio. Yes! I'm already being antisocial! I can only be social for so many hours per day, after that, I turn into a hermit! I have no problem admitting it too! A good night sleep would help so much, but now, all I can think of, is how to sneak my way down to my kitchen and get that pack of Royal Menthe on the kitchen table.

A daily routine

I don't see that much of a difference in my dad's daily routine now that he has retired from his 9to5 job other than the fact that he apparently is up at 5am doing all sorts of things between his orange, lemon, grapefruit and tangerine trees. I am finally beginning to wake up when Miss Meems decides to, which is about 7am. By 9am the rest of the tribe is up and I am thinking of breakfast. I forgot to mention in my previous blog how wonderful my parents have been with us. Even my fridge is stacked with food, they did groceries for us, and as usual, my mom and her artistic talent was put to use in my house. In the morning, we either go to the beach for a few hours which is about 30 minutes from the house, or today, I laid out in the sun and jumped a few times in the kids' pool while my parents went to do their groceries.
I dream of the day when I can bring my children to this country and they actually start believing in taking naps. I don't mind them watching TV even, which my dad installed in my livingroom with a satellite dish so that I can watch all my foreign TV stations, which I am largely deprived of, but my little one does not watch TV. So when Lili calmly watches the TV set the little one is making constant noise and if she is not fighting with me, she is fighting with her barbies!
I'm so in love with my garden where my mom planted rosemary, lavender, all sorts of flowers, squash and I don't remember what else. I'm so proud of my fella... No idea what it's called in English other than the fact that it belongs to the Jasmine family, I don't know what it's called. It survived and grew and I so love picking its flowers in the evening before they bloom. I also have 2 jasmine bushes that are doing so well and are so fragrant. My mint however, with the rate at which I make my mint tea every evening for us, is really not impressive, despite all the water I give it.
Today, while dad prayed his friday prayers, I spent an hour making lemonade from fresh lemons he brought me from the orchard. Dad loves my lemonade and my dad and I have a relationship where we always try to do things to please one another. So of course, I made lemonade for my sweet daddy.
My sweetness didn't last when he told me about how the Imam said that we need to understand why is it that people attacked the cinema for showing "La Allah La Sidi". I went off on "So much for democracy! So much for freedom!" and I got going... it was hard to stop me.
Now I must go downstairs to my kitchen to make turkish coffee which my father will come and drink soon before he heads out to his trees until it gets dark. I think he schedules his day around his prayers, which is very interesting. The man is so organized and punctual.
After our post-Asr coffee, I'm hoping the head to the local jeweler to check out his gold bangles. See, if I do NOT have my gold bangles soon, I'm going to be very cranky!
Do I really have to go back to the States? Can't I just stay here? Ughhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My first few days in Tunis

Where do I start? Maybe not with the trip itself but when the moment of arrival at the Tunis Carthage Airport, where the smell of Grezil (spelling?) was almost the same as always, but with a little bit more floral scent and less of the chemical killer. The airport was empty, weird for a hot summer day at the end of June. My girls were so excited to see their grandpa and I was observing everyone and everything around me, trying to see the post-revolutionary changes. The police officer was polite, not too pleasant, he stamped all of our Tunisian passports, but told me that it was illegal to stamp our American passports since we enter Tunisia with Tunisian passports. I told him: "Great! Now I have to show the American officers at the airport the Tunisian passports and explain to him an Arabic written stamp." But I didn't care, I just wanted out. The suitcases arrived quickly actually, not quick enough... Well, maybe quick enough for me to walk into the freeshop with Lili and shoot 80$ on chocolate which I found out later that she smuggled into her room.
My girls ran toward my father, who took time to warm up to us. It has been a year. I immediately headed to Tunisiana and got my phone charged, the gentleman who helped me was pleasant. I make note of this because usually Tunisians STEW like no other, especially when they are serving you. A smile is hard to find. I looked around for the military, but they are hard to find. I found a tank in front of the municipality of Hammam-Lif and a military tent in the presidential orchard in Mornag.
The drive from the airport to Mornag was from hell... It was so hot, and I didn't dare ask my dad to turn on the A/C as I enjoyed the hot wind blowing against my face.
My parents gave us a tour of my house which they have been working on so darn hard for the past month. It is GORGEOUS! And the space... is amazing! SO much space here. Mornag looked the same. Same trash everywhere, same dirt roads with the holes in them.... But it feel so damn good to be--I almost want to say home, and I will dare to say home--in such a relaxing place! The hours of the day go by so slowly, the food is so good and my aunt's cooking is divine. I'm proudly putting on weight, and could care less about it. I'm sadly only here for 2 weeks and I think I should stop sleeping all together and enjoy every minute of it!