Podcasts

I wish that I was living in a country where I had to commute using public transportation. I used to love the time I spend on the Tube when I lived in London and Montreal. For it gives you 15-30 minutes of alone time where you can either read your book or listen to your iPod/iPhone. I miss those minutes more recently as I have gotten into Podcasts. They are great weekly downloads of anything you want to follow. I find it amazing that the word itself is quite new, being used for the first time in 2004 by Ben Hammersley in the Guardian. The idea is very revolutionary as it brings the power of the internet into the hands of anyone, like YouTube, Twitter and Blogs.

Liberating the listeners from time and place, and allowing them to talk back to the programme-makers is one thing: liberating the programme-makers is even better. You can get away with a lot more on the internet

On my iPhone I have various podcasts, some are music related (Guardian and NYTimes), some are humour (Chris Moyles, and Ricky Gervais), I get a weekly 15 minute Coffee Break French, and I have a few political shows (Guardian Politics, BBC World Forum, BBC 4 From Our Correspondent). 

What is great about them is that its a walking radio, and its a radio where you can choose what you want to hear. As you can see most of my podcasts are British ones, as I miss listening to BBC Radio 1 and reading the Guardian on a daily basis. Having Chris Moyles on my iPhone makes my morning coffee in the Sana'a sun that much more enjoyable, and I find myself laughing even before I have my first sip of coffee (and if you know me you know that this is an accomplishment). Listening to the Guardian.NYTs music weekly podcasts, introduces me to new music, at the same time explaining new genres to someone who isn't very in the know. The Guardian Books gives me access to various authors I like as they interview them, and I always end up having a book to download on my iPad Kindle.

All this to say, that if you haven't gotten into podcasts, then please do. They are a great way of getting great information and listening to your favourite comedians/authors/artists and introduces you to new ones. 

Good Day and Good Luck

Tweet Tweet Tweet

It has taken over my life, Twitter. I have an addictive personality, that is why I have always stayed away from drugs, I knew that all it would take is a sniff and I would have been gone. So it is not surprising that first it was Blogspot, then Facebook and now Twitter have taken hold of my additive personality and become my obsession. 


I first got into Twitter when during the Green Revolution took place in Iran 2009. I wanted to know more about what was going on, and watching BBC and Aljazeera I realised they were getting their news from Twitter, so I signed up and my addiction started.


But with Twitter it is different (that is what I say about every guy that I obsess over also), I feel that this addiction might just last longer and the reasons are as follows:

1. I am following magazines, newspapers, radio shows, and organisations that I find spellbinding and Twitter gives me instant and easy access to them. 
2. The people I am following are from around the world, and unlike Facebook we aren't 'friends' thus the commitment of following them seems not so scary.
3. I love reading the topics/issues that are trending. Depending on which part of the world is awake the topics change and shift. It is dynamic and I love watching as trending topics adapt to the Earth's rotation.
4. There are great "conversations" taking place on Twitter, today I participated in #FF, and through this conversation I was introduced to great twitterers and amazing new blogs. A whole new world was opened to me, the icing on the cake is that they are mostly Arabs; and I was blown away with their level of engagement.
5. I find its such an honour, when I follow someone and they reciprocate. They don't have to, and that is why it really makes me feel good about myself when they do. I follow them because I believe they add something to my online life and thus to my 'real" life, for them to follow me means that they believe the same about me. 
6. There is a certain responsibility that comes with having a Twitter account. I like that fact that people take it seriously, and rarely abuse it as they do their Facebook status with telling us how their soup is, or what colour underwear they are wearing.
7. I love the political engagement of Twitter.
8. Simply J'adore Tweeting

So Twitter is my cocaine, I spend hours on it, reading interesting articles, getting the latest headlines, reading great poetry, tweets that make me piss in my pants from laughter, and tweets that me feel not so alone in this world.

Thanks Twitter and the people I follow on Twitter!!!

Good Day and Good Luck 

About Yous

Recently I have had to write a lot of one paragraph, 160 character description/introductions of myself. Some of it has been for work, and in others it has been for the various social networks I am part of.

I find it hard to write these short bios, or stand in front of people and speak about myself. Don't get me wrong its not because I don't like speaking about myself (on the contrary I quite enjoy it-recently I have found myself reading blog posts and email I write to people and enjoying my writing a lot). What I am finding hard to do is to define who Lulwa is in 160 characters, or in one paragraph.

I-like most people-have various personalities, personal, profession, with the friends, with the parents, with the partner, and I have worked hard on creating these sides of myself. I studied for over 25 years of my life, I have travelled the world, read amazing books, met brilliant people...all these experiences and whatnot then I have to shrink, cut, snip so that I can fit into an About You section.

I am aware that you choose the persona you introduce based on the situation, aka personal or professional Lulwa, however, I don't like doing that. At my first UNDP General Meeting, I had to stand up and speak, I happened to be the first one of the new people, and I fumbled, stumbled and ended up sounding like a kid. I didn't just want to talk about what I studied or where I worked before, knowing just that won't really show who I am, you need to know that I am obsessed with British history, especially Queen Elizabeth I; that I like listening to Celine Dion sometimes; and that I love watching Keeping up with the Kardashians.

This little misguided rant came from me having to write my 160 word description for my Twitter account, it was agonising. How does one choose what side to speak out? What do I want to say about myself? Will most people understand me? Will they want to follow me?

So if you go to my twitter account, this is what you read:

Lulwa

 Amman, Jordan

An Avid book reader, tech obsessed, Palestinian Feminist living in the Arab world

http://www.lulwalogic.blogspot.com

I would follow this person...ha!

Good Day and Good Luck

Lessons Learnt

So this weekend has been about watching Grey's Anatomy, its been 3 days now, all I have been doing (other then trying to figure out my washing machine and harrassing my friends in Amman) is watching, crying at the end of each episode, downloading songs from the show and learning lessons. So here I am sharing the lessons (they aren't very profound but for me they have been mind blowing)

1. What would you do if this was your last day on earth? So that was a question from one of the episodes, and after thinking about it for a few hours I decided that if this was my last day (which I agree is very short notice) I would spend it in two shifts, first half would be with my family, not just my parents, but all of them, I would have them fly in from Saudi and cross the bridge from Palestine. We would spend the half day talking, eating and playing games (yes games). The second part would be the friends, and I mean ALL my friends, well not all, only the ones I like :) We would spend it on a dinner table (similar to the one my friend FAH did for my last night in Amman) we would drink, eat and just laugh the night away till it was midnight and like Princess Fiona from Shrek I would turn into a Ogre (didn't want to say die)! Lesson learnt, Carpe Diem because you never know when it will be the day before the last.
2. Flight or Fight: No one knows how they will react in those situations where there is danger. I have been in such situations-being mugged in London, Jeep overturning on the way down a mountain in Tanzania-and in both those situations my instinct was to fight. I didn't run away, I didn't succumb to tears (as some did in those situations), I remained calm...well at least until I was safe again. So the lesson learnt was that I am good on this front...Ha
3. The theme song from Grey's Anatomy Nobody knows where they might end up. I have been listening to it for around 37 episodes (watching the finale of season 2). After so many times one memorises it and starts actually listening to the words. I used to hear the song in Amman (watching G'sA) but it never really touched me, but in Yemen it has, because a year ago I would never EVER has thought that I would be here. The lesson learnt, don't make too many plans, don't try to plan your life to much, because with one email, one phone call from Bonn it can take a drastic and profound direction.
4. Being alone-my own interaction this weekend was with the plumber who came to sort out the water situation in my home-and in G'sA they deal with this issue a lot as they are surgeons and apparently they don't have much of a social life. Its ok to be alone, not lonely, but alone. Lesson learnt its better to sit on one's own then to sit with people that you don't feel comfortable with or that you don't enjoy their company. I miss human interaction-don't get me wrong am a social animal-but its been enlightening.
5. Falling in love-as with most series Love is the main premiss of G'sA. Loving and being loved back, loving and not being loved back, being loved but not loving them...I've been in most of these scenarios (mostly the loving but not being loved back) and its been fun if not that little bit painful. Lesson learnt-it a very cliche lesson-its better loved and lost then to never have loved. 
6. Watching a medical drama, where people are dying in every episode, the most important lesson learnt is that you need to tell your loved ones that you love them all the time, because you never know when you might be able to do it anymore.

I know these aren't very profound, and that most of you have figured all of this on your own, but this was fun for me to think about and write.

FAM, YAK, AK, AH, KAH, TK, AK, SG, all the AMs and AKs, LR, AT, ZT, JB, AA, FAH, SP, DS, RC, TER, RB, MS, NA, AK, ZK, YN, RA, GB, KAS, DAM.

I miss and love you all very much :)


Good Night and Good Luck

Sana'a Home

My home in Sana'a...as requested!

Where I wash my dishes and cloths

My Living room

The Main Toilet (I have 2)

View from Living Room 

View from Bedroom

Kitchen

Bedroom

Artiste View from Living Room

LOLing

I have finally settled into my new home, unpacked all my suitcases and bought most of the things I need, these include DVD player, coffee machine and so forth. Its odd how what we consider thing we need has changed with time. I think most people would consider these things are kamaliyat (not sure what the English word is for that).

Anyway, I spend most of my day at work, reading, talking, and getting my work life sorted. And then I head home, usually stopping at the supermarket Al Hudda (the Cozmo of Sana'a). I come home and I "cook"-more like I heat pasta with some sauce, or I get some of the frozen food out of the freezer. But I decided that this will end this week, I have been following a blog for a friend of mine, The Hungry Hen. Her recipes look amazing and seem easy enough, so from next week I will be working through her blog, making one after the other. (not sure how that will go, as I am not a big fan of cooking...but Sana'a is all about trying new things)

After that I sit in front of the tv, and this is where the strange thing is happening. I am starting to enjoy my own company-I know I should have learnt that long ago as an only child but I think being in Amman among my friends made me forget it. I watch a bit of TV, I listen to the news, and then I put on one of the many DVDs i bought with me. Recently is been about 30 Rock and Family Guy. But last night I started talking to myself, telling myself what I need to do tomorrow, what I still need to buy for the house, or simply telling myself jokes that I actually crack up too. Seriously, I am LOLing all over the flat at my own jokes, and I'm loving it...its been a long time since I have had this much fun spending time with myself.

So Sana'a is about starting a new career, and it seems it about me rediscovering myself. Very enjoyable, and just that little bit scary.

Tomorrow I will write about some initial observations I have made about this place in the past 10 days I have been here.

Something for you to look forward to

Till then...

Good Night and Good Luck

An update

Today my spirits are not very high, I blame it on a friend (AA) who sent me a nice email-just kidding, which made me realise that I still miss my friends back in Amman and my life there. (especially the red wine)

So I have moved into the flat, and I am slowly working on making it a place semi homish. But Its still quite lonely here, I haven't really been working my charm on people in the office, but I guess that takes time.

I spend all day at the office (still doing mostly admin stuff) and then I stop at supermarket on way home to spend money and then home, where I sit in front of the tv watching it till I fall asleep. I hope that things will get better, but considering that I will be away for over 2 weeks so soon after arriving means that I will have to work double hard on being social when I get back.

Exploring Sana'a, hasn't really happened as much as I would have liked it, I haven't been to the old city yet, but that is because I have been so busy trying to sort out the flat issue. I hope this weekend I will venture to the old city. So might wait for when my parents come in Eid. We shall see how much effort it requires.

I experienced my first UNDP general staff meeting yesterday, and it was interesting. But I am realising that I don't want to know to much about the security situation here in Yemen. It just makes me scared and thinking that I might have to pack one suitcase makes me hate the fact that I bought three with me! Imagine all the stuff I will have to leave behind...makes me shudder.

I should have internet set up at apartment today, which means I will be able to keep you all better updated.

Good Day and Good Luck

Finally Settling

After 4 days of driving around Sana'a seeing every kind of apartment, I have finally found a flat. It was a fluke, I was going to settle on these really expensive flat as it seemed to be my own option, I walked into the office to be informed that there was a new building right next to my hotel...so MAS and I went to check it out.

It turned out to be a hotel that had been turned into apartments, I will the first to move into it, so everything is brand new...it is a one bedroom (which is a shame as I wanted my friends to be able to stay with me mais C'est la vie). Since it was supposed to be a hotel, I have a closet and safe in each room...kind of funny. It is on the 4th floor with no lift!!!!!! I know SHOCK HORROR...but am looking at it as a way of losing weight.

After calling the landlord today and confirming that I want the flat, I instantly felt better, finally settling in and sorting my life out in Sana'a.

I have been googleing, grocery lists for people just moving in and I found some good ones (in case any of you are in the same situation):

http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/09/04/printable-first-apartment-essentials-checklist/

http://movingtoanapartment.com/first-apartment/grocery-shopping-101-top-25-kitchen-essentials.htm

http://www.mygrocerychecklist.com/

I am moving in this Friday, and hopefully this will be the beginning of a prosperous and wondrous time for me in Sana'a. I will put pictures once I have moved in.

Good Day and Good Luck

A small part of Amman in Sana'a

Hashim Restaurant in Yemen

Yemen on the outside Bahrain on the inside

I am currently looking for accommodation for my time in Yemen. I have been staying at a hotel right now, and will be staying there till I find something. However, this isn't helping me in getting used to living in Sana'a or making me feel at home. While I stay at the hotel I feel still in a transitional stage, but I don't want to move into something that isn't nice, as I just want to move in once and stay for the 2 years there.

So last night I went around, and saw the good, the bad and the ugly of apartments on offer in Sana'a. I liked a few and detested most, but there are two options right now. The decision that needs to be made now is do I want something modernish or do I want something yemenish????

The first apartment I saw was a cute one bedroom, however it was living in the same building as the landlord with his daughter and her kids as my neighbours and him downstairs, in addition I want another bedroom for when my family and friends come v

isit. He wanted to rent it for around 650 USD and this isn't inclusive of bills.

Second, we went to a very new building, off Amman Street (which I think made me like it more), and this apartment was very modern, open space-which I really like, not a big fan of to many doors indoors-the furniture is new, the kitchen is new, and its a 3 bedroom flat...which is a bit big but the way its laid out makes it seem not so small.

Third I went to a flat that is quite simple, in a good area of Sana'a, Hadda Street, its a lovely old Yemeni style house, with the windows and the lovely dark brown brick. The inside isn't too bad, furniture is a bit oldish, but apparently I can negotiate with the landlord to bring me something newer, the kitchen is big and had good finishing, the bathroom is a bit too small...and it pretty much is around the same price as the Amman Street apartment. However it has the windows...J'adore the windows!!!!

Today I am heading to view a few more apartments, and I want to see the two mentioned above during the day time (I think the clincher will be if the sunlight comes through the coloured glass windows, as the wall around the building is quite high...if it shines into the house...sigh...j'adore). I have decided to give myself as much time as I need, no need to rush, I wanna fall in love with the apartment that I will be spending the next two years in, or at least I wanna see the potential of me falling in love with it.

Good Day and Good Luck

The Second First

So it went well...I know you were all wondering.

I met the people I will be working with for the next two years, and they all seem quite nice. My colleague MAS is great and I have a feeling I will be learning so much from him. I panicked a few times today reading through the handover notes, and other such papers. Can I really do this? It seems like such a huge responsibility and I am not sure I can do it...but there is only one way to know which is to actually do it.



I spent most of the first day at work signing papers, I have mastered my signature and I have memorised my passport number! I was always told that the UN has a lot of paperwork but seriously I didn't realise it would be so much. Signing ID requests, and writing the name of the person who will get my benefits if I was to die (knock on wood)...I got my fingerprint taken by a machine so I can check in and out of the office. So to summarise I spent it doing admin work...but that was fine as my office is absolutely LOVELY...with the lovely Yemeni windows...so romantic!

I also made a friend...so far I have gotten 3 text messages from her after work...and then I was added to the film club email and the book club email and I can't wait to go to the first session tomorrow where we will be watching Záhrada (Slovakia 1995) aka The Garden by Martin Sulík.

So it went well...I had panic attacks but I was able to smile and chat to people. I seem to have gotten one bad habit from a friend (KAH) which is I have started to ask extremely private questions. I have never pushed someone i didn't know into a corner where they had to answer "well...its quite private..." I was horrified!!! But waev...I found Irish Cream at the supermarket and it put a HUGE smile on my face!!!


Good Night and Good Luck

Nervous

Tomorrow I walk into my new office for the first time at UNDP Yemen. I have been thinking about my first days at all my other jobs, and I must say I have never EVER been this nervous. My last two jobs were in Amman and being in my city, surrounded with family and friends made the first day not easy but easier. The job in Bahrain was different as in I was in a foreign country and didn't know anymore, however I didn't care as much about that job...but this one...its my dream job finally entering the United Nations!

This time, I know absolutely NOONE!!!! How will I react? How will they view me? More importantly what should I wear?!?!?! (just kidding) Fingers crossed all will go well, and I shall let you all know how it felt.

As for today, my second day in Sana'a I spent it in bed watching tv and then taking a drive around, where I found a shimmer of hope, as now I know where I shall be eating at least 2 times a week :)






Good Night and Good Luck

Farewell Amman

Leaving Amman was a bittersweet...I didn't realise that I was going to be leaving my family and friends behind until I stood at the door of my house hugging my mother and father. I felt my heart break and realised that I was leaving them behind, that I was leaving the comfort of my home, my friends who I have become so attached to and to my lovely parents who I took for granted until I had to say bye.

I arrived in Queen Alia airport, with my 3 suitcases and my 50 KG excess baggage (won't go into how much I had to pay for that) and my depression hit rock bottom, if my friend LR who was driving hadn't already driven off I would have gotten back onto her car and gone back home. I had my last Mocha Frappi and ciggie before heading to the gate. Things started to look up when I was informed that since they had overbooked the flight, I was being upgraded.

I keep looking around at the people on the plane, seeing what they were wearing, what they were doing... eavesdropping on conversations that I shouldn't be listening to, trying to make myself more accustomed to the Yemeni accent, to their gestures and to the way women acted.

My mom had sent me an email that listed cities that were friendly to women, Sana'a wasn't one of them...as I am sure you all guessed...what will that mean for me????

We shall discover that together....

Introduction: Sana'a and Lulwa

So today was my first day in Sana'a. I slept most of the day as I arrived quite late last night from Amman.

Arriving in Sana'a was an experience in itself, my bags were the last to come off the plane, and the amount of people who jumped over my things or literally moved me to the side as I waited was entertaining if not that little bit annoying. I had a UN driver waiting for me, and I got to my hotel and checked in.

Today, friend's of my parents picked me up for lunch, and my introduction to Sana'a and Yemeni food began.

One of the bad habits my father gave me is that I am quite a picky eater, and sitting at the 'restaurant' with these great people I realised that this was going to be the first habit I will have to abandon. They eat with their hands-even the salad-and its such a mess. I don't mean to sound like a spoilt child (even thought I think the more you read my blog the more you will come to the conclusion that I am one)...so I folded my shirt and dug in. I had the most amazing meat soup I have ever tasted (I ended up order 3 cups of it) the rice was yummlious the meat to tender. The desert just made it all that much better, with some bananas and honey to dip them in. The tea that came after was just syrup in a cup and I J'adored it :D

I then got introduced to a qat session...I was taught how to pick the right leaves, how to chew it and even better how to drink pepsi without swallowing any of it. I didn't chew for that long, as I didn't want to act out in front of my parents friends (not knowing how the qat will effect me). I was informed that if I was to survive for two years in Yemen I will have to get used to chewing and enjoying chewing.

So for a first day, I would say that I still missed my home, and sitting with a close friend of my mother's made me realise even more how much I really miss her and my dad. I kept looking around to share a joke with this friend or that...but I am sure I will get over that.

As for Sana'a, I haven't fallen in love with it yet, but I haven't walked in the old city yet, and I haven't found my flat yet, and I haven't started work yet, so to monitor & evaluate my first day I would say it was scary but successful.