A too much overdue update!

Wow, I can’t believe I have not posted anything since December!  Yes I am still alive and well.  So much has happened since December I don’t even know where to begin.  Sometimes it is just the usual day in and day out, other days I am completely flabbergasted that I am living here and traveling all around.  If someone would have told me a year ago that this is what I’d be doing I would have said NO WAY!  

Since it has been so long I am just going to give some quick blurbs about the happenings in my life.

• Thailand: in one word INCREDIBLE. I will definitely go back, preferably with a traveling companion.  It was so cheap, there was shopping everywhere, delicious food and beautiful beaches.  Nothing more to say about that, except maybe, when can I go back?

• Jordan: I was a bit apprehensive about going to another Arabic country thinking it would not be different enough from here, but I was pleasantly surprised.  It was a beautiful country with much more hills and greenery than I expected.  I was blown away by Petra, so beautiful, and so much history.  The Dead Sea, amazing.  You can’t believe it about the extreme buoyancy until you experience it yourself.

• Sri Lanka: My first holiday in a tropical setting, staying in a proper resort, with my lovely boyfriend, I couldn’t have asked for more.  Endless fun in the pool, the sea, sunbathing, delicious daily breakfast buffet, checking out the local restaurants, learning all about cricket, rode an elephant, incredible.  It was so so hot, but I didn’t want to leave.

• Had mom and nana out for a visit, which was incredible.  It was so nice to see them and for them to be able to see and know what life is really like for me out here.  I was so happy for them to be able to come here and see for their own eyes that I am ok, and happy.  And so nice to get them jump started on traveling.  They are living proof that it is never too late to start! 

• Work: Have become less than impressed with my work experience here, but continuing to try to make the best out of what it presented to me.  From never really knowing what is going on or expected of me, to having the electricity go out 5+ times a day, to being told I was receiving one amount of money for my ticket home and a month later being told I’m receiving $300+ less than that, just a few reasons why I plan to keep to myself and just do the best I can.

• Students: On the other hand I have grown quite fond of my students, and though there are a few whom could care less about their education most of them are really lovely.  They have taken to bringing me stuffed animals to school.  Not sure where this idea began but one boy brought me an obviously loved (used) teddy bear.  Ever since I have been getting one or two teddy bears a week.  Not sure what I’ll do with them...

• Home: It has been really nice to be part of a couple again.  Spend most of my time upstairs in Andy (my boyfriend)  and Andy’s (his flat mate) flat.  Feels like we’re a little family, cook together, watch tv together. Been watching quite a bit of tv.  Finished four seasons of Prison Break (incredible) and now onto Glee, which I love, love, love!  Spend nearly every Thursday afternoon at the Marriott hotel, laying by the pool, eating a delicious burger and chips.  Hard to complain when that is a weekly activity.  Hopefully to become a daily activity next year, really wanting to buy a membership there this fall.  It has been heating up steadily.  High today of 118 degrees, low 86 degrees, and the humidity is a killer.  When I walk out of my air conditioned apartment into the corridor my glasses steam up immediately.  I have never felt heat and humidity like this.  From what I hear it only gets worse as the summer wears on.  For the last few weeks the heat has really deterred me from getting out and exercising, but the last few days have been going out for an evening run.  It is crazy hot, and can’t stay out too long, but I sure sweat a lot, and that has got to do something. I am currently learning all about the World Cup, and have watched more ‘football’ than I have in all of my years combined.

All in all there is much more to be thankful for than to complain about.  I am really really happy with my life right now.  Coming up is what I am sure will be the most exciting summer yet for me.  Italy with mom and nana for two weeks, one week on a Greek island, two and a half weeks in England with Andy, five days with my bff in NYC, and then home for three weeks.  To say I am a lucky girl is a complete understatement.  

Thanks again for all the long distance love and support, there has definitely been some trying times and moments where all I wanted to be was home.  Facebook love and emails have kept me going when I have wanted to give up.

Love from the middle east, 

Viv