I'm back!

Somehow, for my family and friends, my frequent blogging has become synonymous with a healthy frame of mind, and overall safety and well being. Well… not so much. I’m just busy. And preoccupied. And bored.
So I’m just busy all the time. It’s kinda wild because I don’t have a lot to show for it, but I feel like I’m running around this place like a crazy person. Maybe it’s because nothing happens quickly here. A simple trip to the bank that should take 20 minutes will end up taking an hour and a half- the bus will get stopped and searched, the bank is inexplicably not letting customers in yet, okay now we can go in, but there is a mad throng of people vying for service and not even a semblance of order or a queue. Next the power will fail, followed by a loss of the paperwork they need. And then on the way back the car driver will make some detours on the route until you finally, finally get back and rush off to the next place you are supposed to be. A lot of the time I truly feel like I’m the only person in a hurry in Yemen. Besides teaching, I have started helping out with the YES(Youth Exchange and Studying) program here in Aden. The Yes program, sponsored by the State Department provides scholarships for a year of academic study in America for eligible students with a demonstrated outstanding academic record and English proficiency.
The other day I was informed (not asked!) that I would now be heading up their final projects by myself… I’m not even fully cognizant of what they’re doing…
I was also asked to come up with some new programs that I can start implementing at Amideast. They want to make it more of a cultural center as opposed to a purely academic institute. Due to government restrictions, lack of funding, location restrictions, gender inequality, social limitations, etc, I’m finding this task rather difficult. Thus far I’ve come up with a book club, a culture-appreciation society- whereby every month we study a new country/culture and at the end of the month talk about it, watch a movie, and eat some cuisine from the region.. I’m not sure, it’s a work in progress. I also wanted to start a blog and have a pen pal-like exchange with American students. We could have teachers act as the monitors and have students from both America and Yemen post comments, pictures, videos, writing, etc. Have an open exchange of life and ideas between students of the same age living in vastly different cultures. And obviously I’m still trying to figure out a way to start some sports programs for women. Anyone have any realistic ideas? I’d love to hear them if you do.

In addition I have been looking for an apartment. My friends are being extremely helpful in this endeavor- finding me places and arranging so that I can view them. I’m not picky but I do have some minimum standards; standards of which are not..quite..being met. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to make up excuses why a place doesn’t work, or what I don’t quite like about it. This is going to be my FIRST big-girl, by myself apartment. And I have a vision. This vision includes a balcony and my plant. I cannot let go of this dream quite yet.