Cowering in the Cold

Ahem... I've been a bit remiss in my blogging. This is not from a lack of stories, but rather an inability to read Arabic. One would think it would be easy to find the setting that changes the language from Arabic to English, but I assure you that when all of the categories are listed in a language you don't know well, it becomes more guesswork than anything else. However, here I am, currently hiding from the cold under the weight of a sleeping bag while contemplating a mad dash to the gas heater to turn it up to the next setting, and enjoying the wonders of control buttons that are in English. 

As you may already know, there is no central heat in most of the buildings here, my flat not excluded. Their walls are meant to trap coolness, which I can guarantee they do quite well. So when the weather outside (and scarcely different inside) is 39 degrees Fahrenheit and rainy, I rediscover an undeniable fondness for my heater and bed. The weather is as fickle here as every northern state in America claims exclusively. Last weekend I walked around without a coat in 60 degree F sunniness -- oh, so lovely...

All right, I believe I have geared myself for the mad dash to the heater. Ready in one... two... THREE!

Mission accomplished. I even found the resilience to make a foray across the room to grab my camera so I could take this photo of my friend heater. Later I will need to be even braver and remove myself entirely from this position to welcome company.

In case you are concerned, not all of my posts will comment on the weather. Life here has many quirks that I am readjusting to and hopefully now that I have regained access to this site in English, I can relate some of them to you in time. To summarize: I have experienced jet-lag, remembered a spattering of the language, found old friends & created new, heard people pouring out their hearts to God in prayer, twice have been asked if I am Arabic while walking on the street (with my hair color, really??), scoured my second-hand carpet of hair (not mine, ugh!) for about an hour, and disturbed a cat from its resting place in a dumpster... among other things. Anyway, 'tis time to emerge from my cocoon -- enough cowering in the cold.