Emergence, or Re-...

Life teaches us lessons in interesting ways, and foreign travel and living often present the most interesting - which is ultimately why I have chosen my present lifestyle. I certainly was well aware that this experience would be challenging when I agreed to undertake it, but I absolutely had no idea how challenging it could be - both in the degree of challenge, as well as the types of challenge. Of course it was the professional challenges that first lured me here, thinking that I had gone through a lot of the personal challenges with my last abroad experiences. I think it is this naivety that has led me to my most recent crash. Crashing and depression are good experiences if you have the strength and presence of mind to realize that it is happening, choose to seek out the causes, and force yourself to do something about it. These, in fact, are some of the greatest moments of growth - and, in the heat of the moment, also the least welcomed. Clarity is something that I continually seek, and I have become increasingly good at finding it in unfamiliar places. However, in those moments that I lose focus, or a deep fog sets in, I can fall pretty hard. So, lesson learned is? Keep the faith and keep on moving - hope is sometimes the best medicine and at least some part of the ball always rests in your court.

Now, on to the good things that I have rediscovered about myself, travel, work, and Oman.

I have started cooking again, which for some reason I had an unreasonable fear of until I found a grocery store that was manageable - Hypermarkets are just that... Hyper, and a bit unnerving for a sensitive soul like myself. I pay a bit of a premium, but gladly. Peace of mind and healthy diets come at a price.

By travel I really mean more or less settled, temporary living in foreign countries. I became a bit homesick for the good ole U S of A, thinking how good it would be to live there again, how easy, how logical, how fulfilling - and that's when I begin to think, those are all the reasons why I left in the first place. One thing is for sure, my respect has grown for the Homeland, along with all of the living paradoxes it contains. But it is not time to go back yet. There are simply too many awkward cultural situations I have to stumble through and too many Bush bashes that I have yet to hear. Let's just say that the world is on the edge of their seats for the results of November 4th. We better not screw this one up.

Work has suffered a bit from my emotional state, but promises to rebound as I put it back together. Over the past few months, I have wavered between full-out commitment to another year in Oman and nervous doubt about when would be the best time to make my move. To be honest, the commitment has always been stronger than the doubt - so for those with self-interests in my commitment to be here, rest assured that I am solidly here. Of course, if I left, I don't know where I would go, and I think I would be giving up a lot of the opportunity that still remains here for me - namely solidifying a company, growing our presence in Oman, rubbing elbows with the movers and shakers of Oman and seeing this project through to the point where I can feel a more full accomplishment.

There is absolutely no way you will like Oman if you don't meet, interact with, and make friends with Omanis - and do so on a regular basis. This has been my biggest fault since my return, I got too busy with other things to reach back out to my Omani community. Without the warmth and friendship of the people here, you are likely to melt in the sun. Thank you to all the Omanis that have reached out to me recently, and turned my heart back around to this country - Yahya, Jihad, Abdulazziz. And of course, a thank you is due to my American suburban couple trying to live the yuppie life in Oman with a new baby Charlie - Scott and Marianne. Happy Easter.