Writer's Block (Belated Updates)

It would appear as though I have contracted a mild case of writer's block since I've returned to the Kingdom. It has been four months since I've even opened this blog and my regular journal writing has been inconsistent at best. Several factors are sure to have contributed to this: firstly, I am much more socially active this year and am spending most of my free time at the gym, teaching yoga, going out with friends or catching up on my reading and film watching. I have thrown myself into my work and my extra "free" hours at school are spent grading, planning or helping students. Though last year was more stressful in terms of my teaching load and commitment to the prom committee, I feel like I had so much more time last year to write during my prep periods and after school. I fear I have become a little too popular at school and seldom am able to find the time to just sit and reflect without being interrupted by students needing help or company. 

But the time has come to get back into the habit of writing! My life seems to be flying by. I blink and a week goes by. I must maintain my writing. I am living such a unique life and having such incredible experiences, I can't keep my thoughts and excitement to myself. So here I go -- time to jump back into the writer's saddle....I'm going to try and be less of a perfectionist when it comes to my writing and just "get the ideas down" while they're fresh in my head. I'm not trying to win a Nobel prize for literature. 


UPDATES

I've Applied to Graduate School!

Fingers crossed.
I decided to apply to graduate school this year for two reasons. The first being that all of my best friends are in graduate school or have already earned their Masters and though I am loathe to admit it, I do compare myself to others - especially those I love and admire. This past New Years I realized that so many people around me had Masters Degrees that it made me greedy for one as well. Though I hardly feel as though I've "wasted my time" these past four years out of college, I do think the time has come for me to step back into a classroom and be a student myself. I am so excited to be back to writing papers, analyzing articles, getting access to professional academic resources.....oh and lectures! How I miss lectures!


I'm Teaching Yoga!

Private lessons twice a week to my friend Melissa at school and twice a week to my new friends Zaid and Zaid on the compound. I will admit it is sometimes exhausting to get myself up and lead a yoga class, but I always feel amazing afterwards. I feel uncomfortable charging people to do yoga with me, but I guess its not different than being a personal fitness trainer? I have a unique skill to impart onto others, why shouldn't I get paid to share my knowledge and help people improve their bodies and minds?


I Am Traveling to Cambodia in February 

I will be traveling with a group of 30 students to Cambodia on a service learning trip. We are predominantly going to be spending time in Siem Reap, doing some historical visits/learning as well doing a small community service project. I am so excited for this opportunity to see Cambodia! True, I wish it wasn't with students in tow (because I will have to be "on the clock" the entire time and be keeping a careful watch on my students so that they stay safe), but I am beyond thrilled nonetheless for this opportunity.



I Am Doing a Lot of Reflecting About Life Here....

I keep thinking about my life here and Saudi and am constantly weighing the pros and cons of living here. There are days when I feel lonely and think that I should return to America and try and find someone to spend my life, but then there are days where I feel so free and independent here that I cannot imagine sacrificing all these potential adventures and opportunities just for the sake of having someone to come home to at the end of my day. After having read Sex at Dawn, I've started questioning modern relationships and while I still consider myself a fervent romantic (who believes in a highly intelligent, successful, accomplished, kind and loving Prince Charming to whisk me away into a sunset....) I have begun to doubt traditional monogamous relationships and have observed them being more detrimental to people's happiness than beneficial.

These are fleeting thoughts -- my views are by no means solidified. As I said, I go back and forth with my ideas constantly. Like every human on this planet, I am just looking for my own kind of happiness. I live my life and I strive to be a good and selfless human. Living here obviously forces me to put myself and my needs first which I worry about. I don't like to be selfish, yet I know I am. Yet is this just being a "young adult"? I keep being told over and over again that I am "so young" and should just "take advantage of everything", that sounds great, but I cannot help but be mildly resistant to the idea. Shouldn't I be spending my life doing something more meaningful? Thank God I love teaching. I feel as though I have the greatest job in the world and working with children and challenging them and making them think and discuss and analyze literature brings me such joy and fulfillment. Yes there are parts of the job that frustrate me, but on the whole I feel energized and empowered when working with teenagers and helping them shape and define their ideas and concepts about the world.


And Some Pictures....

Let them speak for themselves