So much has transpired in the last 9 months of being in Oman. With all its combinations of positives and negatives, the good outweighs the bad by far. Since May ( the month of my last entry here), I feel that I have undergone quite a metamorphosis.
Here's a breakdown of Intdiva's life from May to present:
MAY
Went to India on my 40th birthday. My second time and this time, I chose to stay at the Art of Living ashram in Bangalore. I have been an AOL member for nearly 4 years now, having taken the Part 1 Course (an amazing stress-bustin' Breathing workshop) in Japan, shortly after my first trip to India. Now I am living in Oman where the AOL is a very active organization, I have since then repeated the AOL Part 1 Course and have taken various other courses on meditation, yoga and personal development. Art of Living rocks and continue to rock my world! I spent 4 days doing an Advance Meditation course at the ashram in Bangalore. I celebrated my birthday in a blissful silent retreat. I also met with His Holiness, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in person. I also had the special privilege to be garlanded by him on the occasion of my birthday, May 22nd after the satsang . It was one amazing and truly beautiful experience...
(I will be writing a separate entry on my AOL experience in the ashram soon.)
Attending the satsang at the Art of Living ashram on my birthday, May 22nd, 2009
Being in India the second time around was an eye-opener. Not only do I mean that with my physical and metaphorical eyes, but also it pertains to my "third eye". Having done the advance yoga and meditation courses, being in silence for a few days, having met some amazing like-minded souls all helped in the opening of the 6th chakra, the third eye.
More of India in a separate entry. Or separate blog on Intdiva Travels (under construction).
JUNE
This month saw me being busy at work. I was assigned to teach the Young Learner's Summer School. My school, The British Training Institute (CfBT) has an English summer program for teens (13-17 years). At first I resisted the idea of teaching teens again (for I was a bit tired of teaching this age group in Japan for 9 years already), but I was surprised at myself for actually enjoying it. I then realized that I thrived at teaching the youth, for the feeling of empowerment (for them as well as for me) was resurrected. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching the Omani youth, for they're a very interested, fun, polite, courteous and Allah-loving bunch!
Some cool high school girls from Samail, a village 1hr-away from Muscat.
This was also the month where I started to feel H O T in Muscat. I mean, temperature- wise. I started to feel the heat ooze in my aparment: on my kitchen countertops, in my shower emitting hot water instead of cold although the tap's turned onto cold, in the fog that accumulates in my eyeglasses upon opening my veranda windows to greet the scorching morning sun. Average highs of 40ºc+ became increasingly normal. Meanwhile, Intdiva sweating profusely became also embarassingly normal.
JULY
Once upon a time, on a fine day at the beach, at my fave hangout, Oman Dive Center, I met a group of Lebanese men.
One of them caught my eye. I caught his. He sat beside me. Then he proceeded to swim and float with me all day. He with his truncated yet sexily Mediterrenean-accented English, me with my pathetic unintelligible pidgin Arabic. We laughed like teen-agers. He 34, me 40. What ensued were inundations of SMS poetry exchanges, *blushes*, perfumed togetherness. I would later call him Tutti Beiruti (as inspired by my friend Susan). I would also call myself-laughing out loudly here- a Cougar! This was another H O T month. I need not elucidate further.
Tutti Beiruti taking refuge under a shade from the sweltering 44ºc afternoon from Wadi Bani Khalid, a lush oasis/river bed we visited.
AUGUST
This month rocked! This month I saw my *star* shine big and bright. Why? based on years of experience of Global Ed teaching in Japan and inspired by fellow Global Educators, I designed a Global Education Curriculum (based on what a Global Classroom should be like), for Young Learners at my school. The pilot project proved to be a hit. It felt very good to be able to contribute something for the kids' global citizenship. There is a tremendous flow of goodness from the heart when one can empower another. I certainly felt proud not because I achieved something, but because I could help the children ask good questions about global issues and hopefully make them think of solutions and actions in the future. Maybe not now, but I fervently hope that I have made an impact on the
way they would see their less fortunate global brothers and sisters.
"Heiwa" means Peace, in Japanese. I taught the students the song IMAGINE by John Lennon.
August also saw me observe Ramadan. As it is my first time living in a Muslim country, I am finding it very humbling to experience -though not necessarily fasting- this holy month of purification. Now that is almost over (it started August 19th and will end on September 19th), I have a better understanding of the steadfast faith that my Muslim brothers and sisters behold.
( I will be writing my Ramadan reflections later, as well as other observations.)
And so there you have it... Intdiva's Oman life to date. The Fourth Decade is off to a great start already! In the spirit of love and all that jazz, here's toasting to a great life!
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