Well it appears to have calmed down a great deal here in Sana’a and today actually feels like a normal weekend. Which is somewhat notable because it’s not a weekend here, it’s the weekday. But still, the lockdown in our hotel was lifted for a few hours today. I used my reprieve from the confinesContinue reading “Locked Up Abroad”
Category Archives: Cultural Differences
In the Morning Light
Mr. YemenEm and I just woke up here in Sana’a. We slept with the windows open because the air conditioning wasn’t working and I wanted to hear what was going on outside (don’t worry – curtains shut!) and it’s the first time that our hotelpartment is nice and cool. Right now our room feels likeContinue reading “In the Morning Light”
Quiet for Now
Hi everyone, Well, that was an exciting past couple of hours. We were in our room when security banged out our doors and told us to all gather together. I had just asked Mr.YemenEm a few minutes before if we should pack a “go” bag, and for some reason we didn’t. I hurriedly threw myContinue reading “Quiet for Now”
Protests in Yemen
Hi everyone, I started to write a blog about free speech and the anti-Islam video made by an American and the protests and killings that stemmed from it (including the tragic deaths of the U.S. ambassador to Libya). But as I was opining on my support for the First Amendment, a friend came in toContinue reading “Protests in Yemen”
Channel Surfing
I’m an avid TV watcher and I’m not ashamed. I am proud of my love for TV In the same way that certain people are proud of their shunning of TV when I’m like “Did you SEE that episode of ’30 Rock’ last night? I’m still Lizzing over it!” and they’re all smug and goContinue reading “Channel Surfing”
Tupac Lives! (in Yemen)
You know how it seems that people all over the world listen to American music? Even if they hardly speak English, people are most likely jamming out to “Call me Maybe” in Budapest (and hating themselves for it). But that doesn’t seem to be case in Sana’a. Most of the music I’ve heard wafting fromContinue reading “Tupac Lives! (in Yemen)”
So Yemen
When I told people I was moving to Yemen, common first questions were “Will you have to wear a burqa? Will you have to cover your hair? Your face?” No, no, and no. But still, how to dress in my new life in Yemen was a major concern to me. I should preface this byContinue reading “So Yemen”
An Oily Party
You may have heard that there is oil in Yemen. Although this country has vastly less oil than some of its wealthy Middle Eastern neighbors — and the oil reserves are expected to be depleted in about five years — Yemen is still a place where oil companies operate. Don’t worry, this isn’t a postContinue reading “An Oily Party”
Homecookin’
When I was considering moving to Yemen to be with Mr. YemenEm, I naturally had a number of questions and concerns, but chief among them were What Will I Wear? And What Will I Eat? (The former will be addressed in a future blog post). You know those people who, like, eat to live? (AlwaysContinue reading “Homecookin’”
Saleh’s Revenge
On my second day of work I started to feel not so great in the intestinal region. Mr. YemenEm told me that there is no one who arrives to Yemen who isn’t struck with at least a wee bout of “Saleh’s Revenge,” named for the former president of Yemen. (Funny how when you get diarrheaContinue reading “Saleh’s Revenge”