Back to the home page.  

  09/21/2003

Woooosh! One of my common expressions of relief. I am finally moved in, set-up, adjusted, settled-in, and otherwise in the swing of things. My apartment is fixed up and the school year is two weeks old already. I am back to a routine after nearly three months of constant transplanting and roots are starting to take.

My apartment is cozy. Everything is within convenient reach at all times. Literally. I can get a beer from the fridge, rearrange my sock drawer, answer the door and flush the toilet without getting out of bed. I'm exaggerating a little, but not by much. The layout is similar to my apartment on Thayer street. Only everything is smaller. I have a bedroom with a double bed and three extra feet that allows me to open the closet doors. A bathroom with a shower stall, not a tub. And one other room that is two-thirds living space and one-third kitchen. There's a small apartment-sized fridge and a small four-burner gas range.

The furnishings are a typical dorm-like, foam-cushion, wood-frame variety. Actually, the couch isn't completely uncomfortable. The 19 inch TV is a good size for this part of the world and I have pirated satellite reception that is far from crystal clear, but it's bearable. I also have a large private patio. Perfect for entertaining upwards of six of my friends at the same time.

I have made several improvements. The first was to hang photos. I brought about twenty framed and matted photos from Egypt and they look great on the wall. Then I invested in some appliances and electronics. I bought low-end, low-cost models and I can resell them later when I leave. A microwave, stereo, VCR, blender, BBQ grill, and coffee maker really make the place feel homey. All I need now is a carpet to cover the bare tile floor. I'll pick that up on my first trip to Damascus next month.

I have also arranged domestic help. Khalid works for me five hours a week and does the cleaning and laundry. He also cooks and will often leave two or three dinners in the fridge for me. Last week I bought two kilos of apples from a farm-boy in the mountains (2,000LL or $1.33). Khalid made a fresh apple crisp out of them. Every week, I get my water delivered as well as fruits and vegetables.

I have made connections with a travel agent, several taxi drivers, a SCUBA shop, and I know two bar owners by name already. I have also endeared myself to my colleagues by playing my guitar at two staff parties. No need to worry if I'm fitting in and finding friends.