Libyana

Libya…. I’m here in Tripoli. If I had Arabic keys on my laptop, I’d write out “Tripoli, Libya” in Arabic. I’ve started taking classes, twice a week and I know the alphabet, can write my name, “Marie”, Tripoli, Libya, Salam, and…that’s bout it right now… ☺

I arrived here on the 19th of March and even though it’s just been a few weeks, it feels like forever ago… There is no such thing as down time here. The schedule goes pretty much like this: wake up at 5:45am, get ready, head to breakfast with colleagues at around 7:10ish, leave for work (all together) at 7:30am; the office opens at 8:00am and closes down at 4:30pm – at which time, everyone loads back into the vans and head to there respective “homes” (the Thobacts hotel or Guest house 1 or 2). Many of “us” take Arabic classes twice a week. On those days, we get out of work early to attend class from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. The days that I’m not taking Arabic, you can find Lindsey and I soaking up a dose of civilization at the Corinthia. We both have gym memberships there, and being able to get away for a brief 2 hours helps immensely. After all this…I usually get “home” around 6:30 – 7:00pm ish…and head straight to bed. Others get a second wind and go out for dinner and a smoke of shisha till round 9 – 9:30pm ish. I’m quite the home-body here…and find that I need to get away in the evenings to wind down and get a good nights rest. And….I’ve been watching this amazing new series…, “ROME” – so I’m kinda addicted to watching it in the evenings before I fall asleep. I have to say though, I love how we are together all the time and I get to choose when I want to be alone – as opposed to the other way around. It’s really important to have a strong support system…and that's what we are for each other…and I really love that.

Anyway, I’m fascinated with Rome, it’s architecture, culture, history, politics, everything… I think watching the SOPRANO’s started the fascination with Italians and now that I’m here and with all this Roman history…I’m enthralled. I’m going to Venice and Rome in the very near future…

That’s the other great thing about being here…the travel. Libya is so close to everything…well not the far east…but everything European and Mediterranean, African, Arab…Persian…and almost Indian… I’m loving it.

Now, Libya as a destination, is really quite interesting. It’s kind of like stepping back into the 60's. I imagine it's a lot like Cuba. Since Libya just opened up...there is very very little western influence. The infrastructure, telecommunications, etc. is very, very basic. It's extremely conservative... It can be dangerous with people coming up from Sudan, Darfur and other African Nations. People just aren't used to seeing foreigners and especially women walking around. I shouldn't go anywhere on my own....and I really don't want to. We have drivers to take us places...but it gets kind of hard not being able to just walk around by yourself...even during the day. Men will call out nasty things...degrading things, like bitch, whore, slut - you wont believe it.... It's nothing like I've ever experienced before. And it definitely forces you to be alert at all times...

My work is great and I really, really enjoy it. I work with a mixed group of economists and architects...American, British and Puerto Rican. My direct supervisor is a Brit and is really straight forward and approachable - but the typical British Gentleman. The job requires a lot of economics training, which I love and also a type of cultural sensitivity that only sociologist or anthropologists have. I love being able to combine my economics training and cultural awareness bit together. As a Planning Analyst I have to take economics, social and environmental indicators all into play. It’s about solving problems that weren’t planned and planning properly to abate future problems. Currently, we are doing a lot more problem solving… In a lot of ways it’s about moving forward with current development and planning for better development.

I really like it here and I miss India dearly. I miss my family and everything close to my heart…but this is life…my life and I’m happy…really very happy.

Pictures:
Leptis Magna: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=84978&id=665456960&l=c893123d75

Libyana: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82671&id=665456960&l=6f7273c01f