It's a Monday, during our vacation week and I have been searching for a tranquila moment to put in words what I need to share with friends and family; it was in this moment, looking up at Kata flying through the air on a trapeze and catching her coach when I realized that I had my perfect metaphor.
Marc, Whitney and Kata are moving. To Dhahran, Saudi Arabia with SAS, Saudi Aramco (Expatriate) School. We are letting go of our island adventure here in the Dominican Republic and our longtime stability in Vermont. Last week, we said goodbye to our teaching positions at Lamoille Union and I am convinced that even this is temporary in that, with all things relative, our dream is to return ready to share all that we have learned.
And the years might fly by before we settle once more. Those who know me know that I have learned to accept "tranquila" as a come what may new attitude. I have learned that I control very little in this world. And I'm at my best when I'm firmly clasped in the arms of my happy family. Right now, ahora, Kata has some Spanish, she has confidence and some travel skills that I lacked at her age. She wants to keep reaching for adventure. When Marc was offered the career opportunity in Saudi, it was Kata who seized on the positives of continuing her education in a truly international school. It was Kata who decided we should continue to live in places that boast of good coffee. So, Arabia here we go!
Pathways. Our four hour drive to Cabarete, is a now a road of familiarity. We made our favorite stops and chatted in bad Spanish with very patient people. We blasted a mix of radio bachata, show tunes and Fresh air podcasts as we wind our way through the mountains and down to the coast. Everything that was daunting seems closer to sane. We drink roadside coffee and by fruit from the locals with "para hoy y para mañana" in mind. I know now when to to say no thank you, or when to give god's blessing to good people who give us great advice. I imagine a life in Saudi will continue in this way. Meeting people who are kind- I've already become involved in social media groups and book clubs. So and so knows so and so leads to this being a very small world. I don't feel as though I'm saying so much of a good bye to the DR but sticking this amazing island into a backpocket with the hopes of returning some of the goodness I have gained here.
Saudi, what is the intrigue? I have always wanted to live in the Middle East. Maybe it was the Indiana Jones films or maybe it was that one professor who finally rolled his eyes at my Eurocentric reading lists. He was brave enough to taunt his students about the Greek and Roman history we pretended was the world and challenge us to read the stories left out of Herodotus. He gave me Edward Said, Naguib Mafouz and others. I found Marjane Satrapi and Azar Nafisi on my own; however, it was in teaching that I met others who lived in Asia and professed of its beauty. My students think that my eccentricities will land me in a heap of trouble in a country with so many rules for women. They might be right but I can be sincere. I will wear my abaya, I will stand in the appropriate lines. I will be polite and humble. When changes happen, I will celebrate. When traditions are presented I will listen and learn. To be there now is to live a great story. It is this diaspora that is my constant. It is my new faith.
I think I will fit right in when we move to Saudi. We head to an American compound in Dhahran. We are closed to Bahrain and the Damman airport. In many ways, a compound might not be as confining as one might think. I live in very close circles and I don't know how many times I have run the same 4 mile loops or skied the same 10 miles of undulating hills. I imagine that the first 2 years will fly by before I start becoming too satisfied or overly confident. I already know that Vermont is a airport or two away and that a Veloventure in a country in between will most likely be a meet up with our closest friends. I imagine that no matter where I land, I can trust that I will remain true. It's all I have at the end of the day, that and my amazing family. How luck am I? Please stay close to me, I promise not to disappoint.
Credits:
Created with images by Abdullah_Shakoor - "prophet mosque masjid islam muslim holy religion"