2009 Meme

I found this meme on Niki's blog and thought I'd answer it.


1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Went to Syria for twelve days

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make any resolutions really. I do recall now that I wanted to live by faith, not fear, and I think I did better than some years, PTL! Next year...I won't read any books that urge me to chase the Wild Goose.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No

5. What countries did you visit?

Turkey (airport only) and Syria

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

a purpose in life

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

February 10 -- my last day in Syria -- such a sweet, sweet day, but oh so sad!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I think actually getting on that plane for Syria was a huge deal for someone who has never traveled west of Tennessee. :-)

9. What was your biggest failure?

all the times I was selfish

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

got bit by a dog for the first time in my life -- neighbor's Doberman "pinched" me on St. Patrick's Day (I wasn't wearing green!)

11. What was the best thing you bought?

plane ticket to Syria

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Michael's. Back in January he had to get stitches because he put his arm through a glass door. Although it was bleeding terribly and he hates the sight of blood, he didn't panic, but just told himself over and over, "Don't pass out, don't pass out." Thank God, he did well in the ER. His blood pressure got so low and he wanted to sleep, but we had him sing "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord" and that helped!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My own

14. Where did most of your money go?

health insurance

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

meeting Samer

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2009?

"God of this City" and "Who Shot the Sheriff" -- the latter we heard in an SUV in Syria on the way home from Krac des Chevaliers

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. Happier or sadder?

ii. Sadder.

iii. Thinner or fatter?

iv. Same.

v. richer or poorer?

vi. Same.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

serving and loving others

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

crying

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

it's over for this year

21. How many one-night stands?

none, thanks

22. What was your favorite TV program?

24, I guess

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don't hate anyone that I can think of.

24. What was the best book you read?

A Thousand Splendid Suns, Wild Goose Chase and Three Cups of Tea were three of my favorites

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

"I'd Need a Savior"


26. What did you want and get?

books

27. What was your favorite film of this year?

I'm not a movie person and can't recall what I watched except for "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and "Fireproof."

28. What did you do on your birthday?

Ack, I can't remember what I did. Must not have been that exciting.

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

typical Susie mostly, but Arabian Susie earlier in the year

30. What kept you sane?

my faith and God's encouragement

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I'm not big on celebs, but if I had to pick I'd say Kurt Warner has always been dear to my heart.

32. What political issue stirred you the most?

The policitians' out-of-control spending and debt they are putting on other people's children

33. Who did you miss?

my Syrian friends

34. Who was the best new person you met?

Wasim, Barea, Dania in Syria and my new blogging friends like Amber, Sarah, Suroor and Wafa' -- I can't remember meeting anyone new here in North Carolina *thinking*

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:

Basically when it seems you are at the end of your rope and feel "where else can I turn?" - this:

⁶⁶From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

⁶⁷"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.

⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

I won't tag anyone, but if you read this and want to do it, feel free. I'd love to read your answers.

Damascus -- Wasim & Sami

On this particular night, we were supposed to drive up the mountain and view Damascus lit up in the darkness. Samer went to meet Wasim for the evening salat and later we all met up with Sami outside of Bab Sharqi. Sami was going to drive us up the mountain, but first Wasim asked if we could drop by his house for a few minutes. We ended up staying there for quite a while and put off the mountain trip until the next evening.

Wasim, Andrew, Samer & Sami

Wasim is a very good friend of Amer who was stuck at home with torn ligaments in his ankle. (We visited him at his house the next morning.) Wasim called Amer to ask if Samer could do something for him, but Amer told him that Samer was busy with his American guests for the next several days. Wasim wanted to meet us, and what an incredible host he was! Such a kind young man. I greatly enjoyed meeting him!

So we dropped by Wasim's house that evening after he got off work. Wasim (said like "waa seem") is a dentist who is planning to move to America. His fiancee' is a Syrian who already lives here. By the way, Wasim means "handsome." Samer told us this.


We arrived at the house and removed our shoes before walking on the area rugs. This is typical. (I planned for it and brought lots of black socks. I don't think I wore white socks the whole time I was in Syria! )


My hat sure was warm, but it's getting old seeing it so much in pictures! At one point we all were chatting except for Wasim who, unfortunately, was sick. But still he would smile and finally spoke up, "I'm not saying much, but I am just listening and thinking how I cannot believe that Americans are sitting in my house right now!"

Pretty!

Samer

Samer showing Sami a few pictures from the day.

Sami anticipating the taste of those sweets! His favorites are the colorful squares outlined in black. He called them "day and night; night and day" something like that.


For one not knowing he'd have guests, Wasim sure had the sweets on hand to share, didn't he? You should have seen how much he put on our plates. :-)


Sami tickled me when not long into our conversation he said with a smile and anticipation, "OK, now let's talk politics." He was such a sweet guy, really funny, too. And he spoke English exceptionally well. He is the only guy who gave Andrew the traditional Syrian greeting -- a hug and kiss on each cheek.

I love how the guys just throw their arms around each other so easily.

One impressive thing about Wasim is that he has memorized the whole Quran (about the size of the New Testament if I remember correctly.) He even recited a portion for us which was very lovely although I couldn't understand the words. He participated in a competition a while back. Quran memorizers met in -- I want to say, Sudan for a competition in which he placed in the top 10 in the world! He told us his layover in the UAE was 17 hours. We'd just shared about our 12 hour layover in Istanbul so he had us beat. Ugh.

When we left, Wasim sprayed Andrew with some cologne he kept on a table near the door. He said, "something to remember me by." I really wish we could have met up with him again before we left Syria. I greatly enjoyed meeting this fine young man.

Pictures from Damascus, Syria
February 2009

Damascus -- Heeeeere's Louai!

Ever since I returned from Damascus the thought has been in my mind to pray specifically for each person I met. Like maybe set aside a day to especially remember Wasim or Amer or Jake or Samer or Barea and so forth and introduce them here so I can always look back on my blog and remember them. I've just been dragging my heels not sure where to start. So I decided just now after finding some pictures on my computer that I'd forgotten about. Instead of sharing someone I met face-to-face, however, I will begin with a dear friend whom I've NOT ever met in person*. Despite that, I consider him probably my next closest Arab friend after Samer.

Let me introduce you to LOUAI! Louai and Samer have known each other since their school days, and, in fact, Andrew and I saw their English teacher while we were walking near that school one day during our visit. Louai and I first started talking by exchanging messages on Facebook. This was the only picture of him on his profile page, and I had trouble sometimes thinking of him as a young man because this cute picture kept messing with my mind. Some days I felt bad for arguing with a little kid.




Thankfully, after a while I was able to see pictures of the grown Louai so I didn't feel so bad when we disagreed on things. Plus, I found out Louai is just plain cheeky! It's all good though. He calls me "evil Susieee." :-)





Louai and I have had quite a number of discussions over the past 16 months. He asks fun, interesting and sometimes challenging questions! We've discussed anything from English to the Trinity to cultural issues to how credit cards work! I have learned a lot about how Arab Muslims think and feel from him. He's always been good about answering me honestly.



Sometimes I tease Louai about his great big smile. It's something, isn't it?


And one final picture to share. I'm glad I found these pictures on my computer today. It's been great telling you about my cheeky, original Shami friend, Louai! By the way, Louai is an architect and, I believe, God will use him to do great things. If you think of him during your day, please say a prayer for Louai and the needs in his heart and life.



* I didn't get to meet Louai because he is working on a Damascene project in London at this time. However, he was so kind in sending one of his good friends, Mohammed, to meet with us and give us lovely maps of Old Damascus. Even from afar, Louai was trying to make our visit more wonderful. And he did.