This has been my slowest blogging year in all the years I've been blogging. It's isn't because I am losing interest or being lazy. This year has been difficult and depressing. Life in Libya has continued to be a challenge. The thought of writing blog post after blog post of the same news..... issues with electricity, gasoline, cooking gas, internet connectivity, the hunt for bread and medicines.... the general lack of basic services. It's all the same old negative Libyan news. Someone (who has been living away from Libya for over 40 years) recently complained to me that I haven't got anything positive to say or write about. Well, I'm sorry, there is very little if anything that is positive to say!
This summer it was time to go home - home meaning Florida to take a break from Libya and spend time with my family. Mom needs me now, she's 80 and suffering from numerous health issues. Next month she'll have eye surgery so that hopefully she will regain some of her vision and be able to see clearly again. She can barely walk, has had over 20 stents put in the arteries in her legs, diabetes, hypertension, stage 3 kidney disease, COPD, hearing loss and some dementia just to name of some of her maladies. She needs me now, so I'm staying to help out.
Meanwhile, some of the kids are returning to Libya to finish up university and school. Although people complain about the education system in Libya, university graduates can still go on to do their post graduate studies elsewhere. If they stayed with me in Florida they would have to start all over from scratch... what a waste of time that would be.
I feel kind of like a refugee.... externally displaced and separated from my husband, children and home in Libya. I'm making the most of it though. Apart from spending quality time with my mom I've been doing some professional development; working with a literacy program, tutoring immigrants and also working at the local college's admissions test center and doing some online courses. Hopefully I will learn something and bring my knowledge back to Libya to share. I've also been doing a bit of travelling, visiting friends, museums, festivals, the beach... There's also my mom's garden to sort out when I have a few moments to spare.... and maybe I'll start blogging again... about the positive things happening.
Below are some photos, click for a larger image.
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| The Rainbow River, near Dunnellon, Florida |
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| A sign at the beach 5 minutes away from my mom's house. |
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| A glorious Florida sunset, Madeira Beach, Florida |
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| Part of the extensive butterfly collection at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida |
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| In a pine forest in the middle of nowhere, Taylor County, Florida. |
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| My mother watching the kids at Rainbow River. |
Enjoyed your assessment. Seems you're doing just what you need to do right now. And your mother certainly appreciates the attention. I know who you're talking about regarding the negativity. Some folks can be narrow-minded or very sensitive on some issues that are very close to home for them. Keep on blogging, your life adventure is quite interesting! Sending love your way.
ReplyDeleteKhadija, keep writing. Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteWish your mom good health
That's all very lovely :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear from you. The photographs are compelling.
ReplyDeleteWow, you are actually in my neck of the woods! (I live in Gainesville), except I am back in the UK for a few months with my family.
ReplyDeleteI am the new guy!
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