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I recount my travels through East Africa, my new consulting job in the Middle East - and life in the Middle East in general.
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The Chronicles of Erika… Vol. 3 - 2009
January 5, 2010
Happy New Year! Bonne Année (French)! Akemashite Omedeto (Japanese)! Kul’am wa antum bikhair (Arabic)! I found myself reflecting on the past year the other day, and I realized that this is the first year that I feel like truly celebrating a beautiful year passed. It was a profound year for me, one full of learnings, challenges, changes, adventures and people of impact. I’ve traveled through 10 very different countries on 5 continents over the last 12 beautiful months… I’ve reconnected with my family, roots, and ancestors back in Japan, as well as with my ultimate ancient ancestors – the great silverback gorillas – in the Rwandan rainforest… I’ve discovered what dying by drowning must feel like white water rafting the Nile in Uganda, and I’ve discovered that you can live to the fullest in a single 24 hour lay‐over in Bangkok, Thailand. I’ve gone scuba‐diving and re‐aligned with the ‘pisces’ in me (yes, I’m referring to the horoscope ) in both the warm waters of the Bahamas, as well as the beautiful Red Sea bordered by Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. I’ve seen the most beautiful animals out of the Kenyan Safari’s – and was lucky enough to see the entirety of the “Big 5” (Lion, Hippo, Elephant, Giraffe, and Rhino), and compared the beautiful life‐filled wetlands of East Africa with the isolated deserts of Egypt and Jordan. I’ve experience traveling that doesn’t involve much TRAVELING at all, for the first time in my life – when I went to Italy for a job interview… and though I was not successful in proving myself for that job, AND I ended up having to leave without even seeing Rome to head back to work, I remember flying home with a smile on my face, thinking “well I gave it all I could,” and found a sense of peace in knowing exactly what I wanted to do next.
Admist all the travelling, I moved to the beautiful country of Jordan and made this place home. I’ve learned enough Arabic to get around, and learned about this beautiful part of the world I was so ignorant to before. It truly was a beautiful year… but none of these things were the highlights.
When I reflected back on the year, I would be lying if I said a smile didn’t creep across my face thinking about all the things I’ve been fortunate enough to see or do… but the real heart‐warmer is found in the people I got to do these things with. I’ve always felt fortunate in life to be surrounded by people whom I respect, admire, and who make my everyday life as animated as it is. With the right people, a simple bus ride through a souk can be all the adventure you’d want in a year. With the right people, work turns into play, and life into a blessing. In the past year, I’ve had an opportunity to spend time with my ENTIRE family… Most recently, Vince’s family in Quebec (Canada) for Xmas… and my Mother, Grandmother and extended family in Japan in November… My sister, her fiancé, my twin brother, my baby brother, my Dad and step mum in British Columbia… and even a lot of my cousins and uncles and aunts in Toronto. It’s amazing that the 1 year your life looks
like it’s taken a life of its own – it also seems to connect you with family, and ground you to your roots. I was also incredibly happy to encounter many special friendships this past year. I reconnected with high‐school friends that mean more to me now than they did 6 years ago when we all went our separate ways… I parted with some of my favorite people whom I got to work with last year on AIESEC Canada’s National Team in Toronto. I have brought some friends to Jordan to come work for the company I work for – not because they’re friends, but because they are among the smartest people I know. Many friends have come visited already, from all over the world – with more friends and family booking their trips to Jordan as I speak! I have met beautiful people from every culture and country I have visited, and surely learned life lessons from them. I have met some of the most beautiful people on this journey I’ve taken here in Jordan – many of them expats / internationals working for various organizations and companies in Amman. Perhaps the most profound relationship I’ve created this past year is with an Arab family in Jordan, who insisted I stay with them during the Muslim holiday of Ramadahn, to fast through the days and break our fast as a family together for 31 days… it was truly a memorable experience and a true gift to have found a family as welcoming and loving as the Dabbas Family. After moving out on my own at the end of September, I still try and see them once a week – because they (Jordanian Father / American Mother / 3 Sisters / 3 Brothers) truly feel like family to me. In fact, Dalal, the eldest (25yrs) is a physiotherapist here in Amman, and owns her own Medical clinic. She is one of my greatest friends here – and has been a true blessing to my entire experience in the Middle East… haha, especially when she had to deal with my ignorant questions for the first two months about everything: the Kora’an, Middle Eastern politics, cultural faux pas’ and the like.
When I think about it, it makes absolute sense, that people are what enrich our lives, but it’s not what we are necessarily taught, is it? This year, especially, was important for me to be surrounded by beautiful people – as my biggest support was in Afghanistan supporting his country – and that’s about all the burden a human can take, I think . But after 7 months of duty and 3 months of reconnecting with his friends, his family, and the big supports in his life (notice, that they were all people! Hmmmm… I’m starting to sense a trend ), he’s headed to this beautiful country, to spend the next year living and working in Jordan with me. It’s been a long time coming – as our 3 year relationship has been 75% long‐distance based. But it’s about time
So when I first sat down to write this “year‐end highlights reel”… I expected it to go over the countries I’ve visited, and what was most exciting and surreal about those places… perhaps some tidbits on work here in Jordan and how much I’m loving it and feeling like I’m really doing something I’m passionate about that is still making some sort of positive impact on the world… and perhaps some insights into life here in Jordan. But, I think – all you need to know in the end is… I’ve never been more happy, I’m having a love affair with my life and with the entire world… and my favorite person in the entire world (Vince) is going to join me on this journey soon. Sounds like a dream? That’s how I feel when I look back on 2009.
So here’s to 2010… and let’s hope it’s more of the same PS – Thanks to all of you guys who made 2010 so beautiful for me… I have no doubt you know who you are!
Erika xoxo
January 2009 Rang in the New Years with some of my best friends and boyfriend at a work
Conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada
Worked in Vancouver (which gave me a chance to see family & friends) and Montreal, then returned back to HQ in Toronto
February 2009 Had a re‐run Christmas Dinner at Vince’s parents house (for missing xmas ’08) Went to “Winter Carnival” in Quebec, and spent Valentines Day at Nordic Spa Went to Italy for a Job Interview to work for AIESEC International
March 2009 Went to the Bahamas for 10 days with Vince, went scuba‐diving every day Decided on working in Jordan as my next steps, and signed my contract Vince leaves for a grueling 7 months in Afghanistan
April 2009 Ran an AIESEC cocktail in Montreal, spent time catching up with friends
May 2009 Went to Halifax for 2 weeks to run a National Conference Saw Vince’s parents in Quebec for a relaxation weekend
June 2009 Had my last Board of Directors Meeting with AIESEC Canada. Wrapped up Toronto
with a trip to Niagra Falls and a sailing trip around Lake Ontario… and packed up! I visit family and friends on Vancouver Island for 1 week before I head off on my
adventures. It was brilliant to reconnect with old friends… July 2009
Traveled through Egypt alone for a few days Traveled through Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda with Vince for 3 crazy weeks
August 2009 I move to Jordan, and meet the Dabbas family who insist I stay for Ramadan Marc visits me from Canada, and we discover the beauties of Jordan together I win my first project at work
September 2009 I go diving in the Red Sea, and spend my Eid break on the beaches of Aqaba I move out to a new Apartment An old University friend comes to visit me from Oman
October 2009 I hire a friend from the UK (JJ), and shortly after my elementary school friend Dan
arrives to work for us too… we find a place to move in together. Vince’s tour wraps up in Afghanistan
November 2009 Vince comes to visit Jordan I visit my Mother and Grandmother (and family) in Japan for 2 blissful weeks, and
make use of 1 full day in Bangkok, Thailand to see the sites December 2009
I win a few projects in Abu Dhabi for work, and am excited about the year ahead I head to Quebec for Xmas with Vince’s family, and reunite with some old friends I ring in the new year on the beaches of Aqaba with great friends and celebrate a
fantastic year.
You can find all my photo albums on my travels at: http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=13610627