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Hello again, a short update from Amman. Last time I was here I was telling about my gluten accident. I took me at least week to get my bowels back to normal, if it were not two. At the moment it is going okay again. But still with entocort and with the boring plain diet (which I won't complain about, is long as it works I am happy).
I have an appointment with my GI on the 5th of December (or 6) which I have to reschedule since I won't be back in the Netherlands by than. I will fly back around the 15th of December (I still have to reschedule my flight.). The Arab classes will finish on the 12th (of December). It is still the nice summer feeling here. Sunny and 25 degrees. That is actually great, because now you can actually sit in the sun (normally impossible far too hot). Good for my vitamin D :-)). Back home (or should I start calling this my new home, I don't know yet) in Holland it is cold, grey, wet, windy. When I talk to friends on Skype, I am like "oh really, well its sunny here". It seems all so far away.
I had a friend over last week, what was really great. She came straight from London (which is as grey, wet, cold, and windy as Holland), so she also really appreciated the weather here during her stay. It was great to have a friend over here, somebody I know well. Having a social life again, having a good friend here to share all your feelings with. That made me realize I do really miss that. I do know people here, but there is big difference between knowing people and having close friends. I know these things take time. I rented a car for a week. I picked her up from the airport myself, what felt quite cool. As if I am living here (what I do of course). Traffic is not easy here, but okay. Just follow the car in front of you and go with the flow. Most of the stress was driving a car that is not your own, the clutch was sometimes a problem and getting from the reverse in the first gear. But most of the stress was, finding our way around. Well those two things get solved in the end, I did get used to the car and after my 5 drive along the same road, and you start to recognize things. Also I was quite happy I had a car with a stick again and no automatic. What I am used to drive. Also I guess much saver for the traffic in Amman too, with an automatic if I panic or don’t what to do, I push break (thinking it is the clutch) and gas together at the same time. If you do that, you make a prompt stop, which for sure would have caused an accident here.
We went along the whole country again, dead sea (what for me was a bit of minor the water had cooled down), a very long nice drive to Petra, a day in Petra (always great to be there), jerash, a day in Amman and her holiday was already over again.
For sure I will rent a car again here; it makes the country so much more accessible and easy to get anywhere. In Amman taxis are fine, but outside you just need a car.
I have a lot more to share; I will do that later in another message.
harma
gluten and other things
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Harma,
So good to hear from you again with your continuing adventures in your new country. It boggles my mind that you can rent a car, sight-see, etc., all in a different country. You are amazing!
I also enjoy your observations and thoughts. It seems that you are learning so much about yourself through this experience.
Glad the glutening response has subsided. At least you were able to spend all of that time on the road, so things must be better.
How is the Arabic coming along?
Love,
Polly
So good to hear from you again with your continuing adventures in your new country. It boggles my mind that you can rent a car, sight-see, etc., all in a different country. You are amazing!
I also enjoy your observations and thoughts. It seems that you are learning so much about yourself through this experience.
Glad the glutening response has subsided. At least you were able to spend all of that time on the road, so things must be better.
How is the Arabic coming along?
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Harma,
It's nice to read a post from you again. I've been wondering how things are going. It sounds like you had a good visit with your friend; it's always so comfortable being with old friends. I hope your trip home helps you sort out some of your feelings; I have a feeling it will.
I am also impressed that you were able to rent a car, drive to the airport, and navigate the traffic in a foreign country. You are a very capable, determined woman. Good for you!
Gloria
It's nice to read a post from you again. I've been wondering how things are going. It sounds like you had a good visit with your friend; it's always so comfortable being with old friends. I hope your trip home helps you sort out some of your feelings; I have a feeling it will.
I am also impressed that you were able to rent a car, drive to the airport, and navigate the traffic in a foreign country. You are a very capable, determined woman. Good for you!
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
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Linda in BC
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 801
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:39 am
- Location: Creston British Columbia
Harma, I am very happy for you that you had a close friend come to visit. Like you said, someone to share your thought and feelings with. I moved to where I live now eight years ago and I still have not developed any close friendships with women here. I have lots of aquaintances but no deep friendships. I am not sure why exactly but I have a feeling some of it has to do with the fact that as we got older it becomes harder to make those kinds of friendships. They take time, as you said, and I don't have very much to time to spare, but also everyone else seems so busy too, and their friendships are already well established. For you, in a foreign country, I fear it will be even harder because there are the language and culture barriers.
I still keep in touch with my long-time girlfriends and when i need a " girl-talk", I just call them, but it would be nice to have someone here....
Thanks for posting and telling us how things are going for you. I was thinking of you and wondering how it was. Glad to hear the flare has settled down.
Linda
I still keep in touch with my long-time girlfriends and when i need a " girl-talk", I just call them, but it would be nice to have someone here....
Thanks for posting and telling us how things are going for you. I was thinking of you and wondering how it was. Glad to hear the flare has settled down.
Linda
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
The 13th Dali Lama
The 13th Dali Lama
Harma - so nice to hear from you again - sounds like you're managing quite well. Glad you worked up the courage to get behind the wheel - there's nothing better and more confidence boosting than accomplishing what you're afraid of. Look forward to reading your next update on your adventure. Like Polly, I'm also curious about how you're managing with learning Arabic - it's such a beautiful, but difficult language.
Linda - ditto on the girlfriends. I've been retired here in Colorado for over 4 years now, and have not been able to develop a close friendship. I meet a group of 12 women once a month to play Bunco, and even though they are all nice and fun women, there is no one I particularly connect with. I spend way too much time on the phone with my close friends (in NY and TX) and sisters (in Norway). I don't know if it's because we're getting older, or because there just are not that many people in a lifetime that we connect with on a deep level???
Love,
Kari
Linda - ditto on the girlfriends. I've been retired here in Colorado for over 4 years now, and have not been able to develop a close friendship. I meet a group of 12 women once a month to play Bunco, and even though they are all nice and fun women, there is no one I particularly connect with. I spend way too much time on the phone with my close friends (in NY and TX) and sisters (in Norway). I don't know if it's because we're getting older, or because there just are not that many people in a lifetime that we connect with on a deep level???
Love,
Kari
"My mouth waters whenever I pass a bakery shop and sniff the aroma of fresh bread, but I am also grateful simply to be alive and sniffing." Dr. Bernstein
FWIW, here are my thoughts on the elusiveness of close friendships these days:
It's not us - it's our lifestyles. When I was growing up, neighbors were someone with whom we shared work, (we traded labor, by helping neighbors do farm and ranch work that required "work crews", and in return, they helped us by providing a work crew), and we shared our leisure time, (every Sunday afternoon, instead of plunking down on the couch in front of the tv, or whatever, we visited a neighbor, or relatives, and just "chewed the fat", got caught up on the latest gossip, and simply enjoyed each others company). These days, though, we don't have time for things like that - everyone has too much going on, and they're in a hurry to finish whatever they're doing, because they're going to be late for whatever is coming up next.
"Visiting" Facebook and Twitter has replaced visiting neighbors and relatives, for socializing and learning the latest gossip. The net result is that we have no practical way to add new friends, (except maybe at work, but work isn't usually that great a place to cultivate friendships, either).
When I was growing up, we knew every neighbor, for miles and miles around. Now, there are new residents scattered all over this neighborhood, whom I have never even seen, let alone met. Many of them leave for work before daylight, to make a long commute, and return home after dark. Our paths never cross. Why they live way out here in the country, instead of closer to where they work, is beyond me, because they are never at home to enjoy the tranquility of the countryside.
The reality is that we have jettisoned the traditional ways to cultivate friendships, and replaced them with the artificial world of Facebook and Twitter, where "old" friendships may still survive, but new friendships are a dime a dozen, and therefore, they're also as shallow and as fickle as a keystroke on a computer keyboard.
I predict that eventually, the "artificial" social sites will still be used as cyber communication places, but real world meetings will come back into vogue, and that is where close friendships will once again be established, because humans have a need for an actual physical presence. We have a need for eye contact, because not only do we communicate by words and gestures, but a vital part of our communication comes from interpretation of body language. These physical attributes are an essential part of our psyche. For example, nothing can erase the pain of loneliness faster than our sense of touch. Cyber hugs and handshakes are better than nothing, but they transmit none of the sensations of the real thing.
Anyway, that's why I believe it has become so much more difficult to add new friends, in recent years.
Tex
It's not us - it's our lifestyles. When I was growing up, neighbors were someone with whom we shared work, (we traded labor, by helping neighbors do farm and ranch work that required "work crews", and in return, they helped us by providing a work crew), and we shared our leisure time, (every Sunday afternoon, instead of plunking down on the couch in front of the tv, or whatever, we visited a neighbor, or relatives, and just "chewed the fat", got caught up on the latest gossip, and simply enjoyed each others company). These days, though, we don't have time for things like that - everyone has too much going on, and they're in a hurry to finish whatever they're doing, because they're going to be late for whatever is coming up next.
"Visiting" Facebook and Twitter has replaced visiting neighbors and relatives, for socializing and learning the latest gossip. The net result is that we have no practical way to add new friends, (except maybe at work, but work isn't usually that great a place to cultivate friendships, either).When I was growing up, we knew every neighbor, for miles and miles around. Now, there are new residents scattered all over this neighborhood, whom I have never even seen, let alone met. Many of them leave for work before daylight, to make a long commute, and return home after dark. Our paths never cross. Why they live way out here in the country, instead of closer to where they work, is beyond me, because they are never at home to enjoy the tranquility of the countryside.
The reality is that we have jettisoned the traditional ways to cultivate friendships, and replaced them with the artificial world of Facebook and Twitter, where "old" friendships may still survive, but new friendships are a dime a dozen, and therefore, they're also as shallow and as fickle as a keystroke on a computer keyboard.
I predict that eventually, the "artificial" social sites will still be used as cyber communication places, but real world meetings will come back into vogue, and that is where close friendships will once again be established, because humans have a need for an actual physical presence. We have a need for eye contact, because not only do we communicate by words and gestures, but a vital part of our communication comes from interpretation of body language. These physical attributes are an essential part of our psyche. For example, nothing can erase the pain of loneliness faster than our sense of touch. Cyber hugs and handshakes are better than nothing, but they transmit none of the sensations of the real thing.
Anyway, that's why I believe it has become so much more difficult to add new friends, in recent years.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Linda in BC
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 801
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:39 am
- Location: Creston British Columbia
Tex, I agree with you that the changes to society re: interpersonal contact , are not for the better. It is funny, had new neighbors move into the place next door about 2 months ago and I kept meaning to go and introduce myself and welcome them to the neighborhood someday when I saw them outside, and my husband did too, but we never saw them outside! I had been feeling quite guilty about not doing this and now it appears they have gone south for the winter, so it will have to await until next spring!
But I don't think the difficulty I am experiencing in making new friendships is because of the cyber world. I moved to Calgary when 1987 ( at 33) to go to university, and I lived there 14 years. I made two friends the whole time I was there. The internet was only just getting going in Calgary then, and not many people had computers, so it was not that. It could have been partly because it was a city, but I am quite certain it also has to do with age. But if you think about it, people did not used to move around as much as adults. Maybe we are designed to form our lasting freindships in our childhood or young adulthood (when we are looking for a mate) and then stay put, and keep them. Maybe we are not emotionally wired after our 30's to make new friends!
Linda
But I don't think the difficulty I am experiencing in making new friendships is because of the cyber world. I moved to Calgary when 1987 ( at 33) to go to university, and I lived there 14 years. I made two friends the whole time I was there. The internet was only just getting going in Calgary then, and not many people had computers, so it was not that. It could have been partly because it was a city, but I am quite certain it also has to do with age. But if you think about it, people did not used to move around as much as adults. Maybe we are designed to form our lasting freindships in our childhood or young adulthood (when we are looking for a mate) and then stay put, and keep them. Maybe we are not emotionally wired after our 30's to make new friends!
Linda
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
The 13th Dali Lama
The 13th Dali Lama
My Arabic is going, of course it is difficult and takes a lot of time and effort to learn it. But it keeps amazing me that is is easier than it looks like. Don't start to think of it as easy, but I always had the feeling of "impossible" well it is not. The reading part is not easy, but with I do see progress (we haven't had all letters yet, and it is still reading letter for letter and than make a word of it). Grammar and vocabulary it is just a matter of practice and repeating. What I still find really hard is pronunciation, it is so important pronounce every letter the right way, other wise you say something totally different, same with word stress. At the moment I am in the phase of, if I try to say something, I say words not yet full sentences. But if I listen to people that talk arabic, the words I do know I hear and understand (what I still not much, but this makes me quite happy, when i was trying to learn french this took me much longer). First I will need some basic langauge skills and than it will be a matter of just practicing.
I wouldn't never have reached this level of English (what I consider almost as my second language) without just a lot of practising, just talk talk talk and write write write and not being afraid of making mistakes (I know very well, also here that I do make mistakes, but it is the only way to learn another language).
And tex I could not agree more on your observations about "friendschip". What I can add to it, is that, sometimes if you want to talk to people to get some more information on something, they might tell you, it is all on our website. I think than, I don't want to read on internet on a website, I want to talk to somebody, who explain things to me, who I can ask questions, I want a face with this company, organization etc. Not a stupid website.
I wouldn't never have reached this level of English (what I consider almost as my second language) without just a lot of practising, just talk talk talk and write write write and not being afraid of making mistakes (I know very well, also here that I do make mistakes, but it is the only way to learn another language).
And tex I could not agree more on your observations about "friendschip". What I can add to it, is that, sometimes if you want to talk to people to get some more information on something, they might tell you, it is all on our website. I think than, I don't want to read on internet on a website, I want to talk to somebody, who explain things to me, who I can ask questions, I want a face with this company, organization etc. Not a stupid website.
Harma,
I think your english is very good. I have no trouble at all understanding your posts.
I'm sure you will conquer Arabic.
Tex, I agree with what you said. I remember much more socializing when I was growing up. Even families don't interact like they used to.
It's really too bad.
Love, Shirley
I think your english is very good. I have no trouble at all understanding your posts.
I'm sure you will conquer Arabic.Tex, I agree with what you said. I remember much more socializing when I was growing up. Even families don't interact like they used to.
It's really too bad.
Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
Hi Harma,
I use you as inspiration to move around the country. At the present time, I don't have the mental or physical fortitude to travel abroad. My hat is off to you. You are doing great.
Regarding the friendships comment... I do agree that we will return somewhat to the "neighbor next door" type relationships many of us grew up with. I think the economy will be the main reason why.
As people become less mobile due to housing price devaluation, job instability, etc., they are less inclined, or capable, to move. Furthermore, I find myself and others trying to simplify their lives and reach back to the more meaningful aspects of our lives. IOW, living complex and being artificially interactive (facebook, tweeting, texting, etc.) are no replacements for good old fashioned, face-to-face if possible, friendships.
Personally, I'd rather have several good friends as opposed to a social network of hundreds where I learn every 5 minutes of the irrelevant things that might be doing at this very moment (again... Facebook, Tweeting, etc.). I just don't understand that. I think it is harmful to us as a society in many ways that we presently understands, and in ways that we yet to understand.
We have become a society that no longer places emphases on, or values, true and sincere communication. We have regressed substantially. We have lost some of the characteristics and behaviors that made us more genuinely social. But out of necessity and even desire, I do see this returning somewhat.
My finding this group is a good example. It mixes technology into the equation, but it facilitates the most open and real social interaction I have experienced on-line. And you see this in how everyone shares such personal and heartfelt feelings and stories. Perhaps we are mostly bonded because of this ugly ailment. Well at least that is what brought us all together. But there is absolutely no vanity or superficiality in how people interact on this forum (and that seems to be very common on other social networks).
Just my two cents worth. And if that is not enough cents, I am sure my government will print more :)
Rich
I use you as inspiration to move around the country. At the present time, I don't have the mental or physical fortitude to travel abroad. My hat is off to you. You are doing great.
Regarding the friendships comment... I do agree that we will return somewhat to the "neighbor next door" type relationships many of us grew up with. I think the economy will be the main reason why.
As people become less mobile due to housing price devaluation, job instability, etc., they are less inclined, or capable, to move. Furthermore, I find myself and others trying to simplify their lives and reach back to the more meaningful aspects of our lives. IOW, living complex and being artificially interactive (facebook, tweeting, texting, etc.) are no replacements for good old fashioned, face-to-face if possible, friendships.
Personally, I'd rather have several good friends as opposed to a social network of hundreds where I learn every 5 minutes of the irrelevant things that might be doing at this very moment (again... Facebook, Tweeting, etc.). I just don't understand that. I think it is harmful to us as a society in many ways that we presently understands, and in ways that we yet to understand.
We have become a society that no longer places emphases on, or values, true and sincere communication. We have regressed substantially. We have lost some of the characteristics and behaviors that made us more genuinely social. But out of necessity and even desire, I do see this returning somewhat.
My finding this group is a good example. It mixes technology into the equation, but it facilitates the most open and real social interaction I have experienced on-line. And you see this in how everyone shares such personal and heartfelt feelings and stories. Perhaps we are mostly bonded because of this ugly ailment. Well at least that is what brought us all together. But there is absolutely no vanity or superficiality in how people interact on this forum (and that seems to be very common on other social networks).
Just my two cents worth. And if that is not enough cents, I am sure my government will print more :)
Rich
"It's not what I believe. It's what I can prove." - A Few Good Men
I think that's why I love this group so much also. I don't tolerate the other "social networks" very well at all.hoosier1 wrote: My finding this group is a good example. It mixes technology into the equation, but it facilitates the most open and real social interaction I have experienced on-line. And you see this in how everyone shares such personal and heartfelt feelings and stories. Perhaps we are mostly bonded because of this ugly ailment. Well at least that is what brought us all together. But there is absolutely no vanity or superficiality in how people interact on this forum (and that seems to be very common on other social networks). Rich
Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
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Linda in BC
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 801
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:39 am
- Location: Creston British Columbia
This is the only online forum I have ever joined or interacted on , and I must say, it was a shock when I started looking for information on LDN on other forums and found how different their tone, format and content was! The set-up of PP site is brilliant, so much more personal with the avatars, the vast selection of emoticons, etc. but what really makes it unique is its values of support, genuine caring and " postiveness" not conflict, negativity, impersonalness. Tex, my hat is off to you and all the other pioneers who started this site, but especially to you for spending so much time maintaining it and constantly trying to improve it.
Gratefully,
LInda
Gratefully,
LInda
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
The 13th Dali Lama
The 13th Dali Lama
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Joefnh
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 2478
- Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:25 pm
- Location: Southern New Hampshire
Adding my 2 cents... This is a very unique site and group of people. I am fairly new to any "social networking" and it really is limited to this site and 3 other Crohns boards and this site certainly stands out in a very special way.
Harma that's a great update on driving in Amman and your language classes. Certainly you are an incredible inspiration to take on your adventure in the face of MC
Tex I noticed the differences between the parts of the country when I moved to Texas in 1987. In the northeast neighbors are friendly but only after getting to know you for a while. When we moved to Austin, we did not have to make a meal for a week, we had more food dropped off than we could possibly eat in a month. The neighbors were incredible. It really was like having an extended family
Hopefully that attitude has not been lost to the "information age"
--Joe
Harma that's a great update on driving in Amman and your language classes. Certainly you are an incredible inspiration to take on your adventure in the face of MC
Tex I noticed the differences between the parts of the country when I moved to Texas in 1987. In the northeast neighbors are friendly but only after getting to know you for a while. When we moved to Austin, we did not have to make a meal for a week, we had more food dropped off than we could possibly eat in a month. The neighbors were incredible. It really was like having an extended family
Hopefully that attitude has not been lost to the "information age"
--Joe
Joe
About the friendship, about what you wrote Joe, preferring a view good friends than dozens on facebook, twitter and whatever, I couldn't agree more. I made me realize about making new friends here, get to know more people. I already know a view, but really only one I can really connect with. It made me think, I prefer to spend time on my own, than spending time with people where I won't stay in touch with in the Netherlands. Don't misunderstand me, most of them are okay nice people and I don't say I will never socialize with them again or something like that. But it wouldn't be fair to myself and to them if I would use them to fill empty days and the emptiness in myself.