February 22, 2011

Camped out on the floor last night. We had a big slumber party with popcorn and hotdogs! We had no TV so not really sure what is going on. Of course when your here you realize how much the media likes to blow things out of proportion. Things are definitely going on. The first night we heard some gunshots but we also some fireworks from the roof . So again, hard to figure out what exactly is happening. Reports were that the streets were very quiet yesterday with most businesses being closed. The airport was said to be full of people trying to leave the country.

Living here does provide some perspective but on the otherhand rumors are rampant. Someone tells about a building that has been burnt. Someone else tells about roving groups of thugs burning cars. What is actually true and what is really going on is hard to say. We took very little from the house when we left, so we are concerned about our belongings and what we might need later. We are not going anywhere as of yet. When we do we are nervous about being on the road. Where we are is very quiet. When we left our homes, it was early morning and little traffic as one would expect at that hour. At one intersection there were soldiers but they were directing traffic. They obviously were trying to keep order and as usual were very polite as usual. Another group of friends was detained for about 15 minutes by armed soldiers but were released shortly and quickly arrived.

What is true is that most Libyans are very polite and law abiding. Considering what is happening here and the fact that we are leaving our homes with most of our stuff would probably be much more of a problem in other countries. On the other hand there is a huge population of immigrants from other African countries. If some sort of order is not established soon and food gets short, I could foresee some serious problems.


Libya has been very safe. We were able to go shopping when ever we wished. And even though I don't speak Arabic, people were always very helpful. We have so many friends and people that we have met. This is a strong Muslim country and that takes some getting used. Woman and men practically lead separate lives. I have never been invited to a Libyan house and I understand that if I did, I probably would not meet or even see the wife. On the other hand, Katyann's dentist is Libyan and she is very cordial. Her husband is my dentist. They are both friendly and interesting to talk with.

Our cleaning staff is from Ghana and they are very concerned with government or local negative repercushions against immigrants as the story unfolds here. There are probably as many foreign workers here from other Southern countries as there are Libyans. Most are poor and do menial jobs. Many are unemployed looking for work. There are many locations in Tripoli where you can see hundreds of people just waiting for some one to come with a truck looking for workers. These people sometimes have their own tools. Mostly, they just have their hands. There are rumors that these immigrants are somehow responsible for the present problems.  

It has been raining all night and is raining today. It is also cold and would be a horrible day to protest. I am hoping that things are quiet. I hope that people have a chance to consider the situation and that peaceful solutions are discovered. As we prepare to leave the country we are hoping for a swift return to our school. And that the many friends we are leaving here remain safe and that changes are good and occur with minimum turmoil.

Leaving Good Friends and Hope for a Speedy Return

We really love it here and are sad to be leaving. We have met such great people and our staff here is wonderful. If things work out we will be arriving at a new destination tomorrow. This is a beautiful place to be.

Whose that in the Window?

Amidst the craziness, I spotted this truck and had to take a picture yesterday. May be awhile before I see a truck like this.

February 21, 2011

At a quarter three o’clock in the morning I received a call from Judith, pack a bag and get ready to stay at the school. Cell phones evidently were out most of the night and our director had not been able to contact us. As soon as the phones went on she called us. She didn’t wake me up. I hadn’t been able to sleep. I don’t know if was excitement or the allergy medicine I had taken earlier. I lay awake in bed most of the night. We had a meeting at the elementary Principal’s house earlier that day. She assured us everything looked fine and that we would be having class the next day. She urged us to remember that it would be pajama day and to dress appropriately.

Just as no one expected things to escalate in Tunis, we are also very surprised by the events taking place last night in Tripoli. Earlier this month, I had talked with a booking agent and had made plans to go to Morocco and then to Tunis for our April Spring break. Then Tunis fell apart and we cancelled our vacation. Instead we planned to visit Egypt. Well, Egypt erupted in civil turmoil and that trip was cancelled. Well now for Presidents day weekend we decided to stay in Tripoli. Protests in Bengasi and people being shot. What is next? Now everyone asks us where we are going on vacation so they can plan to stay somewhere else.

Tripoli seemed to be making so much progress. Yes the president is very unpredictable, but Tripoli has lots of oil money and the infrastructure has been improving. Everyone tells me how much better things have gotten in the last few years. Nevertheless, some Libyans evidently have not been happy. The surprising thing is that these protests continue to grow even after the deaths; People shot and beat and yet they return to protest- Most not even armed; Putting themselves and their families at risk. Something amazing is happening in Africa and the Middle East. It is frightening yet exhilarating.

At three o’clock the phone rang again. Our director was not able to get the neighbors on the phone. She asked if I could go and tell them to pack a bag. As I returned I looked at the full moon. It was circled by a huge white ring; surely a sign - A sign of what I will have to wait and see.
We pack in a hurry. Even though I had put together a small suitcase the day before, the real thing has me reevaluating what I packed. Do I need to bring more? Between packing, I go to the computer and record my thoughts.  As we prepare to evacuate you may wonder: Am I worried? No just excited and a little concerned. I am hardly ever worried, just concerned. My cousin once told me he had never been lost, just confused for a few days or so…  So I guess I’m not worried, just concerned... I told Bruce, my friend, yesterday, that I am so glad to be here. In a place where history is being made. To experience first had the excitement of a new thing, something different. I ask myself, with my family here, my six year old daughter, my worried wife, am I still glad to be here. The answer is still yes; but I am reevaluating every minute…
I am sure most revolutions must evolve similarly, everyone asking is this really happening.? Will it continue? Is it as serious as it seems? Is it more serious than it seems?

We may be evacuated. If the school closes we only receive three months salary. That has me concerned. We could go through our savings quickly not doing anything, stuck in an expensive location. Hopefully we will just take our spring vacation early and be back to work soon. I am sure we will have even smaller classes when we return. Many of these companies probably won’t risk bringing families back if they think they may have to evacuate again. All this is just speculation as we prepare our suitcases and prepare for another day of teaching in Tripoli.
From yesterday's casual meeting at the Principal’s home where we were told everything is fine until this morning. One call at 2:45, another at 3:00 telling us to pack just in case and be ready to stay at the school to another call at 4:00 pm telling us to caravan to work and to be there at 7:30 for a meeting. Seems things may be heating up?

the internet is down for most of Tripoli and the country but we are able to connect from a few locations. I am fine and so is my family. Things are relatively calm here. We have stocked up on food, bought extra water, and filled the car with gas. We also have bags packed and passports ready if we have to evacuate. Having said this, we are having school tomorrow and have no plans to evacuate in the near future.

Many of our students have left. One thing that I will be doing in the next few days is making a plan if we do evacuate so that I can continue teaching via on line. Online classes would allow my students to continue even though they are not in country.

Peace and Prosperity

In this region of the world there has been quite a bit of press lately. Here every country has its own challenges. The hope is that world will get better and everyone will prosper. So far things have been calm.

Paradise Beach, Libya

Although the beaches are beautiful there often are very few people at the beach.  Libyan culture is conservative as to what is proper beach attire so visitors should be aware if the beach is designated for western bathing or local family bathing. Paradise beach is located close to Leptis Magna.

Case of Missing Slantfaced Grasshopper

This grasshopper looked to me like a katydid, but probably falls into the group of slantfaced grasshoppers (Subfamily Gomphocerinae) probably also in the Mermiria Group of Toothpick Grasshoppers

Sabratha Roman Ruins

Almost 2000 years old, the Sabratha Roman Ruins have endured. As impressive as the architecture is, hold a fresh piece of polished marble in your hands and then go exam these ruins.. An interesting project would be to imagine what the stone work looked like when it was new and freshly polished. How much of the stone has been lost erosion?

Libya, Nearing Tripoli

Arriving for the first time in North Africa, even the color of the ground was different than anything I had ever seen before. Desert Agriculture, even along the mediterranean is unique.  I was fascinated and attracted to the red sand and olive vegetation.

Another view of Saharan silver ant (Cataglyphis bombycina)

Saharan silver ant (Cataglyphis bombycina)

The Saharan silver ant (Cataglyphis bombycina) was photographed in the desert South of Sebha in Libya. Besides its unique coloration these ants have many special adaptations for living in the desert. Before venturing out of their tunnels, they produce a protein that allows them to metabolize at high temperatures, they have longer legs to keep them off the sand, and are very good at minimizing their foraging time by finding the most direct line back to their nest.

Oasis in the Desert

Ancient riverbeds eroded pockets, channels and depressions in the bedrock. After years of erosion and wind, these depressions are covered with sand. The ocassional precipitation in the Sahara filters throught the sand and pools in these ancient depressions. The water picks up minerals as it filters through the sand and these minerals are consentrated by further evaporation. Sometimes the sand is blown away to a level where water is exposed. Often these lakes are saltier than the sea.

A photograph of a milkweed butterfly from the family Danainae. The larva looks a lot like the queen butterflies of south Texas. There are about 400 species worldwide with only 4 found in the US.

“As a camel beareth labour, and heat, and hunger, and thirst, through deserts of sand, and fainteth not; so the fortitude of a man shall sustain him through all perils.”

Throughout the Sahara in Libya camels appear. Sometimes their owners are near and sometimes they appear to be by themselves. Our guide assured us "all camels in Libya have an owner"

Sahara Desert: the Acacus mountains

I could spend months climbing and searching in these odd shaped mountains. Venturing alone, I found a crevice. On the ground were 2000-3000 year old pottery shards. On my back, I inched my way under the giant block of rock. strewn about were more pottery shards, antelope and mountain sheep horn; preserved and protected by the dry desert heat.

In the middle of nowhere

There are very few places where you can stand and see nothing in every direction. Welcome to the Sahara desert in Libya!

Sahara Wadi (dry riverbed) valley in Lybia

Views of the Sahara

The Sahara desert in Libya is not one desert but a collection of deserts; each one facinating with its own unique characteristics. I will post a series of pictures of some of the different landscapes. As more information is gathered, I hope to elaborate on some of the forces that have shaped these incredible landscapes.

Drinving in Tripoli

The most dangerous thing about living in Tripoli is the driving. Just this evening a car almost ran into me. There is nothing like driving down a road in the evening and being faced with three on-coming cars (two of which are driving on the wrong side of the road) on a narrow two lane street. There is nothing to do but stop and hope that they can all get around you.