I wanted to blog more consistently but I’ve let go of expectations. Life is full and rich.

My husband and I went on a walk yesterday and he took these two lovely photos.

I enjoy our walks as we never know who or what we will encounter. It’s always medicine for the soul.

Yesterday, I realized I had not yet met another American. David reminded me that they live in another part of town. Where we live is not removed. Yes, it’s a complex with European landscaping, but it’s in the heart of everything. My neighbors are a French woman, a couple from Belgium that own a restaurant across the street, Egyptians, Egyptian-Americans, Saudi- Arabians, French Canadians, Africans, Iranians, Russians, Europeans, Germans and a woman from India that wears the most stunning saris. And there are a wide variety of mixed families. These are the people/families I have encountered in our complex, during our walks, or when I am sitting on the porch, or by the pool.

What I enjoy most are our encounters. Small talk doesn’t exist, which I find refreshing, as I am not skilled in this area.

When there isn’t a language barrier, I have engaged in conversations with people about how they ended up in Egypt, politics, culture, healthcare, food and art. We often see groups of people on their porches involved in deep conversations. This makes me smile—it’s the sense of community that I find extremely healing.

Communication can be an issue but I have found that people jump thru hoops to find ways to communicate. I experience it like playing charades as humor is often involved. The children play together and have mastered finding ways to relate to each other. Hide & Seek appears to be Universal.
The wonderful spicy scents that fill the air during dinner time cause me to want to go knocking on doors with a plate and fork in hand. I wonder what my neighbors are cooking—how they are living their lives.

I’m intrigued by how we live in such a tight-knit culturally-diverse living-space, in harmony. Every time I walk out my door people greet me and ask how I am. They stop and look me in the face and appear to be interested in my answer. I enjoy my interactions, even if they are brief.

I’ve only been here two months and already it has been life-changing. It’s pushed me to have a larger global perspective. I’ve come to understand that there doesn’t have to be huge divisions or lines drawn in the sand.

Is it perfect here? No. Absolutely not. There are glaring environmental issues, food and water shortages, poverty, lack of concern for domestic animals and a host of other things.

What’s different is, people generally want to find ways to connect, to talk about the deeper issues, to share their perspectives and to listen to what other’s think. They have the community piece mastered. I will never toss the word community around again. I am aware that I am only experiencing the tip of the iceberg as to how important it really is and how it benefits everyone. I thought I understood this. No.
There is so much potential for learning and growth on a global and personal level. It’s a gift to be part of a diverse community and to interact with families that are very different from my own.

Because I have a culturally diverse family, I believed myself to have a lot of knowledge in this area. Another No. It may have allowed me to be more open to living in this manner, but I have come to realize how little I know. This realization is both upsetting and exciting.

I feel very much alive here. I carried a deadness-a sense of disconnect in the states. It took a lot to stoke the creative fires. I’m trying to understand this and to integrate what I’ve experienced, so when I do return, I can live differently. More aware.

One thing I’ve noticed is, no one walks around looking at their phones. They look at the people and the world around them. Checking out isn’t as noticeable. This is a place of engagement.

My spirituality has deepened as well. I am starting to see life as a Sadhana—a spiritual practice. The lines of my daily devotions/meditations are blurred and blended with daily living.The separateness is fading with each encounter.

My world is shifting. Dramatically.