What's in a Name?

These are all people with
the last Name of BROWN
who could have also been
confused with
David Brown:
James Brown, King of Soul, Charlie Brown,
Gordon Brown, former PM of England and Chris Brown, rapper/rock something
See Below for Story



Note: David and Anna are in Amman Jordan for an Arts Festival along with 22 others from AIS. One of our students from Bangladesh was pulled aside in the Jordan airport upon entry because they thought he didn't have the appropriate paperwork, which resulted in our whole group being delayed entry. As David was in line at the passport control, this is what happened....

David standing in line, smiling, looking genuine waiting for the passport to be stamped (remember we were just in Jordan last April)
Man behind desk looks at his passport, looks at David, looks at the computer screen, looks at David, looks at passport, calls over colleague
Who proceeds to look at passport, look at David, look at computer screen, look at passport, look at David and walks away with David's passport
David is motioned to come into the "Special Room"

Passport Control (PC): So where are you from?
David (D): America
PC: What do you do for a job?
D: I am a teacher at the American International SChool in Kuwait
PC: Are you a businessman?
D: (Calmly) No, I am a teacher at the American International SChool in Kuwait
PC: How long have you been a teacher?
D: Three years
PC: Are you a businessman
D: No, I am a teacher at the American International SChool of Kuwait
PC: Where is Iowa? (note: David was born there and it's on his passport)
D: It's in the middle of the United States, north
PC: Is it near Texas?
D: No, it's far far away
PC: Are you a business man?
D: No, I am a teacher at the American International School of Kuwait
PC: Are you a businessman in the Energy field
D:No (still calm)
PC: Oh
Takes time to consult with others in room
PC: Okay go ahead

So David is mildly amused and bemused at why they would pull him aside. The name David Brown isn't that uncommon but his middle name OTHO does make his rather unique.

Fastforward a bit while the drama in the other Special Room with our Bangladeshi student is winding down as they've realized (after making a special call to the Bangladeshi ambassador at 1030 pm) that indeed the student does not pose a threat to the country and can be allowed in.
As David is walking by, another of our teachers informs him that Anna has now been pulled into the Special Room. David makes his way with haste to Special Room

D: She is my daughter and she has never lived in Texas and she is not a businessman in the Energy field either.
PC: Oh, well okay, she has familiar name of the person we are looking for.

SO next time we go to Jordan, maybe we should change our names to...White...or Green or Smith or possibly Al Brown or El Brown (as this signifies we are of Arab origin). Actually Anna's initials are AL for Anna Leigh. I wanted her to put AL BROWN on her soccer jersey this year, but she wasn't buying it.

Test of Faith

Yesterday I put David and Anna (and 22 others from our school) on an airplane bound for Amman Jordan to attend a Fine Arts Festival. With the current uprisings in the Middle East, it is definately a time to pray and hope that all will be well. I'm not that nervous as I trust the people in Jordan (the school) to have everyone's safety in mind. They wouldn't have let the people come if there was a problem...they were aware of.
This is indeed an interesting time to be in the Middle East with all of the dissention in neighboring countries. As I said earlier, I am not scared here in Kuwait, it just brings a (what should I say?) Heightened Sense of Awareness.
As they were getting ready to depart, I told the students not to sneak out of the places they are staying and go downtown to see the demonstrations because it "would be cool to see one". Then I looked directly at my daughter. She said "Why are you looking at me Mom"? and I told her that she, like me, is definately one who would try doing that!! She smiled...she knows herself (and me) too well.
For now, I'm praying for continued peace and crossing my fingers for safe times.
OH---
a final thought not related
The other day one of my students asked me:
"Miss, how come in English, you cross your fingers for luck but when you are telling a lie, you cross your fingers behind your back?"
Good point...

We're Fine, Really we are!

If you've been listening to the news of riots in Eqypt, unrest in Tunesia, potential conflicts in Yemen, Syria, etc and you're wondering how the Browns are doing, the answer is
"just Fine." Life continues to be our own version of normal here. Although there is great concern as many of our co workers have families in Eqypt and Tunesia. I'm scheduled to send a group of 24 to Jordan on Wednesday and I am relying on the confidence of my colleagues there saying that it's peaceful. However, I am now coordinating an event hre at AIS that WAS supposed to be held in Alexandria, Eqypt in early March.
Today I spoke with my colleague and friend ML in Alexandria. He sounded worried but assured me that he was fine. He didn't even sound concerned when he told me that planes were being flown in from western countries to remove expats. I also spoke with our beloved business manager whose daughter and grandchild are in Cairo. They hear looters around their homes, there was someone shot in front of their apartment complex two days ago. She is scared, her daughter is scared but the husband wants to stay and guard their possessions. I bought her flowers, it's the least I could do--mother to mother.
SO keep praying for peace in the Middle East and continue to focus your prayers on where I really need help..that is crossing the street here!
I'll keep you posted

Chucklers

Taken at the Kuwait Ice Rink...yes as in ice skating. There is even a hockey team here.The thought that there is a sign saying that Skating in Shorts is forbidden makes me laugh. When I saw this picture,the first thought that went through my head was

"Taxis waiting for the three wise men".

SO I could really get myself in trouble with this next one, so add your own captions...

Rank has its priviledges!

If a Flower can Bloom...

...in the desert...so can I!

This is what I tell myself when things get really tough here in the sands.

What some people do for fun in Kuwait

Now that I know about this, I am going to check it out personally! Enjoy!

Leavin' the Nest

This picture was taken a couple years ago on the Pelican River. I am in a sentimental mood right now and thought it was appropriate.

I've been thinking a lot about my children and their next step in life. Ben is working on his Law Enforcement degree and he and his lovely wife are working hard on making a new life for themselves. Anna has been getting rejection and acceptance letters for Universities and is trying to decide where she wants to bloom for the next four years. And so where does that leave ol' Davey and I? Do we stay in International teaching for another couple years? Do we return to MN and hope, (against hope?) that a job opens up for us? Or do we try to stay here in Kuwait where we know what we've got? This is definately time for the Next Step in the Brown family. The term EMPTY NEST is soon going to apply to us. I sure think about my parents and what it must have been like for them. My oldest sistah is 21 years older than I am so when I left home three days after my high school graduation, it was the first time in 38 years my parents hadn't had children at home. My mom once told me she cried for three days. I get it now.

Thinking back to when I was a senior in high school (yes my memory does go back that far!) I remember wanting desperately to LEAVE HOME and try my wings somewhere else. I wanted so badly to GROW UP and have adult experiences. I wanted to leave my lil small town (population 796 at that time) and see new things, meet different people, try amazing things. Listening to Anna talk about where she wants to go and her reasons bring back so many memories. And I guess one would say that I've turned out okay for all my adventures. Reasonably so anyway.

Once Ben said to me "Mom don't you remember what it's like to be 18?" I replied that indeed I did but I didn't know what it was like to be a parent of an 18 year old so please give me a break. I learned from him that a mom needs to let go and watch. Like when children are learning to walk, you want to put barriers around them, be there when they fall, encourage them to keep going--but maybe, just maybe, secretly hoping they won't learn...just yet...because it will mean that they are growing up.

I know, I know, this is a natural stage of life. And I am thankful that my children have opportunities to try their wings. As long as they know that somewhere in the world, there will always be a nest for them to return to--even if only for a brief rest.