I'm Innocent!!!

The mayor came and created an uproar. In the end, the donkey was pulled away to somewhere safe.

Apparently, some inhuman Chinese nationals bought a donkey and kept it at the back of the kitchen. They were planning to kill it and serve it to all of us as lunch/dinner. We, the Singaporeans, did not know anything about the donkey until the mayor came. Some Algerians (I suspect he/she must be one of the kitchen helpers) had obviously told him and hence, he came to rescue the poor donkey.

I was appalled when I learnt about the shocking news. I couldn't believe anyone could be so cruel to kill a donkey and eat it! And they were planning to feed us (Singaporeans) with it without letting us know what it was! Well, perhaps they could stomach a donkey but definitely not us! This is absolutely barbaric! What's more! The poor donkey was left in the torrential rain for several days before the sky finally decided to clear! How could they have the heart to mistreat a living breathing thing!

Now, I'm seriously going to scrutinise the food I eat, question what they are and where they come from. Or I can boycott the food from the common kitchen.

The Chinese nationals have definitely earned themselves a really really BAD reputation. HUGE. BIG TIME. They are infamous for eating dogs and now I guess, they could add donkeys to their menu too. And the bad thing is the Algerians think that we, the Singaporeans, are like them. I seriously wanna wear a huge sign board around my neck that says, "I'm innocent! I don't eat donkey!!!"

I Miss Summer

The weather’s been wet and cold for the past few days. I could hear the angry waves crashing against the shore in the wee hours while the wind howled. For several nights, I lay wide awake on my bed, shivering with cold and wonder if the hubby and I would be attacked by a tsunami. If we did, we would never have the time to run for our dear lives. We live less than a kilometer from the beach.

Yesterday, there was a drastic change in weather. The sky was gloomy all day but it didn’t rain. Instead, we had a mini sand storm. The wind was strong and warm. It was uncomfortable staying outdoors. Not only did I feel dusty all over, at some point, I felt suffocated by the warm air. Besides, everything from afar looked hazy. It was my first experience of a sand storm. Thankfully, it was just a mini one. I wonder what would happen if a real sand storm comes knocking on our door. Nah. I would gladly give that a miss.

Rainy Days & OranguT-A-N-G

There's a new programme on TV whenever it rains. Here it is:


So just a few hours ago, I couldn't watch TV and the internet was down. So basically, it was back to good old primitive days when technology didn't exist. But the good thing is, I don't have to water my plants on rainy days.

Now, the rain has stopped and I finally get to watch TV. I'm watching a programme on saving the Orangutan on 101 East. The narrator irks me when he says 'OranguT-A-N-G'. Why can't he just pronounce OranguT-A-N? Repeat after me, please. 'O-RANG-U-TAN!' Get it?

Is it October already?

It seems not so long ago that I experienced my first winter in a foreign land. Then spring came along, followed by the bright summer sky. And now, it's autumn already. I couldn't help but shudder at the thought of how fast time has slipped by. Very soon, we'll have to usher in the brand new year.

The past 10 months were filled with many memories which would take more than a lifetime to fade away. I would never forget the first few months in Algeria - the fear of walking on the streets while men stared at me hostilely, the frustrations of having to adjust to a new environment where time stood still 10-15 years ago, the many times I cried cos I missed home terribly, the first experience of a bitter cold winter and the excitement of exploring new places. I doubt I would ever have such an adventure if the hubby and I hadn't decided to move to Algeria. I remember a few of my friends were skeptical of our decision. 'It's a hardship posting, isn't it? Are you sure?', they asked. I cannot deny that at some point of time, I was indeed unsure of our decision. It is afterall a 'not-so-galmorous' place to work in, considering it a third world country. Besides, terrorist attacks are common. Will it be safe to live in Algeria? But the hubby and I eventually stick to our decision.

This may sound cliche but living here has made me realise how fortunate I am. The folks here lead a simple life. For some, a difficult life. Taking a shower may be a luxury for some. Having mineral water to drink is pure bliss. Being able to attend school is a blessing. For many, it's a struggle to even provide the basic necessities for their family. I looked at the household appliances I have in the house, the food in the fridge, the cartons of mineral water at a corner and asked myself, 'Is this a hardship posting?'. If it is, then life would have been more than miserable for these people. Indeed, I am and we are ALL very fortunate in many ways compared to the folks here.

I'm glad we made the decision to move out of our comfy little paradise. It's a paradise here as well - just a different kind from home. It's a good break for me from the usual routine back home. I get to do whatever I like and I'm thankful to be able to travel too. And I get to spend more time with the hubby. Afterall, we only have each other here. =)

So, it IS October already! And that's good news! Cos I'm going home soon! YAY! I can't wait to see my family. Another 16 more days to go! WOO HOO!!!

This is one of my fav pics I took during my first few months in Algeria. It's a pic with sheeps grazing on green pasture and the deep blue Mediterranean Sea merging with the blue sky. It was beautiful.

Good Samaritan

A friend of mine from SG decided to do something for the kids in Algeria after she saw the pics I uploaded in Facebook. This afternoon, I received her parcel. She got the kids some pens, pencils and cute little toys which she bought during her trip to Bangkok. Before she sent the parcel, the kind soul asked what I wanted from home. So I requested for Korean instant noodles. And that's exactly what she had sent me. Thank you so much, babe! The Algerian kids thank you too!

I couldn't stop smiling when I received the parcel. =)

A note and Korean instant noodles for me. That made my day!

Cute little toys for the kids. I was contemplating if I should keep one for myself. NAH!

Pens and pencils for the kids.