A snow day!

Okay, it wasn’t actually a snow day today (12.12.10), it was as close as this country is going to get; so, let me just pretend since Christmas is less than two weeks away.

The weather turned, for the worst, two nights ago.  Within a few hours, the temperature drastically dropped and the wind picked up.  All day Saturday, I sat on my computer skyping friends and family while watching the white caps on the Mediterranean and listening to the howling wind through our poorly sealed windows.  Oh, and I was in sweats, socks, and slippers!! Our apartment got soooooo cold, cold enough I had to buy a space heater today!

Anyways, the weather turned cold and it started to rain.  A lot.  Okay, it might even be considered a monsoon.  Oh.  And it was hailing.  No joke.  And it rained/is still raining inches and inches of water.  I ventured to the university today (dangerous at best) against the elements.  Along the way, I stepped in a huge puddle (not on purpose of course) and then my foot was frozen for the rest of the day.  The streets were flooded because this amount of precipitation is unheard of and consequently the streets have no drainage system.  I canceled my 8am class and by the time I got to the university for my 12pm class, campus was also flooded and the students had please-let-us-go-home-now looks on their faces.  So, I sent them home with direct orders to drink hot chocolate.  I am officially their favorite teacher… what can I say!?!?

My Arabic class and practice were also canceled due to weather, and there was a mad rush for space heaters.  I managed to get one of the last ones, thank goodness, and we are currently rotating it throughout the apartment.  Stores are in survival mode and transportation is even less stable than normal, JUST LIKE A SNOW DAY.  I have received calls from my students, fellow teachers, and teammates to stay indoors for as long as possible.  This might be a little excessive, but as strong as the wind sounds outside as I am typing this, I will probably heed their advice.  Or, at least until my “super important” meeting at the university tomorrow.