Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Sleepless in Kuwait

Only in this version of the movie, I don't end up with Tom Hanks *sniff sniff* :P

I don't mind physical exertion- as a matter of fact I thrive in it. . Heck I might even tolerate lack of food! (okay that's a flat-out lie:P). But it's the lack of sleep that I can't do. I need those 7-8 hours of daily sleep, is this too much to ask?

Apparently it is.

Last night I stayed up till only God knows when checking homework assignments and exams.
Dull, tedious, wearing- these are all the words that come to mind when I think of checking assignments or exams.

I love teaching because it's so interactive, dynamic and challenging. But as it turns out not all aspects of it are! The classroom time with the kids definitely is. But as I sit here staring at the stacks of paperwork ahead of me, I know that teaching- not unlike everything else in life- has the good, the bad, and the ugly!

I'm not a coffee person; I've never tasted Turkish coffee (I do love its smell however and how it stays in the car for days to come after you buy some!), and when offered arabic coffee that "I must taste", I politely accept, then empty it on the nearby plant;)
I do love a good cup of latte however- but then that's mostly milk.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I turned on my dad's coffee-maker last night and gulped a huge cup, which was a smart move since I know I wouldn't have made it through the night without it- I do love my sleep.

But hey, I'm no couch potato! Believe it or not, the weather here is starting to improve. In early mornings and afternoons you can even feel a soft breeze of -get that- FRESH cool air!
That only means one thing: I'm back to my running-on-the-beach routine. Yay!

I'm not really the reflective type. I'd rather be moving than sitting pondering life. I remember the one time I tried a Yoga class (my sis took me there)- I was doing pretty fine until they started "meditating". They drove me half-mad, I ran out of the room yelling like crazy (at least that's what I did in my head:P)
Running has provided me with the perfect alternative to a Yoga class! Running is my yoga. When I run, I'm my happiest. My thoughts are free to wander- as a matter of fact most of the things I wrote about through my life started to take shape during my runs. As my legs move fast, so are my thoughts. The rush of endorphins give me a decent 'high'- which never fails to refresh my spirits and my entire self. You would never find me in a bad mood after a run:)

These days my thoughts are less diverse, they mostly revolve around the little squirts. When you're teaching, you really can't "seperate your private and professional life". Those kids take over your entire life, in both the good and not-so-good sense:)

I guess you must draw the line somewhere. I might as well start now. I will stop writing about them and go get some sleep.
Ah, sleep. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.....
:P

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh sis. I can relate to everything you're saying. Me miss my sleep. Me need it. Really need it. Deep appreciation for pillow. (but still living a non-caffeinated life)

So glad Kuwait is runnable again. What is it down to? 35C? :P

You'll be happy to know I have lost my capacity for yoga and left toe relaxation miles behind me. Rowing is my yoga. Nothing like two 5K Head of the Charles pieces to start the day with. Watching the sunrise and hearing the sound of your breath and the churning water. Mariam, you have to row. You hear me. First chance you get. Go for it, you'll LOVE IT.

Now, if you'll excuse me.. I'll go back to squeeling and flailing my arms while I run around in crazy circles :) Yes. You may do that as well.

Here's to impending Bostonian disaster :)

Mar Yoom said...

LOL
Sis, you've been sleep-deprived for the last 10 years, who are you kidding? THIS is normal to you now! I'd worry if you got some sleep:P

Oh and this "flailing arms while running in crazy circles" is SO gratifying!! :D
AAAAAAHHHH
I'm too excited!
Here's to crazy sisterly reunions!:D

Anonymous said...

Excitement. Wild excitement. Although you wouldn't be able to tell looking at me right now (withering away here, withering away). I've a paper and two assignments due tomorrow... da3watek. All I can do right now, is go to bed, and hope for the best. The best being that I actually get up in a timely manner and finish things in a timely manner.

Anonymous said...

Oh man, I can't believe you gave in and became one of "them"... coffee drinkers. However, the methods my friends and I use to stay awake when pulling all-nighters may seem... how do I put this delicately... savage. So maybe you should stick to coffee instead.

Mar Yoom said...

LOL
One coffee cup after 22 years of being around on planet earth doesn't mean I'm one of "them":P
Besides, my system went in shock, so I won't be repeating it till at least another 22 years;) (I'd be 44 then.. yikes!:P)

I'm very much intrigued here, WHAT kind of methods do you and your friends use? do share:P

Sis, 7abeebti, my prayers for you! Yes, please go sleep. Need me to wake you up?;P (Man I used to love this job- although it's quite dangerous to tell you the truth, I'm a couple of limbs short because of it:P)