We are Moving

I just got a job as the Baptist Student Ministry Director at Tarleton State University, so we are busy BUSY trying to pack, close up with my clients here and move our family so I can start on August 1.

So staying true to Bullion form we are moving.  We have been married for 6 years and are moving into our 7th house, into our 5th city, in the third country we've lived in  We have moved every summer since we've been married.  It definately keeps the junk level down though.

The good news is that this time the company is paying a professional moving company to move us.  WHICH IS AWESOME!!!

so stay tuned for pics of our new house and etc, etc.

When You Need to Clear Up Traffic...

I know in America we aren't big on roundabouts. I think its a British thing that kindof caught on everywhere else but the States. Roundabouts, or circles, aren't that bad actually and I think they could work with the proper training of drivers and the right traffic flow, but that's off the topic.

This post is solely about me making fun of my university for its traffic control efforts....

The picture above is on campus and at a "T" intersection. No one ever comes this way. Note the number of cars crammed around that newly made circle. Also note how well built and sturdy said circle is.

If you are really interested in or want more information on the broke down, brand new circle; shoot me an email and I can send you a video of it in all its glory.

The Holy Grail

This isn't about the cup of Christ, or for you psycho DaVinci Code people that can't tell reality from something you read in a book, this isn't about Mary Magdalene either.

It is about the things that elude us the most, and what is eluding me most right now is all the university's paperwork to get a Residency Visa.

And sadly enough, like most of my outings that have anything to do with visas or permits or registering for anything, it takes weeks to get anything done.

So today's account is basically very simple. I went to the office and waited, got a paper, delivered it to the office only to find that this said paper wasn't enough and I need a proof of registration and so on so forth and copies of my passports.

All things boiling down, it comes to this: there was not a single place open that I could make copies, soo....

tomorrow I head back with the copies and everything I need for the university to make a packet for me to take to the Ministry of the Interior where this whole thing really starts.

So in preparation for this fine expedition I have packed my "Holy Grail Survival Kit" to take with me, which includes...

• All of our passports
• Copies of all of our passports
• Marriage License
• Copy of Marriage License
• A Book (it may take a while)
• Noah's Birth Record, Certificate, and Hospital Record (all in both Arabic & English)
• Registration at the University
• 2 passport photos for each of us
• iPOD (did I mention it might take a while?)
• Copies of everything official looking about Noah we own.
• Rent Contract in both Arabic & English
• A Roll of Camper's Toilet Paper (Government buildings never have tp)
• Shot Records for the whole family
• and a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

Truth being what it is about the culture and Murphy's Law being what it is. This will not be enough tomorrow. You never know. :)

The Center to Pay Tuition

Those of you wondering about me ever finding the right building to pay my tuition can rest easy today. I found it.
Here is the quick sum up.

Went to the Admin Building, they said its in the School of Humanities.

Went to the School of Humanities, someone said, "no, its behind us, in the next building"

Went there, the guy said, "no it's towards the School of Humanities."

...........(this is me shaking my head)

.............

Head back out the door and low and behold what do I see? A little munchkin building. (Similiar to the Stuart Little House, you know, one little one between two big ones)

On the little munchin building it reads in Arabic, "The Center to Pay Tuition"

So now I am square with the uni and know where to pay my tuition.

I really am a small town fellow.

Today I went to register at the university. This is the 3rd largest university in the Middle East. Isn't that nice. It is so easy to say. "The 3rd largest university in the Middle East." You see how nice that rolls off your tongue. But saying it and seeing it are two completely different things.

Now let us recap on my life. I grew up in a town of 18,000 people. I went to that high school and then went to the university in my little small town. You could run around my alma mater and you would have only have traveled 1.3 miles. Get the picture. Small town university. Small town guy.

Today, I walked on campus and I was overwhelmed. Sure, we live in a city of 5 million people, but it doesn't feel like that. We usually just stay in our little borough and shop at our little supermarkets and visit our neighbors and so on. BUT THIS!!! Whoa, no, this was big! Really pretty, but really big. It has cedars lining all the streets and was hilly. It reminded me of Ruidoso, New Mexico, with people every where.

I went in what I thought was the main gate. Turns out that it wasn't, so I quickly got lost and roamed around the campus looking for the language building. In my aimless wandering I passed the fuutball stadium. It was huge! But like I said, small town. Easily impressed. All you folks that went to somewhere like UT or Texas A&M or any other college with more than 10 people in it are probably laughing at me....

Well, try being on campus the first time and doing everything in another language. I have so much more sympathy for international students in the States now.

I searched and I walked. You could have changed my name to Moses, because I wandered around for years. Finally, I found the building. Found the right office and signed up. Now all I had to do was go to this one office and pay my registration fee and then go to the financial building and pay my tuition. That was easy. I saw a map, figured it out and took off.

Found the office, paid the fee.
Now on to the financial building which was two buildings down.

Passed the first building...

Stopped at the second building....

I am stuck standing in front of the second building that is completely empty. Nothing inside. Only a sign saying, "we have moved."

I went back and asked someone, "Where's the financial building?" This bright, young mind replied, "Oh, they've moved........

.........

.............

"Sooooo, where did they move to?"

............

(more akward silence)

..............

"ummm...I am not sure"

This same conversation happened over and over.

Finally, I gave up and came home. I will fight this battle of the missing finance office tomorrow, if God wills it.