Saturday, April 12, 2008
Missing Algeria
As I made coffee this morning in my Denver kitchen, I realized I was really craving the hot mint tea we drank everyday (twice a day) in Algeria. I also realized it was the first morning I would not be greeted by our protocol team and I will not have a police escort when I head out to the grocery store later today. I am missing the good old days in Algeria, anyone else?
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9 comments:
C'est sûr que notre thé vous manque..nos sourirs aussi..les algériens sont chaleureux tout comme l'est leur pays, qui ne finit pas de séduire..je ressens la même nostalgie, pour deux situations différentes..moi, je suis là, à l'APN, avec le train train habituel, et quelque chose me manque réellement...le temps finira par balayer les nostalgies, mais je reste attachée à l'idée que je m'était faite de l'aventure...oui, parceque pour moi, c'en est vraiment une!
c'était vraiment agréable les quatres jours passés ensemble, cela nous a permis de mieux nous connaitre.
le commentaire qui m'a précedé a vraiment tous dit : le temps finira par balayer les nostalgies aussi grande et aussi étouffante que celle que je ressent maintenant.
le plus interressant est d'essayer de convaincre le plus de monde dans notre entourage à utiliser les NTIC maintenant mieux vaut les utiliser un jour dans lequel on sera obligé de le faire.
salam alikoum
Yes, Meagan, I too am feeling a little bit displaced this morning. I am home and what a wonderful feeling that is, but I am missing our friends at the APN and all of the hospitality that was shown to us. I agree with the previous two comments that time has a way of "sweeping nostalgias," but I hope to stay connected to this experience through continued use of this blog and I encourage our Algerian friends to use this forum to stay in touch and continue our discussion of the ideas we shared this past week.
I was missing the protocol team yesterday. Having gotten all the way from North Aftica to Chicago, I was facing being stuck overnight there with only 200 more miles to go. I eventually arranged a ride with a friend who was working in the city. The bad news was that we left the airport and headed south after 4 pm on a Friday. Traffic was stop and go for miles. I kept trying to oonjure up Mr. Hamid and his team, wishing for two motorcycles with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring to sweep up and lead us through the sea of cars and homeward in record time.
Alas, it wasn't to be, but we did get home eventually. And I, too, am delighted to be home, to be with family and friends I missed while in Algiers. Yet, there is a feeling of being in-between, because I miss Algiers and the protocol team and the translators and the IT staff of the APN and the people who attended our workshop and my wonderful colleagues. I hope that technology can help us bridge the language and distance gaps and build on the foundation and momentum achieved this past week.
I went out to my car yesterday and nearly climbed in the back seat! In Washington traffic, it would really be nice to have Mr. Hamid show up with the guys on motorcycles.
This truly is an amazing group of people. Like Tim, I am IN for any future trip abroad with this crowd.
And while I also miss the tea, I must say it was wonderful to get back to my Starbucks.
I am on another meeting, translating to other people. Not the same team as in the APN. Another topic. Another place. The warmth I felt during your/our workshop is not there. It has always been a pleasure to work with American people in both official and ordinary life. It has been so since my very first stay in New York city, nerly 25 years ago. I thank you all for your kind words towards my country and my people. God bless you. Tke care.
Les écrits se suivent et se ressemblent..j'aurai pu écrire en anglais, mais la pratique de cette deuxième langue étrangère me fait défaut..du moins en ce moment..je m'exprime mieux dans la langue de Molière que celle de Shakespear! j'aurai voulu faire plaisir à nos amis US en leur parlant directement dans leur langue! mais bon! je vous promets qu'un jour je le ferai, d'ailleurs je vais m'y mettre, étant donné qu'on a déjà les bases de l'anglais..quelle journée! vous avez raison, le beau temps est revenu..j'ai été heureuse de savoir à quel point la convivialité et la chaleur d'Alger vous manquent...comme vous dites aussi, nous n'allons pas abandonner cet espace d'expression mutuel..nous y reviendrons régulièrement pour raconter des choses, parler de nos expériences, de nos difficultés, de nos souhaits..revenir parler de l'espoir, de la liberté que nous aimons, et de l'amour qui naît entre les Nations...raconter nos aventures, nos ratages, ou notre réussite...promis???
So great to hear from one of our translators on this blog! Welcome and I am glad that you are participating in our conversation. To the previous comment about speaking the language of Shakespeare, I only wish that I had more than one language at the ready, so I applaud your language skills! Babelfish has been of great assistance to me to translate these comments, although I would prefer our translation team! I am delighted to read that you are intrested in keeping this dialogue going, as are the members of our delegation. More soon!
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