Mountains
First of all Happy Winter Solstice! Hard to believe that yesterday was actually the shortest day of the year! It was filled with so much! Last year at this time I was climbing up and sleeping in the mountains outside of Dahab, Egypt. This year I have friends who are on a great adventure to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.
Sometimes mountains are in far off exotic places and other times the “mountain” we need to climb is within each of us. We all have are own personal mountains, that we work to find, move, climb or conquer. I am writing this morning because I took a big step on climbing my personal Kuwaiti mountain. I am writing because as I worked to climb my perceived mountain, there have been many people providing encouragement, guidance and support, some people who have experience with this particular mountain. Climbers/drivers who knew about paths to avoid, boulders to watch out for and ravines not to even bother trying to cross. Some kind folk, who had never faced this particular mountain, but knew about facing and over-coming challenges helped me along the way. Reminded me to be careful, cautious and focused while climbing, I mean driving. One wrong move on the Kuwait mountain known as the 30 can lead to a bundle of trouble.
Yesterday I took a huge step and conquered my Kuwait driving mountain. I drove by myself all the way from my apartment to Marina Mall. The journey in climbing this mountain started long before I ever set foot in the car. Pep talks from lots of people.
With help from several people at school I got my driver’s permit. With the permit in my wallet I was and still am officially a legal driver in the country of Kuwait. However, the permits might have just sat there without great directions and the right climbing gear. People who love you know when to push you up the mountain or tell you when to find another mountain to climb.
I set-off early in the morning, and despite the great directions I made a few wrong turns and got gloriously lost. I say gloriously lost because I was lost. Heck, I ended up in Kuwait City, but the beautiful thing about this getting lost is that I kind of always knew where I was. That eventually the lost would turn into found. With a little help I navigated my way to the top of the driving mountain or the Marina Mall parking garage. Happy safe and parked I headed to “Base Camp Starbucks” where I enjoyed coffee and funny conversation.
The drive home was smooth and on this second shortest day of the year I am happy to share this good driving news with you. It is comforting for me to realize that I haven’t forgetten how to climb simple because the mountain changes. Although I have now learned that GPS is available for the Middle East! This is very exciting and I look forward to one day this helping me to find my way around the mountain. Yeah technology! My skills, my character, my work ethic travels with me no matter what mountains I have to face. Thanks all for the continued help and direction.
“Doubt makes the mountain which faith can move.”
-Proverb-
“Today is you day! Your mountain is waiting. So…. on your way.”
-Dr. Seuss-
Kuwait City, KUWAIT
Christine Oastler is a freelance travel writer, teacher and artist, currently living in Mahboula, Kuwait. Born and raised in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Christine obtained her Bachelor of Arts at Trent University and her Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. Currently traveling around the Middle East she finds herself riding the odd camel and embracing a new culture!