The Great Race For …
The Great Race For ….
Clifton Fadiman once said,” When you travel remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you feel comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” As I have traveled I have often found myself in the position of having to find a specific something in a country. It is at these points that I have fully realized the validity of this quote.
When I was working on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas as Crew Activities Manager I found myself searching the island of Belize for glow sticks and New Year’s decorations. It was a little bit like the Amazing Race. The clock was ticking, the ship would be leaving the port and the New Year’s Eve party was the next day at sea. When I finally arrived at the warehouse in the back roads of now where I remember thinking, “Who the heck would come all the way past the chickens, the cows and down the dirt road to find this huge oasis of Christmas and New Year’s decorations?” For the people of that country it wasn’t a long trip at all. This was their local back country Wall-Mart in the village.
I can recall searching for a Santa costume when I was working on the Brilliance of the Seas. The ship was in Aruba, the next day we were going to Curaçao, to give gifts to children in an orphanage, and somehow the Santa costume hadn’t arrived in Miami the day before. The port agent in Aruba had drawn me a map to find the one store that would have a Santa suit. Alas that store was closed but the guy outside the store had a clue. Well okay not a clue like the Amazing Race but he knew of another store in Aruba that might have a Santa suit. This is how the journey around Aruba for a Santa suit began. By listening to the locals I learned where they got things in the country. When I had the Santa suit in hand and knew the children of Curaçao, would see Santa the next day I too was comfortable.
I do believe without a doubt that the most Amazing Race adventure to find something that I will ever have will always be looking for un-painted Matryoshka dolls in Russia. Given what I now considered to be the worst directions ever I was told, “ Go to the The Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood. By that church there is a market. Find the girl named Natasha sells Matryoshka dolls. She will be able to provide you with un-painted dolls as well.” First of all by the market by the church Spilled Blood is rather large. Second of all everyone at that market sells painted Matryoshka dolls and finally there are a lot of women in St. Petersburg, Russia named Natasha! The Amazing Race for things isn’t about the struggle to find the thing it is really about the victory of finding the thing at the end. Of feeling like you now know something the locals know. So I happy to write that after hours of chatting with people in that market I found the right Natasha! Taking 150 un-painted Matryoshka dolls through customs is a whole other story. Let’s just say that when the Russian custom official wanted me to open all 6 pieces of all 150 dolls, I opened 5 dolls and then I found a new appreciation and willingness for bribery in Russia.
So I am now in the desert of Kuwait. I have found an oasis of water in the gulf and suddenly I find myself looking for great flippers, a snorkel and a mask. I have come to the land of camels. I am slowly becoming local and found the comfort of water. I even went Kayaking yesterday but now I need to search for the comfort of water sport equipment. Oh yes and a set of non puffy fabric makers too. I will keep you posted on how this race turns out!
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!