Thinking in five more days I'll be flying home to the U.S. for Winter Break. I'm dreading the long journey, but excited to see everyone.

I think it varies by Arab country, but I can say that when I lived in Egypt, women did not have the same rights. A man beating his wife was common. Rape was common and rarely prosecuted. If a woman divorced her husband he was always awarded the kids. That was why I could never understand it when some of my female colleagues (expats) would date local men.

I've been both naughty and nice this year. I try to be nice, but I'm kind of a cranky old carmudgeon these days. I'm just thankful to be going home this year to spend Christmas with loved ones.

Exactly. A "match" means nothing on here. Neither does a "like", seeing as the site sends those out randomly on our behalf.

Thinking Wicked was such a cute movie! I might have to go see it again.

That's wonderful, Crystal! You must feel great about all the things you've achieved. and especially the grandbabies! Congratulations!

For me, I moved to a new country (Cambodia) in August and started at a new school. This was such a great move for me. SE Asia is my favorite part of the world, and I love it here. I really like my school, and love the people on my grade-level team. It was the easiest transition I've ever had when moving to a new country/job.

This one. I would not want to be stuck out in the twillies with someone I barely knew. After I knew him a lot better, I'd consider it. With conditions.

Enjoying my last day of Fall Break (we had a week off) before returning to work tomorrow. I'm going to stay home and watch a Fall Hallmark movie, burn an autumn-scented yankee candle and have Starbucks deliver me an iced pumpkin spice latte.

Glad you're doing well, River! Nice that you've got your place set up the way you like it! I moved into my new apartment here in Phnom Penh a little over a month ago, but I've done nothing to make it more homey. I need to get cracking on that!

My apartment comes with weekly cleaning and linen changing. I love that, but it means I need to keep the bedding that my apartment came with, which is plain white, like hotel bedding. I think I'll get some throw pillows with Cambodian print on them to try and add some color.

Love thesee, Duttoneer!

Aw, thanks so much, Merry! Happy birthday to Devo!

Hi Slim!

Cambodia is great! It's such an easy place to live. Things are pretty cheap here and I love taking a tuk tuk to get everywhere. Loving my school and my cute little students.

Hey Lurkers! Hope everyone is doing well!

The Gulag Archipelago

Do I win?

(Kidding, it's not my favorite book. It's just suuuuper long, and you'd have to be a very avid reader to get through it.)

Wow, that's amazing! Sounds like you really feel a connection to Thailand. I've only been to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi. But now that I'm living in Phnom Penh, I will definitely be going to Thailand more often. Bangkok is only a 1h 15m flight from PP.

I agree with some of what you're saying. Ideally, parents SHOULD be feeding their own kids. But having worked in US schools, I can tell you that there are some kids whose only meals come from school. Either their parents are strung out on drugs, completely absent, mentally ill or just very young and extremely poor. At one school I worked at there was a program for those kids to take a backpack home on Fridays that contained peanut butter sandwiches and fruit to get them through the weekend. I don't think food should be provided in all schools, but in Title 1 schools, I do.

I think you need to really think about what is in it for her. You can't expect her to make all the concessions and just make herself adapt to fit into your life. What are you going to do to adapt so that you are dateable? Even if you need to be up all night, you need to have some sort of routine. Maybe a free-for all schedule works for you, but if you want to date, really think about the times you NEED to be awake and try to schedule your calls during certain times. Do as much of it online or via email as possible, so that you can take care of it during daytime hours. Yes, there will be times you need to make exceptions because you have no choice. But when you do have a choice, make it fit within that routine. Next, make the time you do spend together quality time. Really be present and give her your focus. Don't spend your time with her thinking about work, or scrolling on your phone. If you can't do those two things then it sounds like you really don't have the time to date.

I love it too! I've been there four times now. What were you doing in Bangkok? Were you visiting or were you living there?

He's funny and makes everyone feel welcome

Thinking I need to get over this jet lag and stop waking up at 3:00am.