New Year

Altar for CNY Mass

It's the Lunar New Year today. I can't imagine I didn't update the blog for a week now. Time flies. Here in our country the festival is not celebrated of course. But Chinese communities do it privately in their homes and dormitories. Most are not rich ... migrant workers in construction companies. They don't get a day off. But they did have a meal together last night for the reunion dinner. 

Those who're spending their first New Year away from home find it difficult. Its a Jewish country and it's not encouraged to celebrate other religious festivities that offend. Small groups of Chinese especially students, gather in Chinese restaurants to celebrate ... but not all can afford that. For some the sense of loneliness is overpowering. Some go into depression. Others drink themselves drunk. The protestants have teams that meet with these people

We're all wary of what a snake year might bring us. All our hopes for a good dragon year were smashed with the tragedies and wars in our region. We're hoping for the best ... with fingers crossed and gritted teeth.

Rain

Damascus Gate this morning

It started to rain last night as forecast. We had been saying that there's too little rain this winter. Well the rains have come but we don't know for how long or if it'll be enough to sustain us for the whole year.

It's been switching from showers to drizzle the past 24 hours. And strangely it's not as cold as we expected. It's 12 degrees now. Rather comfortable. The only problem is when you need to go out ... the streets are very slippery and everyone struggles to stay on their feet. I myself nearly fell 5 times on my way home last night. A lady in front of me slipped and landed on the ground. I wonder why the municipality insists on paving our walkways with slippery sandstone instead of other material. Imagine the number of injuries each rainy season. These are avoidable accidents. 

Slippery stones

The Chinese New Year is round the corner. Can't say our asian community is looking forward to it. We had a very bad year of the dragon ... war after war; countless tragedies and deaths. The snake doesn't look too promising. We're cautious and not too optimistic.

Better

Full moon last week

I've been reading up on HMPV the new virus that's spreading rapidly everywhere. Health websites say it's like the flu with symptoms of cough, fever and blocked nose. In severe cases there's wheezing. I had all that. It's the 7th day today and I'm feeling much better. The fever and runny nose are gone. But I'm still coughing and wheezing. I also found out last night that many in my house have it.

I've been taking Dexamol, a local equivalent to paracetamol for colds. It's a formula with 2 types of medication for day and night use. I guess it works because I'm much better today.

Cloudy morning

The ceasefire which was to start 20 minutes ago isn't taking place because Hamas has not fulfilled its side of the agreement. No one knows what's the next step. We're all waiting to see. Tense.

Today is the extended feast of Epiphany - the 1st Miracle in Cana. Everyone is going to Cana right now for the solemn Mass to be celebrated in our Church there. I'm sure everyone there will be praying for another modern miracle ... a miracle for peace in our land.

Pho

The virus is affecting many people ... aided by the cold spell. Coughs, runny noses and fevers are the usual symptoms. General fatigue as well as brain fog. Some have been laid to bed for a week. I walk every day instead. I need my body to work normally and get my own immune system fight it. But the cold dry air has caused my nose to bleed for 2 days. 

Home made pho

Luckily the weather has warmed these past 2 days. Up to 12 degrees during the day. And our Vietnamese seminarian made authentic pho for me. It was good comfort food ... nourishing as well. t was my first time eating pho. I liked it. He made it with chicken as beef is expensive. 

Sirens sounded all over the central part of our country this morning. I was deep in my library at work and didn't hear it. And because the library walls are very thick, I do not have internet reception so the missile alert system on my phone didn't work. I guess I was well protected in the library. The walls are 2.5 feet thick and solid stones.

We'e hoping the ceasefire and release of hostages will bring some calm. We're praying very hard for this.

Virus

Indian priests pilgrims

I definitely have the virus. And it's going around quite swiftly. Flu vaccinations are now available and advised for people. But it's too late for me. I hear some cases among the nuns that it could get a lot worse than the symptoms I'm suffering. I still have a high fever that comes and goes. A lot of runny nose and stuffed head ... can't focus or think. Generally weak and fatigued. Muscle aches and cramps. But strangely my feet are also swollen. It can't fit into my shoes. It's a telltale of my heart problem but the appointment with the cardiologist is Jan 30.

Tourists are coming back though, despite the rapid spread of the virus. In just one hour 3 large groups came to our church, and 4 small family tourists as well. One group of 50 were made up of catholic priests from India. It's an encouraging sign that tourists and pilgrims are coming back. The only setback is insurance companies are not willing to sell policies to ME visitors. But with the ceasefire declared this morning, maybe tyhings will change.

The weather has warmed a little. Maximum today is 12 degrees. It's grey and cloudy though. Don't know where the sun is. Last night it was also difficult to view the full moon. Sounds like our future ... al murky and unclear.

Sahlab

Sahlab with rose syrup

My "cold" is back. Runny nose, congested head, bleeding nose, fever all night. I could hardly sleep. It's a little warmer in the nights ... 9 degrees. I just felt very ill.

At 3am I heard a series of muffled noises ... far away. At first I thought it was thunder but it was too regular. It sounded more like explosions. But I was feeling sick and the sounds were far away. I couldn't confirm what it actually was. Still it's disturbing and sad to know that war is everywhere around us. Senseless hatred and suffering. Innocent lives lost. Irreparable damage to body and soul. I am psychologically and emotionally exhausted from it. I help many calls for aid, those affected directly and indirectly by the war. I am not numb to the stories of suffering ... I'm exhausted from hearing the same things that no one in the world who has the power to stop it, will stop it. The news reports of blatant violence that goes unchallenged. The hypocrisy of Biden this morning saying people have a right to peace, when he armed the war to kill almost half a million people. He should be excommunicated. He should be buried outside any christian church. A disgrace to the Catholic Church.

I'm just feeling to sick to think about anything right now. My head is stuffed. I'm thinking only of a hot glass of sahlab to warm my sick body. I had sahlab last week ... a winter treat that originated from the turks during the Ottoman empire. But I added rose syrup ... something that was done 30 years ago but not nowadays. You can't buy rose syrup here anymore. I got mine from Singapore.

Unwell

I felt very sick yesterday ... like I caught a virus. I had the chills, runny nose and a very bad sore throat. I was afraid it was the new virus that has symptoms of the flu. My heart situation is really bad right now and if I have the virus as well, it's game over. I tried to keep warm all day though I was shivering. And then I had a very high fever that subsided in half an hour.

Last night I tried to sleep and keep warm. This morning I feel better. The fever didn't come back and the runny nose stopped. I only have the sore throat. Not the best feeling.

I'll go home and sleep early today after class. 

Our Kawas who lead
processions of the
Custos of the Holy Land