Hi There! I am a 55 year old female. I lived in Tripoli and worked as an English Language Instructor until the end of February 2011, when my government evacuated me 10 days after the revolution started. I was in Libya for 16 months, and loved every minute of my experience, making many local (Libyan) friends in the process! I went on a humanitarian mission into Benghazi in June 2011, and that was an incredible privilege and experience, too. I then worked for a year in Penang, Malaysia, as head of the English Programme at a language centre. I am now back in Tripoli, working as manager of the English department of a local Primary School, and plan to open a new language centre on the same premises soon. I would love to help new/potential ex-pats settle in/find out more about living in Tripoli/Libya, or advise anyone planning to visit the country on business or on holiday, for best places to go.
I joined expat.com on 28 July 2010.
Pictures by Jenni Red
I am BACK!!! YAY!! Living in the Mashru' al Hadba area of Tripoli - just off Treeg al Matar, behind the Brega Oil Refinery. Hoping to be a positive influence in rebuilding Libya, and would like to help out wherever I can, when I am not working. Projects I am interested in: Cleaning up Tripoli / Literacy programme run by FGM / Be Libyan for Libyans with special abilities (Empowering the Handicapped) / Forgiveness and Reconciliation / Trauma Counselling
I love the atmosphere in Tripoli right now - and that MOST Libyans are wanting to move forward and rebuild their country. I will do anything I can to help that process into a democracy.
The "when we's" - i.e. the pro-Gaddafis who are still bewailing the fact of how "wonderful" it was "before" - when it really wasn't!! :-(
I lived and worked in Penang, Malaysia.
1) My students - and the fact that I had a virtual "United Nations" right there in my classroom - and could get to know so many people from different nationalities and their cultures, without having to travel anywhere! :-) 2) My colleagues - we had a wonderful team who worked together well. 3) The beauty of the surroundings - and the delicious FOOD!!! :-)
Malaysians are generally speaking just too busy to enjoy life and take time to make friends or spend time together. To make a coffee date with anyone - I had to book 3 to 4 weeks in advance!! :-( And these were friends!! Plus - It wasn't Libya..... ;'(
I lived and worked in Tripoli for 16 months as an ESL Instructor - taught adults, mostly Libyans
The people, the hospitality, the relationships - and now - the absolute passion for FREEDOM!!! I love that Libyans are prepared to stand up for freedom, prepared to die for it - and are so very passionate about their country.
The lack of freedom in the country in all areas of life - even my friends afraid to say anything against the government or anything else... :-(
lived on board a ship in the final stages of being outfitted for service. Helped out twice a week at a "homeless" cafe in Copenhagen - very meaningful and rewarding - and heartbreaking.
1) The directness of the Danish people! 2) LEGOLAND!! 3) Being able to read a book in natural light on the quayside, until 2330 at night in midsummer!!! 4) Hearing the sound of my feet crunching as I walked in the snow! 5) The friends I made - and old friendships renewed! 6) Watching a "friendly" football match in the snow!!
The extREMEly short days in winter....the hardness of heart in Koege :( .... The desperate need in the capital city, Copenhagen... :(
I lived and worked in Mosbach and then Bremen for a year, then moved to Kiel, where I lived for 6 months on board a ship that was being outfitted. Helped out at a "homeless" cafe once a week. An amazing time of my life!!!
1) The German people! 2) Their amazing (dry!) sense of humour! 3) Being able to speak German almost 24 hours a day! 4) The countryside! 5) The sense of organisation!! 6) Christmas Markets!! 7) The way they REALLY know how to do Christmas!!! :)
1) The VERY short days in winter - going to work in the dark and returning home in the dark. :( 2) The fact that for some, WWII happened only yesterday....
I accompanied my then-husband to Swaziland on a 3-year contract - we stayed 5 1/2 years! I wasnt allowed to work, as an ex-pat wife, so i occupied myself with working with children - dance/drama/creative movement! I also spent a lot of time travelling between my home in Swaziland, and my daughters' high school, in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa!
The people! The amazing beauty, wildlife and scenery! Living in a village surrounded by 4 nature/game reserves! The friends I made - both local and ex-pat!
The colonial attitude/mentality of some of the ex-pats!!! :-( The way Swazi women were treated by their men!!! :-(
I was born in South Africa, of South African parents and grandparents - so I am a true-blue South African! Just a little paler than some....! :) Lived in various cities - but Pretoria was the latest...
I LOVE ZA and its people! We are truly a "Rainbow Nation"!!! :) I also love the scenery, nature, animals - there's simply nothing in the world quite like it!!! As the slogan says, we are "The World in One Country"!!!
people who bewail "the good ole times" - when they were really "the bad ole times"!!!! :(