A Window Welcome

Axel's new job requires him to travel 4 days out of the week.  It is going to be a huge adjustment for our family.  We are used to having daddy around at nights.  The first week Axel left it felt like a month.  The kids were so anxious for him to come home on Thursday night.  To give him a warm welcome we used the window crayons that Grandma Moore sent us from America.  Thanks again, Grandma!  

Asa could not believe his luck.  He could color?  On something that wasn't paper?  And not get in trouble?  I am sure he was thinking, 'Man, they didn't smile and kiss me when I drew on the couches a couple of days ago.  I don't get this.'

Going Domestic

My friend lately

I have been surprised at how fun it has been to have the kids and home to myself.  [That is NOT to say I don't want my maid and nanny.  This is fun, but temporary fun.]  I have enjoyed doing the laundry the way I want it done, and to have my toothbrushes in the order of my choice. There are perks.  However, there are tons of things that I really miss.  I miss the one-on-one time with my kids.  I also feel like I am wasting time doing dishes when I could really be reading to my kids.  I also ache to have more date nights with Axel.  It will be nice to have Sarita back. 

In the meanwhile, I am enjoying the time that I have had without the maid.  There are setbacks, but I realized I really do like to clean and organize.  The other thing I have discovered is that I am a damn fine cook.  I hadn't cooked a meal in a couple of years.  The odd time I would teach my cook a particular dish but I would basically instruct her and she would do all the messy stuff.  For a while there, my cooking abilities were in question.  

Not anymore.  All my kids have gushed over every meal I have made since we have been here.  It could also be because they are eating beef again.  Beef never tasted so good.  It also doesn't take much to eat better than we were while living in Nepal. Something other than rice and dahl is a delicacy in this household.  I was surprised that I was daunted by cooking before I arrived in Doha.  Really, how hard can cooking be?  It is a matter of following instructions, right?  I suppose the idea is to find the right instructions.  That is why I am so thankful I have some knock-out-of-the-park recipes like this one:

Mango Salsa

1/2 medium onion, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil or butter

2 ripe mangoes, peeled seeded, and diced

1 fresh red pepper, chopped

1 cucumber, diced

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (I used lemon because limes can't be found here)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon minced green onion

Saute onion in olive oil or butter until lightly browned.  Toss all ingredients together gently.  Serve with tortilla chips.  It is also great on chicken or fish.  

Now that I know I can cook, I am ready to be done.  

Ramadan Kareem

The day after we arrived in Doha, Ramadan began.  Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims who begin fasting from sun up to sun down.  The month includes a lot of prayer and refrain from immodest or irreverent activities. It is a time to focus on Allah and take one's mind off of worldly influences.  I love the principles of Ramadan.  I respect the Muslims greatly for taking on the fast for an entire month.  I find it hard to fast for one day a month. 

Ramadan in a Muslim country is interesting for the following reasons:

* Although Muslims fast during the day, most actually gain weight during Ramadan. The iftar (evening break of fast) buffet at most restaurants are elaborate and delicious.  I can see why it happens.  Whenever we visit these buffets, I eat like I have been fasting all day.  Does that count?

 

* You can be fined if you are seen eating or drinking in public.  This was especially hard when I was pregnant and nursing during the two Ramandans in Dubai.  There was a lot of sneaking food in the car and discretely chewing.  You know how hard it is to discretely chew?  Somehow the food doesn't taste the same.   

* All the stores are closed during fasting hours.  If you want to buy anything, you must wait till the sun goes down.  Most malls are open from 8pm to 1 or 2 am.  

* There is no traffic.  The city seems like a ghost town during the day.

* Work and school hours change significantly.  Axel's Ramadan hours are 8am - 2pm.  But his Blackberry hours are 24/7.

* Children often are kept up till the wee hours of the morning and wake around 4 am for the feast before the fast.  

To be truthful, this wasn't the best time to arrive in Doha.  Things move a lot slower during Ramadan.  Buying a car?  Forget it unless you want to shop between 7am to 10am.  Finding a house to rent?  Nah, realtors are sleeping when you want to view the place.  Completing your visa?  No way.    Typing and filing out forms is tough on an empty stomach.  How about driving around and seeing the sites with the kids?  Not unless you do it when the kids have just eaten.  No restaurants are open, and if you pack the food, you can't be seen eating it.  I understand, but it is tough to do a thing in this city.

As frustrating as it is to get anything done in the Middle East during Ramadan, there is something special about devoting an entire month to God.  The idea is, all the errands can wait, and we need to remember who our maker is.  There is a calmness that exists in this city.  You can feel that more people are praying and Muslims are working together to become more faithful and devoted to Allah.  It is a cool thing to see a store owner reading his Koran during the day doing his best to get closer to God.  It is something we can all learn from.  

Are They Your Children?

It is amazing how many strangers have approached me with the same question, 'Are they your children?'  When I tell them I am naturally blonde and I just dyed my hair dark it is inevitably followed by, 'Why would you want to do that?'  

I am just thankful they ask.  Others just give me strange looks and think I am either: 

A. A nanny from Russia who might do some night work on the side

B.  An older sister from an Arabian affair

C. Axel's mistress or 3rd wife

In the Middle East, any one of these options are possible and seem more likely than a natural blonde choosing to go dark. 

What I Did Today

Asa's smile lately.  This photo really doesn't have anything to do with this post, but must be documented.

Today I...

1. Read scriptures, prayers, and took the kids downstairs at 6:30am to catch the bus for school.  Read the newspaper.

2. Soothed my baby who is obviously teething (gross poop and loads of spit, yes!).

3. Dropped Axel off at the Ministry Building for his medical test for his visa.

4. Watched the littles.  Read books with them.  Soothed a teething baby.

5. Received a phone call from Axel to tell me he failed the medical.  He has a spot on his lung.  We knew, it is fine.  BUT, it is delaying the visa process, which slows down our ability to, A. Buy a van; B. Get a visa for me and the kids; C. Find a home to rent; D. Get our maid; E. Get our driver.  Sometimes I hate civilization.  It is so complicated.  

6. Picked up Axel, and drove to the American School (who called me yesterday to tell me that a miracle has occurred and there are two openings for Heavah and Xavier).

7. Soothed a teething baby.

8. Visited the American School and received a confirmation that it is the right school for the kids.  Became sad I already spent $150. for school uniforms and $200 on extra curricular activities at the other school.  

9. Scheduled another assessment for Heavah and Xavier on Monday (my children must be the most assessed primary school aged children ever).

10. Looked at a compound near the school and became excited that our lives will be in a close proximity to the airport, the school, and Axel's work.  

11. Came home, met Heavah & Xavier from school.  Told them they will be going to a different school.  Listened to them moan.  

12. Went to buy groceries and spearfishing equipment for a husband who can't wait to get in the water and kill something.

13. Cooked dinner. 

14. Kissed my husband goodbye who had a meeting in Bahrain at 10:30pm tonight.  Did I mention last week he was in 3 countries in one day?  (He woke in Qatar, ate lunch in Oman, went to bed in Bahrain).

15. Watched the SheWolf video by Shakira and wondered how a woman could move her body in such ways.

16. Watched the season finale of Scrubs for the first time.  Cried because my kids are growing too fast.  

17. Watched Ugly Betty.  Wondered why I actually liked that show.  

18. Watched the Biggest Loser.  Felt like I should go to the gym.  

19. Watched Supernanny.  Pat myself on my back for being such a better mom than the crazy, neurotic woman she visited. 

20. Watched the official opening of the Dubai Metro on Dubai One Live TV.  Saw history in the making.  

In Case I Forgot

I could not wait to have a clean, warm, long bath when I arrived in Qatar.  I haven't had one since I moved to Nepal.  Yes, I did shower, but I coveted anyone who could enjoy a luxurious bath with candles and bath salts.  The water was always too gross and the water was never warm enough.  Within a couple of days of our arrival in Qatar, I found my opportunity.  While I was dressing the kids I ran the bath water.  When I arrived, ready and excited to dip in, this is what I saw:

Nepal must really miss me.  It has to remind me that it is always there and it will follow me wherever I may go.  It happened to me in Thailand, and now here.

Luckily, this was a one-shot reminder.  The gross water has not returned and I pamper myself at least 3 times a week.  I think it was a friendly way of saying Nepal will never leave me, and enjoy Qatar while I can.   

Off to School

The kids started school on the 25th of August.  I know, I am behind with my blogging.  That is what happens when I actually have to cook my own meals and make sure the kids get out the door dressed and ready for school on my own.  It is a hard life, I know.  

Doha has been impossible to enroll my kids in school.  I have actually been laughed at when I asked if there were any openings the day before school started.  The American School of Doha has a waiting list of 71 children for Grade 1.  It has been a grueling process to say the least.  Doha is obviously flooding with expat kids and not enough schools. 

We finally found a school that was specialized and radical enough that there were some openings.  The kids are now attending The International School of Choueifat (also known as a SABIS network school).  It is a Lebanese school but it has campuses throughout the world (including Phoenix, Minnesota, NY).  The school is well-known for its discipline and high academic standards.  It also expects a lot of responsibility and accountability from the students. 

Heavah is in Grade 2 and Xavier is in Grade 1.  Sedona will be starting Kindergarten 1 after Ramadan in October. ( Children legally have to be enrolled in school by 4 years).  I am not sure how I feel about the philosophy of the school, but since Xavier and Heavah have both been in kindergarten for the past 3 years--and spinning their wheels--I thought I would give it a try.  So far, they love it.  Heavah insisted on learning Arabic again and Xavier is learning French.  They seem to be okay with the tough schedules and high expectations.  As long as they are okay with it, so am I.  

The kids started school only days after we arrived in Doha.  I thought I was so on the ball because I had their uniforms bought and ready to go.  I then realized that I forgot to pack socks.  Why would they possibly need socks in a desert? Now, I know. They wore Axel's socks and rolled them WAY down.  It looked like they had doughnuts on their ankles.  I also forgot shoes for Xavier so he did the unspeakable--socks with sandals.  It was hard to watch them walk to school without either laughing, or feeling like I was a horrible mother. I opted for the laugh.  

I have put my kids in a few schools over the past 3 years (4 schools so far), and I have noticed that there are a lot of opinions about education and how children should be taught.  Some believe children should go to school at 7; others believe they should learn to read by 3; some feel that learning can only be done through play; others believe that discipline is the secret for a future Ivy league child.  I feel like the parent knows best, and ultimately, the real learning is done at home.  I am pretty hands-on with my children's education so I am not that neurotic about the various theories.  My belief is that education should compliment experience, not the other way around.