Scholastic: Qatar Edition

So I was surprised to open E's backpack one day and find a scholastic book order form.  I have many memories of getting those at school and looking through them and wanting to get books from Scholastic.  It always seemed to exciting, even though I almost never got to order from it.

Anyway, the Qatar edition is a bit different.

Notice anything odd?  Yes, that is tape on it.  The school had the "helpers"  (the helpers are Filipino ladies who help in the class rooms and clean the school) tape over any book that had a pig in it, was about Easter, or suggested teen romance (though that one actually might be a good thing...).  Oddly enough, Steve said that at the school he works at, they had the same order form, and no one had taped over it.  So odd.

Fridays

(I started this post on Friday, Feb 7.  But didn't get a chance to finish it as someone called on Skype.  But this all happened this past Friday.)

I feel that I should write down what happens in Primary almost every Friday. (fyi Primary is the children's organization at church for kids age 18 months -11 years.) This Friday was crazier than normal, but almost every Friday there is something that is not running smoothly.  One week two teachers called up sick Friday morning, so the other counselor and I quickly prepared lessons and taught. I am not complaining at all.  But it does keep us on our toes. We never know what Friday will bring.

I actually love being in the Primary.  The kids say the funniest (and smartest) things.  For example today the other counselor was teaching the lesson to the younger group (ages 3-6 going on 7).  She was teaching about the Plan of Salvation, where we lived with Heavenly Father before coming to earth, we came to earth to get bodies.  She asked the group what we called the step after mortal life (she was looking for the spirit world where we wait for Resurrection). One boy called out "For Heaven's Sake!" :)  All the adults got a good chuckle out of that one.

(For those who don't know how primary is set up, I'll explain.  There are two groups, junior Primary and Senior Primary.  Junior is for kids 3-7 and Senior is for 7 turning 8 this year - 11.  The Junior primary meets as one group, sitting in individual classes for the first block.  We have singing time where they learn songs.  We have a wonderful music leader.  After singing there is a lesson given by on of the presidency members (explained below).  After the lesson the kids have a break to use the restroom and get a drink of water.  They younger kids then go to class, separated by age, for about 40 min.  Then the Senior Primary comes in and we do it all over again. While the Junior primary is in the primary room doing singing time and lesson, the Senior Primary is in individual classes for lessons.)

I am a counselor in the Primary Presidency (there is a president, 2 counselors, and a secretary). So I see everything that goes on behind the scenes. Coming to church we never know what is going to happen. This Friday was no exception.  Two teachers were out of town traveling during the break.  They had both found subs, thankfully, for their classes.  But one sub fell sick Thursday evening and posted on the women's group's facebook page if anyone could take the class.  No one responded.  Friday morning I get a text from the President saying that she is not feeling well and won't be able to come, and by the way, one of the nursery (for children ages 18 mon to the January after they turn 3) teachers wasn't going to be there.  (We've had lots of trouble filling in the spots for nursery.  So this isn't anything new.)

Steve had a meeting at the church at 7:30 am.  Church doesn't start until 9am.  So he leaves the meeting in time to come back to get us and get to church on time.  We got there just after it started and I knew that I had to find someone to take the class that had the sub fall sick. But I didn't have time to do it before church started.  So as soon as the first meeting (we call it Sacrament Meeting as that is when we take the bread and water of the sacrament to renew covenants we've made) ended, I got up and asked the girl that is called as a Primary Substitute if she could cover the class.  She couldn't as she was leaving right then.  During Sacrament meeting I noticed that our pianist is not sitting by her husband.  So after talking with the first girl, I saw a friend who fills in for piano frequently.  I asked her if our pianist had contacted her about playing.  She said no, but that she would play today.  She is such a life saver.

As I was scouting the crowd for someone to sub, Steve told me the room that we use for the nursery was not available.  There was a board bolted to the doorway of the Sacrament meeting room that led to the nursery room.  I was also told that the door to the nursery room was locked.  Lovely. Both of the small plastic tables were in that room, the carpet squares for the kids to sit on for lessons and songs, and the cabinet of toys were still in that room.  Thankfully there is another room, but it's smaller and with 9 small kids, some of whom have not adjusted to being in nursery yet, and 3 adults, it's a bit of a squeeze. There are thankfully toys in that room, but there was no where for the kids to sit and eat snacks since both tables were locked away.  No one knew this was going to happen.  Not even the leader of the congregation that was there that day.  Thankfully I didnt' have to find anyone to cover for the absent nursery teacher as there was enough adults.

We meet in a villa rather than a normal church building.  After finding a wonderful sister to fill in for the class that had a sub fall sick, I made it up stairs to the landing where the kids were being led in wiggle releasing activities by the other counselor.  I dropped my bags off in the Primary room and helped the kids make the transition into the primary room.

I told the nursery teachers that I would check on them after getting the Junior Primary into the primary room.  As I left the primary room, a teacher and the congregational leader came up to me.  Two kids who were supposed to be in the primary room were not. So after asking them to go to the room, the teacher asked were a younger kid went.  He was supposed to be in the nursery room, but had somehow wandered into his class room.  He also told me that the class across the hall from him didn't have a teacher.  I knew that the teachers were going out of town, but when we did a training for all the teachers at the beginning of the year, we asked the teachers to find their own subs when they are unable to teach their class.  So either the sub they asked didn't show up, or they assumed that by telling the presidency that they would be gone, their job was done.  Really??? So the congregational leader sat in the class room while I went down to the adult Sunday School (actually it's Friday school here :) ) to scout out someone to teach the class.  I found the husband of the primary president and asked him if he could teach the class.  He was willing.  I think he had the harder job than the other person I asked.  He didn't get any time to at least read the lesson.  I handed him a manual and told him the lesson number they were on and then it was all his.  At least the first person I asked to sub had time to read the lesson as that class had group time first, so she could read the lesson while they sang songs.  I then went down to check on the nursery. Things were going as well as expected.  A new kid (he just turned 18 months not long ago) was crying and the other kids were oblivious and playing happily.

I had a minute then to sit down and eat a snack.  I listen to the lesson the other counselor gives and then I head out with the Sunbeams ( the 3 year -olds, who will be turning 4 this year). Three weeks ago their teacher poked her head in the primary room and with a frazzled look asked for some help. I went in and all the kids were bouncing off the walls.  She is an elementary teacher and this class was a huge challenge for her.  So I've been sitting in with them to help with crowd control.  They've made vast improvements with a sticker chart and lots of positive reinforcement.  She is doing a wonderful job with these kids who for the most part are not in school yet. But the whole of the last 45 minutes of church I was in that class, which was not hectic for once.

After class I sorted out a few last things, like trying to find out who to talk to about getting the things out of the closed nursery room (the answer: no one knows), I breathed a sigh of relief.  Friday was over with and was only 12:15 pm.

Christmas

Big E and Miss A loved counting down to Christmas day.  It went something like this, "Sunday, Monday, Christmas Eve, Christmas!" Having Mom and Dad here made the day much more special.  And Steve went to great lengths to have things under the tree that I didn't know about.  Last year I knew what everything under the tree was, except maybe one thing. So it really took the excitement out of it. But we had a magical day.  Big E showed interest in Santa and who he "is" and what he does.  So we did Santa this year.  We set out pumpkin roll and egg nog for Santa and a carrot for the reindeer.

Steve woke up before everyone and had a surprise breakfast waiting for everyone, fruit, nuts and juice. I actually woke up before the kids and had to wait for them to wake up.  I'm not sure that's going to happen again any time too soon. :)

We didn't open presents right away.  We all got to "open" our stockings and the kids played with the cars and trinkets that were in them.  Both of the kids got chocolate reindeer and a santa.  Miss A decided to unwrap all of her reindeer at once.

But we had to wait until 7 am to call my sister who is serving a mission in Japan and we didn't want to interrupt the present opening for the kids.  So we covered "Santa's" gifts (which traditionally in my house were almost never wrapped) with a sheet and waited until after the phone call.  It was great to be able to be in on the conversation.  She is doing great. Here we are talking to Jessica via Skype, and no, it was not a video call. :(

After talking to my sister, we then opened presents. Big E got a new bike and helmet, a noisy dump truck, and some books.



Miss A got a stroller for her doll (I frequently have to reminder her that it is for her doll and not for her to sit in.  It's just the right size for her.), a shopping basket full of play food, and an old school play stove.

It was fun to watch them open the gifts. Miss A loved to crawl under the tree to get the gifts. She and Big E would hand them out to everyone.

After Christmas we went to the Souq.  Mom loved it.  She found a beautiful necklace and vases.  Dad found a cool looking knife that didn't have a real blade. :/ But it still looks cool.
We also had lunch at the Souq.





We toured Fanar, which is a mosque that is open to the public to come and have a tour and learn more about Islam.  Mom and I had to wear the Abaya to go in.



We went to the Museum of Islamic Art.  Steve took the kids to the park that is near there while I took Mom and Dad in.  They only saw two floors of the 3 or 4.  You'd need a whole day to see everything. Or to walk through faster.

We also went to the singing sand dunes with some friends from the ward.  We had fun making the dune hum and playing in the sand.  We had a picnic lunch on the dune and then went home.

The break went by way to fast. I can't believe that Mom and Dad have been home for over a month now.  But that does mean that next Christmas is that much closer.  This year for Christmas, we will be in the States, spending one week with the Stay side of the family and another week with my side.  I can't wait. :)

Our First Visitors!

So you know the feeling when you haven't done something in a while and should start doing it again, but just don't get it done?  That's about how I feel.  So here is my attempt to get back in to blogging after a few months break.

December was a busy month.  We had our first visitors since moving here! My parents came mid-December to spend Christmas with us.  We had a wonderful time.  Steve had a half day of work on the 17th and the 18th was National Day and so that was the official 1st day of Winter break.  We spent the 18th cleaning house.  The bathroom in the spare bedroom hadn't been cleaned since we first moved in here.  We don't need 3.5 baths, so that one just stays closed.  We store things in there, but it was so dusty.  Steve vacuumed up the dust.  I've never seen something inside get so dusty.  A friend watched the kids so that Steve and I could clean.  Mom and Dad arrived in Doha around 11:40 pm, and by the time they went through passport control, it was the 19th, their 33rd anniversary.

Steve went to get them.  I wanted to be the one to pick them up, but I am not a night owl, and I didn't want to be so tired and have the possibility of crazy traffic with it being national day (it's kinda like the 4th of July for us). But I heard them close the car doors and come in at 1am.  The kids were up early of course, like 5:30.  So I did my best to keep them quite so that Nana and Papa could sleep some.  Miss A and Big E got to watch at least 2 shows on netflix on the computer after breakfast before I let them go in the guest room to wake Nana and Papa up.  Jet lag is a beast, but you have to get up and act like the time it is where you are, otherwise it'll just take longer to get over it.  Big E and Miss A were so excited to see them.  The first day we just went to the park and kept them moving without doing anything big.

We went to Afghan Brothers for dinner. It's a restaurant near our house where you eat sitting on the floor, and you eat with your hands.  We ordered one big dish to share - grilled chicken and rice.  It was really good.

Then we took them to Villaggio Mall to see the extravagance, even though that's not even the most expensive mall.  But it does have a water canal in it with gondola boats, like Venice.  The shops are set up to look like you're walking outside along the canal.  The ceiling is painted like the sky.  The first time I've ever seen a Tiffany & Co., or a Gucci, or Prada, or a Baby Gucci for that matter was in this mall.

The next day was Friday and we went to church.  Santa also made a special visit to our house.  He came to a Christmas party that we went to with some friends from Steve's work.  But Miss A threw up and Steve took her home before Santa came.  I think she gagged on something as she was fine after that.  But it was her first time to see Santa.  So our friends, who Santa suit it was, offered to come over before they went out of town and be Santa.  Miss A was scared of him and would not sit on his lap.  :)
This is what they did after Santa left. Ran to Papa.

 But after he left she said, "Santa, my house!" and "I sit on Santa!"  So it was a hit, even if she was scared while he was here.


While Mom and Dad were here we went to see:
The camel races again:



Sheik Fasil Museum (which is just a business man's private collection.  We went around with a tour guide for a portion of it and he said that the Sheik had just bought 160 cars from the US to put in his collection.  It's seriously the biggest collection of random stuff.  There is even a portion of a house from Syria that wasn't there when we went before):

Here's part of the house from Syria


We went on a Dhow cruise.  It was seriously chilly.  The day was cooler than usual, and then the sun went down and we were on the water with lots of wind, even when the dhow was anchored. Most people crowded into the tiny room to play games and talk after dinner.  Some of the youth jumped into the water before the sun went down.  The air temp was probably low-mid 60's.  Not idea swimming temps. Miss A did not like the wind blowing her hair around and so she stayed mostly in the little cabin.  She also refused to let me take her, so poor Steve was stuck inside most of the time.





I doubt the dhow would have passed safety inspections in the States for group tours.  There were seriously large gaps in the railings that kids could have fallen through.  But fortunately none did.




There was lots of playing outside:

And Nana and Papa reading bedtime stories.  This was the preferred arrangement.  Miss A seems to like men more than women.  She took to Papa right away, but it took a bit for her to warm up again to Nana.



We took Mom and Dad dune bashing.  We went last year with some friends.  This year we went earlier in the day and had a great time.  They all rode camels.  It was fun to see Mom's reaction to the dune bashing.  Steve had to talk the driver into doing a bit more bashing though. He was extra cautious with the kids in the car, which was very thoughtful of him.  But they are not scared of it, surprisingly.
We also enjoyed sand boarding (sort of).  They have a snow board that you can ride down a dune after you get to the camp.  We just sat on it and slid down the hill.  Steve had to talk me into it, but it was fun.

Here is the driver with mom and dad.

Saudi Arabia is the land across the water from us.

The camp where we played and ate lunch.

Here we are sand boarding, except we're sitting down rather than standing. I was nervous to go down at first, but you have complete control in stopping.  Just remember to keep your mouth closed.

The trek back up was rigorous, especially if you had the board.  Steve was kind enough to run down and get the board for me.

Big E loved going down and he also went down alone, but without the board.  He was pulling himself down.

Our first few days were filled with fun.  I can hardly believe that it's been over a month now.  Christmas was wonderful, which I'll write about next.  

And They're Off!

So on Saturday we did something new.  We went to the camel races.  It was quite a different experience than the horse race we went to last year.  But totally worth going.  The weather has turned nice, finally, and the day happened to be cloudy for the first time in a very long time.  It felt so nice.

Behind us is the starting line.


The first major difference is that there aren't any stands for spectators to watch from.  You drive along the inside of the track and follow the camels.  It's a bit hard for the driver to watch and drive, but you don't go very fast.

The white suv on the right of the picture is waiting to follow the camels.  He's probably one of the ones who owns a camel that is racing as there is a barrier between that car and were we could drive.  In the center of the picture is the tv camera that is broadcasting the races.  They get the start, and then guys sitting on top of suvs with cameras get the rest.

On the far left you can see a camera guy.


Another big difference is that camels don't run very fast.  As we jumped in our car to follow, the fastest we drove was about 35 km/h (about 20 mph) and that kept us at the same speed as the camels.

The third major difference is that the camels don't have a rider.  There is a robot that has a whip on it. The robot is controlled by someone in a car who probably owns the camel.  The whip goes in a circle and whips the camel.

As we waited for a race to start, one of the people with us asked the guy in the ambulance about the races. He said that one camel costs 1.5-5 million qatari riyals ($412,000-$1,373,400).  There was a lot of money at the races.  We saw so many camels. Not all of them were racing.  There were young camels, probably in training, as well as racing ones.

Here are some camels that weren't racing that crossed the street right after we finished a race.


One funny tidbit, a camels bottom lip flaps as it runs.  It looks rather odd.

Big E fell asleep on the way there and when we woke him up to see the camels, his eyes lit up.  I wish I had a camera on to capture his expression.  Miss A also loved seeing the camels.  Neither of them minded being in their car seats to watch the races.  And both were sorely disappointed when it was time for us to go.