Basketball, Qatar-style

Scott's first love is football. American football. Quarterbacks, wide receivers, linebackers. But there is no opportunity to play football here unless you're playing in the backyard with your dad and brother. And that's great fun and all, but not the same as playing on a real team with other 8 year-olds, trying to grab that flag.

So it's basketball. Limited opportunity, but an opportunity nonetheless. You have to make the team. He did. Tournament at school with other local schools. He had a ball (no pun intended. Oh yeah, it was intended).

What in the World?

What is "Tire Punchery?" And what is a "saloon car?" This is just an example of things that puzzle me in my daily life. I photographed this sign as I was waiting to have my tires aired up. You can't believe the wear and tear on your tires here, always driving over rocks and sand and bumps in parking lots. Really, you can't believe it until you see it.

But anyway, I wanted my tires aired, not punched.



But, on a promising note, I can read that Arabic if I stare at it long enough. I may not be able to understand what I'm reading, and I may be reading on the level of a Kindergartner just beginning to sound out words, but I can do it.

Blurry, but Oh So Cute Anyway.

They can't be cute toddlers forever, now, can they? And the third child, that pre-adolescent whose attitude permeates the house whenever she comes out of her room? I have no idea where her pictures are. I'm in middle school hell.

And yes, once again, I realize these children, whomever they belong to, need haircuts. But really, is that so important? They love their long hair. And you can only be a long-haired, carefree boy for so long in this life. Let them have the hair they want. That's what I say.

Moment of Truth

I love to be the cynical one. I take pride in the fact that I'm skeptical and jaded. And living in Doha just feeds into all that. I hate the traffic, take umbrage at Arab arrogance, lament the loss of Target and Sonic in my daily life. It's hot, we live 587 kilometers from school, and the sand and dust will get to you on a daily basis. And while everyone here "speaks" English, there is always a language barrier. But no complaining, right Gayla?


And then, every now and then, it happens. That moment where you realize that this really may be an awesome experience for this family.


That moment happened this week. It was International Week at the American School of Doha. And because I was kinda bored, and only because I was kinda bored, did I agree to meet some friends up at school for Opening Ceremonies. Sure, why not?


We met in the gym and watched as all 1800 students filed in and sat. 1800 kids, Pre-K through 12th grade. There was the choir and the band and parents and faculty. The gym was packed. The ceremony started with the choir singing some song, "The Power of the Dream" - you know, a Josh Groban-like "You Lift Me Up" type song at which point, honest to God, I rolled my eyes. And then it happened. Everyone in the gym started singing. Parents, all the kids, everyone. Guess what?

GOOSEBUMPS.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit it. But it got to me. And then the parade of flags representing every nationality registered at the school. And the cheers each flag received. And I realize that here in this place, this school full of kids from all over the world, there is no hostility due to politics. There is no prejudice about religion and culture from these kids. My kids are growing up learning about other cultures first-hand and forming only friendships in the process.

So, there it is. I do actually have a tender spot in there somewhere. And I found it this week.

Requisite Halloween Pictures

Just so you all know I am a good mother and I did actually take a picture of each child before trick or treating. I'd share the trick or treating pictures with you if there were any, but I was sipping wine at our friend's villa, awaiting their return.

Scott: The Grim Reaper (and yes, he claims he could see through that hood).

John: The Grim Reaper's Messenger

Kaylie, who I made dress up as SOMETHING, or else she was not allowed to go trick or treating.

And, because I am a deliberate parent, I have allowed all kids to eat as much candy as they want tonight in the hopes that there will be no more left and subsequently there will be no daily arguments about how much candy they are allowed to eat. I should write a book.

I amsterdam

So I've come back to reality. The real world full of responsibilities, schedules, committments and the constant refrains of "there's nothing to eat in the house."

But for 6 lovely, glorious, wonderfully-spent days, I got to wander around Amsterdam with my dearest friend Jennifer.

What did we do? We wandered. We drank coffee. We shopped. We ate. And we wandered and wandered some more. Every day we would committ to one agenda item. And just one. One day the Rijksmuseum, which is under renovation but had a very cool exhibit hall open anyway. One day the Anne Frank House which was so emotionally moving we needed the day to recover. One day we rode the train to Rotterdam to visit with Jennifer's cousin, a way-cool 21 year-old college student spending her semester in Holland. We went on a canal cruise (where most of these pictures were taken) and strolled through the Red Light District, giggling the whole time.

We found a lovely cheese shop and bakery just around the corner from the hotel and that became breakfast on the run most days. YUMMMM. We sipped coffee at cafes for hours where we tried to identify people's nationalities based on their clothing (oh wait, I'm wasn't supposed to admit that we did that).

All in all it was a trip to remember. I can't wait to do it again next fall. Here's to you, Jennifer - thanks for a lovely trip.

Go Ahead, Make My Day

Sure, Mr. White Toyota Land Cruiser, please make that left turn from the right-hand lane - I'll make sure not to hit you.

Sure, Mr. White Toyota Land Cruiser (not the same one), please feel free to stick your nose in between me and the bus in front of me because you didn't want to wait in the left -hand turn queue.

Sure, Mr. White Van, drive down the shoulder of the road instead of merging with traffic, just so you don't have to stop and wait for an opening.

Sure, Mr. White Toyota Land Cruiser (noticing a pattern here?) drive down the wrong side of the street and then honk at the cars coming at you, just to get to the front of the line waiting to merge onto Al Bustan Road. None of the other of us are in a hurry. Just you.

Sure, Mr. Silver Sedan (oh, not white!) - that dotted stripe which is intended to separate lanes of traffic? Go ahead and use it as a new lane of traffic. Everyone else does.

Sure, yet another Mr. White Toyota Land Cruiser (they're all over Doha) make sure you change lanes suddenly in the roundabout just because you are from here and can apparently do anything you please.


I drove to school today. Can you tell?