Roundabout Reasoning

Let's talk about roundabouts, shall we?

Doha is full of them. All over town. And each roundabout has its own personality. Some are nice and big and empty. Some are small and crowded. There are some roundabouts at which I will NOT make a left-handed turn due to the ever-present traffic. Some roundabouts have lights. Some roundabouts have police directing traffic at the busier times of the day.

I drive through 10 roundabouts to get to school. 10. Some are no-brainers. Some, still, to this day, when I approach mutter, "PLEASE let there be an opening." And I always know exactly which lane I want to be in at every single one. They used to scare me. Now I'm just hell-on-wheels like everybody else, yelling at the car in front of me "Go. Go. Go! What are you doing? Just Go!" And here's my best advice: Don't Hesitate. If you see an opening, just go.

There's my tip for the week. Now watch and learn (and I just have to say, this roundabout is a piece of cake, but it makes me laugh every time.)

The "E" Word

"Mom! Scott just said the "E" word.

The "E" word? Honey - I'm not sure what the "E" word is.

"You know, the "E" word. He said it and that's a bad word."

Okay - I realize it might be a bad word, but let's just pretend it's not and tell me what it is.

"Eediot."



That's how I felt.

It's Hard to Say Goodbye

"What a great experience!"

This is the universal response to "We are moving overseas." It just is. And yes, it is a great experience. But what no one tells you is that you are constantly saying goodbye to new friends you make.

In 18 months time I have made 4 new friends, only to turn around and watch them move away. Jacqui, Susan, Lynn, and now, as of Friday, Gayla.



Gayla said to me not too long ago, after telling her that I would be blogging about her departure, "I can't wait. Your posts are always so funny." My reponse to her was "there is nothing funny about you leaving."

So of course I wish Gayla and her family the best. Of course I'm jealous that they are going back to Houston. Of course I will miss her terribly during my Doha days (but no complaining, right Gayla?) But I just hate to say goodbye.

Thank you Gayla, for helping make this experience a little more fun and a little more tolerable. I will miss you.

See you in Houston.

Here we go....

3 kids.

5 soccer teams.

7 practices a week.


It's gonna be great!

Jet Lag

Personified.

Anatomy of a Haircut

23 days ago, he looked like this:

And, as I said in my tweet, he needed a haircut, but I still thought he was cute.

But Thanksgiving came around and the pressure was just too much, so then he looked like this:

Still long, but not quite falling in his eyes. It was a happy medium.

But guess who decided, out of the blue, that he wanted his hair cut? And cut SHORT?

So look what we did yesterday:

He looks like he's 11.

Basketball, Qatar-style, Part 2

Basketball, it seems, is the sport du jour at the Dickerson villa. One more kid enjoying an after-school sport and having fun at the tournament as well.

Hmmmm...was this a sporting event or a social event? One can never tell with 11 and 12 year-old girls.




Oh wait - there she is playing! First game score 2-2. Seriously. Second game score? 2-0. Our team lost.



3rd game score 14-0! She made a basket! We win the game! But we didn't even place in the tournament. Oh well, over here you play for the fun of it. Only in the states do you play to win.



Overall, one very happy, confident basket-making basketball player.

Soccer starts in January. Watch out world.