This is my porch pottery- I love it. They have coffepot, lamp, and vase shapes too- but I liked this pear-shaped one. You can stick lights in it for special occasions. The dirt here is the same color as the pottery- so you can't tell when it is dusty! It helps us tell which house is ours and gives us some curb appeal. Not sure it will come back with us- how to ship it in tact? But for here and now it is nice.Thursday, October 20, 2011
Porch pottery
This is my porch pottery- I love it. They have coffepot, lamp, and vase shapes too- but I liked this pear-shaped one. You can stick lights in it for special occasions. The dirt here is the same color as the pottery- so you can't tell when it is dusty! It helps us tell which house is ours and gives us some curb appeal. Not sure it will come back with us- how to ship it in tact? But for here and now it is nice.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
In my pretty garden...
Some of the pretty flowers growing in my garden. It still needs some TLC, but now that it has cooled off, we'll work at it a little more. We are so lucky we had some landscaping already!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Play!
There is a neat children's museum type thing here called Play at the Seef Mall. I took Edward today as a special date. We had so much fun together. Monday, October 17, 2011
Al Abraaj
We have a favorite restaraunt in Bahrain! Al Abraaj- serves authentic Middle Eastern food (imagine that in Bahrain!) and is affordable ($25 for way more than all four of us could eat during our payday eating-out treat) but the best part is... they have curtains that close off your booth. They call this "family style" and it is so the ladies can unveil to eat in front of just their families instead of trying to wrangle food under their veils in public. But the great part for us is that we could take out these monsters without having to worry about crawling under the booth, looking over at the other diners, bad manners, etc. The food was so yummy too- we got lamb chops and the mixed grill plate. Wonderful!
Handicrafts
We went to the handicraft center this weekend. It was neat- we got to see some of the traditional crafts they do here in Bahrain. There is pottery, gypsum carving, doll making, model boat carving, traditional wedding chests and jewlery boxes, and making musical instruments like drums. Unfortunately, we visited when most of the craftspeople weren't there for some reason. Still, we got to see some neat stuff and Edward had a lot of practice saying the word "boat" as he was begging for one on our way out! I want to save up for a trunk- they are so beautiful- I think teak? and they have brass nails in and metal strips carved into geometric or floral designs- so pretty. $180 BD or around $500 US- and how to ship it home? They are like hope chests- given to a girl when she gets married so she has a place to keep her things in her new husband's house. Scary train
Don't be fooled by this smiling face. This is the scary train. He scowles and stink-eyes all through Edward's new Steamies vs. Diesels Thomas and Friends DVD. And Edward is scared of him! Everytime Diesel comes on, Edward comes to sit in my lap- shivering. Can't blame him, ol mean face Diesel isn't very nice to those steamies!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
All for the mall?
I made it to the malls by myself last week! Yay! I even made a few wrong turns and came out okay. Maybe that is my new fitness plan- laps around the mall with Edward. Beats my previous fitness plan of doing all the moves to the Wiggles dances on our (seems like) daily watch of Hot Potato! During the mall laps I might even find a bargin or two if any are to be found for myself? I need some makeup (eyeshadow, blush), some long-sleeve shirts for winter (2 would do), new shoes (that aren't sandals) and a new Sunday outfit. I prepared everyone else better than myself- partly because I wasn't sure what I'd want or what would be appropriate for women here. The malls have higher-end stores and even the cheaper ones that I am kind of familiar with- H&M, Forever 21 and GAP are more expensive here. I am a cheapskate! I miss my local Target. There are so many malls to choose from here! I sometimes wonder how such a small island can sustain so many stores- who buys it all?
I also made it to the BSPCA (the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals) thrift store in Budiya to hunt for used books. They are expensive for used $1.34 US but a steal of a deal compared to new. They are mostly chick lit, true crime and John Girsham / Tom Clancy, but there are a few gems. Unfortunately- some of the most promising book club type selections I've already read. They are shockingly bare on teen paranormal romance, novels set in post-apocalyptic / dystopian-worlds, light biographies of historical figures and the classics of literature. Which it turns out is what I read. I will buy four at a time and call it a good day if one in the batch is readable.
I bought a few used DVDs too- Edward insisted on Steamies vs. Diesels (Thomas) for him and I got Arrested Development Season 3 for Roger, Wizards of Waverly Place Movie for Evelyn and Igor for the family. They were also $1.34 apiece. The Igor might be a pirated copy- but it is a nice one with a screen printed DVD and photocopied cover- I can't tell. It might be legit. The DVD store down the street has binders you flip through- full of photocopied DVD covers. You make a list of what you want, the guy goes to the back, rips them to DVD and hands them to you for $2.68 a piece US. Hmm...
I almost bought a Christmas tree from the BSPCA too- but is was really dusty, loosing its needles and had no stand. The ladies there told me they might have some more in the next few weeks when they brought out their Christmas cubby. So I will hold out!
So glad I finally got the courage to venture out! Amazing how motivating going stir-crazy can be.
I also made it to the BSPCA (the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals) thrift store in Budiya to hunt for used books. They are expensive for used $1.34 US but a steal of a deal compared to new. They are mostly chick lit, true crime and John Girsham / Tom Clancy, but there are a few gems. Unfortunately- some of the most promising book club type selections I've already read. They are shockingly bare on teen paranormal romance, novels set in post-apocalyptic / dystopian-worlds, light biographies of historical figures and the classics of literature. Which it turns out is what I read. I will buy four at a time and call it a good day if one in the batch is readable.
I bought a few used DVDs too- Edward insisted on Steamies vs. Diesels (Thomas) for him and I got Arrested Development Season 3 for Roger, Wizards of Waverly Place Movie for Evelyn and Igor for the family. They were also $1.34 apiece. The Igor might be a pirated copy- but it is a nice one with a screen printed DVD and photocopied cover- I can't tell. It might be legit. The DVD store down the street has binders you flip through- full of photocopied DVD covers. You make a list of what you want, the guy goes to the back, rips them to DVD and hands them to you for $2.68 a piece US. Hmm...
I almost bought a Christmas tree from the BSPCA too- but is was really dusty, loosing its needles and had no stand. The ladies there told me they might have some more in the next few weeks when they brought out their Christmas cubby. So I will hold out!
So glad I finally got the courage to venture out! Amazing how motivating going stir-crazy can be.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Mama's boy
When he isn't applying blush or powdering his nose, my little guy likes to try to shave his legs. He insisted I put mascara on him the other day- so I faked him out- pretending to do it. "Pretty," I said as he beamed in delight. Yesterday, I was up doing laundry when I heard him dragging a chair around my room. He took it into the bathroom so he could reach my lipstick. For the second day in a row.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
clean house
My house is sparkling clean after a session with our cleaning lady. I feel so spoiled. She is wonderful! This is a recent development. We had asked about a babysitter and got introduced to this woman. She was actually looking for a sponsored position and was facing deportation. But we just couldn't sponsor- we don't have that much work or money and our own paperwork wasn't coming through smoothly. But we told her we could use her part-time while she looked. Luckily, she has a sponsor now and can come clean for us on her day off.
I've heard to sponsor a live-in maid or nanny it is $150 BD a month (about $400 US) and they are supposed to only work 48 hours a week. (I've also heard some employers don't follow this- requiring longer hours or providing less pay.) The sponsor / employer also has to pay for a ticket home once a year or give them the cash equivalent.
Part-time house cleaning is $2 BD an hour, or $5.34 US. Most other people have either full or part-time help- I can't really think of anyone we know who doesn't. It is kind of an expected thing and a perk of living here. Iwas thinking a few hours would be great- but the last two times its been a full day. I kind of felt guilty- I am home all day. I should clean. And I do! But this is a dusty, dirty country. You turn on the AC and the dust bunnies fly out. Dirt blows in drifts in the gaps under the door. The marble floors get filthy and are tough to clean. And our floor to ceiling wood blinds- eight full panels- are a pain to dust. So I do sweep, do dishes by hand, make meals, scrub toilets, pick up, iron, do laundry, mop the kitchen, etc.
But there is still enough for the cleaning lady to do for eight hours on Saturday- after I spend a few hours picking up in anticipation of her visit! Last week she mopped all the floors- including bedrooms (even under the beds!), halls and two flights of stairs I never get to. This week she dusted all the blinds and washed the windows. She works so hard! We have to leave the house- we just feel too guilty putting around while she is moving furniture to sweep beneath it. So Saturdays are our family outing days.
She has four children back in the Philippians. When Roger dropped her off last time, she had him take her to a wire transfer place so she could wire the money to her children. I guess when she lost her job, they had to stop going to school because they didn't have money to pay the school fees. She wired the money we had given her so they could go to school the next day.
When I was talking with her, she said she tries to work as a maid, not a nanny, because it is too heartbreaking to be a nanny. It is too hard to raise other children when she can't be there raising her own. And the nannies get to love their employer's children- then they move on when they get transferred- leaving the nanny behind. And that is hard too.
Living in this place is so humbling. Evelyn had another play date this weekend at a classmates and her house was literally a castle. Then walking through our unfinished development a few nights ago, realizing that some of the construction laborers are living in the incomplete houses- in the heat with the bats and wild dogs and feral cats- how horrible must their countries have been if they are willing to come here and work and live like this? We are so blessed- we have so much. We can do so little to help.
Roger and I were talking about it after- we feel good about having our cleaning lady not because we get a sparkling house, (although that is heavenly!) but because we are able to employ someone who works so very hard who is using the money to make a better life for her family.
It is like the other day at the supermarket. You have those pay carts and usually I return mine myself to get my coin back. But sometimes you see someone coming over to help you so they can return your cart and get your coin. And you let them because they need it, are willing to work for it, and do you really need it?
I've heard to sponsor a live-in maid or nanny it is $150 BD a month (about $400 US) and they are supposed to only work 48 hours a week. (I've also heard some employers don't follow this- requiring longer hours or providing less pay.) The sponsor / employer also has to pay for a ticket home once a year or give them the cash equivalent.
Part-time house cleaning is $2 BD an hour, or $5.34 US. Most other people have either full or part-time help- I can't really think of anyone we know who doesn't. It is kind of an expected thing and a perk of living here. Iwas thinking a few hours would be great- but the last two times its been a full day. I kind of felt guilty- I am home all day. I should clean. And I do! But this is a dusty, dirty country. You turn on the AC and the dust bunnies fly out. Dirt blows in drifts in the gaps under the door. The marble floors get filthy and are tough to clean. And our floor to ceiling wood blinds- eight full panels- are a pain to dust. So I do sweep, do dishes by hand, make meals, scrub toilets, pick up, iron, do laundry, mop the kitchen, etc.
But there is still enough for the cleaning lady to do for eight hours on Saturday- after I spend a few hours picking up in anticipation of her visit! Last week she mopped all the floors- including bedrooms (even under the beds!), halls and two flights of stairs I never get to. This week she dusted all the blinds and washed the windows. She works so hard! We have to leave the house- we just feel too guilty putting around while she is moving furniture to sweep beneath it. So Saturdays are our family outing days.
She has four children back in the Philippians. When Roger dropped her off last time, she had him take her to a wire transfer place so she could wire the money to her children. I guess when she lost her job, they had to stop going to school because they didn't have money to pay the school fees. She wired the money we had given her so they could go to school the next day.
When I was talking with her, she said she tries to work as a maid, not a nanny, because it is too heartbreaking to be a nanny. It is too hard to raise other children when she can't be there raising her own. And the nannies get to love their employer's children- then they move on when they get transferred- leaving the nanny behind. And that is hard too.
Living in this place is so humbling. Evelyn had another play date this weekend at a classmates and her house was literally a castle. Then walking through our unfinished development a few nights ago, realizing that some of the construction laborers are living in the incomplete houses- in the heat with the bats and wild dogs and feral cats- how horrible must their countries have been if they are willing to come here and work and live like this? We are so blessed- we have so much. We can do so little to help.
Roger and I were talking about it after- we feel good about having our cleaning lady not because we get a sparkling house, (although that is heavenly!) but because we are able to employ someone who works so very hard who is using the money to make a better life for her family.
It is like the other day at the supermarket. You have those pay carts and usually I return mine myself to get my coin back. But sometimes you see someone coming over to help you so they can return your cart and get your coin. And you let them because they need it, are willing to work for it, and do you really need it?
ship came in
Crisco just came in on the shipment! I am sad- the vegetable ghee scares me a little- wish I had held out.
It is funny- pretty much everything at every store is roughly the same price because it all gets imported and trucked in. So every store will have the same promotions / sale items. It varies a little, but not much. Even the street vendors and farmers market- they sell the same produce that is trucked in to all the island- so their prices are pretty much the same as the grocery store. Nothing super in this batch of new stuff.
I need to go to Geant because it is the only place I've found applesauce. I asked about it at Lulu's finally and they had no idea what I was talking about. Geant also has a good generic store brand. Dare I drive there myself tomorrow? We'll see...
It is funny- pretty much everything at every store is roughly the same price because it all gets imported and trucked in. So every store will have the same promotions / sale items. It varies a little, but not much. Even the street vendors and farmers market- they sell the same produce that is trucked in to all the island- so their prices are pretty much the same as the grocery store. Nothing super in this batch of new stuff.
I need to go to Geant because it is the only place I've found applesauce. I asked about it at Lulu's finally and they had no idea what I was talking about. Geant also has a good generic store brand. Dare I drive there myself tomorrow? We'll see...
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Substitutions
Roger: "Um, so you know that chocolate milk you put in my lunch today? It tasted funny, like cleaner. It tasted like 409."
Me: "What?!"
Evelyn: "Yeah- mine tasted funny too- like metal and chemicals."
So I am throwing out the remaining chocolate milk boxes (darn Spiderman promotion wasn't a good deal!) and a now sticking with the Almarai brand Maher the Adventurer chocolate milk- even if it is more expensive.
I've also learned not to skimp on eggs. I bought a flat of cheap "farm fresh" eggs on sale once only to crack open a bunch of rotten ones. Upon closer examination, they had been laid and packaged two months before. Yuck. Threw out all 30. Bahrain National Farm Fresh is now the only egg for me- will not deviate from that brand!
Also, did you know vegetable ghee is like shortening? Me neither! Necessity is the mother of invention- I needed shortening to replace lard (pork product- costs $$$ and impossible to find) in my homemade tortilla recipe (since you can't really find those here either and it just isn't the same to make pita tacos). I'll let you know how it turns out. And while turkey bacon is kind of disappointing, turkey ham is a fab fake!
Me: "What?!"
Evelyn: "Yeah- mine tasted funny too- like metal and chemicals."
So I am throwing out the remaining chocolate milk boxes (darn Spiderman promotion wasn't a good deal!) and a now sticking with the Almarai brand Maher the Adventurer chocolate milk- even if it is more expensive.
I've also learned not to skimp on eggs. I bought a flat of cheap "farm fresh" eggs on sale once only to crack open a bunch of rotten ones. Upon closer examination, they had been laid and packaged two months before. Yuck. Threw out all 30. Bahrain National Farm Fresh is now the only egg for me- will not deviate from that brand!
Also, did you know vegetable ghee is like shortening? Me neither! Necessity is the mother of invention- I needed shortening to replace lard (pork product- costs $$$ and impossible to find) in my homemade tortilla recipe (since you can't really find those here either and it just isn't the same to make pita tacos). I'll let you know how it turns out. And while turkey bacon is kind of disappointing, turkey ham is a fab fake!
Play date
Evelyn had a play date this weekend at a classmates' house. Lets just say we are on the low end of the spectrum at the private school she goes to. We had some difficulties finding the house- as there was a detour- and the mom wasn't sure how to direct us around. So she dispatched her driver to meet us at a nearby shop and follow him back to their compound. Where we were greeted by a doorman. I stepped into a spacious hallway and was invited to sit down in the sitting room while the nanny helped Evelny round up her things. The sitting room had seven separate sitting areas- complete living room sets- and a fountain. It was all in a modern Middle Eastern style- so gorgeous! I felt like I was in a modern day Arabian Nights palace. (So glad Edward was in the car with Roger so he couldn't try to break anything!) But the people here are so gracious- there is absolutely no pretense. It doesn't matter at all that she is a teacher's kid instead of a oil baron's child. Evelyn has very, very nice classmates. I am so grateful that she has made friends here so quickly. It is interesting- it seems like Thursdays after school is a popular time to have a bunch of friends over for the evening for a swimming party, etc. I'll have to plan something here at our humble villa some time- but I am a little intimidated! These are kids with everything money can buy- so maybe don't try to compete but keep it old school. No karaoke machine, home theater system, catered snacks, pool or Wii, but how about Monopoly and some homemade chocolate chip cookies? Hmm....
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