Giving thanks...

Right now I'm giving thanks for great friends. Saturday we had the first of three Thanksgivings! We have two more to attend- one on Thursday and one on Friday. People here are so nice. Of course I'll miss our families and their great dinners- but you couldn't ask for a better experience away from home.

Kids in Bahrain

What is really nice about living here in Bahrain is that everyone loves kids. Edward has been picked up and held by more strangers than I can count. He has had his picture taken with over 15 total strangers- several at the wildlife park where my blonde haired blue eyed boy was as exotic as all the animals! He has already taken lots of candy from delighted strangers in the malls. One time I was in the store and he was pitching the biggest fit. I didn't get any glares or dirty looks- instead an older couple came over and started making faces at him and gave him a treat- which instantly turned things around. How nice is that! And whenever I've struggled to juggle stroller and toddler, someone is always holding the door, offering to help out. People are so very kind here. I found out baby boys are especially valued- sorry girls- but it isn't very pronounced or obvious. Large families are also smiled on here. Children are a blessing from God.
It seemed like the Dutch and Germans also really liked kids- we got a lot of kind smiles and assistance there as well with our kids- special lines at the Van Gough museum for less waiting and easier stroller access and help on the buses and no charge for the kids.
So nice. I was just thinking I wished the USA was more that way- but if anyone tried to take photos of my kids, pick them up or give them candy I would be calling the police! So what is it? A culture thing? More weirdos per capita there? Am I just not as mistrustful here? Hmmm...
International teachers tend to have no kids or one or two kids max, because schools don't want to pay for a lot of dependants to come over every year, housing, tuition, etc.- plus it would just be difficult with a big family. The Department of Defense teachers are a little less that way it seems. We are actually really lucky to have this job with me being not a teacher- I am a third dependant.

haircut

I forgot to post this a while ago- it was Edward's first big boy haircut. They had these neat cars he could sit in- so it was painless for all. I miss his long baby comb-over, but he finally had enough other hair- it had to go.

sites of Riffa

Up top is the abaya store in downtown Riffa, but who knows what is with all the Xs! And this Family Train 200 Fils and More Store is like a dollar store. What a great find! It is full of all of the cheapest (price and quality!) goods imaginable. Perfect for Christmas stockings. Wind up fishing game and modeling clay for Ev, plastic cars for Edward, kitchen accessories for me and plastic army men for Roger.

We did buy a fake tree- a small one- for $25- just taller than Ev- and are planning some ornament crafting sessions. We have two ceramic Delft birds I bought in Holland, but Edward is 2 and those might wait. We also have a bunch of small wooden shoes I think can go up, three Jasmis wooden animal keychains that will look cute, and a camel and Arabic couple ornaments I bought at the local craft fair. A string of lights, a little origami magic, and we'll be golden!

Bahrain Museum

We went to the Bahrain Museum the other day. Highlights were the artifacts from the Barbar temple we just visited like a bronze bull's head, the some seals, coins, jewelry and pottery and the burial mounds. All over the island there are these big heaps of rock that are ancient graves- totally unique to Bahrain. They went on for a few thousand years- evolving and changing with the different influences. I guess the adult male would start building their mound years before their death. This explanation isn't going to do it justice, but they would build an inner circle of large rocks where their body would be buried and a large outer ring of big rocks. Dirt and smaller rocks were then piled over it. If their children died before they did they would be buried inside the outer ring- sometimes stuffing the curled up body into a piece of pottery. They would curl up the body of the adult on its right side in a rock chamber in the center. The later burials have the body on its back- thanks to Greek(?) influence and the latest mounds even had the likeness of the person carved on a tablet. The top picture is an open mound- I have to take pictures of the ones all over the island. I guess they've really been looted over the centuries but they are right there- next to houses and fast food restaurants.

It was really neat, but a little strange. Like the information on some of the artifacts wasn't clear or complete. What exactly? When and where? If you want it in order- remember to go right to left! Also it seemed like for being one of the earliest civilizations, they were short on stuff. Was it all looted, sold, taken, destroyed? Probably yes. I get the feeling that some of the religious fundamentalists don't really value ancient historical artifacts because they are a lot of un-Islamic images. I guess there was a debate about whether to protect the mounds or pave over them for housing in 2005. Also- the country's conversion to Islam was very vague and there was almost no recent history- like the last 300 years- when the country changed hands so often. Just some turn of the century culture stuff. The natural history exhibit was under renovation- we'll have to go back. What I love is that it was just $6 for our whole family to go- kids are free! So we can visit often.

Tree of Life

This is Bahrain's Tree of Life, named because it is a huge pretty tree alone in the middle of the desert with no obvious water source. Of course it is spray painted, carved and crowded during the Eid holiday but I thought it was still neat. It is located in the middle of Mad Max land with junkyards and oil wells and military sites.

Bahrain fort

Today we went to the Qal'at al-Bahrain or Bahrain Fort, an area that has been occupied by humans for 5,000 years, was once the capitol of the ancient Dilmun civilization and is considered the most important archaeological site on the island. The remains of a 3,000 year old fort are there, along with a more in-tact 18th century Portuguese fort.

Surprise exchange

Roger: "I said stop."

Edward: "I said no!"

Barbar temple

We got to visit the Barbar temple on Sunday- it is so ancient! Thousands and thousands of years old- the first approx. built in 3000 BC. They don't know what gods it was dedicated to- but suspect it was a god of fresh water- Enki- and his wife. It was actually three different temples, build at different times / phases around a natural spring. Interesting!

Al Areen Wildlife Park

We pose with flamingos. This bird clipped Roger with its wings!

Edward was scared of these Arabian wolves- they looked like coyotes- they were barking at us so he covered his eyes!

Mini goats! So cute. The gazelles were all mini too- would have to be for this kind of place.

Edward kept trying to poke his fingers in the cage for this eagle to nip off. Mean mom wouldn't let him.

Halloween

We had a Happy Halloween. I refused to pay $30 US for these green squash that pass as jack-o-lanterns here- so we went sans pumpkin. Edward was a muscle man with $7.50 clearance Gymboree jammies (in the next size up so they'll last longer) and I splurged on a $25 Vamptessa costume for Evelyn because she was invited to a fancy Halloween party at a classmates. We also had a church trunk or treat and trick or treated on our street. Luckily all on different days!

Edward's birthday

Teddy turned terrible two! He is terrific. He loves saying no, uh-nu, oh no and what happen? Every train is Thomas Train and every book for him to color and every slick paper with a neat picture (ie toy ads) should be a sticker. He loves to eat noo-nells (Ramen noodles) for lunch and loves to carry around apples, oranges and bananas- which he asks for by name, but not to eat- to wrestle around and bruise so no one else wants to eat them. Also- all flat bread is pizza. He loved the airport and cars and trains he got for his birthday. Evelyn got him a bubble machine- he loves bubbles- but the mix was gone the first day due to a mother and kids dance party that broke out! He loved his cupcake and blowing out the candles- which he loves to reenact. I took him to Play one last time since now it will be $5 BD for 2 hours ($13.35) vs. the $2 BD for 2 hours ($5.32) it was when he was under 2. We also went out to Johnny Rockets for a family dinner- he broke a glass bottle of ketchup- true to 2 year old form! He is such a big boy. But I love that he loves to cuddle and read books before nap time and sometimes when he is very tired lets me hold him like a baby. He also gives the best kisses. So glad he is ours.