International living

International living is interesting. We are the international babies of the group- there are just two other teachers whose having their first international experience with us. The other teachers have been so nice- no one has ever been like "Check out the newbies- they'll never make it!" And they have given us extra toys (more Ikea train tracks for Teddy and a cute John Deere animal tractor), picture frames, books for Ev, a few odd dishes. Because they all shipped stuff. The only other family that didn't really ship was evacuated from Libya in the spring and had to leave their stuff behind. Their daughter has two toys- an American girl doll and a Playmobile figurine. So Evelyn has been having her over for Polly Pocket time. That is the really nice thing- there is a pack of girls Evelyn can play with- some are a little older, some a little younger. So nice!
International teachers are travel addicts- everyone is plotting what exotic location they will go for November Eid, Winter Break and Spring Break. Dubai, Jordan, Oman, Turkey? African safari?
And it seems there is an international lingo you just pick up. Everyone says "Eh?" like the Canadians- even if they are from Boston or Montana. And you take the lift, push the baby in the trolley, and get things "sorted" like "I am still getting my work visa sorted, then I can get my rental car sorted," which is from the Brits. The teachers are originally from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, various Middle Eastern countries, Bahraini natives, etc. I would say the majority of the teachers are US and Canadian- but then the para-pros and support staff are mostly Bahraini.
When you ask someone where they are from- that can be tricky- so you ask where they were originally from and where they just came from. And they all have neat stories they will pop up with like nothing- "When we were in ______ we ______," like its no big deal vs. something totally awesome most people will never get to do!
Hopefully I'll get some cool stories soon!

Misc. pictures

Not sure if you can see it too well- but here is a giant cutout billboard of the king. Pictures of his majesty, the crown prince, the prime minister and the head of the military are everywhere around here- in every business, hospital, school, etc.

And this is what the oil pipelines look from the road- they are everywhere just running on the sides of the streets.

First day photo

My grade 2 girl. I love her school uniform!

Camel farm

This old girl let us sit on her back- most obliging!

Some of the young ones and babies check out my baby.

They are kinda cute! Love their lashes. These are the camels that belong to the royal family. They have a heard of 100-200 that they keep for prestige- that the public can go visit. These are all dromedary or Arabian camels. The males are more bad tempered so they are kept away from the females and babies. The babies are huge- a three week old was about four feet tall. The mamas were all around six feet-ish. Evelyn looks nervous here because she had just gotten her hair eaten for the second time. It looks like golden straw! The camel keeper is keeping the muncher back.

Oh and yes- you can buy camel meat in the store here- but no one eats these camels- they are pets. And no- I haven't tried camel meat and don't really have any plans to!

Drive time

True confession time. Roger drove with me to do the pickup in Hamad Town and then has driven with me every other time I've driven since- to and from church- once. I think he has been worried I would never man up and drive without him. But today- I did it. I made it to Lulu's and back with only Edward as my navigator.

No doubt my fear to drive is partly because of my compulsive panicky personality. But like the saying goes, "Just because your paranoid doesn't mean there not out to get you."

Take every stereotype about bad drivers in other countries- they are all true here. Aggressive, rude, fast... but sometimes they will let you have right of way just because you are a woman- which makes it more dangerous. People pass you in the inside, outside and drive on the shoulder and sidewalk all the time. They run reds and don't signal. Leave a carlength between you and another car- someone will squeeze in there. The lights blink yellow to warn you that it is about to turn green and if you aren't at least inching forward by then, the honking starts. Ditto with taking your time to make sure there is room for you to squeeze out onto the roundabouts. Our rental has zero acceleration which complicates that- its a gutless Nissan Sunny. There are accidents everywhere. A busy street can turn into some confusing narrow back alley with hardly any notice. Police barricades and checkpoints complicate matters.

But I am determined! I will conquer all my fears and become a super defensive driver zipping around the island like it is my personal racetrack. So hold on to your hats! Here I come.

Funny graffiti

The graffiti here makes us laugh. Two favorites were "Crazy Gang" and "Turn Right!" on a concrete wall.

My cuties