Thanks for waiting...

We're kind of starting to fall into a groove here!  Hopefully we can be more regular with our blog posts.  Emmy has been meaning to post for a couple of weeks, so you may get a bonus post soon after this one.

Like the last time, I'll let you in on a few things that went on and write a little more about the ones that were coolest.

We're still not home

We got news a little while back that we'd be moving.  The moving process has not yet started.  From what I understand, the best thing is to be patient so that any necessary repairs can happen BEFORE we move in.  We're keeping our promise we made to the school to be flexible, so we're staying in our temporary housing for the time being.  However, that could all change tomorrow.

School started!

As of our last post, we hadn't told much about school.  It's a beautiful campus with lots of construction going on around us and a ton of open space.  We have a small classes that are no larger than 10 in any classroom.  It really gives you an opportunity to get to know your students.  Knowing, understanding and using the culture of your students is something I think every good teacher should do.  There has definitely been a learning curve, but I lean on the students.  They do a great job teaching me about the local culture.  I've talked to parents in person and on the phone.  The students love to have a phone call to their parents about the good things they are doing in class!  On the other side, the students seem to be really interested in my culture.  When they heard I was from Texas and didn't own a cowboy hat or boots, they were amazed!  They didn't think I had the Texas accent and some kids gave me their best Texas accent to show me how I should talk.  I've went along with it and now open every class by saying, "Howdy, y'all!"  The kids love the energy and many respond back with a  howdy.  It's been tough getting started without knowing students very well, but the students are great and getting more fun by the day.

I play a ton of team sports

I love team sports.  Running is just boring unless there's a task to go with it.  I've started to jump into groups that are doing activities throughout the week.  I have regular activities, including Monday football (soccer) with students, Wednesday yoga with Emmy and some colleagues, Thursday staff volleyball and Saturday early morning basketball at the American School of Doha.  Each one is fun in its own way and lets me be active with some really cool people.

We had a great night out

We're finally getting caught up with what work and life demand and now are getting to sneak some time to ourselves.  Last night we went to a traditional Middle Eastern restaurant called Afghan Brothers.  It was awesome!  You got to have a traditional meal, eat with your hand (only the right), and we got a ton of food for about $8 a person.  After, we went to Souq Waqif, which is a market that is near our temporary housing.  The night was great (about 85 degrees) and the souq was awesome.  Of course, Emmy got a few things and I got the best cup of carak (a really sweet hot tea with milk) that I've had so far.  We meandered around for a while and I saw the coolest swords and daggers ever.  I will own one of them one day.

Thanks and love to all those following our lives.  Know that we love, miss and care about you.  We have room for visitors and are glad to host if anyone wants a few nice days this winter!  Until next time, Peace in the Middle East!

 

An overview of the experiences

The last couple of weeks have been great.  So sorry we haven't been keeping up with the blog, but we're back at it and determined to give you some good reading.  So you can just read the parts you want, I've titled separate minisections about some things that have gone on.

I was made vulnerable

I went to get a haircut.  It was a very cool experience.  A trying part of it was offering my neck to a guys with a straight razor who doesn't even speak the same language I do.  We figured it all out and he was excellent!  I got a haircut, beard trimming, a straight razor edge up all around and even a quick massage at the end.  All of that cost about $9.  It was a great deal.

I held a guy's hand

I was walking back from getting my haircut and sweating profusely after a few blocks when a man approached me.  He introduced himself, then held my hand and we started walking.  It's customary for men to hold hands and walk in the Middle East, so I just went for a walk for about half a block.  We exchanged names, where we were from (I told him Texas and he told me Pakistan), and our professions.  He happened to be a driver.  I talked with a man at the school about what was going on and he said the man was probably looking to see if I needed a driver.  Unfortunately for him, I'm not that rich.

I held a falcon
I got to hold a falcon on our high school retreat.  It was held at my vice principal's house, which is beautiful.  In Qatar, citizens are given land and a loan to build their home.  This home required a little more than the loan.  It was such a magnificent house.  My principal brought some traditional Qatari clothing to wear, so I dressed up in a Thobe (the robe), a ghuttra (square piece of cloth on the head), an ogaal (the decorative black top that looks like rope), and a quaffiya (worn under the ghuttra to hold the ogaal in place).  My picture was taken and is on Facebook if you're interested.

We can drive
Our driving tests went well, because we had a ton of help from our school.  They helped us through every step of the licensing process.  Now we officially have our temporary license.  Also, we scored a little car to help us get around.  It is called a Nissan Tiida and it does the job of helping us with our commute.

I had a wreck
It wasn't my fault, but I did get rear ended just two days after getting my temporary license.  I was waiting at a roundabout and got a little nudge from behind.  I wanted to clear the roundabout and get the guy's info, but apparently he didn't know that was the plan, so he kept going.  I've put in a police report, with the help of a great friend at school named Mohamed.  We'll see whose insurance ends up having to pay.

We are legal
We officially have our Residency Permit, which gives us such joy.  We now have the opportunity to leave the country on trips, apply for a permanent license, and a few other things.  This process generally takes weeks or even months, but we have a great guy helping us out (see Mohamed above).

I smoked Shisha

Most people know it as Hookah, but it's very common here in Qatar.  We went to a place called Koora (Arabic for Soccer/Football).  It was like a sports bar in the States, just sold flavored tobacco instead of beer.  My good friend Jason (from Chicago) and I were picked up by Mohamed and we went out.  We met one of Mohamed's friends from the Qatari National Team at Koora (I forgot to mention that Mohamed used to run hurdles for the Qatari National Team).  He was from Egypt origninally, but moved to Doha over 15 years ago.  He directs the shooting team and invited us out to shoot when we had time and also picked up the entire tab.  If there is one theme here in Doha, it is that everyone is ready to host you, no matter where they are from.  Most of the time, all I can do is say "Shukran diz dak Allah Khair," which means thank you very much.

We have a home
After living in temporary housing and waiting for our housing at The Pearl to open up, we came across the need for a snap decision today.  We had an opportunity to take housing in the Education City Community Housing part of town and we took it.  We are bummed to not have the glamorous Pearl life and are especially bummed to be moving away from two of the best friends we've made since coming here (named Jason and Ann).  On the flipside, we thought it best to move closer and toward more people for all of the benefits that it provides.  It also gives us a place to call home, rather than a place to call temporary housing.  We'll be receiving more info soon on where we will be, what the accommodations are and when we can move in.  We'll keep you informed.

OH YEAH...AND WE STARTED SCHOOL!