Parents visit and a trip to Jordan

So this month, my parents came to visit and we had a great time. During the visit, we all went to Jordan and discovered a fascinating country with really friendly people!

The beginning of my parents visit consisted of a trip to the grocery store, where my mom found some hilarious things to take pictures of. First off...
Why kid's food and cake are in the same area, I will never know. Actually I do know...because they love sweets and candy here. I think I've mentioned that Max is offered candy at least once a day by complete strangers. And they all look at me like I'm a freak when I say no.


So the next day, we went to a kid's carnival, which consisted of the most dangerous rides I've ever seen....none of them would have been cool in the U.S. My favorite was a kid's train, that had no railing or fence around it--just an electrified rail that a train was moving around on...and it played Christmas songs. Nothing like listening to Jingle Bells when it's 90 degrees out. Anyway, Max dared the slide (which was seriously taller than my house).


My mom and I took a walk around our compound the next day and found this interesting sign. It is SUPPOSED to say Assal Circle, but something went wrong here.


Moving on to the trip to Jordan. Wonderful is the only word to describe it. We stayed in Amman and took days trips to Jaresh, a HUGE Roman ruin's site, which rivals Rome itself, and Umm Qays, another site of ruins. Then on the third day, we went to Petra and the Dead Sea.
On our first stop in Umm Qays, Keith and I were walking with Max and we were suddenly MOBBED by high school girls on field trips. All staring at Max and wanting to hold him and practice their English. We looked up and there had to be 50 sixteen year olds surrounding us. it was hilarious. Yelling, "What's your name?" "What's his name (pointing to Max)", "Let us see his eyes, are they blue?" "We love U.S." and "How do you like Jordan?" We felt like the Rolling Stones! Anyway, here are some examples!


Later on, I was walking by myself and got mobbed by girls. It was like I was Britney Spears. I couldn't decide if it was fun or scary!
So the next day we went to Jaresh, which was simply amazing.





Along the journeys, we stopped many times for various pictures. Camels for example.

And Turkeys.

Here we are in a church that as the oldest mosaics in the world. While Keith made a new friend (what else is new?), Max hammed it up as usual.

Cutie

Some more scenics....



On to the main reason we went to Jordan....Petra. It's been my mom's dream for a long time and my dream for at least 10 years to see this and pictures can't even do it justice, but here it is.









In keeping with tradition, George was there too.

Dead Sea! Dead Sea! Totally fun and it was the weirdest feeling to float without trying. You could literally stand in the water and not touch the bottom.


Covered in Dead Sea mud....notice Max's head in the lower left corner, looking at us like we are nuts. Which we are.


That's all for the trip! But one last thing. Today they were having a blood drive at the Rec Center. Here is the sign to advertise giving blood.

I leave you with that to think about.

Some random Dubai photos

Recycling in Qatar

Recycling and anything "green" is somewhat of an unknown in Doha. They simply don't understand yet how important these things are here and a lot goes to waste. Word on the street is that when Doha was bidding for the Olympics, there were recycling bins everywhere to try to impress the Olympic committee, but as soon as they lost the bid, the bins disappeared.

So imagine my surprise when I saw a big sign at my grocery store that they were selling reusable bags to bring to the store. The bags are only QR .50 (like 10 cents), so I thought, "why not--if I can't recycle, at least I can do something and brings bags to the grocery store."

So I told the clerk that I would like to purchase some with my groceries. I bought my food, paid for everything, and returned to my car with my shopping cart. Upon loading the trunk, I looked inside my reusable bags. Inside were all my groceries, PACKED INTO PLASTIC BAGS AND THEN PUT INTO THE REUSABLE BAG THAT I HAD BOUGHT! Now wouldn't common sense tell you that the purpose of these reusable bags is to avoid using plastic bags? But here in Doha, trying to explain common sense to someone is just too tiring.

Another very funny thing that they do here: There is a not a lot of loose change here--it's mainly bills, so if you are due some change after you pay for something, you usually get one of the following: a pack of chewing gum, a small piece of candy or an entry form to win whatever car is on display in the mall that week. We have never won the car.

So Keith and I have made some purchases lately that are probably going to prevent us from going on a vacation anytime soon (except Jordan next month). First we found a guy that travels all over the middle east buying items and teak wood and making things. We bought these two items from him...



Then, since we are enjoying our first backyard, we bought some items for Max. It's like an amusement park back there.


Yesterday we had a playgroup with 2 year olds. It was me, Max and twelve 2 year olds and their moms. Needless to say, it was quite chaotic, but tons of fun. I met more people from UK and New Zealand, plus another lady from Illinois!

Here are Max and Jaydn, one of his "friends"


More kids and moms

Heidi and her two month old


Well there is nothing else to report! Until next time!

Bahrain and Dubai

Okay it's been a ridiculously long time since I updated so sorry for that.

I've been having a great time here, plain and simple. I am loving staying home with Max and meeting so many people from so many different cultures. it is just fascinating to say the least. In the past few months, I've met people from Dubai, Tunisia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, USA, Malaysia, Indonesia. And that's just off the top of my head.

Max and I have been very busy with tons of playgroups, coffee meetings with other moms, music classes, art classes and, soon, a class called "Play Ball". The weather has been spectacular and I really have no complaints.

Last month, I had friends come visit. They were in Doha for two days and then went on to Oman and Dubai. I met them in Dubai and there are tons of pictures to sort through so I will have to wait to post those, but I do have a few.

Here are Hilary and me at the camel races in Doha.

Here are Casey and I in the lobby of the Burg Al Arab, the world's only "seven star" hotel


I did take a few "fine art photos" too:

The view of the Burg Al Arab from the beach


A close up


The world's tallest building


Sharks in the aquarium in one of the malls


A closer view of the tallest building.


Okay so on to our family vacation in Bahrain, a small island to the west of us. Bahrain was much like Doha in size but they are much more liberal....you can drink in any restaurants and seeing people in traditional dress was not as common. But really, Bahrain was slightly boring. There was not much to do and there are surprisingly few beaches for an island. However, the people were fabulous and we had a good time just being together. keith has been working almost every day since we got back from Christmas in the states and it was nice to see him relax.

The Pool




Keith and Max. Max does not like the flash


Mom and dad enjoy a night out to dinner


Around town




Last but not least, George. We have decided that we will take picture of George in every country we visit while we are overseas. Max never goes anywhere without him!