Dianna's Voice

A Win For the Lady Rams!

2012-01-24T00:35:00.000+03:00

Last Wednesday the VCUQ Lady Rams had a win over Texas A&M Qatar. It is cause for celebration because the girls haven't had a win yet this season. You can imagine the excitement after the game on the part of the girls and Coach Brett. When the players called an extra practice earlier in the week to prepare for this game, Brett wasn't as enthusiastic as he should have been, but it really helped, I think. Another factor in the win had to be the addition of our little white mascot Dixie (our new puppy) who stole the players away from the pre-game pep talk but gave them lots of good luck licks. Even though she and I left before the game finished (because apparently dogs aren't allowed in the student center, but dogs aren't allowed anywhere in Qatar, especially parks, but falcons ARE allowed in the cabins on Qatar Airways), Abbey stayed on to finish taking pictures.

This team has heart, that is for sure. They push each other and they push their coach. Sometimes they are disappointed when their hard work doesn't pay off or they don't get to play as much as they would like to, but when there is finally a win to advertise, it all seems worth it.

Having said that, Coach Brett is still planning on showing the team a clip from the movie "A League of Their Own" where Tom Hanks says, "There's no crying in baseball!" Just like Tom Hanks' character is a little out of touch with his feminine athletes, Coach Brett might be slightly clueless about the emotion women athletes have to muster in order to compete, but he is learning, along with the Lady Rams, about what it takes to be a team, win or lose.

Abbey's Biathlon

2012-01-22T18:42:00.000+03:00

Abbey participated in a biathlon last week during P.E. The ASD P.E. Department held one last year, and it was such a hit with parents and students, they decided to make it an annual event. This is supposed to help the students get prepared and motivated to participate in the triathlon that they hold in the spring for parents and students. I don't know if Abbey came away ready to take on that kind of challenge, but she really pushed herself, buddied up with her friend who was feeling reluctant, and came away proud of her finish time.

I am just amazed at the wonderful programs The American School of Doha provides for our students. They really build strength, confidence, talent, and determination, and I'm not just talking about the P.E. department. Thanks, ASD for pushing our children and providing such a positive "American" atmosphere for so many blessed students to learn!

Writer's Block

2012-01-12T00:30:00.000+03:00

I have been in a funk lately with a bad case of writer's block, so I thought I would whip out my handy Writer's Notebook that Abbey gave me for Christmas last year (as in 2010) and get my writing juices flowing. Poetry always does it for me so here is a rough draft for today. I'm publishing it so that I will have some accountability and motivation to keep writing, oh, and so I can go through these simple steps of the writing process that Abbey has so thoughtfully provided in the front of my notebook. Man, I love her!

SANCTUARY

When you're not here
There is
No real estate for me to settle,
No foundation to build on,
No firmament to spread my roots.
So I wander from room to room,
From thought to emotion to
Distraction.

Slowing my breath down is difficult
And so I am shallow in my
Inhilations,
Expectations,
Celebrations.
They are all diminished and
Cautious with calculations
And measured pleasure
Since my horizon has no sunrise until
You
Step through the threshold and
Pour your
Cemented soul next to mine.

Then the tranquil nesting can resume
With brilliant plans of grand designs
For modest home improvements,
Well overdue upgrades and
Mindful interior expansions.

Please don't confuse -
The solitary solace is needed.
But when the paint has finally dried
And the inspections are complete
Then is the time for cooperated
Ebullient efforts to
Slowly take over so that the
Structure can stand in balance and beauty,
In tandem with all the individual
Nail gun wounds smoothed,
The insulation in place
Against extended harsh elements,
So that the hoped for sunset can be
Miraculous and unfettered
Through the picture window of our
Sanctuary.

VCUQatar Women's Basketball 2011-2012

2011-12-06T22:18:00.001+03:00

It's basketball season already and this one proves to be another building year at VCUQ. The girls' basketball team lost quite a few players from last year who graduated, but change and new challenges are constant. On to victory, right?

Speaking of changes, head coach Jesse Ulmer stepped down this season to devote more time to his newest and most important occupation of being a new dad. Congratulations to Jesse and Felicity and welcome to sweet little Dakota Lilly! Jesse will be missed tremendously. He has been the fire under these very inexperienced players for the last few seasons and, along with his wife Felicity, has built this program from the ground up. Brett now has the responsibility of carrying on and taking these women over new hurdles as the new head coach.

The Lady Rams started their season off this last Sunday with a game against The American School of Doha. Now to understand why a university is playing a high school team you will need to read my previous posts about this remarkable women's basketball program. These women have come so far and continue to amaze me at their strength, courage, and tenacity, even in the face of much more experienced opponents. They started Sunday's game with five players and increased to six by the end of the first quarter. That didn't give much room for resting players and rotating fresh ones in. Their work was definitely cut out for them.

Yes, they were tired.

Since ASD has won every time these two teams have met, the girls were just hoping to compete with themselves and do better than last year.

There are a couple of new players this year and they have a little more experience than previous team members have had when they joined. There was a positive spirit in the team the whole night and they kept fighting, even after one of the girls had to sit out most of the second half because of illness.

The excitement brought out the ASD gym cat who patrols the bleachers for snacks and entertainment.

Their goal was to hit the 20 point mark and this photo shows their last basket of the game, reaching that milestone. They came up short in the end, but it was a good effort for the VCUQ Lady Rams. Hopefully there will be more players at future games and some more wins to add to the record books. I will keep you posted. Go Rams!

Do Your Homework Before Moving to Qatar

2011-11-21T17:40:00.001+03:00

If you are considering a job opportunity in Qatar please read this informative article about the dangers of working in Qatar. I have seen this happen to too many of my friends. There is a definite risk one takes when coming here and working for the Qatari government or a Qatari based company. Do your homework and contact former employees to find out what their experience was like. There are many who have good working experiences here, but the few who don't have a TERRIBLE situation that is not easily resolved. We are blessed because Brett works for VCU in Virginia and they pay his salary. They are the ones who will give him a release to leave the country when the time comes for us to move on.

Unfortunately, there are so many stories like the ones in this article and it paints a very bleak picture of employee's rights in Qatar. I had a friend who had to escape the country when her exit visa was revoked because she complained about the government owing her thousands of dollars. When the situation was finally over she just felt lucky to be out of the country. The $6000 or so that she lost became secondary, especially since she had a job waiting for her in London. I think some people jump into a job here because they are enticed by the idea of not having to pay taxes (which is most often a myth because we DEFINITELY pay U.S. taxes) and the high salaries they can earn. It is a gamble that sometimes goes wrong. It is always good to know what cards the other players hold if you are going to gamble so make sure everything is spelled out. Sadly, many divisions of the Qatari government as well as Qatari individuals are creating a tarnished worldwide reputation of unethical business dealings and it will eventually have an impact on this small country. If it continues I don't know how they are going to get all the projects finished for the World Cup 2022. Remember - eyes wide open.

Photo of the Week

2011-11-20T21:27:00.001+03:00

I bought this interesting item at Carrefour last week. I was intrigued and confused by the barbecue flavor being advertised with the picture of two strips of bacon underneath. The tag line that says, "with Vitamins" just makes me giggle, especially because vitamins is capitalized. So I can convince myself that this is a health food item, right? In Utah there is a potato chip company named Clover Club. I wonder how they would feel about this competitor?

On a related note, have you heard the rumor going around Doha that Qatar will soon have pork products for sale? Maybe as soon as January 2012. They will only be sold to non-muslims, of course, but that will be a big deal if it actually happens. I heard this rumor via facebook, so take it for what it is worth. My friend, who is leaving Doha in January, posted that she went to turn in her liquor license at the one place in Doha where expats can buy alcohol (other than at the hotels) and was told that she might want to hang on to the license because pork is coming. So I guess that means that buying it will require a liquor license?! Huh? Maybe Katrina needs to give me a little more information on how it will all work. Either way, I really don't know what I am going to tell my Mormon bishop when he confronts me about being seen coming out of the liquor store carrying cases of products to my car. It will all be in the name of the Relief Society Hawaiian luau after all. . .

I know they sell pork products in Dubai and you can get pork in some restaurants in Abu Dhabi, so this isn't unheard of in the Middle East, but it will be nice not to have to lug that frozen Easter ham labeled "beef" in my luggage after Christmas from the U.S. Just kidding censors! Calm down. I would never do that, but I do know people who have. And just so you know, the unique corn snack tastes nothing like barbecue or bacon. In fact, it didn't taste all that much like corn either. Ahhh, truth in advertising.

Abbey Turns 11 on 11-6-11

2011-11-09T23:18:00.001+03:00

She has grown up so quickly and this last Sunday was just another reminder that our little girl is not such a little girl anymore. It was her birthday and as usual it pricked my heart with memories. I have always tried to tell each of our children, on their birthday, the story of their birth as their bedtime story - what happened on that day, how everyone felt, and what it was like to welcome each of them into our family. This year, as usual, Abbey sat transfixed as I told her about her arrival on a cold, blustery November day in 2000. She is in love with that story and especially in love with the part about everyone coming to adore her as they met her for the first time. She looks worried when I tell her how she didn't breathe on her own at first and I had to tell her to breathe. She gets a big smile when she hears the part about how Ben was the first one to hold her after Brett and I did. Then she giggles when I tell her how nervous he was and was afraid he would drop her. She always looks surprised when she hears how Kristy held her and told her that she was beautiful and perfect. And the story goes on from there.

At Halloween Abbey got accused of being too old to trick-or-treat by one of our neighbors, but she just smiled and held out her bag anyway. She has often been expected to act older than she is because of her tall, long-legged frame. When she told me about the comment from our neighbor I wanted to go to his door and explain how wrong he was but I didn't. I did get a little more upset about it than I should have though. I guess you probably know why . . . well, Abbey's birthday was only a few days away and I was going to argue with anyone who put my baby in the "too old" category for enjoying any holiday as a kid.

Well, her big day didn't turn out to be very exciting because Brett and I were in the middle of dealing with the flu and all its fun. Brett mustered up enough strength to take Abbey and two of her friends to the movie, and all she wanted from me was strawberry pancakes for breakfast and a red velvet birthday cake. Ha! Easier said than done, but I was going to do all I could not to burst her bubble of innocence and confidence in me. I was going to make that breakfast and bake that cake, even if it killed me, and it nearly did. My flu tried to turn into pneumonia the next day, but some well-timed antibiotics staved that off luckily.

The pancake breakfast turned out okay, but as you can see from the pictures, the cake wasn't pretty. (And you must know that it takes a confident woman to publish these photos on the internet among all the perfect Suzy Homemaker fantasy blogs.) The recipe I used was from a reliable internet source but sometimes, no matter what, the whipped cream (that is essential in the frosting recipe) in this part of the world cannot be counted on. But being the wonderful girl Abbey is, she took it all in stride and called it her most memorable avalanche birthday cake ever. Then she told me that her birthday wish when she blew out the candles was going to be that her mom and dad get well. BIG points scored with that one!

A special thanks has to go to the Straight family for wanting to be in on the festivities and Skyping with us so they could help sing "Happy Birthday" and Jalisa could cheer Abbey on as she tried to blow out the candles. Thanks, Jim, Jennifer, Jalisa, and even Sammy the cat for being our chosen family even while we are so far away.

Speaking of how wonderful Abbey is, I have to hand it to her. She lives around expat kids who get a birthday party every year along with too much of everything else. Maybe it's because their parents are trying to compensate for not being able to live at "home", or maybe it is this way in the states as well and children are just overindulged, but whatever it is, these kids are SPOILED. Brett and I have been determined not to let that happen with our Abigail, so the birthday party is one thing we have held back on. Our older kids had maybe three birthday parties each the whole time they were growing up and that was plenty for them, for me, and especially for our budget. Even though our budget is a little better off these days, we have told Abbey that she isn't going to have a big party every year with her friends. She isn't happy about it but she understands and doesn't complain. In fact she gets involved and plans her own birthday activities. When Brett and I suggested we all go to the movies she said, "No offense guys, but I really don't want to hang out with adults all day on my birthday." Yeah, Abbey! I love it when my children know what they want and stand up for it. I hope she continues to be excited about and immersed in writing the rest of her "story" as she grows up. She is extraordinary and I continue to sit back in amazement as she conquers her world. And Mr. So Wrong Neighbor out there . . . Abbey will let you know when she is done with trick-or-treating, but luckily, this wasn't the year.

November is Diabetes Month

2011-11-02T06:32:00.000+03:00

Take THAT Diabetes! Happy Diabetes Month Everyone! Remember to wear blue on Fridays to show your support.

Ten MORE Things You Should Know About Qatar Before Moving Here

2011-10-30T16:02:00.000+03:00

We have been living in Qatar since August of 2008 so that almost makes us veterans in the expat scene. The most difficult part of this life (and there are quite a few) would have to be the good byes. We have said good bye to so many good friends and continue to do that way too much. Having said that, our short time here almost qualifies us as experts in this country. Unfortunately, it also makes us notice the unusual, quirky, or remarkable aspects of life here less often.

Over the last few weeks I have tried to attune my eyes and ears to that of the new expat once again. I don't want to ever get complacent about the experience we are having. I want to always be able to notice the crazy signs and get indignant and moved by the vast social inequalities around me. So here is another edition of what you should know about this country before jumping in to its culture as a full-fledged immigrant. Now keep in mind that I am writing from an American expat perspective and one whose first overseas experience (we hadn't even vacationed outside the U.S. before) was moving to Qatar.

1. There are only a few places in this world where you can tell how hot it is outside by getting in the shower and feeing the temperature of the "cold" water.

2. Going into a public restroom is always an adventure in Qatar and you might just want to take some fishing waders with you. Now this might be an indelicate subject, one to steer clear of when blogging on a public website, but no, I want to save someone the shock and surprise that we experienced when we found ourselves outside of the "modern" restroom environments we were used to.

So why are waders necessary? Well, in order to accommodate those folks who are used to a nice bidet, without actually providing one, the "Restroom Board of Trustees" for this part of the world have instituted spray hoses that are conveniently placed right next to the toilets so that those who want to can have a refreshing "spray down" after they have done their business. And why is this a problem? Well, the floor, toilet seat, flushing handle, and the walls end up wet and covered with . . . well the personal germs of the hundreds of people who sat there before. Yes, there is a drain on the floor but there is plenty of residual collateral damage and it ends up on the bottom of my pants after I pull them down (sorry for the graphic language) and anything else that must touch the areas described above. This isn't anything that would be solved by a hygienic toilet seat cover either. It would require a mop, bucket, and plenty of disinfectant. I try to wipe things down on our visits now, but to do it properly would require A LOT of tissue, and sometimes that isn't so plentiful. Make sure and carry your own at ALL TIMES.

Soon after we moved here, Brett, Abbey, and I were attempting one of our first grocery store visits to Carrefour, and half way through our wide-eyed hunt for food, Abbey told me she had to go to the bathroom. She was seven at the time so I couldn't expect her to hold it very long, so we ventured out of the store and into the Landmark mall to find the facilities. When we finally located them, the first door in the Ladies Room that I opened revealed this:

Needless to say, Abbey was not too keen on squatting (neither was I), so thinking that all the toilets were similar, we left. I grabbed Brett, we left our trolley full of groceries, and we made a beeline for home. It wasn't until later that I learned that there are two options in the restrooms. If I had opened the next door I would have found this, which is slightly more agreeable to our western persuasions:

Below is the type of facilities that are found in the villas we have lived in. Most have separate bidets, but some smaller bathrooms have the hose squirter thing - something I only ever associated with a kitchen sink before coming here. And by the way, don't expect your kitchen sink to have a garbage disposal. They are a bit of an oddity here. The noisy toilet paper holders are a big pain because the metal cover's purpose is to protect the toilet paper from getting wet but all it really does is prevent the user from getting a real grip on the paper. Another bit of info is that there are seldom real live bathtubs in the bathrooms. Of course showers are more water conservation friendly, so many villas are sans tubs. Some of my friends have had to plug the shower drain and let the water fill up the bottom of the shower so they could soak the dirt out of the fingernails and toenails of their little ones - ingenuity always pays off as an expat! (I will tell about using a toothpick and some gum to hang a wall clock on another post sometime.)

A bit cleaner, right?

3. I have always enjoyed going to the movie, but when we moved here we were warned that it was a very different experience, one that could equal a combat experience or at the very least a day in junior high. First of all, there is no reliable place to find out what movies are playing where and when. It is true that the movie timings (that is another word from this part of the world used in place of times) and selections are printed in the newspaper, and there is one movie theater with a website, but the published movies and times are seldom what is actually happening at the theater. The only reliable way to know this information is to actually go to the theater and buy the tickets. Even then, Qatar is highly changeable.

Another aspect to the Qatar movie experience is the amount of young men who go to the movie but don't really care to actually watch the movie. I have sat in many movies with men in thobes behind us talking on their phones and to each other with no quiet consideration at all. Because they go to movies repeatedly, they are seldom interested in the details of the plot so they use their movie time to catch up on their text messages and phone conversations. But they will gladly reveal plot surprises ahead of time for you. And it isn't just three or four young men who do this. It is most of them.

One time Brett took me to a movie for our anniversary and the talking was so loud that I had to speak up and ask the men politely to be quiet. (Brett avoids confrontation at all costs.) They didn't comply and almost got louder, so loud that we really couldn't follow the movie. We left and complained to the management. They wanted us to go back in with them and point out the men who were being disruptive. Now, because we live in a country with the most entitled individuals around, we really didn't want to participate in an impromptu line-up, so we asked if we could just go to a later showing. They agreed but it wasn't an easy process. When we sat down for the next showing the theater was again full of noisy young men, and before too long someone had thrown a half empty bucket of popcorn on my head.

So the moral to this story is that you should definitely bring your own DVD collection with you to Qatar because even if the difficult evening traffic and large crowds weren't a factor, the movie experience is pretty iffy here and expensive to boot. Now, if we do go to the movie, we try to go in the daylight hours and avoid the vampire society that rules the night scene here.

4. Fresh fruits and vegetables go bad quickly in Qatar. Bananas last only about two days before they are spotted and ready for the banana bread recipe. Gone are the days when I could buy two weeks worth of groceries and pull out a tomato from the fridge on day 12 and have it still be nice and firm. I don't know if it is because most of the produce comes such a long distance to get here or if they just don't use preservative sprays or artificial hormonal stuff like they use in the U.S. (which could actually be a good thing) but it makes for a very complicated way of obtaining fresh ingredients.

5. Speaking of food, even boxed items are not guaranteed to be fresh here. There are many times when I have purchased boxed cereal with the use by date still in effect, but somehow the cereal just tastes wrong. I don't know if it has to do with how the products are transported, but sometimes I can just taste a chemical smell. It could be all in my head, but because the Middle East is full of oil fields, sometimes I just smell oil when I open that box of Corn Flakes that may or may not have been part of an oil tanker's cargo.

6. As an expat, I continue to meet new people. Unfortunately, I seldom meet any Qataris. Brett is lucky because he gets to know some of them through his teaching position at VCUQ but me, my circle of influence is limited. Even though I don't socialize with the local crowd, I do get to meet many different types of people from all over the world. When we moved here I was unaware of a widespread custom of greeting when being introduced to new people: the double kiss

My first big goof with this was when I met the sister of one of my neighbors. Felicity's sister Mel had just moved to Qatar from England, and when Felicity introduced us, Mel drew close to me as if to hug me but instead went for the double air kiss on each side of my face. Because I thought we were hugging I drew up a little too closely for her comfort and half hugged, half kissed Mel in introduction. I was totally awkward and stiff with this bungled greeting, and even though Mel was gracious and kind about it, I felt like a total dork.

This custom of saying hello still seems to allude me, so as I meet with friends from around the world, they just continue to be patient and indulgent with me because they know me now and know that I am awkward even in my own culture, doing my own kind of hello.

7. I've heard Qataris described as the rednecks of the Middle East - kind of the Arabic Beverly Hillbillies if you will. I think that description comes from the fact that they are relatively new to their seemingly endless wealth and they love their double-wide trailers out by the dunes where they can try out their latest, "Look what I can do!" with their vehicle of choice. Along with that derogatory nickname comes the overwhelming desire to disprove it and it seems like the Qatari powers that be (Sheikah Mozzah) are determined to make Qatar the cultural capital of this region. They are spending enormous amounts of money to make this a reality. The Museum of Islamic Art is one example of this. It is a beautifully expensive structure, designed by I.M Pei, which totally outshines the art within, so they seem to be operating under the Field of Dreams mantra of "If you build it, they will come." Now with the World Cup 2022 being awarded to Qatar the projects going on here are almost unbelievable. While some people have started to describe Dubai as the Las Vegas of the region they now say Doha is becoming the Manhattan of the Middle East.

This mantra has made this city a very interesting place to be with a lot of enrichment going on. Katara is a reproduction of a Qatari village but it has big events of affluence and prestige that happen there. Just this weekend it was host to the Doha Tribeca Film Festival. We were lucky enough to get some tickets from VCUQ, but people come from all over the world to attend, and boy was the red carpet out - literally and figuratively.

This is the film we saw. It was so good and really touched my German heart.

The film's directors/screenwriters, who are sisters and wrote this semi-autobiographical script, and two of the actors.

8. Many of the local fast food restaurants have boxes of tissues at each table instead of paper napkins and that is what you are supposed to use. It seems to be a Middle Eastern thing because they did it in Jordan as well.

9. I must say something about the driving conditions here. I've heard it was worse before we arrived, but that is unimaginable. I've heard that it is worse in India or Nepal, but when I am driving on D-Ring Road and a Landcruiser flashes its lights behind me signaling me to get over, the panic in my heart tells me it couldn't be worse anywhere.

I have seen a car at the side of a somewhat busy road that was cut in half from a recent accident. In fact, smashed cars are a common sight as you drive these roads. I have been in many close calls - MANY, but our family prayers each morning and evening have become very specific as we ask for protection from the the traffic issues we cannot control, and dare I say it, I haven't been in an accident yet.

One secret of safe driving here is to assume that you will be cut off, insulted, and totally ignored by other drivers. Drivers as well as pedestrians move out into a lane and THEN look. Another secret is to have a big car. I thank my husband every day for letting me drive our Nissan Xterra so that I can have some "wasta" on the road. He seems to do okay in our Honda Civic because he is a man and automatically receives more respect as a driver. Women need a little more bulk to back up their driving here, so be prepared.

Another driving issue here is the amount of road construction that is going on. Because they are busily preparing for the World Cup 2022 the city has exploded with projects. They don't seem to be keeping track if people can actually get out of their compounds or to their work or schools. There just is no forethought with project planning or even planning the roads. A certain section of road will finally be finished and then they tear it up again because it needs a merging lane. Why didn't they think of that before?!! Then there is the "freeway" system here. The exit lanes merge off in the same lane where there is an entrance lane just behind it. People drive anywhere from 40 KMPH to 120 KMPH on this so called freeway so it can be very dangerous if I am trapped behind a very slow driver and then have a Qatari LandCruiser speed demon come up behind me with his lights flashing and there is no where to get over.

10. Lastly, you should remember that a sense of humor is the most important quality to have in order to live happily in a place like this. If you aren't able to laugh at some of the things that happen here, you are going to spend a lot of time crying and feeling frustrated. With that said, there are those "Doha Days" when you just have to give up and wave the white flag. You won't get all your to do list finished most days. You won't be able to find that allen wrench you need to tighten the screws on your new table. There isn't anything like Home Depot, Ace Hardware, or even Jiffy Lube here. Nothing is jiffy or convenient. This fact forces us to take things a little slower and often give in to the Qatari mentality that time is elastic. So if you are moving here, remember your flexibility and bring it in large quantities. You will need it in great supply to go along with your smiles at the ironies that fill this crazy country.

Yes, She's in Fifth Grade!

2011-10-22T22:14:00.006+03:00

This is quite late to be posting pictures of Abbey's first day of fifth grade back in September, but it has to be done, especially before her 11th birthday in a couple of weeks. I can't believe my baby is this tall, leggy, beautiful pre-teen already.

On the first day of school we got to meet and take a photo with Dr. Deb Welsh who is the Director of ASD, so that was pretty cool. Abbey's new 5th grade teacher is Abbie Taylor who has a fun, organized style.

I think Miss Abigail is learning a lot already and really getting ready for middle school, which is just next year here in Doha. Her favorite classes in school are P.E., music, and language arts and her favorite color has changed to green. Her teacher is doing Writer's Workshop where the students write every day about any topic they want in their writer's notebook and then develop some of those quick writes later. Last week she wrote this:

A Blank Page

I look at this page,

all blank and pagie,

it's hardly filled

except for the

Date, title, and this.

The page shouts

"Ha! Only 3/4 of me

Has been scribbled on!"

I shout back saying,

"One day I will

conquer you!"

I write and write.

Page, soon you will not be blank.

The Page shivers

at the thought of it.

I am almost done!

Well ha, there Page,

you have been conquered!

and finally the page

surrenders sadly.

The adventure of this new school year is well under way and the busy-ness of it all has kicked into full force. She is taking piano lessons at the International Centre for Music from a Russian teacher named Natasha, so that has been a new and interesting experience for Abbey as well. Her piano progress seems to have taken a jump, so we are pleased. Music seems to be an integral part of Abbey's personality. Even though she fights practicing, once she starts, she gets lost in playing her assigned songs and also improvising and creating her own tunes. I am so proud of my sweet Abbey and only wish she would stay little a little bit longer, but none of my children have wanted to go into the deep freeze to halt their rapid march to maturity, so I don't know why I think she might. I am just glad she lets me read to her at night and enjoys regular cuddles.

Birthdays Get Better Every Year

2011-10-12T22:12:00.000+03:00

When I turned 16 (in the middle ages) I had high expectations for the big day. I was going to drive myself everywhere with my new driver's license, look and feel beyond beautiful, a certain boy was going to come to my house with chocolates, flowers, and an official "sweet sixteen" request to be my first date, and I was going to finally be grown up. Well, I was so grown up that the day ended in tears; no boys lined up outside my door in a frenzy to be my first date mate, and even though I got to drive around the small town of Cedar City, Utah that day, it was probably only to take my mom to the chiropractor.

For this year's birthday last month Brett had to go to a lecture at the university so he asked if he could take me to dinner the next night. I was kind of bracing myself for a quieter day but it wasn't that way at all. Abbey and Brett made me a yummy strawberry/peach pancake breakfast complete with whipped cream and a certificate for a massage at the Ritz Carlton (oh, I can't wait!).

Because Brett had been so busy with work the week before my birthday he hadn't had time to take Abbey to get me a gift. When she woke up that morning her face was crestfallen. Her sadness tore me up and I was quick to reassure her that she was the best gift she could ever give to me. After saying that, her face lit up with pleasure and she rushed into the kitchen. Instead of dawdling to get ready for school she made her own lunch and let me enjoy breakfast. That was probably my favorite gift of the day, and if she only knew how much I hate making lunch every morning, she would have known what a treat it was for me. She gave of herself that day and it was the perfect expression of her love.

Another sweet person gave of herself that day, my neighbor and friend Afton. First, she picked up Abbey from school so that Brett could play hooky from work in the afternoon and take me to see The Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I like science fiction movies and this was an especially good one. I really like James Franco because he is not the typical actor type with all his Ivy League degrees and genius I.Q. and the story was very interesting and character-driven. And of course it was nice to have Brett all to myself in the middle of the day. Then Afton, after doing research on what my favorite birthday cake is, made me a lemon pie - without the meringue just the way I like it. She and her children brought it over and then sang "Happy Birthday" to me. I even got some little kid loves and it was so sweet. Abbey entertained the kids by making them into an impromptu choir and Afton and I got to chat for awhile. She is the most thoughtful, most patient friend ever (she often shares her delicious cooking with us), and I hope to grow up to be just like her someday.

That night Abbey and I had our own birthday date while Brett was at his lecture and we went out to get gelato at the new Alaska Gelato place close to our villa. What more could a girl want than lemon pie and gelato on her birthday? Oh, and then we read together from The Chronicles of Narnia.

The next night Brett took me out to the Pearl, which is the richest and most exclusive area in Qatar. I didn't quite feel like we fit in there but it was a beautiful setting for a celebration. The restaurant was not Arabic, not Lebanese, not Turkish, not even Iraqi or Thai. It was French! Les Deux Magots. Oh yum! There was even an unexpected guest who visited our table and almost made me scream: a lizard. Small rodents or reptiles are kind of the equalizing factor all over the world. No matter how fancy or uppity your establishment, an uninvited guest like that at anyone's table could be reason enough for a free meal. Maybe we should have tried. At least the food was so delicious we forgot about the lizard visit.

I think his name was Pierre.

Crab appetizers

Beef tenderloin for Brett!

Sea bass for me!

I can't remember the name of this decadent delight but it was heavenly.

Brett ate his dessert before I could snap a picture of it! Yes, it was that good.

We explored The Pearl a little bit, but it was pretty humid that night.

And guess what Brett surprised me with at the end of the night . . . . the photo above is a clue . . . Well, I had you for a second, didn't I?

At sixteen I never would have imagined that an old lady Grandma Dianna birthday could be so wonderful. But birthdays are much better now, now that I really am "mature" and my expectations don't resemble something from a fairy tale. It is funny how that works though. The less I expect my life to be a Molly Ringwald or Meg Ryan movie, the more it becomes something worth living, something that brings my own dreams to life and I get to be the star in my own story line.

Modern Art Museum Qatar

2011-10-06T17:49:00.000+03:00

Have you heard of Mathaf? It is the new museum of modern art in Qatar and we finally paid a visit. I wasn't expecting much, because, well, this is Qatar, but I wasn't disappointed. It is a great diversion for the art, color, and culture-starved population of Doha. It is located just outside of Education City, so there's no need to pass through any official looking gate and leave your I.D.; you can just drive into the small, empty parking lot, like we did, and get your fill of pointillism, impressionism, and abstractism (and yes, those are all words in the high-falootin art world). The best part of the whole experience is that it is free, so you are only spending your time, and to me, it is worth it. You can visit the website here to get more specifics and see a video about the museum.

From the looks of the photo above, Mathaf is not much to look at, but when you drive into the compound and walk across the parking lot, this is what you see.

The Guardian of the Fertile Crescent by Ismail Fattah (deceased) and finished by Ali Nouri.

Al-Safina (the ship) by Adam Henein

The outer courtyard seems very Egyptian-esque in its presentation but maybe there are some baby Stonehenge influences as well.

In the lobby of the museum there are gigantic paintings of the Qatari emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani and his wife Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned by Yan Pei-Ming. They are impressive and Brett really liked the style the artist used. They are one of the few items I was allowed to photograph, so I can share them here:

Another lobby exhibit:

Another appeal of this museum is that it isn't so big that the amount of art to investigate is overwhelming. We spent maybe 90 minutes and had a quick look at all the exhibits. If Abbey hadn't been with us we might have spent a little more time, but her opinion was, and I quote, "This is just a quick glance museum."

Yes, even the signage was artsy!

Because photography of the exhibits is not allowed, I cannot give you any visuals from the other exhibits but I thought they were interesting and inspiring. It is great to see Middle Eastern artists being recognized in this way. The local culture seems so mired in tradition that it was refreshing to see some more contemporary interpretations of the Middle East.

As we left, we again enjoyed the outer courtyard, but this time in the dwindling sunlight. The setting sun gave it a whole new look. And just as the desert breathes a sigh of relief as twilight approaches, so did we, having had our artistic cups filled with a few more drops of local culture.

21 Things About My Invisible Illness

2011-09-18T09:53:00.002+03:00

It is said that 50% of the U.S. population suffer from some kind of invisible illness. This is invisible illness week so I thought I would share 21 things about how I deal with Type 1 Diabetes. And why 21 instead of 30? Well, I was diagnosed 21 years ago this month.

1. The illness I live with is: Type 1 Diabetes
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 1990 (September)
3. But I had symptoms since: Three months before
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: having to spend so much time taking care of myself.
5. Most people assume: that I did something to cause it. After I was first diagnosed I had a close family member tell me that I probably got diabetes because of the anti-depressant I started taking the previous winter. People like to find reasons for things that usually have no identifiable reason. Also, people often assume that I have Type 2 Diabetes because I am overweight and I was 26 when I was diagnosed.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: that they come! I am a true Night Owl.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Glee? Not medical, but my ER days are over and my own life is enough medical drama for me.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My insulin pump, my new Dexcom CGM, and my new compass in my car - an archaic GPS system for a girl who now lives in the Middle East but is used to living in the Rocky Mountains and establishing her whereabouts with peaks and valleys
9. The hardest part about nights are: making myself give up on the day and actually going to bed.
10. Each day I take: one vitamin, and five other pills, and of course insulin infusion.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: I think alternative treatments have their place but when a few of the health "experts" in my family try to convince me that my type of diabetes can be cured through diet, exercise, or the homeopathic drop of the month, I get my back up and stand more firmly behind science and traditional medicines.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Both? It is nice being somewhat incognito with my illness, but there are times when I wish diabetes could have a more visible, public, heart-breaking appeal so that researchers, rich donors, and governments would be more motivated to find a cure. Which Hollywood mogul is going to wear the diabetes ribbon on his or her awards ceremony designer fashion and pound the pulpit of awareness? Even the celebrities who have diabetes are pretty quiet about it. I bet Wilford Brimley comes to mind when you think of diabetes, but what about Mary Tyler Moore, Halle Berry, Nick Jonas, and Salma Hayek? I think that because this disease is perceived as so "manageable," along with those who suffer from it, the world does not make it a passionate priority. Maybe we need to get more rowdy fellow diabetics!!!
13. Regarding working and career: I used to be a junior high English teacher, in fact one of the biggest reasons I went back to school and chose a stable career in teaching is because I knew I would receive health benefits. We had no health insurance when I was diagnosed, so when I landed my first teaching job I felt so blessed to finally have help with my medical costs. Unfortunately, teaching is a rigorous profession and physically demanding. One of the many reasons we moved to the Middle East is so Brett could make enough so I wouldn't have to work and I could concentrate on taking care of my health. Has it worked? Well, that is another blog post entirely.
14. People would be surprised to know: How much time, money, and energy it requires to be a proactive diabetic. Insurance only goes so far. Sometimes I fantasize about all the Hawaiian vacations we could have gone on with the money we spend on diabetic care. I also fantasize about being Elasti Girl too, but that isn't all about diabetes.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Limitations. I have never been good with missing out on anything. My mom tells me that I never liked going to bed as a child and it probably was because I couldn't stand to not be in the middle of things. So sometimes diabetes has waved its annoying hand in my face and forced me to lie down, rest, cancel a fun appointment, and on one vacation, miss hours of Disneyland fun.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: travel to less than modern countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Jordan, and live in the Middle East. Yes, it is possible to take a year's worth of insulin on a commercial airline in my carry-on bag.
17. The commercials about my illness: are lame and frustrating and don't seem to educate the public about the diversity in the diabetes community. Do you still use the term "juvenile diabetes?"
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: making my own insulin.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: My freedom from gadgets. I'm not one of those women who is glued to her iPhone. I would rather not have to recharge any battery, EVER, but it seems that the longer I have this disease the more bionic I become. I tote my insulin pump on my right hip and my Dexcom on my left. I often feel like a pink version of Clint Eastwood ready for a blood sugar gun fight at any time.20. My illness has taught me: I am stronger and weaker than I thought and has made my life and the miracles of my working body parts so much more precious. And I CAN do difficult things, even when my blood sugar is hovering at 32. I don't recommend it, but I have done it.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Leave the house without a giant purse full of diabetic supplies and probably jump into the pool without worrying that I am ruining a $5000 gadget - yes, I've done that.

You too can share about your invisible illness by going here and answering the simple questions. You don't have to be as wordy as I have been and you might get through all 30 questions!

July 4th 2011

2011-09-15T23:00:00.003+03:00

We were jumping with activity this last July. We celebrated Independence Day the way all good Americans do - with fireworks, a parade, licorice, salt water taffy, and hot bursts of country love and gratitude. Abbey and our grandchildren were especially fun to be with and we watched the day through their eyes. Unfortunately, Brett sprained his ankle a few days before the holiday, so he either had to hop along with the activities or sit them out. Our family loves the traditions of the day and we enjoyed being together in spite of the July heat and the sticky sunscreen.

Highlights of our 4th of July:

Definite highlights were buying light sabers for my grandsons (and Abbey) and watching the Centerville fireworks show while cuddling with my invalid hubby who braved the crowds in spite of the crutches.

Yes, the licorice was enjoyed by everyone.

Did you know licorice could be functional as well as tasty?

Even the five month old had a short taste!

The crowd was WILD for parade action . . . well, maybe wild is too strong of a word.

Kimball loved the opening of the parade the best. Floats and bands just can't compete with police sirens, fire trucks, actual policemen, a red flamed sheriff's car, and F-16 jets doing a fly over.

Abbey loves being an aunt!

Jared kept his little bundle away from the sunshine and got some good cuddles in the process.

The boys were thrilled when they saw the same green car they had seen at the car show in the park a few days before.

Our Bountiful Stonecreek Stake had a beautiful float entry (way to go Pam!) and actually won the Ensign Award at the Salt Lake Days of 47' Parade a few days later.

This was Kimball's brilliant invention. About half way through the parade he got tired of holding his bag of salt water taffy that had been thrown from parade entries, so he came up with his "Taffy Backpack."

It even got the big brother's approval!

Well, Millie's mug says it all: It was a sweet, sweet day, and as we watched the American flag wave in our front yard we felt grateful to be able to display our heritage, our nationality, and our freedom so proudly. Before living in the Middle East we took that for granted. I really like this quote from Erma Bombeck:

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. - Erma Bombeck

Ramadan Kareem 2011

2011-08-01T02:55:00.004+03:00

Tomorrow begins the month of Ramadan, which is a holy month of celebration, fasting, and introspection for Muslims around the world. There are Muslims all over the globe, but four years ago, I had never heard of Ramadan, and even if I had I don't think I would have spent any time finding out more about it. I lived a very secluded, sheltered life then.

Since moving to the Middle East I have become aware of so many cultures, religions, and even countries I had never known before. The diversity in the world is astounding yet there are so many commonalities too. I have seen many similarities among many religions. Mormons and Muslims have many things in common like believing in prophets, scriptures, and holding up the family as the rock of society. Muslims and Jews also have common ground like say . . . the same ancestors. The most difficult thing I have learned from my experience overseas is how even with so many values, beliefs, and practices in common, many people all over the world seem to look for divisive points to hold out and use as a wall or weapon against peace.

I was reading an interesting article about Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to be elected to the U.S. Congress in 2007. He said a very powerful thing:

"If you use your religion as an identity as opposed to a path to divine, inspirations and guidance, then you are no different than Crips and Bloods [gangs]," he said. "And I want to say that I mean that."

This statement impressed me because I think many people are guilty of using their faith as their identity, and then that identity as a comfort zone to surround themselves with sameness. Some Mormons I know are guilty of this and so are some Catholics, Muslims, Jews, and Hindus. I have been guilty of this at times, much to my dismay. Moving to Qatar definitely forced me out of my comfort zone, but I think I was ready for that. I was ready to be released from my shelter of familiarity that had almost ceased to bring the expected comfort because I knew better. I knew that my little bubble of understanding was not enough for my own growth and progress. Now I'm not saying that people who are born in one place and then stay there all their lives do not grow and progress. Many people are able to open up their minds and their hearts to new vistas even when they live in a smaller (in distance) circle of influence. I guess I am one of those people who has to learn through experience. Now I know what Ramadan is . . . the only catch though is that I'm not feeling too terrible about being in the U.S. for the duration of the Muslim holy month this year and I don't even feel guilty eating and drinking openly during daylight hours! I guess growth and progress come to all of us at varying speeds. :) So to my Muslim friends I say "Ramadan Kareem", and if you happen to come and visit me in Utah, I will not partake of food or drink in front of you, and I will fast along with you next Sunday, but I am pretty happy about not having to sip my water on the sly while I am out running errands.

Baby Flashdance

2011-07-21T05:38:00.000+03:00

She's a maniac, maniac . . .

. . . on the floor . . .

. . . and she's dancing like she's never danced before!

June's Best Diversions

2011-06-29T18:41:00.000+03:00

Millie Feet

TWO BEAUTIFUL Granddaughters

Bubble Blowing

Baby Kisses

Baby Naps (oh, how I love my triple chin!)

Baby Fashion Shows

Planting a (small) Garden (Kristy and Kimball really did it but I watched)!

Enjoying the new hammock . . .

And the new deck - see how it is rain soaked? The cool June temperatures were glorious!

Miss Beautiful

A sleep out on the tramp in a tent

They all look prepared, happy, determined, and brave but Jared was the only one who lasted all night.

Father's Day

Fun House Guests

Mary's Father's Day cupcakes, and yes, those are maple bacon cupcakes

A well-balanced baby

A visit from the Tooth Fairy

A back yard weeding party with hard workers

See how hard working she is?

Kimball's best find of the night

Aunt Abbey admiring the amazing treasure - what aunts do best

Fun was had by all - the smile is proof!

Relaxing and watching a lot of gorgeous

CLOUDS! Doha deserts are starving for them.

Lots of walking practice

Preparing for . . .

A certain granddaughter's 1st birthday blast.

Mom found her way to our home - first time in years!

Loving this son of mine

Enjoying Mary and Ben's hard work

And watching the most patient one year old actually enjoying the festivities

Mary did a beautiful job on the cake.

Tickling babies

Clapping for all the fun, the presents, the excitement, and the pure joy coming out of this blonde darling

Her gesture says it all, "Is that it?"

And applauding a mommy who worked like a professional party planner

These were the best June diversions ever! I just hope your June was equally spectacular.

The Perfect Hot Spot, for Bread, That Is!

2011-06-04T18:24:00.001+03:00

Finally, a positive use for the Middle Eastern sunshine of which we have more than our fair share. No, I didn't bake it out on the front porch but I almost could have on the 118 degree day. The bread turned out perfectly.

Doha 1st Ward Relief Society

2011-06-04T18:07:00.001+03:00

Last Saturday we had a Relief Society Meeting and it was wonderful. We had classes, great conversations, a lot of learning, a cooking demonstration, a slide show, and then a delicious luncheon. We even had a beautiful musical number from one sister's daughter who is visiting. The oboe is a beautiful instrument. The theme for the meeting was patterned after the "This Little Piggy" nursery rhyme. Ours was a little different though:

This Doha Sister went to MARKET,
This Doha Sister stayed HOME,
This Doha Sister had SEAFOOD,
This Doha Sister had NONE,
And this Doha Sister went, "WEE, WEE, WEE!" all the way home.

Can you guess what the classes were about?

Because our ward is somewhat like a college ward, with people leaving for the summer and then returning in the fall when school starts back up, this meeting was kind of a closing social or sorts. Many families are leaving our Doha Ward for greener pastures (literally). Every spring and fall there is a transition our ward goes through as families move on and new families begin their Doha experience, but this year seems to be especially busy. So we tried to enjoy each other as much as possible because the dynamics of this ward demand us to live in the great moments we have together.

Thanks to all our talented and energetic sisters (and young women) for setting up, advertising, teaching, organizing, cooking, and babysitting. We all had a great time. For those of you leaving our desert oasis we wish you well and hope your new adventures are blessed. We release you from our ward but not from our hearts. We send our love along with you.

Oh, and thanks to this guy for . . . well . . . being my support system with my Relief Society responsibilities and EVERYTHING else.

News Coverage of Elder Holland's 2011 Visit to the Middle East

2011-05-21T11:31:00.000+03:00

Here is a link to a report about Elder Holland's visit to the Middle East this last April. Jeffery R. Holland is one of the twelve apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, someone Mormons revere and love as an ordained witness of Jesus Christ. He has been here twice now since we have lived here - once before in 2009. Last time Sister Holland came with him and the Relief Society sisters enjoyed a shopping trip to the old souq with her. The Middle East political situation has changed a lot since that visit, so she didn't come this time. Or maybe she didn't come because she was spending time with grandchildren. Who knows?

It is amazing to know that the church is growing even here in a Muslim country where we cannot do missionary work. It is a great comfort to know that our prophet and the apostles know how much we need their support and encouragement here and come in spite of the risks. Elder Holland spent his time meeting with saints and building bridges with leaders and the communities here. The three meetings I was a part of with Elder Holland were very uplifting and I had about twelve pages of notes after I typed them all up. Again we got to shake his hand as we left the Doha meeting and thank him for coming and that was great. I never know what to say when I meet someone I admire and look up to. My tongue and personality get all goofy and I feel like a doofus when it is over. Oh well, I hope he has the gift of tongues so he could translate my blather into coherent thanks and gratitude.

Dutch Paintings Visit the Museum of Islamic Art

2011-05-17T17:28:00.002+03:00

Brett and I visited the Museum of Islamic Art last week and relished the temporary exhibit there, "Golden Age of Dutch Painting. Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum." I guess the very title of this museum creates a scarcity of exquisite artwork. Yes, they have a lot of astrolabes, rugs, ceramics, jewelry, and ornamental doors, but they do not have paintings of the human figure. I don't think the Renaissance ever reached the Muslim world, so the individual is underrepresented in this museum.

There is nothing like seeing a Rembrandt in person, only inches away from the cracked layers of century-filled brush strokes. The smirk on his self-portrait as the Apostle Paul (1661) captures his impish ego perfectly. There are more than 40 known painted self-portraits by him as well as dozens more works on paper. Either he was cheap and didn't want to waste money on models or he had a great admiration for his face in the mirror and didn't mind gazing at it for hours on end.

There are a few pieces by Frans Hals (portraits), Balthasar van der Ast and Adriaen van Utrecht (amazing still lifes - complete with animal life), Johannes Vermeer (The Love Letter) and Jan Steen (fun, action shots). Make sure you catch this exhibit before it leaves Doha on June 6. Oh, and if you go on a Monday, entrance to the exhibit is free!

Adriaen van Utrecht's "Still Life, 1644"

Balthasar van der Ast's "Still Life with Flowers"

Jan Steen's "The Merry Family"

Johannes Vermeer's "The Love Letter"

Make Way for Dohaland

2011-05-17T16:26:00.000+03:00

This massive demolition going on in downtown Doha is bringing about Dohaland. It sounds like an amusement park, I know, but really it is the redevelopment of the heart of the city into a modern, multi-functional environment. The link I have provided is not from the official Dohaland website because the project has now changed its name to Msheireb Properties and that is a mouthful. Besides, the official website is not quickly informative like the Qatar Living entry I found. I am the first one to say that Doha needs many facelifts, but seeing this kind of destruction, and knowing what havoc it is creating in the lives of many residents and businesses here, makes these photos somewhat somber.

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra

2011-05-03T15:31:00.002+03:00

Last week Brett and I had the best date we have ever had in this country. We went to the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra concert at Katara and it was heavenly. Maybe I am just starved for culture after living here for this long and not wanting to go out at night to avoid the awful traffic, or maybe it was just really good music. Whatever it was, I felt transported to a better world by the surroundings, the music, and of course, the company.

Katara is a cultural village that was built to preserve the old Qatari culture. I would say it is a cleaned up, way more expensive, luxurious version of their past. Just driving into the complex is a sensory experience. The water and beach are there ushering visitors into a more peacful setting from the noise of the city. The bricked walkways have colored lights paved right into the ground making it appear to be a bedouin fairy path. The concert was held in the beautiful Drama Theater, which seemed very small for an orchestra concert, but the audience didn't even fill up the seats sadly. The ceiling of the theater is covered with small lights and painted to look like the night sky, so we got the feel of being under the desert stars without all the blowing sand and hot temperatures. There were nibbles and drinks before the concert started and during intermission, so we felt very pampered with the Perrier water and salmon hors d'oeuvres.

As I looked through the concert program before the performance I got a little nervous because the first selection for the night was composed by an Arabic artist. I didn't think I could sit through a night of the whiny, screeching music that I have come to know as Arabic music. I had no need to worry though, because as the concert started, the musical gifts of the composer Marcel Khalife quickly woke up my senses to a new meaning of Arabic melodies. It was called Concerto for Rababa and Orchestra and it was divine. This is what Khalife wrote about his creation:

"For the rababa and the orchestra, I wrote music that slips out of its jealously guarded chamber at night, carrying songs that Arabs have long sung as they wandered between sand dunes and verdant oases - a spirit moved by trains of melody and rhythm. The rababa resonates with the rhythms of galloping purebreds, evoking the spirit's eternal hum. The rababa to the desert is like water to gazelles . . . . As if voyaging through desert vistas, I used the tradtional meters of Arabic poetry as rhythmic patterns to provide a measured form for the voice that wells up from the cauldron of passionate love. In doing so, and to help restore the glory of the rababa, I opened a doorway to the impossible, to a madness that reason woujld accept, lawlessness that morality does not abhor, a touch of chaos that can fit within an ordered structure, a sense of adventure that wisdom would tolerate, and a sense of delirium induced by melody."

He wrote a lot more about his piece, but as you can tell, he is quite a poet as well as a composer. His music really touched me, but the musicians made it really come alive. The guest soloist Hassan Moataz Al Molla played the rababa through the whole first half of the concert. Now what is a rababa, you ask? Well I didn't know what it was either until seeing for myself. You can see for yourself here from a recording of the concerto at Qatar National Day in December 2010. Do yourself a favor and watch - you won't be disappointed. Not only was his music haunting and magical that night, his performance was filled with pleasure and joyful connections with the other musicians. His eye contact with certain violinists, cellists, and the conductor communicated a rare gratitude and commraderie and it was obvious that he loves what he does. I loved what he did too.

After the posh intermission, when Brett got Marcel Khalife's autograph and we had some more fancy snacks, the orchestra continued with some Tchaikovsky, a movement from a Qatari composer called "Doha Secrets Symphony", some Khachaturian, a composition from the conductor called "Nile Bride", and then ended with a piece from Stravinsky. My favorite part of the second half was the piece by the conductor. I think it is rare to see a composer conduct his own creation but we did. Nader Abbassi is someone who makes his work look as easy as breathing in and out. He seems to pull the music from the orchestra with instinctual movements and gestures. His fluidity with his own music was especially impressive. Unfortunately Mr. Abbassi looked a lot like Dracula that night in his tux and tails, but his musical abilities made up for his vampire-like exterior.

The whole evening had been floaty and relaxing as we walked to our car, which is not easily done in a city like Doha, so I savoured it. It made me so happy and appreciative of other people's gifts and talents and thankful about how they are generous in sharing them with the parched souls of those of us sojourning in this desert wilderness.

Does Qatar Hold Elections?

2011-05-02T17:44:00.001+03:00

A couple of weeks ago these signs started showing up all over the city and created some curiosity in the expat community. People started making guesses about what they could mean. My favorite guess was a group of women who half jokingly said the signs were memorials for people who had died in car accidents in the roundabouts where they were posted. When they started seeing the same signs all over the city though, that kind of blew that theory out of the water. So what could they be? No English is included on any of the signs so the wondering continued until we could talk to a reliable Arabic speaker.

My reliable source told me that they are election signs for Doha City Council. Who knew there were ever elections in Qatar? I surely didn't. Other expat theories proposed that maybe this was a PR campaign for Qatar so that the world could see evidence of some democratic activity going on, something to stave off Qatar's own civil unrest, but since the citizens of Qatar are very happy to receive and spend their millions of riyals they receive from the government, there really are no worries here about protests from Qatari nationals. BUT if it was a PR campaign a few of us imagined that the emir would call in a few favorable people who were on his good side and tell them that they were going to run for office; then he would tell them if they were going to win and by how much. This is what some of us imagine democracy to be like under a Middle Eastern monarch, but then again, I haven't researched the government workings of Qatar so I am by no means an expert. I am very interested though, especially considering there is an abaya clad woman running for office, so I did a little research and found this.

Apparently there have been three elections in Qatar and the last one was in 2007 - that is why I have never seen campaign signs like these here before. As I researched the issue though I found out that this election is going to be more interesting, with a predicted higher voter turnout, than the previous ones. Because of the political climate in the Middle East these days, this new council to be elected will receive more power and legislative authority than ever before. So hooray for the democratic process taking place here in little old Qatar! Oh, and if you look closely under the sign with the woman candidate you will see a very smashed car - a perfect example of what this new Doha City Council can use its power to change!

Professor Brett

2011-05-02T16:57:00.000+03:00

Today marks the third VCUQ graduation that Brett has been involved in, but for the first time today, I finally got some photos of him in his fancy graduation duds ready for the big shindig. I had to coax him into letting me take pictures before he left for the Ritz Carlton this morning. Graduation is a very exclusive event here, only for graduates, their families, and VCUQ faculty and staff, so I haven't been on site to snap photos of Brett marching into commencement looking all knowledgeable and wise and stuff, so these shots at home will have to do. The fancy piece hanging around his neck is called a hood and the colors represent the university from which he graduated (University of Utah - red and white) and the degree he received (Master of Architecture - purple). Even though he was all decked out in his official academic regalia he couldn't put on a serious face to save his life, so enjoy the entertaining poses with Professor Brett and his trusty sidekick dog Fanny Freckles.

VCUQ Student Fashion Show 2011

2011-05-01T21:19:00.000+03:00

A few weeks ago I took my friend Rhonda to the annual VCUQ Student Fashion Show. This is always an interesting evening, one that I try not to miss. The first year I went was quite surprising because the guest fashion designer brought her collection of outfits that was created from cast off umbrellas (not my favorite) and the student collections were only slightly less eccentric. Last year I was in Utah for BYU Women's Conference and couldn't attend, so my friend Monique got to take a friend and see the spectacle without me.

My favorite part of the show is being able to be there on Ladies Only Night when some of the Arabic women let their carefully guarded beauty be seen by everyone there, including western women like me. The first year I went was almost too much to comprehend. There were an unbelieveable amount of sequins, cleavage, make-up, and hair-sprayed hair sculptures. I thought I had walked into a convention of . . . well, there is no way to put it delicately, so I won't. I have heard that the Qatari weddings are similar only on a grander scale with women dressed to impress each other, and the display of immodesty is almost shocking. I guess they look at these functions as their only public opportunity to "let it all hang out" and everything certainly does. I guess that is why the security for the evening was very over-the-top and our mobile phones and cameras were confiscated as we entered the door. My purse was searched more thoroughly there than at any airport I have been through!

At the beginning of the 2009 show it was announced that there were a few male models that would be coming out during the evening. The audience groaned with disapproval. Everyone was told that there would be fair warning and they would let us know before each section to give the ladies time to cover up. When it happened the first time there was a flurry of quick shayla and abaya placement before the male models made their entrances. Then the announcer got careless in the next section and forgot to mention the entrance of two more male models. You should have heard the gasps, small shrieks of surprise and horror as the Arabic women threw on their black coverings. Some women were incensed, and I thought for a minute there would be a mass exodus out the door, but when the Fashion Design Department Chair Sandra Wilkins came out and apologized for the mishap, the ladies settled down enough to make it through the rest of the collections.

Well the 2011 show was very different because first, the side show was tame in comparison to that first year I attended. Women took off their abayas but there was more modesty and more toned down outfits, hair, and make-up this time. Arabic women are so beautiful and I have always thought it a shame that they seem so determined to cover their natural beauty up with products, but that night there were some real goddesses there.

Another change was the collections themselves. The guest fashion designer was Bongiwe Walaza from South Africa and her collection was magnificent. There were pieces that regular women might be able to wear, that is if we could afford them. The guest model for the night was Tatum Keshwar, Miss South Africa 2008 and she was beautiful!

The student collections that followed were similarly appealing. A lot of the pieces were relatively modest and somewhat conservative, in a flamboyant sort of way that is. The fabrics were tailored, lacy, elegant, and glamorous. Can you say shoulder embellishments?! One designer, Khaltham Daham Al-Kuwari, designed for and dedicated her collection to Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser. She said, "Her role as a strong and empowering first lady, especially when it comes to creativity and knowledge, has inspired me to push my innovative boundaries to create a wardrobe fit for a queen."

Some of Khaltham Daham Al-Kuwari's designs

Dana Elhaj Ahmad, one of Brett's former students, had a very nice collection too. She based it on the suspenders and combined the opposites of structure and draping for her fashions. Interesting. Some items from the sophomore collection were downright laughable with hoodies for men made out of fake neon pink/yellow/green fur - icky! I wish I had pictures of all the collections to show you but you can see some of them on the VCUQ link I have included above.

Rhonda and I had an entertaining evening and enjoyed the beautiful nibbles at the reception afterward. We mingled with the models, designers, and VCUQ faculty like we were movie stars and even posed with one of the models for a picture outside the gigantic VCUQ main door. I am hopeful that Rhonda will send me a copy of that because I would love a pictorial souvenir of our moment when we both felt fatter than fat standing next to a size 0 youngster like her. Another adventurous part of our evening was when I got lost on the way home, but I will save that story for another post when I discuss aging related challenges. Don't miss that one. It is bound to be a snoozer!

Fun With Cats

2011-04-18T22:43:00.000+03:00

What do YOU do to combat jet lag? Me? Well, I just stay in my pjs way too long in the morning, put the cats up high in the bedrooom cabinet (it's their favorite thing) and then do a photo shoot. A nap usually follows that exhausting exercise. Ci Ci was compassionate enough to share her favorite hideout with the new fluff ball on the block. Apparently Baylee had a neck issue from sleeping wrong the night before, or maybe I just looked better to her at an angle. Believe me, I have felt at odd angles for a week and a half now with this jet lag. Does anyone have any good tips for getting over a ten hour time difference?

Yesterday's Happy

2011-04-18T13:49:00.001+03:00

Yesterday the door bell rang in the middle of the day, which is unusual, because Abbey was at school and she is the most popular one around here. As I opened the door I was greeted by three darling bunnies and they were bringing Easter greetings and paper Easter eggs. They asked me to choose my own egg from the box (appropriately a beer box because nothing says Easter and spring like the active fermentation of beer, right?). Then I made them come in so I could take their picture and oooo and ahhhh over their clever outfits. Victoria is on the far right, then there is Madelyn, and Mathias is the one with the wiggly tail. The schools in Doha have different spring breaks and this happens to be the vacation week for these sweet neighbor children. I'm glad they didn't wait until school was over to make their deliveries. I needed a lift yesterday and it was just the right thing. Thanks for having such adorable, thoughtful children, Rikki!

The Silver Lining

2011-04-12T18:18:00.000+03:00

The silver lining of the dark cloud of a funeral trip included:

Seeing family and friends,

cuddling with grandchildren,

Abbey holding our new Amelia for the first time,

seeing our home improvements that Randy did,

getting to know Janie (Randy's wife) better,

meeting Danny's wife Mary for the first time,

shopping (Thanks for spoiling me, Pat),

slurpees (and yes, I spilled a red one on our new carpet),

Taco Time (crisp meat burritos),

eating delicious homemade (thanks Mary, Janie, and Randy) food,

and a little snow action with hail thrown in.

Other bonuses of the trip:

Lots of time with this adorable granddaughter

Watching Millie's intense conversations with both Great Grandma Drawe and

Great Grandma Kearney

Uncle Randy's Bouncy Castle was a hit!

Seeing these Pizza Face Guys go crazy in our newly finished back yard was delightful.

Amelia modeled her handmade blessing dress and shoes for the creator (Great Grandma Kearney) and me. We didn't make it to the blessing but this was almost as wonderful.

We even had the pleasure of an impromptu play, complete with a scary dragon, a princess (Abbey's best friend Jalisa), and a cheerleader.

It was reassuring to know that the awesome family tradition of putting our babies in household containers is being carried on with flair.

And of course we had the joy of being in Utah for the always unpredictable Conference Weekend when anything goes as far as weather is concerned. Nice deck, right!

This is how we all felt when we had to leave.

Thanks, Sweet Pea for expressing it so well.

Funeral Photos

2011-04-10T22:52:00.001+03:00

My two beautiful daughters! They were such a big help with everything. Abbey was my traveling companion and comforter whenever the tears would come and Kristy, along with Jared, brought her busy family from Colorado, and sang beautifully for the funeral program. I've never seen her play and sing at the same time with a microphone in a performance, but it was Grandpa's request and she fulfilled it. Thanks again, Kristy and Jared.

Ben, Mary, and this Sweet Pea were a HUGE help. S.P. let me cuddle her and sing to her anytime I was feeling down. Mary made lots of food, ran errands with me, and played chauffeur. Ben was my rock, as usual, and even stood by me at the graveside service. Sometimes it's the little things that mean the most. Thanks to all my kids and grandkids for being there for the little and big things.

Thomas and Kimball were very reverent through the whole funeral and seemed to understand what was going on. (I guess they have been to their fair share of funerals recently.) The expressions on their faces were pure and sweet as they looked at Grandpa. They love him so and might be the only grandchildren of mine who will remember him.

My favorite part of the viewing was when my sweet grandsons unpacked their backpack, spread out their books and themselves on the floor, and started reading away. It didn't matter that it was right in front of Grandpa's casket. Grandpa Giggey was probably so happy to see them that comfortable. Jared snatched the boys and the books away before I could capture the moment, so the picture of Thomas reading in the foyer will have to give you an idea of the scene.

My mother-in-law Donna and sister-in-law Marcell came to the services. It was good to have them there. This granddaughter had a lot to say to Grandma Kearney.

My brother Mark was so poised and wonderful through everything. He was a great help to my mom and his funeral talk was perfect to end the family part of the services. His time serving as a bishop and working as an insurance agent has really given him amazing experiences and helped him handle this with such dignity, reverence, and expertise. The picture below shows the display that my step sister Renae made and the hand drawn pictures are by Mark when he was about ten or eleven years old (Elmer loves fishing, Elmer loves Mom, Elmer loves to hunt, Elmer loves to dance).

I've never been a fan of viewings and looking at someone's body after they have died, but my dad looked peaceful. He had the perfect Elmer smirk on his lips and his hair was as unruly as ever. I tried to smooth it down but it wouldn't cooperate - that is about the only rebellious part of Dad.

Here my mom's sister Aunt Judie offers Randy her condolences and love.

My brother Dan and his wife Mary have had a rough time the past few years and have been trying to move to the U.S. Unfortunately Mary, who is Filipina, didn't get to the U.S. until she got a special visa from Senator Orrin Hatch's office to attend Dad's funeral. She might not have met Dad in this life but we think he had a hand in getting her to Utah for this farewell.

Isn't Abbey so grown-up and so beautiful?! She loves Grandpa so much and really didn't get to know him in his prime like Kristy and Ben did. But her compassionate heart always reminded us to pray for him and think of him.

Here are Elmer's remaining children, my step siblings: Linda, Rick, and Renae. Dennis and Sandra passed away years ago.

My mom was so much stronger through this whole day than I ever predicted. Her irreverent side surfaced for a brief moment when the bishop was trying to get everyone's attention for the family prayer. People couldn't hear him so my mom pulled out her key chain and blew her whistle with one short blow. Shocked, I asked her why she did that. "Oh, I was trying to get everyone's attention," she explained. When I told her the bishop would take care of that she said, "I was just playing a joke." Now I bet you haven't heard of anyone doing that before!

When the casket was being rolled from the Relief Society room to the chapel Mom hesitated and I jumped to her side. She said she was waiting for Dad to walk with her. I think he was there in spirit. It was difficult for her to see her husband this way, but she enjoyed the celebration of his life very much. She is going to have to find things to do now that she isn't a full-time caregiver.

Mark's son Carson is such a cutie.

Mom's cousins came to pay their respects. Some came from as far away as California.

My real dad's brother, sister, and my step mom were there representing the Drawes. Thank you!

There were a lot of people in attendance.

My brother Randy and his wife Janie were such good sports with Abbey and me invading them on such short notice. They have been staying in our home in Bountiful while transistioning their move to Utah from New Mexico. Randy has done some beautiful remodeling on our home for us and it is looking so wonderful. Thanks, Randy and Janie for being so patient with us and making our stay so enjoyable with all the food and fun. I think Uncle Randy stole my grandson's hearts with his bouncy castle up in our backyard.

I think my sister Yvonna was thrilled with the "party" that descended on the cemetary. I felt her close all that day and in to the next week. I think she was trying to reassure us that she was taking good care of Dad and talking his ears off, as usual.

My dearest friend Lori came and supported me. When she's around, everything is okay.

It's difficult to steal a kiss from Moving Target Thomas!

Mom arranged for this sweet sister from her ward to play the bagpipes. It was so touching to hear "Amazing Grace" from the bagpipes.

My Uncle Roland joined the VFW Honor Guard Volunteers. It was a total surprise and choked me up. And if you are wondering, yes, that is his original uniform! *Since publication, I found out that I was misinformed - not the original.

21 Gun Salute

Taps being played

"On behalf of a grateful nation . . . " Another heroic World War II veteran has gone to heaven.

Aunt Thelma (Mom's sister) and her soldier sweetheart Uncle Roland

America is a sacred place.

Two of Randy's daughters and a grandson: Chelsea, her son Alex, and Noelle

Noelle's son Cody, Keegan (Randy's youngest son), Noelle, and Keegan's son Dallon

Some of my step brother Rick's family

Kristy's two month old Little Millie gave Great Grandma and Grandma the best smiles of the day.

Thanks, everyone for your support, love, prayers, and help through this sad time. I love you all.

Our Elmer

2011-04-10T19:06:00.000+03:00

My 89 year old step dad passed away on Sunday, March 27 2011. I have been in denial about the inevitability of this happening for three years. We almost lost him then. That day was terrifying and is embedded in my heart forever. After teaching a full day of school I received a call from my mom. She said that Dad was weak and didn't want to go to the hospital. She said he felt it was his time. The Hospice nurses had been there to see him and confirmed that his body was in the last stages of dying. So after making arrangements for Abbey to stay with my friend Jennifer until Brett could pick her up, I jumped in the car and drove to West Valley. It was a very LONG twenty minute drive as I scoured my brain for Elmer memories. I didn't want to forget anything.

Well, I take that back. There was one memory I wanted to forget because it was the one and only time Dad ever got angry with me. I was 12 or 13 and our church had contracted with local farmers in northern Idaho to change pipe morning and night to earn money for our ward budget and the soon to be built Seattle Temple. My dad volunteered himself and us kids to help on the morning shift. I went once or twice but hated the 4 AM wake up call and the messy, wet mud and grass we had to trudge through. I didn't want to go and when he tried to wake me up the next time, I refused to get out of bed. Dad tried to enlist Mom's help, but she didn't want to stand up to my teenage terrorizing. So I stayed in bed and missed out on an important service opportunity, but more importantly I missed out on pleasing my dad and making him proud of me.

When I walked into his bedroom, Dad was on the bed hunched over with tears in his eyes. I leaned over to talk to him and told him I was there. His face brightened somewhat but then he whispered to me that he just couldn't do it anymore. The "it" he was talking about seemed to be breathing and living. The doctors at the VA Hospital had told him he was in congestive heart failure and that they really couldn't do anything for him. So when the fluid started filling up his lungs again, he just didn't want to fight anymore. Tears filled my eyes as I told Dad that it was okay, that we would miss him, but we could release him to heaven. What was I saying?!! I was giving him permission to leave us, but oh how I still needed him, my mom needed him. Watching someone suffer really makes you say unbelieveable things.

So my step-sister Renae and I stayed that night to watch over him and my mom. We said our good byes. Brett and Abbey came to hug Grandpa one last time but then went home. The rest of us all cried and waited. I tried to sleep on the couch while Renae tried sleeping on the floor by Dad's bed.

Morning finally came and I went upstairs to check on Dad. He was sitting up, and when I came into the room a half smile decorated his face as he said, "I'm still here. I guess I had better make some plans." So he had cheated death again and continued to do that for three more years. The plans he made included a bulletin board by his bed with positive sayings, scriptures, and photos on it. His body was slow but his mind and spirit were keen and hungry for the hopeful fuel of endurance. He had times when he was able to walk around the yard or go to the store. He even drove the car at his best times. One of the last outings he had was out to eat with Ben, Mary, and Ellie for my mom's birthday. He loved buffets and was able to enjoy the attentions of a very helpful waitress that night.

So he endured in the most gentle way. He never complained; he never questioned Heavenly Father's timing. But when I mentioned a 90 year old birthday party for him this summer in our last phone conversation he let me know that he wouldn't be up for that. I thought he was just being thoughtful of me and the work involved, but no, he probably knew what was coming. Every time he fell ill I was certain he would rally back and he did, until two weeks ago. Since Christmas he has been declining even more, but living half way around the world let me fool myself into thinking it wasn't serious. When the protests and unrest in Bahrain started he had my mom call me and ask us to come home, right now. It was so unlike him to tell anyone what to do, but he said he was scared for our safety. I just thought I had done a poor job of keeping them informed about the political climate here in Qatar, so I gave them a reassuring talk about the differences between Bahrain and Qatar and let them know how safe we are here. Now I look back and realize that again, on maybe an unconscious level, he wanted me to be home for my mom.

When my brother Dan traveled from Canada to Utah for my mom's birthday and stayed a few weeks, I guess Dad realized someone else would be with Mom. He waited a few weeks until after her birthday and used that time to instruct my brother on important things like the outside sprinkling system. He even found the time to tape extra washers to the inside of the bathroom vanity cabinet for someone to find easily when in need of a future faucett fix. The last few days of his life were spent struggling to breathe, not eating, and trying to stay out of the hospital. After a few days of agony, my mom couldn't watch Dad suffer anymore and sent him to the VA Hospital with Renae. A few hours after the nurses got him settled in bed he slipped into a coma and never woke up again. The pacemaker in his heart kept his heart beating until it was disconnected, but everything else had exhausted its mission on this earth.

We got an early morning call here in Qatar. For some reason the phone calls had not reached us the day before, so we had no idea why Kristy was calling to Skype with us so early. I thought it was good news about Jared's doctorate program possibilities coming through, but when I saw Kristy's face I knew it wasn't good news. My body heaved with sobs and I held on to Brett after she told us. I had meant to call my mom and dad the night before but fell asleep instead. The world would not be as wonderful without our Elmer. It would be a lot less compassionate and gentle. It just couldn't be real. But when Abbey and I stepped on a plane bound for Utah less than 24 hours later, it began to sink in.

When I sat on my dad's bed and looked at his bulletin board full of endurance messages the shred of calm I had left came undone. He was the Elmer's Glue of our family. We were broken when he came into our lives and he glued us back together. He fell in love with my mom and us simultaneously. He took on five children as his own in addition to the five he already had to support. He helped us recover from the divorce of our parents and loved us completely. He could talk to my real dad when my mom couldn't. He was the voice of reason, calm, and peace in my life.

Our Elmer's voice is hushed now but his peaceful influence still continues. I am thankful for his beautiful, comforting funeral that began the healing process for all of us. I continue to mourn but don't feel shattered anymore. I still feel the bonds of Elmer's Glue holding me together, and as I look to the earthly future, knowing that both my dads are in heaven, I feel their combined strength and know I will be okay.

Doggie Discipline

2011-03-26T14:05:00.000+03:00

Yes, this is the new technique in dog training that is all the rage. Smudge and Freckles are especially rowdy whenever we have family prayer and scripture study, so Brett came up with this clever sit/hold that makes them feel loved while at the same time keeps them from wrestling and flailing themselves all over the office. It is strange but effective. :)

Camel Cookies for Book Lovers

2011-03-20T20:53:00.001+03:00

What should be served at a Book Club Meeting held in Doha, Qatar? Well, camel sugar cookies, of course!

Update: VCUQatar Women's Basketball Team 2011

2011-03-20T13:22:00.001+03:00

One of my most popular posts last year was the one I did about the 2010 VCUQatar Women's Basketball Team and the remarkable season they had. Unfortunately I didn't get to follow the team this year until the last game because I was in the U.S., but it was a great season as well. The team wasn't as wide-eyed and inexperienced as last year, their cheers were a lot more sophisticated than that first one two years ago, and that made things a little less interesting and triumphant, but there was still quite a bit of growth and drama. I still think it is remarkable that these women are pioneers in this kind of competition and they continued to show up even though they endured major setbacks like losing a lot of their cheering fans from last year and losing some close games.

The team played more consistently this year and the average total points scored was up dramatically. The Lady Rams were able to follow game plans more fully and they played more as a team. Their coaches and the die hard fans had a lot to be proud of again this year. A nice bonus for this season was that they got to play most of their games in the newly finished Education City Student Center, so it was more of a neutral territory. The teams in competition this year were VCUQ, Georgetown Qatar, Texas A&M Qatar, Qatar Academy, American School of Doha, Carnegie Mellon Qatar, and The College of the North Atlantic. An interesting part of the competition here, that I didn't mention last year, is the fact that the game against The College of the North Atlantic was held in their facility and therefore it was a women only game. Brett was not able to attend because of that, but their rules did allow Jesse, the head coach, to be there.

The last game of the season is the one I got to attend and it was against Georgetown. Again the team had made it to the final four and the mood was pretty tense. There were a couple of seniors on our team who would not be back next year and wanted to win so badly, but their hard work and body sacrificing blocks did not bring them out on top in the end. Their tears at the final buzzer was evidence that they had put their heart and body into the game and had to try and be satisfied with this year's growth and another #4 placement. Maybe next year will be the break through year. It takes years to build a basketball program anywhere but especially with ladies, who just a few years ago, didn't even touch a ball, let alone try and play a game with one. Congratulations to the Lady Rams for another monumental season!

Photo of the Week

2011-03-19T22:00:00.000+03:00

I'm not sure but this might just be one of those inexpensive knock-offs. Isn't there a spelling rule about "s" before "h" except after "c"?

Ten Things You Should Know About Qatar Before Moving Here

2011-03-14T17:41:00.004+03:00

Here are a few items that have been on my mind - items of wisdom for the newcomer to Doha. Now this wisdom might seem very trivial and unimportant to many of you, but when you live in a country that is filled with ironies and the status quo is that everything MUST be done in the most difficult way possible, the little things start to become the BIG things in an emotional/mental health sense. (wink, wink)

1. Grocery carts are called "trolleys" and you need a lot of upper body strength to operate them. The wheel action is archaic and they are not user friendly. To illustrate this when I push an empty trolley I can push the handle to the side with one hand and the cart will turn all the way around in a kind of haphazard way. This may sound fun, but trust me, it isn't a good thing for getting the cart to go in a forward motion loaded with orange juice and toilet paper. Even though we have been here three years I still haven't learned how to operate them without much frustration and body pain. I'm sure I am still quite a hilarious site to behold at Carrefour as I trudge my way down the ailes and stretch my whole body one way in order to turn a corner the other. If I would only learn not to fill the carts so full, but whenever I go to the store I get as much as possible so I don't have to go back any time soon . . . but that is another story.

2. There are VERY FEW left turn holding lanes here which means that you will be forced to make way too many "U" turns at round abouts and intersections and go way out of your way to get to a certain location. Conserving gas is not an issue here, I guess, and conserving forethought is, at least when it comes to road planning, but to conserve my sanity I usually try and remain open to the option of NOT actually getting to my destination when I am out on the road and just returning to the safety and serenity of my own villa for an impromptu nap.

3. REAL marshmallows cannot be found in this country. I think it has something to do with REAL marshmallows containing some form of pork product. Don't even try to make respectable Rice Krispie Treats with the local marshamllows to take to the Friendship Festival. They will come out different every time and when I say "different" I mean not in a good way. They are rubbery, rock hard, or just nasty tasting. Just bring the good old Western Family brand from the U.S. and save yourself the grief. But then don't make the mistake of getting involved in the risky Marshmallow Black Market here and find yourself trading your precious Libby's canned pumpkin for REAL marshmallows that some Texas oil executive's wife squished into her Samsonite last spring. You might get sucked into the underground licorice trade next and then it will be all over for you!

4. There are many different people here in Qatar from many different cultures. Our first months here were spent getting used to the mannerisms, personalities, and accents of the numerous foreigners. Most of them know English but not the English we are familiar with. For example, if you encounter someone from India, Sri Lanka, or Nepal and you have asked them a question, you might be mystified by the wiggling of their head from side to side (in a bouncy way). This famous head wiggle is an expressive gesture and can mean YES, or I agree with you, or Yes, I would like that - similar to the western nod for agreement. The Indian head wiggle can also be used as a greeting. I have yet to master it, and I might need to have some tutoring from the guards at our compound, but one day I will get brave enough to use it and then these very good-natured people will embrace my blonde, lily-white self as a true sister.

5. Speaking of culture, Qatari culture is very difficult to differentiate from other Arabic culture. The food they eat here is mostly Lebanese, Turkish, or Iraqi. Their homes are decorated with Persian rugs, marble flooring, and ornate, burnished furniture that looks like a golden peacock threw up all over it. Their architectural skyline seems to be a Dubai wannabe and even the excessive use of white Landcruisers on the roads is prevelant in most other Arab countries. We are still trying to find unique cultural markers that are only in this Middle Eastern country, but it might be safe to say that the new internet phrase of "That's so Qatarded!" that came about after the shocking news that Qatar had won the 2022 World Cup bid can only be linked to Qatar. The sore loser countries that didn't win probably came up with the term to make themselves feel better, but leave it to Qatar to be the nerdy newcomer on the recess world stage getting picked on by the World Cup bullies.

6. Turkey Central is not a restaurant featuring Thanksgiving dishes.

7. If you hear someone talking about Sheikah Mayassa in Qatar they aren't talking about their dancing prowess. They are discussing one member of the royal family. BTW, she's very beautiful.

8. If you burn your hand in a simple kitchen accident DO NOT put it under the water that comes out of the faucet. You must use the cold water from the water cooler. Water storage here is outside and therefore, all the water that comes into your villa is heated by the ferocious desert sun. So in the summer we turn OFF the water heater and get hot water on the cold side of the faucet from outside and warm water on the hot water side of the faucet from the water heater - confusing I know.

9. Some of the crackers that are available here might not be what you are used to. For that matter, many of the products here probably WON'T be what you are used to unless you go to the very OVER-PRICED Mega Mart and pay about $8 a box for Special K cereal. This package of saltines was the first saltine I found and that was this year. The taste was not worthy of being called a saltine.

10. If you are lucky enough to meet and get to know a genuine Qatar national you will find him/her to be very pleasant, accommodating, and generous. They love to teach westerners about their country, their traditions, and their culture. Just last month when my cousin was here from Germany and wanted to buy a ghutra and some other authentic Qatari clothing Brett asked his student Abdullah to help them. He helped them by taking them to a rustic souq that sold Armani headdress items and bought my cousin all the items he wanted. Now what is a German guy going to do with an Armani ghutra you ask? Well anything he wants and in style for sure. Now that is how Qataris are in person. Don't even get me started on what they are like on the road.

50 & fANTASTiC!

2011-03-12T15:27:00.000+03:00

Turning 50 years old is a big deal, right? So I have been planning a big deal party for Brett since last summer. I bought the hat, the plates, and the napkins in Utah and stuffed them in our luggage when we came back to Doha last August. So we finally got to break out the 50th Birthday Party paraphernalia and celebrate Brett's great life last week. He kept telling people that I have terrrible math skills and had the number of birthdays wrong, but no one believed that story, so he appropriately received a lot of teasing about his age and his memory, especially considering the party invitation included this photo of Brett sporting this hat.

Brett really loves taking the dogs to the beach these days and watching them run in the "waves" so I thought a beach party would be perfect. Then I had the great idea of a bonfire and lots of people. Things kind of got out of hand, especially considering I had fallen and cracked a rib on February 13 and was still healing, but somehow it all happened. As usual I stressed and baked and stressed and baked, and cooked but it all turned out wonderfully, and the most important thing was that Brett had a great time and felt very loved.

The fire got started:

And so did the festivities!

There were a lot of cute kids in the party crowd:

And we had an entertaining bunch of adults as well:

We kind of tricked our neighbor Karl into coming. He works six days a week and works way too hard, so when we asked him if he could get one of his work trucks to help load wood out to the beach for the fire, he had to be neighborly and bring the truck and the wood , his family, AND HIMSELF. His wife was pretty happy about our devious plan!

Felicity, Jesse, and Riley made an unexpected appearance. We will be "expecting" more visits in the future from them!!

Our friend, Mark (on the right with the big smile), was bequeathed with the birthday hat at the end of the night since his big 5-0 is coming next year. We might just have to visit Tel Aviv to attend his party.

Our great friends brought some delicious food and the tasty part of the night began:

Rikke's extra thoughtful blue birthday cake was a hit! Thanks, Rikke!

These two inmates had a grand time romping on the beach until their puppiness got out of control when Smudge started following a Qatari in a truck who was walking his dog the easy way (can't blame Smudge for his instinctual desire to follow a truck) and Freckles confiscated a hot dog out of the hands of a little party goer.

As the sun set it was time for dessert and a BIG BEACH HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG:

A Texas Sheet Cake was the best bet for chocolate lover Brett!

The candles wouldn't light because of the dusty wind and then the number 5 broke, so the ceremonial blowing out of the candles had to be abandoned. At least the candles made it intact to the Doha beach all the way from Utah!

The party was so much fun and we are so thankful for those friends who came and helped us celebrate. Thanks to Wayne for helping with the hot dogs on his grill and thanks for Gurur and Anil for staying until the very end to clean up. If all of our friends and family from the U.S. had been here we could have called it a perfect day.

The next day was Brett's actual birthday so he spent part of the day in his pajamas and accepted presents like this delectable one from our friend Afton who is a gourmet baker. I thought it was MY birthday when I bit into this creamy piece of heaven.

It was a great 50th birthday for Brett. He was thrilled with his new set of scriptures that I had purchased in Colorado when I was there in January and maybe even more thrilled with the laptop cushion for his computer from Abbey that has a built-in fan to prevent an over-heated lap. This man has brought me so much joy and happiness and continues to make my life meaningful, fun, and blessed so here's wishing for another 50 years of Brett!

The Sheets Down Under

2011-02-23T19:21:00.002+03:00

Last night as I was tucking Abbey in we were trying to straighten her sheets and comforter. To say she is a wild sleeper is putting it mildly, so things were pretty twisted around. Somehow her top sheet always ends up wadded up at the bottom of her bed, and as a result, her bed often goes unmade for days. Shocking, I know! I guess you could say Abbey has turned into quite a world traveler now and it shows even in her figurative language. As I pulled the sheet up to her grinning chin Abbey said, "I don't know why my sheet always goes down to my Australia every night." So here's to a good night's rest tonight and the opportunity for all of us, not just our sheets, to visit the Land Down Under someday.

Miracles: Women and Birth

2011-02-09T18:09:00.003+03:00

It is true that I have given birth three times. And two of those births were natural births - that means there were no epidurals involved people. It is also true that before January 22, 2011 I had never before watched the miracle of birth. I guess there is just something about the work and labor of child bearing that makes a woman focus and concentrate every fiber of her being on the end result, not the process. So, as a result of being the participant in the births of my three children, I was never really involved in witnessing the pure miracle of bringing a child into this world.

My daughter Kristy was determined to change that fact with this third pregnancy of hers, so plans were made long in advance in hopes that I could be in the delivery room for this little girl's arrival. Now having said that, you must know that being in on any of Kristy's deliveries is quite a challenge because she is one of these women who has four or five hour labors and then delivers the baby with a few pushes. When Kimball was born three years ago, even though she had called me at about 10:30 in the morning to let me know her labor had started, Kristy was having the baby at 3:30 PM when I was boarding a plane for a one hour flight to Denver from Salt Lake. So we knew from the get go that this would be quite a feat if I could arrive from Qatar in Colorado before the baby was born and then not have to leave before she arrived.

True to form, the whole week before I got to Colorado, Kristy had many false alarms and practically had to cross her legs to keep the little darling from appearing too soon. Even though I had told her not to worry about me being there, Kristy was convinced I was supposed to be in the delivery room. Then I landed in Denver and everything seemed to stop. When I was in town it was almost like she couldn't take the parking brake off that she had pulled the week before. Thankfully the week we had together was well spent and Kristy got some much needed pampering and I got to shop for a lot of pink things.

Then it happened. We had planned to go to a leadership meeting on Saturday morning because Kristy is the YW president in her ward and Sister Dibbs was the visiting speaker for the meeting. So of course, this little cutie pie decided to get us both out of another meeting. Isn't she the best!? Kristy's labor started at about 8 AM. I arrived at 9 and things were getting heated as she told me the change of plans. Jared was scrambling to get the boys over to the neighbor's house and then we drove 25 minutes to the oh so far away hospital.

By 11:42 AM I got my first peek at a very wrinkly forehead and then a whole slippery baby girl. I was in awe of my daughter. She looked glorious beyond description in her life-giving moments. I was humbled by what she had done, what women do every day, what I did three times! There just aren't words to express what I felt in those slow-motion minutes of wonder. As the doctor carefully unwrapped the umbilical cord twice from around this little one's neck I was so thankful for a quick five push delivery that brought little Amelia Sonnet to us safely. She quickly pinked up as she cried and rested on her mama's chest and life began to take on a new meaning for all of us. Kristy's tears were quiet as she cradled her new sweetheart. Jared hugged his mom and their eyes added more tears to the grateful chorus. I just held the camera in stilled adoration. No photograph could capture what I saw, what I felt.

Yes, I was meant to be in that delivery room. I was meant to bear witness of the monumental calling that women have on this earth of bearing, raising, and nurturing children. It was a sacred experience and Amelia and I will be forever bonded because I can say that I was there. This Thoroughly Modern Millie, who has brought us all back into focus, has already begun to leave her mark on this world. Her brothers adore her, her parents have let loose the pink parts of their loving hearts, and me and Grandpa Brett, well, we just can't wait to see all the dance recitals, soccer games, piano concerts, debate tournaments, and wrestling matches that take place even BEFORE she starts school! We love you Millie!

Photo of the Week

2011-02-06T20:42:00.002+03:00

Amelia Sonnet (Millie) was two weeks old yesterday. I miss her so much already! Don't you think she has the cutest "serious face" ever? She will be a whole different baby by the time I kiss those cheeks again this summer. I just hope she likes listening to her grandma sing to her over skype.

It's a Dog's Life

2010-12-29T17:18:00.001+03:00

Once upon a time there was a foolish Qatari man who thought it would be a grand idea to take two Dalmatian puppies home to his wife. There was a loving, shy little girl puppy and a loud, rambunctious little boy puppy. The male puppy had black spots and the female puppy had brown ones. Legend has it that these puppies were brother and sister, but who knows if that legend is true. Now it is not known if this man bought the puppies in Qatar or ordered them from a far away land, but through some mysterious circumstances, these puppies came to a land filled with people who despise dogs, people who mistreat them and abandon them.

Well, when this foolish man presented these two wiggly darlings to his wife she was less than pleased. She saw no beauty in the spotted creatures. She only saw disasters awaiting her household and numerous messes. She told her foolish husband that either he take the puppies away or SHE would be going away. This man enjoyed having a wife, even if she could be heartless at times, so he chose to keep her instead of the puppies. So what was he going to do with two little wet-nosed problems? Unfortunately, his answer was to take them out to the desert and leave them there to fend for themselves. Luckily, another, more noble man who worked with the foolish man, heard of these awful plans and decided to intervene. He was an animal lover and could not bear to hear of puppies being dropped off in the harsh wilderness. He told the foolish man that he would take the little spotted things for himself.

Sadly, this more noble man had a roommate he did not consult and brought his two new pets home unannounced. The roommate was annoyed but had no choice but to welcome the new canine housemates. Time passed. The pups started to grow and grow. They lost their rollee pollee looks and became slender and tall but still they were full of puppy mischief and energy.

In the meantime, the noble man was fired from his job and was forced to leave Qatar for his homeland. Again, sadly, he neglected to tell his roommate, and one day the hero roommate, the most noble of men, woke up to a note of explanation and two hungry, BIG puppies who needed a lot of care. He tried to manage their diet, their exercise, and their excrement, but with his full-time job it was impossible. Between the noble man and the hero they had managed to get the dogs house-trained and took them to the vet for their vaccinations. They both knew what these doggies needed, they just weren't able to give it to them. The hero asked a fine lady friend of his to help him find a loving home for the big puppies and so she sent out an email proclamation throughout all the land.

A few weeks previous to this, a certain man we will call BRETT had an interesting conversation with his wife. Even though he had been talking about his plans and dreams of someday getting a dog and training it to be a therapy dog (one step down from a service dog), Brett assured his wife that he was only reading dog training books and calling breeders in the U.S. so he could learn all he needed to know in the next few years, so when they moved back to the land of Utah, he would know exactly what he was doing when he finally picked out that lucky pup. This very clever wife of Brett just smiled a knowing smile and let him continue with his speech.

Then Big Plans Brett received an email, answered it secretly, and brought home some new friends for his wife and daughter to meet. Yes, when he walked in the door that night he said, "Dianna, I brought home someone I want you to meet." She ran downstairs, thinking a student from the university had come for a visit, but no, out on the back porch were two overgrown four month old pups making themselves at home. Big Plans Brett was humble and penitent as he told of the doggie saga. He promised commitment and devotion to the caring and training of the chronic messmakers. He said he would accept her decision either way, but please could they stay? When she allowed him to go and call their daughter for an initial introduction his heart leapt with hope and he knew she would give her assent. The Lady Abigail's adoration of the two puppies sealed the deal and that is how Sir Smudge A lot and Miss Fanny Freckles came to live in the Kearney Kingdom.

*For more information on how Baylee our white kitty joined our kingdom please dial up this past blog post.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-29T00:52:00.000+03:00

Christmas is all about decking the halls, so with Abbey's help, our halls were completely decked out this year.

When I admired my friend Monique's feather wreath and asked her where she had gotten it, she told me that she had made it herself and promptly gave it to me. Isn't it gorgeous?! It kind of showed up the rest of our quaint decor, but the style in this wreath made the perfect welcome to our Christmas home. Thanks again, Monique!

So don't you think of bougainvillea when you think of Christmas? I do, now.

Abbey's graphic style of art work is the best kind of decoration. She is a master at making simple drawings so classy.

Since we were spending Christmas in Doha this year we knew we would be missing family and friends back home, so I invited a number of people to share our Christmas Eve dinner with us. Only a few of those Doha friends were able to make it, but we had such a good time with Gurur, Anil, Elif, and Sarah, I was glad it was a small group.

Gurur and Anil are originally from Turkey but they moved to our compound last February and that is when we became friends. They have been living in Germany for the last 16 years where their precious daughter Elif was born. They are now Turkish Germans and love all the same great foods I do from Germany. When Gurur and I first met she was telling me about her work as a pharmacist in Germany. I told her about my family in Germany and how my dad had been born in a little town in the Westfalen area named Herne. Her face was so surprised when I said that because she worked in a pharmacy in that same small town. Now that couldn't be just a coincidence. We were meant to be friends. When Gurur told me a few weeks ago that she would have loved to experience an authentic Thanksgiving meal I kicked myself for not even thinking to invite them to our ward dinner. So I invited her for our Christmas celebration with the disclaimer that our celebration would be about enjoying food, friends, and a religious program. She was eager to be a part of it and that is how we had our first Muslim family over for Christmas Eve.

Sarah is a friend from California who is in my book club, a member of our ward, and is an English professor here at Qatar University. When she showed up with cresent rolls, homemade fudge, and chocolate reindeer poop I knew it was going to be a good night.

We had our tradtional clam chowder, relish tray, homemade rolls, with pumpkin and lemon pie for dessert. I was sad we couldn't have the traditional German sausages that we usually have in Utah, but everyone enjoyed the food. Little Elif was too busy getting used to our home to sit down and eat. She was intrigued by the new dogs in our house, the two cats, the two birds, and the two turtles. She felt like she had a ticket to the zoo. Even though she was scared of the dogs, she was very brave and let Brett introduce them to her.

I think this is a reaction to one of Brett's jokes.

Gurur had helped Elif learn "O Tannebaum" and she sang it for us with such cute expressions. We watched a couple of videos on the Nativity, sang some more songs and then talked until Elif's bedtime. It was a great evening.

By the time everyone left it was getting late . . . .

The Natives were getting restless . . . .

And the yawns were setting in.

Even Baylee was ready to hit the hay.

So we jumped in our jammies . . .

. . . and went to bed so Santa could come.

Christmas morning brought the cats a nice new rug for the living room (Santa gave it to me, but you can see who claimed it first).

"I just dare you to push me off!"

Brett had been worried that Santa had put him on the naughty list so he took care of his own gift this year . . the kind that gives unconditional lovin.

Abbey got a remote control car as did Brett, so they have been racing around.

The only thing Abbey really wanted to do on Christmas Day was go to the beach, so we loaded up the dogs and went to Al Wakra.

Even though there were quite a few people at the beach that day we took the dogs out on a sand bar and that kept them from running too far and joining a Qatari picnic. We spent the time playing keep away from the dogs . . .

. . . practicing cartwheels . . .

. . . and just relaxing.

The day after Christmas some friends from church called and invited us to a beach up north: Fuwairit.

The dogs were in heaven once again and so was Abbey. It was colder and more windy than the day before, but we had a blast and stayed longer than we expected.

We talked about great books . . .

. . . spent time lounging . .

. . . had more practicing of cartwheels . .

. . . and got to be good Samaritans by digging someone out of the sand.

Even a beached mermaid showed up in the form of Avery!

The Slight Family

The sun was setting as we called it a day.

The real presents that keep us racing around during the post Christmas days are these bikes. We have been out each day in our Doha desert that we affectionately call "Tatooine".

Smudge and Freckles think the bikes are just what they wanted for Christmas - more chances to chase outside.

If this self-proclaimed "Mermaid of the Desert" could have a motto it would be, "It's not about the presents we get but the time we spend together!" Hopefully there won't be too many more Christmases we spend in Doha but boy did we do our best to make this one memorable.

Merry Christmas from Doha!

Nuptials in Nepal

2010-12-28T22:15:00.000+03:00

We met Sarita when she moved to Qatar to continue working as a nanny for our neighbors and friends the Bromleys. They employed Sarita in Nepal when they lived there. She had become a part of their family, so when they moved to Doha, they couldn't wait to have her join them. I slowly got to know Sarita better, but there was always that invisible barrier between us - you know the one where she insisted on calling me "Ma'am" even though I repeatedly asked her to call me by my first name. There was also her huge shyness. Even though I would try and start conversations with her, she would just smile and give short answers - and I knew it wasn't always a language issue. I learned later from Terah that Sarita's family is of the lower caste in Nepal and this shyness probably has something to do with that and her humble upbringing.

When Sarita started to come to church with Terah I thought it was just so she could help with the children, but one week she walked into Sacrament Meeting with a beautiful emerald green dress on and the happiest smile I had ever seen on her face. Something was changing, but I didn't know what. I asked her to sit by me in Relief Society because she looked kind of lost with Terah taking charge of Young Women, and even though we didn't talk much, just sharing my manual with her as the lesson was given made me feel more a part of her life. One day Abbey came home and told me that Heavah (Terah's daughter) was very excited because her dad had taught Sarita to swim. I hadn't known that she couldn't do such a basic thing.

Sarita continued coming to church and the next thing I knew she was scheduled for baptism. I was sick the day she was baptized but she told me it was wonderful and she seemed to take on a new glow after that. Then Terah told me that Sarita had been taking a driving course and would soon be taking her driver's license exam. The changes in Sarita's life were multiplying, but that was only the beginning.

On Halloween the Bromleys came back to Al Fardan 3 for the compound festivities, even though they had moved to another compound, so we took the opportunity to catch up. Terah floored me by telling us that Sarita was engaged and would soon be leaving for Nepal to prepare for her wedding. I couldn't believe it, and as I looked at Sarita's embarrassed smile spreading over her face I knew that this outrageous news was real. I won't go into the details of Sarita's romance here, so for more background and information on Sarita just dial up Terah's blog and get the whole love story behind Tim and Sarita's wedding.

So on December 16 we flew to Nepal to be a part of Sarita's continued life transformation. Terah hand-picked our hotel so we actually had hot water and continuous electricity which are two luxuries in Kathmandu. I'm so glad we had someone looking out for us because we were in for a real adventure when we stepped out of the airplane and onto the tarmac. There was no organized line for a bus to a terminal. We just made our own way to the closest door and on to immigration. Because we were taking too long filling out the paperwork, the immigration employees hustled us through the process and accepted our half-filled out papers. I guess it was late and they wanted to go home.

We stayed at the Hotel Gangjong and enjoyed the luxurious hot running water and continuous electricity.

Brett said he watched this man first construct this ladder and proceed to paint our hotel. Who needs Home Depot?!

We were on our own for a few hours on our first morning there so we walked up and down the street to see the sites. Apparently Canada was closer than we thought.

This boy was getting a vigorous hair washing on the street from his mother. I wouldn't have been too happy about it and neither was he.

The signs in Nepal were my favorite form of entertainment. This one advertises some items one can purchase for "friend communication" and STD is among them. I guess there are some unfortunate men who have sadly paid for such an item, but I don't think they got it at this particular shop.

This garden was the prettiest green spot we saw in Kathmandu, and it was just along the street in between the crumbling buildings.

Brett loves carved doors and this one stood out among all the decay of the city.

There were a lot of these men along the street selling the most delicious clementine oranges. We ended up stuffing our luggage with a number of the juicy things.

Yet another entertaining sign. I guess even Nepal can muster the sophistication of VERBING words.

Even though the sun was shining that day it was pretty cold. This barefoot old woman couldn't have been too comfortable. We were told that Nepal is the second poorest country in the world. I'm sure that could be debated but I tend to believe it after seeing so much evidence of that everywhere in this city.

We couldn't figure out why there seemed to be a big following of Bob Marley in this funny country until Terah and Axel told us that marijuana grows all over Nepal and it is NOT illegal unless the locals try selling it to expats.

There were people carrying all kinds of objects all over and this man had quite an interesting collection.

Families seem to spend a lot of time outside during the daylight hours in Nepal either on the street or their rooftops, taking advantage of Mother Nature's warmth. I think it is also because most people's living spaces aren't that big.

We came across this Hindu shrine inside someone's private compound.

Again, another shop that sells STDs but this one also has the always popular internet SUFFERING that we can't live without!

This man was carrying live chickens stacked on top of each other in this basket strapped to his head. He agreed to pose for Brett but was quick to put out his hand for cash after. I'm sure we weren't the first tourists to be in awe of his skills.

This is the view from our hotel window. I think this is a restaurant but we never saw anyone eat there.

Every home was decorated with the bright colors of drying laundry. Picturesque to me, laborious for the housewives.

Our hotel rooftop was a great place to finally see a wider vision of Kathmandu. There were no fancy glass and steel highrise buildings that symbolize power and industry. There were just residence buildings mixed in with haphazard business establishments.

Oh, isn't she funny? NOT!

This was the most interesting building in our view. It might be difficult to see in this shot but there is a woman in red going about her chores on the tallest roof and she has a white bunny hopping around and pigeon houses with birds flying in and out. We wondered if the bunny and pigeons were for dinner or companionship.

This family was sitting down to an elaborate meal. Life really happens on the roofs here.

After Sarita and the gang met Tim at the airport, Axel and Terah picked us up for some shopping and dinner in the Thamel district of the city. Sarita was busy getting her hands and arms decorated with Mehndi so we were Tim's poor excuse for a bachelor party. It was great to finally meet the groom and hear about Sarita and Tim meeting in person for the first time. Tim is a software engineer and a very nice guy who was terribly exhausted from his 30 plus hour flight from Palo Alto, California. He was more entertaining as the night went on, but he was so happy just to finally have met his bride in person and be only hours from matrimony.

Brett bought us some yak hair blankets at this shop. They sound kind of gross but they are really soft.

We enjoyed a Japanese dinner at one of Terah's favorite restaurants. Terah's iPhone kept the kids busy while we grilled Tim and put him through the paces. Terah and Axel were already good friends with Tim after numerous skype sessions, but as you can see, Axel took every opportunity to prepare him for the big day. I wonder what bit of wisdom he is passing on here.

Terah's mom Linda was one of the gang and probably the most energetic, easy-going grandma I've ever met. By the time the trip was over we were good friends.

YUM!

After dinner and a little bit of paradise for Brett (shopping for outerwear with Axel's ruthless bartering skills) we went to see Sarita at her family home (her sister's husband's family home that is shared with all his brothers, their families, and his mother). We hugged her carefully so we wouldn't mess up this unique artwork. We met the documentary crew (Jenny and Rebecca) and tried to act naturally while they filmed our conversation. We met Sarita's little mama who had traveled by plane for the first time from a little village in eastern Nepal so she could be at the wedding. Tim knelt in front of her to give her presents he had brought from home along with a letter and a picture of his own mother. It was sweet to watch Sarita translate the letter to her mama and then translate her mama's responses to Tim.

As we left for the hotel that night there were men working on a building that Sarita's sister's family would be moving into soon. When we showed up the next morning most of this dirt had been hauled away with this very amazing system. Their heads and necks must be very sturdy to carry all that weight in the basket.

Before leaving that night Sarita showed me a sari that her sister (who has a sari shop) made for me and an outfit she made for Abbey. We were very touched, but I started to panic. I've never been a big one for dressing up on Halloween so how in the world was I going to pull off a sari?

The wedding day started off early, and when we woke up Abbey told me that she wasn't feeling well. As I continued to get ready for the day she got worse and eventually threw up. Brett and I knew the wedding would not be in her immediate future, so he stayed with Abbey at the hotel while I had a very long day with the wedding. We never found out if Abbey's illness was from something she ate or drank in Nepal because we all ate and drank the same things, but whatever it was it wiped her out for the full day and even the next day she was pretty weak. But like Axel says, "Nepal is the gift that keeps on giving."

Terah, with her kids, her mom, and her driver picked me up and we went to Sarita's family home again to get dressed. It was quite a production for all of us to fit into one tiny room to be "saried". The smallest lady there had the responsibility of putting me into my sari and it was rather comical. She kept saying, "I small and you biggest." The process of putting on a sari is so complicated and involves taking no deep breaths, making tucks, folds, wraps, and layers, so I doubt I will ever be able to put mine on again. Everything came together though and I was able to keep it on for about twelve hours that day. The combination of not being close to a "useable" bathroom and having a sari on made me hold it ALL DAY and by 5 PM when we got to the Party Palace for the wedding reception there was a passable bathroom so the sari kind of fell off of me in the process. Linda called in reinforcements and Sarita's sister came and wrapped me all back in for the next few hours. By the way, it is amazing what a body can do when forced. I never knew I could hold it that long!

Sarita's niece Nikki was very helpful with this whole process and put on my Bindi. The color red symbolizes wedlock, so that is why we are all wearing red saris and red Bindi.

Then we finally got to see the bride and she was stunning. She looked like a Nepali princess.

Heavah looked especially beautiful in her blue outfit. It matched her eyes perfectly.

Axel and Terah are way too young to be parents of the bride but that is exactly the role they played through this whole courtship. Axel is very protective and Terah is very supportive of Sarita. They were very patient through the VERY LONG day, especially with their little family running around.

After hundreds of pictures taken we all walked out on the street to get into the gigantic van. We made quite the spectacle and you can only imagine how many staring eyes we had on us. It was quite amazing for them to see these western people dressed in Nepali clothing going to a family wedding. We waited in the van for quite awhile as everyone filed out of the small alleyway and into the vehicle. The van was huge but we probably had about 20 people in it with pots and pans full of food for the gathering and even the dog Lucky jumped in at the last minute with his chain attached to his makeshift collar. Those of you who know me might think that I was freaking out at this point, but I just took things in stride surprisingly and took my cues from Terah's mom. I thought, "If she can do this, so can I!"

We drove a short distance and found ourselves in this sort of bowery place. It was an open air building with the sun streaming in, leaves, trash, and other unknown things on the cement floor. A few garden chairs were placed against the wall, but other than that the structure looked like a great place for a scout camp meeting. Axel waited outside with Tim until it was time for him to come in for the "ceremony". When I went out to check on them Tim was telling Axel and Terah that he had been so nervous that morning that he found a computer repair shop close to his hotel and asked them if he could use the internet there. When they told him they didn't have access to the internet there, that they only repaired computers there, Tim asked them if he could help them fix something. I guess he was desperate to do something familiar in such a strange place. Unfortunately they only laughed when he explained his reasons.

Here Lucky, the wedding guest dog, begs for forgiveness from his owner for all his barking. She is the sweet lady who put me into my sari.

This man is preparing for the wedding ceremony. I never did find out what his title is in the Hindu faith, but he definitely was in charge. If you are wondering why they had a Hindu wedding even though they are LDS then you need to read Terah's blog. She has explained it all very well. There were a lot of flower petals, smoke, leaves, and burning sticks involved in the preparations and the actual ceremony. It was certainly like nothing I had ever seen before. These boys were very interested in the colorful powder painting going on.

Sarita is posing with our EXCELLENT driver here. His name is Dibender - I'm sure I misspelled that, so sorry, but he pronounces it DiVENDER. Axel calls him Divender Di (again probably misspelled) because the Nepali word for brother is Di. When Axel was talking to a shop girl he was calling her Dee Dee so I found out that Dee Dee is the Nepali word for sister. My sister Yvonna gave me a very appropriate nickname and didn't even know it!

Here Sarita's mom and sister look on as the ceremony continues.

This is a terrible shot, but it shows two important things: the rustic building and Sarita's embarrassment as people brought up the western tradition of the groom kissing the bride and how that was left out of this Hindu wedding somehow. It may seem strange to many of you reading this that Tim and Sarita met on the internet and had only talked via skype prior to the wedding. I thought a lot about this too, but after being in Nepal and realizing that most marriages there are arranged and the bride and groom meet only days before the wedding, this skype arrangement didn't seem as unbelieveable.

This shot is a pretty somber one, but Tim's expression is too funny not to include. He's got some kind of Joe vs. the Volcano thing going on with his outfit, don't you think?

This is the happier version.

Because the venue was so open, many people, not associated with the bride or the groom, felt the need to be included. These are some of the poor people who were perched on the steps outside for most of the day, but they had to catch a glimpse of the action inside. There were also Japanese and German tourists who popped in for pictures with some of us. I guess it was quite an unusual event.

This is the food that was served at the first event and it was prepared (probably for days before the wedding) and served by Sarita's family.

This ceremony, not part of the wedding, was going on outside next to the Hindu temple.

There was a lot of washing of the feet and annointing of the heads. This is Sarita's mama and each family member took a turn. There were also a lot a fun traditions of stealing the groom's shoes and making him barter with the nieces to get them back. Tim also had to barter his way back into the wedding room at one point.

There was a lot of waiting around so I spent time snapping pictures. The next one of this sweet baby is probably my favorite one of the whole trip. The mama and her baby were just wandering through the building, not related to the family at all.

After about four hours at the first ceremony site we all loaded into the van again and took a VERY long ride home because traffic had come upon us. The dog actually rode home on a motorcycle this time though.

We waited at the family house (where the electricity was temporarily out and the bathroom facilities involved holes in the ground) for a couple of hours and then it was off to the Party Palace. This was the reception venue and it was a cross between a school lunchroom and a Lion's Club banquet hall. If you look closely at the pictures you will see colorful containers on the floor in which guests were to deposit their dirty dishes. My favorite part of the menu was the tempura shrimp so I got to know that certain Nepali waiter well.

Tim and Sarita sat in school prom-like thrones and guests came up on the risers to congratulate them. The hall was filled with Nepali music (too loud and not my taste at all) and the colors of shimmering saris.

A portion of Sarita's family

I kept telling myself, "If Linda keeps smiling, so will I."

The LDS bishop and his wife stopped by.

Then the dancing began.

Wherever the Bromleys are there's a party!

I had to snap this shot of my favorite sari of the evening. If I had one made for myself it would look like this.

If Abbey hadn't been sick the day of the wedding, this is what she would have looked like.

Well, this is probably the longest post I've ever written, and I've more than likely lost most of my readers at this point, but my writing just can't do a Nepali wedding justice. The warmth of Sarita's family and the sacrifices of the family wedding just cannot be captured in a photo or a paragraph in a blog. But you have seen the conditions this family lives in through my photos and you have seen their joy as they watched their youngest sister marry. What else can be said?

When I first met Sarita I didn't know her life would become a Cinderella story. She is now a married woman and learning all the things wives over the ages have had to deal with: What should I make for dinner and when will he learn how to clean up after himself? She will also be thrown into a new culture very soon as she makes her home in California and is pressed up against an overindulged society. She will be growing in the Gospel. She will also be enrolling in a university to study science I'm told. She already speaks four languages, knows how to drive, swim, and wrangle four Bromley children. At times she might want to click her heels together like Dorothy did and proclaim that there is no place like her Nepal home, but I don't think she will be doing that or losing a shoe on a staircase anytime soon. Her trip on the yellow brick road began long before Tim came into her life, and she isn't anything like those helpless Disney princesses who forget their own resourcefulness by waiting for the prince to show up. She didn't need Tim to rescue her from an unfair caste system in Nepal. She is an amazing woman who knows who she is and where she is going. I love you Sarita and can't wait to write the rest of your story!

Doha Ward Christmas Party: Singing Sand Dunes

2010-12-15T09:04:00.002+03:00

Our ward Christmas party was held at the Singing Sand Dunes and the fun got started as soon as Abbey got out of the car. Before I knew it, she had scampered up this dune and was thinking of creative ways to get down along with everyone else. I just love the Santa hat, don't you? The dunes are named because apparently if you step on them hard enough there are eerie sounds you can hear that reverberate off the natural ampitheater there, but it has to be quiet enough, and with this crowd, no one was listening.

Brett showed Xavier how to trudge up the dune . . .

. . . . . and run (almost fall) down after!

So if we couldn't be tubing down a snow-covered hill, we would have to settle for the sand.

It's a race!

Brett is one talented guy, don't you think?!

Xavier is on of the "ward babies" and gets passed around a lot. He is so good-natured.

The dunes didn't sing, but the ward choir did and they sounded beautiful!

Ella, Emma, Abbey, and Morgan

Brother F gave a great talk about sand and related it to the Savior - an object lesson from the desert IN the desert.

We were led in a "Name that Christmas Carol" game by Brother I and Brother B. There was no cheating involved at all. (Wink, wink!)

President C joined us even though his wife was already home for the holidays.

We had a big group and everyone seemed to have a good time. This might have to be a new Doha 1st Ward tradition!