Entry #32 Reflections on a Year

This blog was started in May and completed June 21st.

As I write this the countdown is on for our departure date. We are starting to make lists (okay who are we kidding, I am starting to make lists) about what to bring home, what our plans are for the summer, and even what to bring back in August. Zoe is starting to get excited and asks almost everyday if this is the day we leave for Canada. In the midst of our excitement we are still giving/marking exams, writing report cards and packing up our classrooms. We will also have to say goodbye to some new friends that won't be returning next year. All this in just 14 days! So I thought now would be a good time to do some reflection on our year.


Here are a few questions that Jamie and I ask each other.

Are you glad you made the move?

Absolutely! Despite some dark days in the beginning (including Isaac's fall at the airport and having to fire our first nanny) we are happy with the year. We have met new people from all over the world, we have experienced a new culture and religion, and have had a new teaching experience. And let's not forget the fact that we have seen Oman, Jordan and France!

What would you change about the year if you could

Perhaps getting our car sooner but really that was out of our hands as we waited for paper work to be completed.

What do you regret?

Can't think of anything!

What do you miss most about home?

Green trees

Sane drivers

Chai Lattes

Familiar Surroundings

Red wine

Rain

Quiet

(I should mention that family and friends are obviously at the top of this list)

What do you like the most about Kuwait?

The adventure
New surroundings
Learning about a new area of the world and more about Islam
Meeting new friends and students
The Call to Prayer (not so much at 4:00 am but all other times)
Not wasting money on chai lattes
Travel Opportunities
Being able to afford our full time Nanny (Flora). I won't mention the last time I did laundry or cleaned the floor.


That is a brief summary of our thoughts as we end our first year. We did learn that a year can go by very quickly and that a blog is hard to keep up-to-date when working full time and raising two children. I hope to have more frequent blog updates next year.

Stay tuned for our France blog....coming soon!

Entry #31 Going Up or Coming Down

We have had the unfortunate luck of being placed on the first floor of our building. I say unfortunate because we get to experience all the noises and disturbances that come with a busy city up close and personal. This noise has been amplified by the construction of a new apartment directly across the street from us. Construction often starts at 5 a.m and the earliest has been 4 a.m. I must say that it has been a little disconcerting to see how an apartment building is constructed in this country, since one can make the assumption that the building we are living in was built the same way.

From what we can observe there is a lot of concrete and re-bar involved and not to much else. We were surprised that we didn't witness any deaths as there is absolutely no safety gear worn at all. Most of the workers seemed to be wearing what looked like their Pj's with sneakers and a scarf on their head. One man was cutting the re-bar with a power tool and wearing cotton gloves for protection. Zoe and Isaac liked to watch the sparks fly as he cut metal with no safety glasses on. As the building grew the scaffolding around it grew as well. However, this isn't the metal scaffolding that fits together snugly. This was pieces of wood tied together with rope!But what's most alarming is the fact that when you see a building half way done you're never sure if it's going up or coming down.

The really good news is that it looks like a new building will be going up on the other side of us next year!

Scaffolding Kuwaiti style!

This picture was taken in a dust storm and you can make out the operator wearing his safety scarf!


The site of the next construction site!


This picture shows the bottom of the new building. Construction workers had just spent days laying out the brick parking area and then another group of workers came along and ripped it up to put new piping in.

The nearly finish product. The strange thing is that when this building is completely finished it could be up to six months before the water and electricity will be turned on. This is what happened as we waited to get into our current building.

Entry #30 Isaac's Second Birthday

This entry is a little late since Isaac's birthday was a month ago; but better late then never. Isaac turned two while we were in Jordan so we decided to pass on a big party that he wouldn't remember. I made him a chocolate cake that he didn't eat but he loved blowing out the candles. Zoe got him Wall-E and Eva and we got him a fire station. Here are a few pictures.

Jamie and his twin!!

Zoe helping Isaac unwrap his gift.

Firefighter Isaac!

Isaac's chocolate cake which he didn't eat. He doesn't seem to like sweets or chocolates....yes there is some question as to whether he is my son or not!