Inland Sea adventures

Last weekend we went on a little adventure to the Inland Sea. You can see Saudi Arabia from the beach there. Our friend, Richard Bigger, led the way for us and a small group of people. He provided Nelson with some fishing equipment and they proceeded to have a fish-off at Barracuda Point. Richard skunked Nelson catching barracuda, at least a dozen to none. However, we took a fish home, which Nelson skinned and deboned and cooked for us. It was DE-licious. I can't wait for him to learn how to catch them himself! I will include photos here of our adventure and the small barracuda Richard caught, which our friend, Larry tells us is called sinnet (baby barracuda). Apparently, the BIG ones can be dangerous to eat as they accumulate a toxin from eating something in the reefs. We are in no danger of that here! :)

I have also had some distressing news that my oldest brother, Orville, is very ill in the hospital and have booked a flight home for spring break to see him. It's been a hectic week. AND, today we are heading to the beach in a different direction, so I wanted to get this post done before I write about that! :) Please stay tuned for photos from last weekend and this weekend. I will get it all caught up before I leave for Michigan next week!

Some days are diamonds....and some days just stink...

This has been a hard week.  I always contend that my glass is half full, but there are days that feel like there's a crack and the glass is leaking.  Commuting lately has been especially frustrating and often dictates the tone for my day.  I have to make a serious effort to overcome it so that it doesn't affect my attitude when I'm teaching.  Most evenings when I arrive home safely, I just feel like going to bed or vegging out in front of the TV.  This isn't good because that is leading to "pillow spread."  I lost the pillow spread riding horse last semester, but it's creeping back.  I have to take some serious steps to stop it if I think I'm going to go home and ride the 250 miles of the Shore to Shore on Malik this summer!!!  I did go swimming one day this week...the water was quite cold and Nelson refused to go with me.  So, perhaps I will start forcing myself to walk every evening.  Something....walking around campus and taking the stairs and parking away from my office isn't enough.  

Homesickness has also been a bit of a problem this week.....it comes and goes sometimes, especially when I'm stressed.  My major stress this week (and for the last few) has been one of my classes.  They are a huge challenge and I'm not sure why last semester and this semester both have given me ONE class that stresses me so much.  Some of the girls treat me little better than they do their Filipina maids.  I can't seem to find the "sweet spot" between being overly strict and relaxed... I have a few girls who are anxious to learn every single thing I try to impart to them.  And then there are some that just can't stop themselves from talking, talking, talking.  I am usually good-natured most of the time, but some of these students bring out the beast in me.  I feel very protective of the students who are trying to learn from me and am going to have to take a very hard nosed line from now on, even if it means removing students from my class.  It's not fair to the students who are making an effort to learn if I allow the disruption and chaos that comes from a few.  I hate that part....being a hard nose.  But, it's become necessary....no more moving students and no more verbal warnings.  

 

And yet, when days seem so dark that I just feel like I'm going to cry, God sends a ray of light and hope:  yesterday, after a depressing drive to work and too many dark thoughts and feelings of homesickness, as I walked across from my office to the main building, I heard someone yelling my name over and over, "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, Maggie.....," probably a dozen times.  And flying across from the food court, as fast as his little legs could carry him, is little Sodju (2 years old) who lives across the hall from me and has taken a liking to me for some reason.  He ran straight across and through the flower beds to me.  He isn't terribly cuddly, but I picked him up and hugged him anyway!  It was balm for the soul to have someone so excited to see me.  He had come to campus with his mom to see Cultural Village this week.  And, to lift my spirits!  Later in the day, I saw a small group of my students from last semester, the group that had been so challenging for me then.  They were delighted to see me, proclaiming how much they love and miss me.  I made it through with them and seeing them again made me think that I'll make it through with the students I have this semester, too.  

So, today, I will lesson plan a little bit and psych myself up for next week, go walking, maybe even a swim (I like to use the pool for stretching exercises), maybe take a little drive outside of Doha with Nelson.  Tomorrow we are scheduled for a trip to the beach for fishing with a QU friend/colleague.  I plan to take a beach chair and a book.  It'll be GREAT!

In the meantime, keep the notes coming....I love hearing from friends and family wherever you may be.  And phone calls are welcome, too.  Don't forget that the 517 VOIP number is an NOT international call.  A friendly hello goes a long way toward making my day!!  Happy Spring/Equinox!!!

Let the good times blow, I mean, roll....

It seems "blowing" is on my mind a lot as the dust storms seem to kick up out of nowhere.  Another one last weekend when we were at an endurance ride (another future post) left dust in my ears, my nose, my mouth, my hair, heck, I think I even had dust in my bellybutton!  If they had Christmas here, the song would be "Let it Blow, Let it Blow, Let it Blow!"  No kidding!

This is our second week with Anju, our wonderful new housekeeper/cleaning lady, whatever is PC, I don't know!  She has put us on the straight and narrow path of cleanliness.  She is a blessing....it's amazing how much stress having her come relieves!

Last week was my lesson observation.  I was worried about it, but decided since there wasn't much I could do about, worry wasn't worth it!  I did it the first day of the week to get it over with and received my score and comments by week's end.  I was shocked and soooo happy to have received wonderful comments and even the constructive criticism was so helpful!  My score was 17/18 or 4.72/5 on the scale that counts.  4.72-5.00 equals "exceptional" on their scale!  I have started to worry now that I am going to have to work twice as hard to STAY that way!  :)  I still have one group of students (similar to problems I had last semester) who are keeping my life interesting.  The group which was observed actually made me look good.  I can't take all the credit.  My observers were impressed that every student did the homework and participated in the oral report and discussion!  ALL of them.  I was so proud.  And then my other group...a few are making life difficult....simple little chatty Kathy's.  It's hard to be angry when they simply seem to be oblivious to their transgressions.  However, the warnings have been too many.....soon, they will be shown the door.  Such is life.  I have a few eager students who can't seem to learn enough from me and I have to keep their best interests first and foremost.  Chatty Kathy's can have their own party elsewhere.

What else?  Magic Corn.  I always say to myself whenever I buy some that I should tell everyone about it!  There are little stands in the malls and in the cafeterias at the university where they sell hot "magic corn."  They will mix it with whatever spices you like.....mine is simply butter and salt....and put it in a cup with a little spoon for you.  It is actually fresh and delicious as corn goes.  I always tell my students when I have some that my teaching will be magic that day!  :)  Who would ever have thought that something so simple and easy would be such a popular treat?  It's not cheap either!  It's about $2.50 for a small cup (maybe a half cup measure!).  But it's so GOOD!!  :)

I have been counting the days to our annual vacation.  I hope we'll be home by the 4th of July.  Which means we'll be leaving in about 106 days.  I remember when I started counting last fall for our January trip home that anything over 100 seemed like forever.  Once it fell below 100, the days seemed to race by!

In any case, this is my update for the time being.  I have been working hard, many hours in my office and many hours after I come home (though I did take a break and watched Erin Brockovich last night...I enjoy a feisty woman story now and then....quite empowering really).  My brain never seems to want to shut up.  I am awake with birds every morning!  Even when I CAN sleep in, my brain won't let me.  Maybe I should work first shift next fall.  I don't know if I could do it!  :)  Not EVERY day!  :)  Two days a week is bad enough!  

Take care all and I am looking forward to hearing from you!  

Maggie

Another day, another dollar, er, I mean, riyal...

The lesson observation went well and I was told was "successful," although I am waiting for the meeting at which we will discuss specific points and area in which I can improve.  There is always room for improvement.  

More dust, more dangerous driving, more same old, same old.  I miss my kids and grandkids so much.  Yesterday on the way to work (my early day when I leave before 7 to be there by 8), I used my horn and cursed more than since I arrived!  People were especially rude and ridiculously risky drivers yesterday....driving over curbs to wedge themselves between cars, cutting in front, flashing their lights....some days there just isn't enough humor to make it all the way to work.  I wish I could just slap people, but the best I can do is vent my rage inside my car and watch out for the other guy!  I wish Nelson could drive me to work every day....I hate it so much sometimes!  It's just another sacrifice I have to make...

Today is hump day for me....my Tuesday is like Wednesday back home.  That's not so bad, I guess.  My week will be over half finished when I get home tonight.  Nelson has been making me delicious hot meals every night....stir fries with lots of fresh vegetables, sometimes with added cheese and pasta, sweet and sour, bbq, and all kinds of interesting concoctions.  He used hoisin sauce in a beef dish this week.  It's always delicious and twice as much so because he made it with his own hands!

Anyway, time to get ready for work.  I wanted to take a minute and post something.  I will try to be more conscientious about posting regularly.  

The world turns and the dust blows....

Yesterday a pretty good dust storm kicked up.  I hesitate to say "sand" storm because it's not really sand, but dust.  Today, it's so thick, I can't see the sun.  So, I'm not looking forward to walking around on campus!  That stuff gets in your eyes and hurts!  

Today I got up to the news that Paul Harvey died yesterday.  I was surprised and saddened both.  Surprised because he seemed ageless to me, immortal.  His career in radio will immortalize him though I mourn for all the news I will not hear from him and all the rest of the stories he will not be able to tell.  Makes me ponder the rest of MY story.  I loved Paul Harvey.  His passing is like the death of a chunk of my own life, one that involved many who are already gone from it, and simply makes it seem so much more final and gone.

Today is my lesson observation at Qatar University.  I've been quite busy with that, working on curriculum materials and developing the Integrated Skills Project for my class.  So, I've done nothing exciting lately, I am sorry to say.  Until something happens that allows us to outright purchase Hattan, I have not been spending much time (if any) at the stables.  I let myself get too attached and I admit, I must take a step back and see what happens next.  I am hopeful yet that we will be able to acquire him and I will yet ride in an endurance ride here in Qatar.  It all remains to be seen.  I am fortunate that I love my job and my students.  However, I know myself well enough to know that I must have horses in my life.  The next 2 1/2 years here will pass much more quickly and happily if we can make that happen!

I am so excited to have finally found a house cleaner.  Anju will start coming on Tuesdays.  The cost is so reasonable that I am quite ashamed, but it is the going rate everywhere here and I can always tip if I choose!  It will cost me 100 QR (riyals) a week for her to come one morning for 4 hours.  That converts to $27.45 USD.  That's $6.86 USD/hour.  That's really not a bad wage here.  It will be such a relief for me and for Nelson.  

So, keep in touch!  We love letters from home!  :)  Even electronic letters!  

Maggie