Since my birthday was on Sunday, which is like Monday here, we celebrated on Friday June 24. We had a table for ten at the Wine Cellar at the Oryx Rotana Hotel. We had a ton of different and delicious tapas and some wine. My American friend Emily ordered pink sparkling wine which was great for dessert. No birthday cake this year, just a sampling of desserts. I wasn't too upset since I don't think Qataris know what a proper dessert is. It was a great evening with friends which are from all over the world!
I couldn't let Sunday go un-noticed so John and I went to the Belgian Cafe at the InterContinetal Hotel where I had Cherry Beer and Raspberry Beer with my dinner. We were joined by our friends Darren and Jackie from England. Darren called me the Queen since she too has 2 birthday parties.
All in all it was a good birthday even though I was away from my friends and family.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Dinners and Parties
On Wednesday we had our first official dinner guest. Wade from Arizona, he works for the company putting the roof on the new airport. John met him at the US embassy, when Wade needed a witness for a document. Of course that meant I had to buy a few new throw pillows and some things for the walls!
Thursday night we went to a Casino night that the president of the AWA hosted. We met some interesting people, watched some craps, ate a little something and had some beers. It felt like being at a party in the states. John was very excited that they had jell0 shots, so I drove home.
Friday night we are getting together with Darren and Jackie who will be watching Ginger. Saturday we are finally getting together with Julie and Alfred and going to the first Italian Cultural Association meeting. Julie is the one that organizes my book club and she passed John's business card onto her husband and they have been meeting often, so this will be the first time all four of us go out together.
Thursday night we went to a Casino night that the president of the AWA hosted. We met some interesting people, watched some craps, ate a little something and had some beers. It felt like being at a party in the states. John was very excited that they had jell0 shots, so I drove home.
Friday night we are getting together with Darren and Jackie who will be watching Ginger. Saturday we are finally getting together with Julie and Alfred and going to the first Italian Cultural Association meeting. Julie is the one that organizes my book club and she passed John's business card onto her husband and they have been meeting often, so this will be the first time all four of us go out together.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Peaceful and Friendly Qatar
According to the Global Peace Index, Qatar is the most peaceful country in the Middle East North African (MENA) region and 12th among the 135 countries around the world. Sweden was 13th, Britain 26, France 36, Italy 45 and USA came in at 82nd. Kuwait was 2nd in MENA region and 29th overall. So everyone can stop worrying about our safety : )
Last night we went out to dinner at the Doha Golf Club with our friends Darren and Jackie from Manchester, England. They have agreed to watch Ginger while we go to Venice for a few days to meet up with Earl, Judie and Shelby. Darren promised not to give Ginger any chocolate!
Tonight we are going out to dinner with Aaron and Emily from Indiana at a hotel that John's company is doing a marble cleaning demo, keep your fingers crossed that they can pick up the job, the hotel is 80% marble so it would be a great contract.
Last night we went out to dinner at the Doha Golf Club with our friends Darren and Jackie from Manchester, England. They have agreed to watch Ginger while we go to Venice for a few days to meet up with Earl, Judie and Shelby. Darren promised not to give Ginger any chocolate!
Tonight we are going out to dinner with Aaron and Emily from Indiana at a hotel that John's company is doing a marble cleaning demo, keep your fingers crossed that they can pick up the job, the hotel is 80% marble so it would be a great contract.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Back to normal?
Hi Everyone, I guess I am not too good at this blogging thing since I post about once a month!
My Dad and Kathy were here for three weeks and we took them to Dubai for a weekend, then we hosted John's company launch party the night before he went to Michigan for 10 days. Now we are all back to normal and my life has gotten busy.
I have joined the board of the American Womens' Association (which is open to all women) in the postition of photographer/histroian (big surprise right?) Monday was the transition board meeting and Tuesday we had a potluck with the Qatari Women's Associaation, lots of good food from all over the world! Many of the Qatari women were retired school teachers. I have another board meeting on Monday then it will be quiet for the summer as many people leave Qatar to go home and escape the heat (107 degrees today) and Ramadan. We will be coming to Michigan in July and look forward to seeing everyone.
My Dad and Kathy were here for three weeks and we took them to Dubai for a weekend, then we hosted John's company launch party the night before he went to Michigan for 10 days. Now we are all back to normal and my life has gotten busy.
I have joined the board of the American Womens' Association (which is open to all women) in the postition of photographer/histroian (big surprise right?) Monday was the transition board meeting and Tuesday we had a potluck with the Qatari Women's Associaation, lots of good food from all over the world! Many of the Qatari women were retired school teachers. I have another board meeting on Monday then it will be quiet for the summer as many people leave Qatar to go home and escape the heat (107 degrees today) and Ramadan. We will be coming to Michigan in July and look forward to seeing everyone.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Royal Wedding in London
As many of you know I was one of the millions to line the streets of London for the Royal Wedding. I had an amazing time with Ann, Leslie and Alison. We got there Thursday morning and took the time to scout out the perfect spot, had dinner and went to bed as the alarm went off at 3 am!
Friday we stood for 9 hours outside of Buckingham Palace to see the Queen leave for the wedding and all the royals come back to the Palace for the balcony kiss. We all got some good pictures. Afterwards we went to lunch then the Victoria & Albert Museum.
On Saturday we went to St. Paul's Cathedral and had lunch at a true English Pub. Afterwards we went to the Imperial War Museum and walked through the trenches and experienced the blitz. Then onto The War Cabinet Rooms where Churchill spent most of his time during WWII, but only slept there 3 nights.
Sunday we took the train to Hampton Court, Henry VIII's palace and spent most of the day there. We made it back to London in time for the evening service at Westminster Abbey. It was a nice service and got to see Kate's bouquet and the trees and flowers from the wedding.
Friday we stood for 9 hours outside of Buckingham Palace to see the Queen leave for the wedding and all the royals come back to the Palace for the balcony kiss. We all got some good pictures. Afterwards we went to lunch then the Victoria & Albert Museum.
On Saturday we went to St. Paul's Cathedral and had lunch at a true English Pub. Afterwards we went to the Imperial War Museum and walked through the trenches and experienced the blitz. Then onto The War Cabinet Rooms where Churchill spent most of his time during WWII, but only slept there 3 nights.
Sunday we took the train to Hampton Court, Henry VIII's palace and spent most of the day there. We made it back to London in time for the evening service at Westminster Abbey. It was a nice service and got to see Kate's bouquet and the trees and flowers from the wedding.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Easter in Qatar
Easter Greetings!
We were fortunate enough to meet some fellow Christian Americans and were invited to a Good Friday lunch. It was a wonderful experience to enjoy a meal in a cozy home with great people, we had a ham and it was sooo good! All pig products are banned from Qatar, but our host had an in at the American Embassy. These people have a small church and meet Sunday evenings at a person's house. John and I are looking forward to going in the future, we are busy the next few Sundays.
On Easter Sunday, John and I went to an Easter brunch at the Marriott hotel, it was huge with food from all over the world. They open all their restaurants so you can choose food from five different places and the hallway between each one. They even had candy and dyed eggs on our table. Due to the heat here, the Canburry egg didn't make it home in a solid state. John's friend that works at the Marriott (and is from Dearborn, MI) said their regular buffet on Fridays usually has 350 people, Easter had about 150. I hope this blog finds you all well and not to stuffed from chocolate bunnies and jelly beans!
We were fortunate enough to meet some fellow Christian Americans and were invited to a Good Friday lunch. It was a wonderful experience to enjoy a meal in a cozy home with great people, we had a ham and it was sooo good! All pig products are banned from Qatar, but our host had an in at the American Embassy. These people have a small church and meet Sunday evenings at a person's house. John and I are looking forward to going in the future, we are busy the next few Sundays.
On Easter Sunday, John and I went to an Easter brunch at the Marriott hotel, it was huge with food from all over the world. They open all their restaurants so you can choose food from five different places and the hallway between each one. They even had candy and dyed eggs on our table. Due to the heat here, the Canburry egg didn't make it home in a solid state. John's friend that works at the Marriott (and is from Dearborn, MI) said their regular buffet on Fridays usually has 350 people, Easter had about 150. I hope this blog finds you all well and not to stuffed from chocolate bunnies and jelly beans!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Souq Shop Haggling
This morning I bought my Jalabiya to wear to the Arabian Nights dinner on Saturday, pictures will follow. The cost was 250 Rials, so I said to the guy "how about 200," the guy said "230" and I was good with that, then another guy came in and they chatted and the first guy told me 200, sold! Which works out t0 about $55, not bad for a party dress. Then I met up with AWA ladies for a fabric shopping trip, mostly just to look and see what is available-tons of silks: printed, embroidered, plain, Liberty Cottons which are from England and kinda of vintage prints, lots of lace too. Makes you want to have a ballgown after seeing everything. I met a twenty something American that just arrived in Qatar a week ago. We had a long lunch(all meals take forever here.) Then we bought some Pashminas and talked the guy down from 25 to 10 Rials. I felt good about my skills today! And I tried to find a shop I heard about and went on some streets I had never been on and some how ended up exactly where I needed to be to get back home (score again!) Never did find shop though.
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