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!

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.

I'm Back

Hi Everyone, its Spring! Sorry I haven't writen in a while. I haven't done much that I thought was blog worthy. My mom came for two weeks and it has been quite since she left. I have been helping John: fixing quotes, making contacts and helping with his launch party in May. A few weekends ago we went to a Shake's private collection of things he has collected over the years. The museum was in a huge building out in the middle of nowhere. There were swords, furniture, paintings and American cars. Mostly Fords from the 1920s and some Dodge trucks. It was a weird mix of items. There were some signs of a professional museum and then not so much when a guy started one of the cars up in a gallery. Yesterday I went Jalabya shopping with a dozen women. Jalabyas are the dresses Arabic women wear when they go to a party or wedding. Through the AWA I am going to an Arabian Nights dinner and we are supposed to dress up. After a day of shopping I didn't buy anything, too many choices! I will go back and try again, now that I know what I am looking for. I will let you how the dinner is.

A Busy Week

Sorry I haven't written in a while. First I went to the 2-day Green Building Confrence for New Image and for myself. I heard some interesting things after trying to understand each speakers take on the english language. Then the next two days we spent moving into a bigger apartment 8 floors lower in the same building. After that I went to the Sustainable Qatar meeting. Now my mom is visiting.

On Friday we went into the desert and to the beach with the AWA group. Beside the lack of roads and sunburn, we had a good time and got to see camels and a few ostrich eggs-very large.

On Saturday we went on the Doha Garden Club bus tour. We got to see five different villas each with a different style garden. Some had lots of flowers (some we see in the US and many we don't) others were more large yards with trees (fruit-banana, papaya, lemon.) It was fun to see behind the fences and how the other half lives. They all had water features and swimming pools.

Dubai Weekend

This weekend, John and I went to Dubai. Since we are here in Doha on Visitor Visas we have to leave the country every 2 months. Friday I got to see the Dubai Mall finished (well only 1/3 of the mall since it is huge!) We took the world's fastest elevator to the observation floor (124th floor) of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building which is next to the mall. There is a 360 degree view of Dubai from there and we could see where we lived when we were there in 2008/09. Then we went to dinner with John's friend that does high rise window washing, Alan. John is trying to get Alan to work with him in Doha.

Saturday we went to the beach in the morning then to Ikea before we left. This is the first time I have ever bought lamps at Ikea and put them in my carry on suitcase! We flew home Saturday evening. On both the 45 minute flights they served a meal and had tea service. They also give all the kids a toy and each seat has a tv monitor in which you can listen to music, play games or watch tv. This is all in economy, I can only imagine what first classs is like.

Today I went to the Qatar Womens Association presentation of wedding traditions. The room was set up much like a western wedding reception: covered chairs, floral centerpieces. Then we were served different drinks and sweets as they put on the show. The groom presents a dowery to the bride and it is hers to keep (doesn't go to her family) which includes cloth and jewelery. The night before the wedding is a henna party and all the ladies get together and sing and dance. On the wedding day the groom's father holds a dinner for everyone he knows (and anyone who happens by is invited in.). The village helps out with the grooms expenses. The next day the bride's father holds a lunch for both families. The bride receives visitors for the next seven days at her parents house, then she moves in with the groom.

After the presentation they invited us to a large buffet lunch. Then I got henna on my right hand and wrist, then my picture taken with the traditional wedding "dress" a sheer fabric with lots of embroidery which they wear over a dress and have a cape/veil on their head. All the ladies, including little girls there were dressed in brightly colored dresses and their hair was down and uncoverd. Because this was a presentation there were no men there, so I don't know what they wear.

This Week So Far

On Sunday I went with John to his apointments as his navigator and went to yet another mall with a grocery store. Spinneys (where we shopped in Dubai) also has a lot of American products including Milk Bones for Ginger. It is hard to find dog treats here. I also got Kraft Mac & Cheese, yummy! For lunch we went to Chilies and had chicken fajitas, just like at home. I also had a strawberry margarita without the tequila (not like at home.)

On Monday, I joined the American Women's Association (open to any woman.) They have a general meeting once a month with a speaker and organize "field trips" Next week I am going on two including the fish market at 8:30 in the morning.

Last night we went to pick up our SUV (no more rental) the New Image work truck and worker van. This resulted in a 4 car carivan through round abouts with lights (which we got seperated at) on streets I had never been on in complete darkness. In the end we all made it back to apartment with our marriage intact.

Today I am going to the office with John to help him prepare a proposal.