Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

because I don't write on here anymore..I am handing this post over to my mother!! Happy Holidays.

Hi Everyone: Bill & I are having fun in Kuwait. We had a long but good flight over. Friends of ours were going back to Scotland for Christmas so we were able to visit with them all the way to Amsterdam.We made friends with a girl from Amsterdam who was going to visit her huband in Kuwait & she showed us where to get our visitor visa. So we were able to get out of there fairly quickly.The 3 Amigos ( Krista, Amanda & Kyla ) were there to greet us with welcoming sign & all. The traffic in this city is crazyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!! Everyone drives anywhere they want & very fast!!!!!! We went to Krista's apartment & unpacked a bit. Met a few teachers & then went for groceries. Guess where ? Yep the Co-op , but I can tell you it's nothing like ours!!!
The next day Krista went to school so she had their favourite taxi driver (Waahid) pick us up.First we went to the Grand Mosque where we were included in a tour with a bunch of military sailors. It was really informative and we really enjoyed it. Waahid & another teachers husband picked us up. They wanted to go to the fish market so we went along. Whew what a smell!!! but we got used to it. There were all kinds of fish & everyone wanted to sell us something.We walked around & then down to one of the boats & the saw how they fill hampers with fish & then auction them off.
Then we went to the Scientific center & toured the aquarium. We got to touch a lizard's horny tail & then pet a hedgehog. We loved the sharks & colorful fish. We sat by the Gulf & waited for our driver , it was just beautiful. We saw some Kuwaiti women with their children & their nanny's. it was something to watch. Krista tutours a boy that each child has their own maid. Can you believe it & some get paid & treated so poorly
Met Krista at her place & then went bowling with some of the teachers for their Xmas party.Then we all went to Ponderosa for supper ( not a great meal)
Next morning Krista, Amanda & us went to Johnny Rockets for breakfast . Then we filled Amanda's car with gas- 26 cents /litre.!!! Sure wish we could bring some home!!! We went to another grocery store, this one has more imported goods.
We went home & picked up Kyla & off we went to the Iraq border. We were supposed to follow Waahid but he took off ahead of us. Along the way we saw Bedouin tents (where families live in tents- but they have solar lighting haha) sheep & their herders,bombed buildings,and lots of sand. We got about 1/4 of a mile from the border & thats as far as we could go. But their were just vehicles coming & going . Didn't see any people or tanks.There was a little store there so we looked around & took pictures. On the way home we stopped at some communication towers that had been bombed but were still standing & some buildings that had been hit. What alot of nice marble & brick just laying there.Boy I'd love to bring some of that home!!!!!! Back to the city & we took the girls out for Lebanese food. Good but different.
Next morning Krista & Kyla made us french toast & Krista's propane tank was empty , oops , so off to Kylas to finish & eat breakfast.We took the bus to Krista's school & showed us around, Bill got to come cuz it was the wknd otherwise men aren't allowed in the girl's school. Amanda picked us up & we went to the Friday market. Here everyone tries to sell there wares , new & used & you barter. Would have been fun if it wasn't all IMPORTED> . Everything here is imported & yes Lorraine lots is from CHINA!!!!!!! Lunch at McDonalds for their McArabia- actually it was quite good. Then off to a very classy - rich mall which has an IKEA. So we looked around for awhile & then back home. We made caramel popcorn for Krista's Christmas gift to everyone here. Then off to Johnny Carinos for supper ( again American food)
Today Krista called in sick. One of the teachers wife Mary & her little guy Daniel took us to the fabric souk. Wow there are so many little stores selling fabric or sewing supplies it makes your head spin. Got 1/4 of a mitre of blue jean material with the Gucci emblem on it. Had to barter -got it for 1 KD which is around $4.00. He wasn't too happy to go that low. Then on to the old Souk which again are little shops with everything from groceries to spices to toys ( but again imported!) We took the bus home. For supper we went down the street & bought Shwarma( which is either shave beef or chicken in a bun or wrap & a kind of a kebob in a bun. Then we stopped & bought a big round freshly baked Iranian bread & came back & put cheese & pesto on it & warmed it again) They were all good & it was fun to eat local food. These guys have" little " shops were they sell this stuff at night only. They never go to sleep here at night . But alot do seista during the day. The construction here is unreal, the buildings just keep going up . The cranes are sooooo high, it's just amazing. But it's also funny to see how slow alot of them work and where one should do the job they have 4 or 5.
We're off to a Christmas supper tomorrow at a teacher's. Pot luck! And the cleaning lady come tomorrow to clean & do our laundry. I might get used to this!!!!!!!!!!1
She's in for a suprize cuz we made Gumdrop cake today & caramel popcorn so the kitchen's a mess.
Well that's all for now but I'll try to keep you all updated. Bye from the travelling Flynn's

Field Trip

On Thursday the grade 4 classes went on a field trip to the Water Desalinization Plant and a picnic. The water plant was very interesting. They take the gulf water and take the salt out of it for drinking water. No pictures were allowed...we think it was because they don't want anyone to plot out an attack. This is Kuwait's main water source. The tour started out in English but the guy decided it was easier to explain it in Arabic. So luckily one of my girls mom's came on the field trip and translated for me otherwise I had no idea what was going on. All of the machines were working so it was hard to hear everything the guide was saying anyways so the girls got distracted quite a bit.

The picnic was fun. We ate our "healthy" lunches...which surprisingly most of the girls brought. Then they played with kites, soccer balls, basketballs and the parachute. There was a play structure there too.

The bus ride was the girls favorite part. We sang songs and our bus driver let us listen to the radio!! whooowho..We aren't allowed to listen to music in school so they were really excited.

This week is parent conferences...ekks my first ones. My report cards go out on Monday...So we will see how it goes. Other than that I am busy busy as usual. There is always something to do. Last weekend I went to Kuwait Little Theatre where they did a drama "Deal or No deal" It was amature acting but it was still fun. My friend Amanda won 249 KD. This weekend we are celebrating the American Thanksgiving...I missed Remembrance Day and our Thanksgiving...the days keep slipping past me.

Hope everyone is well. I miss you all.
Love you.

Bahrain

Hey, I am back from Bahrain. It was a very short trip but fun. Our group met some guys from who were also living in Kuwait. They serviced military vehicles..they told us they made about 75thousand every 6 months...so lets just say when we went out for supper they paid for the entire bill. Crazy! We all tried to pay for our own but they wouldn't let us. We found a liquor mart (unidentified) and bought booze to drink in our hotel room. Beer was on sale so Meghan and I shared a 24 pack..we thought we could do it in 2 days! ha..which would have been possible had we not decided to drink in every restaurant we went too..I didn't want to waste good beer so lets just say we did finish it..but the ride on the airplane was not my favorite. Didn't get sick but when you fall asleep and you wake up boiling hot on the plane it doesn't make you feel good. Gulf Air was a great airline. ACA put us up in a 4 star hotel and a great flight. Sweet deal.

The actual process of getting our work visa took less than 1.5 hours for a total for all 10 people. We would've been faster but the guys who also worked in Kuwait had a mix up with the x-rays because two of the guys were named Michale. Heheoops.

So we had almost days full days to check out Bahrain. It was a very nice place. The shopping was good and so was the beverages. Everyone and " everything"made it back to Kuwait. Unfortunately I have to teach and tutor today ...and then do some report cards.

Eventually I will post pictures..

Miss you all,
Love - Krista

I'm Alive

• Just a quick note to to let you know that I haven't forgotten about any of you regular readers. I have been crazy busy since I got back from Turkey. I have so many stories from soap soccer to Halloween parties. I won't be able to post for about 2 weeks. I am tutoring about 6 hours a week and report cards are due next week....and I leave for Bahrain on Monday night to get my work visa. It is a short trip as I will be back Wednesday night just in time to teach Thursday..blah. I am also teaching an after school club twice a week...so as you can see that is why there are not more posts or pictures. But Inshalla (that means god willing) they will be up soon.

Love you all

Krista

Gallipoli Peninsula

October 10th - We did it...we woke up early to catch the ferry to Ecebat. It was only a 30 minute ride. When we got off the ferry we realized how cold it was. The wind was strong and we were going to walk to each of the places...I was a wuss and was complaining about the cold winds and that I was hungry...but I am always hungry Amanda tells me. So we went to a small bakery across the road and had yummy bread..I bought extra just incase I got hungry on our travels. As we waited on the mini bus to take us to the information booth we noticed T.J Tours and Amanda said..they are in the Lonely Planet book for giving good tours here. "What I said they have a tour on this island and we didn't look into it. I think we should. Its cold and I don't want to walk." So while I waited on the bus...she ran to check out how much it would cost. (Keep in mind it is still 8:00am). She came back and said nobody was there but that she agreed we should look into going on a tour.

We found out that the next tour would begin at 12:30...but we had to go back on the ferry at 3:30....SO after alot of discussing with the tour agency they convinced us to go on their tour and not go on the ferry to Istanbul ...to take the bus. We had already been on the ferry it would be the same just longer. So we agreed. We hopped on the ferry to go back to Canakkale to get our bags. Then we went on the ferry a different way back to the Peninsula to go on the tour of Gallipoli. So we went on the ferry a total of 3 times!!....I guess we didn't need to get up early after all.

The tour gave us lunch too...there were only about 15 people all together on the bus...most of them from Australia.
We started at the Gallipoli Historical Museum and looked at all the artifacts that were recovered from the war of 1915. This war was during World War I. It was a battle between the Turks ands the Anzac (Australians and New Zealanders). We went to cemeteries/memorial sites. We saw where the war took place on the beach. I even walked on the Anzac beach where the Anzac's landed and picked seashells. We went to the highest point where the war reached. It was really amazing. This was probably my favorite part of the trip and I could go on and on. I learned alot about this war.. because I didn't know anything before about it. Never even knew it took place...guess I wasn't paying much attention in history class. oops.

After the tour we had supper(buffet) because we didn't have much time before our bus came. We jumped on the bus and headed directly to Istanbul. We met a nice couple who had already been to Istanbul and was heading back to catch their flight home so they told us they would help us get to our hostel because they knew the area...which was really nice of them because it turns out Istanbul is HUGE! I don't think I would've figured out how to leave the bus station. We got on a little bus that was going to take us to sultanahmet (this is where our hostel was). When we got there we were so tired..it was almost 1am! We paid for one night. When I saw what we would be staying in ...I had a little panic attack. It was nothing like our private room in Bodrum. We were sharing with 2 other people..with the potential of 4. The room itself was nice and clean...just I wasn't expecting to be sharing with other people. I know that is what a hostel is...I just had never experienced it before. I told Amanda I couldn't stay here more than 1 night. She gave me a sleeping pill but I was so worked up that it didn't work.

I hate bathrooms...especially showers that other people who are not your family use. Aggh. But as I closed my eyes trying to sleep I realized the only thing I was actually worried about in the hostel was someone steeling my bags.

October 11 - But non the less Amanda and I decided to try and get a private room in the morning. Lucky for us they had an apartment room next to the hostel that they would rent to us...so instead of paying 68lira ...we would be paying 90lira. We got a kitchen, fridge, shower and toilet, nice beds etc. It was perfect! The day couldn't start out better.

Canakkale

October 9th - In Canakkale they have a great information book. Here they gave us maps of where everything was! We first went to the Wooden horse to take pictures...(Watch "Troy" the movie and you will know what I am talking about!!!...It was filmed in 2004).

Then we decided to look at the maps we got while we ate brunch. Apparently in Canakkale you can only buy soup!...or at 10:00am. Everywhere we went said they could not give us anything except for soup and something to drink. So we had lentil soup...which was delicious! mmm very healthy for you too.

During this time we decided to book our bus ticket/ferry to Istanbul, and go to Troy. Then the following day wake up and catch the ferry at 7:30 to Eceabat....or so that was the plan.

All the buses were booked to the town that we needed to go to...to catch the ferry...so we had to change our plans again...and leave earlier than we wanted to.

By this time it we had to go and catch the mini bus to Troia. Troia is civilization based on the south of the Dardanelles. There are still excavations going on there today. This is the city that witnessed the biggest East-West War in the history....and when they lost the city entirely collapsed. It was interesting to walk through. For supper we had Stew and rice while we waited for the mini bus to pick us up. We were ready for the bus at 4:00 but it never showed up...so we decided to eat until the next bus arrived at 5. We met a lady from England who we walked through the Troy ruins with...she had just retired from teaching and she told us that the previous night she had watched the movie Gallipoli. It was playing in a room inside a hotel near the harbour for free every night. So since Amanda and I were going to Gallipoli the next day we decided to go watch it as both of us knew very little about the war that had taken place there.

So Amanda and I went to the movie...we were the only ones there. The first 45 minutes was a documentary about Troy which was really interesting. They had survivors from the war talk about their experiences etc. By the time the movie was ready to start we decided we had to go to bed because we were catching the earliest ferry over to the peninsula so that we could make the most out of it because we were going to have to leave early to catch our bus.

So we walked back to our "hotel" to sleep.

Back in Bodrum!

Oct.8th - We woke up to.. no power. Almost all of Bodrum's power was out until 11am. So our hostel made us a sand which for breakfast. I loved it..it had cheese, cucumber and tomato..no sauce but it was still good. Then Amanda and I walked to the bus stop to book our tickets to Canakkale that we would be taking that night.


Our plan today was to go for a relaxing boat ride in Bodrum. We organized it through our hostel. We left at 11am and got home at around 5:45.

The boat ride was great. It was a nice hot day out. Perfect for suntanning! This tour cruised around the bays and island of Bodrum Peninsula. We had about 5 different spots.

First stop was in Black Island where we bathed in the grotto. (cave) For 2or3lira we went into a cave. The water was really warm too. Lunch was served on the boat which was really good. We had chicken, rice and salad. At each of the stops Amanda went swimming and I took pictures. The water was FREEZING!! At one of the stops you could jump off a small cliff into the water where it was deep. She didn't jump of the highest part because she was scared that the water wasn't really that deep. But it turns out it is REALLY REALLY DEEP!!


I got a bit burnt on the boat. I feel asleep at one point it was soo relaxing. There was a few of us that enjoyed a little zzzz.


When the boat ride was over Amanda and I went as fast as we could to the restaurant near out hotel..the one we went to the previous night. We got the same thing. PIZZA and CHANDY. It was soo good. How could we resist.

Then we grabbed our bags from the hostel and headed to the bus stop. We got on the bus. Our first stop was Izmir. We then had to book tickets from here to Canakkale. We took a sleeping pill on this bus ride because it was the longest. I definitely slept all the way to Canakkale. When we arrived there it was earlier than we expected and didn't have anywhere to stay. We tried calling a hostel that we found in the book but it didn't work. Then we spotted a hotel across the street and we didn't care how much it was we were going to stay there. We were about to cross the street when the power went out in the entire town! I got scared and ran into the bus station where a generator kicked in. SO then we thought about sleeping in the bus station but it was really small so they wouldn't let anyone sleep. Finally the lights went back on and we went to the hotel...which really they should call themselves a hostel. We slept for 3 hours and started our day early in Canakkale.

Pamukkale

In Pamukkale the hotel that we were supposed to stay in was full...so the tour company that we were on took us to another hotel which he said was nicer (but I don't think I agree with him) but non the less it was still an ok hotel. It had a hot springs, Turkish bath and steam room. When we got to our rooms there was 1 double bed and 1 single...for some reason Amanda didn't notice and took the small bed...then realized that I had the big one all to myself. So we moved some furniture around and pushed the beds together to make one big bed.

Then we put on our bathing suits and headed to the hot springs pool. The water was soo warm and nice. When it was time for supper I didn't want to get out.


Supper was provided for because we were on a tour. It was buffet style. It seems everywhere we went the buffets were quite similar. A couple from England that we met on the tour ..just a bit older than mom and dad took us under their wing and bought us some "Chandys" (Beer and Lemonade) Later we find out Lemonade means Sprite in England!! Half beer and Half sprite in a glass...it was DELICIOUS!!! For entertainment we watched a belly dancer and drank more Chandys.


Oct.7th. We woke up, had buffet breafast (provided) and left for the hot springs. Pamukkale means "cotton castle". The white calcareous castles are formed by limestone-laden thermal springs, creating unbelievable formations. When I first saw the site of Pamukkale it was a white area...looked like snow. They think of "cotton" because cotton is grown in the area and they don't have snow.


At the thermal pool you had to pay to go in. 20lira! Very high price for a short amount of time. So Amanda and I went to the terraces where there were hot springs..and it was free. There were just no trees and it was outside instead of indoors. The water of Pamukkale is famous for its benefits to the eyes and skin; and its curing properties to the ills of asthma, rheumatism, as well.

After we had enough of wadding in the water we decided to check out the cemetery. It was really interesting to see all the excavations. We spent alot of time checking out the graves and homes that were excavated.


Then it was time to go. Then headed for lunch which was also provided...and of course drank more chandy. Where we were eating there was a rug factory so we went on a tour of it. I could not believe how much work goes into making a rug. No wonder they are so expensive.


Amanda and I were exhausted so we slept most of the way back to Bodrum. We woke up to take pictures of the canyon. Then back to sleep until we hit Bodrum. We were hungry so we just went to the closest restaurant from our Hostel...we both felt like Pizza and Chandy. The pizza was amazing and cheap too!! Back at the hostle I made a few paralyzes and drank with the owner and 2 other backpackers..who were I would guess a bit older than me.

Ephesus

October 6th - Ephesus (Efes). 6;15 bus pıcked us up...There was 2 other couples (one other couple joıned us for the Pamukkale tour.

Along the way we stopped for a breakfast 6lıra buffet. It was okay. Fılled the stomach up on good bread. The bread here ıs AMAZING!!!! I LOVE BREAD. Amanda hates me because I eat soo much of ıt and don,t gaın weıght. So In Ephesus the admıssıon was 10lıra but ıt was ıncluded ın our fee so we dıdn,t have to pay for ıt. Here we got to feel what lıfe was lıke ın the Roman tımes. Ephaus was a tradıng cıty. There ıs alot of hıstory here whıch I am not goıng to bore you wıth because ıt ıs alot more ınterestıng wıth pıctures to explaın everthıng. I can,t post pıctures tıll I get back to Kuwaıt and I have to plan so they won,t be up for a bıt.

After Ephesus we stopped for a lunch (thıs one was not ıncluded and cost 10 lıra..hot buffet and salad bar...worst meal I have ever ate here ın Turkey).

Then before we went to our hotel ın Pamukkale we stopped at a Jewlery factory. Thıs ıs where they make jewlery and they also had a huge area where you could purchase the jewlery..very very expensıve but beautıful. I need a sugar daddy to buy me some of that! hehe

(Internet tıme ıs up..:Wıll wrıte more later)

Bodrum

Here ıt goes..the fırst Turkey update!

October 4th - Flew from Kuwaıt to Istanbul..:Istanbul to Bordrum. Stocked up on Booze as the aırport ın Istanbul was the cheapest place to get ıt. I bought so much that I was over the lımıt and had to use Sherıfa,s passport ( a gırl who recognızed us from a party that Amanda and I went to ın Kuwaıt..she sat next to us on the plane so we had a nıce vısıt.

October 5th - Arrıved ın Bodrum..The airport was outsıde of Bodrum so we were goıng to have to take a taxı or a bus. The bus was full...and the taxı cost 75Lıra..ekks so Amanda went to talk to the guys at rent a car (we had no ıntentıon of rentıng a car..but ıt turns out they would drıve us to Bodrum for half the prıce of a taxı)..But they dıd not want the taxı people to be angry wıth them so they were prendıng to only take us to another car rental place just outsıde of the aırport. They dropped us off on the sıde of the road wıth our bags and went back to the aıport and 10 mınutes later came and pıcked us up off the road. Whıle we waıted some boys came and were goıng to gıve us a free rıde to Bodrum but before we had a chance to hıtchhıke the guy came from the aırport to pıck us up. So we fınally ended up ın Bodrum at our Hostel. Bodrum Backpackers was the name..only 20lıra per nıght. It was a nıce hostel to stay at.

After settlıng ın we went to The Castle of St.Peter. Thıs castle was buılt to defend Bodrum untıl the end of WWI. Here we saw Bodrum`s Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The museum ıs spread throughout the castle. No tours , guıdes are avaılable but that was ok because we had the Lonley Planet book of Turkey to tell us where to walk and what we were seeıng. We had to follow arrows red for long and green for short. We wanted to do the long..but the arrows were very confusıng and I don,t thınk there ıs a short tour. But we saw ıt all..took over 2 hours but well worth ıt. Insıde the castle we saw the chapel, snake tower, German Tower, Gatıneau Tower..we saw a dungeon whıch was used as a place of confınement whıch was really cool, Englısh Tower. (Not goıng to gıve you the hıstory that I read ın the book about all these places.)

Then we needed ıcecream...oh delıcıous ıcecream. Amanda had to have ıt..ok and so dıd I Accıdentaly AManda put her lonley planet book down to pay and then forgot ıt..when we realızed she dıdn,t have ıt..ıt was too late someone had taken ıt. She was devıstated as that ıs our guıde for all the places. So we went sadly to the Masuoleum.

Then after the Castle we went to the Mausoleum whıch we paıd 5lıra to get ınto whıch was a waste of money. The Mausoleum was supposed to be an enormous whıte-marble tomb topped by a steep pyramıd, and used to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancıent World...but we knew before we entered that most of the sıte was long gone because ıt was broken up by the Crustaders ın 1522. But I dıdn,t ımagıne that ıt was all gone..only a few staırways and tomb chambers, draınage syustem and a few bıts of wall remaın. I thınk we were there 5-7 mınutes maxımum.

We got lost on our way back to the hostel...but eventually found ıt. People ın Turkey speak lıttle or no Englısh at all whıch ıs very surprısıng to me. We decıded to go for supper ın the small Bazar. I had a Turksısh meatball meal whıch was EXCELLENT!! Oh I can,t descrıbe to you how good ıt was..mmm my mouth ıs waterıng just thınkıng about ıt. In the Bazar I bought a medıum sızed backback for travelıng because the won I borrowed from a frıend rıpped goıng to Turkey. It was cheap bag and the materıal was not strong..but we stıll don,t know how ıt rıpped because I dıdn,t have much ın ıt...oh well. Now I have to carry around 2 bags ınstead of one.

Back at the Hostel we met a guy from NewZealand who told us about a 1 day tour he went on to Pamukkale...but there was a 2 day overnıght tour to Ephesus and Pamukkale...Temptıng but we were goıng to do thıs tour on our own vıa buses. When we went to the bus statıon we realızed there was ALOT of transfers not to mentıon we were dropped off before the acutal tourıst spot so we would have to fınd transportatıon to get there..and wıth englısh not beıng good here we we ran to a tour agent on the maın street and just before ıt closed decıded to go on the 2 day tour. For 80 lıra we were goıng to Ephasus and Pamukkale whıch ınclude 1 nıght hotel., breakfast,lunch,supper and guıded tours at both places and entrance fees. After we book we realızed that thıs was WAY cheaper than doıng ıt ourselves. We had ıntended on stayıng ın Bodrum another nıght so we had to leave a not..sayıng we would be back the followıng nıght ınstead and that we would pay then. We felt bad and hopped that the guy at the hostel dıdnit thınk we left wıthout payıng. 6;15 the bus pıcked us up.

Eid Break!!

Check out this plant...Amanda gave it to me with brown and wilted leaves....and LOOK AT IT NOW!!! I started with 4 leaves...1 fell off it was soo brown so then I had 3...and Look it has a 4th one that grew. I definately have Baba's green thumb!! I love my plant.

WhooWhoo Today is the last day of school. We have 10 days to celebrate the end of Ramadan. (During these 10 days Islam pray more than they have ever prayed because it gets them closer to God...so they stay up later going to the mosque etc.) So Instead of our students coming to school tired ...we don't have school (not all schools have this break) So I leave after school for Turkey!! I am flying to Istanbul and then to Bodrum where Amanda and I will bus back up to Istanbul.

My students' place. They lived on the right hand side bottom floor.

So as some of you know I went out for supper on Tuesday for Iftar at my students' place. So at 5:00 my taxi driver took me to their "apartment". They lived on the first floor. When I walked in I was great and did the side pretend kiss on one cheek and then again on the other. My students' mothers, mother was there visiting. Then after me came 3 other friends of my students' mother with all their kids. (All females and one boy). So we sat in the living room and visited until "Iftar" began. We can't start eating until the sun has set which is about 5:35 right now. (It changes each night) So "they" broke fast at 5:35 by eating a date. We had my spinach dip that I brought, homemade buns that another lady brought and this homemade lentil soup. The soup was orange looking and I thought Oh I hope it tastes good because she poured everyone a FULL bowl. It turned out to be one of the best soups I have ever had. She told us how to make it and lets just say that I don't have the time to do that it is a very long process. Then it was prayer time...and I thought to myself now what am I going to do. So My students' mother said just make yourself comfortable...so I sat on the couch and watch them. It was really interesting. My student didn't pray...I wonder if it was because she is only in grade4 and she doesn't have to until she hits puberty.

So then it was supper...It was AMAZING!! We had a spaghetti lasagna for the kids, a chicken marinated in lemon juice with potatoes and something else but some other spices. Rice that we put a lamb stew ontop of, salad, and a few Lebanese items. Then....it was dessert time...and well I am FULL. But I managed to fit in...date cake with Carmel ice cream (believe it or not it was sooo good), a whip cream pudding truffle, chocolate chip Cookies, and peach crisp.


My student's mother is from "America" and from what I gather her husband is Syrian (there are TONS of Syrian people here). The husbands were not at Iftar with us..it was like a girls night.

Overall it was great. The "apartment" was huge inside. My student was skipping and doing double dutch in the hallways with the other students.


Well that's all I have time to write...I am off to school then Turkey. I probably won't post for a at least 10 days...unless I have time at an Internet cafe. I am back to Kuwait on Oct.15 and school starts on the 16th.


I am told it is going to be Thanksgiving back home...we don't celebrate it here...so I forgot. So Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. I am going to be in TURKEY eating TURKEY!!!

Gergean Pictures

Here are some more pictures of my students during Gergean. Check out their gergean dresses!!!

My students all wanted to take turns using my digital camera..I think I need to teach them how to center a photograph!! :)

Above is who I tutor!

Kyla (grade 1 teacher on the girls campus)..she was throwing all the candy in the air! :)

My Puppets!!!
One of my students gave me a trunk filled with Candy...this same girl also gave me the stuff animals with candy which are actually PUPPETS!!!!

Gergean

MY CANDY!!!!! WhoooWHOO...This is only half of it!! haha.

Happy Gergean!!! Today is Gergean (like Halloween in Canada) but so much better. :) For kids this is a 3 long day event of knocking on doors and getting candy. Today in school we all dressed in our D'aras (fancy dresses/sparkly tops) and students brought TONS of candy (private school...bigger is better...who can bring the best gifts).

So I got to school and my team teacher told me she had my door opened because I had candy being brought and she didn't know where I wanted it. There was a large basket on the desk and I said it would be fine there..she said no you will probably get 24 of these you need a big space...check out the picture ...this is about 20 girls bags full of candy to give out to everyone!!

We had a parade where we showed off our D'aras...my girls were tired, hot and thirsty (and the worst part is they are fasting so they can't eat or drink...most broke fast today I think because they were tempted by candy!!) We tried to take a group picture but some were hot yet again and complaining because of the heat. We sang songs and danced and had a really fun day.

My desk was piled high full of candy...I got puppets and a small trunk, cookies, chocolates, candy etc. I got bigger and better gifts than the students because I was the teacher. I loved it I think at times I was more excited than my students.

Overall it was a great day and I have lots of candy and things I can take back to Canada with me to remember the event.

When I have another minute I will upload more pictures of the day...I think I took about 150 so there are lots to choose from including videos..but I don't know how to upload them on here yet...and well also get them to show the picture...something is wacky with my camera.

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Yesterday I tutored a girl in Grade 6..and I am hoping that I will get a boy in grade 4 off the boys campus...I find out tomorrow I hope. He will be a steady 2 days a week if they decide to get a female tutor instead of a male this year. I am not a big fan of tutoring...in fact I don't like it but I make more in 2 hours tutoring than I do teaching in a day..Isn't that crazy!?! Well I guess that is true for the girl I tutor in grade 6...the boy will be about the same as teaching...but its nice to have the extra cash. Tutoring is where all the money is.

Hope everyone is well at home. My best friend here in Kuwait (Amanda)...her grandpa passed away 2 days ago so she just left to fly home for the funeral...This is new in our contracts this year that they will pay for you to go home for 4 teaching days. So she will be back late Wednesday so that she can still go to Turkey with me...I was worried that she wasn't going to make it back and then I would be stuck going alone because most of the teachers are going to Jordan and Israel this trip and I have already been to Jordan. But it all worked out. I leave ONE WEEK from today for TURKEY!!! WHoo WHoo

Gift / Tutoring!!!

Okay So I have to make this short...sorry I have been super busy but I have to be organized and have everything photocopied because I will have a sub in my classroom for 5 days!!! ekks I am off to Bahrain right after I get back from Turkey...so add another week to my vacation (except that its for blood work and stuff for my work visa)

Okay so I got my first gift real gift (minus the bundles of stickers one girl keeps giving me...I think I have her entire sticker collection and I try to tell her I have stickers but she wants me to have them...

So here goes the story of my gift. After school on Thursday I saw the mother of a girl in my class who got 12.5 out of 24 on her spelling and I give 3 bonus marks so she could have 27...anyways I told her mother and she said no she didn't study and that she was sorry but she was not well that night. Anyways she asked if her daughter could re-write the test..and I am still a softy and said yes. So we talked a bit more about our weekends and then I went on my way....and I saw the girl digging in her moms tote bag and sure enough 2 minutes later the girl came with a pink bag from Victoria Secret. Her mom said "DO you like Victoria secret??" and laughed...and so I laughed. Then the mom said "It is from Disney World" and I got a Minnie/mickey raincoat, Minnie candy, and Victoria secret body wash and spray. It was a very nice gift...the other grade 4 teachers were jealous because no parents come to pick their kids up after school...and for me I have to talk to about 4-5 a day!!! They love me!

So yesterday (Sunday) the girl who didn't want to be in my class brought necklaces of Mecca (a very important religious place here) for the entire class and of course I got 2...one for me and the other.....FOR MY MOM!!! (It will be a nice keepsake for me of Mecca...its definatly a dollar store buy but very nice of the girl.) I actually like it and so do all the other teachers. I think they are getting jealous....especially since I got a carpet my 2nd day of school!!

Then my "favorite" student from grade 5 last year ....grade 6 this year asked me to tutor her. (to be honest she is the loudest girl I have ever met...and sometimes a bully) but I need the money to help pay for my Turkey trip as it is costing more due to the airline just making up a new price for the tickets...definitely not taking Air Arabia again. Sorry that's my rant for today...but I am tutoring her on Wed for 2 hours!!! Ekks very excited. so for 2 hours of work I will get $85-90 Canadian...I am not getting the highest you can get tutoring but you have to start somewhere.

:) Things are good here...busy still but I leave for Turkey on Oct. 4 and return on the 15th...and then leave again for Bahrain the following week...I am dreading planning for a sub...I don't want to leave my girls or my "teaching of information" to a sub.

Ramadan

Again sorry for not posting...but I am going to try and make myself write on here once a week...or week and a half. I will fall behind again after my Eid Vacation to Turkey cuz when I come back I am doing a club...board games! WhooWHoo I chose an easy one that I don't have to plan very much for. SWEET DEAL!

Okay so Ramadan has officially started today. Yesterday we had to wait until the moon came out to see if it would come a day early. I can't believe that we base all our holidays on the moon. Anyways school hours change for Ramadan and the students are really excited about it. (its like our Christmas...well to them it is) For those of you that don't know Ramadan is a time for the rich to see what is feels like to be poor. They are fasting. No one eats or drinks until really late at night and they stay up late some don't go to bed. 20 out of 24 of my students are fasting...so no eating or drinking. Those who are eating have to eat behind closed doors. Lots of my kids are tired and have sore stomachs from not eating.

We are not allowed to give homework or tests because they don't have time to do it because they go home from school...probably nap and then get up and party and visit with their parents friends/family. School starts 2 hours later now...so I get to sleep in!! well I could sleep in but I get up the same time and do work.

On Sept 27 we have Gerdryan...(it's like our Halloween) I am soo excited because the girls keep telling me they are bringing me candy..haha. They dress up in fancy dresses. I will take pictures. I was given dates for my gift for Ramadan. How lovely. I haven't tasted them but I will...I think I will try them tomorrow.

I hope to book my flight to Turkey this weekend. I leave on Oct.4 and am back on Oct.15 then I am leaving 1 week later to go to Bahrain to get all my visa/civil ID paperwork in order.

I am still in shock how fast school went today. Well hope all is well with everyone there. I am hungry..my eating hours are all mixed up because of Ramadan. Even the stores are all closed until late at night so I had to go shopping on Tuesday and stock up. Tonight Amanda is cooking a roast...so I am looking forward to that.

Miss you all. Hope you have a great time at Corinne's wedding Shower...wish I could be there. Someone better post pics on facebook..hint hint Kimberly and Corinne.

First Day of School!!!

Sorry for the lack of posts but my life has been very busy. Go to school and set up...eat...sleep...get up go to school and set up...eat..sleep. Getting ready for school is a lot of work. Wow! Especially when you have nothing but desks and cupboards and white walls. So I got to work and now have an updated version of what my classroom looks like now. I have 24 students.

Yesterday was orientation day when I met the parents and their daughter from 9-1. They picked up the school supplies list. Today was officially the first day of school.

Amanda and I on the bus...going to school!!!

Amanda and I outside ACA on our first day of school!!

Look at the previous posts of my classroom....and look at it now! A total transformation!!! Here are pictures from all different angles. In a few weeks I will be moving the desks around again as it is not my favorite set up but it is good for the first few weeks to remember names (who are numbered alphabetically) and to do partner activities.

I had the morning off (which I wish I didn't because it is nice for you to start the first day off with rules, routines etc.) Overall, it was a great day. The girls were great (minus 1) but they listened and did what they were told ...which could change but I hope not. I am very organized for this week and it showed today...it was great. I have great teaching partners who helped me get ready for this week. Compared to one of the other grade 4 teachers I received more Kleenex and hand wipes than she did! haha I have bags full at the back of my room now at my desk. The girl that is annoying me to death is one that doesn't want to be in my room because her friend is in the other class...so I am praying tonight that her mother makes a fuss and then she might get moved...then my school day would be great. Nobody wants a student in their class who doesn't want to be there.

P.S I had my maid come and clean my entire apartment on Sunday...it was soo clean. She took out the rugs and washed everything including the outside of my windows. My laundry alone took her 4.5 hours!!! (and nothing went in the dryer) she was disappointed that I did not want her to iron my clothes because they were wet ....and she wanted to come back another day to iron them! ha I told her I could do it. She is coming to my place every 2nd Sunday.

First day @ the Girls Campus

Today was the first day to go into the girls campus. We had a staff meeting and got the keys to our classrooms!! Here are some pics of my classroom that the "maids" cleaning staff set up for me. I will be moving everything tomorrow as I do not want my desk at the front of the room! teehee. I received my class list as of right now I have 22 students. 2 sets of students with the same name...but that can change. I like having an even number of students so I am very happy. My schedule looks great. Currently we don't have a gym teacher which means we have to teach our own class gym until they hire someone..aghhh.

NOTE: This is NOT how my classroom will be set up...the maids did it for me and put my desk at the front of the room. Silly silly, now I have to move it to the back left hand corner of my classroom. sigh

My classroom is clean!!!! But not for long....

After school I realized that I had not sent you any pictures of my apartment room. I am in room 605. If you feel like talking to me you can call my lan line or cell phone: (I have included the area codes for calling from Canada)

lan line - 011-954- 253-3675
cell phone - 011-965-783-6500
My living room....the rug on the wall is from my trip to Jordan. Matches perfectly!!


My Queen size bed and lovely sandpaper comforter.....I need to purchase a piece of art for my wall.

I have two large closets....I love them!!!


My shelves...I need to purchase items to go on here too.....

My kitchen....and FYI I am addicted to buying kitchen stuff. I seem to spend all my money in the kitchen department.


My spare bedroom....which is turned into my "office". I found the IKEA coat hanger thingy in the basement.

My bathroom...which I am in the process of purchasing a shower mat....and also finding a maid to clean it. I am picky though cuz I want them to clean while I am at school...and preferably on Sunday....why Sunday you ask? Well weekends have changed in Kuwait to Friday and Saturday (last year they were Thursday, Friday)....and so if they clean Sunday I will have all week and weekend to get it dirty.

Orientation Week

Better late than never...Here are some pics before I left for Kuwait.

Picture above...Me, Kristy and Amanada ready to go through Canadian Customs.

In Washington we met a really nice guy named Greg who was going to work for the military. He bought us a shot at the bar before we headed on the plane. Good thing we had some alcohol because you had to pay for it on the plane...no free booze like KLM gives.

Well I have been here about a week now and have been very busy so I apologize for not posting sooner. Here's what I have been up to with all of the other newbies....

Saturday, August 18th I met the ACA (American Creativity Academy)...my school's administration, signed contracts, received my living allowance $$$ and opened a Kuwait Bank Account to put all my hard earned money in. We ate lunch at Pizza Hut in Salmiya courtesy of ACA...but in my opinion it was not good. Then we went shopping at the Sultan Center where I bought FOOD to fill all my cupboards.

Picture above is of the group at Pizza Hut.

Sunday, August 18th we went on a tour of the Kuwait Towers. I even found the apartment building that I live in!!

Picture below is from the window of the Kuwait towers and I have pointed an arrow at the apartment building that I live in. Isn't that cool!?!?!Whoaa Check out that pit stain!!! WhooWhoo
After that we went to the Al Hashemi II (the largest wooden boat in the world)...we got to go inside it this time. Wow was it beautiful.

Below is a picture of a spool of fish that we saw looking down in the Gulf. I couldn't believe that there was that many fish!!!

Picture above is ....The view from the top of the boat...looks down at another boat.

Afterwards we went for supper but none of us were hungry so we went to the Chocolate Bar. I misinformed you last time by saying the entire restaurant only serves chocolate. Just so happens that they also serve a few non chocolate items. I got a milkshake and shared a chicken sandwich. It was good.

Ohhh la la that looks good!!!!

This was a very long day. After supper we went to the Aware Center where we learned about Kuwait such as their customs, dress and where to visit. It was really interesting. I had to get a picture of this lady that I saw. She looked amazing don't you think?!?!

Monday, August 20th - This was a slack day...I did not go to the Grand Mosque with the rest of the newbies because I went last time and that meant I got to sleep in!!! Then I took a taxi with Amanda and Kristy to the school for 1:00 and saw Kristy's KG Classroom and met up with everyone else to go shopping at Souk Salmiya, City Center. Which was AWESOME!! I got myself a cozy blanket which was the best thing that I bought! I love the City Center it was fairly cheap compared to the other shopping centers.

Tuesday, August 27th - This day we met with my principal and briefly went over the staff handbook. Then we got our school e-mail all set up. Lastly we went to Fahaheel and ate supper and shopped a bit ...and surprisingly all I bought was ice cream!! mmmm

Wednesday, August 28th - We went to the Crowne Plaza where we checked out the gym and pool area. I layed by the pool, went in the jacuzzi and steam room. It was very relaxing. Then we went back to the apartments to get ready for Supper at Mais Al Ghannam a fancy Lebanese restaurant. I ate here last time when I was student teaching and I was very anxious to eat here because I LOVE THE FOOD!!!!

Then.....one of the orientation leaders threw a big party which was a lot of fun. Met lots of new people.

Around 1:00am we decided to leave and go to Frese's parents summer house (he is a friend of Amanda's...who is Kuwaiti and really nice.) We drank at his chalet until 4:00 and spent the night going back to the apartments around 11 the next day.

This is the "summer house" the gulf is at the back of the house. Inside was really nice. I am sitting on the stairs in the house.