a second glance

an unusual week

2012-01-25T14:56:00.000+03:00

I'm currently in the second day of my three-day vacation this week, which has been relaxing and eventful at the same time.

On the way home from work on Monday, excited about the 5-day weekend I was about to begin, Emily and I were hit by another car. Our scenario was not unlike many others in Kuwait, two foreigners in a small to medium-sized vehicle, generally obeying all traffic laws and courtesies of the road, when along comes a young Kuwaiti guy with a blackberry, an agenda, and a giant car. A Cadillac Escalade, to be precise. Here's some of the damage:

Driver's side rear (you can't see the loose things underneath...)

Driver's side front

Thankfully, neither of us are badly hurt, and we weren't hit again when the Escalade pushed us into other busy lanes of traffic.

We always get beautiful sunsets here, especially in the winter time. Often, the sun looks huge compared to what it looks like in most parts of the States, which is mystifying to me. Maybe one of you science types can explain that. You can't quite see the shape of the sun here, but this was a rare and gorgeous cloudy afternoon.

Yesterday, Chris and I drove down south to Mahboula to meet our friend Rasha for lunch. Afterward, we just drove around because we didn't have anywhere in particular to go. She suggested a little cafe to us, and we laughed when we found it, because we had never actually seen a "Nestle Toll House" cafe before. The coffee was good, and needless to say, the cookie was delicious. Generally, I'm not one for cookies, but who could resist? Besides Chris?

And, there were these cool, potted cacti outside. They looked a little out of place for Kuwait, but cute.

They just started publicity for the Parliamentary elections coming up here in Kuwait. In all of the neighborhoods, there are giant tents that come alive around 8pm at night, places for people to drink tea and "meet and greet" those running for seats. Sometimes I wonder why they have elections, because people always vote for family members or people from the same "clans." Since we don't vote, we westerners judge who has the best billboards with the nicest pictures. Here are a few samples:

This morning, I was walking outside when I spotted this guy in one of the car lots near our house. If I had a Ford Edsel, I don't think I would let it sit outside exposed to the elements, considering that they were only manufactured during a three or four year time period in the 1950s.

Well, those are my days off so far. We'll see what this evening and tomorrow bring!

New and Old

2012-01-19T16:43:00.000+03:00

Earlier this week, Chris was happy to have received his new passport. The whole process doesn't actually take that long overseas, I suppose because the US government deems it appropriate for one to have proper documentation at all times while abroad. It's as easy as making an appointment at the embassy online, giving them the old passport and about $110, and going back in 3-5 days to collect it. Finally, we won't have to wait for immigration officials to find the extended expiration date printed in the back of Chris' passport; the new one has 52 pages and is valid until 2022. He plans on breaking it in through next week's trip with friends to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, although we may take a short trip somewhere before that. Since Chris is on semester break from the university, I plan to take a few personal days and hang out with him somewhere in the Middle East, to be determined this weekend. Here's a side-by-side of his passport photos from 2012 and 2001, posted with his permission. I really don't think he's changed at all...

In other news, Chris will be running in his first 10K this Saturday. He thinks he can do it in less than an hour, so we'll just have to see how the race jitters treat him.

Today, on the way home from work, my friend Emily and I were about to pass through a roundabout on our usual route when I spotted the following. I exclaimed, "Oh my gosh, go left," and after some general confusion, she realized I was directing her toward this building, which looks as though it collapsed. We took a few pictures, and it appeared as though the building is being demolished, but one never knows here in Kuwait. After all, they use bamboo scaffolding.

This weekend, I'm finishing report cards ahead of schedule and trying to take care of all my busy work so that I can completely enjoy my days off next week. Pray I finish everything!

The New Year and other random things

2012-01-15T18:34:00.000+03:00

Well, here I am back in Kuwait and enjoying all of my own amenities again. I love visiting the States and being around many of my favorite people, but there's something to be said about not living in a suitcase.

I spent the New Year on three different airplanes. This time, my trip back went from Pittsburgh to Chicago, then Abu Dhabi, final destination Kuwait. I'm not sure why, but on my 2 hr. trip from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait, I was upgraded to Business Class. What a great surprise for a 2am flight! I left Christmas and the snow in Chicago, though I understand that the East Coast has actually become cold since I left.

at O'hare International

Since coming back, we've been tutoring students for exams a lot. Many of the American schools in Kuwait have their semester exams in the next week or two, and my bread-winner is out making the dough. That makes our schedules are a little more hectic than usual, but I like finding these little treats when that happens.

We also celebrated our friend Dina's second 29th birthday last week, at a Chinese restaurant called Tang Chao. It's near our house at the Holiday Inn complex, which I've been to twice in two weeks, the other time for a breakfast with my friend Anita. The buildings are less than a block away, but I really haven't had a reason for going there, so that makes three total times since moving here.

Me, Rasha, Dina, Shetha, Chris

When it rains here, it either pours or drips mud, and we've been having a lot of the pouring kind lately. It's the season for it, and it characteristically starts and stops somewhat suddenly. The heavy rains are usually thunderstorms, so sometimes we get to see some spectacular lightning shows. At any rate, it's enjoyable.

holiday packing

2011-12-29T22:46:00.000+03:00

I'm currently pacing around my parents' house, trying to remember all of the things I need to take with me back to Kuwait. I tried making a list, but I keep getting new things and thinking of different things to take or not, so making sure I have everything on a list has become futile at this point. I also keep getting "honey-do" messages from a certain you-know-who (the best you-know-who in the world, by the way). All that to say, packing is slow and highly unorganized at best, and it seems to continually be interrupted by one of three things:

1. these little sweethearts

Rebekah, 2

Nick, 4

2. sports/dinner/hunting commentary with the family

3. lunch, dinner, and parties with friends

My solution is to try and keep things in one general area of the house and then throw it all in my bags before I go to the airport on Saturday. That's probably why I often wait until the day of departure before I pack for any trip.

Time in the States has been good this Christmas. Generally, I try to maintain a low-key schedule when I'm here, just to be sure that it's relaxing and that I'm not totally exhausted by the time I start teaching again. Inevitably, those good intentions are shattered because a lot of our friends are in town for the holidays, too, so it's hard to pass up opportunities to get together. I can always sleep on the plane...and if Chris were here, I know we would be a lot busier!

Reads for 2012

2011-12-27T22:14:00.002+03:00

It's the holiday season, and for me, that means stocking up on good books. I got some great gifts this year, and I've been scouring the web for good deals, as well as searching for some of our books in storage that I haven't read for awhile. I came away with some old, some new, and some borrowed...maybe even one blue...but here are the six I'm most excited about. (Yes, there are more than six total.)

Hot Chocolate for Couples, Cindy Sigler Dagnan (borrowed)
The Gospel for Muslims, Thabiti Anyabwile (new)
The Man Called Cash, Steve Turner (new)
Trusting God, Jerry Bridges (old)
The Meaning of Marriage, Tim Keller (new)
Little Princes, Connor Grennan (borrowed)

There are also a few that I have recently read and would recommend.
If you like suspense, action, and realistic fiction, try Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child.
If you want a non-fiction account of an adventure, try Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.
If you'd like to look at Jesus' life and his effect on the world, try King's Cross by Tim Keller.

Happy reading!

The Great Wall of China

2011-12-03T17:25:00.002+03:00

Here we are, at the one and only Great Wall of China. We actually didn't make it there until the third or fourth day of our trip, simply because there was so much to see and do in Beijing itself. We also wanted to visit the Wall on a day during the week, when it would be less busy.

The section of the wall that we went to was at a place called Badaling, about 70km northwest of Beijing. It took us an hour to get there from the city on a train, but it was relatively easy to find. (Thank God for Lonely-Planet-type travel books!) The views from the train were somewhat picturesque, from city suburbs and open farmland, to mountainous terrain and sights of wall sections in disrepair. From the train station in Badaling, there was almost a kilometer-long walk up to the base of the actual wall, lined with touristy shops and even a Subway restaurant.

The Wall has some modern day additions, including the handrails that can be seen here and some bathroom facilities at a few points. I guess that makes it more accessible to visitors. Some of the wall sections are extremely steep, while others are flat, and the steps in any of the parts are completely uneven. In the above picture, you can see me sitting in the middle of the wall; we decided to hike up to the highest point we could on one side of the entrance, so we took some time for a break half way.

At one of the steepest points, we decided to stop and ask someone to take our picture. In hindsight, this probably wasn't the wisest idea, since there was a giant drop-off right behind us. In the background, you can see the wall climbing up the other side of the valley. This particular section of the Wall is shaped like a "V," in that the entrance to this part of the wall was built at the bottom of a natural valley. That means that once you're actually standing on top of the wall, the only way to go is up!

Back at the bottom, we stopped just to finish soaking it all in. At this point in the afternoon, it became more crowded, which also meant that Chris and I were being "spotted" more. From what I've gathered, Americans (and westerners in general) are rare tourists in China. Most of the tour groups we saw on the whole trip were from other parts of China, so we inevitably stood out. This group of college students we ran into was so happy to meet us and practice speaking English, so we obliged to take a few pictures. I can only imagine how many different blogs and smartphones we appeared on that week, because the Great Wall was not the only place where people wanted to take pictures with us. Because we had gotten so many looks, we started making up what people were saying, just to be funny. My caption for this one is, "I can't wait to show this to grandma!"

Here's Chris just being Chris, and declaring the excursion for the day a "win."

Thanksgiving #1, 2011

2011-11-23T21:19:00.001+03:00

I dare to say...I look like my mom in this picture! Thanks, Hugh.

I said I'd post about our trip to China during the Eid holiday, and I fully intend to, but I've become a little side-tracked. See, there are just too many fun things going on right now that I can't buckle down to write out what happened two weeks ago. While we're back to the full throttle busyness that characterized the first two years of our marriage (we're at 6?!), it's much more enjoyable this time. We're serving and being busy together instead of heading in different directions, which makes things a lot more meaningful and fun; that's how I'll start my official list of "thanks" this year.

We had our first Thanksgiving dinner on Monday night, and since we've already celebrated, I'm sitting here typing as I listen to Christmas carols. Did I ever mention that "O, Holy Night" is my favorite?

I organized a dinner that was originally intended for our Monday night bible study (life group) from church, with a few others that we are connected to from there. Well, in one of my emails I happened to use the phrase "the more, the merrier" and that's exactly what we got. Out of a group of almost 20 people, half invited one extra guest. You do the math. Interestingly enough, there has been a shortage of turkeys in Kuwait this year, the reasons for which I am still investigating. So, I set out on an adventure to get a real turkey, somehow have it cooked/roasted for dinner, and arrange for a location and food for 35.

Success came through one of our friends, who works at the US Embassy here in Kuwait. As she graciously opened her home to everyone, she also acquired a 20lb. Tom from Camp Arifjan, the US Army installation in the South (leave it to the Americans!), and even pulled out a few Chardonnays, Rieslings, and Pinot Grigios to go with it. It was a wonderful night of fun and fellowship.

We have a few more Thanksgiving invitations, two of which I think we'll accept. One is tomorrow night, the beginning of our weekend here in Kuwait, and the other is Friday afternoon. I've been alerted that one or both of these parties has also acquired a turkey, so I will definitely have my fill. I've requested for my mom to bake ham for Christmas.

Speaking of Mom and ham, did I mention that I'll be traveling to the States for the Christmas season? I'll be around for about two weeks, arriving shortly after we finish the school term and heading back to Kuwait on New Year's Eve. I hope to see a few familiar faces while I'm there, but I'll probably spend most of my time tying up loose ends with our newly remodeled house and chasing around my adorable niece and nephew.

21 Bundles of Joy

2011-11-18T09:42:00.001+03:00

...more like bundles of exhaustion hyped up on ice cream, but I love my kids, and I love Zoo Day.

Class 1A, 2011-2012

The more years that I'm an educator, the more I find that increased "obstacles" make my job more rewarding. Sometimes, initially working with particular students is so mind-boggling and frustrating that I lose a lot of sleep. Now into Quarter 2 of the school year, we (especially the girls) are reaping the benefits of consistent discipline, consistent practice, and lots of love from their teacher. I guess that rearing children is a little like this, and it's a little like my walk with God, but He isn't perplexed by my slowness to learn or be obedient.

Now, to the personalities. If you click on the picture, you can enlarge it.

Check out:

- my "diva," last row, 3rd from right.

- the sweetest girl ever, front row, on the ground to my left

- the...most active...one, front row, 3rd from left

- my sweetheart who hasn't spoken to me yet, front row, over my right shoulder

- Kuwaiti Barbie, my assistant (I would tell her this!), last row, 2nd from right

All the rest of them make my days and my heart very full, too.

Out of China, Into Madness

2011-11-15T17:13:00.000+03:00

We just got back from our vacation to China, which was amazing. More than anything we saw or did, it was wonderful because Chris and I spent nine days of unhurried time together. It was great.

In the next few weeks, I'll be posting about some of the adventures we went on and some of the strange things we saw while in China, the foremost of "habits" being that people spit a lot. Everywhere. That sounds super stereotypical, but truly, it's not an overstatement. Men, women, and children alike love to get a good cough out in the morning and let it fly. Gross, yes. I think I had to duck once or twice to avoid it.

This week, I'm finishing report cards, typing up meeting minutes, organizing a Thanksgiving dinner, attending four to five church functions, and then crashing on Saturday, so I probably won't post much. Here are some pictures to hold you.

from our favorite little lunch place in Hutong, Beijing


just enjoying an outdoor walk, Imperial Summer Palace, Beijing

Last Night of the Proms

2011-11-01T21:38:00.000+03:00

Here we are, exhausted but happy

This past week, the Ahmadi Music Group in Kuwait held a weekend of concerts mirrored after Britain's famed "Last Night of the Proms." Every summer in London, there is an eight-week season of nightly orchestral concerts and other events called "The Proms," leading up to the last night that always includes specific music and festivities. The annual event stretches back to something like 1895. Here's some more info. if you're unfamiliar with the event. BBC's coverage of Proms 2011 Wikipedia's Explanation

This past winter, the Ahmadi Music Group director (Richard Bushmann) conceived of bringing this event to the British Embassy in Kuwait. Although it's not currently summer and they couldn't use live canons, the British Embassy and AMG put on a similarly spectacular event, including fish and chips and Britons' favorite beverages.

Chris was part of the orchestra, and a number of our friends and I went to see him and a few others perform on Friday night in the British Embassy Gardens. Because of security reasons, I couldn't take my camera or i-phone, but here are a few pictures of the program, a link to AMG's home page, and that picture of us after it was all said and done.

Class 1A, 2011-12

2011-10-27T15:34:00.001+03:00

There's always one character...middle row, third from Left.
Actually, I have four who will create a real challenge for me this year.
But, challenges are good.

Learning About Plants

2011-10-17T17:45:00.000+03:00

In Grade 1A, we just finished up our first science unit about plants: their parts, their life cycles, and how we can classify them. This is heavy stuff for the 6 yr olds, but I'm happy to report that they all passed the test! Here are some fancy little flowers we made from tissue paper and pipe cleaners. I know- I'm a genius.

Now, if I can only get the kids to keep their germs to themselves, we'll be in business. I missed a few school days last week, and I absolutely hate to miss teaching days, but I'm on the mend.

Meet the whole church...

2011-09-16T21:40:00.003+03:00

Well, that's practically who was at this memorial service, in addition to a number of guests. The only ones really missing were Ptr. Mark and his wife Christi, who oversee our service. They will be joining us again in Kuwait soon, but are stuck in the U.S. due to some visa issues. (I know. What are the odds that they have the same names as Mark and Kristi?)

Pictures of the service

2011-09-13T08:46:00.000+03:00

Well, I haven't posted pictures yet, or anything else, but are you surprised?
1st Grade is hectic. Time for posting is hoped for by the end of the week.

Leaving a Legacy

2011-09-10T11:02:00.000+03:00

We are back in Kuwait and settling into our routines here. It's only been about two weeks since we arrived, but life is already full and hectic with the beginning of the school year. Chris will start at his university on Sunday, and my students came this past Tuesday. Out of 20 girls, I have one that won't talk, one that won't stop crying, and one that won't stay in her seat. I'd say that's pretty good for only having three days of school.

Each September, Chris and I make goals for the year. We don't necessarily write them down, but we spend a lot of time talking about areas that we want to focus on during the upcoming year. This process usually starts with small ideas carried over from the previous year, and we speak light-heartedly about things throughout the entire summer, but we get down to business when September comes.

I found it fitting to our discussions yesterday when our pastor at church spoke about leaving a "legacy." Usually, people think of a legacy as something that remains when a person dies- what he was known by, what she did for the community, etc. However, we don't have to be dead at all to leave a legacy, or a trail of memories and actions that we are known by. One example Pastor Phil gave was that of a slug; it leaves a slimy, grayish line everywhere that it goes, and a person can often identify it as uniquely being a slug trail if he sees it. In a similar way, we leave our own trails. Our legacy. Everywhere that we live or visit and with everyone we interact, we leave memories of how we spoke and what we spoke about, how we treated others, how we responded in certain situations, and what was most important to us. The question, "What kind of legacy do we want to have?" is a refreshing angle for Chris and I as we make our goals for the year. We want to be known as people who love God and have structured our lives because of his love for us.

The message at church is part of a new series, but was also given in light of today's memorial service for our beloved Senior Pastor in Kuwait. Pastor Jerry (PJ, as we call him) passed away this past July after a sudden and short battle with brain cancer. The church wanted to wait to have a celebration of his life and "promotion" until many of the people traveling over the summer returned to Kuwait. They are expecting an attendance of several thousand people, maybe 5,000 Muslims and Christians alike. It's obvious that he's left a great legacy of loving people in his 26 years as a pastor in Kuwait, and 72 years of life on this earth. My friends on the worship band for tonight's service have asked me to take some pictures, so if I don't fail, I'll post some tomorrow.

Getting Ready

2011-08-24T06:06:00.000+03:00

Our summer here in the USA is winding down, and we're left with a few days of busyness before we head to the great State of Kuwait. There's a checklist full of things to do, including a lot of last-minute quality time with our friends and family. I'm actually very excited to get back to Kuwait and begin a routine that includes more than waking up at 9a.m. everyday, drinking two cups of coffee, and packing and unpacking a suitcase. At least, that's what it seems like I do everyday, besides driving to one place or another. Chris and I are both looking forward to the new school year and the traveling adventures that we may have, as well as spending some time with a friend of ours who is going to teach in Kuwait for the first time. We've been brushing up on our Arabic, too, which I hope to put to good use this year!

There are so many things that we'd love to do before we leave this weekend, but unfortunately, we aren't robots who can operate on little to no sleep at night. Well, I'm not, but I can't speak for Chris. In a time when I am getting little sleep and I'm found with mixed emotions, I'm reminded of this scripture, which was also shared at our church on Sunday:

Philippians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ESV

We are so thankful for this season of rest that we've had, and pray for God's peace as we deal with the joys and sorrows of transitioning into the next.

Florida 2011 Photos

2011-08-16T01:45:00.005+03:00

We have two sites that have photos from all of our travels, simply because there are a lot of them. If you haven't yet, be sure to see them both. We still need to update them with pictures from our trips to Syria and Greece in the Spring, but that probably won't happen until we get back to Kuwait.

2008-Spring 2010
Summer 2010-2011

In the meantime, here are some photos from the Shankle family vacation to New Smyrna Beach this summer. Florida '11

Tew family photos

2011-08-07T21:48:00.000+03:00

Taking portrait shots of people is always interesting, especially if they include little kids. That is a slight understatement when it comes to my 3 yr old nephew and 18mth old niece. My sister asked me to take some pictures of her family while we were on vacation in Florida, and here are just a few that I thought reflected the dynamic of the family well...

I did get some good ones, which I will post with the rest of them as soon as I'm done editing.

Florida '11

2011-07-31T04:53:00.000+03:00

We're headed back to our home base after a week of awesome vacation in Florida. Pictures and updates will follow the 16 hours of driving if I make it.

Moore State Park

2011-07-13T19:34:00.000+03:00

Another afternoon hike and picnic in Central Mass

The New England Outdoors

2011-07-11T20:47:00.000+03:00

I don't know why, but it seems like we always spend most of our time in the outdoors when we're staying at the Freemans' house. We do a lot of walking, hiking, and water sports which we don't always do other places, probably because of the close proximity for doing these activities. All that to say, we've been having a lot of fun finding orange newts, rowing 'til our arms burn, and walking out in the summer sun. We've also been going to some free outdoor concerts over in Worcester, like the ones that the Massacusetts Symphony Orchestra does on Saturday evenings. Thankfully, we've had some pretty good weather lately.

Summer Visiting and at the Freemans'

2011-07-02T23:00:00.000+03:00

Last Sunday, Chris and I had the privilege of hanging out with a family we know from Kuwait. I taught a girl in 1st Grade this past year whose family frequents the U.S. on summer vacation. Her dad studied at Penn State and Pitt and lived in the U.S. for something like 12 years, so the family was visiting friends in the Pittsburgh area. Since her mom and I struck up a great acquaintance during the school year, we said we'd try to see each other when they came, so we did! We took a ride on the Gateway Clipper, had shakes at the Hard Rock in Station Square, and ate lunch at the Grandview Saloon (formerly Coal Hill Steakhouse) on Mt. Washington. All in all, I would say it was a great day, except for the elderly gentleman who somewhat impolitely told us we talk too loudly. I guess there are some things you can't leave in the Arab world...

So far this summer, we've been busy dog-sitting, baby-sitting, and reading, and probably an equal amount of running around Indiana to visit and enjoy time with our friends there. This week, we also headed out to our friend Emily's, who will be coming to teach in Kuwait this school year. She taught in Taiwan for a few years and wanted a change, so we emailed back and forth a few hundred times about teaching in Kuwait. She'll be coming in the fall, so her family graciously had us over for dinner and picked our brains about living there and in the region. I think that's the most I've ever discussed Kuwait while being outside of it, so it was fun.

Yesterday, we drove to the greater Boston area to visit Chris' family for a few weeks. We missed out on our home church's Open House, which let the public come in and check out the new building before the first Sunday service takes place this Sunday, July 3rd. If you have a chance and are in the area, you should go see what it's like. Sunday Services are at 10am, and from what I hear, they have an awesome new children's ministry area if you have little ones. You can see more about who they are here.

Our friend, Kyle, came up from Michigan today to spend a few days with us and see the area over the 4th of July weekend. He taught in Kuwait with us in 2008-09 and will be coming back there this coming school year for another round as well. We're excited to catch up and do some adventuring, including the 4th of July Spectacular, the Sam Adam's Brewery, and kayaking- all some of our favorite things to do in New England.

I'll be checking in periodically throughout the next three weeks, but I can't make any promises!

In the USA

2011-06-30T06:20:00.000+03:00

Here we are in Sunnyville, PA, enjoying our summer vacation. It's been so busy so far, and I know that it will continue to be throughout July and August. Chris and I are loving our time here visiting family and friends, and look forward to seeing those we haven't visited with yet.
Here's an idea of our schedule for the rest of the summer:

July 2-19: visiting Chris' family in Massachusetts
July 20-22: back to Indiana for a few days
July 23-29: vacation in Florida with the Shankles/Tews
July 30- August 9: hanging out in Indiana
August 10-15(give or take a few days): heading out to see friends in eastern PA
August 16-26: in Indiana
August 26th & 27th: back to Kuwait

I've also compiled a giant reading list for the summer, since we're going to be doing a lot of traveling, and we aren't terribly busy during the days. Let me know if there are any must-reads to add to the list!

1. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
2. The Greener Grass Conspiracy
3. King's Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus
4. Tea: A History of the Drink that Changed the World
5. Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe
6. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

Drawings that are Endearing #3 and #4

2011-06-16T15:16:00.000+03:00

Ok, only one of them is a drawing, and I think it's supposed to be me...or maybe Lulu, its artist. The postcard just shows how they literally translate things in their heads sometimes, although Aslaa is one of my best reader/writers.

Enough of pictures...I still need to pack! We leave tomorrow night (about 5pm EST, 12am here) and will arrive in the US sometime Saturday morning!

Drawings that are Endearing #2

2011-06-14T21:23:00.001+03:00

Quite the clever birthday note, from Ghala
I guess she's never seen a real banana tree...

Drawings that are Endearing #1

2011-06-13T17:35:00.000+03:00

Since it's the last week that I have to be at school, I thought I'd post some drawings that I found while cleaning up my classroom. The girls loved to draw and leave me little notes, sometimes putting them on my desk or hiding them inside my notebooks. I actually threw a ton of them away, because there were so many (18 x thenumberofschooldays), but soon to follow are some of the funniest and best.

This is one of my personal favorites by Al-Zain, the best classroom helper and a funny little girl who tried to wrinkle her nose like I did, in fashion of a rabbit:

Yep, that's Mr. Freeman and I, holding my i-phone, since I told the students that's what I hoped to get for my birthday.

5 days left

2011-06-12T15:38:00.000+03:00

There are five days left until I leave for the summer. Here is just a snapshot of my to-do list:

Pack...for 2.5 months and three locations
Clean the fridge
Cover the furniture
Wash laundry
Pack...
Finishing organizing my classroom
Finish passing out report cards
Complete classroom inventory
Pack...
Get my ticket from HR
Help my friend move her apartment
Say Goodbyes
Pack...

...almost there

2011-06-03T21:27:00.000+03:00

I am really excited for the summer to be here. That's all I have to say about that.

Tuesday was my birthday, and my friends Dana, Dina, and Rasha took me out to dinner, and then we all got manicures and pedicures. Yes, that sounds like a really girly thing to do for my birthday, but believe it or not, I enjoyed it. Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age. Chris was off performing at the first showing of The Desert Song, so the girls devised a plan.

Wednesday, I went out for a quick bite with my friend Anita that I hadn't seen for a long time. She gave me a really unique gift, which was a hand/beach bag made out of plastic shopping bags. There's a "safe house" here in Kuwait that keeps women who are either run-away maids or are waiting on any number of deportation processes, but their embassy can't house them. One of the ways that money is raised to house these women is through a trash to treasure sort of program, which teaches the women to make things like jewelry out of old magazines and hand bags like mine. It's really quite a neat process and helps the girls contribute to their well-being, and it also gives them skills to use when they are finally released from Kuwait.

On Thursday night, some other friends and I went to see The Desert Song. It was a light, comical musical that was a little cheesy (intending to be that way), but the musicians and singers did an amazing job. My friend Jumel (seen in red) sang on the worship team with me when I still attended the 6 o'clock service, so it was nice to hear him in his "professional" element, too. Afterward, a number of us met up at Costa Coffee (move over, Starbucks!) to meet and greet and generally cause a ruckus.

Today, we had an awesome church service and went out to eat lunch with yet more friends...I guess I've done a lot of eating out this week. We came home for a quick nap and Chris headed out to his last performance of the show. I'm sitting here working on report cards. Well, I was working on report cards until I decided to write an update.

We're excited to be in the States in two weeks, though it seems kind of surreal. This year has been so full and has gone by so fast, that it's hard to imagine summer is really here. The 120' temperature is a great reminder, though. All I have to do is open the balcony door to get a blast of stuffy, hot air, and it feels real again!

almost at the finish

2011-05-19T16:12:00.000+03:00

No, we haven't fallen off the face of the Earth, but here are a few things we have going on:

- I've been organizing a lot of activities and planning for International Week at school, which is May 29th - June 2nd. Each class in the elementary school is currently studying a country in their Social Studies time. During International Week, the kids will do crafts, write postcards, dress up, and eat things all pertaining to the country their classes are focusing on.

- Chris has rehearsals for The Desert Song, an operetta by Siegmund Romberg. He's playing in the pit orchestra for this show, similar to what he did for Carmina Burana. The Desert Song will be performed May 31st- June 3rd.

- We are both trying to finish grading things in school and prepare our last reports for the year. Chris is done with students next week, although I have them until June 8th. I am seriously praying the admin. will change the date sooner, because the HS kids are finished with exams next week.

- I just finished putting together a collection of stories written by my students. My friend Kristen and I agreed to have my Grade 1 class work weekly with her high school Creative Writing class on improving listening skills, reading, and writing throughout this semester. The end result was a lot of learning and a project that I put together, called Animals are Everywhere. The book contains short stories written by my students and edited by her students, illustration that my kids drew, and pictures from our "Reading Buddies" meetings. I'm pretty excited about finally having it done and taking it to the printer's this next weekend, especially since I did it once and had to re-do it...

- I finished Environmental Week and Earth Day at school at the end of April, and the picture for this post shows my class's bulletin board. We decided to recycle wrappers and things that we used for lunch, which the kids loved.

- There are lots of other things going on, too, but no time to jot them all down. It's a race to the finish before I leave for the States on June 17th. Chris should be leaving within one or two days of that, but he still doesn't have his exact schedule.

A little weekend boating fun

2011-04-23T18:10:00.001+03:00

Chris driving with Em and Omar on the raft- yikes!

teaching Chris how to stand

Steph and Skinny

Rasha, Omar, and Chris

Rasha tanning...just kidding

Jesus wasn't surprised

2011-04-22T19:58:00.002+03:00

"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."

- 1 Peter 2:22-24

"In John 10:18 Jesus said, "No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again." Those very significant words of Jesus mean that everything that happened to him on that first Good Friday—all of the physical pain of the whippings, the beatings, the crown of thorns thrust into his head, the nails driven into his hands and his feet; all of the emotional pain of being mocked and spat upon; all of the spiritual pain that Jesus endured when his Father turned his face away from him as he took upon himself the sins of the world—all of it was voluntarily accepted and voluntarily endured by Jesus Christ for the glory of his heavenly Father and for the eternal well-being of his people. Nothing that happened to Jesus that day caught him by surprise. None of it was unforeseen. All of it was anticipated and taken into account by Jesus when he made that fateful prayer in Gethsemane, "Not my will but yours be done" (Luke 22:42)."

- taken from John Piper's "I Thirst" sermon, at Desiring God

On holiday

2011-04-12T18:13:00.000+03:00

I've been in Greece for 4 days, and I'll get back to Kuwait on Friday.
There's no time to blog when you're on holiday...

A Kuwaiti Wedding, Part 1

2011-04-08T18:41:00.000+03:00

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to go to my first Kuwaiti wedding. One of my student's aunts was getting married, and her mom invited me to go. Now, nothing about the Kuwaiti wedding party resembles a western wedding ceremony and reception, except for the fact that there is food, music, and a bride in a wedding dress.

First, I had to go buy a ball gown/cocktail dress/party dress. I opted for one somewhat quickly, because I knew that nothing I bought would be even close to the outlandish/lavish designs that the Kuwaiti women would be wearing. Imagine the richest people in the world each having their own designer dress specially made for this occasion...so, I found a decent black dress at Debenham's that looked like this one, and paired it with a black shrug, black heels, and a silver and black clutch purse. You can't go wrong with black here.

Next, I drove to the city center to the Marriott Courtyard complex, which holds the Al Rayya shopping center and the Al Rayya ballroom. The wedding "started" at 8:30pm, I arrived around 9:15pm, and a lot more people arrived after I did. When I got to the front door, there was a giant Arab doorman (read: bouncer) that asked for my invitation. When I said I didn't have one, he said, "You are Stephanie." I was like, "Uh. Yes," thinking, I sure hope that's ok. He told me to go in, so I walked through this elegant set of curtains into an extremely, ornately decorated foyer and the entrance to the ballroom. After a second's thought, I walked quickly to the bathroom to check out how under-dressed I really was. When I decided it was ok, I ventured out to find Latifa (my student's mom) and see what to do.

Then, after about an hour of Arabic music and servers coming around with gourmet chocolates, Arabic tea and coffee, and bite-size desserts, most of the guests had arrived and started dancing. Mind you, all of the guests at this party were women, and the "dance floor" really was a runway of white carpet stretching around 1/2 a football field, where the women do a simple dance that is more like walking along a runway. And yes, it did look like a runway, because the rest of the guests were seated on white leather bench-type sofas on both sides and facing the runway for easy watching of the "dance floor."

Sound complicated yet? I'm doing my best to describe all this because there are no cameras allowed! Besides the official, professional photographer, no women take their cameras because everyone is generally covered in extremely modest clothing or an abaya (loose dress) and wearing a hijab (head scarf). At weddings, the women are free to wear whatever they please because there are only other women in attendance (including the servers, photographer, videographers, etc.). Here are a FEW of the types of dresses that I saw:

It was a little overwhelming at first, but once I got to know some people, I started to have a goof time. And, that was before the bride even came around 10:15pm.

(to be continued...)

There's a new "Crash"

2011-04-05T16:16:00.000+03:00

The family moniker that indicates just what it says, Crash, can now be passed to my dear Christopher. Here are some desert photos as promised.

We went riding with Emily, Skinny, Omar, and another friend

Here's where we were riding. Yes, that's a herd of goats.

The Freemans (and Skinny) having a good time.

Crash #1. Dramatized.

Crash #2. Me fixing sunglasses & Chris clenching his teeth for a picture.

So many things in March...

2011-03-30T16:14:00.000+03:00

March was a busy month in school. First, there was the 100th day of school, celebrated with pajama day and "100" snacks (grapes, cheerios, nuts, m&ms, etc.). Then, we had the Spring Festival, which hundreds of people come to on a Saturday for fun, games, and food. Then, we had Sports Day last Thursday. Now, we will have Neon Colors Day tomorrow. It will be interesting! I'm ready for the Spring Break!


With my friend, Emily, who is the 1B teacher

Out in the desert with Skinny & Omar

I also finally got the pictures from our buggy riding in February, so you'll get to see Chris doing some of his amazing stunts. By amazing, I mean crashing.

Sandstorm of the Year

2011-03-26T11:39:00.000+03:00

And, the Sandstorm of the Year award goes to March 25th's apocalyptic-looking storm, hitting the city around 5:40pm and dying out somewhere around 9pm. We happened to be driving to our friends' house for dinner, so we got to drive in it! Quite the adventure, it's a little like driving in a white-out...only dirtier.

driving on the freeway

by the sliding door, 1/4" sand/dust

cleaning in the aftermath

Date Night Dinner

2011-03-20T19:54:00.000+03:00

prepared by yours truly.

...and Nicholas!

2011-02-27T16:12:00.000+03:00

Ok, as of my last blog post, I was thinking of birthdays that had already happened in February, but my sister gently pointed out that my nephew Nick's birthday is technically in February, too. It just so happens that he was born in a leap year, and his birthday is February 29th. I wonder if the little drop down categories on important websites always allow you to select the 29th day of February, or if they only let you do so in a leap year. Hmm.

Anywho, he's as cute as a button and I hope he has a great birthday tomorrow, if indeed that's when they're celebrating it. He loves Toy Story, so he will be pleasantly surprised by the present I have waiting for him already at Grammy and Pap's house.

Happy Birthday to Rebekah, Chris, and Kuwait!

2011-02-25T21:52:00.003+03:00

We have a lot of February birthdays around, including several of my friends', my niece Bekah's on the 12th, and Chris' on the 14th. This year, a few friends and I bought Chris a new flat-screen TV for his birthday; it was a little tricking having the company deliver and wall-mount it while keeping it a surprise, but I pulled it off! Chris was spoiled this year with a surprise party, two fun weekends of activities, and a big present, but I don't think he minded. More pictures of our adventures are to follow.

This year's National Day celebration is a big one for Kuwait, as the country celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence, its 20th anniversary of liberation from Iraqi forces, and the 5th anniversary of the current Emir being in power. On Tuesday at school, our students showed their Kuwaiti pride by wearing the colors of the flag: red, white, green, and black. On Wednesday, each student wore a dura'a, a tanora (traditional Kuwaiti dresses), or Kuwait colors again. We also had a special Grade 1 luncheon with Arabic food, and a show with performances by different classes. This year, my class did not participate, but maybe we will next year. Here are some of my little divas doing their thing:

We miss your smile

2011-02-19T21:38:00.000+03:00

December 18, 2005- one of the best days, ever

As I sit to write a few things about Gram, here in Kuwait is not where I want to be this week, but it’s where I have to be for now. I’ve thought a lot about what I could say if I were there, and there are just too many stories to tell!

Gram was a lady of preparedness. She was always ready for anything and ready to do anything anyone asked of her.

She was always ready to have fun. I remember more than one time when I got to go to the movies with her when I was little, and she’d whip some “3 Musketeers” bars out of her purse. I think she might have even had two Pepsi’s- never Cokes- and sticks of Wrigley’s spearmint gum for when we were finished. Her handbags might have held anything!

She was also always ready for a sporting event. I can’t count how many of my softball games she came to, or during how many of Kenny’s baseball games I sat next to her in her flashy sun visor and photo-gray lenses. I still feel sorry for some of the refs that made bad calls.

Gram was always prepared to serve others, and never made it seem like an inconvenience, even if it was. She used to go visit one next door neighbor and take her grocery shopping. The only problem was that her neighbor had a large goose that lived in the yard and liked to bite! You knew Gram was going to Flossy’s house if she grabbed an umbrella on her way out the door on a sunny day.

I think Gram liked to keep a lot of things around just in case she needed them, too. There was a master lock just sitting in one of her kitchen drawers that Christina, Kenny, Lisa and I tried to open for years. We never did open it, she didn’t know the combination for it, and I really don’t know where it has gone to this day. It’s probably still floating around her house somewhere.

Finally, I think Gram was prepared to be with God because she opted to not have surgery or chemotherapy after the news of her illness came. Because she had trusted God with her life, there wasn’t any need for her to have fear in the face of death. The Bible says that, “God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”(Romans 5:8). Gram knew she was a sinner, but she also knew that God is merciful to those that trust in Him to be saved. I have the greatest confidence in saying that she is in Heaven now, because she believed these truths with her whole heart.

Chris and I agree that we will miss the smile and laugh we got from Gram whenever we were coming home for the summer or just coming over to say hi. We know she’s still smiling, and we send our love to you all.

(Written by Stephanie, to be read at her grandmother's funeral)

Gram's Obituary

2011-02-18T21:08:00.003+03:00

Sara May Shankle, age 83, of Indiana, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, February 16, 2011, at her home.

She was born in 1927 in Vandergrift, to Ward C. Fitzgerald and Zella May Mottarn.

Mrs. Shankle was a devoted Christian woman and attended the Bethel Presbyterian Church, where she was a member of the Missionary Society, a church Deacon, a member of the Choir, and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was also a member of the VFW Post #1989 Ladies Auxiliary, and was a frequent donor to the Red Cross, earning the "8 gallon" pin.

She enjoyed quilt making, baking, and sewing. Her greatest joy was spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, whom she adored. She never hesitated to lend a helping hand to family, friends, or neighbors.

Sara is survived by one daughter and one son, Laird Shankle and wife Cindy, Indiana; Elaine Perkovich, Indiana; four grandchildren, Christina Tew and husband John, Grand Ledge, MI; Lisa Morgart and husband Rex, Centreville, VA; Stephanie Freeman and husband Chris, Salmiya, Kuwait; Ken Shankle and Kristen Bishop, Indiana; two great grandchildren, Nicholas and Rebekah Tew; a brother-in-law Gerald Shankle, Sr. and wife Betty, Indiana; a sister-in-law Alice Fitzgerald, Latrobe; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, by her first husband Kenneth J. Shankle, and by her second husband Ord P. Shankle.

Friends will be received on Friday from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Bowser-Minich Funeral Home, Indiana. Friends will also be received Saturday at the Bethel Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m. to noon, where a funeral service will begin at noon with the Rev. Robert Goossen officiating. Interment will be made in the Oakland Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bethel Presbyterian Church, 1470 Bethel Church Road, Indiana, PA 15701, or to the VNA/Hospice, 850 Hospital Road, Suite 3000, Indiana, PA 15701.

from Rex & Lisa's wedding

2011-02-18T14:29:00.002+03:00

rejoicing with Jesus

2011-02-17T10:50:00.001+03:00

Yesterday afternoon, Sara May (Fitzgerald) Shankle passed away.

My beautiful grandmother has gone,

after being diagnosed with abdominal cancer seven short weeks ago.

She's now rejoicing with Jesus, where there's no such thing as cancer.

"This is my comfort in my affliction,

that your promise gives me life."

some favorite photos

2011-02-16T08:56:00.000+03:00

with Chris for his Master's in TESOL degree, May 2008

with her great-grandson, Nick (soon to be 3 yrs old!)

A Story that has Hope

2011-02-15T22:13:00.001+03:00

I hope that no one minds me posting about this. I guess I usually do say what I want to about things, anyway.

I like to borrow the subtitle "A Series of Unfortunate Events" when I refer to the process of obtaining a residential work visa in Kuwait. If you don't know that long story, I will tell it to you some other time. I refer to it now to make the point that I had to return to the USA in December to finish some paperwork, which was also a really convenient break to spend Christmas with my family.

In the months (well, really a year or so) leading up to December 2010, I was struggling with the difficulty of this process. I questioned why God couldn't make it easier. On many occasions, I became angry, impatient, and anxious to be finished with everything. And then the school told me I had to travel to the U.S. Yikes.

To my family's surprise, I showed up at my parents' house on December 15th and was able to spend two wonderful weeks with them. During that vacation, I was also able to spend several days with my seemingly healthy grandmother, who is now very ill. Since I was the only one not working then, I was able to take her to the hospital a few times for testing, because the doctors didn't yet know why she was not feeling well and didn't have much of an appetite. My family found out that she has an aggressive type of abdominal cancer a few days after I returned to Kuwait on New Year's Day. In just two short months, her health has digressed to where she is sleeping around 20 hours per day, but thankfully, she is not in any pain. She has elected not to undergo treatments.

While I don't know all of the reasons why God appointed me to go to the States this past December, I am certain that one of them was so I could spend time with Gram. It has been difficult being in Kuwait and not around my family, knowing that I might never be able to see Gram as I have always known her. I'm sad that I am losing her, but at the same time, I have hope because I know I will see her again.

My grandmother is an amazing woman, totally selfless for longer than I've been alive. This isn't because she's just a good person though, it's because of God's work in her heart. I'm confident that I will see her again in Heaven because of her faith in Jesus, and I don't have to worry or have doubts about that.

The bible says, "you weredead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked," (Ephesians 2:1). That applies to everyone. Period. If you are human, you are dead and have no chance of life in Heaven on your own. We've all sinned and our sin is unacceptable to a Holy God. It's like he's a judge and we're the criminals. No matter how big or small our crimes, if he let us get away with them, would he be just? No. The problem is, we can't serve our own "sentence" because we just keep sinning. We have an eternity of sentences because we will never be perfect, and punishment is an eternity in Hell.

"None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God." (Romans 3:10-11)
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23)
It has to be someone perfect to the serve the sentence, and thankfully, that someone is Jesus.

If you trust in Jesus, your punishment or "sentence" is payed for. That's it. It's that easy. But, trust in Him for what? You have come to terms with the fact that you aren't perfect and you can't be who God wants you to be on your own. You have to tell God that you know no matter how nice you act, you can't earn your way into Heaven, and that's hard to do! If you have faith in Jesus, believing that he payed for your sins through His death on the cross, God will count your sentence as being served. "By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

When you put your faith in Jesus, you can have total assurance of Heaven. You will never have to doubt whether you are "good enough" to get there. I don't have to doubt that I will be with Him there for eternity, and I don't have to wonder if Gram will be there either, "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

I'm still praying for Gram to be healed, but either way, I still have hope.

What's going on in Egypt?

2011-02-01T13:54:00.001+03:00

Do you have 15 minutes or so?

We've been watching the situation in Egpyt a lot on the news, as well as reading various articles on the country's current predicament. We also have some first-hand information on what the political climate is like there from our friend's parents (who are Egyptians living in Kuwait, but had traveled to their house there recently), and we will hopefully have more information soon from our friends that are traveling there. You've probably seen things in the news, too, so what do I have to say about the situation? It's complicated.

Thanks to the 22words blog, I found an easy-to-read article that is pretty understandable; it will give the basic facts about why there are tens of thousands (if not millions) protesting in Egypt: A Short Primer on Egypt Now

Now, what's the U.S. stance on the Egyptian "revolution?" I think that varies according to who's talking, and even with President Obama, it's ambiguous. Generally, one would think that the U.S. would support a new regime of democracy and push away from the current tyranny, sort of like what has taken place in Iraq; however, because of America's interests in the Middle East (especially its relations with Israel), it looks like the U.S. supports the current leader, Mubarak, who just about everyone in Egypt hates.

Egypt is one of the only countries in the Middle East that recognizes Israel as a country. All of the Gulf states (including Kuwait) consider that area Palestine, and support the Palestinian government. If Egypt were to appoint new leadership, the U.S. has no guarantee that the new government would be pro-Israeli, or at least remain neutral, potentially costing the U.S. one of its footholds in the Middle East. Also, if the U.S. is seen as supporting the the president-dictator (now age 83), it speaks against all of our cries for democracy and human rights. If we push for Mubarak to stay, we are essentially speaking against the Egyptian people, and probably angering the other Arab states. That, I think, would be a bad move for America.

Generally speaking, this revolution is about domestic affairs- people's rights to low-cost food, jobs, and less police corruption. I don't think those are terrible things, so you can probably guess where my opinion sits. I might not have quite the scope of information that a foreign policy analyst does, but I can say that living here has certainly shaped my point of view on things!

Caution: The following video contains violence, some swearing, and people in peril.

1A Math Day

2011-01-29T16:24:00.000+03:00

Is there a better way to celebrate the science of mathematics than by wearing shapes, patterns, numbers, and identical outfits while eating lots of chocolate? Surely not.

"Miiiiiiiss, you knoooooow, my motheeeeeeeeeeeer, she is buying for us aaaaaaaaaaall the same."

Coincidence? I think not.

2011-01-24T16:39:00.000+03:00

The Steelers are on the path to a 7th Superbowl title by winning the AFC championship game last night. This morning, the Elementary principal brought in Krispy Kreme doughnuts for all of the teachers in our department. Coincidence? Maybe. You be the judge.

I saw this list somewhere, and I thought I would take a moment to honor all those who have lost the Superbowls over the years. Nobody remembers them...except for the ones that the Steelers crushed, including the Green Bay Packers in Superbowl XLV! Steeler wins are highlighted.

I (1967)- Kansas City Chiefs
II (1968)- Oakland Raiders
III (1969)- Baltimore Colts
IV (1970)- Minnesota Vikings
V (1971)- Dallas Cowboys
VI (1972)- Miami Dolphins
VII (1973)- Washington Redskins
VIII (1974)- Minnesota Vikings
IX (1975)- Minnesota Vikings
X (1976)- Dallas Cowboys
XI (1977)- Minnesota Vikings
XII (1978)- Denver Broncos
XIII (1979)- Dallas Cowboys
XIV (1980)- Los Angeles Rams
XV (1981)- Philadelphia Eagles
XVI (1982)- Cincinnati Bengals
XVII (1983)- Miami Dolphins
XVIII (1984)- Washington Redskins
XIX (1985)- Miami Dolphins
XX (1986)- New England Patriots
XXI (1987)- Denver Broncos
XXII (1988)- Denver Broncos
XXIII (1989)- Cincinnati Bengals
XXIV (1990)- Denver Broncos
XXV (1991)- Buffalo Bills
XXVI (1992)- Buffalo Bills
XXVII (1993)- Buffalo Bills
XXVIII (1994)- Buffalo Bills
XXIX (1995)- San Diego Chargers
XXX (1996)- Pittsburgh Steelers
XXXI (1997)- New England Patriots
XXXII (1998)- Green Bay Packers
XXXIII (1999)- Atlanta Falcons
XXXIV (2000)- Tennessee Titans
XXXV (2001)- New York Giants
XXXVI (2002)- St. Louis Rams
XXXVII (2003)- Oakland Raiders
XXXVIII (2004)- Carolina Panthers
XXXIX (2005)- Philadelphia Eagles
XL (2006)- Seattle Seahawks
XLI (2007)- Chicago Bears
XLII (2008)- New England Patriots
XLIII (2009)- Arizona Cardinals
XLIV (2010)- Indianapolis Colts
XLV (2011)- Green Bay Packers

Thoughts:
1. How could the Denver Broncos and the Buffalo Bills lose so many times in a row?
2. I think my love for the Steelers reaches back to my 4th grade math teacher, Ms. DeGaetano, and her love for Rod Woodson.
3. As of 2008, the Steelers had sold out every home game since 1972. I think that's still true with 317 games. Can someone check me on that?

O, Fortuna!

2011-01-20T21:45:00.000+03:00

This week, Chris is playing in Carmina Burana, put on by The Ahmadi Singers. This group has done a great job of bringing music and theater to Kuwait, considering that this part of the world has not traditionally embraced the fine arts as an acceptable form of entertainment.

Last night, I went to see Chris and our friends, Darlene and Milda, participate in the gala performance of Carmina Burana. It was actually quite amazing! Given the busyness of many of the expats in Kuwait and scarcity of time that there was to practice as a complete ensemble, I was really thrilled with the end results. Our friends Rasha, Dana, Dina, and John met me at the theater to enjoy the entertainment and help cheer on Chris; a second flute probably never had such a big fan club. (Side note: The chairs here are largely based on seniority, or I'm sure Chris would have played the first part. This was his first show playing with the Ahmadi Singers' accompanying orchestra. And, I'm probably biased.)

In case you aren't a "music" person and have no idea what I'm talking about, the first (and last) movement of Orff's cantata is hugely known. Here's a sample of "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi," with someone's Spanish subtitles...even though it's Latin.

A Day at the Zoo

2011-01-18T16:44:00.000+03:00

Not bad for being taken by a 6 yr. old

Class 1A

Yesterday, we finally had our 1st grade field trip to the zoo. We had had previously canceled it on the day I left for the States because of inclement weather (i.e. a major dust storm).While not the most spectacular display of animals in origin-simulated habitats, I thought the zoo wasn't too bad for being in Kuwait. They have animals like porcupines, foxes, rabbits, and raccoons on top of your ordinary lions, giraffes, and elephants. They also have some kinds of wolves and bears, things that I would see in my backyard, but they have never seen before!

They day went pretty smoothly, except for the instance that I almost took out some Kuwaiti high school boys for talking to us...that would not have gone over well. At the end of the day, we bought all the girls ice cream and headed back to the school. Thankfully, they had P.E. for the last period of the day, so I didn't have to rein in all the hyperactivity.

Can the Steelers go for #7?

2011-01-15T11:34:00.005+03:00

I was just sitting here thinking that by the time the Steelers vs. Ravens game comes on, it will be 12:30a.m. I'm not really interested in staying up until then, seeing as tomorrow is a school day, so I have to go to bed in anticipation of the results. Hopefully, I will start off my week with the good news of a victory!

While thinking about this, I was doing some Steelers' trivia research and found this really cool picture on Photobucket.com. Click here if you can't see the whole picture.

Here are their first six Superbowl wins:

http://news.steelers.com/tradition/superbowl/

Go STEELERS!

Current Reading

2011-01-11T13:33:00.001+03:00

The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family
thanks, ehw!

You know that song, "I'll be home for Christmas?"

2011-01-03T05:17:00.001+03:00

So, I was in the USA with my family for Christmas, froze my butt off, watched my brother graduate from IUP, and spent time with lots of dear people. Even though I was there in what seemed like sub-arctic temperatures, I didn't take any pictures of the snow for my students! I did get some really cute pictures of my nephew and niece (3 and 1, respectively), but that's about all I took pictures of. I kept forgetting my camera when I wasn't at the house, so I guess that means I was too busy having fun!

Back to Kuwait

2010-12-31T17:27:00.000+03:00

Tonight, I head back to Kuwait and to my dear husband who has held down the proverbial fort for 2 weeks by himself. After a busy but relaxing time here, I'm ready to go back again. My flight from Pittsburgh is at 5:30pm, and I should arrive in Kuwait around 9:30pm (1:30pm EST). Thankfully, the weather is warmer today, so I hope I don't have any snow or ice delays.

I had a great time in Pennsylvania with everyone, so thanks! And, Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-21T02:46:00.001+03:00

Photos: at the Roman Colosseum, Rome, Italy; at a Kenya/Tanzania border marker; in Tehran, Iran; at the Necropolis near Shiraz, Iran.