Halloween-Doha Style

By the looks of the villa decorations, it was hard to tell that we weren't in the US! Of course not every villa in the compound participated, but there were plenty and the kids walked all over the compound in search of candy. I was actually surprised how many non-Western families participated. Now some didn't quite understand the process. It was not unusual for the kids to receive a handful of gummy bears, open from a larger package, or a couple of cookies out of an open package! lol Really, it was quite funny. Of course there is no Sams Club here and buying bags of Snickers gets quite expensive!

We of course rented a couple of trick or treaters! They had a blast!

I will add more pictures when I get them!

Halloween Bunco!

Yes, they do have bunco in Doha! Tonight was our Halloween bunco! Unless you brought costumes to Doha, you really need to get creative! I of course had my trusty cat ears which makes for an easy costume! I have learned that every bunco group has their own rules. In our bunco group, we have traveling buncos and two different crowns that get passed around (this is why I have a crown on my head). We really have a lot of fun!

Chicago vs Doha

I know this goes in and out of focus, I really just wanted to try out this Blogspot feature.

Did you know that Doha is also in the running for the 2016 Olympics? To learn more about Doha's bid, click on this website: Doha 2016 (For those of you in Chicago, you will also find a countdown clock to host/city selection!) Many of you ask how long we will be here and one definite answer I have is, we will NOT be here in 2016!

Last night Michael and I along with another couple went, along with the rest of the city, to the Corniche (gulf front) to watch the fireworks and celebration of the unveiling and kickoff of Doha's bid for the 2016 Olympics. It is actually quite humorous, every person in Doha received 3 text messages on their mobiles (this is what they call cell phones here) reminding them of the festivities.

We decided to get to the Corniche early so that we could get a seat and avoid the traffic. With bagged chairs in tow, we claimed our spot and had a great view of the fireworks. In the back drop of the fireworks were the skyscrapers of Doha! It was so funny, as we were waiting we watched skyscrapers lose all power, the entire building would just go black. Few minutes later, it would light back up and then another building would go black. It was so funny as we determined that they were trying to minimize the light coming through the buildings that were directly behind the fireworks! Eventually they identified the correct buildings and the show started. This is truly Doha!

We found this quite interesting:
The Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid represents the hopes and aspirations of Qatar. The Bid is seen through the present, but also inspired by the past. Qatar's present is full of energy, driven by its booming economy and its highly-educated citizens. Qatar's past is a rich heritage, deeply rooted in its people's hearts and minds. The logo's design represents the blossoming of these elements leading growth in Qatar. The Aldahma - the 'Flower of the Spring' - was chosen to represent the vital and energetic spirit of the season. The Aldahma's natural habitat in the sands of the desert draws a parallel with the vibrant and colourful life flourishing in the State of Qatar. The calligraphy strokes making the words 'Doha 2016' are a unique manipulation of the traditional organic Henna patterns that women use to adorn their hands and arms as part of social and holiday celebrations. The dynamic interaction between the Arabic calligraphy and the English type is an interpretation of modernity. The logo is a welcoming message for a truly energetic and celebratory 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Doha.The logo was created by students at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQ).

Have I Mentioned...

Have I mentioned how happy Macey is to have us back! I got a good report from her babysitter. We had a nanny in the compound sleep over while we were gone. She said that she really liked Macey and that Macey would sleep with her, or hog the bed! The only time she was unfriendly was when her new friend tried to brush Macey and then Macey would hiss at her. Hopefully she will be willing to watch her again!



Seriously...how cute is she! She is trying to take a nap and the drapes are open so she is covering up her eyes!

Eid al-Fitr

First of all, Michael and I have both returned to Doha after a wonderfully long visit.

These donations are given around this time as Ramadan has recently ended. Eid is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning Festivity. At Eid al-Fitr people dress in their finest clothes, adorn their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy visits with friends and family. A sense of generosity and gratitude colors these festivities. Although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan.
One of the best things about our compound is that there is a very active group of ladies. They organize coffee mornings, evening socials, bunco and many other activities. Today as a way of thanking the compound workers for all of their hard work, donations were collected and cash gifts were given to each compound employee. This has been organized at our compound for at least 3 years. It is really such a small gift that makes a big impact.