Mall shopping is a sport here

I'm not much of a shopper but shopping is on a whole different level here. You could spend all day wandering around, eating, riding ferris wheels, and dropping a whole lotta riyals. Our friends the Jays have been kind enough to haul us around and today they took us to the Villagio- it has a painted ceiling to make the appearance of being outside- which I was totally believing until we exited into 101degree heat. I almost went back to the ice rink to make snow angels... but Lisa wouldn't let me. So maybe shopping will become my new hobby, I have been a shabby dresser lately and I did notice some Sue Sylvester track suits at the Adidas store... very nice.

Check out the guns on this mannequin- and this is a kids clothing store! Lisa will fit right in.

Anyone care for a ride on the gondola? Now we don't have to travel to Venice.

Luca is happy to learn that the "thumbs up" is not a rude gesture in Qatar (we had been told it was).

Yup that's a ferris wheel... in the mall.

What have the kids been up to?

The kids have been playin hard since we have been here- we are so fortunate to have great neighbors with great kids- It sounds like more will arrive when the returning staff returns- it is crazy with kids here. A few language differences I have noticed:

"My mum put plaster on me" (My mom put a band aid on me)

"Would you like to have an ice lolli?" (popsicles)

more to come I'm sure

Our neighbors the Wade girls: Lucy, Bethany, and Elody

Caught on 10 pound test using a midge- lot of action from these Qatar fish.

Da pool

Gypsies in the palace

Well today was the last day for the school to treat the new teachers- from here on out we are just regular old staff I guess. But what a day it was- we got to go to the Intercontinental Hotel for swimming, eating, and good old laying around the pool. Our first chance to get in the Persian gulf (Hot water- I guess I shouldn't be surprised) found Luca floating like a champ. We are a part of an incredible group of people- all of the new teachers are wonderful- Can't wait to meet the rest of the staff.

This is my kind of safety notice

He's a floater

I'm pretty big in Doha

more pics of the casa de doha

More pics from the casa- today is our first day to just be at home so we are all wandering around in a bit of a daze.

We have a cupboard under the stairs! Guess where Wilder wanted her bedroom to be? Just like Harry Potter.

Strangely we have his and her toilets. Unfairly Lisa's has a seat, a lid, and mine squirts me in the back when I flush.

We have 2 of these beauties and yes they are as cozy to sit in as they are pleasing to look at.

Here is the view from our bedroom- tres romantic. As soon as I figure out how to climb the compound wall it's free tile for all.

This is my new best friend. You point the remote at it and cold air comes out. There is one in every room!

The kids beds. Luca has been rockin the pink one on the right- what can I say the boy has style.

There is so much closet space in the kids room that we can fit all of their clothes, all the toys, and both of the children in them.

I have always wanted a sitting mirror where I can just gaze upon myself and think.

Our Ironing board included a mini ironing board- is this so I can iron my socks? underwear? Is this a cultural thing?

Yup that is a real plastic chandelier... real fabulous that is.

Lisa and I guessed wrong on this one- the water here tastes great- but the coffee is lousy. Starbucks has made it to the Middle East and we will find it- sorry Nescafe -I'm just sayin.

The School...WOW

So far we know our house and the school. Soon we will travel out of that small realm but for now that is it. But what an amazing school- I have my own science lab- take a look!

The front entrance to the school- pretty sure teacher parking will be in the back

I'm not sure what it is they want the kids to do

There are things in this science lab that I don't even know what they are for.

One of the walkways

Won't be teaching PE- but quite a gym- and the falcons! just like HPSEL

Okay- not officially part of the school, just on the way- but man that's a mighty big cart tiny elvis!

First Impression...Hot

Our first taste of Doha was climbing down off the plane onto the runway at 7pm- already dark and about 95 degrees. I'm thinking "this really isn't that bad- I can handle this" fast forward to the next day we walk the 50 metres to where our shuttle picks us up and after 5 minutes of standing outside I am sweating thru my shirt- I think even my knees were starting to sweat. It is truly an amazing feeling- then you go inside a building and its a cool Colorado day.
The kids were amazing travelers- 14 hour flight- no tantrums, they didn't make a mad dash thru customs (one little kid did- his mom was looking at him on the other side of security with quite the panic face going and I had a real moment of "I am so glad that is not my kid"

One dollar gets you a backrub in Houston-well spent

Yeah- we are kinda rockstar.

The view from the front door

                                                

The view of our front door

One week to go

I had a dream that there was nothing but sand- lots of sand. One week to go!