My Nemesis, Holidays and Shopping

My Classroom Nemesis

Hate how I'm thinking about what I despise at this time of thanksgiving. Loom bands are not my friends. 

I cannot control the itsy-bitsy weapons. At first I found them annoying because students were always taking off the bracelets and playing with them. But my feelings have definitely escalated to a very intense dislike. Confiscating and throwing away the culprits doesn't help because they have so little value to the owners. Threatening to tell the vice principal in my toughest voice was my second tactical defense er... offense. I'm wondering how my behavioral reports listed as "Other: Repeatedly shooting loom bands" are being received.

Thankswhat?

Yes, we work on the American holiday of Thanksgiving at this American School.

A new restaurant in our vicinity that typically serves southern cuisine was offering a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Besides white or dark turkey and our 3 choices of sides, homemade stuffing was put on everyone's plate, but mine. I am pretty sure it was just an oversight, but I may not recover from the slight, until I make and eat my own. I would have asked for some, but it got busy and the owner and servers seemed overwhelmed. The meal also came with a choice of desert. I had a piece of amazing pecan pie. All in all, it was nice. It cost 35 dollars.

Black Friday Shopping

Black Friday is evidently not a thing here (since there is no Thanksgiving holiday that makes sense). Not that I did too much shopping on that day in the states anyway. I was typically content to be the designated babysitter/ sleeper.

This year, coincidentally, I did go shopping in Kuwait during America's Black Friday shopping.

Thus the previous logo quiz post.

Surprisingly Christmas-y 

Our school calendar calls our 2 week end-of-December break, Winter Break, but my students refer to Christmas often, Christmas trees are not uncommon and you can even buy nativity sets at Carrefour.  

Holiday and Christmas bazaars are common nowadays, as well. I bought these 2 at a bazaar today:

Staying Cool in Kuwait

I brought my own nativity set from Nebraska. I guess it's about time to put it and my little glass Christmas tree out. I actually have an artificial tree for my classroom (left by a former teacher), too.

Thankful

In an effort to end on a more positive note. This. A picture I snagged from my aunt, of yesterday's amazing Nebraskan sunset.

I know this view well. Breathtaking.

And this. From the only book, not in the bible, I have read 4 times. 

That would be Ann Voskamp's, One Thousand Gifts. Love it. Obviously.

Can you ID the logos of common stores in America, in Arabic?

How good are you at recognizing the logos of typical stores in America? Do you think you could ID the logos of common stores in America, in Arabic?

Okay. I'll give you one practice round. This isn't a common store in America, but you can see how it keeps a similar font and design while incorporating the right to left spelling and Arabic script. 

It's Tim Horton's, a Canadian donut chain. 

*Sorry I only took pictures of the Arabic writing though they usually have it written in English and Arabic(like the above picture I just took off the Internet).

Alright. Ready, Set, Go!

1. 

2.

3.

4.

Having fun yet?

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10. 

*BONUS

If you get this next one you are very shopping savvy.

Answers:The Athlete's Foot, Payless, Justice, Nautralizer, Ikea, IHOP, H&M, Build a Bear, Clarks(that one was hard, but once you know), Caribou and (the BONUS) Claire's.

Are you a Family or a Bachelor?

Movies in Kuwait
I went and saw the new Hunger Games movie this week.  I was expecting movies to be released later in Kuwait than in Nebraska, but it was out earlier.  I went to a 5:30 pm showing on the 20th. The theater was not full.  I don't know if it was censored, but I've been told it is better to go to the earlier showings because movies get more censored the longer they play.  I did notice that when I went to see The Giver a kiss was cut out.  

I went online the night before to buy my Mockingjay tickets.  I had to enter if I was a family or a bachelor.  This made me hesitate since I am neither.  My hunch was confirmed, I am a family.  Single men have their own section.  It's unfortunate for them that it is in the too close, up front, section.

My hunch was based on this sign I had noticed at a small park in my neighborhood.  No single men are allowed to enter the park.

Parent Teacher Conferences
I survived Parent Teacher conferences.  In fact they were good.  I hadn't met some of my students' parents and it was a nice break from the normal routine.  The classroom was much quieter than a typical Thursday.

I also received lots of quality chocolate. I don't mind that at all.  

That is my new rug, under the Godiva.

A Dust Storm Hit our Room
One day this week, after we lined up for Arabic class, I called a child over to the other side of the room with me and asked, "Does it look like a tornado hit our room, to you?" "Yes." he replied nodding. "Like a dust storm hit our room." Of course that does make more sense here. Cute.

Walking

Another picture from the Marina mall trail.

Office Max in Kuwait?
I thought this logo looked very similar to Office Max's store front. It is actually a Dollar General type store.

Down Time
I think being a teacher is getting a bit easier because I actually read an entire book this week and had enough energy to cook.

Stuffed peppers, it's been too long.

This about sums up the excitement of my weekend.  But then again, I wasn't looking for excitement. 

Speechless

The time has come. I don't have anything to say. I could tell you about the operatic Verdi Requiem I went to where I almost dozed off in the second row, since it started at my usual bedtime. And how I sat right behind the Danish ambassador. But as much as I know it was good quality, I still don't care for opera, so I can't gush about it. It was pretty cool to see the symphony up close like that though.

I could go on about how I'm really into this Iranian chicken at the moment. How that and my falafel pita sandwiches are just amazing. 

How I spent a lazy Saturday on the beach, reading in the sun. 

How as I write this, I am here and this is happening (I'm actually too lazy today to post the video but the fountain is synchronized to music.)

How I did find a beautiful place to walk that is 40 minutes one way. Now that is actually noteworthy. 

But none of it feels too exciting and all I really do is work, talk about work, think about work and dream about work.

Until next week. Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.

Spending Time in Kuwait

Walking.

I'm still searching for places I feel comfortable to walk. I took a nice-ish walk from our neighborhood this week. If you take one of the walkway across the highway, you come to a nicer neighborhood with a walking path. I'm not sure how far it goes because it was getting dark the day we ventured over (so we headed back right away).We also went to the corniche (walking path) near the city center gulf road and it was ah-mazing. The weather is great right now. There was such a variety of people we blended right in.  The moon was full and low that day, as well. The unfortunate thing is it is a 10 dollar taxi ride from my home. The worst and the best.

Being a teacher sure has its ups and downs. Love the kids but... my patience fails to withstand their testing at times. I have finished my report cards. They were a lot. Of. Work. 

Carpet shopping in the Old Market.

Our night of new experiences at the Mubarakiyah souk(market) was kicked off with Egyptian fare.

After eating, we went shopping for an Iranian/ Afghan carpet. I went with a friend who was in the market for a rug. She purchased one for a third of what she would have in America. It is made of lamb neck wool (there is probably a more elegant way to say that) and took around 4 months to make. And it's gorgeous. 

A typical taxi in Kuwait.

The money exchange place.  All out in the open(behind glass) and no guards.

Later, we returned home by bus.  It was my first experience on a public bus in Kuwait.  The front is for women.  We were the only women on the bus so some men got up and gave us their seats. It was comfortable and very inexpensive.

Down time, you are missed.

One week of relative down time (Ha. I mourn for my down time.  I haven't seen any for weeks) before parent teacher conference craziness.  But, not too much longer before Christmas break in Budapest and Prague. 

Where will I go for spring break?

I'm in the middle of planning my Spring Break trip now. Hopefully I'll have some details to share soon.

Just Another Week in Kuwait

Walking.

This week's, on foot, exploration led me to this camel. We found him just 15 minutes from the apartments.

We discovered a fairly clean, decent length of walkable beach.  No taxi fare needed, but it did require the crossing of some highly trafficked roads. Another find was a cheap Lebanese restaurant on the route.

Coffee Confusion. 

On a typical 3 am morning, I opened up a new package of coffee and was greeted by a wretched aroma.  I had mistakenly bought coffee infused with cardamon. "No!" I've seen this option at the store and thought sometime I'd like to try it, but I was repelled by the surprising stink.  The odor was so offensive I had to toss it in the large garbage bin outside of my apartment. "No cardamom in my coffee, thank you."

After school, I went to demonstrate my coffee competence at the local super bakala (convenience store). After a much closer examination of labels, I gave my dinar to the shopkeeper. 

The following morning, I opened up to this strange sight. 

Who would have ever guessed you could purchase coffee mixed with partially hydrogenated coffee creamer. "Gross!" But I drank it. Better bad coffee than no coffee, unless it has cardamom in it.

Arab Fund Building.

We took a bus to the Arab Fund building today.

Typical bus in Kuwait. Just like the one I ride to and from school in.

This is where some of the important financial decisions for the region are made. I had coffee with our guide Osama. 

By I had coffee with, I mean he happened to sit down at our table. :)

He was fundamental in the building of this immaculate, beautiful structure. He showed me a photo of himself with President Carter. President Bush(senior) has had dinner at the center, too.

Love how they do that to the trunks.

Arabic Course.

There is only 1 more class left in the Primer Arabic course. It has went by very quickly. I am using some Language apps to practice. Memrize is a favorite.

The visuals they use help my remember the letter names. 

I've been taught how to write, identify, and pronounce all the Arabic letters. I've also been taught several common phrases and the numbers from 1-10. Now to learn it all. Our taxi driver is letting us practice with him. I'm planning to spend some time with the Primer course stuff before I continue on to the Beginners level. 

B-day in Kuwait.

I had a very full B-day in Kuwait. Emails, wall posts, gifts, videos and phone calls galore.