The Best Christmas Cookies Ever

Today was finally the day that I made the best Christmas cookies ever - Peanut Butter Blossoms. I think you can click on the title of this blog posting and you will be lead to the actual Hershey's recipe.


My mom has made these cookies ever since I can remember. And while I was raised on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which I took to school every day even through high school, I have never quite tired of eating these peanut butter heavy cookies. The best part is they are topped off with a Hershey's kiss!

Fire Hazard Bars

About three weeks ago in our compound some workers started welding metal bars onto the first floor apartment windows. I was surprised and could not understand why this was happening with no notice, no explanation, and absolutely no form of communication from anyone in charge - university housing, compound maintenance/security manager, nor the compound owner. We later found out that these bars are to make our housing more secure and eliminate theft.

To ask that bars not be put on our windows I did two things: I sent one emails to the appropriate people, who said they would forward my concerns to others. I sent one email that was very well thought out and respectful to the university housing director and carbon copied a few people. He never replied. In fact, he told our university housing liaison that he does not check his email. Next, I tried calling the housing director. I dialed five of the numbers that I had for the man and finally reached him. I told him our concern and he said it was not a university housing problem, but rather the compound owner's problem. This was the beginning of finger pointing for me. The university housing director then told me that he was having a meeting with said compound owner the very next day and would tell him about our concerns, asking me again for my apartment number and my name, and in the end telling me that he would call me back. He did not. I sent him another email, as it was the weekend again. Just to complicate things a bit more ... the university housing director is only in his office on Sunday and Wednesday, so I will be paying him a visit on Sunday.

When I think of bars like these on windows I think of two things: death traps and crime ridden inner cities. Besides the obvious degradation of our compound, the installation of bars on our windows because of crime makes little sense for these reasons:

1. We live in a gated compound.

2. We actually do have a security team (The quality of their skills and motivation to actually perform their jobs is arguable).

3. The alleged break-in that happened last year occurred via the kitchen window, over which they have not installed bars (yet)

4. The alleged break-in that happened last year was made possible because there were no locks on the kitchen window (My husband and I have installed secure locks on all our windows.)

5. The workers have only installed bars on the first floor apartments, and not the villas which do have floor windows. (Are they 100% immune to the threat of theft?)

6. Making our apartments fire traps does not combat the real issue of why one (group of) individual(s) committed the crime of robbery in the first place.

The crazy thing is that some people in our compound actually want the bars on our windows. Again, these are bars that have no way of opening and therefore limit entrance and exits of the home to one - the front door. Apparently, in the Arab world (and other places) bars that promise security are more important than the possibility of death from a fire. I simply do not understand it.

In fact, my husband went to the compound maintenance/security manager to ask that our apartment be left with no bars. The manager said if there was a fire we should just go out the front door. Again, I simply do not understand some people's thinking.

Many English instructors say that critical thinking skills are lacking here in the Arab world, but I am beginning to wonder if common sense is also lacking.

Needless to say, if the workers, who are simply following orders from their bosses, put bars on our windows I will request a second floor apartment (hey at least we could jump to our death onto the pavement below), or try to find other accommodation nearby.

UPDATE...After a petition, some meetings, another email, another telephone call, and a written letter stating I did not want bars on our windows, we have succeeded!...(for now) in avoiding the installation of bars on our windows. I will keep the signs up on our windows throughout the next few months just so the workers do not get any ideas though. Whew!

Camel Racing & Mini-Robotic Jockeys

We had the best time at the camel races. A co-teacher texted several of us to go watch some camel racing a couple of weekends ago. I was not sure what to expect, but had been told by my former Saudi Arabian students in the US that (and I quote), "because of the US and other countries we now use robot jockeys instead of small children on the camels." Wow! I thought this was hilarious and was about to see it with my own eyes!

We arrived two hours early, but had a great time anyway. We watched the various handlers ride their camels into the racing area and took many photos of real camels like tourists. (We even took our Christmas card photo with some camels!)

When the race started we all went to the track. The track setup was one of the unique things about this sport. Unlike other track sports, the audience/fans actually follow the race which made it very exciting! The track was made up of three lanes and was 3km long. The inner lane was for our shuttle bus and camel owners in their SUVs, the fenced middle lane was for the camels, and the outer lane was for more camel owners and their SUVs.

Camels were lined up and waiting in what looked like heats for a swimming meet. The handlers pull their camels up to the starting line. There is a tarp in front of the camels that covers their sight. Once the tarpt is removed, the handlers let go of their leashes and the race is on! All the SUVs are equipted with radios and remotes for the mechanical jockeys. Some jockeys not only whip their camels, but also yell out comands to the camels. An announcer over a radio station was also yelling out commentary. We all kept hearing "Al Thani" over and over, which is the last name of the ruling family here.

We saw only two heats, but had a blast. I hope we go again this winter.

I have tried twice to upload a video, but it did not work. I will try again later.

And Then We Got A Cat...

After a few weeks here in Doha, Qatar, my husband and I started talking about getting our first cat. I had a cat of my own for 17 years and he had his own cat for several years as well. We first decided to "rescue" a cat rather than pay a ridiculous amount of money for one of the pure bred cats at Souq Waqif.

The cat hunt was on! We went to the store to gather supplies. We had to be ready in case we got lucky and brought a stray home one night. In the car we also were prepared. We stashed a baggie of Whiska's kitten chow and a nice towel to wrap up the little kitty.

One night we decided "This is it!" and drove along The Corniche where many kitties hang out. We saw three cats that night, but none wanted to be held or taken from The Corniche. Next, we decided to stay local, so we looked around our compound. Sure enough we found cats that were wandering around. One cat in particular had us thinking he was our new cat, but we were wrong. After M tried to coax, and finally attempted to wrangle him, we gave up. That cat was just too wild to give up his street ways.

One of my co-workers had told me about a cute, approachable kitten that he and his wife had seen along The Corniche. He asked if we wanted the kitten. I finally told him after many failed attempts at cat kidnapping cat rescuing that we would definitely take her if they caught her. Well, according to him there was no trickery needed. This little cat just walked right up to them and that was it. She was soon in their cat carrier and riding along with them in their car. So, there we were with our little kitty about to arrive at our house!

The cat storks arrived shortly after and I just fell in love with her. She is white with some black and orange spots, with huge ears, and a tiny little face. She was (and continues to be) very that active for that first meeting.

After we got her checked out at the vet we found out she had ringworm, diarrhea, and worms, and that she was malnourished. Since then we have eradicated all those problems and she has gained quite a bit of weight.

After a few nameless days we finally decided on the name Sophia. She is so cute that the name just fit. She is doing so well that we are now looking for a little brother or sister. We hope to name a boy kitten Francis or Frankie, but have not thought of a girl kitty name.

Enjoy the photos!

Settling In...

It has been a several weeks and yet here we are both waiting for two more boxes. I was happy to get my first set of boxes just when US Postal said they would arrive - a week after I mailed them a day or two before my departure. I mailed 10 boxes all together. Priority International was the only option for Qatar. I got five boxes the week after I arrived. A few weeks later I got four boxes. Now, I'm still waiting for the last box. This box better come because it has a new set of pots and pans it it! I guess on a positive note my mentor told me that she has never not received a package, that they always arrive eventually.

I love getting packages and mostly ones from home. Buying things online and getting a package still leaves the possibility for disappointment. Maybe those jeans will not fit. Or maybe the shoes are not as comfortable as they looked online. However, packing all your worldly possessions into boxes and getting them days, weeks, months later is like Christmas. I ripped into all the nine boxes and cannot wait to get the last one. After we get M's last box and mine I think we will feel a stronger sense of "settled" more.

Unpacking was fun, but seeing a few broken plates and bowls was a sad affair. I even left them shattered in their cardboard protectors for a couple of weeks wondering what I might do with them. Nothing came to mind so I finally threw them in the trash.
Our soft, billowy, cuddly down comforter has been banned to the rug on our bedroom floor. It is just too hot still to use it. I look sadly at it every night tossed to the floor. (I am missing fall weather now!) I keep hearing other teachers say that we might want to buy small space heaters. All I can think of is M and I sitting on the sofa wrapped in our beloved down comforter. Space heaters be damned!

We are now starting to look for a vehicle. We are almost at the end of a two-month lease on the Honda Jazz. The Jazz has been good to us, but it is just too small and does not have enough "vroooooom" to get around the race track roundabouts in Qatar.

M just fixed our oven tonight. Baking will be our next big thrill. In the two months that I have been here the oven has never properly worked. I put in a work request, but apparently the "electrician" merely changed the fuse and actually disabled the wires to the baking elements. Well, if you do not connect those precious wires then how the heck is putting a new fuse going to help it bake? Nuts. However, all is well. We will be baking like mad the rest of the this week I am sure.

Until next time,
WW and WW's husband

Doha Arrival

Now, I've been in Doha, Qatar for eleven days. The first few days were a little rough because many of us new teachers were left to our own devices - in a city with no real public transportation and such hot weather than no one in their right mind would venture out, and also perhaps more frustrating without internet or phone service. I am now happily renting a small Honda Jazz (google it, they do not sell it in US), bumming WIFI off the housing complex's Club House.

Here is the beginning of my time in Doha, Qatar:

Luckily the flight was arranged by the school well in advance. In addition, the flight was a direct connection to Doha via Houston, Texas. Qatar Airways is a very nice airline and I look forward to flying on it again. My arrival was fairly uneventful. Even though I reached Doha at at about 9:30pm at night, the heat hit me as soon as the airplane door opened. I was in the desert! I looked all around and saw many shades of the only color I would see for a long time - beige. The airport was simple and quickly became crowded with all the passengers from my flight. The school must have arranged what happened next.

A person from Qatar Airlines found me as soon as I left entered the airport, took my passport and visa, and directed me to a private waiting room. There, I waited with my carry-on luggage and several other passengers, who all looked to be expats (expatriates - foreigners working and living abroad). The room was well equiped with plush furniture, bottled water, and books about Qatar. After about ten minutes the same person came to get me. She then took me to the arrival area to meet my driver. Following us was a man from Qatar Airways who had already found my luggage and was wheeling it behind us. The woman then asked me if I had someone picking me up. I told her that the school should have already sent a driver, but she insisted on calling the contact to ensure that I did not have to wait. Apparently, my flight was about one hour early, so in the end I had to wait about forty minutes for the driver.

The driver was from India and tried his best to make pleasant conversation, but I was really tired and could not understand him very well. It was late at night by the time we started driving to the housing compound. When we arrived at the compound, a man was waiting inside the Club House to sign me and give me the keys to my new "home."

When someone uses the word "compound" I immediately think of either ridiculously rich family homes like "The Kennedy Compound" or where most Americans live while in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - a mini-America with extremely high security. However, here in Qatar most apartments and villas (two story townhouses) are also inside what is called a "compound" or "complex". These complexes are surrounded by high walls, a security watchperson, and a gated entrance. Our complex also has a maintenance staff, a fitness center and small pool at the Club House, covered parking, and a small store. I have not walked around too much inside the complex (or at all for that matter - it is hot), but there seems to be at least two long streets running the length of the area, with the Club House and small park in between those two streets. Besides those two longer streets, there are several blocks of apartments as well. Along the perimeter of the complex are the villas. These "villas" are usually reserved for teachers with families. I have not been inside a villa yet, so I cannot describe them. Honestly though, these apartments are plenty big for just a single person or person soon-to-be happily married without children. In each apartment unit there are two floors and each floor has four apartments. Therefore, there are basically eight teachers per apartment unit. Each apartment shares only one wall with a neighbor, has three bedrooms, two and a half baths, and all furniture and major appliances. There are also some nicer touches like tile floors, airconditioning units in every room, area rugs, table lamps, heavy drapes, and granite counter tops in the kitchen. Yes, there are some problems with the housing. While most of the furniture seems to be brand new, the style of furniture in the living room is not my style. In fact, if we stay here for a long time then I might talk my soon-to-be husband into getting a new sofa set and storing these hideous things in one of the spare bedrooms. The drapes are also very...tacky and feel dirty. A more serious concern is the electricity. I have already called the maintenance staff to replace two fuses. In addition, my neighbor told me that she was nearly electrocuted (more than once!) trying to use the dishwasher and almost caught herself fire while using the stove. I am handwashing all my dishes because I do not generate a lot of dirty dishes and really do not want to be electrocuted. Also, the general construction seems to be very much like South Korea's construction - built way too quickly with little quality control and therefore all around shoddy.

All in all the housing is not too bad. Nothing is cheaper than free!

Until next time!

Qatar Saluqi Dogs

These past few weeks I've been looking high and low for information online about Qatar. I prefer first-hand information, or blog-style writing as opposed to governmental/tourism/slick marketing hoopla. My search so far hasn't lead to any solid information that I wanted.

That being said, I've found a number of blogs about American expats in Doha, but most chronicle the daily lives of young American couples and their newborn babies. While the babies are cute, those blogs look more to be a way to keep in touch with the grandparents back home, rather than explain and share information about Qatar. The blogs do not offer an informative look at Qatar history, government/politics, or traditional/modern culture. On a side note, these American expat blogs lead me to believe that there is a large amount of expats from Houston, Texas. Yea! In fact, they there is such a growing relationship between Houston and Doha that there will soon be more direct flights provided by Qatar Airways.....

Having found very little online information, I finally went to the local university library and searched for actual books on "Qatar," but also found little. Here's what I did find: four books, two published in 1973 and the other two published in the 1990s and one in 2007 on trade (boring). One book, titled "Bedouins of Qatar" by Klaus Ferdinand is a pictorial of traditional Bedouin life in Qatar. Many of the photos were taken from the 1950s by the Danish photographer Jette Bang. I know that life has changed rapidly for the majority of Qatari people since then, but I always like to know the history of a people before I visit (move) there. After all, certain things like traditional values do not change quickly, if ever.

After spending three years in Korea, where the majority of locals treat animals (some eating dogs and cats) quite differently than the way most western people do, I was very relieved to see many photos in the book of Bedouins caring for and living side by side with saluqi dogs perhaps the origin of the Southern Illinois mascots The Salukis. After seeing the connection that the locals had with their dogs, I felt even better about moving to the region. It is my belief that if a culture treats their (domesticated) animals with simple kindness, rather than cruelty, then they are inherently good people.

I will try and post more about Qatar background facts soon. I seem to have sidetracked on the dogs! They are beautiful though, aren't they?

Recommended Reading

I love going and seeing culture in a different country. Almost more than that I love researching and studying about that country before the trip or move abroad. I find each country's culture and history fascinating - especially when I know I am on the verge of seeing it with my own eyes soon!

To prepare for my time in The Gulf I bought Margaret K. Nydell's book Understanding Arabs A Guide of Modern Times. I absolutely love it! There are many facts and personal stories that give me an idea of how my life might be in Qatar. Like some formerly very traditional countries that did not have much global interaction, these days The Gulf is facing a challenge of how to maintain their traditional culture in a globally influenced environment. To better understand The Gulf as it is today, Nydell cites many statistics about life there not too long ago. Here are some of the more shocking statistics:

Life Expectancy 1955 versus 2005 ("Statistics and Indicators on Men and Women," U.N. Statistics Division, Demographic, 2005, http://wwww.unstats.un.org/)

Morocco = 43 versus 69
Egypt = 42 versus 69
Kuwait = 55 versus 77
Saudi Arabia = 34 versus 73

After reading about those statistics, I began to wonder about other countries. On the CDC website we can see that the US had quite different data.

1950 = 68.2
2005 = 77.8

Nydell also cites information about regional women's modern participation in politics. I was surprised to see that many countries reserve a percentage of Parliament seats specifically for women only. Here is more information about that:

Arab Women in Government in 2004 (Julia Choucair, "Women in Parliament in the Arab World," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2004 http://wwww.ceip.org/)

Algeria = 5 ministers, 52 Parliament
Bahrain = 1 minister, 6 Parliament
Egypt = 2 ministers, 23 Parliament
Iraq = 6 ministers, 86 Parliament
Jordan = 3 ministers, 13 Parliament
Kuwait = 0, 0
Lebanon = 2 ministers, 3 Parliament
Libya = 0, 0
Morocco = 2 ministers, 38 Parliament
Oman = 1 minister, 10 Parliament
Qatar = 1 minister
Saudi Arabia = 0, 0
Syria = 2 ministers, 30 Parliament
Tunisia = 1 minister, 21 Parliament
UAE = 0, 0
Yemen = 1 minister, 4 Parliament

I guess we all have preconceived notions of women in The Gulf and The Middle East. That is why I assumed (incorrectly) that the women simply did not participate in much outside the home. We can see from this information that not only do they participate in politics, but they are guaranteed participation in some countries. Nydell points this out, "Algeria, for example, reserves a minimum of 20 percent of its parliamentary seats for women; the Iraq interim government reserves 25 percent, Morocco, 10 percent, and Tunisia, 20 percent." (Nydell 2006)

Nydell also retells many situations where there was a cultural clash between western foreigners and locals in The Gulf. I already experienced first hand that traditional cultural norms do not always apply to foreigners. For all that I tried to hurriedly learn about Korean culture before I moved there in 2006, I did not realize that there would be another subculture for me as a foreigner. I do however, vividly remember my co-worker and friend, who'd spent 2 years in Korea, telling me "You will not be seen as a woman, but just a foreigner in Korea." That statement could not have been truer for me in Korea and I wonder if the same will be true in Qatar.

Until next time!

The Big "To Do" List

I have a big "to do list" because I'll be moving to the other side of the world in less than three months. I accepted my new position teaching in Qatar in April, but I will not start teaching until September. I should be leaving for Qatar at the end of August, but until then I'll teach a summer session and get ready.

I like to research, prepare, and study before a big move, which is why I was thrilled that the school set me up with a mentor. I like my mentor because I always get answers to specific questions that I have asked her in emails. My mentor is also great because she has already taught in Qatar for four years. This means something very important: She liked it so much that she renewed her three year contract!

I asked my mentor in what was probably my sixteenth email the other day, "What is something that you did not bring with you, but that you wish you had brought with you to Qatar?" She almost immediately replied after polling her friends and came back with this list in no particular order:

1. Contact solution (I do not wear contact lenses, so this is not for me.)


2. Nice kitchenware - I am not sure if I'll buy it there or pack from here. - Dishes have been bought, so now the hunt is on for good pots and pans.


3. Vonage device - I am not sure I will need this. Skype is free and worked fine in Korea.
   
4. GPS - I have one for running, but this must be for a vehicle.


5. Grammar and other supplemental books - I have some and will ship some of them. I was allowed to scavenge through my current employer's library and found some keepers!


6. Personal reading books - I will ship some of these.


7. Comfortable shoes - I will buy some more of these and pack to bring with me.


8. Light cardigans - I will buy more of these and pack to bring with me.


9. Nice sunglasses - I have a crappy pair that I've worn for at least five years, but I'll buy a backup


10. Shower curtains, liners, and rings - I'll buy and pack these - done


11. Two sets of king size sheets - I'll definitely buy and pack these because I am a bedding snob. I love at least 500 thread count sheets.
    

Besides the ever growing shopping list, I've got a few other things to do as well.

1. Have about 20 passport photos made - I'll need these once I arrive for various things


2. Send photocopies of my MA diploma - done


3. Send photocopies of my passport - done


4. Get a "Certificate of Good Conduct" from the police - done


5. Get an International Driver's Permit - done


6. Apply for a visa - the school is working on this right now


7. Meet with my financial advisor - new job -> new salary -> new budget -> new savings plan


8. Train like it is my life so when I go to Doha I'll be 100% hooked on running again and not lose it while working in the desert (This is my #1 fear of working in The Gulf.) - in process

One of my biggest worries about moving to The Gulf is that I'll quit running. In Korea I ran a lot after finding a super running club called Seoul Flyers. We often planned our spring and fall running season based on what part of Korea we wanted to visit. I ran in Seoul dozes of times, Jeju Island, Chuncheon, Paju - near the DMZ, Cherwon - near the DMZ, Taean Beach, and even Disney Land in Hong Kong on a weekend trip. It was great fun. We'd all register for races, take the train, stay in cheap little hotels, and make a weekend out of it. It was runner's paradise!

I know The Gulf is HOT, but I also ran in Vietnam and Cambodia during the summer months while training for fall marathons. Southeast Asia has the hottest weather I've ever experienced. I remember in Vietnam waking up, going outside for a nice breakfast in the shade and sweating, sweating, sweating. It was a wet heat. It was humid all the time. The Gulf should be different - a dry heat I think, but if not I'll be prepared.

In my endless research on The Gulf I've already spent weeks scouring the Internet for an established running club. Yes, a couple of chapters of The Hash House Harriers did come up, but I've never been interested in their clubs. The United Arab Emirates has a couple of well established clubs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, so I was really hoping to find a good club in Doha. After all, they did host the 2006 Asian Games.

My mentor came to my rescue again. She gave me the email of a friend who "runs everyday." I was ecstatic! I emailed him and found out that he and some other men run about 5-10km each day. The friend, S., said he is hoping for a 16 minute 5K. That is a lot faster than me! I gathered from the emails that the group of men are not marathoners, but rather shorter distance runners who run consistantly. Consistancy is what I need most, so I will definitely join them for runs. They mostly run outside on The Corniche and the track at The Aspire Dome. My main goal is to meet with those guys for weekly runs, and later register for The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon. The date for that is Friday, January 22, 2010. I think I can do it!

Until next time,

WW