Top 10...

The kids and I have just under a month before we fly back to the States for three months.  I've been taking some time to think through the past 9 months.  The kids and I made books for them to show family and friends when they are asked the inevitable question:  So.. what's Qatar like?  Making the book with them got me thinking, so I decided to start my thinking/processing with my top 10 list for our first year in Qatar. They aren't really in order, except #1 really is #1..

I feel like I need a drum roll...

10.  Traveling..  I know it sounds weird to say that one of my top ten for living in Qatar is traveling outside of Qatar.  I'll explain.  Living here, we are in a great position geographically to travel to a lot of different places.  Sri Lanka, UAE, Romania, Turkey, Spain, Zambia, Vietnam, and Thailand are just a few places friends experienced over Spring Break.  It's affordable and easy.  Since we love new places, it makes the top ten.

Family shot UAE

Family shot in Morocco.

9.  Lot 2..  We live in a compound that is perfect for our family.  There are always people out and about and since we're on the first level, people stop by frequently (sometimes just at my kitchen window to chat or get a snack.. love that).  The compound is gated and safe, which is so nice.  There are many parks within the compound where the kids play and meet friends, a clubhouse with pool and restaurant are a short walk, the clubhouse shows movies several evenings a week, and there are activities organized often.  It's really ideal for us and has helped our family make a good transition to life here, which is why it makes the top 10.

8.  Conveniences..  Living overseas can be difficult for a wide variety of reasons.  One is that it can seem very inconvenient compared to the person's home country.  While living in Qatar is very different, we have found many conveniences..  Familiar restaurants and stores, grocery items, common language, ease in buying and servicing vehicles, technology, and IKEA!! (I know I mentioned stores, but IKEA goes in its own category!)  to name just a few...  For our first "home" overseas with a family, convenience has been GREAT, so it makes the top ten.

7.  Jarir Bookstore..  One of our favorite things to do in the States was to spend a chunk of a day at a bookstore.  The kids and I (and A when he wasn't at work) would look for any reason to head to Half Price Books.  We've wanted to instill a love for reading and learning in the kids and books are a great way to do that.  I was concerned when we moved that we wouldn't have a bookstore, so I used a large portion of our shipping on kids' books..  I was VERY pleasantly surprised to find Jarir Bookstore only a few kilometers away!  They have a decent kids' section complete with the 'bargain book' display.  As both kids have gotten into reading books more independently during this school year, we have frequented Jarir.  I love the look on their faces when I tell them we're going to the bookstore, so it makes the top ten.

My first trip to Jarir..  I was thrilled!  M was not thrilled to wait while I took this picture.  

6.  Beaches and other outside spaces..  When we got here it was WAY too hot to be outside during the day.  It was a huge change to keep the kids inside all day.  They begged to go out, but just a step out and we'd go right back in.  It took until mid-November before it was decently comfortable outside and we could begin exploring a bit more.  We've enjoyed several parks, including Aspire park, which is a favorite with the small people.  It's so lovely to let them take off their shoes and run in green grass and sit in the shade of a tree!  We've also loved spending time on a few of the many beaches in Qatar.  We've definitely enjoyed getting outside very often these passed few months, so it makes the top ten.

Cool festival at a local beach.  Love the contrast with the city in the background.

5.  Kunafah and lemon-mint ice..  Yum..  A's favorite thing here is a dessert called kunafah. It's crazy good..  It's a cheese pastry soaked in sugar-based syrup.  Just yum.. The lemon-mint ice is like lemonade with mint in a blender with ice.  M and I love them..  Yummy things definitely make the top ten.

Kunafah..

M enjoying my lemon-mint ice..

4.  Ease in communication with family and friends..  I know I mentioned technology in #8, but this one gets its very own spot on the top ten.  Being able to communicate with loved ones is essential to living internationally (for us).  Skype, Facetime, Facebook, this blog, e-mail etc...  such an incredible gift.  It isn't the same as being there.. but it helps so much.  P has been able to have regular (well as regular as we can) skype dates with her best friend in IN, we've been able to "see" nieces and nephews grow, chat with our realtor (friend) about the sale of our house, and make countless phone calls using Skype, so it makes the top ten.  

3.  Chances to learn and grow.. Learning and growing isn't always easy.  In fact, at times, it can be really tough.  Living here has helped us all to learn and grow a lot.  At times, it has seemed like life back in the States was "easier..." but, we didn't leave everything we knew and move overseas for easy.  We've learned to navigate a new city, driving and all!  I had to leave the kids (and A) for the first time to travel back to the States for my Aunt's funeral.  We bought a car!  We've been stretched and stretched as parents to learn and grow and adapt to what our children need.  We're striving to achieve a good balance between family and time with others.  Learning and growing.. learning and growing.. it makes the top ten.

Here they are having tea at a camel herders house.

These two little loves have had so many new experiences..

2.  The ability to save and pay off debt..  A and I decided before we had kids that I would be home with them for the first years of their lives.  It's been an incredible gift.  It's also made finances tough at times.  We've had a goal for a long time to be financially responsible and secure, but life in the States made that goal really tough.  Living here has allowed us to progress in this very important area.  The fact that we are almost debt free is AWESOME, so it makes the top ten.

1.  Our community of friends..  People make the place, and this is no exception.  When you live in an international community (of expats), tight bonds are forged quickly.  People become your friends, but also your family away from family.  The community here is amazing and has truly made this transition so much easier.  People stop in just to say hey, and we regularly have friends come for dinner or invite us over.  Spending so much time together really allows us to support one another in the transition to international life.. I lost my Aunt in November and though we'd only been here a few short months, I felt an amazing outpouring of support.  Then again early in the new year, another of my Aunts passed away very unexpectedly.  A and I decided that I needed to travel back to the States for the funeral.  In one day, arrangements were made and I was gone for six days.  I'd never left the kids before (even for a night) and I was totally confident that the community here was supporting both A and the kids.  They didn't have to worry about food, friends helped out with childcare, and upon my arrival back there were plenty of friends to help me with my grief.  That kind of support is invaluable, and it tops the top ten.

Living internationally is amazing.. it's life changing.  If you ever have the chance, jump on it!