Adjusting.. and how we're really doing..

Well, we've been here just under 10 days (that was before I got Perry the parasite..  this post has been on hold for a while - it's more like just under three weeks now).  Boxes are unpacked and the place is downright organized!  Aside from one box of wall hangings (we have to have housing hang them for us - not allowed to do it on our own) and one box of P's dress-ups that I haven't gotten a rack for (this is done now), we are no longer in "unpack and get settled" mode.  I do have to organize my storage (home school supplies) closet, but that is a project for another day (did it today!)... 

Before.

After.

I've been getting a lot of questions from people who want to know how we are all adjusting to life.  I was thinking about this question today as I finished unpacking and organizing the load of books we brought and I came up with a few categories to discuss... 

Sometimes.. we just sleep without notice.  Silly jet lag.

Sleep - Sleep is a big deal...  It's a big deal without kids, but with kids it is a really really big deal.  They have to sleep so you can sleep so you can all function.  The first several nights were rough for everyone.  A huge time difference, flying through a night, and then arriving here at night really threw us for a loop as far as sleep.  I'm happy to report though that we have turned the sleep corner.  Everyone is sleeping at the appropriate times and although the sun comes up before 6 am and sets around 6pm (every day of the year), the kids are sleeping until 7or 8am.  I'm sleeping SO much better than before we left the States, which I can only attribute to the decrease in my stress level.  A has always had an easy time sleeping and he only took two nights to adjust to the time change!

Sites and Sounds - There are a lot of different things to see and hear in a new country.  Living in a desert, middle eastern country provides new sensory experiences frequently.  Tan...  Everything is tan.  Buildings, sand, the sky.. It all seems tan.  At night though, the buildings are all lit up and it is quite a site to see.  The kids notice things often like the different clothing worn by locals; M: "Mommy.. why is that guy wearing a cape?"  Me:  "It's a thobe.. that's what men who are from here wear."  M:  "Oh, ok.."  They just accept things and go on, I wish adults were like that.  I know they have noticed women who are completely covered, but haven't asked yet.  I try to let them approach me, so as to not put thoughts into their heads about "differences."  There's also the call to prayer 5 times a day.  We can hear it (thought not loudly) and though I notice it, it doesn't really register (I think my mind has gone back to Morocco where I was used to it.).  One of the kids asked about it and we explained what it was, now every time they hear it, P will tell M, "You hear that?  It's the call to prayer."  And they keep on playing...

Weather - We live in a desert..  It's hot.  Yes, really hot.  No, it's not a "dry heat" at the moment, and despite my original feelings - it doesn't make a difference.  105 degrees (give or take a few) is just hot.  I'm a Midwestern girl, which means I am used to mild summers (sometimes over 100, but rarely), lovely fall days with crispy leaves, winters with snow (yes a lot), and wet cool springs...  No, I don't love the heat right now.  It means we don't really go out during the day.  It is tough on the kids as they are very used to being outside a lot, but they are adjusting ok.  I've had to adjust to a lot more noise and play inside (somersaulting off couches, swinging from two chairs, riding bikes in the hallway of our apartment...).  We go to malls (a national pass time) to play and there are lots of play groups, we're still learning our way around though.  Mostly, we get the kids out either for bikes, swimming, parks etc. after dark each night when the temperature dips into the mid 90s.  The compound that we live in has a GREAT pool area with both a pool for young children and one for older kids/adults.  The water is always warm, but it's still refreshing.  A bonus... no towel needed to dry off after swimming (gotta be positive).  We are told (and are counting on) that "winters" are amazing.  Weather is perfect (70s/80s) for several months before the scorching heat returns. 

Food - This was a concern of mine..  As many of you know, both P and M are picky little people.  They love fruits and veggies, but they are kids, and as such, have definite ideas about what they eat.  We also have the whole gluten free (for A) to work into the mix.  I've been happily surprised at how well everyone has adjusted.  There is a HUGE variety of products available at various stores here, so one can find almost anything (at a price)...  I started right away with incorporating new snacks and foods and they've (P and M) been really good.  They've loved the kabobs at the clubhouse grill (walking distance) and have also found eating at American fast food chains a surprising treat.  Gluten free items are available at our local grocery, but I haven't found GF bread yet. A friend found it at a larger store, but it was almost $10 for 12 slices!!! Yikes..  Not sure A will be eating too much PBJ in Doha.

People - This is one that has me floored...  P and M are not exactly the socialist butterflies around new people.  They LOVE their friends, but tend to take quite a while to warm up.  Here I've noticed the complete opposite.  They have wandered around A's school cafeteria (during family orientation times) tapping people on the shoulder and initiating conversations! A and I have been pleasantly shocked many times.  Both kids had to stay in the school's child watch for 1/2 day while we took a driving test, and while they were reluctant to stay, they LOVED it...  So much so, that they often want to go back and play with Ms. A...  She's a child whisperer..  We've met GREAT people here so far and are very very happy at the friendships that are developing.  Community really makes or breaks international living (in my opinion) and this is a good one.

The kids helping organize our space.  We love IKEA!

Living Space - Aside from not having my familiar people and the heat, this is my biggest adjustment so far...  I should start out by saying that our apartment is very nice and very amply sized, but I'm used to much more space for the kids and am working on adjusting to life in a 2-bedroom apartment vs a 4-bedroom house (with full basement, large den, and fenced yard).  There's constantly coloring items on the dining room table, which is in the joint LR/DR area.  The living room is used as a play area most of the day, so I'm stepping over random pillow and book piles or trying to avoid legos under foot.  A and I gave the kids the master BR, so the room is very large for two small children, but they prefer to play in the family area...  I find myself picking up all the time, just to restore order, but am trying to relax and do a couple of "quick pick ups" a day.  I want the kids to feel free to play (since outside play isn't possible) and still teach them to pick up after themselves.  It's an adjustment for me.. not sure that anyone else is really bothered by it, but it will take me some time.  The kids are also adjusting VERY well to sharing a room.  They actually seem to enjoy it a lot, especially at bedtime.  Sleeping hasn't been an issue, they pretty much chatter a bit and then go off to sleep.

They made a reading circle.

The living room turned play area..  Just breathe. 

Being without friends/family/familiarity- There's no doubt that this is the area of most adjustment for me.  Being without family and friends is very difficult, though it is made easier via the Internet (if only we could get our wi-fi working properly...).  It would be nice to have a cup of tea with A or a play date with E and C or spend the weekend with C, R, and M...  but I'm taking each day as it comes and trying hard to engage with all of these great new friends.  P and M are doing really well also, they are at a good age for this transition I feel.  They play games where one of them is a friend/family from the States and they are playing or visiting, they talk sweetly about friends/family and how they can't wait to see them soon..., but they are little and make friends quickly and so they are doing well.  At times, out of the blue, one of them will say... "Is ______ awake right now?" or "What time is it where _______ is?"  It's sweet and a bit sad at the same time.  It's hard to drive around and have very few things look familiar, I don't know the stores in the malls, the children's play places have yet to be discovered... but I remind myself that what is foreign will become familiar if I give it time and effort. 


Well.. that was longer than I had anticipated so I'll stop there.  If you have any specific questions about our adjustment to life here, please ask, I'm happy to answer!

My first trip to the clinic...

So, I feel pretty crummy.  I've felt pretty crummy for several days now.  I'll spare you the awesome symptoms and let it suffice to say that it isn't pretty.  A decided today was enough and "put his food down.."  with my "waiting it out."  He decided we should made the short trek over to the Health Clinic.  I was not a happy camper about the whole thing, mainly because I just really dislike going to the doctor. 

Long story short... doctor says... intestinal parasite..  joy. 

If you want to read up on the little darlings...  feel free to check them out here.

I'm choosing to believe I have a protozoa... 

Hoping that 5 days of flagyl won't be too rough on my system and that I can start eating more than crackers and pretzels soon. 

I'll spare you any pictures on this one :0)

Fail... I'm sure it won't be the last time.

Our ipad has stopped charging...  The cord seems to get bent when it's plugged in and I think that's where the problem lies.  In any case, we needed a replacement cord as we use the ipad a lot.  We bought a GPS this past weekend (a good one, the same brand we had in the States) and I was confident that we could get there, shop, eat, play and get home.  The kids and I were excited to have an adventure together and we were pumped to get out during the day (we mainly stay in because of the heat)...

We got ready, I cooled the car, and we were off.  The GPS located the mall and the directions weren't too hard.  Driving here doesn't scare me after living in Morocco and driving there.  We got started and were having no problems; on the highway, off the highway, and then...  Pippie, the GPS quit..  Just black screen...  I was at a major roundabout and had NO idea where to go.  Luckily it was busy, so I called A thinking someone there could help me... no answer (they are in trainings).  I took a chance and turned right.  Somehow I managed to get onto another highway and took the first exit to the right again...  I have NO directional sense here yet and very little in the way of landmarks to go on.  I pulled off at a printing company and called A over and over until he answered. 

He was next to one of the principals who has been here for years.  I'd like to say he knew exactly where I was, but alas... no.  I decided to start driving again, to see if I could get on a main road or something the guy would recognize...  The kids were silent the entire time and I could tell they were nervous, but I couldn't stop what I was doing to reassure them...  I was being hyper vigilant for police because it's illegal to be on a cell phone (...really what other choice did I have???).  Finally, I found a street he recognized, which took me to a street that I recognized!  Landmarks!  YES!!  P actually saw one of the big landmarks and exclaimed, "MOM, LOOK I SEE THE TREE PLACE!!"  We all breathed a sigh of relief as we rounded the final roundabout, passed the fire station, and drove down our familiar street.

So, what do you do when you've just had a pretty intense time of stress?  We did what anyone would do... Stopped at our familiar Lulu's grocery and stocked up on yummies!  Came home and ate dessert first!  (That's honestly the first time I've ever let them do it, and they were pumped!)

When A gets home, we are going to figure out how to get to the mall, get the stuff we headed out for (ipad cord, printer, food processor, mixer...), and I'm driving...  All roads can lead you home, but I've gotta figure out how to make it there and back for my own peace of mind..

Relieved to be home and ready to eat their treats!

The princesses had to join us.

Mommy's peach treat.

Grocery getting...

Some of the groceries.

It's nice to have a few familiar brands.

See that?  Right there...  Blue bag..  COFFEE - NOT instant!

Some necessary baking items for muffins and pancakes. 

We have a store within walking distance (well... when it's this hot, nothing is really walking distance, but after dark it's not too terrible) called LuLu's.  It caters to the ex-pats that live in our compound and there are A LOT of American goods... a lot...  They are VERY pricey, but it's nice to have some familiar items, especially for the kids.  We've been doing our grocery shopping there since we arrived, but today, we went to Carrefour, which is much bigger and still has a great selection.  I decided to take a few pictures (that wasn't everything, just what fit in the picture), so you could see some of what we see.  The kids were so excited to see the Oreos (and I was so excited that they were on promotion).  I was also super happy to find syrup!  P and M don't eat eggs, toast, or the like, so without syrup, it's been cereal...  Which is fine normally, but here (their familiar brands) it costs like $7 a box!  I've dealt with it this week, but now that we have flour, sugar, and syrup...  breakfast will venture beyond cereal. 

It's also fun for A and I to have some familiar things that we remembered from our years in Morocco.  Dannette puddings, brown eggs (yes, I know they have them in the States too...), Ariel laundry soap (Tide was cheaper today though), and nutella (yes - we had this in the States, but I was introduced to it by my good friend S in Morocco)... 

Sites downtown...

We took a little trip downtown today to the City Center Mall.  It's 5 stories high with an ice rink on the bottom level.  We ate lunch (M ate BK, P had Pizza Hut, A and I ventured out a bit.  Mine was good Asian food, A had some not so great Middle Eastern BBQ..), bought a bike pump, and went grocery shopping at Carrefour (bought A's hair clippers and a new GPS).  I took a bunch of pictures on the way there and back and a few in the mall.  I'm not going to caption them all, because I have no idea what is in each one.  Some things I noticed while looking around; most buildings are a sand color (or metal..), there's construction everywhere (literally... a crane on the top of almost every building - how do they get them down??), and I'm glad we decided to live at EC vs downtown. 
It's nice, but not very kid friendly...

Loved this one because of the color!

Some really cool architecture.

It's nice to see green spaces, though I have NO idea how they keep it green. 

Those little tent looking things are covered parking.  You don't want your car baking in direct 115 degree sun.

I found two stores that sell TONS of cake decorating stuff!!  I was in cake heaven!!

I got a muffin and mini-muffin pan and the kids got to choose the papers (big stuff for them).

Um.. yes, I'll be back.

Ice rink at the bottom and the different levels.

Two cuties at the mall.

Doha.. under construction.

Taxis are blue..

The street to our compound.  That bridge is where we walk to go to the pool etc..

Just inside the compound, park straight ahead.

Things you can't replace..

While unpacking the rest of the boxes today, I was super excited to get into the box with these two pieces of pottery.  They were with me in Morocco (where I got them), Oregon, Texas, and Indiana.  I really really love these two pieces... a lot.  You can imagine how my heart sank when I pulled out the blue one...  The pottery is so thick and they were packed so well, but alas, it's broken into more pieces than I can fix.  Things are really not very important to me.  We just sold almost everything we owned, shipped and sent the rest across the world, and then replaced most of it at IKEA in two trips.  However, there are those things that become so important because they remind you of a place and time that is so meaningful.  Things that with just a glance can take you back to the very place you bought them, the smells you smelled, and the very vendor that sold them to you for, "a very good price..."  I'm thankful that it is the only thing that broke.  I'm thankful that the shipment made it.  I'm sad that this piece is off any future packing lists.. 

On our way back from the store today, one of my bottles of cleaner leaked all over the back of our SUV...  As A carried the bag inside, it brushed up against my (at the moment) favorite floor-length black dress...  It now has some awful reddish stains all over one side.  I can't replace it, but at least it wasn't the other piece of pottery.. 

A tiny visitor..

We walked back from an evening swim and this guy greeted us in our hallway.  He was pretty adorable, but I must admit, I was happy when A escorted him back outside... 







Here are some fun facts about this little guy and his fellow geckos:

• There are thought to be over 2,000 different species of gecko found around the world
• Geckos can range in size from just a few centimeters to more than 50 cm in length.
• The feet of the gecko are covered in tiny hairs that stick to surfaces like sucker pads.
• Geckos are carnivorous reptiles so the diet of the gecko is based on meat from other animals.
• Most species of geckos are nocturnal.  They have a lens in each iris that enlarges in darkness, making their eyes over 350 times more sensitive to light than ours.
• You will not find a gecko in possession of eyelids.  They have a transparent membrane instead.  To keep the membrane clean, geckos lick them often.
• If they are defending themselves, most gecko species can lose their tails.
• When a gecko sheds its tail, many will return later to see if it is still there. If it is then they will eat it. This is because the gecko uses part of its tail to store nutrients so that it can get through lean times when food is scarce.
• Unlike many species, the gecko thrives around humans. In warm regions of the world the arrival of gecko in to the home is greeted as a sign of good luck as they can help rid the house of unwelcome insects – they love a bit of mosquito for supper.
• Not sure if we considered it good luck, but the kids enjoyed checking it out!