New year's Eve for Scott and I was pretty quiet. We started the day off by driving to see one of Bahrain's national treasures, the Tree of Life. The tree is a several hundred-year-old tree growing in the middle of the desert 
with no know
n water source. The tree
itself is grand & quite beautiful. We were thoroughly disappointed with the amount of trash scattered around the tree. There are so many street sweepers throughout the city keeping the streets very clean, yet at a major tourist sight, there is trash everywhere. Finding the tree was a challenge in itself. We knew the general area of where it was. It was about a 40-minute drive. We came upon signs letting us know we were heading in the right direction. Everything was fine. Then, we realized we had gone too far. We didn't think we missed a sign where we should have turned off. So, we turned around & headed back. Still no signs. Then, in the distance I saw what looked like a tree. We headed that way and drove on an unpaved, very un-even & bumpy road & found it! What's the point of the signs if when you approach the area of the tree itself, they don't let you know where to turn? We have been asking so many "why" questions since we arrived. We're finding it's better to just not ask. It all works out in the end.
with no know
n water source. The tree
itself is grand & quite beautiful. We were thoroughly disappointed with the amount of trash scattered around the tree. There are so many street sweepers throughout the city keeping the streets very clean, yet at a major tourist sight, there is trash everywhere. Finding the tree was a challenge in itself. We knew the general area of where it was. It was about a 40-minute drive. We came upon signs letting us know we were heading in the right direction. Everything was fine. Then, we realized we had gone too far. We didn't think we missed a sign where we should have turned off. So, we turned around & headed back. Still no signs. Then, in the distance I saw what looked like a tree. We headed that way and drove on an unpaved, very un-even & bumpy road & found it! What's the point of the signs if when you approach the area of the tree itself, they don't let you know where to turn? We have been asking so many "why" questions since we arrived. We're finding it's better to just not ask. It all works out in the end.As we headed home, we stopped for gas. It's always full service here. You just drive up & tell the guy how much gas you'd like. There's two types of gas, regular or "muntaz" which is what we would consider supreme. So, the guy comes up to our window. Scott says, "Fill it up, please." The guy asks, "muntaz?" and Scott responded, "Si." We both find ourselves speaking Spanish to the locals here. It's pretty funny! As we were driving out I noticed these buckets hanging along the wall. They are water
buckets used to put out a gas fire. I find it hard to believe these will do anything. It was funny, so I of course took a picture. After the gas station, we headed to the car wash. We felt a little ripped off by our housemaid. We found out he was charging us double what others are paying. So, we heard there was an actual car wash and figured we'd give it a shot. After that experience, we decided that we don't care what Kasim charges us. It's worth it to not have to get involved in the chaos of a Bahraini car wash. The car wash itself, was located in the center of what looked like about a dozen car repair shops. There were people & car parts all over the place. Some guy was trying to sell windshield wipers to the guy ahead of us. Most people looked like they were Bin Laden's friends. I was not comfortable there at all. We totally stick out as foreigners. Like I said, it was our first & last time there! It's a drive through wash but instead of machines washing the car, three men do it. They do a good job, but like everything else here, it's at a slooooooower pace. As we were driving out of the wash, we saw one of the guys who dry the car picking his nose. I, of course, told Scott that I hoped that guy wouldn't be drying our car. Of course he was the guy who dried our car! I've noticed that it is perfectly socially acceptable here for people to pick their nose in public. I've seen it many, many times. As my students in Memphis would say, That's nasty!
buckets used to put out a gas fire. I find it hard to believe these will do anything. It was funny, so I of course took a picture. After the gas station, we headed to the car wash. We felt a little ripped off by our housemaid. We found out he was charging us double what others are paying. So, we heard there was an actual car wash and figured we'd give it a shot. After that experience, we decided that we don't care what Kasim charges us. It's worth it to not have to get involved in the chaos of a Bahraini car wash. The car wash itself, was located in the center of what looked like about a dozen car repair shops. There were people & car parts all over the place. Some guy was trying to sell windshield wipers to the guy ahead of us. Most people looked like they were Bin Laden's friends. I was not comfortable there at all. We totally stick out as foreigners. Like I said, it was our first & last time there! It's a drive through wash but instead of machines washing the car, three men do it. They do a good job, but like everything else here, it's at a slooooooower pace. As we were driving out of the wash, we saw one of the guys who dry the car picking his nose. I, of course, told Scott that I hoped that guy wouldn't be drying our car. Of course he was the guy who dried our car! I've noticed that it is perfectly socially acceptable here for people to pick their nose in public. I've seen it many, many times. As my students in Memphis would say, That's nasty!We finally made it home after our adventures. We took Benny boy for a nice long walk. He was pretty upset with us for leaving him home alone for most of the day. For dinner, we ordered some really yummy Indian food. We watched an episode of Glee & were asleep by 10:00pm! What an exciting New Year's Eve, huh? We were up at 5:30am New Year's Day. We pretty much hung out at home all day and prepared for our wii competition. We love our wii. I just read a Yahoo article on the 50 most important creations since 2000. The wii was like number 40-something. I think it should have been in the top 10. Scott and I are both competitive. Unfortunately, when it comes to sports Scott has the upper hand. I still lead him in the balance ball & this penguin popping game. I also beat him once in golf & once in darts. It's still fun eventhough I'm always losing. What I should do is practice while he's at work, get really good at something & then challenge him to a game. I would LOVE to beat him in something!
As we were driving around, we actually got stuck in traffic. Bad traffic. I haven't had to deal with any traffic in almost 3-years. It has been so nice!!!!! Anyhow, we were just sitting in traffic for almost an hour. 
To keep busy, I did one of my favorite activities, people watching. What I noticed was that about half the cars had the seats covered in plastic. Once I saw someone's sun visor covered in plastic. It was so odd to me. So, at the car wash, the car next to us, was actually covered in plastic. Again, I had to get a picture. I'm glad I always carry my camera on me. How else can I share this madness with you? Now, this guy had the emergency brake also covered in plastic. How do they enjoy their cars, especially in the heat, if plastic is stuck to them? Maybe one day I'll ask someone, "why?"
To keep busy, I did one of my favorite activities, people watching. What I noticed was that about half the cars had the seats covered in plastic. Once I saw someone's sun visor covered in plastic. It was so odd to me. So, at the car wash, the car next to us, was actually covered in plastic. Again, I had to get a picture. I'm glad I always carry my camera on me. How else can I share this madness with you? Now, this guy had the emergency brake also covered in plastic. How do they enjoy their cars, especially in the heat, if plastic is stuck to them? Maybe one day I'll ask someone, "why?"I was excited to find a favorite place of mine to eat, Le Pain Quotidien, at one of the malls. We headed out there today to get a few things & to have lunch. It was so good. It's pretty much the same type of menu as in LA but they had some local favorites as well. We, of course ordered only the local stuff. Scott had this amazing grilled halumi cheese sandwich. Halumi is the most popular cheese here. It's on the salty side for me. I had...really I should say that I shared with Scott, a zaatar croissant, and I also ordered a bowl of lentil lemon soup. Zaatar is a type of spice, I guess you would say. You mix it with olive oil & spread it on breads or use it as a dip. I grew-up on the stuff. Scott now loves it. The soup is a traditional Lebanese soup. If you're a lemon lover like me, you'd love this soup! I will attempt making it in the very near future. I'm also excited because I found some yams imported from Egypt at the grocery store. I love yams, especially the Egyptian yams.
They're nostalgic to me.
They're nostalgic to me. 
This coming week should be another quiet one. I'm working on my resumee. As it turns out my credential is not very helpful here job-wise. Mine is a specialist credential and most school jobs want a regualr teaching credential. So, we will see what job if any I can get. I'd like to work just to keep busy & to have extra spending money. The malls are amazing & it kills me to window shop. I NEED to be inside the stores!
I hope you all have a great week. See you next time!
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