So Much to See

This time last year, I was feeling sorry for myself. I was going to miss my first Christmas ever with my entire family. Fortunately, there was a lot for us to do here and we spent Christmas with good friends. This year, we are preparing to travel back home to spend time with Scott's family in Colorado and my family in Los Angeles. Most of you know that I hate to fly. I get anxious and nervous. But, I just do it. What's my other option? Staying home.....I don't think so. So, off we go. We shipped most gifts ahead of time, so theoretically we should be traveling fairly light. However, going to these two different locations requires two separate wardrobes. I'll be in the snow for one week and sunshine the next week. I ordered a new pair of boots on November 2nd. It's exactly one month later and no boots yet! We leave in 10-days, so I may be slipping and sliding all over Colorado again this visit. I swear, sometimes I think Scott's family thinks I'm nuts! I can't help it. I grew-up wearing flip-flops 300 days a year. It would be unusual for me not to fall. It's just something we know will eventually happen.

Scott's been in Virginia all week at a conference. We decided to board Benny since I wouldn't be able to run him every morning and come home at lunch to let him out everyday like Scott does. Life has been very quiet around here.........and pretty boring. I miss them both. Thank God for Skype, so that Scott & I could make contact everyday. He was all smiles and looked really good in Virginia. I tease him that although he says he hates going so far away, deep down he loves it. The guy has gone back to the states 4 times in 14-months. It's like he gets a boost every time he goes back. I can't wait for my boost! I need it at this point.

I called to check on Benny the morning after we dropped him off. I called only because last time he was at the kennel he ended up in the hospital with emergency surgery. The report was mixed. He wasn't injured which was a relief, but he apparently caused some commotion with the other big dogs and they had to put him with the medium dogs. I didn't ask any questions. I don't want to know. I theorize that it must have involved his obsession...........tennis balls. We always put a few in his bag, but I know that he has a hard time sharing. I keep praying that the lady who runs the facility doesn't kick him out. I try to make my phone calls and interactions with her as quick as possible so that she doesn't have the opportunity to kick him out. He's the best dog & everybody who meets him loves him. He never growls or bites and is just a BIG teddy bear, BUT he is as hyper as they come and like I said before, he is obsessed with tennis balls. It can all be too much sometimes. But we love the guy.

Before Scott left, we went on a few fun excursions. The USS Abraham Lincoln was in port here for a week. Scott was able to get us a VIP tour of the ship. Along with Scott and I, our friend, Ralph, a fellow Seabee joined us and our friend, Jimmy, a Marine joined us as well. It was amazing. It was my first time on board an air craft carrier. We were greeted and treated so well form the first moment. One F18 pilot gave us a tour of the fighter jets and answered any and all questions we had. I was able to sit in the Captain's chair which is a special privilege not given to all people. It was a very comfortable chair and you could see everything from up there. Touring the USS Abraham Lincoln will stay with me forever. You can't help but be proud of our country when you see one of these in real life and meet its crew.

We also went to Dilmon Pottery. Pottery is one of the oldest traditions in Bahrain. Aside from pearls it is one of their economic traditions. It was a bit overwhelming. Everything looked beautiful. It was hard for me to narrow down my choices. I was able to see the man working in the studio which was a big room with clay pots all over the place. The craftsman was sitting on the ground spinning a piece of pottery. It was great to see. I can only imagine how hot he and the other workers must be in the summer time. One of the men I spoke with explained to me that they are all brothers and/or cousins. This pottery shop has been a family tradition for generations.

At school last week, I had parent-teacher conferences on Thanksgiving day. No holiday for me or the other teachers. All meetings went well. I had one parent come in and tell me that she didn't speak any English. I told her I spoke Arabic but not perfectly. Somehow we both survived. I definitely used my hands a lot and code switched all over the place. She spoke the Jordanian dialect of Arabic. It was tough for me, yet it wasn't. I don't know how else to explain it. I am so grateful that my parents and grandmother spoke to my sisters and I in Arabic growing-up. I can't imagine this experience without knowing the language. It has been amazing. Scott and I spent Thanksgiving evening on base. We signed up to volunteer again this year and then ate dinner. It was very nicely done again this year.

Saturday was our school carnival. This was my first one here. I started working last year in January, so I missed the carnival last year. What an experience! First of all, all teachers are required to work four hours........without pay. California teachers unions would never have allowed this to happen! Anyhow, I was given the 1-5pm shift. I wanted the 9am-1pm shift but no one would switch with me. The afternoon before the carnival a fellow 3rd grade teacher called to ask if I wanted to switch with her. She wanted the afternoon shift. I switched, of course. So we had to be there before 9am. We were there. We stood around until 10:45 doing nothing. As if anyone in the middle east would wake-up early enough to come to a carnival at 9am. No way! They go to sleep at like 4am. So, at about 10:45 we were told to go up to the auditorium to monitor the kids who were going to watch the juggling act and magic show. I'd say about 50 people showed up. The parents or nannies sat with their kids. We were not even needed. We sat in the back and laughed as the juggler kept dropping his balls and the magician did lame tricks. The kids liked it though, so I guess that's all that matters.

This carnival was like one I've never seen before. There were no rides aside from a motorized bike that pulled around two small train cars. There was also a jumper. I've been to birthday parties with more for kids to do. So, I soon realized what the carnival was all about. It was a chance for people to show off their designer clothes, shoes, and handbags. It was also a time to see who could wear more make-up. The funnest activity by far was the people watching. I went to the ladies room at one point. I could barely get in because of all the girls making themselves up. They wouldn't move away from the sinks so I could wash my hands. I had to push my way in there. In addition to all the fancy clothes it was nice to see many students come in their traditional clothes as well. Experiences, experiences, experiences!

There will be no post until January most likely. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah as well as the best 2011!