The moon was spotted and Ramadan is over. Eid Al-Fitr begins now and there is no school tomorrow! You should have seen us teachers when we got the phone calls! Teachers were running up and down the stairs shouting, "No school! No school!" It feels like a snow day, which just doesn't compute in my mind. HAHA.
So what will I do with my extra day off? I think I'll rearrange my bedroom and put up all my photographs. Nothing will be open tomorrow as the first day of Eid for families to spend together, much like American Thanksgiving or Christmas. So going out is not an option. I may go up to school to go swimming. Friends are throwing their annual "I Survived September" party in the evening and I'll definitely go to that. I will also spend some time with friends during the day, friends I hardly get to see with our respective amounts of work.
A 6-day weekend. Who woulda thunk?!!
Monday, September 29, 2008
School Tomorrow??
So I'm sitting at home, waiting for a phone call to see if we have school tomorrow. You see, the Eid Al-Fitr holiday is supposed to start on Wednesday. BUT, if the moon is spotted tonight then the holiday will start a day earlier and there will be no school tomorrow. Can you imagine what all students and teachers are praying for right now?? :-) Yep, Moon, show yourself!
Regardless of when the holiday starts, we will have holidays through Sunday and will return to school on Monday. That means a 4-day work week for next week. Wahoo!
Come on, phone, ringgggggg!!!!!!!!!
Regardless of when the holiday starts, we will have holidays through Sunday and will return to school on Monday. That means a 4-day work week for next week. Wahoo!
Come on, phone, ringgggggg!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Let's Go Surfing, Now!
WAHOO!!!!! High-speed internet has finally arrived and I'm in surfing heaven! Because it is so expensive here, several of us are splitting the cost of one ADSL hookup. This picture tells the story of my neighgor and I trying to get all of our computers authenticated in the wireless router. How many laptops are there?
Six. Now for the real scary part: 4 of them are mine! Yikes!! Gotta get off to school now so I'll blog more later. :-)
Six. Now for the real scary part: 4 of them are mine! Yikes!! Gotta get off to school now so I'll blog more later. :-)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Catching Up
Wow, how has a whole week passed so quickly?? Well, I have some forced downtime (stomach flu, ick!) and I'm able to pick up my neighbor's wireless signal so let's catch up!
The dinner last week was really fun. We went to a place called the Diplomatic Club for the Iftar dinner. But it wasn't the Iftar, instead it was the late meal, which is the main meal, sometimes called the midnight meal. An Iftar is the meal that actually breaks the fast at sundown.
The meal was fabulous with hummus, shish kebab, meat sambukeak, grilled houmilli cheese, labneh with garlic, falefal, fried cheese, mixed grill, and tons more. The table was overflowing with so much food that we couldn't even eat. I guess I was expecting a little more exotic fair but these 'normal' dishes are so wonderful that I didn't mind.
We had a reservation for 8:30, apparently way early for this culture. We were in fact the first customers in the place, which was a make-shift tent. Other people didn't start showing up until well after 9. And our food didn't come to the table until after 10.
The best part of the evening was just hanging out with my new friends, all teachers at the school. All of us live in the same building and so, theoretically, we should see each other all the time. But we don't. As well, we don't always see each other at school because it is soooooo big and we are in different buildings. So it was great getting to know each other. I didn't bring my camera so I'm limited for photos. These two were taken by Jocelyn. Thanks, Jocelyn!!
The next day a friend needed to be taken to the hospital so I got to experience the emergency room at the private hospital Al-Alhi. I was glad to see how well-equipped it was and the staff took very good care of my friend. In just a little while she was no longer in pain. :-)
On Sunday, the first day of my work week, I went to Q-Tel (Qatar Telecommunications) and applied for high-speed internet. WAHOO!!!!! This was the highlight of the week. It will be installed this Sunday and I can't wait! I'll be able to have the internet on all the time and my Skype phone number (a Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) will be active.
My Intro to Programming students turned in their second games this week and we all had lots of fun playing. One game is called "The Principal" and has our high school principal shooting detentions at students. LOL. The other classes are going along fine.
The only downer of the week was getting sick at school yesterday. I got home by 3pm and spent the rest of the night being sick and sleeping. This morning I feel much better but still not fully right. Oh well, life happens. And stomach bugs are going 'round the school right now so I'm not too surprised. Another day or two and I'll be fine. :-)
More later, friends!!
The meal was fabulous with hummus, shish kebab, meat sambukeak, grilled houmilli cheese, labneh with garlic, falefal, fried cheese, mixed grill, and tons more. The table was overflowing with so much food that we couldn't even eat. I guess I was expecting a little more exotic fair but these 'normal' dishes are so wonderful that I didn't mind.
We had a reservation for 8:30, apparently way early for this culture. We were in fact the first customers in the place, which was a make-shift tent. Other people didn't start showing up until well after 9. And our food didn't come to the table until after 10.
The best part of the evening was just hanging out with my new friends, all teachers at the school. All of us live in the same building and so, theoretically, we should see each other all the time. But we don't. As well, we don't always see each other at school because it is soooooo big and we are in different buildings. So it was great getting to know each other. I didn't bring my camera so I'm limited for photos. These two were taken by Jocelyn. Thanks, Jocelyn!!
The next day a friend needed to be taken to the hospital so I got to experience the emergency room at the private hospital Al-Alhi. I was glad to see how well-equipped it was and the staff took very good care of my friend. In just a little while she was no longer in pain. :-)
On Sunday, the first day of my work week, I went to Q-Tel (Qatar Telecommunications) and applied for high-speed internet. WAHOO!!!!! This was the highlight of the week. It will be installed this Sunday and I can't wait! I'll be able to have the internet on all the time and my Skype phone number (a Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) will be active.
My Intro to Programming students turned in their second games this week and we all had lots of fun playing. One game is called "The Principal" and has our high school principal shooting detentions at students. LOL. The other classes are going along fine.
The only downer of the week was getting sick at school yesterday. I got home by 3pm and spent the rest of the night being sick and sleeping. This morning I feel much better but still not fully right. Oh well, life happens. And stomach bugs are going 'round the school right now so I'm not too surprised. Another day or two and I'll be fine. :-)
More later, friends!!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Excitement!
First, I am going to an Iftar dinner tonight with a group of teachers. An Iftar is when the fast is broken during Ramadan and it is supposedly quite a to-do. This will be my first one and I'm thrilled to experience it.
Second, I can finally request high-speed internet for my apartment!!!!! I had to wait until the phone line was transferred into my name and that was completed yesterday. So we looked up the hours of Q-Tel, the telecommunications firm here, and their Ramadan hours are from 8am to 1:30pm (I'm in school then) and 8pm to midnight. Unbelievable! After dinner I'll go and request the high-speed and maybe, just maybe, I might actually have it hooked up by this time next week. I do realize I'm being very optimistic, but I must or else I just might cry...
Anyway, here's to a great weekend!
Second, I can finally request high-speed internet for my apartment!!!!! I had to wait until the phone line was transferred into my name and that was completed yesterday. So we looked up the hours of Q-Tel, the telecommunications firm here, and their Ramadan hours are from 8am to 1:30pm (I'm in school then) and 8pm to midnight. Unbelievable! After dinner I'll go and request the high-speed and maybe, just maybe, I might actually have it hooked up by this time next week. I do realize I'm being very optimistic, but I must or else I just might cry...
Anyway, here's to a great weekend!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Al-Ahli Hospital
I needed to get back into physiotherapy for my back now that I'm settled here in Doha. Most doctors work out of a hospital instead of private practice so last night I went to see the orthopedist at Al-Ahli Hospital, the newest and most western-style hospital in the city. Hospitals in the US, take a lesson. The waiting areas were filled with comfortable couches and chairs. While you wait, a lovely lady comes around and asks if you would like anything to drink: tea, juice, water. I tried to get some grading done while I waited but things happened so quickly that I didn't really have time to get much done. I went for an x-ray in the same building and then returned to the doctor to have him read the x-ray and prescribe physiotherapy. He also prescribed some medicine that I could get right at the hospital pharmacy which happens to be the cheapest place to get medicines. What a difference!
Saloons in Doha
I was driving home from work the other day and got stuck in a bit of traffic. As I was mindlessly looking around I noticed a business called, "Barber Saloon." Now, I thought that was an odd name for a barber shop (the guy's face with shaving cream made me certain). Oh well, it's probably just a typo, very common in every country I've lived in. As I inched my up the street, I saw another shop with a similar name and then another. At one point there were 4 'saloons' right next to each other all offering a shave and a hair cut. So it must not be a typo but a salon here is for females and a saloon is for males. Go figure.
Nearly 5 weeks here now and I still don't have high-speed internet at home. I am having severe withdrawal symptoms and frequently find myself typing and surfing at speeds that dial-up just can't handle. I know I need patience but I need it NOW!
Yesterday in my Introduction to Programming class, a student said to me that he has never been so excited to come to school as he is now that he is working on building a video game in Scratch. I just had to smile because I am experiencing the same kind of excitement about my job. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MATH, but teaching computer programming has opened my world to all kinds of fun. Watching my students create and program gives me a sense that I'm really playing a part in preparing them for the 21st century, the tech generation.
I am sooooooooooooooooo glad I made the switch to technology.
Nearly 5 weeks here now and I still don't have high-speed internet at home. I am having severe withdrawal symptoms and frequently find myself typing and surfing at speeds that dial-up just can't handle. I know I need patience but I need it NOW!
Yesterday in my Introduction to Programming class, a student said to me that he has never been so excited to come to school as he is now that he is working on building a video game in Scratch. I just had to smile because I am experiencing the same kind of excitement about my job. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MATH, but teaching computer programming has opened my world to all kinds of fun. Watching my students create and program gives me a sense that I'm really playing a part in preparing them for the 21st century, the tech generation.
I am sooooooooooooooooo glad I made the switch to technology.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
So much going on....
First and foremost, I received my residency permit today. Wahoo!!! That means that I can request high-speed internet maybe as early as tomorrow. Who knows how long it will actually take to get it working... For now, I still have dial-up which is so caveman. It takes about a minute for a page with no major graphics to show up and longer for pages with lots of pictures or videos. As for watching videos of any kind, no dice. I try to stay at work late so I can do essential internet things. I will post more regularly when I have better internet at home. Promise!
School is going really well. Open house is tomorrow night so I'm just a bit nervous (always am at a new school). My Algebra II course is reviewing basic Algebra I skills, three weeks into the semester. My Robotics course has students making their robots move, turn in circles, do point turns, back up, park, say things and use the display. Now they are working on a project to combine everything in one program and make the robots follow an obstacle course. The Intro to Programming students have just finished their first video game in Scratch and really enjoyed making them. One game is titled: The Caveman and the Search for the Golden Toilet. Gotta love student creativity!! LOL!
The AP Comp Sci students finally have the JDK installed properly on their home computers so now they can actually program for homework. They like the course and we started with 'objects early'! They are learning the differences between classes, objects and methods already and will be able to do a lot quickly. I'm excited for tomorrow's class because I get to show them the API and their Java world will expand exponentially.
On the home front, I bought some bookcases and spent part of the weekend building them. Now my books have a home that's not a cardboard box or the floor. I also found some nice lamps for the living room but I'm still looking for something for the bedroom. My DVD player that has been in storage for the last year is working perfectly and I am soooooo thankful! Cable is up and running and my favorite channels are there: Hallmark and TCM.
Socially, I'm not doing too much right now because I'm working so much. I've found a few people in my building that I enjoy spending time with and can't wait to have more time for them. I've been attending a church here and am looking forward to when Bible studies begin.
Well, gonna go for now. It's nearly 8pm and I would like to see my home for bit today. :-)
Miss you all!!!!!!!
School is going really well. Open house is tomorrow night so I'm just a bit nervous (always am at a new school). My Algebra II course is reviewing basic Algebra I skills, three weeks into the semester. My Robotics course has students making their robots move, turn in circles, do point turns, back up, park, say things and use the display. Now they are working on a project to combine everything in one program and make the robots follow an obstacle course. The Intro to Programming students have just finished their first video game in Scratch and really enjoyed making them. One game is titled: The Caveman and the Search for the Golden Toilet. Gotta love student creativity!! LOL!
The AP Comp Sci students finally have the JDK installed properly on their home computers so now they can actually program for homework. They like the course and we started with 'objects early'! They are learning the differences between classes, objects and methods already and will be able to do a lot quickly. I'm excited for tomorrow's class because I get to show them the API and their Java world will expand exponentially.
On the home front, I bought some bookcases and spent part of the weekend building them. Now my books have a home that's not a cardboard box or the floor. I also found some nice lamps for the living room but I'm still looking for something for the bedroom. My DVD player that has been in storage for the last year is working perfectly and I am soooooo thankful! Cable is up and running and my favorite channels are there: Hallmark and TCM.
Socially, I'm not doing too much right now because I'm working so much. I've found a few people in my building that I enjoy spending time with and can't wait to have more time for them. I've been attending a church here and am looking forward to when Bible studies begin.
Well, gonna go for now. It's nearly 8pm and I would like to see my home for bit today. :-)
Miss you all!!!!!!!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Oil
So I was in the grocery store and turned down the aisle that had cooking oil. I happened to look up at the sign for the aisle and it read, "Edible Oil."
I love being overseas!
I love being overseas!
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