Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Let it Rain!
You can't imagine how excited I was to wake up to the sound of thunder and the trickling of rain to my window yesterday. Though it had all dried up by the time we made it outside, it has cooled the weather considerably. It is now ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL here. (For at least a few months anyhow.) This would be a great time to visit...
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Just say "YES"
I wanted to write about this because it stood out in my mind as a turning point in our stay. The days had gotten quite long and the weather was still hot. Ethan and I had not yet been out of our apartment on our own. Avery returns home from school with a handwritten invitation "cordially inviting me to breakfast with the other mums" the following morning. It was from a mother I had met at the birthday party the day before. At first I thought, "How could I possibly get this together by tomorrow." For starters, I was still wearing my maternity shirts and was only a week out of my first horrific haircut experience. I wasn't exactly feeling social. Plus Ethan and I had grown accustomed to sleeping in on school days. Could we really get anywhere in this traffic on time for breakfast? I was seriously doubting that it would work out.
In order to accept the invitation, I had to make sure that Ethan and I would have a way to get there and back. It wasn't as easy as it sounds. Leaving in a Taxi would not only be very expensive, but also really unpredictable in this traffic. Many Taxi's in Sharjah won't even take you to Dubai in rush hour and vice versa. What if I couldn't make it back to meet Avery's bus? Three phone calls, and some networking later...I was able to arrange to have Jason drop us off at Avery's school (about an hour drive from our house) then another "mum" met us there and gave us a ride to the villa in Mirdif (about 20 minutes away). Then I would ride with a different mum back to the school and then share a bus ride home with Avery and ANOTHER mum that lived in the corniche as well. So our plan seemed fool-proof, the next step was to feel confident enough to actually go...alone.
Sitting here thinking about anticipating the party, I am giggling to myself. Here I was picturing the Stepford wives, all perfect in their high heels and party dresses. I could see them laughing at my WalMart shirt and flip-flops and of course, my really, really bad hair. You can only imagine how suprised I was to find a room full of caring, knowledgable, and exuberant women from all over the world...all with very similar experiences to my own. There was even another baby just a few weeks newer than Ethan.
I can't explain how good it felt to hear these women talk about their experiences as if were speaking of my own. It wasn't just a big "complain-fest," they really opened up to me and answered my questions, gave me advice, and listened to my concerns. It felt so good to laugh about our experiences together, the good and the really bad. I have never been in a place where I have felt so understood. It was an invitation that I am so glad that I accepted.
In order to accept the invitation, I had to make sure that Ethan and I would have a way to get there and back. It wasn't as easy as it sounds. Leaving in a Taxi would not only be very expensive, but also really unpredictable in this traffic. Many Taxi's in Sharjah won't even take you to Dubai in rush hour and vice versa. What if I couldn't make it back to meet Avery's bus? Three phone calls, and some networking later...I was able to arrange to have Jason drop us off at Avery's school (about an hour drive from our house) then another "mum" met us there and gave us a ride to the villa in Mirdif (about 20 minutes away). Then I would ride with a different mum back to the school and then share a bus ride home with Avery and ANOTHER mum that lived in the corniche as well. So our plan seemed fool-proof, the next step was to feel confident enough to actually go...alone.
Sitting here thinking about anticipating the party, I am giggling to myself. Here I was picturing the Stepford wives, all perfect in their high heels and party dresses. I could see them laughing at my WalMart shirt and flip-flops and of course, my really, really bad hair. You can only imagine how suprised I was to find a room full of caring, knowledgable, and exuberant women from all over the world...all with very similar experiences to my own. There was even another baby just a few weeks newer than Ethan.
I can't explain how good it felt to hear these women talk about their experiences as if were speaking of my own. It wasn't just a big "complain-fest," they really opened up to me and answered my questions, gave me advice, and listened to my concerns. It felt so good to laugh about our experiences together, the good and the really bad. I have never been in a place where I have felt so understood. It was an invitation that I am so glad that I accepted.
Birthday Parties
Birthday parties are a BIG deal here. With the hot climate and the long days, this is pretty much the only time that the kids get to play together outside of school. Avery's been invited to four this school year. One invitation even went as far as to say "RSVP if you will not be attending" and they had invited both first grade classes! (around 40 kids) The birthday parties we've seen have been "MC'd" at amusement parks, restaurants, hotels...etc. We even overheard an "American Idol" style birthday party when we were out for Planet Hollywood on Jason's birthday. Most houses/apartments here are not big enough to have a party, but I think it is just easier to have a "pre-made" party. Some have a magician. All have dance parties, tons of food for kids/parents, and contests. And all parents try to choose a different venue from the last party. I suppose this would get quite difficult if your child's birthday is at the end of the year. I love that we get a chance to meet other parents and to meet Avery's school friends. The parties themselves have been quite loud and a little overwhelming for Avery, but the company is fun and he's found that he's really enjoyed them in the end. I'm not quite sure-but I think the kids are trying to figure out how the confetti came out of the machine in this photo.
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