Designs on Buildings

One of the first things Max noticed here was that the colour of the buildings is all very similar.  Every house and building is made of cinder block construction and the outside is a sand-coloured limestone finish.  This gives all the buildings a neutral sand look -- very much like the colour of the ground.  We speculated that from the sky you could probably miss whole villages because of the way they blend into the landscape.  We also supposed that the local people like these neutral colours of the earth.

But then we began to notice how the outside walls and gates are highly decorated.  The intricate carvings are mostly near door frames and above windows.  If there is a large wall then the area may have large carvings to take the plain look away. 

We have seen men working on the carvings using a sander and drill.  This is a very skilled craft.

Yard sale!

Just like a Saturday morning tradition, I went to a yard sale this morning.  There are constantly expatriots coming and going from Qatar.  We have heard that there are 1000 new people moving to Doha every week.  Fewer numbers are leaving but there is still movement.

Today I visited a family that is leaving in November to return to Canada.  They have just started to pack and are clearing items from the house that they do not wish to move.  I was able to purchase a number of household items:  measuring spoons, tools, placemats, picture frames, clothes drying rack, clothes hangers.  But by far the most exciting purchase was a large rug for our living room.  This is not a silk Persian rug but it will work in our living room (which has blue drapery and fabric) until we decide on something with a local flavour.

Gardening

Today the lawn mowers started early.  There are lots of green spaces in our housing complex and there is a crew of gardeners to keep it looking nice.  Watering every day is an absolute necessity.  But these plants and grass require less than you think to stay green.  They have adapted to the sandy soil and the unrelenting sun.



The Bougainvillea is a tropical plant that thrives in areas of low rainfall and intense heat.  It actually requires at least 5 hours of direct sun every day.  Needless to say, these would not do well in Nova Scotia but are very plentiful here (as they were in Kenya).

Beyond the City

Today was an extraordinary day!  Our friend Cameron (whom we have not seen in 13 years) gave us a tour of Qatar beyond the city of Doha.  It was our first time into the desert and we had the best time!

We started at the 'sink hole".  Not sure how it was formed, this is a cavern in the ground.  We descended about 60 metres from a small opening at the surface to a large room way below the surface.  See the people at the bottom?  The climb was not difficult and the layers of rock were a study in geology.

From the depths to the heights..... We climbed some of the world's largest sand dunes.  These are great mounds of sand stuck in the middle of barren landscape.  The dunes are formed by the winds of the desert.  This one is called the "Singing Dune" because of the low pitch wail that is made when you walk or slide down. 

The view from the top was spectacular and it is mesmerizing to watch the sand as it shifts in the wind.

We ended the day with a schwarma at a local Arabian fast food restaurant.  A schwarma has chicken, garlic sauce, vegetables wrapped in a pita.  The meal is served on the floor. So delicious!

First Day of School

on Sunday Max and Simon attended their first day at Qatar Academy.  This is the front door of the Senior School (we would call it the High School).  It is for Grades 6 through 12.  Tim's office is also in here.  The Senior School has 700 students and the Primary School (Grades K through 5) has 600 students. 

Qatar Academy is a private, chartered, non-profit school founded by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Emir of Qatar) and funded by the Qatar Foundation under the direction of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah.  Several children of the Royal Family have attended Qatar Academy. 

Max and Simon take the bus to school (a six minute ride).  Tim is also riding on the bus until we get a vehicle of our own.  The bus picks up at 6:30 a.m. and classes begin at 7:10.  The boys have five 65 minute classes each day.  They are taking Math, Technology, Art, Drama, English, French, Phys Ed, Cultural Studies, Humanities, Personal and Social Education, Science, Music.   The school day ends at 2:20 pm.

Simon's first-day-of-school-story is that he has a difficult time understanding his Math teacher from Australia -- his accent is strong! 

an empty hallway in the Senior School

Max's first-day-of-school-story is that he keeps getting lost -- the halls all look so similar that he forgets where he is and where he is going!

Her Highness requested that new uniforms be introduced this year.  Students at Virginia Commonwealth University (next door) designed the uniform but the manufacturer did not have them ready for the start of the school year.  The new school uniforms have maroon pants (like the colour on Qatar's flag), white shirts, and will arrive on Sept 15.  Until then, the students have Non-Uniform Days.  Many female students wear the abaya (black garment) and many male students wear the thobe (white garment) like you see here as the students gather for First Day Assembly.

Lots of Help

Today before 9:00 am there were a string of workers at our house to fix a few small problems.  We debated about sending a large email to the Housing Department because it might look like we were complaining.  We made sure that we communicated how much we appreciate their hard work and how much we like our beautiful new home.  Each person told me the next one was coming and they seemed to think it quite funny that I needed so many "appointments"! They even sent two carpenters that we did not ask for!







Here is the list of workers.  Two air-conditioner experts from India.  Two carpenters from India.  Two electricians from  India.  Two plumbers from India.  Do you see the trend?  There are 633 housing units in the Education City Housing Complex.  There are hundreds of workers doing a variety of jobs to meet the needs of  those houses.  Besides the trades people that we saw today there are gardeners, garbage collectors, street sweepers, and others.

At one point there were two electricians, two plumbers and Lisa in the kitchen.  Makes for interesting conversation.  They all speak English well and they have been working in Qatar for as little as one day and as much as five years.  Most of them have families back home and are earning money for their children.

Preparation for School

In preparation for the first day of school on Sunday, Qatar Academy is putting finishing touches on its buildings and grounds.  We are very surprised at the work that is being done at the last minute.  However, there is assurance that it will all be done in time.

The Library is getting new carpet.  The old flooring had taken on a whitish look because of the sand that blows through the air and comes in on students' feet.

There is a new driveway at the back entrance of the Primary School (we would call it the Elementary School).

Some upstairs classrooms are being remodelled.  This slide from the second story takes away wreckage from the walls that are being torn down.

The main car entrance to the school is being expanded from two lanes to four.

The Technology Department is organizing the computers for the students.  Max and Simon will each receive a new Macbook lap top.  Every student has a computer and it is replaced every three years.  During the summer, the Technology team repairs, cleans, and replaces all student and teacher lap tops.

The Clubhouse

Next to our housing complex we have a Clubhouse.  All residents have free use of the facilities.  There is a restaurant, a Games Room (pool table, foosball, air hockey), a Fitness Centre (with treadmills, weights, etc), Table Tennis, basketball and tennis courts, sauna and steam rooms, and an outdoor pool.

We have spent several hours at the Clubhouse and have enjoyed a couple of delicious and inexpensive meals there also.  Mostly we go to the pool to hang out.  The pool water is cooled but the heat from the sun warms it significantly.  Surprisingly, when we get out of the water, our bodies feel cooler for about 15 minutes.  The poolside frozen lemon mint drinks also help to keep us comfortable.  These are a unique drink -- like a lemonade slushie with lots of fresh mint ground into it.

There are bridges connecting the Clubhouse to the the two Community Housing compounds.  It takes about 4 minutes for us to walk from our home to the Clubhouse. While it is so hot, that seems like enough outdoor exercise.

Golfing

 Before the school year begins, we have had opportunity to participate in some leisure activities.  Tim and a group of teachers went golfing this week.  That may sound wonderful but when the temperature is 44 degrees, it is really just silly.  It is a good day for a golf cart.  The best golfing begins in October when the weather is more cooperative.

This is the path that you walk between holes -- if there is no water, there is no green.  That is true anywhere in Doha.

 After just four holes the team is looking pretty warm.