Motorcycle Training

This weekend Max, Simon, and Lisa took a motorcycle safety course. The boys' friend Sam also joined them for this tiring weekend. In the end all of them passed the course! (Some had better scores then others on the final skills test.....)

They will use this new knowledge and skill to navigate the roads of Ho Chi Minh City, where scooters are the most common and easiest way to get around.

Father's Day

It was great timing that we arrived home in Nova Scotia in time to celebrate Father's Day. We had a beautiful day together! A meaningful and fun church service then an afternoon at the cabin with the whole family.

Max and Simon each made Tim a card this year, including an original poem. "We could have sent you a digital card but we were raised better than that!" Two very special pieces that will be saved in our memory box. 

Lasts

The processes to exit Qatar are long and complicated and a wee bit trying on the nerves. However, we have done it! Our last week in Doha was filled with several "lasts".

Our last trip to the Corniche was with the Rasmussens.

The scariest "last" was Lisa's last haircut with her master stylist, RJ. It is scary because finding a new hair stylist is one of the hardest parts of moving to a new culture. Not only are styles and techniques different, but all hair is not alike. Working with Arab or Asian hair is significantly different than working with Caucasian hair.....

Max and Simon took their last year-end trip from Qatar to Canada.

Vergie and Lisa spent their last day together cleaning out the fridge and packing last minute items. Vergie has transferred her sponsorship and will be working with another family in September. She will travel to the Philippines for the summer to visit with her family.

Tim's last day at school was a happy one for him but sad for his staff and teachers, and especially his Administrative Assistant, Maria.

And one of the most fun "lasts" was a visit from the children who live next door. They brought cards and hugs to say goodbye!

One last visit

As we prepare to leave Doha this week we were blessed to have company for the weekend! We have not seen our friends the Rasmussens for six years! We knew them when we lived in Kenya and our kids were great friends. This week they are moving from Nairobi back to U.S.A so their newly graduated teens can attend University in the Fall.

This weekend was great timing for us because our shipment has gone, most of our packing is done, and we are just waiting for paperwork to be processed. It gave us a chance to visit some of our favourite places one last time and to introduce them to our life in Qatar.

We also took advantage of some of the special events happening during Ramadan. We watched the informal parade of cars driving on the Corniche just before the sunset call to prayer (and breaking of the fast). The boys counted 21 Porsche 911, 24 BMW, 5 Ferrari, 11 Bentley, 3 Maserati, 3 Aston Martin, 5 Lamborghini, 9 Rolls Royce (including one Phantom), 1 McLaren, 5 Lotus, and a plethora of Mercedes, Audi, Corvette, Viper, Nissan GTR and the Camaro Club. They calculated the total value of cars seen in 30 minutes of bystanding was over $20 million.

After the car parade, we ate at an Iftar buffet at one of the hotels. The following night, Max and Isaac were invited to an Iftar feast at one of Max's classmates' majlis. There were 14 young men there and Max had an opportunity to say goodbye to some of his friends.

Trophies!

On the weekend Max and Simon played their final basketball games for Qatar Foundation. They have had five phenomenal years of learning, growing, and developing their basketball skills. This is thanks to the dedication of three amazing coaches, Sandra, Eric, and Mauritio. Max and Simon were recognized as being founding members of the basketball program for QF. It started with just 4 players in 2012 and now has over 400 children and youth practicing every weekend.

And so we added these special trophies to the others...... And yes, we are moving them all to Vietnam!

Then (2012) and now (2016).

Good Morning Vietnam!

In January Tim accepted a position at Saigon South International School in Ho Chi Minh City. Moving to Vietnam didn't feel "real" until our recent trip there to visit the school, look at housing options, and meet the people we will live and work with.

We are happy to report that we loved being there! It seems like a great fit for our family and a very fun place to live! We walked more in five days than we have walked in five months in Doha. We look forward to living outdoors again, and we are all registered for a motorcycle course so that we can drive a scooter!
Tim will be the Assistant Principal for the High School and Simon is registered to attend SSIS for Grade 11. Lisa will stay at home for a couple of months to get everyone settled into new routines. And Max, of course, will be eleven time zones away in Canada at the University of Waterloo.

While the tropical climate of Vietnam is much more humid than the desert that we have lived in for the last five years, we really enjoyed the rain, the lush vegetation, the clean air, and the breezes in the evening.

We also were thrilled to have locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables! Vietnamese food is so organic-feeling and the spices are new to our palate.

Max's Graduation!

Last night we attended a beautiful graduation ceremony for Qatar Academy's Class of 2016! A hundred students walked across the stage to receive their High School Diploma for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

We are very proud of Max's achievements at QA-Doha. Through the encouragement of his teachers and the competition of his peers, Max has developed a good work ethic and a passion for learning. He is curious and hardworking. His efforts were rewarded with the presentation of the Mathematics medal for highest mark in High Level Math. He has great respect and affection for his Math teacher.

Max has spent five years at this school and we have seen him grow into an extraordinary young man. His classmates have been a blessing. This group of students is remarkable in their academic success, their community service, and their strong friendships with one another. As Max moves on to the University of Waterloo, we are certain that his efforts will lead to further success. 

Leavers' Dinner

As part of his graduation from Qatar Academy Doha, Max celebrated with his classmates at the "Leavers' Dinner" last Wednesday night. This is a school tradition for graduates from QA. It is a special evening of formal dress, beautiful decorations, great food, speeches, and reminiscing.

The theme this year was Lantern Iftar Feast. Max and a group of friends wore the traditional Qatari thobe and gutra for men. The head coverings can be worn in a variety of styles and colours.