Seems Naief isn't keen on Arabic at the moment. Has started crying/whining in the mornings when I drop him off... so tomorrow Hashim will take him. Today his Arabic teacher told me that she wasn't giving him his homework because he wouldn't listen to her in class. She said he's refusing to speak Arabic..... soooo. I saw the Principal standing outside on my way out this morning and he asked me how it's going. Told him that Naief was having some trouble, and he said to give it a good month and then he'd be going with the flow.... so much so that I will be envious. Here's to really hoping that this is the case.
and here's to hoping that I keep up!!!!! :)
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
It's been a while....
Well, hello :)
Gosh, how long has it been? Funny how life gets in the way of things... especially blogging and reading blogs. I've been staying out of trouble, for the most part, and Naief has started proper school now - going from 7:30 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. on two days, 1:40 two days, and 1:07 on one day. Weird timings, but he's doing well. He's been having trouble in the mornings with not wanting me to leave. I think it's the Arabic, since he has Arabic, first thing, all but two days a week. This morning he was shy around his homeroom/Arabic teacher, which made me a bit nervous, but I hope it'll only be a matter of time until he starts getting the hang of it.
Hashim is helping with the Arabic lessons and I sit in... hoping I'll learn Arabic with Naief :) We both have four colors down as of tonight, which is pretty good since they all sound very similar to each other, have rolling r's and two use the throat to pronounce the word, which can be difficult to get right. I'm terrible with rolling my r's - never could get it in Spanish class... but I did do it, slightly, a few times tonight, so I'm feeling pretty good. Naief isn't rolling yet, but he has the throat thing down. ;)
Naief, after some nudging and turning it into a game, started saying the words after mommy would say them.... and is doing pretty good. I'm glad because all of the kids in KG1 stand outside in the mornings repeating after the teachers in Arabic, and I want him to know what's being said, what's going on and to feel like he's a part of it, which I'm not sure is happening within him right now. Must say it's hard, as a mom, to see your child uncertain like this.... aaaahhhhh, I find myself having to remind myself many times a day that it's only a matter of time.
Mommy is helping with his English homework... he doesn't like homework, I've realized. He'd rather play and ignore mommy... so we've gone to threats of losing toys or television time. Seemed to work tonight. Hope it continues.
aaaaahhhh, almost forgot... Hashim took me and Naief on a wonderful European holiday this year. We went to Amsterdam and Paris. Loved both places sooo very much. Rained a lot in Amsterdam, was quite chilly (could see my breath), but I LOVED IT. Such a difference from Bahrain weather, and I really needed that. Walked for two days straight all over Amsterdam. Loved the people, how everyone rides bikes - no matter if it's pouring down rain - cats are in all the shops and cafes, and you can always see something crazy there. I loved the people watching... I think it's the best I've ever had. :) Paris was gorgeous and the people were nice - such the opposite to what Americans are led to believe about Parisians. The food was to die for... the pastries, croissants, COFFEE... I now see the light. Anyway... from walking for two days straight in Amsterdam, we were exhausted when we first got to Paris.... and the walking is crazy there. We took the metro everywhere, which was really cool. Loved watching people, listening to them speak French... and they have the best stuff for children! The incredible park at the Eiffel Tower, the children's parks they have in various gardens around the city... they think of everything imaginable that a child could want to play on or with.
This was the only place I heard American accents... altho we did meet two Canadians at Versailles. Took Naief to Euro Disney which was really nice... very beautiful, lots of things for the little ones, Disney Studios next door, shows... great stuff. He was ready to come home by now and really only enjoyed the park in the afternoon on the 2nd day and the morning of the 3rd day... when we were packing to go back to Amsterdam, he wanted to know if we were going back to the house with the cats. :( made my heart ache a bit... poor guy. It was a bit confusing I think... going from this hotel to that, flying from here to there... I think he'll be better suited for travel once he reaches 7 or 8. Then he'll be able to understand and even maybe remember when he gets older.
Anyhoo... this is about it for now. Hope all of you out there are doing good... I think about you.
Gosh, how long has it been? Funny how life gets in the way of things... especially blogging and reading blogs. I've been staying out of trouble, for the most part, and Naief has started proper school now - going from 7:30 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. on two days, 1:40 two days, and 1:07 on one day. Weird timings, but he's doing well. He's been having trouble in the mornings with not wanting me to leave. I think it's the Arabic, since he has Arabic, first thing, all but two days a week. This morning he was shy around his homeroom/Arabic teacher, which made me a bit nervous, but I hope it'll only be a matter of time until he starts getting the hang of it.
Hashim is helping with the Arabic lessons and I sit in... hoping I'll learn Arabic with Naief :) We both have four colors down as of tonight, which is pretty good since they all sound very similar to each other, have rolling r's and two use the throat to pronounce the word, which can be difficult to get right. I'm terrible with rolling my r's - never could get it in Spanish class... but I did do it, slightly, a few times tonight, so I'm feeling pretty good. Naief isn't rolling yet, but he has the throat thing down. ;)
Naief, after some nudging and turning it into a game, started saying the words after mommy would say them.... and is doing pretty good. I'm glad because all of the kids in KG1 stand outside in the mornings repeating after the teachers in Arabic, and I want him to know what's being said, what's going on and to feel like he's a part of it, which I'm not sure is happening within him right now. Must say it's hard, as a mom, to see your child uncertain like this.... aaaahhhhh, I find myself having to remind myself many times a day that it's only a matter of time.
Mommy is helping with his English homework... he doesn't like homework, I've realized. He'd rather play and ignore mommy... so we've gone to threats of losing toys or television time. Seemed to work tonight. Hope it continues.
aaaaahhhh, almost forgot... Hashim took me and Naief on a wonderful European holiday this year. We went to Amsterdam and Paris. Loved both places sooo very much. Rained a lot in Amsterdam, was quite chilly (could see my breath), but I LOVED IT. Such a difference from Bahrain weather, and I really needed that. Walked for two days straight all over Amsterdam. Loved the people, how everyone rides bikes - no matter if it's pouring down rain - cats are in all the shops and cafes, and you can always see something crazy there. I loved the people watching... I think it's the best I've ever had. :) Paris was gorgeous and the people were nice - such the opposite to what Americans are led to believe about Parisians. The food was to die for... the pastries, croissants, COFFEE... I now see the light. Anyway... from walking for two days straight in Amsterdam, we were exhausted when we first got to Paris.... and the walking is crazy there. We took the metro everywhere, which was really cool. Loved watching people, listening to them speak French... and they have the best stuff for children! The incredible park at the Eiffel Tower, the children's parks they have in various gardens around the city... they think of everything imaginable that a child could want to play on or with.
This was the only place I heard American accents... altho we did meet two Canadians at Versailles. Took Naief to Euro Disney which was really nice... very beautiful, lots of things for the little ones, Disney Studios next door, shows... great stuff. He was ready to come home by now and really only enjoyed the park in the afternoon on the 2nd day and the morning of the 3rd day... when we were packing to go back to Amsterdam, he wanted to know if we were going back to the house with the cats. :( made my heart ache a bit... poor guy. It was a bit confusing I think... going from this hotel to that, flying from here to there... I think he'll be better suited for travel once he reaches 7 or 8. Then he'll be able to understand and even maybe remember when he gets older.
Anyhoo... this is about it for now. Hope all of you out there are doing good... I think about you.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
well..... hello
So many things have been going on... been wanting to write for a while, but have also been thinking about not blogging again or creating new acct where i can be myself, talk about what i want w/out the fear of someone knowing me or telling other ppl that i don't want to know....
been doing swim training to become a coach/swim instructor. started this about 4 wks ago. love it. am training at the dilmun club and the british school. love both places, but would really like to get in the pool and swim laps w/ the kids at the school since it's been forever and a day since i've done any real swimming and i find that i'm not too sure that my strokes are proper and being the perfectionist that i am, i have to know that my strokes are spot on. so will see what i can do about getting in the pool w/ someone that can give me real advice and push me.... so that i'm ready for my testing in november. i'll test for my level 1 then which will qualify me to give classes under another instructor until i take my level 2 test. then i'll be qualified to teach anywhere in the world.... but am hoping that i might be able to stay on at the british school. that would be a dream..... :) so i have my fingers crossed and am hoping.
i'm doing this in the afternoons so it's been up to daddy to watch naief and keep him busy pretty much until bedtime. so far so good. :)
what else???? not sure if i mentioned that someone took our dog. i came home one afternoon and the dog was gone. i have no idea what happened. i still think about him... look out for signs and wonder if he's dead or roaming the streets.... i have no idea... but it all makes me very confused w/ sadness and anger.
on family news, naief and i got over the hand, foot and mouth virus two wks ago. what a terrible, awful virus. horrible fever, chills, ulcers in the mouth, on hands, feet, ears, around mouth and nose. the blisters dry up like chicken pox, so after that happens, you're clear to go out and about, since it's very, very contagious. naief is a lot better now, but we both seem to have a cough that wont go away.....
other than that.... not much going on. been taking care of myself. giving myself the permission to get manicures and pedicures which is really helping to keep my nails strong and healthy. it's been forever since having nice nails.... so it's fun to see them on myself. also been having regular facials which has given me a nice boost of self esteem. dyed my hair real dark, colored my eyebrows and eye lashes, so i'm a dark bruneete now. :) i like it. i also cut my hair short, so i feel like a new woman on a new mission with life.
oh yeah, also been watching a lot of documentaries and conspiracy theories about the U.S. and their involvement in 9/11. i'm convinced they were behind it.....utterly convinced. not only that, been watching all sorts of things about different wars and all things that U.S. has done to involve themselves with things to get money...... never been a history buff so this is very eye opening for me.
hope all of you have been good. peace to you.
been doing swim training to become a coach/swim instructor. started this about 4 wks ago. love it. am training at the dilmun club and the british school. love both places, but would really like to get in the pool and swim laps w/ the kids at the school since it's been forever and a day since i've done any real swimming and i find that i'm not too sure that my strokes are proper and being the perfectionist that i am, i have to know that my strokes are spot on. so will see what i can do about getting in the pool w/ someone that can give me real advice and push me.... so that i'm ready for my testing in november. i'll test for my level 1 then which will qualify me to give classes under another instructor until i take my level 2 test. then i'll be qualified to teach anywhere in the world.... but am hoping that i might be able to stay on at the british school. that would be a dream..... :) so i have my fingers crossed and am hoping.
i'm doing this in the afternoons so it's been up to daddy to watch naief and keep him busy pretty much until bedtime. so far so good. :)
what else???? not sure if i mentioned that someone took our dog. i came home one afternoon and the dog was gone. i have no idea what happened. i still think about him... look out for signs and wonder if he's dead or roaming the streets.... i have no idea... but it all makes me very confused w/ sadness and anger.
on family news, naief and i got over the hand, foot and mouth virus two wks ago. what a terrible, awful virus. horrible fever, chills, ulcers in the mouth, on hands, feet, ears, around mouth and nose. the blisters dry up like chicken pox, so after that happens, you're clear to go out and about, since it's very, very contagious. naief is a lot better now, but we both seem to have a cough that wont go away.....
other than that.... not much going on. been taking care of myself. giving myself the permission to get manicures and pedicures which is really helping to keep my nails strong and healthy. it's been forever since having nice nails.... so it's fun to see them on myself. also been having regular facials which has given me a nice boost of self esteem. dyed my hair real dark, colored my eyebrows and eye lashes, so i'm a dark bruneete now. :) i like it. i also cut my hair short, so i feel like a new woman on a new mission with life.
oh yeah, also been watching a lot of documentaries and conspiracy theories about the U.S. and their involvement in 9/11. i'm convinced they were behind it.....utterly convinced. not only that, been watching all sorts of things about different wars and all things that U.S. has done to involve themselves with things to get money...... never been a history buff so this is very eye opening for me.
hope all of you have been good. peace to you.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
cats and the dog
Haven't seen two of my cats in two days. One has taken to staying outside, which worries me a bit, but.... she's staying close, so that's good. I called the two missing cats today, but have yet to hear or see them. Maybe they'll come out in a day or so. Hashim saw Petunia last night which calms my nerves a bit.
Snoop Dog (scooby) loves to chase the cats. He barks at them like mad, but gets low on his front legs, like wanting to play, so I know it's all out of innocence.... altho they don't care about that. They hate him. Yesterday, he spent all afternoon barking at Puss. She's top cat and refuses to play nice.... but seems to be making a stab at playing nice.... even jumping up next to him on the sofa this afternoon. She didn't stay long and hissed and spat once, but didn't strike him. That's a very good thing. :) I could swear he smiled and was so happy. He's dying to be friends.
Cats and dogs are soooo different. I can see why some ppl are cat ppl and some are dog ppl. I'm letting my guard down this time around and trying to be less afraid. Dogs scare me a bit. Once, as a young girl, I was babysitting for a friend and their young doberman scared me. He/she played rough and I was too young to understand. We also once kept a dog for someone... I think it was a grown doberman and it took to my mom and stepdad's room. He/she would lay on the bed and growl at me sometimes when I'd go inside. I thought it was possessed or something.... so I was terrified of it. Terrified of that room after the dog left.... even had a ghostly experience while playing with a friend of mine in that room.
Frankie, my oldest cat, is really sick. He spent the night at the vet's night before last and they took blood and gave lots of meds for him to take over the next 3 days. His blood was fine, which surprises me since I thought his kidney's were failing. They're fine. His thyroid is okay, altho the symptoms he's having is caused by that. Hashim told them that he's having massive diarrhea, but since he didn't have that problem while in their care, they aren't too worried. Today, he's gone twice in various places and is peeing all over the house.... but maybe it's because he has a bad cold and I can only imagine how he must feel w/ the diarrhea. Imagine how sick you feel when you're having that.... with a bad cold on top of it and always being hungry and thirsty. Poor guy. He's only a year older than Puss and Aimee and they're both healthy.... so my heart pours out to him.
I fixed boiled chicken today and gave him a bunch of it. I'm mixing some of it w/ Snoop's food as well... but he still isn't eating a lot. I think the cats are eating a good portion of his food and he ate a tiny bit this morning when I sat down next to his bowl... so I'm gonna try getting down on all fours and pretend to eat it and see if that makes a difference. I'm trying to be real positive and give 'em lots of positive energy about his food... so I'll give it a little more time. It worries me though, since Henry did the same and was sick. I don't want to take him to the vet too quickly for fear it'll stress him out, so I'll wait at least two weeks, then make an appt to have his teeth cleaned and have him neutered.
Yesterday he spent a good hour humping our bedroom comforter. Naief laughed and asked, "momma, what is he doin" and I laughed and told him that he's crazy. Do dogs stop this once they're fixed???? I can only imagine if he gets Naief down or something or starts it w/ me!!!
Frankie used to do that to Jewels when he was younger and he's been fixed since he was 8 wks old.... so I guess they do it regardless. Lord help me :)))
Honestly, I feel like I have a house full of kids! I've gotten a headache for the last two days with his barking... but I'm trying not to let it unnerve me. I do raise my voice and tell him to quiet down and stop barking... but even with that, I have to be careful because Naief mimics everything I do and he'll start raising his voice or yelling at the animals to stop barking or fighting and such.... :)
Snoop Dog (scooby) loves to chase the cats. He barks at them like mad, but gets low on his front legs, like wanting to play, so I know it's all out of innocence.... altho they don't care about that. They hate him. Yesterday, he spent all afternoon barking at Puss. She's top cat and refuses to play nice.... but seems to be making a stab at playing nice.... even jumping up next to him on the sofa this afternoon. She didn't stay long and hissed and spat once, but didn't strike him. That's a very good thing. :) I could swear he smiled and was so happy. He's dying to be friends.
Cats and dogs are soooo different. I can see why some ppl are cat ppl and some are dog ppl. I'm letting my guard down this time around and trying to be less afraid. Dogs scare me a bit. Once, as a young girl, I was babysitting for a friend and their young doberman scared me. He/she played rough and I was too young to understand. We also once kept a dog for someone... I think it was a grown doberman and it took to my mom and stepdad's room. He/she would lay on the bed and growl at me sometimes when I'd go inside. I thought it was possessed or something.... so I was terrified of it. Terrified of that room after the dog left.... even had a ghostly experience while playing with a friend of mine in that room.
Frankie, my oldest cat, is really sick. He spent the night at the vet's night before last and they took blood and gave lots of meds for him to take over the next 3 days. His blood was fine, which surprises me since I thought his kidney's were failing. They're fine. His thyroid is okay, altho the symptoms he's having is caused by that. Hashim told them that he's having massive diarrhea, but since he didn't have that problem while in their care, they aren't too worried. Today, he's gone twice in various places and is peeing all over the house.... but maybe it's because he has a bad cold and I can only imagine how he must feel w/ the diarrhea. Imagine how sick you feel when you're having that.... with a bad cold on top of it and always being hungry and thirsty. Poor guy. He's only a year older than Puss and Aimee and they're both healthy.... so my heart pours out to him.
I fixed boiled chicken today and gave him a bunch of it. I'm mixing some of it w/ Snoop's food as well... but he still isn't eating a lot. I think the cats are eating a good portion of his food and he ate a tiny bit this morning when I sat down next to his bowl... so I'm gonna try getting down on all fours and pretend to eat it and see if that makes a difference. I'm trying to be real positive and give 'em lots of positive energy about his food... so I'll give it a little more time. It worries me though, since Henry did the same and was sick. I don't want to take him to the vet too quickly for fear it'll stress him out, so I'll wait at least two weeks, then make an appt to have his teeth cleaned and have him neutered.
Yesterday he spent a good hour humping our bedroom comforter. Naief laughed and asked, "momma, what is he doin" and I laughed and told him that he's crazy. Do dogs stop this once they're fixed???? I can only imagine if he gets Naief down or something or starts it w/ me!!!
Frankie used to do that to Jewels when he was younger and he's been fixed since he was 8 wks old.... so I guess they do it regardless. Lord help me :)))
Honestly, I feel like I have a house full of kids! I've gotten a headache for the last two days with his barking... but I'm trying not to let it unnerve me. I do raise my voice and tell him to quiet down and stop barking... but even with that, I have to be careful because Naief mimics everything I do and he'll start raising his voice or yelling at the animals to stop barking or fighting and such.... :)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Hello Scooby :))))
Say hello to Scooby. :) He's the new addition to our family. Went to the Dilmun Club today to let Naief and two of his cousins play and, when walking in, saw his picture on the bulletin board and decided to call. He's 3 1/2 yrs old and has been around cats... which is a really good thing, since we have 8 furbabies.
He's a bit nervous, hasn't eaten anything so far - altho I know he must be hungry - has terrible teeth and hasn't been neutered. After he settles down and gets comfortable with us we'll take him to the vet to get fixed and to have his teeth cleaned.
He's smaller than Henry and seems very friendly and gentle. Wants to be next to me a lot, really likes Hashim, and is gentle with Naief, which is good because Naief seems to really like him. Even crying at bedtime because Scooby was taken out of the bedroom.
We're gonna change his name to Snoop Dog, so we've started calling him Scooby Snoop to let 'em get used to the new name. The woman at the kennel said that we could call him his new name after about 10 days.
He's lived with a few different families/ppl, the last giving him up because she had hip surgery and he wanted to sit on her lap all the time. The first woman/family had him when he was a puppy and after returning from holiday, the husband decided that they wouldn't pick him up. The kennel woman said that Scooby had been very ill when he was young and they thought he was going to die, but he didn't, and I guess her husband didn't want the dog and refused to allow her to keep him. I'd like to find out what was wrong w/ him when he was young, but not sure if that'll be possible. I find myself getting scared of tick fever.... that his body could have the parasite, so when we take him in to the vet for shots, neutering and such, we'll have him tested since stress can set it off.
If he doesn't start eating by tomorrow I'll take him back over to the kennel to eat there, walk around a bit and then bring him home. This woman suggests this and I agree. She said that it'll show him that everything's ok and the kennel is still there... to reassure him. Sure wish we had the dog whisperer on TV here.
I'm really happy to have him. He reminds me of Henry.... looks a bit like him, but is golden amber with cream on his chest. He has the same type of curled tail so am assuming he's mixed w/ a desert dog. He's very curious of the cats and chased Chaplina up the outside wall today.... so we'll have to watch him w/ her... and with Puss, since she's on kitty cop mode. :)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
planning a party
Started planning Naief's 3rd birthday yesterday. Hubby was still undecided until then on whether or not we should do it, but he relented and said yes :) We'll do it here at home and, believe it or not, I'm going to try my luck at making him a train bday cake! I looked online and they look relatively easy... so I'm gonna go for it.
Thought we'd keep it small, but by the time you start putting your list together, the number of kids grows real fast. But it'll be fun and he'll enjoy it, I think.
Gonna do a water balloon toss, musical chairs, pinata (sponge bob) and hubby will grill some Arabic meat and we'll do finger sandwiches, chips, dips, fruit salad, and cake and ice cream. The weather has been nice during the day, so the majority of the time we'll spend outside and then if the kids get restless, maybe we'll stroll up to the park after eating.
Gonna invite the in-laws, so it'll be interesting to see who comes.
Me and a friend are gonna take the kids to see Avatar tomorrow. We first thought it might be too violent, but we've both heard that it's not bloody or anything, and the fight scene is pretty tame, so I think it'll be an interesting experience - especially in 3D. I'm wondering how Naief will do wearing the glasses.... can't see him wanting to keep them on... but maybe he might.
Think we'll look at a German Sheppard puppy tomorrow. It's a girl and she's black and brown. We saw one today and found out that there's a puppy that's being sold... and hubby agreed... and she's not too expensive... so who knows, maybe we'll get a new puppy. Naief would love that, and a puppy could grow up with us and the cats, which will be good. Don't know for sure that it'll happen... but it could... :)
Naief is better now. Will take his antibiotics until Sat., and they've already made a huge difference. No coughing, no runny nose and he hasn't complained of any kind of ear ache, but think we'll take him in for a re-check next wk w/ his pediatrician and just make sure it's all cleared up.
That's about it for me. Nothing too exciting happening on this side of the pond. Hope you all have a good weekend.
Thought we'd keep it small, but by the time you start putting your list together, the number of kids grows real fast. But it'll be fun and he'll enjoy it, I think.
Gonna do a water balloon toss, musical chairs, pinata (sponge bob) and hubby will grill some Arabic meat and we'll do finger sandwiches, chips, dips, fruit salad, and cake and ice cream. The weather has been nice during the day, so the majority of the time we'll spend outside and then if the kids get restless, maybe we'll stroll up to the park after eating.
Gonna invite the in-laws, so it'll be interesting to see who comes.
Me and a friend are gonna take the kids to see Avatar tomorrow. We first thought it might be too violent, but we've both heard that it's not bloody or anything, and the fight scene is pretty tame, so I think it'll be an interesting experience - especially in 3D. I'm wondering how Naief will do wearing the glasses.... can't see him wanting to keep them on... but maybe he might.
Think we'll look at a German Sheppard puppy tomorrow. It's a girl and she's black and brown. We saw one today and found out that there's a puppy that's being sold... and hubby agreed... and she's not too expensive... so who knows, maybe we'll get a new puppy. Naief would love that, and a puppy could grow up with us and the cats, which will be good. Don't know for sure that it'll happen... but it could... :)
Naief is better now. Will take his antibiotics until Sat., and they've already made a huge difference. No coughing, no runny nose and he hasn't complained of any kind of ear ache, but think we'll take him in for a re-check next wk w/ his pediatrician and just make sure it's all cleared up.
That's about it for me. Nothing too exciting happening on this side of the pond. Hope you all have a good weekend.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
on my last nerve
Yesterday was a pretty good day, even though we had to take Naief to ER at 2 in the morning with a 39.2 temp. He had been running a high temp since 6, and after piggybacking Advil and Voltarin suppositories with no luck in stopping the fever, we ran him over to the government hospital, down the street. The place was packed, and the pediatrics ER was the worst. All the beds were full and kids were so sick that I wanted to turn the other way and run. After waiting about 30 mins, he was seen by a dr. and we were told he had a bad ear infection. He was given a suppository; we were instructed to give him a shower there and wait 30 mins to see if the fever was coming down. Trying to calm him down to take the suppository and then to get his clothes off to give him a shower.... and then waiting until 4 to see if the fever would break... we didn't get home until 4:30.
He slept until 11 and then got up, feeling fine or so we thought. No fever and he was running around like crazy, and then said he wanted to go to the air show. Begging actually.... so, what did we decide to do? Take him. He had a really good time. Loved watching all the planes, but near the end, he started getting a fever again, so we decided to let him have a crying fit when he couldn't ride the kiddie airplanes or bounce in the bouncy house, and take him home.
So... what happens next? We head over to get on one of the buses to go back to the parking area, and the place is probably 300 deep in ppl standing in line to get on a bus. Naief is sick and crying, had refused to wear socks w/ his crocs, so mommy takes off her socks to put on him, which leads to another crying fit... and we're stuck in a gawwwwd awful long line with all the little Arab beauties walking past us with high heels, fancy headscarves and fancy clothes - walking to the front of the line, that we can't see, and never coming back. So obviously they're either getting on a bus or getting in line up there. Time is ticking, more and more ppl (the beautiful ones) are going in droves to the front, the line is not moving and I'm getting pissed.
Security guys are walking towards our part of the line, counting ppl. As they go past, I tell Hashim that it's pretty good that all these ppl are going to the front and getting on the buses while we're waiting here... so as the little security guys come back our way, he starts talking to them in Arabic about it. What do they do? Make every excuse and obviously start saying how these ppl aren't being allowed and are having to come back, and then little ole me chimes in how that isn't happening and that none of these ppl have come back and we know they're getting on the buses. It wasn't but a second until the lady behind me starts in, the guys in front of us and the other guys beside us. I then tell him how our son is sick and the line isn't moving and why can't we get on a bus. He looks at Naief and motions for us to go the front.
I can only imagine what the ppl around us were saying, and I don't blame them. I would have been pissed too... but, they didn't have kids and Naief was sick, so I felt like we should have been given special treatment, since all these other women were being given special treatment for whatever reason. So... we go the front and immediately one of the headmasters tells us to go back... I guess looking Western and not being all dressed up made a difference. I then tell him that the security guy told us we could get on the bus and he then asks which one and I point to the back. I stand there, pointing... looking at him and hubby talking to him in Arabic.... frustrated, he lets us through. :)))) ehheheh
At the bus, an American (which I didn't know until she opened her mouth) with her family and husband immediately starts going on about all the ppl cutting in line and how she's been standing in line forever and that at least 1,000 ppl have cut in line. I immediately told her that we cut in line because our son is sick and and that, yeah, there were tons of ppl cutting in line. She snarled at me pretty much and said, "I DIDN'T MEAN YOU!" Everyone starts then... her daughter saying something like it wasn't 1,000 ppl, and she seemed almost defeated and said that it was a good bus load with her husband chiming in that it was prob more than a bus load. I understood her anger completely, but only wished that I hadn't been one to cut in line... but .... you know, sometimes we should (as foreigners here) do the same crap. Being polite and not standing up gets nowhere sometimes...
I get soooo sick of it, really. Ppl thinking that they can do whatever they want, and the thing is, they get away with it... that's why it's truly sickening, and probably why it keeps happening. No one stands up to it. No one says anything. Everything's "inshallah".... people are so afraid of pissing someone off.
Same thing today.... with ppl coming in to the studio to record. Supposed to start at 9 and finish at 1. Back to back recordings. But... does that mean anything to anyone?!!!!! No. Do they give a damn? No. Do they think about other ppl and their schedules and the fact that it's a Saturday - the weekend - and we've made the studio available to them, but it's our freakin weekend?????!!!! No. Instead, first lady comes at 9:45. If she wanted 10, why didn't she schedule at 10?! The woman scheduled at 10 had to wait a good 40 mins. before starting. Good thing hers only took 10 mins to record! Oh but wait.
The guy that was supposed to come at 11 didn't come until 11:40, and the ppl supposed to come at 12 called to say they couldn't come until 1:30, even though we couldn't do 1:30 and suggested 3... they didn't want 3. They had to have the work done by 3, so they had to come at 1:30.... well, tell me this... why didn't you keep your 12 o'clock slot, like originally planned if it was so urgent??? That would have given significant time to get the work to the client by 3!! And are they finished? No.
Nothing is ever on time here. No one knows what it means to be on time. Is this from getting things handed to them, wanting for nothing, and being pampered and hovered over all of their childhood and adult life, thus far? Is is because no one has the balls to say anything to anybody for fear of having their names tarnished or for fear of losing business? I don't know.. maybe it's me. Maybe it's because of the way I was brainwashed in the American culture and taught something far different... one FB friend said that it's because of the Industrial Era and how it was passed down to us, but didn't affect Arabia and how ppl here do things differently. They see relationships as more important and, therefore, business is put on a back burner. Ppl like to have things more flexible... talk about family life, how things are going... and then get to the business. Well, I guess that's one way of doing things... but I see it as rude. Ppl take others for granted and have no respect. I just can't imagine having a meeting scheduled at 10 and showing up at 1o:45 and then shooting the shit for another 10 to 15 mins, and then start the meeting... am I missing something here?
Not only that... but I truly get sick of ppl coming over to the house, unannounced and staying for hours upon hours. You know.. there is such a thing as quality time with your spouse... you know, that alone time that you don't get when you have a child. That alone time you sorta look forward to.... in the evenings.
aaahhhhh... now I feel better. ;)
Btw, the airshow was incredible! The American planes/pilots were the best, by far. One, in an F16, I think, came racing towards our area and broke the sound barrier right before he got to us.... looked like some type of time warp was happening behind his plane and the sound... oh man... unbelievable. I found myself in awe watching him race through the air. The B2 Bomber... the sound of that thing, left everything vibrating well after he was gone. Truly something. The French were really good as well and the Saudi planes at the end were also really good. A few of their stunts left me breathless.... that flying so close to each other that you'd think they'd crash kind of feeling....
He slept until 11 and then got up, feeling fine or so we thought. No fever and he was running around like crazy, and then said he wanted to go to the air show. Begging actually.... so, what did we decide to do? Take him. He had a really good time. Loved watching all the planes, but near the end, he started getting a fever again, so we decided to let him have a crying fit when he couldn't ride the kiddie airplanes or bounce in the bouncy house, and take him home.
So... what happens next? We head over to get on one of the buses to go back to the parking area, and the place is probably 300 deep in ppl standing in line to get on a bus. Naief is sick and crying, had refused to wear socks w/ his crocs, so mommy takes off her socks to put on him, which leads to another crying fit... and we're stuck in a gawwwwd awful long line with all the little Arab beauties walking past us with high heels, fancy headscarves and fancy clothes - walking to the front of the line, that we can't see, and never coming back. So obviously they're either getting on a bus or getting in line up there. Time is ticking, more and more ppl (the beautiful ones) are going in droves to the front, the line is not moving and I'm getting pissed.
Security guys are walking towards our part of the line, counting ppl. As they go past, I tell Hashim that it's pretty good that all these ppl are going to the front and getting on the buses while we're waiting here... so as the little security guys come back our way, he starts talking to them in Arabic about it. What do they do? Make every excuse and obviously start saying how these ppl aren't being allowed and are having to come back, and then little ole me chimes in how that isn't happening and that none of these ppl have come back and we know they're getting on the buses. It wasn't but a second until the lady behind me starts in, the guys in front of us and the other guys beside us. I then tell him how our son is sick and the line isn't moving and why can't we get on a bus. He looks at Naief and motions for us to go the front.
I can only imagine what the ppl around us were saying, and I don't blame them. I would have been pissed too... but, they didn't have kids and Naief was sick, so I felt like we should have been given special treatment, since all these other women were being given special treatment for whatever reason. So... we go the front and immediately one of the headmasters tells us to go back... I guess looking Western and not being all dressed up made a difference. I then tell him that the security guy told us we could get on the bus and he then asks which one and I point to the back. I stand there, pointing... looking at him and hubby talking to him in Arabic.... frustrated, he lets us through. :)))) ehheheh
At the bus, an American (which I didn't know until she opened her mouth) with her family and husband immediately starts going on about all the ppl cutting in line and how she's been standing in line forever and that at least 1,000 ppl have cut in line. I immediately told her that we cut in line because our son is sick and and that, yeah, there were tons of ppl cutting in line. She snarled at me pretty much and said, "I DIDN'T MEAN YOU!" Everyone starts then... her daughter saying something like it wasn't 1,000 ppl, and she seemed almost defeated and said that it was a good bus load with her husband chiming in that it was prob more than a bus load. I understood her anger completely, but only wished that I hadn't been one to cut in line... but .... you know, sometimes we should (as foreigners here) do the same crap. Being polite and not standing up gets nowhere sometimes...
I get soooo sick of it, really. Ppl thinking that they can do whatever they want, and the thing is, they get away with it... that's why it's truly sickening, and probably why it keeps happening. No one stands up to it. No one says anything. Everything's "inshallah".... people are so afraid of pissing someone off.
Same thing today.... with ppl coming in to the studio to record. Supposed to start at 9 and finish at 1. Back to back recordings. But... does that mean anything to anyone?!!!!! No. Do they give a damn? No. Do they think about other ppl and their schedules and the fact that it's a Saturday - the weekend - and we've made the studio available to them, but it's our freakin weekend?????!!!! No. Instead, first lady comes at 9:45. If she wanted 10, why didn't she schedule at 10?! The woman scheduled at 10 had to wait a good 40 mins. before starting. Good thing hers only took 10 mins to record! Oh but wait.
The guy that was supposed to come at 11 didn't come until 11:40, and the ppl supposed to come at 12 called to say they couldn't come until 1:30, even though we couldn't do 1:30 and suggested 3... they didn't want 3. They had to have the work done by 3, so they had to come at 1:30.... well, tell me this... why didn't you keep your 12 o'clock slot, like originally planned if it was so urgent??? That would have given significant time to get the work to the client by 3!! And are they finished? No.
Nothing is ever on time here. No one knows what it means to be on time. Is this from getting things handed to them, wanting for nothing, and being pampered and hovered over all of their childhood and adult life, thus far? Is is because no one has the balls to say anything to anybody for fear of having their names tarnished or for fear of losing business? I don't know.. maybe it's me. Maybe it's because of the way I was brainwashed in the American culture and taught something far different... one FB friend said that it's because of the Industrial Era and how it was passed down to us, but didn't affect Arabia and how ppl here do things differently. They see relationships as more important and, therefore, business is put on a back burner. Ppl like to have things more flexible... talk about family life, how things are going... and then get to the business. Well, I guess that's one way of doing things... but I see it as rude. Ppl take others for granted and have no respect. I just can't imagine having a meeting scheduled at 10 and showing up at 1o:45 and then shooting the shit for another 10 to 15 mins, and then start the meeting... am I missing something here?
Not only that... but I truly get sick of ppl coming over to the house, unannounced and staying for hours upon hours. You know.. there is such a thing as quality time with your spouse... you know, that alone time that you don't get when you have a child. That alone time you sorta look forward to.... in the evenings.
aaahhhhh... now I feel better. ;)
Btw, the airshow was incredible! The American planes/pilots were the best, by far. One, in an F16, I think, came racing towards our area and broke the sound barrier right before he got to us.... looked like some type of time warp was happening behind his plane and the sound... oh man... unbelievable. I found myself in awe watching him race through the air. The B2 Bomber... the sound of that thing, left everything vibrating well after he was gone. Truly something. The French were really good as well and the Saudi planes at the end were also really good. A few of their stunts left me breathless.... that flying so close to each other that you'd think they'd crash kind of feeling....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
