Finally getting to take my Eid break this week! Technically we were out of the office last week but I was still on duty. I had a doozie of a call Friday night. It almost makes me laugh because it sounds so rediculous to us as westerners, to say I had to show up and spend 2.5 hours investigating and interviewing students who decided to mix gender in one of the apartments. Over here it's such a serious offense and people are freaked out about getting deported. I'm thinking, then was it actually worth risking deportation just to hang out? I mean yes, it blows big fat goats that we can't be 'who we are' over here - but we are guests of another country, and like it or not we need to abide by their laws. I guess I traded regular alcohol infractions for major cultural clashes. At least (I don't THINK) Qatar does not participate in stoning women for 'tainting' themselves by being the presence of guys without a chaperon. Having grown up with freedom it makes it hard to enforce things like this, I almost feel like a brainwashed Nazi. This is one of the hardest parts of being an expat - when your core values are judged and infringed upon on a regular basis by a school of thought that you simply cannot identify with.
SO...got lots of wedding stuff done while Rory was also off last week. Namely settling the ceremony. I think we found the right words that 'sound like us', and the music as well. Not traditional, but not so far off it would scare the older generations. :)
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09/27/2009 03:49 #49863
culture clashCategory: potpourri
09/19/2009 15:05 #49818
eid mubarak!Category: potpourri
At last, Ramadan is officially over with tomorrow's dawn. My students will start sleeping better, eating better, and we'll all not suffer from dehydration is this desert heat. Most exciting of all, it's Eid break. A free week off work to catch up on a massive list of 'to do's' at home and a myriad of wedding details. It couldn't have come at a better time really.
I attended a program by one of my CDAs to celebrate the arrival of Eid and had 2 of my students henna my hands. We're thinking about having a henna artist at the wedding as a tribute to where we met.
Have a good one peeps!
I attended a program by one of my CDAs to celebrate the arrival of Eid and had 2 of my students henna my hands. We're thinking about having a henna artist at the wedding as a tribute to where we met.
Have a good one peeps!
metalpeter - 09/19/09 19:43
At a weeding wow this sounds like it will be a great time, not that I have ever gotten what henna really is or what it is about. On a bit of a side note I needed a suit anyways so I went out and got a nice subtle one, If a fun suit (like all red, or even black and not buttoned or maybe something wild with flames or something) would fit in better with the wedding let me know. Hope you get all the stuff you want to get done, done.
At a weeding wow this sounds like it will be a great time, not that I have ever gotten what henna really is or what it is about. On a bit of a side note I needed a suit anyways so I went out and got a nice subtle one, If a fun suit (like all red, or even black and not buttoned or maybe something wild with flames or something) would fit in better with the wedding let me know. Hope you get all the stuff you want to get done, done.
tinypliny - 09/19/09 16:09
Man, I miss scent of henna on my hands SO much!
Man, I miss scent of henna on my hands SO much!
09/17/2009 04:27 #49792
happy birthday carey!Category: birthday
!HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I hope it's full of surprises! Wish I could be there to help celebrate.
theecarey - 09/17/09 15:06
hahahahahaha this picture is hilarious. Thank you!
hahahahahaha this picture is hilarious. Thank you!
libertad - 09/17/09 13:59
Happy Birfday
Happy Birfday
tinypliny - 09/17/09 10:05
Wish you an awesome year ahead Carey (with hopefully no major intrusions from you-know-who) :D
Wish you an awesome year ahead Carey (with hopefully no major intrusions from you-know-who) :D
mrmike - 09/17/09 07:02
Happy Day Carey, Hope it is a great one!
Happy Day Carey, Hope it is a great one!
rory - 09/17/09 06:12
Happy Birthday Carey! Have a great one!
Happy Birthday Carey! Have a great one!
09/08/2009 08:01 #49723
party poopersCategory: potpourri
I'm curious for a little input. If you were planning a party...and at this party you wanted certain things..and those certain things cost money...and you're willing to pay that money because you want to be happy...and you invite people to your party because you want them to join you in your happiness...
1. Would you get a little upset if someone said, "I'm not coming to the pre-party event but I'll pop by the party for a little bit as long as I can also bring my kid" (who was not invited).
2. How would you respond to such a statement?
1. Would you get a little upset if someone said, "I'm not coming to the pre-party event but I'll pop by the party for a little bit as long as I can also bring my kid" (who was not invited).
2. How would you respond to such a statement?
jason - 09/08/09 18:47
I would let them come to their own conclusion about coming to the event, and I would hold firm about the no kids rule. If they can't make it, it isn't the end of the world. Very few things are.
I would let them come to their own conclusion about coming to the event, and I would hold firm about the no kids rule. If they can't make it, it isn't the end of the world. Very few things are.
jenks - 09/08/09 17:59
yeah, I wouldn't necessarily assume the worst- the flip side would be "well crap i really want to come celebrate with you, but I can't unless it's at X time and with Y contingencies".
But at the same time- I agree that it's rude. I don't like when people think they can 'sneak' their kids in just b/c they're cute or whatever.
yeah, I wouldn't necessarily assume the worst- the flip side would be "well crap i really want to come celebrate with you, but I can't unless it's at X time and with Y contingencies".
But at the same time- I agree that it's rude. I don't like when people think they can 'sneak' their kids in just b/c they're cute or whatever.
drew - 09/08/09 17:19
If people blow off one, but not the other, I think you have to roll with it. As Paul pointed out, there are lots of reasons they might not go. I had a friend who had an anxiety attack whenever she went into a church building--so I would be cool with that one, but to the other I'd say: "sorry, no kids." and let them make their own choice.
If people blow off one, but not the other, I think you have to roll with it. As Paul pointed out, there are lots of reasons they might not go. I had a friend who had an anxiety attack whenever she went into a church building--so I would be cool with that one, but to the other I'd say: "sorry, no kids." and let them make their own choice.
joshua - 09/08/09 14:18
I need more context than this.
I need more context than this.
theecarey - 09/08/09 13:36
"No children. Sorry you will miss the party"
If he or she said that they would like to attend the whole party festivity, and were only able to do so if they brought their child, then it would simply be a matter of you reiterating that it is an adult only function. The party hosts have the right to determine if children (at any age)can attend. Since the child was not invited, it should be assumed that it isn't appropriate to try to bring one. This person may have many circumstances leading to their ability to attend only with their kid, but it would be better for them to fully decline (or be declined) than to try to impose on the hosts. It is not ok to pick and chose which parts of the party they will be at AND modify the invitation. Essentially they are not committing. If they wanted to come badly enough, they could find a sitter.
If they found a sitter and said, "I found a sitter for these two hours which is only during the party, not the pre party", then I'd go with it.
In short, it is what (e:james) said.
"No children. Sorry you will miss the party"
If he or she said that they would like to attend the whole party festivity, and were only able to do so if they brought their child, then it would simply be a matter of you reiterating that it is an adult only function. The party hosts have the right to determine if children (at any age)can attend. Since the child was not invited, it should be assumed that it isn't appropriate to try to bring one. This person may have many circumstances leading to their ability to attend only with their kid, but it would be better for them to fully decline (or be declined) than to try to impose on the hosts. It is not ok to pick and chose which parts of the party they will be at AND modify the invitation. Essentially they are not committing. If they wanted to come badly enough, they could find a sitter.
If they found a sitter and said, "I found a sitter for these two hours which is only during the party, not the pre party", then I'd go with it.
In short, it is what (e:james) said.
paul - 09/08/09 11:27
Some people just don't like wedding ceremonies despite who is getting married. (e:hodown) and (e:Terry), ematthew and I skipped out on my friend kristina's ceremony in part because were both jaded that we haven't been married. She hasn't found the right man and in our case, we are not allowed to be married. Well that and in part because I feel very uncomfortable at religious events. I would really only attend a family religious event.
So perhaps she has a prior engadgement/issue/phobia that is preventing her from going and she is using the kid as an excuse, hoping you say no because the kid was not invited or you aren't having kids at the wedding, etc.
Or she really is too poor to get a baby sitter - and in that case its kind of sad. I mean if you consider the $100 babysitting plus gift combo, it might be too much for her budget.
Or she could just be a jerk, it is hard to tell without background info.
Some people just don't like wedding ceremonies despite who is getting married. (e:hodown) and (e:Terry), ematthew and I skipped out on my friend kristina's ceremony in part because were both jaded that we haven't been married. She hasn't found the right man and in our case, we are not allowed to be married. Well that and in part because I feel very uncomfortable at religious events. I would really only attend a family religious event.
So perhaps she has a prior engadgement/issue/phobia that is preventing her from going and she is using the kid as an excuse, hoping you say no because the kid was not invited or you aren't having kids at the wedding, etc.
Or she really is too poor to get a baby sitter - and in that case its kind of sad. I mean if you consider the $100 babysitting plus gift combo, it might be too much for her budget.
Or she could just be a jerk, it is hard to tell without background info.
james - 09/08/09 08:09
"I like you, but I don't like you enough to get a babysitter"
"I like you, but I don't like you enough to get a babysitter"
09/04/2009 06:58 #49695
worlds sexiest camelCategory: potpourri
Miss Qatar 2009
leetee - 09/05/09 00:14
yep, exactly what i think of when i think of sexy...
yep, exactly what i think of when i think of sexy...
metalpeter - 09/04/09 17:38
My First Thought is that is insane and where would one sit?
But my second thought is, hold on at county and state fairs all over the country they have beauty competitions for animals. The USA Network shows that big dog show every year and Wrestling switches channels so it isn't really weird at all.
My First Thought is that is insane and where would one sit?
But my second thought is, hold on at county and state fairs all over the country they have beauty competitions for animals. The USA Network shows that big dog show every year and Wrestling switches channels so it isn't really weird at all.
i don't think i could live like that. actually, i know i couldn't. i would go insane. i admire you though, the stories you have to tell...
I'm a bit crazy as you know in some ways. I think I'm now more looking forward to seeing how things come out then the weeding itself.
In Terms of the Job thing, I don't have any advice at all. But what you are saying doesn't sound crazy. Now I never lived in the dorms but when I was in school I thought that dorms where separated by gender or sex. I thought integrated dorms was a pretty new thing (I'm sure all schools do thing a little differently). I thought some schools have rules about like no boys after like a certain time but not sure (again never dormed). But the point you make is very good and very true that you have to follow some else's rules. Now I do have an odd question With you being a women I assume that you can only go to women's rooms by your self? If you went to a man's you would need a Champorne?