Out of the ordinary

We deviate from our "Groundhog Day" schedule occasionally, most often on the weekends. For example, Melissa and I went to the AWARE center (http://www.aware.com.kw)last Friday to find a wonderful blend of crafts - some local and other imported, food, and art. We ate falafel and sesame cake, each found a silk skirt, and got henna tattoos on our hands. Maria and I heard about a textile bazaar this Saturday that we will check out at the Sadu House textile museum. 'Tis the bazaar season, much like at home.

Also last weekend, Sarah and I went to volunteer at Operation Hope (http://www.operation-hope-kuwait.com/), an organization that works with domestic workers. Because she has a car we were able to bring bags of clothes to the women's shelter at the Filipino embassy. Hope to get into a routine of doing this once a month. They will be opening a thrift store up soon as well. Recycling is almost non-existent here, so this is really venturing into untested waters.

This weekend is all about Halloween. The elementary kids have been parading around the middle and high school in costume today and the high school students will have their chance on Halloween. We've decorated our entryway at home with large paper pumpkins, and we be putting goody bags together as the kids from the complex will be trick-or-treating Monday night. There are a couple of parties that we will probably duck into for a little bit. It's also a big schoolwork weekend as grades are due next week.

During the week, it's a little harder to change up the schedule. Every now and then, we go downstairs to Rob's to watch a Sunday afternoon NFL game. It starts at 8:00 Sunday night, so we really only watch the first quarter before trodding off to sleep.

This past Monday afternoon after we got back from the gym, Maria and I had a happy hour of sorts in the apartment. We have built quite a cabinet of drink offerings, and it was nice to "go out" even if we were staying in.

When we don't have a lot of school work in the evening, we try to visit people in the complex. It helps to get out of the apartment, and we have met some really incredibly nice folks. This week we stopped in to see Nancy, who is one of Russ' science colleagues. She's from Chicago, a few years older than us, and incredibly positive. Chris and Christy are from Sasketchewan; she's a nurse and he teaches middle school. Chris is quite the experimental brewmaster and showed us this week how to make hard cider. Sean and Melissa are incredibly warm and open people who host the Arabic lessons every week. The are down-to-earth and very funny. Sarah and Justin give us a ride to church, and had us over for breakfast last weekend. They've been on the international school circuit for a while, and both their kids were born abroad.

Last night we did our grocery shopping on the way home so that frees up the weekend tremendously with one less chore. This morning we took the 6:15 bus to work which was almost decadent. We had more time at home to putter around; I actually had time for a cup of tea (which I normally refuse to have unless I have the time to drink it leisurely). We did not have as much time at school to get ready before the day started, but it's kind of a catch-up day anyway. I've already accomplished a lot which is a great feeling. Just five more school days until the holiday.