Seasonal change

We just turned off the a/c two nights ago and in doing so, entered another season.  The temperatures are autumn-like and very pleasant.  It is a relief to finally have the cool air off at night, as it dehydrates us completely.   I still wear sandals but throw on a light jacket in the morning.  We have had more than five days of rain in the past two weeks, which is a lot more than usual.  Unfortunately, it is not a clean rain; with so much dust in the air, the drops hit the ground not to wash away the dirt it but to make things worse.  On the upside, the skies are a little clearer than at other times of the year.

The cooler weather made Thanksgiving last week seem a little more like back home.  After school on Thursday, we invited some good friends over for a copious spread of comfort foods and much laughter.  I have said it so many times before, the people we know are the best part of the living here.  We saw parts of all three football games.  The next day, Russ took our leftovers to the group of workers building another highrise behind our apartment complex.  He also collected canned and boxed food from people and we cooked up meals for the week to take to them.  He has really reached out to them and likes to stop on his way to and from the gym.  Even with the language barrier, much is communicated without words.

I love the Christmas season.  I have a small decorated tree in my office and we have a four foot pine at home with sparkling white lights and whimsical heart and handmade Swedish decorations.  As soon as we get home, we light the candles and play Christmas music throughout the evening.  I also play instrumental holiday music all day at work and that instantly raises my spirits.  Despite being Muslim in a desert country, most Kuwaitis know about the secular commercial aspects of Christmas, and seeing decorations (although quite scaled-down) in school or the malls is not uncommon.  Our social calendar is filling up quickly with holiday cheer in the last three weeks before school lets out. 

We have given our notice at school and will not be returning next year.  We have known for a very long time that Kuwait is not the place for us, but just recently confirmed with ourselves that we are indeed headed home.  Even compared to our options (tempting to stay overseas in the Far East or Europe), we find ourselves drawn back to the Berkshires.  So we are in the middle of developing professional websites, refreshing resumes, and investigating options.  Not surprising, there are many people who will also be leaving the school next year, which makes for a weird dynamic sometimes. 

So in several ways, the seasons are changing here and we are moving with the flow of things.