It's dusty!

Today we had a red day. A few days ago my friend Sinae alerted us to the weather report that there would be a dust storm and possibly rain on Monday. Well, we got the dust for sure, now we're waiting for the rain to wash it all away-- fingers crossed! Some time last week we had a little dust storm after school but it wasn't too bad.

Today it started around 11:30/12. The kids were obsessed with looking outside. I had to close the curtains to try to get any work done. One student informed me that he wouldn't be able to go outside because he's allergic to the dust. (this kid is allergic to EVERYTHING and claims that even the smell of nuts causes a reaction) It didn't matter because we watched as they put the red flags out indicating that it was a red day. A red day means that the dust is so bad that the kids can't go outside to play. So we had indoor recess.

It was still dusty when parents (read: nannies and drivers) came to pick up the kids. They were armed with face masks to quickly cover the kid's faces and I was transported back to Korea-- everyone walking around with a face mask. I need to get some and have them on hand. I didn't even have a scarf to cover my face when I walked home an hour later and it was still dusty.

The dust was so thick that I could actually look directly at the sun. That doesn't happen too often. Here's some pics.

the kids were only allowed to go out and buy from the canteen and come back quickly at recess

some of the dust in the hallways- I feel sorry for the cleaning nannies

some of my co-workers came prepared

the walk home

it's not often that you can look directly at the sun and take pictures of it

street light turned on because of the darkness and the sun in the background

I'm so fancy....

So my friend Sinae talked me into going with her and Sybil to a piano recital on Thursday night. I wasn't going to go because there was this principal's dinner that I felt we should be going to, but I caved and went to the recital instead. I posted a pic on instagram and FB but I thought I would post a couple more here.
It was fun to have an excuse to get dressed up and fancy, pretend I'm cultured a little. When we got to the Raddison- where the recital was, I could see this GIANT ship looking thing at the very back, right on the water. I secretly hoped the recital was there and happily it was. The hall was amazing! It looked like a big ship that was attached to the building. Inside was a big ballroom with tons of big chandeliers. The pianist was a woman named Sonja Park- Korean. :) She was AMAZING! I don't know much about piano, but I know what she played was very difficult and she played it very well.
My friends were a little sad that there was no wine at intermission. I enjoyed the fact that I knew I would be able to drink what they were serving- yea! It was just juice, coffee and tea. At least it wasn't coffee, tea, and wine- then I wouldn't have had anything. One out of three is better than none out of three.

the "ship" from outside

the massive doors leading to the ship/ballroom

the back of the ship/ballroom

the floors were amazing

during the recital

I thought this was funny--a no smoking sign in the bathroom. Love the translation

little by little

Today, the very little bit of "art" I have was hung on my wall. It's so nice to not have blank, white walls anymore. My "art" consists of a scratch-off travel map, (you scratch off the countries as you visit them) the word "TRAVEL" 3D box-ish made out of old maps, and a collage of pictures I've taken in various places. I like it. No, I love it. It makes me happy when I look at it.

I was able to fix the ugly brown couch issue. My friends had black couches in their apartment that didn't match with their decor- brown worked much better in their place. We were able to arrange a swap and we are both SO HAPPY with the change. I bought a couple of throw pillow... innards? Stuffing? I need to find good covers that will work with the room. The whiteness of the... innards... kinda works, but it's also rather stark. The throws will take some time and work to figure out.

I also bought a bed set so now my bed looks pretty. I need a few more pillows for that as well. The embroidery was off center as well which makes me unhappy, but after getting that bed skirt on there was no way I was going to go to the trouble of returning it. Too much hassle.

Climbing Sand Castles

Today some of us took a little trip out to Muttlah Ridge. It's the only geographic feature in Kuwait. The only elevation change. It was interesting and now I can check that off and not really feel like I need to go back. It was fun just to get out of the city, out of my apartment for a little bit and go hike around-- even if it is still well over 100F. It was freaking HOT! We didn't stay long, but even in the short 45mins-1 hour that I spent out climbing around my water was hot! And then once you get back where it's cool you sweat like you've never sweated before.

Sadly, there was a lot of trash all over out there. LOTS of tires, but some of them looked like they use them for camels or something. We passed a few camels along the way going up there but I didn't get any pics. Much like how you will see cattle when you drive around in the US. You can find old bullets from the war out in the sand- so that's kinda cool.

On the way home we saw a BIG fire - we think it was at some oil place, or something. Not a refinery, but oil was definitely burning. We also stopped at a Mc Donald's which was interesting. It had this thatched looking roof inside.

By the McDonald's was the remnants of a sand castle contest/exhibition. A couple of people in the group had come and seen the sand castles when this contest/exhibition was on and they said it was really nice, with nice walk ways and lights and fire-- they do it every year. What we saw was run down and derelict, which was AWESOME! It allowed us to climb all over them and just play around. When do you get to climb sand castles? They were amazing. They were almost cement like, but not as sturdy. It was really cool. Total highlight of the trip.

Iraq is about 80km down that road

the ridge is in the background.. no idea what the wall is for

all the little black dots are tires

Levi carried a tire up to roll down

it was smart to park the van near this big tower so we could find our way back

a big oil fire

In the sludge....

Sorry- I haven't posted for awhile. I was in survival mode for a little bit there. It was pretty much taking everything for me to just make it to Eid. It's now in the middle of Eid and I am doing my best to squander away this precious extra time I have- and need- to get my life organized. I'll hit it hard on Wednesday. Tomorrow I'm taking a trip to the ridge- the only geographic feature in Kuwait, but more on that after I've gone and come back. 

Part of the reason I haven't posted is because I hit a very deep and thick part of the sludge. I'm lucky to have done this moving thing SEVERAL times and the moving overseas thing a few times. I've moved to different cities/ states 8 times and this is my 3rd time overseas. Every time you move, the first three months are the most difficult and I think it takes a full year most times before you really feel comfortable and part of the community. When it's a new country that's all amplified. 

The first three months are the sludge. It's like walking through waist deep, thick mud. You can do it, but it's just so much harder and slower than it was before. EVERYTHING takes longer, everything is confusing. You are still figuring what you're doing and where to go to get things. It takes time to build those muscles and get used to your new situation. I know this so I just keep swimming. 

Oh, I have my mini break downs now and then when everything seems to happen at once and I just can't take it anymore. I had one last week. Getting things sorted with my visa/Civil ID has been an even bigger hassle than it normally is, than it is for 90% of the other new teachers- just because I'm lucky like that. That has caused a domino effect of other hassles, such as getting my bank account set up and actually being able to get paid on our first pay day. Dealing with all this may have caused me to be a bit short tempered last week. It also caused me to miss our first field trip so that sucked. And I may have felt like I was being targeted for everything when I was just trying to do my best. *sigh*

I could go on but I won't. One of things about being in the sludge is you have to be careful not to wallow in it too long or you'll drown. 

Let's end on a good note... A sneak peak if you will. My house got painted today. I went with a very nice grey. And I bought a rug. I thought the rug worked with the room but it has now made me hate the brown couches and maroon curtains even more. I will be looking for slip covers and curtains for sure! I'm thinking black curtains and white/cream slip covers. And some good throw pillows with color- silver, black, white, the same shade of blue/teal as the rug..... What else would go? I realize the pink desk doesn't match, but it was free. I may paint it black if I can. Not sure it's paintable....