It's hard to sit down and blog in a way because SO much is happening right now that I can't remember everything I want to share with you readers. I'll do my best. Since I last wrote, we've continued to lead a very busy life between work and play (although play is tied in to work).
On the play side, the school has taken us to different places to shop for groceries or for household needs and we've been able to find more things for our house, mainly kitchen and cleaning needs. We spent way too long at LuLu's again last night trying to stock our pantry and find a comforter for our bed. We succeeded in finding a mattress pad, but no luck on the comforter/blanket. Oddly, despite it being so hot, all the comforters here are the thick, cushy type. We want to get something light, like a coverlet or quilt but we haven't seen any. We'll keep looking because we live in a hot climate and don't desire to keep ourselves hot at night. Fun tidbit about the store that I forgot last time. You can take your cart up and down these conveyor belt-type "escalators" so you can shop for your food and washer/dryer all on the same trip. Convenient. Let's just hope your bagger doesn't squish your produce under your new LCD TV ;-)
Two nights ago, we got the luxury of leaving our kids with a babysitter and going to a posh restaurant buffet at a hotel resort called Shangi-la (it's 3 hotels in one area). If you want to check it out, go to http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/muscat/barraljissahresort . If you are thinking buffet, gross, think again. Buffets here are not like buffets in the US. Sorry, I totally left my camera in the car before boarding the bus, so I have no pictures, to show but the restaurant was beautiful and there were three different buffet areas you could get. Each place had foods from different regions (Omani, Arabic, and Indian). There was also all kinds of different ethnic drinks (Rose water juice is awesome) and a dessert bar. Desserts outside of the US are way better too because you actually get appropriate serving sizes and they aren't grossly sweet. The cheese tart was to die for. It was way better than cheesecake to me. Sorry, Mom! On the way home, the bus took us through Muscat proper and Mutrah, which is were the old fort and one of the palaces is. It may have been night but it was amazing to see. We are supposed to go back there next week and I'll post pictures then.
Colin has been attending morning inservice days to learn about the school, school protocol, technology, etc.... The picture above shows him on his first day, in front of the elementary entrance. The school has a lot of last minute construction and cleaning going on, so we haven't been able to use the main entrance. New teacher in service week also consists of them helping you set up your bank account, getting a drivers license, and so on. BUT, to do all of those things, you have to have a residency card. That was the experience today, and I got to go too.
The government buildings that do residency cards are always packed. Apparently lots of people come into Oman everyday, LOTS. Imagine being in DMV hell. That's what this place and process is like. You get a number and wait. It's mainly men coming in, so luckily, we women got through very quickly. When the women left, the men were still in line for fingerprinting (step 1). So yes, step 1 is getting your picture and fingerprints done. I'll hand it to the Omani government, they are on top of technology and your fingerprints are done electronically on this pushpad/scanner. No ink, no mistakes. Then you take your paperwork and go two buildings over to get your residency card. You get a number and wait again. You go into another room and get another picture, they double check your thumbprint in the data base, and you sign. Then you go wait in another room for them to call your name to pick up your printed card. You have to check your thumbprint again on a scanner and you are done. Sounds easy, but it's not. When we ladies got done fingerprinting the guys were about number 170 in line and they were still in the 90's. I doubt the guys will be done till 2:00ish, and since it's Ramadan, they have to wait in there through lunch with no food or drink.
Before I sign off, here are a few pictures of our house and area, and then a fun few tid-bits to finish.
On the play side, the school has taken us to different places to shop for groceries or for household needs and we've been able to find more things for our house, mainly kitchen and cleaning needs. We spent way too long at LuLu's again last night trying to stock our pantry and find a comforter for our bed. We succeeded in finding a mattress pad, but no luck on the comforter/blanket. Oddly, despite it being so hot, all the comforters here are the thick, cushy type. We want to get something light, like a coverlet or quilt but we haven't seen any. We'll keep looking because we live in a hot climate and don't desire to keep ourselves hot at night. Fun tidbit about the store that I forgot last time. You can take your cart up and down these conveyor belt-type "escalators" so you can shop for your food and washer/dryer all on the same trip. Convenient. Let's just hope your bagger doesn't squish your produce under your new LCD TV ;-)
Two nights ago, we got the luxury of leaving our kids with a babysitter and going to a posh restaurant buffet at a hotel resort called Shangi-la (it's 3 hotels in one area). If you want to check it out, go to http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/muscat/barraljissahresort . If you are thinking buffet, gross, think again. Buffets here are not like buffets in the US. Sorry, I totally left my camera in the car before boarding the bus, so I have no pictures, to show but the restaurant was beautiful and there were three different buffet areas you could get. Each place had foods from different regions (Omani, Arabic, and Indian). There was also all kinds of different ethnic drinks (Rose water juice is awesome) and a dessert bar. Desserts outside of the US are way better too because you actually get appropriate serving sizes and they aren't grossly sweet. The cheese tart was to die for. It was way better than cheesecake to me. Sorry, Mom! On the way home, the bus took us through Muscat proper and Mutrah, which is were the old fort and one of the palaces is. It may have been night but it was amazing to see. We are supposed to go back there next week and I'll post pictures then.
Colin has been attending morning inservice days to learn about the school, school protocol, technology, etc.... The picture above shows him on his first day, in front of the elementary entrance. The school has a lot of last minute construction and cleaning going on, so we haven't been able to use the main entrance. New teacher in service week also consists of them helping you set up your bank account, getting a drivers license, and so on. BUT, to do all of those things, you have to have a residency card. That was the experience today, and I got to go too.
The government buildings that do residency cards are always packed. Apparently lots of people come into Oman everyday, LOTS. Imagine being in DMV hell. That's what this place and process is like. You get a number and wait. It's mainly men coming in, so luckily, we women got through very quickly. When the women left, the men were still in line for fingerprinting (step 1). So yes, step 1 is getting your picture and fingerprints done. I'll hand it to the Omani government, they are on top of technology and your fingerprints are done electronically on this pushpad/scanner. No ink, no mistakes. Then you take your paperwork and go two buildings over to get your residency card. You get a number and wait again. You go into another room and get another picture, they double check your thumbprint in the data base, and you sign. Then you go wait in another room for them to call your name to pick up your printed card. You have to check your thumbprint again on a scanner and you are done. Sounds easy, but it's not. When we ladies got done fingerprinting the guys were about number 170 in line and they were still in the 90's. I doubt the guys will be done till 2:00ish, and since it's Ramadan, they have to wait in there through lunch with no food or drink.
Before I sign off, here are a few pictures of our house and area, and then a fun few tid-bits to finish.
We are the upper left apartment (three front windows and around to the back)
Looking down the street. Lots of construction still going on.
School grounds
Kiddie play area
Aberly playing on the slide. The play areas are all covered with sunshades.
Aberly up at 5:00am. She has been waking up every day at that time.
We are hoping that will change soon.
You better pour me some coffee, dear, since I'm up with you at 5:00!
Grand Mosque that is on the other side of the highway from us.
Mosque being built down the highway from us.
Tidbits:
1. You pre-weigh your produce with clerks in the produce section, who tag it for the register.
2. Paychecks can only be deposited into an Omani bank account, so we'll have to pay $20 a month ($10 for each bank) to wire money to Wells Fargo so we can pay our bills back home. I guess it's that way in all countries. Bleah.
3. I don't think whoever lived in our place before us really ever cleaned. It's not gross, but it needs a deep clean for sure. I've been busting my butt the last few days!
4. The school has been providing us lunch each day and their food is great. We've gotten DQ Blizzards the last two days for dessert. Yes, they have DQ ice cream, the dispenser, and the actual Blizzard blender in the kitchen.
5. Omanis flash their headlights and honk a lot to communicate while driving. And it's not mean-spirited. I've been honked at to let me know to cross the parking lot in front of them.
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