I'm BACK!

I have been back for almost a week. It feels good to be home (love seeing my folks, playing with Otis and Ruby, running outside, eating yummy food...), but I really want to get out on my own again ASAP. Fingers crossed something pans out SOON. Anyway, I received my box and art I shipped from Qatar a few days ago and they were in fantastic condition. See!

Very different than when my stuff arrived in Doha. Remember that?

Anyway, here are a couple more pictures and notes from my last week in Doha (it has taken me this long to post because A) the cable to connect my camera to my computer was in the box I shipped and B) there is not a lot going on to talk about).

Evidence of the cockroach problem I had all year. Lovely.

But on a much better note, I got flowers from Gary.

I do not understand why men from the Gulf wear these sandals. They kill me.

So that is it for now.

Note to American Airlines: Fire the person who thought a Brendan Fraser movie marathon was a good idea. WRONG. Made for a painfully long flight...when the flight was already over 9 hours.

Rafting the Nile Photos

I have been back from Africa for about a month (but I wish to return), but I just found some photos from the Nile whitewater rafting trip (courtesy of Beccy's Facebook page) that I did on the very last day of my East Africa adventure with several of my fellow Tucan buddies. So here they are:

To hold you over...

The genius I am packed my camera cable in the massive box I shipped back to the States late last week with the rest of my stuff (except for what I am bringing back in my suitcases). So I cannot upload and post a few pictures from my last days in Doha. So I will have to save them for posting when we (me and my stuff) arrive in the motherland. In my head: Dear God, please make sure my massive box and its contents as well as my three pieces of art arrive home in one piece... So to hold you over, here are a few photos I have gathered from the web that I like (I have a file on my computer of images (and videos) from the web I like):

Adorbz!

Goodbye, Jeep!

Yesterday, a hot and sandstorm-filled day in Doha, was a glorious day. I sold the stupid and dumpy Jeep. THANK. GOD. The bane of my existence is out of my life forever! The bad dream, make that nightmare, is over. What a HUGE (like a couple thousand pounds one) relief! It was not necessarily a bad set of wheels, just a royal pain my behind, a responsibility I did not want to have (especially when you think about how you put your life on the line every single time you attempt to navigate the mean streets of Doha). And so it is gone and thus I am in a fantastic mood and basically good to go for my departure on Friday! It was nice knowing ya, Jeep, but I will not miss you. The end.

PS I gotta give a lot of credit to Gary. He did a lot of the dealing for me since all the men I dealt with earlier when trying to sell it treated me like crap. I owe him a big dinner.

On the flip side, what I will miss here...

1. THE STUDENTS, particularly Maha, Sundus, Setareh, Zena, Maryam, the Benazirs, Basit, Modarris, Maham, Sinan, Safi, Dianna, Ajmal, Sarwar, Haya......

2. Friends like Gary, Rachelle and Rosemary, Justin, Faten, Mohana...

3. Jamaican food at Caribbean Cuisine and Pastry, particularly delicious festival.

4. Getting clothes made by my tailor friend...and fabric shopping.

5. All my vacation time and the close proximity of so many cool places.

6. Thai Snack and its yummy pad see ew.

7. Shawarma (but I am definitely over hummus).

8. Juice stalls (the best ones are the ones that do not look like they pass health codes).

9. The kindness and smiles of the workers, especially the cleaners in my buildings.

10. My dirt cheap phone bills.

11. The challenge of language barriers because it makes for interesting conversations.

12. Having a job and thus receiving a paycheck!

13. Driving and all the amazing Land Cruiser drivers. NOT.

14. The Call to Prayer.

15. Shopping at the souq for scarves.

What I look forward to back HOME!

1. Eating two perfect little cheeseburgers and drinking a milkshake from Dick's Drive-In.

2. Eating Mexican food as often as possible.

3. GETTING A JOB...

4. ...and then moving.

5. Shopping at Value Village.

6. Organizing my finances (buying some more stocks, consolidating a couple accounts...I want my money to work for me).

7. Drinking sangria (I have been craving it lately). Preferably outside.

8. My mom's yummy cooking.

9. Camping (s'mores!).

10. SEEING FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

11. Getting health check ups (it has been over a year...).

12. Running outside.

13. Stars.

14. Riding my bike.

15. Getting a haircut.