Of New Zealand...

The Quake (note the use of the capital letter), the Big One, and it hit but not where we all expected.  Who expected Christchurch? Was it not to happen somewhere else....not us.  When it does happen to us then the reality of humanity digs; this is what it is like for everyone when disaster strikes.  But is it not just harder to comprehend when it is to your own?  I feel so, because you recognize the names, the places, the businesses and the lives that were being lived and with NZ being small, it is only just too real.

Over here in Doha, we now have news of friends and family and their situations.  None have had a death hit their family, and some of their homes are significantly damaged.  I have seen names on the missing list that I am aware of and I can barely even feel what the parents of the overseas students caught in the CTV building must be enduring.  Please let there still be more life under the rumble - it happens elsewhere!

We are now Apple Mac, iPad and iPod people (thanks middle brother) and I have found that these systems do not like to help me listen to the radio (live streaming) nor watch video on occasion.  That said, I now am the proud user of my iPod and iPad with constant NEWSTALK ZB running as I work from home via the use of "Apps".  I have heard a moving account of an ambulance officer (audio link), seen a quirky little cartoon (cartoon link)urging donations and have stood with Teagan to a superb version of the New Zealand Anthem (music link).  Social media and updated computer and internet systems have brought Christchurch into our Villa in Doha, Qatar.

Now onto another thought, that of living a normal life, as we are privileged to do.  Teagan has prepared a morning-tea picnic for Dad outside.  I am not invited and I am sure you can hear my distress!  Ross appears to be enjoying himself and they have determined that chocolate provides energy!

For me, I have a small movie night tonight.  I have a couple of friends coming to watch a NZ autobiographical movie covering a goodly portion of Janet Frame's early writing life.  "An Angel at my Table", the movie covers her full three part autobiography and must be one of my all time favourites.  Is that because she is probably my favourite author?  And of course, The Swans, is my all time favourite short-story.

This is the bit where I convince you we "do cultured" things...

Wouldn't we all want to have some of the music offerings that are available in big cities.  Ross and I have had some wonderful music experiences in several large cities: Vienna, Dunedin, Auckland, Oxford, Wellington, London and so on.  Now we have one more to add - Doha.  Teagan loves music but shows absolutely ZERO application that would even bring us to think about any instrumental lessons for her (noting that I was on the piano by the age of five!).  When I read about Saint-Saens, Carnival of the Animals being performed here in Doha for a target audience of children, I was off to buy the tickets.

The performance was by members of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (an international group) and performed at the American School of Doha via www.asdchambermusic.com.  It was quite an instructive performance that had children interacting and Teagan even managed to answer a question!  The special addition was by a 6 year old violinist and that had us in awe of her talents and dedication - well done Trisha!

If you see the bottom photo, you will be unconvinced about us "doing cultured".  How can we, Teagan is with us!!

Back from Zekreet

We ventured off the path well travelled and found one (with a lot of looking), less travelled.  With no GPS and no good map, it was a tad challenging but out on a peninsular what really can go wrong?  Thankfully, this time, nothing.

We found a beach (of non-NZ sorts) and picnicked, Teagan style (in Otago colours for those that notice the beach shade), then spent time gathering beach treasures.  We continued around the end of the peninsular absolutely thankful for a 4x4 and continually telling ourselves that we were complete novice, sand based, off-roaders.  After taking the long way around the tip of some peninsular part of Qatar (the North East) we found some kind of village thingie and then found a desert movie set.  The movie set was rather a "hoot" as these two sudanese blokes insisted on "hosting" us and supporting a photographic shoot...all worth it though and the tea they provided was superb (including one guy feeding it to Teagan so she wouldn't spill it)....I think we made their day with a tip!

We barely saw anyone, other than some local Qatari's who were leaving the peninsular the way we were entering and asked us for exit directions!  Our next job is to get ourselves a handheld GPS - we are sure that would have made finding some of the sights (buried in sand) a lot easier to locate.

Sick days in Doha...

Teagan and I have been unwell.  Firstly it was Teagan with a moderate chesty cold keeping her away from school (i.e. not spreading her disease) and then she gave me the bug.  While Teagan was off school we took the opportunity of enjoying the sunshine and learning to ride a two wheeled scooter.  Teagan has a severe passion for school work to the detriment of outside biking....so biking is our current focus!

Trains? Dinosaurs? Disney Princesses? No...the Tudors!

Many many young children become experts in a topic.  Dinosaurs, trains, princesses and so on.  As adults we are not necessarily all that impressed (it is what we have grown to expect)...but in reality we should be.  The assimilation of the information and application in their everyday life is rather impressive; how many of us can name all of the dinosaurs or train types, in fact, I failed horribly (as did Teagan) on a Disney Princess quiz provided over Skype by a five year old cousin/niece, thankfully the "Big Mac" got them all correct.

Then we get to some quirky topics.  And for this, I must thank my mother!  Teagan has become a five year old expert in basic Tudor history.  She can name Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Mary I and nearly do Mary Queen of Scots via their portraits.  But more graphically, she can explain their deaths with a particular fascination with Anne Boleyn and what life was like "a long time ago then".  It began with a full day visit to Hampton Court (now referred to as "Henry VIII's place" where there is a whispering ghost) and has continued ever since.  Most weekends now, Teagan will wear her Elizabeth princess dress and become quite offended when someone does not know it is Tudor!

To add to the detail she is often asking for the story about Mr Rat who had Yersinia pestis who made everyone "get dead" but then came the big fire and all of the rats and fleas "got dead".  Yes, this was established in her mind at the Museum of London in the Great Fire exhibit.

We are planning our next break out of Qatar and it will be to London and the surrounds (thanks to cheap National Day flight tickets).  A key feature will be Teagan escorting Ross to Hampton Court (she must go back!) and a visit to the Tower of London.  The V&A will be on the list this time as we want to introduce some finer historical appreciation.

Comparing Doha to Kuala Lumpur

Comparisons are very very fickle.  Through my working career I have seen comparisons made between one milk and another (both technically very different) but with inappropriate analysis and the lack of a simple human eyeball over the data the product is deemed the same.  Hence, this comparison is personal and is seen through my eyes only.  There is no standard and living circumstances and family size are drastically different.  Nevertheless, it is fun, so here I go on making an absolutely opinionated comparison between two vastly different countries.

Firstly, my home country, as I assume with many expatriates, is the best.  Tell me, who can easily beat New Zealand from a lifestyle perspective?  That statement made, I can now move to my only two expatriate countries without feeling that I have abandoned my home country.

So starting on the absolute opposites!  Cars, oh no, I mean Honda C90 step through scooters.  Yes, we have a drastic difference in family mobility.  Imagine, if you are able;  toddler in front basket, preschool aged child standing up behind the handlebars, father driving, small child located behind father, then mother cradling a baby in her arms behind the father......all six family members aboard a Honda C90 in the suburbs and outskirts of Shah Alam (just out of Kuala Lumpur).  Then we move to the massive beasts here in Doha.  Predominantly there are Toyota Land Cruisers.  All loaded with unrestrained children, chomping at the bit to see out the front.  Still a family of six but with vastly different wealth and expectations.  One thing I can say, is while there is no shortage of car accidents here, I am yet to see dead motorcyclists lying covered on the side of the road as we did observe in Malaysia.  Note: I do not have a photo of the family of six but I do have father and son at a Port Dickson Petronas outlet taken in 2003.

Humidity versus the desert leads to another direct opposite.  In Malaysia we enjoyed the lush feel of the tropics.  We took off to the jungle on several occasions and also had the absolute good fortune to make it into the jungles of Borneo aboard a wooden longboat with my mother, Ross and a guide.  We watched the proboscis monkeys taunt us from their jungle home and saw orangutangs and their beds, elephants, hornbills, and much much more (noting that the developed nations love of cheaper fast food is decimating their homes).  Here in Doha, we enjoy the lack of humidity, we do not have furniture going mouldy, we do not worry about dengue fever and we are not forever soothing mosquito bites.  Rather, we are sweeping away the dust, keeping our eyes covered and fighting off dehydration.

The other massive difference for us is that it is now Ross as the breadwinner.  I am the mortal at home keeping the home coolers cooling and tending to the needs of a very independent third family member.  Malaysia was a tough time for me, whilst I worked, I fought against the real feeling of hopelessness and illness associated with infertility and its multitude of treatments.  It was a lonely time as it is a very private challenge especially when you are struck down with the nasty side-effect of OHSS and the fear of being admitted to one of the local hospitals (that caused the OHSS in the first place).  Now we have the hope and company and love that a child gifts to you.  Ross and I are also so fortunate that through five year fertility struggle we really can understand the gift a child is - for those who do not know how blessed they are - we know for them!

So onto the expat lifestyle change that a child brings.  First up it is about the long-term values you want to life with.  As kiwis we want Teagan to live "sort of like" a kiwi.  To cut to the chase that means NO maid, NO driver, and NO nanny....one little madam has to help around the home (pink Mr Muscle cleaning fluid helps with that) and it also means that "yours truly" ends up on the end of a mop and vacuum rather too often to think she made a good decision (with short-term glasses on).  Then the other key difference is the opening of networks. One's child does not care what country their friend comes from: can they communicate (in a form) and do they have a similar interest in play?  So the net result is you make friends with their parents.  I am blessed to have met some lovely people this way.  Teagan has made our expatriate experience more valuable for us, we try harder and we think harder about what we intend to do and none of it is take for granted (well we really try not to!).

So what do I prefer?  That personally, I can say is Doha because it is easier for me; I am well again, I am not worked stressed and the country is far more developed than Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam were nearly a decade ago.  That said, Qatar is not like other countries, we are guest workers here in a nation that has extreme wealth.  Here because the country is growing rapidly and needing to import new skills.  Things are not perfect, they are not all smooth running but hey, if I don't like it, I could return to NZ and miss out on the true time wealth that an expatriate experience brings.  I wonder what Doha will be like in 5 to 10 years time?