July update

Hello Everybody!!

It has been 2 months, 1 week, and 5 hours… and I am back online! Our computer arrived in one piece (yay!) and the ADSL man finally (it took 5 weeks!) hooked me up. So, now I can email daily, and talk to those of you who have Skype. I am so excited!!

We have been here almost 6 weeks now (plus another month for Brendan) and have settled in well. Lots of great new friends, mostly young families, which is super, and the best thing is that most of them live walking distance away (in the same compound). People from all over Europe, Asia , the Americas – I fit right in, lots of "mixed" people just like me! Being the only Aussie in our compound, Brendan is handed the BBQ tongs whenever we get invited anywhere, but I don't think he minds.

We swim almost everyday, we have a lovely big pool here in Green Village, and on weekends we can head to the beach. Unfortunately, it has been a bit too humid to spend time at the beach, so we have only ventured out to the sand dunes in our 4WD once. Apparently October onwards the weather calms down. The hottest temperature so far has been 51 degrees – that sure was a quick walk from the mall to the car! (We even need a chiller on our water tank because the 'cold' water would burn the kids in the bath!)

So, apart from the VERY HUMID HEAT, which we have somehow grown accustomed to, there are no complaints. We have just moved into our amazing 2-storey house, which is covered in marble and has extremely high ceilings. The rooms are so massive, it makes our furniture look minute. I have splurged on six Persian rugs so far, I think I could get addicted! Brendan would argue that I already am…

The girls are doing really well, both adjusted easily. It seems so long ago, but the exhausting flight on our own went relatively smoothly, both girls being super-cooperative, but boy were we glad to see Brendan at the other end! Isabelle is making lots of friends, and has a full social calendar. In regards to her schooling, we still don't have confirmation of a place in school yet, but hopefully we will in the next couple of weeks. There has been such a big influx of expats that the schools are supersaturated and the waitlists are bursting. Everyone tells me you just have to harass them until they give you a spot.

Matilda had her 1st birthday here, and was serenaded with the Danish birthday song! She is running now, babbling non-stop, and eating a lot! Loving following her big sister around, they are starting to play together which is lovely, but Matilda sure is feisty if she doesn't get her way.

I have been setting up home, shopping for the home, sewing curtains, and chasing up tradesmen! I could write a whole book about the hair-pulling experience of getting things done here, but I won't! Let's just say you have to be persistent or nothing would get done. I am 3 weeks behind with my uni studies, due to the delay in our container being delivered, so am busy trying to catch up. Fortunately I learned from last semester that a full load is probably not such a good idea after all, and I am only doing 2 units this semester.

Driving here is scary! Most cars are 4WD and are driven like "Qatari Ferraris"… too fast and with absolutely no regard for road rules. There are only a handful of traffic lights with all other intersections being roundabouts where you take a deep breath and just go for it! Brendan takes the car to work, so during the day the girls and I get picked up by our limo driver. All the malls here (there are at least 7) have huge indoor kids arcades with full size rollercoasters, merri-go-rounds, jumping castles, ice-skating rinks, water-parks, etc. It is amazing! So there is always something to do, we are not getting bored at all!

I would like to end this lengthy email by telling you that we have 6 extra sleeping spots, 8 at a squeeze, so would love visitors anytime! Keep in touch!

Lots of love, Samantha, Brendan, Isabelle & Matilda xxxx