Hello!
Wow, another month has passed quickly!
September was a super hectic time here. While my parents visited I completed my teaching practice, in both primary and secondary schools. It was great fun, but totally exhausting too! They are so short staffed (especially maths teachers!) here that I was pratically offered jobs on the spot, but I had to resist the temptation... must finish my degrees this time! (For those of you who asked, I am finishing my math degree and I have just started a Bachelor of Education.)
Matilda was left to entertain her grandparents, and I believe that they had a lovely time together. Brendan was glad to have another guy in the house, and made the most of it with night golf, boat trips, 4WDing on the sand dunes, and endless games of table tennis. We indulged in many delicious meals out trying local delicacies, and spent many lazy afternoons at the pool.
Other big news is that Isabelle is now riding without trainer wheels! There is a bike gang in this compound and their meeting place is right outside our villa, so Isabelle rushes out and joins them as soon as she hears to 20 or more kids congregate. She has now begun her training for Le Tour de France 2007, and hopes to join her Dad and Grandpa on their rides in France next (northern) summer.
Ramadan started a couple of weeks ago, so most things have shut down (during the day anyhow) and we are spending more time at home. The traffic is even worse now once the sun sets, so it is best that way. For those who don't know what Ramadan is, it is a time for the Muslims to fast and reflect on their spirituality. We have to be more aware of dressing modestly, and absolutely no drinking or eating in public, not even sipping some water in the car. There have been so many occasions when we have brought snacks for the car, but have had to put them away forgetting that it is Ramadan.
Thankfully, the temperature has dropped and it is now only mid-40's during the day. The mornings and evenings are fairly pleasant and it is almost possible to sit outside and eat. I was excited the other morning when I drove Isabelle to school and it was 29 degrees (at 6.45am)! First time ever that I have seen it under 30!
We have booked our tickets to Sweden for Christmas. I am super excited about sharing this very magical time with Brendan and the girls. It will be so wonderful to finally introduce them to my extended family who are busily planning the festive week in anticipation of our arrival. We will spend one week in the south of Sweden, and then one week in Stockholm. Finally a White White Christmas!
Thanks also to everyone who sends us emails! We absolutely love being updated with what's happening with you!
Lots of love, Samantha, Brendan, Isabelle & Matilda xxxx
Here are a bunch of photos and stories of what we have been up to since moving to Doha, Qatar, in July 2006. Enjoy! Brendan, Samantha, Isabelle, Matilda & Josephine
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Thursday, August 31, 2006
August update
Hello!
Thank you for all the emails. It is just lovely hearing from friends & family... we love it!
Let me update you on the month of August... The big news is that Isabelle was accepted to two schools, so we ended up having a choice, which was great. She started school today at the Doha Montessori & British School, which runs a Montessori kindergarten then a British curriculum school. She is in the reception grade, which is equivalent to pre-primary in Australia (before first grade). We went to the tailor to get her school uniform made, and it is adorable! There are half a dozen kids from our compound attending her school, so plenty of friends nearby for Isabelle.
Matilda continues to develop in leaps and bounds, is actually running around the house, and playing dressups with big sis. As soon as she hears Daddy come home from work, she rushes to the front door with her bathers in her hand, hat on her head, and goggles around her neck! We spend every afternoon at the pool with all the other families, yes, very relaxing.
Brendan celebrated his birthday on Sunday (which happens to be the Qatar national day, so he is guaranteed a day off every year!) by flying to Copenhagen for work. I have heard from him - he's enjoying the rain, cycling & the bacon! We had a cocktail/pool/dance party on Friday for him, which was a huge success (photos from that night are available only on request, not for general viewing!!) - see photo of Matilda enjoying her first Mudslide!
I am struggling a little with uni, getting completely distracted by anything... like writing emails to you all! My parents are coming to visit next week, which we are all super excited about (of course, this has nothing to do with the suitcase packed full of gluten free food for me!!).
Keep the emails coming! 
Love,
Samantha, Brendan, Isabelle & Matilda xxxx
Thank you for all the emails. It is just lovely hearing from friends & family... we love it!
Let me update you on the month of August... The big news is that Isabelle was accepted to two schools, so we ended up having a choice, which was great. She started school today at the Doha Montessori & British School, which runs a Montessori kindergarten then a British curriculum school. She is in the reception grade, which is equivalent to pre-primary in Australia (before first grade). We went to the tailor to get her school uniform made, and it is adorable! There are half a dozen kids from our compound attending her school, so plenty of friends nearby for Isabelle.Matilda continues to develop in leaps and bounds, is actually running around the house, and playing dressups with big sis. As soon as she hears Daddy come home from work, she rushes to the front door with her bathers in her hand, hat on her head, and goggles around her neck! We spend every afternoon at the pool with all the other families, yes, very relaxing.
Brendan celebrated his birthday on Sunday (which happens to be the Qatar national day, so he is guaranteed a day off every year!) by flying to Copenhagen for work. I have heard from him - he's enjoying the rain, cycling & the bacon! We had a cocktail/pool/dance party on Friday for him, which was a huge success (photos from that night are available only on request, not for general viewing!!) - see photo of Matilda enjoying her first Mudslide!
I am struggling a little with uni, getting completely distracted by anything... like writing emails to you all! My parents are coming to visit next week, which we are all super excited about (of course, this has nothing to do with the suitcase packed full of gluten free food for me!!).
Keep the emails coming! 
Love,
Samantha, Brendan, Isabelle & Matilda xxxx
Monday, July 31, 2006
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
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
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