Doha Summer 2012

I just realized few hours ago that it's going to be August tomorrow! July has come and gone just like that! For our family, this month has been really productive. Exhausting at times, but very productive indeed and so far, we are really loving Doha Summer 2012!

We are staying in the country for the entire duration of the hottest period in the desert and we just made this the best summer ever for the family.

And this blog is just to highlight that summers in Doha could be very productive if we really want it to be! (BIG NOTE TO OURSELVES!)

Summer in Doha is very awesome! I would love to write all about this but my muscles are aching and the children are already deep in slumber and it's just pure happiness to be with them. And that is really the most awesome of all the blessings we have been receiving so far... Turknoys are all arms length away and we could almost always hug them anytime we want.

Thanks be to God for all the blessings. We are hoping that you are having a sizzling and fabulous summer like we are!

we are loving the heat! ;)

Keep exploring!
 

Summer Activities: Doha Players

Who ever said summer in Doha is boring? They might be partly correct but not for our little Kylie enjoying the Doha Players summer activities. She calls it drama school! Obviously, our family loves drama a lot. It is my wish that my daughter thrives in drama as much as I did.

This summer activities is so worth it. She is very happy and always excited to go to drama school. She learns a lot and she gets encouraged to read lots of books as well.

Here are just few of the things that she learned for the past two weeks:

One Knight 




Macbeth



Helen of Troy 



Greece and goddess  (they also study about a specific country during the session " The World Around Us




The important thing is that she is enjoying a lot! That's what matters most. That and the bonus of some quite time at home. (Mommy kids a lot, ha!)


Keep exploring!
 

Ramadan in Doha

It's Ramadan in Doha! Ramadam Kareem to all my family members, friends and colleagues who are observing Ramadan.

Ramadan Greetings from our family to yours!

I just realized that I have been living in the country for six years but it will be the first time that I would be here for the entire Ramadan period - working! Accidentally or intentionally, I always file a vacation during Ramadan season. The work hours are shortened but I don't really find it quite productive working at these hours. I just imagine myself when I am starving after skipping one meal and I can't concentrate anymore at work. Imagine that and think that Ramadan requires Muslims to fast throughout the day, no food, no water for 12 hours or so. When you think about it, it is really very noble. I sincerely hope, that they are doing this practice in the right perspective acceptable to Allah. And as for working during Ramadan period for me, it won't be that bad, I suppose.

May God accept all the sacrifices of our Muslim brothers during this Holy Month of Ramadan!



Keep exploring!
 

Turknoys Just Love to Dance!

If there is one thing in this world that the kids are so happy about doing, it's dancing! Our little Kylie loves to dance with her Auntie Minay and her little brother just love to join in their dances.

Here is a typical scene at home: Enjoy!






Keep dancing!
 

Qatar Cinema: The Amazing Spiderman

Probably the worst movie that I have ever seen in cinema. Please do not watch The Amazing Spiderman. Not only was it a big waste of money but an insult to anyone's intelligence.

Well, there are some good 3D effects, that is the only positive thing I could tell. Overall, it's a big embarrassment to the Marvel story.

Why did they start over and change some major details about the Spiderman is just very wrong.

Here's our honest review: DON'T WATCH THIS MOVIE! Or.. just don't expect too much!





Keep exploring!

Reading Chapter Books: Horrid Henry's Underpants

We may have been offline for quite some time but we didn't stop reading. We even read more! One time we were hanging out in a cafe in a mall, we discussed Horrid Henry and here is what Kylie has to say about the book.

I have to keep track of the these book series as this may interest our little boy K when he is ready to read chapter books. We are wishing that he'll be as book maniac as our little girl K1.

An information about the book, Horrid Henry's Underpants

DISCOVER THE SERIES BOYS AND GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD LOVE TO READ!

Horrid Henry makes a deal with his parents in return for eating his veggies; accidentally wears girls' underwear to school; tries to prove he is sicker than his brother; and writes the meanest thank-you cards ever (and makes money on it too).

Francesca Simon is one of the world's best-loved children's authors. She is the only American to have ever won the Galaxy Book Award, and her creation, Horrid Henry, is the #1 bestselling chapter book series in the UK—with a hit TV show and over fifteen million copies sold! Each book contains four easy-to-read stories and hilarious illustrations by the one and only Tony Ross, so even the most reluctant of readers won't be able to resist Henry's amazing talent for trouble!

Thank you my little girl for telling us about the book!

Keep reading!
  

Turknoys Back Online!

Two weeks ago, we made a BIG MOVE. We were offline and without internet connection for the entire two weeks and a half! And the good thing is that, we didn't even notice the lack of internet connection.. the kids at least.


Back to my point about the big move.. we got out of our comfort zone and took the plunge. Heck, it was the first time in six years that we were in that extreme UN-comfort! But it was all worth it. Now, we move forward.

A view from our new accommodation in Doha. 

And out internet connection is back. So is the blogging... Definitely, there will be more adventures to write about.


CHEESY MINUTE:  While we were out and not blogging, we celebrated our 6th anniversary of togetherness in the desert. Six years ago, we have found each other and instantly, we knew that we were meant to be together. It just  feels so right. Here's the photo of us now, we look so haggard and tired, but we really are happy ever after.

Turk + Pinay = Turknoys (lots of them, ha!) 

Happy to be writing again....

Keep exploring!

Doha Event: Cirque De Soleil

We wanted to go watch the Cirque de Soleil and we did! The show was amazing if not spectacular. Sometime last year, we watched the Circus at the Souq Waqif and we were similarly impressed with the stunts.

We didn't book the tickets until the last minute so we were not able to  buy the tickets at Virgin. Luckily, one of our mum friends' nanny got sick (sorry!) so we were able to purchase two tickets from her. One mum's misfortune, another mum's fortune.

It was just two of us, me and Kylie and we had a fabulous time! A quality mum and daughter time ; except at the very end where crankiness got in the way. The show ended after 2 hours and 40 minutes including intermission and since we had the 8PM show, we ended up until 10:40pm.

The most wonderful thing that we noticed is the structure and organization of the show; people were calm, no pushing, no waiting which is really not so common in Doha. The show started at 8PM on the dot!  And we got good seats so it was really a fun show. The show was so audacious so compared to the normal circus, it was easy for us to take their courage and their capability and flexibility for granted.

Our little girl love the wonderful colors on stage and she said she will writing something about this grand show. Let's see what she writes.

Hope everyone in Doha who watched the show had a great time!



Keep exploring!

Turknoys Joined the Summer Culture Swap

If there is one word to describe our Turknoy family, it is DIFFERENT. Differences from as trivial as food preferences to as important as religion and languages. This is what thisblog is all about. 

This blog is about a lot of differences in life within one family, yet the ability to embrace them, build respect and be surrounded by love.


Respect despite these differences - is the most vital lesson we want to inculcate our Turknoy kids. Despite the fact that all individuals take comfort in the familiar, in being a member of group of similar preferences, the ability to thrive in variety and to learn to respect things that are different is a very important value to learn in today's ever changing and ever global world.

When we saw the Worldwide Culture Swap, we were ecstatic to join. As a trial, we joined the Summer Culture Swap and we learned a lot by just studying a lot of things about Qatar. We picked our current home country at the moment since it's easier to grab things about Qatar. And besides, despite being the richest country in the world and being a limelight of the sports events for several occasions, a lot of people from all over the world does not know anything about Qatar. It is our aim to be an "ambassador" of Qatar for this particular group of people who are passionate about learning different cultures worldwide.

Here is our version of the things unique to Qatar:

INSIDE OUR SUMMER PACKAGE: 

1. Arab Coin Bank (in the traditional costume in the Middle East called thobe) 
2. A toy/ decor camel - a very common animal in the desert;
3. A wall decor with Arabic transcription of "Allah" means God in Islam religion; with evil eye, an ornament used in the Middle East to avoid bad luck and attract good luck (a superstition.

Plus 

A post card  from Qatar with Kylie's letter to her new friend from across the globe;

And a detailed map of Qatar with touristic attractions

Hope our package recipient would love the items inside! And we are definitely joining the culture swap for July!


Keep exploring!