International Day!

Let's just say it's great to be a part of something truly great!

The kid's school, Raha International has a mission statement: "We are preparing students to become successful, compassionate, confident citizens of the world - the men and women who will lead the next generation with intelligence, a profound world view and thoughtful ambition". A tall order, I know, but it was really incredible to see the 62 countries represented at the school come together for International Day and celebrate our differences and similarities. The day was true to the school's mission statement. Students sampled food, music, arts and crafts, language, customs, and more from various stalls. Parents and students were encouraged to bring tidbits from their life from their home countries to share with their peers.

Grace and Audrey each prepared a speech about life in America which they read aloud in their classes. Grace's teacher underlined and highlighted the part in her speech that read "...in America all girls and boys no matter what religion what color what ethnic background are all equal. We can all go to school and work and live happy lives." Both teachers thanked the kids for their speeches and Grace's talk was posted on their classroom billboard. Later they held a parade for a few students who dressed in traditional costumes. Amazing that 62 countries were represented. That is over a third of the world represented at our school! Wow!

You'll notice the girls (and I) have our Canada shirts on. The girls wanted to represent both Mom and Dad so they decided to wear their Canada shirts and blue jeans for red, white and blue. Quin wasn't happy about the absence of 'Old Glory' in their choice of outfit. Me, I'll always be Canadian at heart even though I consider the US my adopted homeland.

A side note - when we lived in Utah I always refered to "my home" as Canada. And when we first moved here - "home" was definitely Utah. Now I catch myself going "home" to our house here. I think I have finally realized that borders and passports and citizenship are just man made documents and categories. Home is where your family is.


Nice family from Kentucky...
If you love cupcakes, especially ones with Alaska written on them. They were delicious!

A student concert! I love this school!!!

Sullivan and Hazel enjoying the concert.

Audrey and her teacher, Miss Sarah Roche from Ottawa.

Audrey and her friend Yasmine from Lebanon.

My good friend from Toronto!

Traditional Arab dance.

Seeds and such from Jordan.

Llena from Tunisia...
Sullivan with a Maori tattoo.
UAE

Loved the shirt! None my size...

Sullivan and Jon. After enjoying some Jordanian candy.

One of the KG teachers from South Africa.

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Grace and Gala from Scotland.

Grace with sisters Jayce and Amaya- new friends from Colorado, USA.

Best Yet!

Cycling the Corniche!!

We promised the kids bikes for Christmas. Well, let's just say I did. But Santa couldn't quite come through in the end.
So as part of Prophet Mohammed's Birthday national holiday, we treated the kids to some bicycles.
We found a great little shop downtown run by a nice Iranian that had about 30 different styles of bikes. The store was literally 10 feet long x 10 feet wide. The brands? Who knows. We were told "they are made in Japan. Very good, too good quality". The shop owner was very nice and very patient with our questions and bargaining.

On Saturday we loaded the Cruiser with the kid's new bikes and headed for the board walk. If you get downtown by 11:00 on a Saturday morning you are pretty much guaranteed a beach front parking space. After that, forget about it. We unloaded bikes, kids, bottled water and the fun began.

I was skeptical of Hazel - first time on a two wheeler with training wheels - but she was a trooper! She rode her bike as far and long as the three older kids. She kept up a pretty good pace too. Everyone did amazingly well. The weather was perfect. I bet it was about 80 degrees with a slight cool breeze. A perfect day.

Yes, that is a Cold Stone in the background! Pricey but we can get our Peanut Butter Perfection fix...

You can rent one of these little sit down scooters downtown.

One of the parks along the Corniche boardwalk. The flowers and landscaping are pretty amazing. Who knew that petunias, nicotina and vinca were winter flowers?

A pedestrian tunnel underneath the Corniche connecting the city to the beach. We crossed over for an ice cream at Baskin Robbins. Check out the finish work in this tunnel - mosaics and recessed ceilings.

Audrey is only 6 inches shorter than me! What? She's 10! Watch out Grandma Quatrale- I think Audrey just passed you up on height!

Quin said "This has been our funnest day yet!" I had to agree. Funny how the simplest things always end up being the best days spent. With all the crazy, blitzy stuff this city and country has to offer a simple bike ride ends up on the top of our "Fun List".

We've become a little soft. The 115 F summer heat has warped our minds. Audrey and Quin have been known to swim in any water in any weather. Today? Just a touch 'cool'.

Al Jahili Fort

Al Jahili Fort was just as beautiful and inspiring as everyone has said. It was built in 1891 out of mud and straw and is the birthplace of the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It was built to defend the city of Al Ain and to protect their palm groves and oasis. A cool fact - the name of the city Al Ain is translated from Arabic meaning "The Spring". No wonder I am drawn to this place.

Al Ain was also a vital oasis for traders and travelers en-route via caravan from the shores of Abu Dhabi to Oman.

A great quiet place to explore and let the kids run around. Grace loved the bedrooms with their wooden doors and enclaves for candles. Audrey and Sullivan preferred the roof top lookouts. I loved the hall ways with the Arabic-motif windows.

Outside the fort there was an amazing portable museum showcasing the last 200 or so years of life in the UAE. Really interesting. It exhibited snippets of traditional music, housing, burial chambers, weapons, tools, costumes etc. It was crazy to see video footage of the Tower and mosque at Maqta Bridge in Abu Dhabi as the only solid structures on the island about 60 years ago. I'll have to take a picture of that Tower. I think it also served as a sort of lighthouse.

Anyhow - we had a very educational day. Enjoy the photos!

The kids climbing up to the look-out.

The main tower and look-outs.
The fort where everyone lived. There were about 8 bed rooms.

Hazel and Grace outside one of the windows in the courtyard.

The main entrance to the living quarters.

The side entrance. It has beautifully carved Arabic inscription from the Quran above the door.