tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38038025044907850422024-03-13T11:37:45.814-07:00WannabeOmaniQuin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-48421251849657446012012-01-19T12:23:00.000-08:002012-01-20T06:44:47.158-08:00Making it Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgDBMgKj5xG6gCH6LAtqSZxkpwYTYlrKV4KwPuSMn7cTEyZ9QibuhxbOvTMtnWS5YBEALtyeV0hX-OTUYyRlnCX9gRswcLZo1pM6W3hYEWRFrTVympNDGgH60vbgmQsMux4z9bK2kjQVo/s1600/flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgDBMgKj5xG6gCH6LAtqSZxkpwYTYlrKV4KwPuSMn7cTEyZ9QibuhxbOvTMtnWS5YBEALtyeV0hX-OTUYyRlnCX9gRswcLZo1pM6W3hYEWRFrTVympNDGgH60vbgmQsMux4z9bK2kjQVo/s200/flight.jpg" width="200" /></a>I had the looooongest trip home. about 24 hours in total. I know that sounds like only a day, but to me that was missing 2 nights of sleep. I was a zombie by the time I made it to Philadelphia.<br />
<br />
I had a pretty interesting journey. Some was unpleasant, and some was interesting.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsalIcrYm8V3xLOSr7oN32Ig-c_DaRcW6C0V84zd87yoV54MTVCqadOm0SUb3ksv6aDNGs1IjxoqO4abbNIZS6ywp0F-JH-Jv3AtLzQ__iV6CEE8hSzHJlgRI9LLqWYQ1AMSS6jDOudUAx/s1600/seats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsalIcrYm8V3xLOSr7oN32Ig-c_DaRcW6C0V84zd87yoV54MTVCqadOm0SUb3ksv6aDNGs1IjxoqO4abbNIZS6ywp0F-JH-Jv3AtLzQ__iV6CEE8hSzHJlgRI9LLqWYQ1AMSS6jDOudUAx/s200/seats.jpg" width="200" /></a>On my first flight out of Oman I was placed on a isle seat of the middle section. I sat next to an older woman, and her daughter on her other side. They seemed nice enough, two smiling faces from their black abayas. It was 11pm when we left, so I was tired and ready to sleep.<br />
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About an hour into the flight, the craziness began. I was just sitting there dozing off to Harry Potter on the screen in front of me, when the woman two seats down stood up, and looked around frantically. There was only one thing separating her from the Isle to get out, and that was a man sleeping heavily, reclined in his chair. In a quick decision, instead of just going over the guy, she <i>crawled</i> over her grandmother and then <b>me</b> jumping out into the isle. For the life of me I had no idea what was happening.<br />
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Then she started looking for one of the German flight attendants. Finding one, she tried to explain to him in struggling English that her grandmother needed <i>oxygen</i>. He then asked her what her illness was, and the symptoms, and more or less what she wanted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUveaX0JJktkXmqR-giOP8JQtaEGwRrrnwmZWyV4TNH4d7bCYusZ_tv-t4nl4BtLbMfdZXYyozuI7l3xecrdlCdxlMLKVS0lNJLALd_SJoJfgvwBUOqAmIARtcJA6hkaY9L_QiU_WKy1C-/s1600/oxygen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUveaX0JJktkXmqR-giOP8JQtaEGwRrrnwmZWyV4TNH4d7bCYusZ_tv-t4nl4BtLbMfdZXYyozuI7l3xecrdlCdxlMLKVS0lNJLALd_SJoJfgvwBUOqAmIARtcJA6hkaY9L_QiU_WKy1C-/s200/oxygen.jpg" width="200" /></a>I tried to move out of my seat, but the woman and attendant were standing there talking intently and wouldn't give me any room. Then another attendant came with an oxygen tank and a rubber mask.<br />
Before I could do anything the woman grabbed the mask and tank from the attendant, and then SAT on me, blinding me with her abaya! I tried to move, talk, or some how politely push her off, but I could do nothing.<br />
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A part of me felt sympathy, for her grandmother and her frantic ways, but I couldn't help but feel a but..............violated??<br />
<br />
Thanking God the woman finally got up halfway, about to take something else from the attendant, when I made my leap.<br />
<br />
Very fortunately there happened to be a free spot across the isle. It was next to a man watching the scene. Thinking the same as me, he pushed his stuff aside to make room for my jump. He then reached out to help me <i>not</i> trip over whatever unfortunate passerby got in my way. I practically fell into the seat.<br />
<br />
I just became 3 times more tired than before, and threw the airplane blanket over my head. Sad to say, I am allergic to sleeping on planes, and instead of sleeping, I watched a bollywood movie with my rescuer beside me.<br />
<br />
But what about the grandmother??<br />
<br />
Well, about 30 minutes after my escape, the grandmother was up and walking. I don't believe she noticed I moved, and I decided to just leave it at that.</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-3091623937567374422012-01-16T12:58:00.000-08:002012-01-16T12:58:07.550-08:00My Last Full Day In Oman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
Tomorrow I leave Oman. Its coming rapidly, but I'm filling my time with as many things possible. Today I went to the Souq with my host family.<br />
<br />
It was nice having my host sister there especially, because otherwise the salesman would've <i>eaten</i> me alive!<br />
That is, I'm an obvious foreigner, and they would've charged me twice as much for everything.<br />
<br />
What's the key to my host sister being an awesome bargainer? Well <i>besides</i> the fact that she is obviously Omani, she can speak like 3 languages. Particularly the language the salesmen speak, which from what I can gather either Hindi, Lawati Arabic, or a secret alien language no one told me about. :)<br />
<br />
I will ask her tomorrow.<br />
<br />
It was hard to shop. I am extremely indecisive and I have very particular taste. Although it was a close call thinking about buying my uncle, Father George, a wooden box with Jesus and Mary posing with the Koran in their hands. The store guy wouldn't lower the price enough, so I just gave up. : /<br />
<br />
But oh well :)<br />
<br />
Here are some of the items I bought:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaomM7vN-DWQU_OLWFoZCyXr922gRORwCFLRhqv7LXJeJV1kelTueQeyvc5RX2rbYTX8K8-AeEUN47KbdR1E5A8j3x00tM08E0owFQyKGv69T81qIC9fnVOz3GG2NTxHu14h8oHqJrgy2P/s1600/DSC01423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaomM7vN-DWQU_OLWFoZCyXr922gRORwCFLRhqv7LXJeJV1kelTueQeyvc5RX2rbYTX8K8-AeEUN47KbdR1E5A8j3x00tM08E0owFQyKGv69T81qIC9fnVOz3GG2NTxHu14h8oHqJrgy2P/s320/DSC01423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygHjD_eNun6kJvXFXmADpApSJ3HvavDGtH5jcUIDcK-PL1uUVNPqJEehAZw2yEatH_ud3t-cpjGz98noHFUyq2ZRNKUhmPdSRrNG3UbydA5567l3KdlzRICw88ai58hbopLoCMgFkXvx2/s1600/DSC01422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygHjD_eNun6kJvXFXmADpApSJ3HvavDGtH5jcUIDcK-PL1uUVNPqJEehAZw2yEatH_ud3t-cpjGz98noHFUyq2ZRNKUhmPdSRrNG3UbydA5567l3KdlzRICw88ai58hbopLoCMgFkXvx2/s320/DSC01422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzyUSORr4beHeWQWbQd34nV-W3PDgoEYRlKT1Z6x8UuqNwdBbVnXd2PTlCuftP9hUO8AFnFnpp-iIStCpfcr_F1AXzY4FFGvfG2qfcja-IMkE9fjOqZ1iLPcWTgJ1-WnLrZ2AapRFjfpL/s1600/DSC01415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzyUSORr4beHeWQWbQd34nV-W3PDgoEYRlKT1Z6x8UuqNwdBbVnXd2PTlCuftP9hUO8AFnFnpp-iIStCpfcr_F1AXzY4FFGvfG2qfcja-IMkE9fjOqZ1iLPcWTgJ1-WnLrZ2AapRFjfpL/s320/DSC01415.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some pictures from inside the Souq:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-64987541478692757112012-01-15T12:55:00.000-08:002012-01-15T12:55:01.614-08:00Muscat Night :) Saying Good Bye<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
Tonight I said goodbye to my best friends, and it was sad. :(<br />
<br />
BUT, before we said our goodbyes, we were hanging out down at shatti!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWe2XjU3x1FRt1oSTCECj6V6PKlxPXpVSsZAltURTJ3Nk8TgFI-IGjbql5sXTUAml-HDxoVtD9M3oSfZgUDBwtgYgv2Wby-64a01-nGbnDBXCBn660v7aiRJhiUembJhw1CfvutYBs3J5O/s1600/399547_2688497289421_1166113420_32341807_1103111832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWe2XjU3x1FRt1oSTCECj6V6PKlxPXpVSsZAltURTJ3Nk8TgFI-IGjbql5sXTUAml-HDxoVtD9M3oSfZgUDBwtgYgv2Wby-64a01-nGbnDBXCBn660v7aiRJhiUembJhw1CfvutYBs3J5O/s200/399547_2688497289421_1166113420_32341807_1103111832_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
First we met up at Darcy's, the british pancake shop, and then took a stroll along the beach. Adventurously we got lost in a Wadi (don't worry, a small dry one!). We we being covered in sand, and is was pretty icky, and scary, but we made it out eventually.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OJKyM7Z0kdSmJMBNRcnW2s6gXD0Ejbew_h7HjvTrZB-M5Gvoe3iG7Ndrcj9TCZRHT7hGWv5jGuJmP8H1dxn1gD-pXgA98D-iwzwiMCqs_pqrAHEolciOUh3QCc1Eaug3-Q50kXqR3DwP/s1600/DSC01351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OJKyM7Z0kdSmJMBNRcnW2s6gXD0Ejbew_h7HjvTrZB-M5Gvoe3iG7Ndrcj9TCZRHT7hGWv5jGuJmP8H1dxn1gD-pXgA98D-iwzwiMCqs_pqrAHEolciOUh3QCc1Eaug3-Q50kXqR3DwP/s200/DSC01351.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgU9AyD6XP44KNqEaDLjkH8ctD1X2ep0ra__kaswZ054i0_IB3L2eNI3NX2V2sD9XOo5KECYhTxWPl1C5CI6_-GK7_sdPNrd3l2IBUHd7MJ2U012bD-YvfDuWhxmYB31MqZn74IVdnGEd/s1600/DSC01323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqXdFqkF7GtX9ekPSkfyWIpluT0gGKrNkKhikZXCfkSIDkti0RkUg2dNHYSpe8BHjGD1s3xUy1LPF_FkXqLFPmpc600meZrrNzYIYlfu9NY60_JQBOWI5GCEsu0-bNAxoVKQWue_Yldr5/s1600/384380_2688354165843_1166113420_32341765_1221235657_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqXdFqkF7GtX9ekPSkfyWIpluT0gGKrNkKhikZXCfkSIDkti0RkUg2dNHYSpe8BHjGD1s3xUy1LPF_FkXqLFPmpc600meZrrNzYIYlfu9NY60_JQBOWI5GCEsu0-bNAxoVKQWue_Yldr5/s200/384380_2688354165843_1166113420_32341765_1221235657_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgU9AyD6XP44KNqEaDLjkH8ctD1X2ep0ra__kaswZ054i0_IB3L2eNI3NX2V2sD9XOo5KECYhTxWPl1C5CI6_-GK7_sdPNrd3l2IBUHd7MJ2U012bD-YvfDuWhxmYB31MqZn74IVdnGEd/s200/DSC01323.JPG" width="200" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">We walked for a while, then wondered over to some mall, and sat around for a while, talking.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQThjlGt0XgT1CyofSc05xCtdLQAySbV3H26YrmxrCdamE4O2FIRee7UZfXw3ccCn4fGTZ-in9LgWUvh9VdkbSn7PdN8T0ZN6PcWCf67Wdc2XlkWMUKxwriY0Rd48X2kWrFObGmVhkHl_/s1600/386369_2688409327222_1166113420_32341778_665803204_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQThjlGt0XgT1CyofSc05xCtdLQAySbV3H26YrmxrCdamE4O2FIRee7UZfXw3ccCn4fGTZ-in9LgWUvh9VdkbSn7PdN8T0ZN6PcWCf67Wdc2XlkWMUKxwriY0Rd48X2kWrFObGmVhkHl_/s200/386369_2688409327222_1166113420_32341778_665803204_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">During our walk we saw a scary little kitten. Awwwwwe its so cute!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">After the mall, I decided to take a video. I thought it was interesting enough, so I posted it! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here it is:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9oOJ8lIr0Ss?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-9943462484409172582012-01-15T08:33:00.000-08:002012-01-15T11:05:35.622-08:00My How-to on Omani Snackage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dear Readers,</div><br />
I got pretty bored today, so I decided to make a quick video on making an Omani snack.<br />
<br />
Its really simple, and pretty tasty.<br />
<br />
Here you go!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/sqH-ETyLa4s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span id="goog_272702570"></span><span id="goog_272702571"></span></div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-35909729776959958222012-01-14T00:38:00.000-08:002012-01-14T00:38:59.282-08:00Plane Tickets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
I've received my plane tickets, and I will be leaving for the U.S. Tuesday, at 10:45 pm. Late isn't it!?<br />
<br />
But that's not the kicker. I'm doing a direct flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Philadelphia! That is a 10 hour flight! Ahhhhhhhhhh. I know its harder flying from China, but still. 10 hours of sitting.<br />
<br />
Goodness. Gracious.<br />
<br />
I'm trying to download some new songs to pass the time. Any suggestions?<br />
So far I've downloaded all of Adele, Ray LaMontagne, Arcade Fire, and some other random stuff.<br />
<br />
My good friends here got me some great books, by my favorite Author, Malcolm Gladwell, plus Super Freakonomics.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7RpOksz5VCGs6hP67B3r6T6n3XlaKfSpxrz0ywpgqv_TuC26leIhO4yg1KIpKMHtXsLKh6bYzcZ9P9iws6dzRb-WYrMjKfzEj_U11KtvD18tBQIiH1ZzF4syH293ngjtR8I8WSsiAfjQ/s1600/Shatti_BeachBa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7RpOksz5VCGs6hP67B3r6T6n3XlaKfSpxrz0ywpgqv_TuC26leIhO4yg1KIpKMHtXsLKh6bYzcZ9P9iws6dzRb-WYrMjKfzEj_U11KtvD18tBQIiH1ZzF4syH293ngjtR8I8WSsiAfjQ/s200/Shatti_BeachBa.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Well my readers, I have 3 days left in Oman. What am I doing to enjoy my time?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjoB0xYjTvPG841UmOy-tO33MoJdxXy1Jk9TbrUYqoGZQauTR4Hlj4RRKqhnx-LmUvWtsVkF7ZXICTXphq_18xCRCL17-nqpBbAQMQA4At44ie_r5Epv5Wc6u6eXg0nMTGQkMt5jP96Fo/s1600/costo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjoB0xYjTvPG841UmOy-tO33MoJdxXy1Jk9TbrUYqoGZQauTR4Hlj4RRKqhnx-LmUvWtsVkF7ZXICTXphq_18xCRCL17-nqpBbAQMQA4At44ie_r5Epv5Wc6u6eXg0nMTGQkMt5jP96Fo/s200/costo.jpg" width="200" /></a>The other night I went to Shatti Beach, which is where everyone and their brother goes to hang out. They have maybe 6 different cafes, and a bunch of restaurants, plus a nice mall. Because the whole city goes there on Thursday nights, we met up with loads of people I had never met. But they all seemed to know us, so we just smiled and shook they're hands.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXejJQRo6iHUfef_hAwf0sB_xsrNR5cDqx8YN1Tduap6abEyrkAecfDSi0qPg61ZiPDrnWlj6XlLpXnRwaJ3b8auJ8UihFHuc-oLCTWklph7XCWJbPFTm5AC5M_8jsVnIhvhhb9va9_xY/s1600/qurummall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXejJQRo6iHUfef_hAwf0sB_xsrNR5cDqx8YN1Tduap6abEyrkAecfDSi0qPg61ZiPDrnWlj6XlLpXnRwaJ3b8auJ8UihFHuc-oLCTWklph7XCWJbPFTm5AC5M_8jsVnIhvhhb9va9_xY/s200/qurummall.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
That's the norm. here, shaking hands. Yes, I mean for teenagers. Whether you're a guy or girl, it doesn't matter; you casually shake the person's hand. Its so different from in the states where we either get all excited and hug each other, or oppositely nod and say "hey".<br />
<br />
Although I must clarify the hand shaking is different from what we're used to.<br />
<br />
Instead of firmly grasping the other's hand and actually shaking it, they just kind of lightly touch and pull back like they just burnt themselves.<br />
<br />
Hah, yea okay that's funny. I don't mean to make fun of any Omanis, its just the way I see it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopB6n1iZNx7Ho8AHYUqj0-Qv9RcDU1Pulfor20LwwpEsMDdeFABP1n8SAjfa3kNXqVG3pk-jxTosBZ_SdsHhtiVl_DiXilfj5IsP-g3h03r4Fx2w94KLayaGkmrBmZrDNu3u0W4mR98fN/s1600/carshatti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopB6n1iZNx7Ho8AHYUqj0-Qv9RcDU1Pulfor20LwwpEsMDdeFABP1n8SAjfa3kNXqVG3pk-jxTosBZ_SdsHhtiVl_DiXilfj5IsP-g3h03r4Fx2w94KLayaGkmrBmZrDNu3u0W4mR98fN/s200/carshatti.jpg" width="200" /></a>Shatti is really fun. Its completely crowded with people and they're $100,000 cars, as well as white foreigners, which makes the place all the more interesting. I hope to go again in the next few days before I leave, so I can spend some quality time with the Omanis and Americans. <br />
<br />
<br />
(I didn't take this picture, but we do see cars like this, so its a good representation ;)<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-87697259444727889202012-01-13T03:58:00.000-08:002012-01-13T03:58:09.972-08:0010 things I'm Looking Forward to When I Go Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Here's the list:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Baking chocolate chip cookies....what I've been crazing for 5 months now</div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSx_sh7KuBFxDAQV9jn4aVwYMcDYyH5tfA9ogpZangSDTAl82eJUR6by5VGEdK0LOeT2uUEoarzwvK3AcKmz18q4UuAhW_MiyaeozSNONcLJGEfGc66457u5EXOR0iB8WoAJuzxxW7qRhu/s1600/Chocolate_Chip_Cookies300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSx_sh7KuBFxDAQV9jn4aVwYMcDYyH5tfA9ogpZangSDTAl82eJUR6by5VGEdK0LOeT2uUEoarzwvK3AcKmz18q4UuAhW_MiyaeozSNONcLJGEfGc66457u5EXOR0iB8WoAJuzxxW7qRhu/s200/Chocolate_Chip_Cookies300.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Driving my (Mom's) car!!! FREEDOM. Oh yes, it is a black Acura. Her name is Rrrashell</div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GPXe5Fy9xu-vo7gCYsqQPh8ceCgSzBUmn_J9BBB0k8_Gg1Qcs05ZF8y0TjGdQd3NUd7htaPqDf3hTFkPlgeQmf-DgX4wpD0zyqG2uczf2ocfFndgI_EMpPEp8HZvA9JssWQbAQ-tg4BO/s1600/acura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GPXe5Fy9xu-vo7gCYsqQPh8ceCgSzBUmn_J9BBB0k8_Gg1Qcs05ZF8y0TjGdQd3NUd7htaPqDf3hTFkPlgeQmf-DgX4wpD0zyqG2uczf2ocfFndgI_EMpPEp8HZvA9JssWQbAQ-tg4BO/s200/acura.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Going to the grocery store and getting organic health food!!</div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fMb33NilSCeVCm6lc2OmNBAXdhMKo4lL36alQGASPr6ocPAsn04Y_GUu4IGIfsLT1zrTYKbsNWqJr8ozU6Uj71cwK6rpcptHaIWkJMuPus9gTS1sxnrKNtNpVuVHoYhZPs_63ASFoN4b/s1600/grocerstore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fMb33NilSCeVCm6lc2OmNBAXdhMKo4lL36alQGASPr6ocPAsn04Y_GUu4IGIfsLT1zrTYKbsNWqJr8ozU6Uj71cwK6rpcptHaIWkJMuPus9gTS1sxnrKNtNpVuVHoYhZPs_63ASFoN4b/s200/grocerstore.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Hanging out with friends, and doing <i>whatever</i>.</div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjO2fOgYwDIjakB-yAdFGIWkWIryRjwaSpaxXgKbcwJAsC35LtEiV4tr8HMo_JbLIt_CaxcDKnPBDgqyDp9f9D1Rli3nCNu4-ru_J9HCOobf8D-azZmIG1Ghc41WwGhJgx9LsF7oOOI-E/s1600/friends-359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjO2fOgYwDIjakB-yAdFGIWkWIryRjwaSpaxXgKbcwJAsC35LtEiV4tr8HMo_JbLIt_CaxcDKnPBDgqyDp9f9D1Rli3nCNu4-ru_J9HCOobf8D-azZmIG1Ghc41WwGhJgx9LsF7oOOI-E/s200/friends-359.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Going to the Gym/ exercise, Zumba!</div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURqhHcZ0Vyt3CBHQ8Pv4MIneBYnYSmw9K3zQNf372GLVmiFkaeSD8-zqyDJtve5jrAlugoijrEuG3B-1Ex7CSAiqvnHXTLfIl77f9MmGRCm-tNhmhVoc5JMIFoM1_dNDN8FTCKIaTVDRt/s1600/zumba-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="66" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURqhHcZ0Vyt3CBHQ8Pv4MIneBYnYSmw9K3zQNf372GLVmiFkaeSD8-zqyDJtve5jrAlugoijrEuG3B-1Ex7CSAiqvnHXTLfIl77f9MmGRCm-tNhmhVoc5JMIFoM1_dNDN8FTCKIaTVDRt/s200/zumba-logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Sitting on comfortable furniture....Americans DO know comfort.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_FskU1ByL3WQEJXNLsBFSGNa3hYTvzXx3FU1Qwg20fKwCGzEsKg3tal1sMpMbaLwHDU9YbGpUhgNlhyphenhyphenOXcOxodzvEsA__8yOiKwtnBLOa4JjcG4JvrBs4uDlOOz4ZqT5mpnNLPRJwrPX/s1600/couch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_FskU1ByL3WQEJXNLsBFSGNa3hYTvzXx3FU1Qwg20fKwCGzEsKg3tal1sMpMbaLwHDU9YbGpUhgNlhyphenhyphenOXcOxodzvEsA__8yOiKwtnBLOa4JjcG4JvrBs4uDlOOz4ZqT5mpnNLPRJwrPX/s200/couch.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div></li>
<li>Watch a movie with family and have everyone actually <i>watch </i>it.</li>
</ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Xbe4QFh1yRudH05FWiNFucTGFAxccc47DREzDHwhH8bYvZcgAZHTTsmfSIebQcoGeKVrl6n0B2egAtcdYgaD-TCNcF_E8pLTp0x8uSIIwaHF-kFq1whjc8shYT6VZgJ5_KIx9OPSyrO3/s1600/movietime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Xbe4QFh1yRudH05FWiNFucTGFAxccc47DREzDHwhH8bYvZcgAZHTTsmfSIebQcoGeKVrl6n0B2egAtcdYgaD-TCNcF_E8pLTp0x8uSIIwaHF-kFq1whjc8shYT6VZgJ5_KIx9OPSyrO3/s200/movietime.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">8. Reliable FREE WiFi!</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtY-t8_rq3LE0mRIJWrWneSll1VZbBGA-R80o1eCgZbh5hHsibm98ApgLZQhNKGvN2hv6hEC7LxWsAqBc0qM2eAFrG9O8M8JiLyhA6w7FuwQ7aPtbgWSWIHumNGOSFfxkfSQAT52kOpzbS/s1600/wi-fi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtY-t8_rq3LE0mRIJWrWneSll1VZbBGA-R80o1eCgZbh5hHsibm98ApgLZQhNKGvN2hv6hEC7LxWsAqBc0qM2eAFrG9O8M8JiLyhA6w7FuwQ7aPtbgWSWIHumNGOSFfxkfSQAT52kOpzbS/s200/wi-fi.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">9. Wearing Shorts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7vGBa7GZ-FPeSGR-d8QJQugqurtn03-2EywoAzmR_beOolqdYbxo5b_oauSgxxFJOJyV57aiN9SGQA-Za-XiCofejqXBziM4uLZobYoV3FaYH3W81tF1MpEf7L5gRvZJMH8z4EgYk80l/s1600/shorts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7vGBa7GZ-FPeSGR-d8QJQugqurtn03-2EywoAzmR_beOolqdYbxo5b_oauSgxxFJOJyV57aiN9SGQA-Za-XiCofejqXBziM4uLZobYoV3FaYH3W81tF1MpEf7L5gRvZJMH8z4EgYk80l/s200/shorts.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">10. Live Music in Coffee Shops</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-S60R_9JzwT19iT7_R5zLXjYfMgPdgzBCW9a4sTS6aVvAkckkb3-u5zrzF3KCtN-FhJT8Q7qbfY1sOwewwrxkejT6qor8UzmWhE75_bgy2Yi6NGU5MSNgtgwcPJNf_5sWbAHzz63FZOU/s1600/cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-S60R_9JzwT19iT7_R5zLXjYfMgPdgzBCW9a4sTS6aVvAkckkb3-u5zrzF3KCtN-FhJT8Q7qbfY1sOwewwrxkejT6qor8UzmWhE75_bgy2Yi6NGU5MSNgtgwcPJNf_5sWbAHzz63FZOU/s200/cafe.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><ol></ol></div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-76516283565376340352012-01-11T19:25:00.000-08:002012-01-11T19:25:10.089-08:00I'm Coming Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
You must be wondering why I haven't posted a whole lot in the past weeks, and it is because I've been testing in finals at my school. Yes, the semester is now over.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVycMUANP9tS_fZ4jMVIwFalefJZMNvmhADi_5onNNeONhAvzO3MMvlLt8fRCsB_df8eNc3qWns0hSzOmUlglNlK4dLH8mpLQxCI909sjH7OiJU7VhhRdBPimRvDnihoTE-fGoOD9Z8rT/s1600/home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVycMUANP9tS_fZ4jMVIwFalefJZMNvmhADi_5onNNeONhAvzO3MMvlLt8fRCsB_df8eNc3qWns0hSzOmUlglNlK4dLH8mpLQxCI909sjH7OiJU7VhhRdBPimRvDnihoTE-fGoOD9Z8rT/s200/home.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Though this was one of the most impacting, interesting, and amazing experiences of my life, its time for it to come to a close.<br />
<br />
That's right, readers, I'm going HOME!!!!<br />
<br />
I don't know the <b>exact </b>date and time, but it looks like within a few days. I can't tell you how excited I am to go home, but sad to leave behind who have become my family.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZS4m4AcFB18MPI1XKZcMZCe3vIKhnZob22k-JxlsX1lxrE9QARvR0R4TuBNBdkzaqbH4jyKspffVgVte8urkUiX-MpE892Fi7wbcghw5qHKLV90Zz-DxGPRpqKGitkCK3F-uoIR0YLs95/s1600/vegan_meal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZS4m4AcFB18MPI1XKZcMZCe3vIKhnZob22k-JxlsX1lxrE9QARvR0R4TuBNBdkzaqbH4jyKspffVgVte8urkUiX-MpE892Fi7wbcghw5qHKLV90Zz-DxGPRpqKGitkCK3F-uoIR0YLs95/s200/vegan_meal.jpg" width="200" /></a>There are so many things going on in my personal life right now that are beckoning for my return home, that it only makes my rapid return more relieving. It has to do with the pressure of schools, my natural family, and personal longing for a vegan meal!!<br />
<br />
Haha, but I can't tell you how sad it makes me to leave such an extraordinary country.<br />
Oman is so fun and so<i> fresh-</i> really. The city is only 30 years old!!<br />
<br />
Because of these sudden events, I'm going to try my very best to make <i>the best </i>of them.<br />
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And so to start with the beginning of my last days here, the next post will be:<br />
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The top 10 things I will be excited about - coming home!<br />
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</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-48048368266178928442012-01-02T09:48:00.000-08:002012-01-02T09:52:42.800-08:00Bathroom Switch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
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At my school here in Oman, we have 3 floors. The first floor of the school is for the younger kids in Kindergarden and 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade. The second and third floor were for all the other kids, randomly (in my eyes) scattered into different classrooms. Now, the school originally handled things like this:<br />
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They split a line down the middle, making the right side the BOY side, and the left side the GIRL side. So, the right bathrooms were for the boys, and the girl's bathrooms were on the left.<br />
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Today when Emma and I were on the 3rd floor in the library, Emma decided to get up and go to the bathroom. She left the room, and made her way to the girls' bathroom on the left side of the building. But to her dismay, she ended up in the BOYS bathroom! ??<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nOq3YGruoKg/TwHstka1R_I/AAAAAAAAASY/n6mM_OYptX4/s1600/broom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nOq3YGruoKg/TwHstka1R_I/AAAAAAAAASY/n6mM_OYptX4/s200/broom.jpg" width="200" /></a>About a day ago someone in charge decided to split the school horizontally instead of vertically. They wanted to completely separate the girls and boys from being able to see each other from across the balcony. (instead of hallways our school has a balcony system, so the teachers can see <i>everything</i>.)<br />
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Why??<br />
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Don't fret, readers. I did some research, and got the juicy gossip from some classmates ;)<br />
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What happened was, a girl decided she liked a boy in another class. she had a friend give a note to him. Then, from what I heard, the boy showed the note to one of our superiors, and the whole class got in trouble. SO......they sliced the school like a tomato!!<br />
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Mmmmmm hmmmmmm.<br />
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Now when Emms and I are in Arabic class on the 3rd floor, we have to walk <i>ALL</i> the way <i>down</i>stairs. Uhhhhggg. Hahahhh, just kidding, we're not that lazy.<br />
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I will say though, now that I am pondering this whole bathroom switch............I bet those girls are going to regret writing those love notes and profanities on the stall doors. I will admit I don't know what half of them say. But, I'm sure the boys will. :}<br />
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</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-44259116468143274572011-12-26T11:33:00.000-08:002011-12-26T11:34:46.201-08:00Pictures from Christmas Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dear Readers,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some pictures Emma took from Christmas: We were at Darcy's kitchen of course ;).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a picture of Noah opening his present: Poptarts!!!!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1hPJp-DJX4/TvjJzPWeV6I/AAAAAAAAARY/vdVm6A-29FQ/s1600/383908_2325318253507_1266150861_31807760_1077396839_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1hPJp-DJX4/TvjJzPWeV6I/AAAAAAAAARY/vdVm6A-29FQ/s320/383908_2325318253507_1266150861_31807760_1077396839_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Here I am opening one of my presents:<br />
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Drawing a Winter Wonderland on the whiteboard:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OngH472AwLI/TvjJ8idyPuI/AAAAAAAAARo/AowtueGaGo8/s1600/395148_2325321093578_1266150861_31807770_1987358942_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OngH472AwLI/TvjJ8idyPuI/AAAAAAAAARo/AowtueGaGo8/s320/395148_2325321093578_1266150861_31807770_1987358942_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is Bailey reading a beautifully made Christmas card<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rDYZAZShrU4/TvjKFf28HhI/AAAAAAAAAR4/pBHdXvLnY0o/s1600/399511_2325317013476_1266150861_31807756_436086382_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rDYZAZShrU4/TvjKFf28HhI/AAAAAAAAAR4/pBHdXvLnY0o/s320/399511_2325317013476_1266150861_31807756_436086382_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-20958367596107179622011-12-25T11:51:00.000-08:002012-10-15T07:08:31.455-07:00Merry Christmas!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Readers,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Today was Christmas, and it was one of my favorite Christmas Celebrations ever. To start the day, we planned to go to Darcy's kitchen, which is where I was last night on Christmas Eve with Bailey ;). Of course the driver got lost, and we were about an hour late, but we got there eventually. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">All 5 of us, and Mama Fatin. We ordered, talked, ate, and eventually exchanged presents. We did a Secret Santa routine, which worked out fantastically. It makes me think we should always do Secret Santa!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Then we went to AmidEast, and watched Elf. Will Ferrel is totally insane and hilarious. Here's my favorite scene, the dancing in the mail room:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I found a white board and we decorated it:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">After AmidEast we went to the house of one of our program director's friend, to have a Christmas lunch/dinner. (We tried mixing those words earlier today, and linner, and dunch just don't sound right).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This lovely family were really cool. They had lived most of their lives in Africa, so they had a really cool background, yet still felt like a homegrown American Family. We ate Turkey, yams, mashed taters, and stuffing. All that you could ever want for a Christmas Dinner.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We had some really great conversations, and laughed a lot. They even gave us presents!! All the girls got a scarf and Jewelry. Noah got one of those tangled metal puzzles, in which you try to separate the ring from the enigma it's attached to. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGqm_3KlMl4/Tvd-TcQBp_I/AAAAAAAAARM/VJxEFRmxiBQ/s1600/ringpuzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGqm_3KlMl4/Tvd-TcQBp_I/AAAAAAAAARM/VJxEFRmxiBQ/s200/ringpuzzle.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I love these puzzles, so I tried to solve it. Then I tangled it worse. Hehe.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">After handing it off to Noah and our host's son, they couldn't figure out how to put it back to normal. I took it back and fiddled with it again. 10 minutes later: "Aha! I got it!" The toy laid there in its original unsolved position. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Later in the evening I tried to play with it again. While listening to conversation, I sat there clinking away with the ring and chain and triangle. Then all of the sudden - "ting!"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The chain broke, and the ring fell into my lap. No one noticed, so I waited for a pause in the conversation. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Dude," I said to them "I broke it."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The room erupted, and everyone was laughing at me. I started cracking up too, because it was just so sad and funny. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Hey she solved it, the ring came out!" someone said.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The rest of the night was just as nice and lovely. There was a football game on, which was the first football on television we've seen since leaving the States. All the food was American, the language English. The love in the house was happy. It was an awesome night!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">To end it Noah, Bailey and I went to the beach area, to hang out at Starbucks and the shops. We walked along the black beach, and took in the beautiful country Oman. The stars were beautiful. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I can't imagine leaving. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fa_VCefQVds/Tvd9bdnLP6I/AAAAAAAAARA/5Bi61SHyKQY/s1600/epiphany6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fa_VCefQVds/Tvd9bdnLP6I/AAAAAAAAARA/5Bi61SHyKQY/s200/epiphany6.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The first semester is almost over. But for today its Christmas, so we'll stay in the present, and we'll focus our attention on the significance of the day. It may be important for family gatherings, and love in community, but its also the celebration of the Savior coming to Earth to fulfill hundreds of biblical prophecies and begin (what is to me) the most significant life for humans. So Happy Jesus' Birthday!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Or, more simply put, Merry Christmas. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I hope your day was filled with joy, and God Bless!</span></div>
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Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-35908041556426886452011-12-24T11:11:00.000-08:002011-12-24T11:23:33.479-08:00Christmas Eve<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
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I couldn't have had a more unpredictable Christmas Eve. After asking 2 people what time I should be at the Church for christmas, I was sure the service would begin at 7:30. I texted Bailey, and told her to meet me there. Tonight I got ready, dressed up for the occasion in a nice Christmas outfit, and even allowed my host sister to apply my red lipstick. ;)<br />
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After being all dolled up, I was psyched for church. I LOVE church. Especially on Christmas! After my brother-in-law dropped me off, immediately I knew I was told the wrong time. There was Bailey on one of the Church doorsteps.<br />
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"Hey, Girl!" I called<br />
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"Hey, so theres a service going on next door, but it looks like its already started a while ago." (We were a half hour <i>early</i>.)<br />
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We found a Greek pastor, and he told us his next service wouldn't be till nine. It was 7:30.<br />
So Bailey and I went over to the Church next door. There was a line for communion. We put our stuff down on some seats, silently greeted out pew neighbors, and got in line.<br />
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That's one thing I love about Church. It doesn't matter how late you are, people are glad you came.<br />
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We took communion, and then were privileged enough to sing some christmas songs. We lit candles, and it was beautiful. But we came so late it finished in 20 minutes!<br />
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After we left we walked around the Church grounds, looking to see if the Catholic Church, or Greek Church had masses/services sometime soon. We were out of luck.<br />
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"We should just go out to eat." Laughed Bailey.<br />
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(Sigh) "I'm okay with that."<br />
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We walked over to Bailey's car and told her driver in terrible arabic that we wanted to go to Darcy's kitchen, the British restaurant with awesome pancakes and waitresses that speak English.<br />
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It was an adventure finding it, but sure enough we got there. It was a nice night. :) Me and Bailey!<br />
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We talked all night, about exchange kid stuff. Ya know, the usual: politics, the upcoming election, government, religion (Muslim and Christianity), other students, other students' host countries, and our own personal stories.<br />
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I was content. But I do miss my Christmas back home. Not only do I miss my Church and fam fam, but all the charity work done around Christmas! There are so many opportunities to give back to the community. I can't wait to go caroling again next year, and to work in the soup kitchen!!!<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LUp9S_RG0-k/TvYkOuLlpRI/AAAAAAAAAQc/hYMCz3fbqN4/s1600/Photo+on+12-9-11+at+11.38+AM+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LUp9S_RG0-k/TvYkOuLlpRI/AAAAAAAAAQc/hYMCz3fbqN4/s200/Photo+on+12-9-11+at+11.38+AM+%25233.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Well, my wonderful mother sent me a package of presents, and there is one gift marked for Christmas Eve. :D I think I'll go open that now!<br />
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Here are a few pictures of my host sister's marvelous Christmas Cupcakes I ordered for out celebration tomorrow: Aren't they adorable!?!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7cFXFxwFCfk/TvYc9N47LgI/AAAAAAAAAPg/v0xBZk3a5rg/s1600/DSC01293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7cFXFxwFCfk/TvYc9N47LgI/AAAAAAAAAPg/v0xBZk3a5rg/s320/DSC01293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pHjNGzukwY8/TvYiIimbifI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Q-FG-6oPwmg/s1600/DSC01294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pHjNGzukwY8/TvYiIimbifI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Q-FG-6oPwmg/s320/DSC01294.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oAlapY3UmRo/TvYiqKjMLpI/AAAAAAAAAP4/pRVByq66JA0/s1600/DSC01296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oAlapY3UmRo/TvYiqKjMLpI/AAAAAAAAAP4/pRVByq66JA0/s320/DSC01296.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>P.S. This was posted at 11:11! Isn't that lucky!?? Merry Christmas everyone!!</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-86649330873926473862011-12-21T12:22:00.000-08:002012-10-15T07:09:44.117-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
I've had an uneventful week for the most part. But my life here is filled with many little things that make me laugh. Today I decided to relax and hang out in my room - kind of secluded myself by setting a date with a good book.<br />
<br />
Later when I decided to go downstairs, everyone was gone! In the TV room I saw Marie our housemaid watching TV.<br />
<br />
"Quin! Come, come!" She gestured.<br />
Gingerly I slugged over, grabbed a pillow and sat down. She was watching a Bollywood show in Hindi, with arabic subtitles. Marie and I both seem to have an affinity for Indian shows so we were pleased.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXn8FnXdpsftCvHH42YgoueW8k54e7nuJ-ygXSYbluBPeIujlnHxsT7r3AiYzf_EaZ3-8s4n1UFcboWANTecRnuIgbNYGwMKlXUuzpI6BtB-_XN7taOdCZQbB4ZIXSdwCFu8jDZ2I7J1VN/s1600/india-television-sector.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXn8FnXdpsftCvHH42YgoueW8k54e7nuJ-ygXSYbluBPeIujlnHxsT7r3AiYzf_EaZ3-8s4n1UFcboWANTecRnuIgbNYGwMKlXUuzpI6BtB-_XN7taOdCZQbB4ZIXSdwCFu8jDZ2I7J1VN/s200/india-television-sector.jpg" width="200" /></a>After about 5 minutes of watching the show and being able to get the gist of what the actors were saying to each other, I turned to look at Marie.<br />
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She looked back at me.<br />
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"Maire?"<br />
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"Yes?"<br />
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"Do you have any idea of what they are saying?"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PXLAeFV_3MZsaw51KPOAaFGP602K9Y2l5HPFwJKejvQfFbqFFDVk7py3HK0aTpxw7zQtjs0DFzZj1WqsFqwlWOj_wZ5yryj6yMM4ndT6rU1gJ8RX2DZW2Z5OvLf9GRii1gnaDQSV1fNT/s1600/recession-2190309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PXLAeFV_3MZsaw51KPOAaFGP602K9Y2l5HPFwJKejvQfFbqFFDVk7py3HK0aTpxw7zQtjs0DFzZj1WqsFqwlWOj_wZ5yryj6yMM4ndT6rU1gJ8RX2DZW2Z5OvLf9GRii1gnaDQSV1fNT/s200/recession-2190309.jpg" width="200" /></a>She responded with a sheepish smile and a shake of her head. I laughed out loud, and she joined in. We were laughing together for a good minute or two.<br />
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"I have no clue either!!" I told her.<br />
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Then we went back to watching it, even more amused trying to guess what the characters were saying.<br />
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These little moments make all my troubles disappear, and make me feel at home.</div>
Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-76649069841753099422011-12-17T06:23:00.000-08:002011-12-17T06:23:22.502-08:00Presentation of Education in Oman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
Here is a long long video of a presentation we saw at the World Learning Center. It may be boring to some of you, but if you listen closely to what Miss Sergon is saying, it can be quite interesting. Or maybe I'm just abnormally thrilled by Global Education. Who knows?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/cD7B0clKh90?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-55153833771047242312011-12-16T08:07:00.000-08:002011-12-16T11:14:38.988-08:00Sweet Weekend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
I had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. On Wednesday my Host Mom and my Host Sister (with her adorable little 1-year-old) came home! We all drove to the airport, packing our family into 2 cars to meet them there. My little brothers yelled with joy when they saw my host Mom. We all said hello and hugged each other. Everyone flitted around my little niece, who just might be the cutest baby in the world. We went to McDonalds to get dinner. The Drive-through took about 35 mins, tainting the name: "fast food".<br />
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When we got home everyone sat in the living room sharing stories and talking about the cold weather in England, which is where they had just flown in from. My host Mom showed me videos of the rain and hail. It made me NOT miss the weather of Pennsylvania.<br />
<br />
To top the evening off, as we sat in the living room, my host mom and older sister unloaded their luggages to <i>shower </i>us with gifts!! We all got some really cool souvenirs!!<br />
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Here are some:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXGhyZxYN4t6PYQ7f_MCNGAkudP74ZC06h2w8Yvla31J0F7bc12WZU3nMaD8ufawRNzf03Rh6kVl4zlMFvP0A9Q1iv9R-iME2cO3vrPHcRT7rRVclu9FTym_DyM-Y75oMu-qg7XHQgj0i/s1600/Photo+on+12-16-11+at+7.54+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXGhyZxYN4t6PYQ7f_MCNGAkudP74ZC06h2w8Yvla31J0F7bc12WZU3nMaD8ufawRNzf03Rh6kVl4zlMFvP0A9Q1iv9R-iME2cO3vrPHcRT7rRVclu9FTym_DyM-Y75oMu-qg7XHQgj0i/s320/Photo+on+12-16-11+at+7.54+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2QqnlVgqdRoWm-w31ag991P6QGDrJNJHfVRUfcQ4OxJY_lxIZTGXBzVvLTUqo8v001AUAqfgKIY8wYbg1E0v2eLXaFwJ64RxC2ggHh4v2wz0zFHCpyontkx78A3soBesEsSH9643cARG/s1600/Photo+on+12-16-11+at+7.55+PM+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2QqnlVgqdRoWm-w31ag991P6QGDrJNJHfVRUfcQ4OxJY_lxIZTGXBzVvLTUqo8v001AUAqfgKIY8wYbg1E0v2eLXaFwJ64RxC2ggHh4v2wz0zFHCpyontkx78A3soBesEsSH9643cARG/s320/Photo+on+12-16-11+at+7.55+PM+%25232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISGAxaH-SB_RDtvEgSoFQjJbv4KfWfwKhQIef1IYBJF45ySEZodd0EtWUSuu8SIiLiFIS7qDPN5R4hMmxXDMYyOzayQty-PpY1Rts1tV1cK9UNXu59ZzngTK2opR7nkiFZ5nVYpQE7Uzg/s1600/Photo+on+12-16-11+at+7.55+PM+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISGAxaH-SB_RDtvEgSoFQjJbv4KfWfwKhQIef1IYBJF45ySEZodd0EtWUSuu8SIiLiFIS7qDPN5R4hMmxXDMYyOzayQty-PpY1Rts1tV1cK9UNXu59ZzngTK2opR7nkiFZ5nVYpQE7Uzg/s320/Photo+on+12-16-11+at+7.55+PM+%25233.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJTO4YpiSNnq3uUyAxae4U4125uADwgSYnz8Y-p1T3zz_CgdfNKRJtuO11uPeubQk8SbXf1pTWESpsgALpPmL6zce3nkO5izA7qCeM_WWEezzzKwR9crz_31Z5kUjeU0ScD_pjRv4MdZn/s1600/Photo+on+12-16-11+at+7.56+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJTO4YpiSNnq3uUyAxae4U4125uADwgSYnz8Y-p1T3zz_CgdfNKRJtuO11uPeubQk8SbXf1pTWESpsgALpPmL6zce3nkO5izA7qCeM_WWEezzzKwR9crz_31Z5kUjeU0ScD_pjRv4MdZn/s320/Photo+on+12-16-11+at+7.56+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I know, those slippers are hot, and my Host Family spoils me :)<br />
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The rest of my weekend was just spent hanging out. Having the whole family together feels so nice. It really does feel like Christmas.<br />
<br />
In FACT, us Americans have a whole plan for Christmas. After Church on Christmas Eve, we'll spend Christmas Day at AmidEast, watching movies and exchanging gifts. (We're doing a Secret Santa Exchange)<br />
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I even ordered some cupcakes from my Host Sister's Cupcake business. :D<br />
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Half of her presents -from my older Host Sister who just came home, were decorations, tools, and <i>fondant</i>. Oooooooooo.<br />
I've been really excited to see my Host Sister work with fondant, because with her skills I knew she would make <i>amazing </i>designs.<br />
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Here are a few:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuID6Tziaa2cfEq_dg3zxQX_b_p8SgKfMxrTWZpM1ZEGkUSoVcssrC-vgSLQwtTvwCC1xo9RPfJjntsRkLe51D94hneOxO3aqvuEltoun8frcndXEDQWIgy06N_hYopfIHK5LtT_6AT0E/s1600/DSC01273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuID6Tziaa2cfEq_dg3zxQX_b_p8SgKfMxrTWZpM1ZEGkUSoVcssrC-vgSLQwtTvwCC1xo9RPfJjntsRkLe51D94hneOxO3aqvuEltoun8frcndXEDQWIgy06N_hYopfIHK5LtT_6AT0E/s320/DSC01273.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPZcN6TEguks6Xx23vmGTZpvugY1V6T6Cax9G_ENLPJTwgMYV28wPydkagrS9xjnzrHratv8D19_N44zyLaJneawzV5lnl2_BIZXqDEc-OkSbVmIqbd3XVRBCSkvFthLsze-s4cSnyo1A/s1600/DSC01276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPZcN6TEguks6Xx23vmGTZpvugY1V6T6Cax9G_ENLPJTwgMYV28wPydkagrS9xjnzrHratv8D19_N44zyLaJneawzV5lnl2_BIZXqDEc-OkSbVmIqbd3XVRBCSkvFthLsze-s4cSnyo1A/s320/DSC01276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY5qS011cnyZJ7sOBy0Pj-hDc-VDTD2RVoi59AVWEfNf2SKI4Hbwq5TLN7K8_fAA3Gkg-GjmNS1nTLCTmp4pOnZrBAkj2BKhUIfty4m0TEowjvvkhx58YCVkiHszdTJ9vSeV8sw369kbi/s1600/DSC01283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY5qS011cnyZJ7sOBy0Pj-hDc-VDTD2RVoi59AVWEfNf2SKI4Hbwq5TLN7K8_fAA3Gkg-GjmNS1nTLCTmp4pOnZrBAkj2BKhUIfty4m0TEowjvvkhx58YCVkiHszdTJ9vSeV8sw369kbi/s320/DSC01283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-67852136958154442282011-12-13T08:49:00.000-08:002011-12-13T08:56:26.421-08:00Presentations at the World Learning Center<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
Today we (the American kids) went to the "World Learning Center", which is a fancy name for the building where foreigners - mostly Americans - come to learn Arabic and Omani culture.<br />
Getting permission to be let out of school was quite the adventure itself. Noah, Bailey and Jaira all came into the front office with our driver to "sign us out". The polar difference between my experience at free-for-all, anything-goes ABQ, and N.B.J.'s with Al Ibda'a is easily laughable. I'm pretty sure the receptionists at Al Ibda'a thought Noah, Bailey, and Jaira came right out of the depths of hell to cause chaos with their American ways, and temptation with their v-neck shirts. But we won't get into that.<br />
<br />
After being released from school and driven to the World Learning Center, we managed to enter the building at the absolute worst time, bursting in loudly, laughing about something, and disturbing the crowd upstairs watching a presentation. Typical. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahBBHiWuXqn50uQqt7etDOqoeJIP-mB221cOs8OFwCyodAC8hiVStU7qwINM-XDWu14b2wVJALj3DdI-dquJt8noIHaVO4kGBIHJ46CdbbYuiJLPutkvpQ3pbDnQkbmSMZ0drwm9Io1dU/s1600/DSC01259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahBBHiWuXqn50uQqt7etDOqoeJIP-mB221cOs8OFwCyodAC8hiVStU7qwINM-XDWu14b2wVJALj3DdI-dquJt8noIHaVO4kGBIHJ46CdbbYuiJLPutkvpQ3pbDnQkbmSMZ0drwm9Io1dU/s320/DSC01259.JPG" width="320" /></a>Despite our late entrance, we were able to take in a great deal of the discussions, and interesting speakers.<br />
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So what were these presentations??<br />
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The American students attending courses in the World Learning Center were given the assignment of researching a social issue/aspect of Oman, and their conclusions on the topic.<br />
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The knowledgable scholars spoke about Physical Disabilities (blindness), Marketing in Oman Business, Education in High School and the scarce Universities, Youth Organizations, and Human Trafficking/Workers Rights.<br />
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We were <i>enthralled</i>. These presentations covered the questions we had been asking in our heads for a <i>long </i>time. Especially the Workers Rights Presentation, which included an explanation of the contract of Maids, and what the Minimum Wage, laws, and policies were. Because we spend every day with the Maids we live with, interest and empathy is inevitable.<br />
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The presentation on Education was also extremely intriguing, because we were eager to see what this other woman had to say about the research and interviews she conducted.<br />
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I'll be posting some of the presentations online soon, but because they are not ready yet, I thought I'd charm you all with a couple pictures :)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGJTJZIpSoXQzkGruIpwpHcelurMugeKaRcNgwP9-pps8ATFpBjrH_kTFIX-lnZj6DztbBECGvbfgUYTaPVjji69CtGBwslaXx812jY8qemrOwgQQ8h-pYORx8pikaIF2wDByTRaE48GT/s1600/DSC01264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGJTJZIpSoXQzkGruIpwpHcelurMugeKaRcNgwP9-pps8ATFpBjrH_kTFIX-lnZj6DztbBECGvbfgUYTaPVjji69CtGBwslaXx812jY8qemrOwgQQ8h-pYORx8pikaIF2wDByTRaE48GT/s320/DSC01264.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
You'll like the one with Obama. It was just hanging on the wall there!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqa8jFnAbmpqBMyQ5AssebcD9fV174ITN1ouEsNNdJp3EftzmtUv8YlbWxWSiX9MoIj94VwN0f1XaZtsUj7yVMNssq1iaUBEatZj7_eKG-FcrknuAHBeCoyRd0fc95iZSyLLaQfw_I1Q-Z/s1600/DSC01266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqa8jFnAbmpqBMyQ5AssebcD9fV174ITN1ouEsNNdJp3EftzmtUv8YlbWxWSiX9MoIj94VwN0f1XaZtsUj7yVMNssq1iaUBEatZj7_eKG-FcrknuAHBeCoyRd0fc95iZSyLLaQfw_I1Q-Z/s320/DSC01266.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4sAPQUfPTGX2CtgbYfaeINodJxF8JRv-16e7VojmVwVFYvvoAejlvjSeTMFFsxI0Kg8sG_rqQG2qbEp6ZpcOHjdK1J8YMvydL39CJ6jw9TZMOPneOxEUD6YtiW3bw7s8wlf1U5NVlY5N/s1600/DSC01257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4sAPQUfPTGX2CtgbYfaeINodJxF8JRv-16e7VojmVwVFYvvoAejlvjSeTMFFsxI0Kg8sG_rqQG2qbEp6ZpcOHjdK1J8YMvydL39CJ6jw9TZMOPneOxEUD6YtiW3bw7s8wlf1U5NVlY5N/s320/DSC01257.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-21302288033822990072011-12-10T06:14:00.000-08:002011-12-10T06:15:36.258-08:00While I'm recommending other blogs......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dear Readers,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In my previous post I mentioned my best friend in Korea's blog. I also want to recommend my friend in Ghana's blog:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIseQp_k1TuJ9vHIMHUyD4CJpRSWFlHD-QYDTqxjpdHQhu1Bo11SDGauNFFc6ixMF6tYlU1ym0yh8LL0pcjrHnuEWMyAX3uI3RWYnsDHp5rAinhWXe4hJtIAV3d091P9jEi9ffCNnR-zoe/s1600/map_Ghana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIseQp_k1TuJ9vHIMHUyD4CJpRSWFlHD-QYDTqxjpdHQhu1Bo11SDGauNFFc6ixMF6tYlU1ym0yh8LL0pcjrHnuEWMyAX3uI3RWYnsDHp5rAinhWXe4hJtIAV3d091P9jEi9ffCNnR-zoe/s320/map_Ghana.jpg" width="320" /></a>My friend Avery Segal is on the same YES Abroad program, except he is with AFS in Ghana. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Although all his posts are quite intriguing, I'd day his most recent post, on <a href="http://www.averysegal.com/2011/12/homosexuality-in-ghana/">Homosexuality in Ghana</a> is the most eye-opening, and down right conspicuous. The fact that he knows his Ghanain classmates and possibly his Ghanain relatives are reading what he writes, yet still has the courage to right what is the truth, is very brave. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here's an excerpt from the entry:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><i>Earlier this month I told my Ghanaian classmates that I have a few gay friends, and that I don’t let their sexual orientation affect my friendship. They were speechless for a few seconds- until one girl meekly asked me, “Have you tried informing them that they’re abominations to God?”</i>" - Avery Segal</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you don't find <i>this</i> captivating I don't know what would be!</div></div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-37987447061826942422011-12-10T05:48:00.000-08:002011-12-10T06:44:28.213-08:00Friends around the World: Even in South Korea!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
One of my very best friends of all time is an aspiring novelist in South Korea, named Aekyung Sin. Her and I met as far back as 6th grade in Pennsylvania. One year later, she moved from America to South Korea, not having had prior experience in the rigorous Korean schools! Despite her obstacles (of handling a nasty high school experience, and dealing with the some of the most feared relationship issues) she has been able to work her way up to an International Class, and remain a healthy, wise person.<br />
<br />
She is the bravest and most relatable girl I know. That being said, I encourage you to go read her blog! She named it <a href="http://fruittreeinwinter.blogspot.com/">"Fruit tree inWinter"</a> - Sort of a symbolism of her hopefulness. When everything is going rough, she is able to relay her feelings into her blog while remaining realistic and moving to her readers.<br />
<br />
Check it out! You might get a laugh, and you may get a few tears. Either way I'm proud of her. And I, at least, appreciate her work.<br />
<br />
Love you, Aekeee!!!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXRmbTdgvkmJrAm5C0G_YDTV1EVMjFCiUtDZP1VPFeCYSbjvPJ6-LuUQCOoLdLrb52PndGTc-fB0WNlYazKpQRS6OriKzlKicVfEw6kuZQtEQDiOPJhbuU6oFmzETTSxxVEwHEtcXeLeX/s1600/Photo_111013-0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXRmbTdgvkmJrAm5C0G_YDTV1EVMjFCiUtDZP1VPFeCYSbjvPJ6-LuUQCOoLdLrb52PndGTc-fB0WNlYazKpQRS6OriKzlKicVfEw6kuZQtEQDiOPJhbuU6oFmzETTSxxVEwHEtcXeLeX/s1600/Photo_111013-0000.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> Above, my Friend Aekyung.</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-63825518439230437852011-12-07T07:51:00.000-08:002011-12-07T12:01:40.858-08:00SAT Day......Without the SAT (Continued)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
As I was telling you in my previous post about my SAT day, I was dropped off at the wrong place. After being led through the college, where I soon discovered did not host SAT exams, I had to figure out my plan. My phone had died, and I didn't remember anyone's number. (Omani phone numbers are more confusing than American phone numbers).<br />
<br />
So what was I going to do???<br />
<br />
I then had a flash back to last week when I was talking to Noah, the other YES student here in Oman.<br />
<br />
Me: "I'm so curious as to what <i>your</i> school is like."<br />
<br />
"Yeah!" Emma agreed<br />
<br />
Noah: "Hah, well you could probably just come on over to ABQ and say you were a new student, and they'd just let you be part of the class."<br />
<br />
Jaira: "Hahaha, they SO would!"<br />
<br />
Hmmmmm, I started to think.<br />
<br />
As I sat in this college with my sweet tour guide looking concerned and helpless about my abandonment, I contemplated my options. Sit in the College and be bored all day....<i>or </i>I could walk across the street.........<br />
<br />
I got up from the table, told the girl I was going to go to ABQ, and walked out the door. I walked past the security guards, and (gulp) I crossed the street!<br />
Crossing the street in Oman is quite dangerous due to every road being a highway. But because the street was congested and slowed due to the school, I was surprisingly safe.<br />
<br />
'Laadidadida, here I come' I said to myself.<br />
<br />
Then, like an angel, I saw one of Jaira's or Bailey's cousins emerge from a car, looking at me in a curiously surprised face.<br />
<br />
"Are you coming to our school today?"<br />
<br />
"Ummm, yea I hope!"<br />
<br />
We walked inside, with not a problem at all. The British-run school was nothing I expected it to be. It was surprisingly bright and happy-looking.<br />
<br />
My friend's cousin walked me to the front office, a desk in the middle of the lobby.<br />
<br />
I explained my situation mildly.....hoping to fluff everything up so that it sounded like I was sort of supposed to be here.<br />
<br />
"So your spending the day with us?" The receptionist asked me.<br />
<br />
"Uh, yea! I hope so."<br />
<br />
"Okay, sit down and wait for the principal."<br />
<br />
I sat patiently talking to the nice girl next to me. Then the principal came, said hello, recognizing me from AmidEast conferences, and told me to have a nice day.<br />
<br />
I was OVERjoyed. Although, I wished I had worn semi-normal attire. With the British system, there are many rules on dress code. Closed-toed shoes, hair up and tied, and school uniform. The fact that I was wearing flip-flops, leggings and a sweatshirt was INSANE.<br />
<br />
But, hey, I was a new American. I'm expected to make these mistakes. :)<br />
<br />
From the Balcony Noah and Bailey spotted me, completely ecstatic that I was there. They waved like excited little kids, and scurried towards the staircase to meet me.<br />
<br />
"Quuuiiiiiiiinnn!! What are you <i>doing </i>here!??"<br />
<br />
I explained my situation, laughing through the whole thing, amazed that I was getting away with being a nomad for the day.<br />
<br />
I went on to be a little tourist. They took me to all there special spots, showed me around, fed me lunch, and introduced me to all their teachers. It was AWESOME. Finally I knew all the people they would tell me stories about.<br />
<br />
In the classes I was able to compare mine to theirs, which was priceless information to me - since I'm very curious about global education.<br />
Meanwhile, all the teachers were totally cool with me, or didn't have the time or energy to care. Most were apathetic, and just treated me like an extra person to copy papers for and give tests to. I even ended up taking a Biology exam!! (I'm hoping to get it back someday and see how I did ;)<br />
<br />
So how did the day end?<br />
<br />
Well, I used Noah's phone to text Jaira, and when she got the news, she responded:<br />
<br />
"Oh God, WHAT are you doing there!? Holy....<br />
<br />
tta, Aweee, whatever that's fine, Fatin will take me back to ABQ and pick you up in exchange."<br />
<br />
Haha, so I was getting a ride home after all!.<br />
<br />
Lucky, lucky, lucky was my day. And I really enjoyed it.</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-88797181998687880132011-12-06T01:36:00.000-08:002011-12-06T01:36:17.218-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
This week we've been recognizing Muharram. Or, more so, Mourning Muharram. This is one of the 4 sacred months in the Islamic year, which is majorly a part of the Shia Muslims' traditions. It is well-know because of historical significance and mourning of the martyrdom of Jussein ibn Alu, the grandson of the prophet Muhammed, who sacrificed himself, along with all his family for the sake of his people.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreBR5dYUWjAVsWZp-2skUK95xLHDYY2-WxItWYUT5dojo3dNxJHO_pZG5-pKIoexxYkRLGB2OXv9a1jCofQdeIi9t1tTCObN5PcfUSZ66AwKtb3mDSRfyNtJ5sG1BKApiaCZlS5iIOtyN/s1600/muharram1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreBR5dYUWjAVsWZp-2skUK95xLHDYY2-WxItWYUT5dojo3dNxJHO_pZG5-pKIoexxYkRLGB2OXv9a1jCofQdeIi9t1tTCObN5PcfUSZ66AwKtb3mDSRfyNtJ5sG1BKApiaCZlS5iIOtyN/s320/muharram1.jpg" width="252" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Mourners, both male and female, congregate together (in separate sections) for sorrowful, poetic recitations performed in memory of the death of Husayn, lamenting and grieving to the tune of beating drums and chants</span><br />
<br />
Because my family is taking the day off of school, and because most of the class is Shia as well, the school is bereft of most of its students. This called for a fun day of catching up on work, or, being unfathomably lazy.<br />
<br />
Lazy? Oh yes. In Physics class today, our hardworking teacher was adamant on teaching us. We however, were trying our very best to evade any work.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKXQbY7sB1FWa9lKlZyHnxE_yVB_46P03tECHYIOIgC3H1432gqIoknsyIetxMOpwjaHZnPGqipnh3oNDzRiwvmRGIf4XvN0exz4wWvMhAFNzmue8oYVIhE6sIb_rk_HJYNBdyYiSrJR1/s1600/muharram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKXQbY7sB1FWa9lKlZyHnxE_yVB_46P03tECHYIOIgC3H1432gqIoknsyIetxMOpwjaHZnPGqipnh3oNDzRiwvmRGIf4XvN0exz4wWvMhAFNzmue8oYVIhE6sIb_rk_HJYNBdyYiSrJR1/s200/muharram.jpg" width="200" /></a>Teacher: "cough"<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMraFJVespuvibmqxZGVBkrKuix-Xkz7Gg4VLtE1rUZWvTeiRlpJ7BOhlQLQGOt-TecRZ3VyS122XSvaiXHfE6lmS6J939oA9bCo5g06YRkTB8-8rM1-AGAuxy_ZyXAaRBUXTvrLxqh83Z/s1600/fairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMraFJVespuvibmqxZGVBkrKuix-Xkz7Gg4VLtE1rUZWvTeiRlpJ7BOhlQLQGOt-TecRZ3VyS122XSvaiXHfE6lmS6J939oA9bCo5g06YRkTB8-8rM1-AGAuxy_ZyXAaRBUXTvrLxqh83Z/s200/fairy.jpg" width="180" /></a>"You're too sick to teach, Sir! Go home and take a nap!"<br />
"Yea, yea! Go home, Sir, you need rest!"<br />
<br />
At a later point, we went so far as to try to tick him into thinking we left the classroom.<br />
<br />
"I'll be right back." He told us.<br />
"Quick, everyone! Get under the tables!"<br />
We all plummeted to the ground, giggling.<br />
"Shhhhhh!!"<br />
<br />
To our dismay, another class had tried this on him earlier, and we were caught.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, it was a pretty good day. We're on our way to Arabic class now, so wish us luck. We need the focus fairy to sprinkle some concentration into our craniums.<br />
<br />
BTW: I haven't forgotten I need to finish my story on the SAT adventure! Keep checking for the rest of it!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-19074232803340274452011-12-04T10:57:00.000-08:002011-12-04T11:02:37.086-08:00SAT Day....without the SAT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dear Readers,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yesterday I attempted to take my SAT. But I failed sourly. Despite my efforts to study, the day prior, I had this ominous feeling that I was not meant to take the test. Instead I constantly switched back and forth between my SAT book and "Twilight", a last-resort-book series of mine, many thanks to my host sister who has the entire collection ;). </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraFGziEGmxigXihLDa2txkBsnVqBSIoyOoCoTVGYavJqov_1y1YxytGtX81b4wq47nt9tmJh6ndjqP7CZZ3tOqFG9aK3cVE_cznu94UFZdVdYgrGas1Tefdgf3IlkAfIwU-9tqblXg4o7/s1600/twilight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraFGziEGmxigXihLDa2txkBsnVqBSIoyOoCoTVGYavJqov_1y1YxytGtX81b4wq47nt9tmJh6ndjqP7CZZ3tOqFG9aK3cVE_cznu94UFZdVdYgrGas1Tefdgf3IlkAfIwU-9tqblXg4o7/s200/twilight.jpg" width="131" /></a>Now I find this is ironic, because my goal this year was to become a Harry Potter nerd. Instead I've been lead towards cranky wolves and a pitifully obsessed teenage girl, who happens to smell reeeeeally good.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRaXEJYxoHlcKdbVu7hJOIvslgGxb8n6XsZT1zaMlAsjVeKIVGT0Xx1a-6lI3vENUlsTfVRYuaqugzCkNzjore5PHDI9rYlIubLC01VCg-KEcJWoIYDlw8PiAFBpFtPqy2xmzrDPqcMS4/s1600/Harry-Potter-Funny-Pic%252Cjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRaXEJYxoHlcKdbVu7hJOIvslgGxb8n6XsZT1zaMlAsjVeKIVGT0Xx1a-6lI3vENUlsTfVRYuaqugzCkNzjore5PHDI9rYlIubLC01VCg-KEcJWoIYDlw8PiAFBpFtPqy2xmzrDPqcMS4/s320/Harry-Potter-Funny-Pic%252Cjpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I'm sure Harry Potter will always be there waiting for me anyways.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So as I fought over my will to study, I was also having a dilemma of printing out my admissions ticket. But it wasn't just my ticket to print out, but also Jaira's (the other YES student)! It took a good 4 hours, but finally the printer caved in and gave me our tickets. The delay, yet another portentous sign. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The next morning I woke up extra early. I dressed comfy, wearing some leggings and an oversized sweatshirt, throwing on some sandals to walk in. A totally innocent outfit for the SAT wouldn't you say?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6IAp3wL_30snfLr3YBQ0a9yRI31rF1tspF-1I8CmEruGuU28uljYMeWLSpOA93UqU9xdCxBlKKUUwKiJelyyJvMaa8wrhfdpPuGelt4ffE1szLFnUQNHxBfSEuDE5jAfnMCX1M-GEhFv/s1600/sat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6IAp3wL_30snfLr3YBQ0a9yRI31rF1tspF-1I8CmEruGuU28uljYMeWLSpOA93UqU9xdCxBlKKUUwKiJelyyJvMaa8wrhfdpPuGelt4ffE1szLFnUQNHxBfSEuDE5jAfnMCX1M-GEhFv/s200/sat2.jpg" width="200" /></a>Well, after the driver picked me up, Jaira welcoming me with a good morning, and embarking on the day ahead I would soon learn that I was unexpectedly <i>very</i> unprepared for my day.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The driver took me to where I told him - the Modern School. It sits right across the street from the school that Noah, Jaira, and Bailey attend, so the area was familiar enough. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I walked in, considerably early. After waiting a good 15 minutes, with no sign of other students, I immediately got a suspicious feeling, that I was at the wrong place. Then, walking through the giant college doors, came a girl who seemed to know me very well. "Quin!!!" She embraced me like we had met before. And I must admit she <i>was </i>familiar.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"We met at a wedding!" she told me. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">With the relief of <i>some</i> familiarity, I embraced her like a sister, and just went with the flow. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I told her all about the SAT, and that I though I was taking it here. She looked confused, and my fears were confirmed. I was in the wrong place. With no battery in my phone. And with no numbers of my contacts.<br />
I couldn't call my coordinator, and I couldn't call my host family.<br />
<br />
<b>But</b> my stressful situation didn't stop her from wanting to show me a good time at the College! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Here, I'll show you around!"</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We walked up the stairs, into the vacant and dark hallways. Each time we turned the corner we would "open" the lights. "We're like the sun aren't we??" I mused.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">That girl took me <i>all</i> throughout the giant, vacant, building. We snuck into rooms to poke through whatever we could find, and it was quite entertaining. But then a very important detail started to nag my conscience. How am I getting HOME!? The driver wasn't supposed to pick us up until 1, (I was guessing this) IF he was coming at all.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It was fun talking to this girl, who turned out to be the cousin of one of my close friends (everyone here is cousins with everyone else), but she was going to have to go back to class soon......</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So what was I going to do!??</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Unfortunately I can't finish the story right <i>now</i>. But I will tomorrow! Right now I have to catch up on some much needed sleep.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Thanks for reading! But, check back tomorrow for the rest of my adventure!!</div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-24350135915254472612011-11-27T06:30:00.000-08:002011-11-27T06:30:58.496-08:00A Day at the Wadi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzp7pb4CM38IJUip1b-Nfxp4Nh0H9pZziFsjFo-XBN112gg4kjDeD03YaHFa4LUo2zkPZjFIPxfOJ3f68w6Xo7gEodnp7sySBBnRV8E0Z4uXLRsdoKupKvwJYrMehd5dszkyc9dYiUKRH/s1600/DSC01176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzp7pb4CM38IJUip1b-Nfxp4Nh0H9pZziFsjFo-XBN112gg4kjDeD03YaHFa4LUo2zkPZjFIPxfOJ3f68w6Xo7gEodnp7sySBBnRV8E0Z4uXLRsdoKupKvwJYrMehd5dszkyc9dYiUKRH/s200/DSC01176.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Remember how I was telling you about the Wadis? Well I went to one today! It was quite a lot of fun. And guess who showed up? My inseparable partner EMMA. Yes, her lovely family set up camp next to my lovely family.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxU4-aKeCw1_E_93PkFjplIP_tlV5PLyuEt43RIr0q7BqCOw14SH2PsUfBHYAuRCjxh0F5oJkqTKKvVSJwJgMIHW18jf6LBdQucURAjRA3W2NJzQZhjHZhuVwQaSThwZy3EEt5ciuWI_CC/s1600/DSC01144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxU4-aKeCw1_E_93PkFjplIP_tlV5PLyuEt43RIr0q7BqCOw14SH2PsUfBHYAuRCjxh0F5oJkqTKKvVSJwJgMIHW18jf6LBdQucURAjRA3W2NJzQZhjHZhuVwQaSThwZy3EEt5ciuWI_CC/s200/DSC01144.JPG" width="200" /></a>To get to a good spot, we had to drive through the wadi, really fast so we wouldn't sink. We got a nice car wash and my little brothers in the back were screaming with joy. "morethania morethania!" Which means: "again" in Arabic.<br />
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It was a fun day. We ate good food, and walked through the stream. I brought sunscreen this time and didn't get burnt. Here are some pictures from the day:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAeqU98MQhM3jX-PhjlwtS2unsjALU911s5GELgPla-5flpDgLE71XLKfZkosLp1D3B9S7Ap2QgCbMdW70aBLbWSfE3j1P4ZPYgcxAXZbo0yWLADwLKsjFBIGbnVQmQw3wvonvIysLdnl/s1600/DSC01180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAeqU98MQhM3jX-PhjlwtS2unsjALU911s5GELgPla-5flpDgLE71XLKfZkosLp1D3B9S7Ap2QgCbMdW70aBLbWSfE3j1P4ZPYgcxAXZbo0yWLADwLKsjFBIGbnVQmQw3wvonvIysLdnl/s320/DSC01180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQC_QFL5m_zfCFMDnesUK59TbbfGYkwXnI195GopUir-JwNU-CDIGeROfY0NXbwrQDC0Z3vGKZMjySDhs0b7cZCjvpFzTloR0RLZm1fqj2E8__m4WmG8mj_K5_eSISPlm9y9cKAvfiAa7_/s1600/DSC01170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQC_QFL5m_zfCFMDnesUK59TbbfGYkwXnI195GopUir-JwNU-CDIGeROfY0NXbwrQDC0Z3vGKZMjySDhs0b7cZCjvpFzTloR0RLZm1fqj2E8__m4WmG8mj_K5_eSISPlm9y9cKAvfiAa7_/s320/DSC01170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda-bwRVF2gwZMsxHcD7-2JL7LWVe8DXYDK2mCBpE2oXdL9i1lH07sPRMUG9lQuyQgjc-E-F38_iLEs5V4Y4LvXu9DUFz2N53OmmpDthSYu_CwYG3gf_ASppzASTY_PcdL2y5CYqtXLInO/s1600/DSC01167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda-bwRVF2gwZMsxHcD7-2JL7LWVe8DXYDK2mCBpE2oXdL9i1lH07sPRMUG9lQuyQgjc-E-F38_iLEs5V4Y4LvXu9DUFz2N53OmmpDthSYu_CwYG3gf_ASppzASTY_PcdL2y5CYqtXLInO/s320/DSC01167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-14858407290882031192011-11-26T11:56:00.000-08:002011-11-26T12:23:22.993-08:00Raining. In Oman?!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
It is, yet again, raining! In a country where it usually only rains once a year, you can imagine it being odd. And my mother laughed at me for packing a raincoat! Tehe.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Sq6UtCSzoMRT_ieCxLg1LsubnvH5l-HBcWKD5PWIu6GxpqUl3LdzldyIqyVTYKKzAtKPitep0T5locUM7b_5F5nBt-xrEE5UwD0Igaf7ih4J6aRbgpDmUoh0jPZr8BLeGk2enSCZFsTY/s1600/wadi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Sq6UtCSzoMRT_ieCxLg1LsubnvH5l-HBcWKD5PWIu6GxpqUl3LdzldyIqyVTYKKzAtKPitep0T5locUM7b_5F5nBt-xrEE5UwD0Igaf7ih4J6aRbgpDmUoh0jPZr8BLeGk2enSCZFsTY/s200/wadi.jpg" width="200" /></a>Last night we went for a family cookout at the old farmhouse. The rain started when we were driving on our way there, and by the time we got out of our cars, each raindrop was the size of a shoe!<br />
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Okay that may have been an overstatement, but we were drenched! It did however, stop long enough for us to play soccer and slide around in the mud. One awesome thing about my family's farm house, is that it has a little soccer field, with grass! Green green grass. It was a lot of fun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxER8vDAcEXTl0BA1gTYtwQ-GWomo2T1caynvIBwVPL423QgeKBYpgln7rilolG0egXcAHcLsOLmkYmW5kLj9JvbL9Z9riqD75dxSHvxcv7NtDJCTuuU8BMf4B6MXKjvhXHvCQb5Yj_aBA/s1600/flood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxER8vDAcEXTl0BA1gTYtwQ-GWomo2T1caynvIBwVPL423QgeKBYpgln7rilolG0egXcAHcLsOLmkYmW5kLj9JvbL9Z9riqD75dxSHvxcv7NtDJCTuuU8BMf4B6MXKjvhXHvCQb5Yj_aBA/s200/flood.jpg" width="200" /></a>But besides all this fun, the rain can be very dangerous. There are parts of this region that contain "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadi">wadis</a>". They are parts of the terrain that are barren during most of the year, but fill up with rain in what seems like a flash! They can be in the middle of roads oftentimes, which makes driving less safe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzemeXPaLiNQiWnyCnjbFFJRuVC0Y1vNrTsJ5Xxq4EH30ibzQoKjXK9nggWH9C0lMJ86C5m2uu47d9mAKtBhYtSCnMCfr1YStGu1nI_dxcgTSWr9VCEUBskEhbr6_qymT_OfSO61vcc6vQ/s1600/wadi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzemeXPaLiNQiWnyCnjbFFJRuVC0Y1vNrTsJ5Xxq4EH30ibzQoKjXK9nggWH9C0lMJ86C5m2uu47d9mAKtBhYtSCnMCfr1YStGu1nI_dxcgTSWr9VCEUBskEhbr6_qymT_OfSO61vcc6vQ/s200/wadi2.jpg" width="200" /></a>After the rain ends, the wadis are very beautiful. This is why they are a common destination for Omanis when it rains, and therefore calls for more precaution, with the attraction of all the sight seekers.<br />
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Today, it rained again. My little brothers got really excited, as always, and we all went outside to soak up the wet weather.<br />
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I got a chance to catch some pretty hilarious footage of my little brothers acting as windshield whippers as well. Enjoy:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PI7ZbfF3lNw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-84741279949998609732011-11-22T10:17:00.000-08:002011-11-22T10:40:40.149-08:00Thanksgiving at the Ambassador's House<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
Tonight we had a formal but fun Thanksgiving dinner, hosted by the Ambassador himself, Dr. Richard J. Schmierer. It was hosted outside, in the backyard, with white round tables and a buffet style food service.<br />
Here are the pictures I took:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOG0l7zqXEZ5q-iEjLoklp2jHckvrs70sRvqI0Y2yYwcTc1x8oDOwFrZiBzXBup3LCfFyjoAumKBbOXka9PBFf3YuO-bi2QS68dmhE0N7ffoaQjHVdl5DqgpkOEWJzfKChwfYX6WbhSFa/s1600/DSC01128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOG0l7zqXEZ5q-iEjLoklp2jHckvrs70sRvqI0Y2yYwcTc1x8oDOwFrZiBzXBup3LCfFyjoAumKBbOXka9PBFf3YuO-bi2QS68dmhE0N7ffoaQjHVdl5DqgpkOEWJzfKChwfYX6WbhSFa/s200/DSC01128.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qRZEUzNU86ZH3Aiv2EQQDXwHMrpkwpoKWXcfeXWa9yPbiVanEuemPGhoMUewn89QzgES7dVndpqhacScCVEbFFl5UaCexmDYa3UccDNV6_SQlNVXYUeY_pZJ3LbK01_QAqhP-z_VRfkt/s1600/DSC01123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qRZEUzNU86ZH3Aiv2EQQDXwHMrpkwpoKWXcfeXWa9yPbiVanEuemPGhoMUewn89QzgES7dVndpqhacScCVEbFFl5UaCexmDYa3UccDNV6_SQlNVXYUeY_pZJ3LbK01_QAqhP-z_VRfkt/s320/DSC01123.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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It was a great evening. Not only did I get to see Noah, Bailey, Emma, and Jaira and their host families, but also the alumni who went <i>to </i>America last year! We were also joined by people from AmidEast, our school principals, and the fun-to-talk-to workers from the Embassy as well.<br />
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Now don't worry, it wasn't stuck up and fancy shmancy, but more so a relaxed get together, that brought everyone in this program together for a warm and welcoming rendez-vous. I got to talk with the Omani alumni, who had stories to tell of their experiences in the States, which was really cool to hear. I even heard some new stories from Haya and Hadeel, two girls I go to school with! (They both went on exchange to America last year, and have been very sweet with helping Emma and I adjust to our new school).<br />
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Here is a picture of the five of us Americans together: I wish I had a picture with the <i>whole </i>group, with the other alumni! I'll post one tomorrow if I can.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGGkkzmEO8JbyWRQOwr4NHxbNTBbwAJBNT9mqIY2amyJcIcRb3DrQyIpAye7p84V02mhHdLQBuXG9JQOYsU0WfZDeXMhyphenhyphen166okqHZ_hExZyxjpRzeGz3QrVkpjeqGOvWB9YK91pymk26q/s1600/DSC01131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGGkkzmEO8JbyWRQOwr4NHxbNTBbwAJBNT9mqIY2amyJcIcRb3DrQyIpAye7p84V02mhHdLQBuXG9JQOYsU0WfZDeXMhyphenhyphen166okqHZ_hExZyxjpRzeGz3QrVkpjeqGOvWB9YK91pymk26q/s400/DSC01131.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Note to Emma: Sorry about this picture :}<br />
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</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-9121935187599521052011-11-20T23:24:00.000-08:002011-11-21T00:21:10.298-08:00Staying In Touch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaiV6dE1tVHl-YQuqLvobNv4YDvTDd0-Su33kRDGEcz2LRpQazkCOQo7zro0fJ5_JXanKVurBXCblSBrkbtHoE-8dEc08ib5sqswPFxbfeQsTvvXfL08VhP7H_7uRZQRNY-5ZTUA22gSp/s1600/pepperoni_pizza-890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaiV6dE1tVHl-YQuqLvobNv4YDvTDd0-Su33kRDGEcz2LRpQazkCOQo7zro0fJ5_JXanKVurBXCblSBrkbtHoE-8dEc08ib5sqswPFxbfeQsTvvXfL08VhP7H_7uRZQRNY-5ZTUA22gSp/s200/pepperoni_pizza-890.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
When exchange students like Emma and I feel like knowing what is going on in the U.S., we like to use the wonderful world wide web to connect us with our dearly missed society.<br />
<br />
There's no measurement for the joy we find, reading about how the Government just passed a bill making pizza a vegetable, or what's up with the Twilight stars (tehe), or who the "Top Celebs" are on Perezhilton.com. OR, even for what's going on with the Occupy Wall Street Hobos.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROtePpQLHc7rFx2yP3fyXDj8UKEiSURPK0T6933tGKKiYcfLUc5KFvYUhfAFMkglmjiZXsNgPu4Fwjrj3RkTfTA2PCvp-qWo8OliMsTq67A030qrIMNKx3y9-wdUjNWamC47ALbj4YXW1/s1600/perez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROtePpQLHc7rFx2yP3fyXDj8UKEiSURPK0T6933tGKKiYcfLUc5KFvYUhfAFMkglmjiZXsNgPu4Fwjrj3RkTfTA2PCvp-qWo8OliMsTq67A030qrIMNKx3y9-wdUjNWamC47ALbj4YXW1/s200/perez.jpg" width="200" /></a>We love the news, and I thought I'd share it with you: Click these entertaining links!<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1899428735"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/11/congress-calls-pizza-vegetable-0">Congress Calls Pizza a Vegetable</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20111121/ENT07/111210326/-Breaking-Dawn-Part-1-breaks-Twilight-box-office-record">Breaking Dawn and the Box Office</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NCVYqeW0UTGnssQ2JSwElq4I1Xu9Yaifa-xtILM17TOXkvMIzeTUXKtp2UwvlhXrJJ1TGrJzQUa5gKwAEaT0rwSMbS5FywKemXzoPkDbb3OZ9kBCpWcXni3bmZB7RSRYnBxEWr2nPIQv/s1600/the-onion-front-page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NCVYqeW0UTGnssQ2JSwElq4I1Xu9Yaifa-xtILM17TOXkvMIzeTUXKtp2UwvlhXrJJ1TGrJzQUa5gKwAEaT0rwSMbS5FywKemXzoPkDbb3OZ9kBCpWcXni3bmZB7RSRYnBxEWr2nPIQv/s200/the-onion-front-page.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1899428742"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://perezhilton.com/">http://perezhilton.com/</a><br />
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But let's not forget America's finest news source:<br />
<a href="http://www.theonion.com/">http://www.theonion.com/</a><br />
<br />
Here's where we got our enlightenment on Occupy Wall Street:<br />
<a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/the-demands-of-occupy-wall-street,26347/">The Demands of Occupy Wall Street</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/bank-executives-on-15th-floor-gambling-on-which-oc,26565/">Bank Executives on 15th Floor Gambling On Which Occupy Wall </a><br />
<a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/bank-executives-on-15th-floor-gambling-on-which-oc,26565/">Street Protester Will Be Arrested Next</a></div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803802504490785042.post-28959835105680567782011-11-19T22:46:00.000-08:002011-11-19T22:46:27.041-08:00Today was National Day!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
Today was finally National Day, in which we dressed up in beautiful dresses and watched traditional dancing, and a fashion show of the traditional clothes!<br />
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It was quite hot, but we had a good time. Some people passed around some very strong coffee, with sweets, to cover the bitter taste. We took a lot of pictures:<br />
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</div>Quin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961022914907667544noreply@blogger.com0