11.23.2013

Katara Dhow Festival

100 dhow boats docked in Doha for a local festival to celebrate the history of these boats.  They were used by Arab sailors, traders, fishermen, and pearl divers and are now celebrated as the tool that has progressed the region. The venue was Katara Cultural Village.  The place is stunning.  These Qataris don't mess around.  They build some pretty remarkable things. 













Enjoying the Beautiful Weather

 American Football:  Americans v. Brits
Brits were REALLY confused.
 
So they offered to teach the Americans Rugby.
My boys are now REALLY excited to join the local league.
Somewhere Papa Ririe is smiling.


11.19.2013

Go Dragons! (Part 2)

Tyler also made the All-Star team for basketball.  It had been a while since he last played but he ended up doing great and having a lot of fun!





11.15.2013

School Pictures









Go Dragons! (Part 1)

This girl has never played basketball before but made her school's tournament team.  She had so much fun learning a new sport and played the whole season with a pulled hip flexor.  Ouch!  Bronze medal for these little Dragons!
  
Mr. Eric, neighbor and volunteer referee. She's tiny, yes.  But he's gigantic!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

QChem Family Day

The kids made a new friend today.  It's taken us 3 months, but we finally got them on a camel.  Here in Qatar the camel population is doing quite well.  We pass pens of them in random locations, race tracks for them, and of course we can always pick up some local camel steaks at the grocery store.  Seriously.  Not joking.
 
Mingling amongst the crowd, and camels, were a bunch of ponies.  Like the camels, you could hitch a ride and the lead would walk around aimlessly.  It is actually a fun way to do animal rides.  No lame circle tracks, animal poop surprises all over the field where families are congregating... No, no, no.  There was an army of workers armed with black trash bags to quickly remove any bio hazard material.  Chemical Company.  They know safety.  
 
 Mechanical bull.  Way to go little Texans! I wonder if this even makes sense to anyone else.
 
 This is the best I got from my 12 year old.  In his defense, he was up early for a basketball tournament.  We quickly found the food table and he was all better.
 
 
 Bailey's first henna flower.  Rite of Arabic country living passage.
This one wanted a henna truck.  Pretty sure they don't do trucks.  He was very pleased with the alternative...