Generic Update #1

So I know I have been slack with the updates, and it has been a month since Mum was here, but I am finally caught up as of now! I also know the blogs have been less than personal and I haven't actually talked about regular stuff, so I though a quick catch up was required!

As most (if not all) of you know, Mum came out for the February break. It was an epic flight - it takes a full 24 hours, and is long, long, long. It didn't help that I left her at the airport because Responsible Me got the time wrong. Ooops. It was just wonderful to have Mum here and to show her where I live. She was here for 10 days, during which time we went to Oman, which was fabulous. I will post the "Mum in Doha" pictures here, but I have a separate one for Oman.

Sky View Bar in La Cigale - A great panoramic view of the city, but only spectacular at night, when its hard to see the road works and you can't tell everything is the exact same colour.

Brunch at the Oryx Rotana Hotel. The hands-down best thing you can do in Doha - with Bill, Jill, Mum and me.

Oh so much money! Paying the bill....

The tourist Must Do - A photo at the Pearl statue on the Corniche. Before oil, Doha was famous for its beautiful pearls.

My chance to do the photo.

The Fish Market restaurant. Very cool place. The entrance looks like a seafood shop, and you pick the cut of fish or seafood you want and then nominate how you would like it cooked. I had the biggest prawn you ever-did-see. Just two of them cost $25 NZD!

Tiger Fish in the restaurant. Not for eating.

In other news...

I have been feeling a little homesick recently, with events going on in New Zealand that I am missing out on, and friends and family to talk to, but Skype is a pretty fantastic tool when my internet is working, and when we can figure out the time difference. 

I am resolved to stay for the next academic year, and have been confirmed for Year 5 again, which I am happy about, but I can't imagine anything that would compel me to stay longer, and I would be looking to teach at another international school with first language English students, or perhaps retreating home to tie up registration. I would love to move into Europe, with my eye specifically on Spain or France, but that may be tricky without registration.

I have been planning and booking my big trips for this year and have pretty much settled everything for the summer holiday. One of my very best friends, Gemma, will be staying for the last week of term and then heading to meet her brother in Jordan and Egypt. I will stay for a few days to organise my bags and hopefully move into a better apartment. Then I am flying to meet Mum and Dad in Krakow, Poland, then train to Warsaw where we pick up our 2 week tour. (Tour Info) We are going to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Russia. After the tour we are flying to Switzerland to stay with family friends, and then flying to London where we branch off - Mum catching up with friends, Dad heading home and me to stay with the beautiful Jaime and to see Josh and get a sneak peek on the big tour (he is doing the same trip 2 months ahead of me). A quick 3 daysish in London, before heading on a big 36 day tour of Europe with Shell, a lovely orange Irish girl who teaches with me in Doha. (Europe Tour Info) After the tour, it is straight back to Doha, just in time for school to start. Whew! It's going to be an epic one, and I imagine I might need a holiday after I'm done!

Saving for the trip is going pretty phenomenally for anyone who knows my romance with pretty dresses and expensive shopping sprees, but the trip is a huge motivating factor. I just can't wait. I am also going on a christmas trip to somewhere like Thailand or Vietnam with the New Zealand crowd - namely Alex and Sarah, they might bring some boys to tag along, and hopefully Gemma can make it, but it is very soon after her big trip, and it is harder for her to get time off, but I cannot wait to see my friends!

I have started playing Gaelic Football, as the netball season finished and I needed the exercise. It is a really weird sport. You can drop kick for a goal like rugby, or get it past the goalie like SOCCER, to pass the ball you use a volleyball serve, or kick using the top of your foot. If you want to move with the ball (round ball) you can carry it, but every 3 steps you have to bounce it our kick it back to yourself. Needless to say, I wont be playing in any tournaments any time soon, but i enjoy the training sessions quite a bit.

The biggest personal news I have is pretty epic, and a good place to finish on. I now drink coffee. You heard me. And I honestly have no idea how I ever survived without it. I have always drunk espresso coffee, but I made the mistake of drinking espresso first, and could never bring myself to drink instant sludge. I still can't. But I have discovered plunger coffee is the sweet sweet nectar of the Gods, so long as you don't ruin it with milk. Hot, very strong, black, with a pinch of sugar. I have a massive pitcher I fill up and take to work each day and I cradle it like a newborn baby. Coffeeee..... In fact, I might go make another cup just now!

Thank you to everyone who emails me, it is always so nice to hear from people, and makes me believe you guys actually read the drivel I post.

Lots of love xxx