I can taste the tuna already...

That's right- we head for Tunisia dark and early on Wednesday morning. We'll see lots of Roman ruins, beach and green. I have also read that tuna is a very common ingredient in the cuisine, as are spicy peppers. We return on the 18th and resume work on the 21st. I'm sure Randy will provide all of our readers with a full report shortly upon our return.

Happy Easter to all! Misrak even gets to enjoy her Easter (the 19th for Orthorodox Christians) without work as well.

Our Big News

Anastasia loves "walking"

...But she's not ALL smiles!

We have some big news. We've been busy going through the paperwork for the national ID cards, a requirement of both Emiratis and the expats who live here. While going through the paperwork, we learned something that they didn't tell us at the Corniche Hospital when Anastasia was born.


Because Anastasia was conceived and born here in the United Arab Emirates, she is entitled to 50% of the standard Emirati birthright. I looked up the birthright, which amounts to 5 acres of property in the UAE and $5 million!!!!!!!


When she turns 18, she will have full education costs paid for if she attends university in this country (and there ARE American universities here)--for any field of study of her choice.
If she marries an Emirati, she would receive FULL benefits of the Emirati birthright, in addition to the Emirati husband's natural birthright.


I can't believe that more people aren't taking advantage of this. Mexicans make their way to America to make a buck and have access to health care and education (and sometimes have kids who become legal US citizens)...Why don't more people come to the UAE for the same reason? It's just not publicized, just like in the US...you don't make ads for immigrants telling them what benefits they could have.


The late and revered UAE President Sheikh Zayed always believed that the expats were a part of the UAE citizenship, his vision of a forward-thinking society that would of course grant equal rights to individuals. By letting people have these opportunities, you certainly gain their allegiance and ensure that they do what is right for the growth of their country.


Needless to say, we're totally psyched about this. We haven't found a husband for Anastasia yet (ha ha), but of course she can make that choice on her own.


It's truly amazing news!

PLEASE NOTE: Yes, this was an April Fool's joke. I feel obliged to add this post script for those who have congratulated us: Paula, Ben, Mariah...

Inside for another sandstorm weekend

The Pirate Captain Anastasia in her inflatable yellow boat

Anastasia has been watching Anastasia

Hanging out with her "Dead Pets": Elephant, Hippo, and Penguin

"Dead Pets Need Love Too."

Book Fairs, Breakfast, Tutoring, Movies, and Essays

Anastasia's eating style is very hands on; if it comes on a spoon it definitely won't taste as good. Her favorites include avocado, mango, sweet potato (still) and she's making the most of her location- Arabic bread and hummus are high on the list also. (Notice the two big teeth in the second photo!)

Our weekend has started! Yesterday evening, we went to Abu Dhabi's annual book fair, one of the largest in the world, with publishers from dozens of countries represented. Christine picked up a few books. I behaved myself. It was held at our exhibition center, a huge building between our school and Sheikh Zayed's Mosque. Anastasia is doing fine. She was really good at the Book Fair; she even saw a puppet show (in Arabic) and met a local boy about her age. When she started to hit him, Christine took her away before we all got deported. I also saw a cooking show at the Book Fair (one of the publishers, of course, produces cook books). The chef was from Malaysia, and apparently he's quite a celebrity with a cooking show on Food Network and the BBC. We don't have cable, so I don't know who he is.

Today, I'll be tutoring, as usual...We had a breakfast date with Rhonda again at Dome in Khalidiya Mall...and we have lots of school work to do in between.

After tutoring, Christine is going to the movies with a group of AISA women, and tomorrow Anastasia and I will do our usual Saturday morning walk (before it gets hot--we have to leave earlier and earlier to beat the heat these days, as our temps in the afternoon reach 98*F regularly now...and it's only March).

I also have quite a stack of essays to mark, which probably explains why I'm blogging right now: to put off tackling grade 12 essays on Victorian poetry!

(P.S. from Christine: Randy took all of these photos of Anastasia while I was at the movie. They apparently had quite a good time. He also rocks because he grilled halloumi cheese and had wine waiting for me as soon as I had put the little one to bed.)

Prophet's birthday in Khor Fakkan

Camel vet sign in Al Dhaid on the way to Khor Fakkan

The beach: to the left of the photo there were women covered in abayas (normal), to the right was a topless, thong-wearing woman (a shock, considering we were in the most traditional emirate)

The hottie at the beach

The town: that's not fog, but dust from a truck that passed by

A morning hike in the rocky foothills

Randy and Anastasia in the nearby Omani enclave

At a mountain-top restaurant

A watchtower with Omani flag

The girls on the trip: me, Joyce and Anastasia, Leanne

The dangerous dining option