Thanksgiving Surprise

I know, it's practically Christmas. I'm way behind in posting but I didn't want to omit our Thanksgiving surprise.

The weekend before Thanksgiving we got a call from my brother-in-law, Josh and his wife Linda. It turns out that soon after we told them of our plans to spend the fall term in Qatar, they bought tickets to come visit us. This is months before we had our own tickets, mind you. They figured that, although they have traveled all over the world, they've never been to the Middle East. What better time to go? And to add to the excitement they decided to make it a surprise visit.

They flew in to Dubai for a couple days' sightseeing and then hopped over to Doha in time for Thanksgiving. They rounded out the tour with a second hop over to Bahrain before flying home. So Josh and Linda, in just over a week, actually saw more of the Middle East than we have in four months. I mean, who moves to the Middle East and doesn't ski Dubai? But that's OK - they're seasoned travelers. And skiing wasn't really an option anyhow.

The other big news is that Linda is expecting, which is absolutely wonderful. You see, Josh and Linda are a great couple. They work hard, they know how to play and they have a great sense of adventure. That zest for life is a trait I think we should all share with our children (and, heck, everyone we meet).

Of course, for the first couple of years it's a struggle to hold on to that enthusiasm, as Linda is certainly learning. She was wretchedly morning sick throughout the trip but she was a trooper and I hope she had a nice time despite the nausea. Poor Linda - even after months of acclimating I think the food in Qatar has an off-flavor; it must be ten times worse if you're in the first trimester.

We didn't spoil the big surprise for the kids. I left a house key with the guards at the compound gate when I picked them up from school, and they were there when we returned. C came in first, and Josh walked around the corner wearing a thobe (white robe), keffiyeh (head scarf), and agal (black cord circle to hold the keffiyeh in place). And don't forget the aviator glasses. Stopped that kid in his tracks; this is not what he was expecting. Fortunately A was too shocked to cry immediately and figured out it was OK when her brothers screamed and laughed and tackled this strange Arab man. Josh looked good but it takes a certain panache to wear the keffiyeh well. Kind of like the guys wearing sarongs in Sri Lanka. You gotta believe it to wear it.

Anyhow, Thanksgiving morning came and we decided to go out for a quick jaunt to the beach before dinner. We packed a lunch and went to a spot north of Doha that has some interesting rock formations along the coastline. Well, it was a decent plan and I'm glad we got out of the house. But the beach was a bust. The second we opened the car, a cloud of flies descended upon us and our food. You literally couldn't stop moving because the flies were everywhere. At least they didn't bite, but yuck. The kids were cranky, Linda was sick, we couldn't win for losing. So we stayed only about an hour before we packed up to go. B and Josh got in the car, opened all the windows, and tore around in the packed sand waving and smacking to get rid of the flies.

Mercifully, Thanksgiving dinner was very nice. We were invited to a friend's house who arrived in Doha at the same time we did. Polly is a marvelous cook, who has unraveled the mysteries of baking in Qatar in a way I can only dream of emulating. Mind you, Thanksgiving dinner three months after you arrive in a foreign country is a daunting task. I decided early on that it was way beyond my ability and I don't know what we would have done if Polly and George hadn't invited us. She brined the turkey and it was moist and delicious. There were several families, and we ate outside at picnic tables in their community garden. Short sleeves and bare feet. Not to brag.

And before we knew it, the visit was over. I wish we had been able to see a camel race, or somehow show Josh and Linda some fancier sights. We did get a babysitter one night and go out to dinner at a restaurant in Souq Waqif. But it was wonderful of them to visit, and I appreciate it.