Two Weeks!

Well today we officially finished two weeks of our trek back to Canada. Here is a very quick look at our trip so far. We have had somewhat limited internet so updating the blog has been harder than I expected... here we go - Starting in Istanbul Turkey

 Here we are infront of the Blue Mosque

 Next stop: Fethiye. Here we are swimming at the blue lagoon.

 Still is Fethiye. This is after a long say out on the water with a 12 island cruise

 Swimming in the roman ruins in Pammukkale

 Pammukkale - so amazing, like nothing I have ever seen before...

 Aydin, visiting Brad's turkish family

 At one of the main stops on the Silk Road, Bursa

Back in Istanbul, Me eating corn on the cob... I was always crazing it, so good.

Next stop - BULGARIA

 A beautiful Church in Sofia

At the Rila monastery

Next Stop: Romania - Pictures to come as we are still here. 

So far the trip has been amazing. We are cruising at the typical fast speed that we like. We spend lots of our nights on trains and buses... but hey gotta see as much as possible. More to come later... I am tired, so off to bed. 

Cheers, 

Serena 

VACATION

I wanted to write a quick note about the fact that we will be on holidays!!! We leave Kuwait in about 12hours... we are all packed and ready to go. We just need to get last minute things done in our apartment before we go. For example... we need to seal up fans and windows - otherwise our place will be a sandlot when we return, also making sure everything is sealed properly so no creatures want to make a home here. And well little things like that.
on a side note... we were told to ask the security guard to more our car back and forth every week or so, because if not the tires take on the shape of a square, and you have to get them replaced. Hmm not fun.

Well I leave tomorrow for Istanbul. We will eventually fly back to Canada from Amsterdam. As for what's in the middle of that trip, I will share as we go. I hope to keep blogging as we travel. There will be quick notes and pictures as we go, and as we have internet and time!

Oh and for the 2.5 months that we will be away from Kuwait I only have packed one SMALL suitcase. It is one that you can bring as a carry-on. Yup I can travel light. Now the issue is shopping... guess I will have to fill Brad's bag LOL.

Well can't wait to be back in Canada at the end of July. The first few things I want to do... breathe fresh Canadian air, see whoever picks me up from the airport (of course), drink Tim Hortons coffee, look at all the greenery, drive on normal road with other normal drivers....

Masalama Kuwait... see you in September...

Hello Europe and Canada... how I have missed you....

Serena

Schools out for summer! Schools out forever!

Yes I am singing that song in my head while righting this. I remember as a kid/teenager/adult, whenever my year of school was coming to an end... and summer was approaching this song played though my head all day... thanks Alice Cooper. Well I just finished up my last day of 'school' as the teacher... yup we are out for summer, and I am out forever!!! Well I am still in university so really how much does this apply to me???

YES I am done my year of teaching! I didn’t think this moment would come. This was such a challenging job for me for many different reasons. I sure appreciate teacher now! I want to highlight some of the amazing parts of my job, and highlight some of the harder part of the job.

Why I loved the job (in no specific order)

-         I had 24 unconditional admirers all the time - who follow me like my own shadow

-         I got to help mould brains and see the ‘light bulb’ turn on many times

-         I got to be silly all day

-         The kids didn’t care what name brand (or lack there of) I wore of what my clothes looked like

-         If I was having a bad hair day the girls would sit there and ‘fix’ my hair for me

-         I got enough hugs to last me a life time

-         I got to make kids laugh non-stop

-         Hearing teeeeaaaccchhheeeerrrr and MSSSSSSS SERENA all day long

-         Having kids fall asleep in my lap or in my arms because their parents put them to bed at 2am or later

-         Laughing at the cute things my kids said

-         Working with some great people

-         Walking into work and having a cute face say “good morning teacher, I love you”

-         Having my kids say mom I don’t want to go home, I want to go to Ms Serena’s

-         I only worked until 1pm

-         Hearing the cute things kids say as they are learning English, sometimes it makes sense, and other times it doesn’t

-         Being able to giggle like a kid

-         Having moments of feeling like a proud parent

-         The holiday time

Why I am happy the job is over (in no particular order)

-         It is tiring – enough said

-         Repeating myself over and over all day, sit down, listen to me, be quiet etc

-         The odd smells that come from kids X24

-         Crying and whining X24 kids

-         Fighting

-         Kids who bite other kids and the parents making BIG deals out of it

-         Running noses… flu season was no fun

-         Hearing teeeeaaaccchhheeeerrrr and MSSSSSSS SERENA all day long (yes I it was good and bad)

-         My principal – or lack there of I should say

-         Loud noises all day long

-         Having my glasses broken many different times

-         Having a kid pee on me as well as vomit

-         Keeping 24 kids entertained for 6 hours straight

-         Annoying parents

-         Having kids run away

Now that I am finished teaching I must hurry up and finish my two university courses. I am about to start my summer vacay and I don’t want to have any homework to do.

Here are a few pictures of my cute kids J

Going on a field trip... this lining up in a row is a rarity... I tried all year to make them stay in a line but rarely did it happen.

So cute!

 Class picture on Kuwait national day... 

 I could just squeeze them all day long :) (picture taken on pajama day)

Wearing their disdashas to look all grown up

NOW TO SLEEP… well take a quick nap before hitting the books J

Cheers, Serena