I took Elena for a walk around the neighborhood yesterday. Outside. It was 75 degrees with a light breeze. Clear, blue sky. Green grass and trees. Life in Technicolor.
Yay! I am back in Seattle!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
OMG! Article on Bahrain in the NYT...
In the Travel section. It's talking about the Formula One, which was in April. It also makes Bahrain sound a lot more glamorous and cosmopolitan than it really is.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/travel/05explorer.html?ex=1343880000&en=94f3aab6df722222&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/travel/05explorer.html?ex=1343880000&en=94f3aab6df722222&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Hot Ghetto Mess
I read somewhere that this was going to be the title of some BET show, but it was renamed because "Hot Ghetto Mess" was deemed offensive. Well, offensive maybe only because this term is completely outdated, so summer '06. But sometimes it is the way we describe Bahrain.
We new moms call it ghetto Bahraini-style, that is, the method by which you travel by car without securing your infant in a carseat.
There are no child carseat laws here or in Saudi Arabia. Are you kidding. The average Arab family has 3-4 toddler children, and they overrun the car's capacity by at least two or three people at a time. You know grandma and auntie have to come along, too. It's the clown car phenomenon. I would laugh all the time back in the States, seeing the Asian families drive down 405 in the Honda Accord, 6 people to each 5-seat sedan. Only I can laugh because I'm Asian.
It's absolutely the norm over here to carry your infant or toddler in the lap. In the US, you can't even bring your baby home from the hospital without a properly installed infant seat. The nurse probably walks out with you to check. Since Elena came early, we didn't have a carseat yet. All we had was this plastic baby carrier gifted by one of the pilots. It is so flimsy I could sit on it and crush it. In no way was it made to be a car seat, but Jeff hooked it into the car and we drove merrily home. (Not really, we were terrified the whole way since the American in us made us paranoid)
But wouldn't ya know how quickly we slide down the slippery slope of laziness. The island is small. My friends live literally 3 miles away. It takes more time to snap the baby in the carseat than it is to drive to their houses. So I admit to taking risks and not always using the carseat, just keeping the baby in the bassinet and putting it wholesale in the backseat (but always with someone sitting back there with her, like this makes it safer.) This other American new mother hasn't even used her car seat yet, just uses this travel basket. Amazing how when it is not law, we don't feel the need to be diligent.
But I'm not going to do that anymore. It's dumb. I have this great, heavyduty carseat, and I'm not going to think of it as a hassle to use it. I don't know if carseats were around when I was a baby, but I doubt it. Seat belts weren't even compulsory until I was probably 8 years old. But now that we have a car seat, wouldn't I feel silly if something happened to the baby because I didn't use it?
We new moms call it ghetto Bahraini-style, that is, the method by which you travel by car without securing your infant in a carseat.
There are no child carseat laws here or in Saudi Arabia. Are you kidding. The average Arab family has 3-4 toddler children, and they overrun the car's capacity by at least two or three people at a time. You know grandma and auntie have to come along, too. It's the clown car phenomenon. I would laugh all the time back in the States, seeing the Asian families drive down 405 in the Honda Accord, 6 people to each 5-seat sedan. Only I can laugh because I'm Asian.
It's absolutely the norm over here to carry your infant or toddler in the lap. In the US, you can't even bring your baby home from the hospital without a properly installed infant seat. The nurse probably walks out with you to check. Since Elena came early, we didn't have a carseat yet. All we had was this plastic baby carrier gifted by one of the pilots. It is so flimsy I could sit on it and crush it. In no way was it made to be a car seat, but Jeff hooked it into the car and we drove merrily home. (Not really, we were terrified the whole way since the American in us made us paranoid)
But wouldn't ya know how quickly we slide down the slippery slope of laziness. The island is small. My friends live literally 3 miles away. It takes more time to snap the baby in the carseat than it is to drive to their houses. So I admit to taking risks and not always using the carseat, just keeping the baby in the bassinet and putting it wholesale in the backseat (but always with someone sitting back there with her, like this makes it safer.) This other American new mother hasn't even used her car seat yet, just uses this travel basket. Amazing how when it is not law, we don't feel the need to be diligent.
But I'm not going to do that anymore. It's dumb. I have this great, heavyduty carseat, and I'm not going to think of it as a hassle to use it. I don't know if carseats were around when I was a baby, but I doubt it. Seat belts weren't even compulsory until I was probably 8 years old. But now that we have a car seat, wouldn't I feel silly if something happened to the baby because I didn't use it?
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The Emerald Isle
Jeff has been stranded in Ireland for the past week. He went to pick up an airplane that is being added to the fleet, but of course it has been delayed due to repairs. His company told him this would be an overnight trip.
I had suspected this would happen. It happened previously when Jeff went to London in early March, and when we went to Paris in late March. What was supposed to be an exciting trip from Ireland has turned out to be more of a punishment- losing out on accumulating flight hours, losing sector pay, losing time with his family. At least he's gotten to go sightseeing and says it's beautiful over there.
Here's a picture I sent to him of lil' Penelope Charmosa (that's Portugese for Penelope Pitstop). See what he's missing!
Hot Town, Summer in the Bahrain
We have now entered August, supposedly the worst month to be in Bahrain. Temps are between 45 and 48 celsius (that's 113 to 118 F), with 60 - 90% humidity. I am M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E.
I've never been to a place where my face was Literally Dripping Sweat after being outside for three minutes... until now.
I've never been to a place where my face was Literally Dripping Sweat after being outside for three minutes... until now.
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