Diana's View

Well, we have been here almost a week and we're doing a little better sleep-wise, Mike, Meg and Katrina are almost adjusted, though Ally and I just can't seem to get to sleep til after 1 am.  Mike's at work this week, so we (me and girls) spent a lot of time exploring this little part of the city, just trying to find grocery stores, shopping for sandals etc.  Nothing we brought seems really appropriate, not that it's not modest enough, it's just not stylish enough-haha! We all need cuter shoes, skinnier pants and about 40 less pounds!

We are staying in a part of the city that appears 20% Arab, 70% small Indian? Phillipine? Pakistani? men and 10% small women.  Everyone is very slim and small, I feel like gigantic white woman coming through with her brood!  We definitely stand out though I was flattered to be taken for British the other day :)  When we go further toward the tourist/expat area of the city, it is much more varied and we blend much better.

The Corniche, which runs along the water, is kind of like the Inner Harbor/Boardwalk, without all the commercial stuff-just a really great, wide tiled path to bike or walk on.  We've spent many hours walking it, enjoying the feral cats (I know, not smart) and ending at the beach.  There's no waves, but it's very clear and has pretty shells.  Ally spent this evening saving starfish that had washed up at high tide and says she wants to be a marine biologist :)  We also rented go cart bikes and the girls had a blast racing together along it, although trying to keep them from harming pedestrians was tricky. "No, Megan, please don't run over the sheik!!"

Still not sure about school or housing-apparently SLOW is the only speed around here-it's almost impossible to get through to live people when you call, if you can even find a number!  Hoping to find something sooner rather than later, hotel living gets a little old, but it's ok now that we know where a few things are.  Went to a great Lebanese restaurant tonight, the waiter was very accommodating, offering us a whole sampler though he could speak very little English.  It cracks me up when the people here try to talk to the girls-my little Americans look so utterly blank it is hilarious.  They just smile and nod and after tell me they have no idea what was said.  Hoping they will learn to communicate a little with everyone here.  Megan seems to enjoy the Arabic names/phrases and we've picked up a few words so far.  English is spoken everywhere, so it's not critical, but I'd like us to at least try.

Overall, we're adjusting ok for the first week-our comfort level is up since we've been walking around so much and we feel like we know the lay-out of the city.  Homesickness flares up every now and then, but we are busy enough to distract ourselves.  Praying we can find good housing wherever is best and trusting God will use this opportunity for good things.  Lots of love to everyone home!!!!