Cole Comments on Qatar

Doha was awesome. An ever mixing melting-pot of islamic tradition and
oil-funded innovation, the city holds surprises around every corner. As we were only there for a short time, we only got to experience the
tip of this city's cultural iceberg. That said, the sites we visited were nonetheless intriguing and inspiring.

As much as it shocks me to say it, my favorite place we visited
in Doha was the Museum of Islamic Art (and yes, you read it right, I
did actually love the museum). The building itself was an
architectural wonder, with high domed ceilings, and sweeping
sandstone/marble supports, all in a uniform geometric pattern. I was
most surprised, however, at the exhibits. When I heard that we would
be going to the 'Islamic Art' museum, I had envisioned in my head long
halls filled with identical-looking scrolls covered in arabic
calligraphy ('you seen one, you seen them all'). Instead, what we
found were interesting, versatile exhibits, with artifacts ranging
from huge royal rugs to ornate glass lamps from up to a thousand years
ago! After walking through the three floors of displays, we ate at
the French-style cafe, and enjoyed coffee and croissants with a view
of the Doha skyline.

I had never been a big fan of museums, but this one was a breath
of fresh air. The museum was refined and modern; a great example of
oil money put to good use. I'd definitely recommend a visit there if
you are ever in the Doha area.
--Cole

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Where we are working now

ISG Jubail School is the Anglo-American school for this area: Jubail is one of two planned industrial cities in Saudi Arabia, given a special royal commission for development and planning. Our district, the seven schools of International Schools Group, runs the school in the other industrial city -- Yanbu -- as well. Jubail is on the east coast, between Dhahran and Kuwait. Our nearby "big city" is the tri-city metropolis of Dhahran-Khobar-Dammam, where all the big shopping malls and quaint old markets are, along with the central 3 schools of our district, where Coleman attends high school. ISG Jubail has 410 students -- an average of 2 homerooms for each grade, K-10. Class size varies, up to 22. I have 12 in my required course "Computers & Information Management"; Barb has 12 students in her first-grade class. Most of the teaching staff come from the U.S., some from the Commonwealth. Several teachers are wives of engineers an...

Riding the Bus often

From 201010 Saudi scenes It is ironic that this land of cheap gasoline has so much group transport -- buses. From 201010 Saudi scenes Our housing compound has a Toyota-Coaster bus that takes some to/from school (we usually go earlier and return later, on a similar bus that the school provides). Driver Yahya takes residents on the 90-minute trip down to the Big City shopping every Thursday morning. The above picture shows our group one Thursday, usually going to Ikea or the new Lulu's Hypermarket , or the Dhahran Mall. Coleman rides a different bus every day to and from school -- usually 100 minutes there, 80 minutes back. His bus is evidently an old tourist bus, usually comfortable but a bit dusty. The air-conditioning usually works too well. I've ridden it with him several times, to attend business meetings at the district office. From 201010 Saudi scenes There he is, at 5:45am every morning, at the start of the bus run. Fortunately only about 20 stu...

Reservoir of European Youth, Parliament

A few days ago I walked to the nearby Pasteleira Park, planning to visit the city museum at the Reservoir. Walking through the park I noticed a large group of young people gathered in a circle, engaged in team-building activities. My days in education attuned me to the spectacle and piqued my interest, so I sat on a nearby bench and watched as a succession of enthusiastic students ran to the center and started an activity, which all the others joined enthusiastically. What sort of group would this be? A typical high school class would include a portion of disinterested teens, and others only half-heartedly participating. This crowd was unanimous in their excitement. I also noted that the leaders were speaking in English, though the breeze muffled the words. I walked around, found a couple of older participants on the side, with official-looking lanyards, and asked: this was an activity of European Youth Parliament , simil...

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