We have begun to settle into more of a routine here in Kuwait. It has taken a lot of time for that process to work itself out, but we are beginning to be able to feel more comfortable with our surroundings and predict our day to day lives by figuring out how we can do things here to adjust well.
School has been a really fantastic experience so far. My students are pretty incredible, and now that I have my technology set up in my classroom I am able to make interesting and engaging lessons each day. This really helps with classroom management as the students seem to be really interested in what we are learning. I remembered a site that Bryan Belous showed me called Prezi, and it has been a great way to create lessons for my students. Here is a link;
http://prezi.com/ahqlvg-mqise/geography-to-republic/
Rob…you would love this site! Check it out if you haven’t already done so… Im usually a little behind on this sort of thing!
I have been impressed with the way the students consume the topics we discuss and their level of conversation and understanding. It has been a pretty big shift from last year, but very rewarding. Even though my students are in grade 6/7, we can have conversations that are well above their grade level. That has been a real blessing and has made the job very enjoyable overall.
The staff are also incredible. They are very professional, hard working and love their jobs and students. This makes for a great atmosphere and a wonderful place to experience our introduction to living and working overseas. Christie and I are tutoring two brothers twice a week, so that means we can hang out a bit on those nights. Each of us tutors almost every weeknight, so it can be hard to find time to spend together. Tutoring is insane money, and not too difficult so it is hard to pass up. It also keeps us rather busy, which means the savings potential here is huge as you don’t have as much opportunity to spend money. Ohhhhhh the Bushwakker, how I miss you, but my bank account is happier, and so is my belly 
As Dwayne always said, if you cut out Wheat Beverages from your daily caloric intake you really can lose some pounds!
Christie has accepted a job offer from a hospital here in Kuwait. One of the teachers here at the school was able to connect her with a doctor and he was very helpful in setting things up and working through the contract. It appears that she will have an opportunity to gain experience professionally that she wouldn’t have the opportunity to back home. This is an exciting opportunity but there are still many unknowns. Christie has had some time off the last 2 weeks to explore some of the city and make our place feel more like a ‘home’.
We have fallen into a wonderful community of people here and find ourselves blessed with the opportunity to hang out with great people on a daily basis. It is so interesting to live in community without really having to have organized it at all. This is something we never really expected. For many years we have read about and be challenged by the idea of living in community with others. Through our time with the Cappelo’s, Robichaud’s, books, or conversations with family and friends, we have often wondered and been challenged to think about how being in a community with others is beneficial. Being here, living in the same building, and working together has fostered this belief and helped us look at the potential we have here to bless and be blessed by others on a daily basis, and to pursue purposeful living. One wonderful example was on Wednesday night when a couple from Manitoba and Ontario invited us over to watch NHL HOCKEY!!! They are able to download the games they want and tend to watch a few each week. So my friends, I was able to see the Oiler Season opener! Very wonderful, and it will be great to hang out with some people from Canada and enjoy something that reminds us of home. Yes, even Christie enjoyed seeing those players in Orange and Blue….out of the corner of her eye I am guessing, as she visited
There are many things here that are difficult as well. We miss out family and friends. The human rights concerns are frustrating and disheartening, and we have yet to find a place similar to where we would TRY to go to on Sunday mornings. This part will come in time, but it is very difficult to work out. This has, however, been balanced out with the wonderful people here and the ways in which we are seeing love in action on a daily basis. We have begun to make some very strong friendships here, and covet the time we get to hang out with others when we are not busy tutoring
CHRISTIE’S UPDATE:
Hi Everyone, I’m finally jumping on board and doing a little blogging myself! I’m not letting Chris steal the show anymore! (: Ok, that makes it sound like our updates are a real thrill… there’s only so much excitement to share as we’re more or less into a routine here!
So, right now, I’m sitting in our living room listening to Chris play guitar… I like that he’s been playing again… I’ve been doing a lot of baking, so I am eating a muffin… I’ve also started drinking tea like it’s going out of style… I decided to paint the walls brown the other week and it certainly makes the space feel a bit cozier! Our couches and curtains are a brilliant gold colour, which has challenged every ounce of decorating talent that I have inside of me.
And…..this blog was not finished But we will post it anyways
