Off to Dubai...

Later today, we head out for Dubai for a five-day sun/R&R session.

Back later with pics and news, but until then, have a happy New Year!

B&R

Merry Christmas!

...and top o' the Season to you!

We'd like to wish our family and friends a blessed holiday season--we love and miss you all!

B&R

Thailand-bound!

Whew, what a week!

Classs wrapped up on Wednesday (wow, were the kids squirrely!), so we are officially on holidays.

The good news for the week is that NESA (the folks who select presenters for their educators conference in Bangkok in May) selected Brent's blogging presentation for the conference. So, in March Brent and Rosalee will be going to Thailand for the conference and some R&R, Brent's airfare, hotel, and conference fees courtesy of AIS.

Green curry and Lemongrass Restaurant's crispy pork salad here we come (d.v.)!

Should've entered the lottery...?

Well, we found out that a potential trip to Paris over March break with Rosalee's art history class fell through. Bummer, that, as the kids would have covered the expenses of the accompanying chaperones.

But closed door, open window....

Brent purchased three tickets for prizes at the staff Christmas dinner, mostly hoping to help offset costs and such (I mean, who really expects to win theses things?!). Despite only purchasing the minimum number of tickets, we did rermarkably well, winning a polar-fleece Ikea blanket as well as the grand prize for the evening, a return ticket to Dubai. Very cool.

So it looks as though we might get away over winter break after all. We had planned to explore locally, thus allowing more funds to be thrown at debt, and Dubai is not the cheapest place to hang out for a few days. But who are we to question such a definite sign from above, right? Right?

Someone sure is taking care of us...

We're pumped to go and have tentatively booked for Dec. 27 through Jan. 1. More info to follow.

B&R

"Winter" Choir Concert

Two friends of ours, Danka and Tucky, are involved in the "Ahmadi Singers," an amateur choir group that meets and performs here in Kuwait. Rosalee and I had the oppotunity to attend their "Winter" concert (as it turns out, most songs were about Christmas, but advertising it as such would have been haram) and then go out for Thai food afterwards.

Mmmm... pad thai and green curry... 

PEAK'ing

Last weekend, Brent & Rosalee took the opportunity to attend the 2005 PEAK (Professional Educators' Association of Kuwait) Conference. The school gave us a half day to attend Wednesday's sessions, so it was a nice change of pace from our regular routine, and a nice chance to beef up on our teaching skills.

Brent also presented two sessions on Blogging in the classroom entitled "Blog to Learn." He had been using blogs in his Grade 11 English Media classes with great success, and figured other educators might appreciate knowing a bit more about the possibilites of blogging in their own classes. Both sessions went very well, and Brent received high marks for his presentation both from teachers and session-evaluators. Now, the results go to NESA (Near-East Schools Association), who will determine their needs for the NESA conference in Bangkok in March. If Brent's presentation is selected, AIS will pay for his airfare and accommodations to represent the school at the conference. That would be grand, 'specially if he could take his wonderful wife with him...

We'll let you know when we know.

B&R

Almost done...

PEAK participants are congratulating themselves on having set up their first blog.

(And Brent is looking forward to a good nap.) 

PEAK Conference, 2005.

Brent giving the introduction to his presentation "Blog to Learn" on day 2 of the conference.

That's Balzac's coffee in the mug, by the way--essential fuel for a morning presentation. 

Nalgene bottle in hand, Brent clarifies a finer point of blogging at the 2005 PEAK (Professional Educators' Association of Kuwait) Conference, Dec. 1, 2005. 

Shrimp straight off the boat. Sharq Souk Fish Market, Kuwait. 

Fresh Fish!

Sharq Souk Fish Market, Kuwait.