National and Liberation Day
In my last blog I shared information regarding the upcoming National and Liberation festivities here in Kuwait. On our last day of school before the holiday we had a costume parade and oh what a parade it was! I've never seen anything like it. Many of the children were dressed in traditional costumes of this country and others were all decked out in red, green, black, and white. Many of the mothers put make-up on their little girls for a very striking effect. Such beautiful children, I'm sure you will agree!
World's Largest Sand Sculpture Park
A massive sculpture
When I think of sand sculptures, being from Iowa, I think of the big sand sculptures we would see in the Cultural Building at the Iowa State Fair every few years or so. I'm not in Iowa anymore! These sand sculptures are part of the world's largest sand sculpture park in the world. It was built by an international team headed by stone mason Delayne Corbett from Canada. The sculptures are based on 40 different scenes from the Arabian Nights. This sculpture park is the size of four soccer fields. They used 28,000 tons of sand, which is about 1000 dump trucks at a cost of about $3 million US dollars.
These massive sculptures defy description and my pictures barely do them justice. The detail on these sculptures was exquisite. It was like stepping into a magical world. The sculptures were lit up at night which added to the aura. There were sound effects and and fire effects and dry ice smoke. If you are really curious, I know there are youtube videos you can find on the internet.
It was wonderful to see all the families strolling about from one sculpture to the next. I visited the park during the Liberation Days festivities. Everyone was sporting the colors of the Kuwaiti flag. I will have many wonderful memories of that amazing day.
Fellow expats 3/6
I would like to introduce you to my colleague in the music department. She describes herself as a "little Jewish girl from New York." She is my dear friend, Hedy Menendez. Teaching is a second career for Hedy. She was a flight attendant for Pan American Airlines for twenty years. Pan American closed it's doors 9:05 am, December 4, 1991. Hedy was packing her bags for a flight to St Thomas when she got a call that Pan Am had filed for bankruptcy. Suddenly she and 20,000 other Pan Am employees from around the world were unemployed. Hedy held a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami. She had trained to be a concert pianist, she held a minor in flute performance and had also trained to be a vocal music instructor. So she was one of the lucky ones. She had a great back up plan. So she dusted off her diploma and renewed her teaching certification. She got a job as an elementary music specialist teaching K-4 and middle school vocal music. She taught in Miami for seven years. Then in 2003 she went through a painful divorce. Her heart told her that the only way she could heal was to leave Miami and start a new life. Somewhere, anywhere, but just not Miami. One day she finds herself looking in the Miami Herald for job openings and she runs across an ad for an opening for a music instructor overseas in Kuwait. What could be further away from Miami than the Middle East? So she takes this job teaching band at Universal American School here in Kuwait.
She arrives at the school. Someone leads her down into the basement and down a dark hallway. They open the door and she sees these very green walls and dark green carpet. The equipment consisted of some random percussion equipment that had seen better days and a couple of sorry looking electronic pianos. They had gone through four instructors the previous year. She tells me she sat down and wondered what on earth she had gotten herself into. Then she prayed, "God, you put me here for a reason. I don't know what it is, but I'm trusting you to reveal it to me in your time." And He blessed her work here. The students were hungry for instruction and eager to learn. With the help of the principal, she put together a budget and ordered new instruments and music and all the other equipment a good band program needs. She called friends back in the states for help and advice and in no time these students were ready to perform in public. They were invited to perform at the Middle Eastern Toastmaster's convention. There were events at the Regency Hotel. There were Christmas shows and a Spring Talent Show that is well known throughout the city. UAS has a band program we are very proud of. Hedy brought it to life and she gives God all the glory.
My friends and I were on the backside of the Friday Market when we saw these ramshackle sheds all set up and draped in red carpet. We were curious, so we stopped to find out what they were. Come to find out, it was a truffle market. This gentleman and his artner were very eager to show us their wares, which at the chepaest were about $12.00 a kilo. They invited us up into their and stall and they took many pictures of us posing with them and the fungi. I don't think too many Western women cross their paths! Anyway, it was one of those interesting encounters that are fun to share.
Quite a Good Likeness!
This budding artist brought me this picture a few weeks into the school year. I especially appreciate my crown with the little eighth notes and a glowing star on top. I think this little gal has a future in fashion merchandizing ahead of her.
So Long....
Blessings to you from the Middle East!
Charlotte
