What a Difference a Year Makes!

Surprise! NOW in CANADA!

 I am back!
After a very very long hiatus from writing I have decided to relaunch my blog, Bee Rich, because yes I am Rich in many ways and I want to celebrate that richness with friends and readers who are interested in what has occurred over the past year.

I will be updating shortly; just wanted to give you a head's up. I have relocated. It's new, it's different, it's another chapter in this adventure we call life. A journey, a process, a blog- whatever you want to call it, it will be coming as soon as I get my long range, short range and daily plans finished for my new job!

Maybe this weekend because it will be Canadian Thanksgiving and RED ALERT- I am in Canada!

Until then,

Bee Rich

This past Spring in India!

Old School Teacher

You may be wondering about the title of this post. It has multiple meanings, meaning I am and old teacher and I am an "old school" teacher. Yesterday a colleague referred to me as just that- old school.

A lot has transpired since writing on February 5th. It has been a bit hectic mainly because of the many exciting events: I celebrated my 60th birthday, we hit the 100th Day of School, my husband and I had a successful fishing trip on the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait celebrated its National and Liberation Days, we flew to Oman for a brief holiday, and, finally my husband returned to Canada. As well, there is a Kindness Campaign ongoing at our school and we attended our very first Princess Birthday Party for one of our favourite little girls.

So below you will find details of each of these events...

The best secret keepers, ever!  

SURPRISE PARTY

A full week before my 60th birthday, my friend Emily hosted a "Valentine's Day Tea" for our Kuwait family. I thought it a little strange when my husband told me about it, because Emily had not mentioned it to me during our trip to Avenues and Tim Horton's. However, wearing my Valentine dress along with my favourite red scarf, I patiently waited while our mutual friend, Steve, was late picking us up in a cab. When we arrived at Emily's, all of my silent  questions were answered with a big "SURPRISE" and the faces of many loving Kuwait family and friends. I was indeed humbled by the Wonder Woman themed party and decorations, the delicious snacks, the beautiful cupcakes, and the fabulous fun! Thank you to Emily and Lindsay, Phil, Nory and Jet, Steve, Cathy and Shahid, Alex, Mary, Courtney, and all the others who attended. A special thank you to my husband for keeping the secret so well!


PRINCESS PARTY
Later that same week, we went out to the same area to celebrate the third birthday of a little princess. Nory is the first born child of great friends, Lindsay and Phil (see The Pearl Curriculum), who just happens to love princesses. Certainly a happy event!

Beautiful decorations made this a superb event. 

And who can resist a cupcake!

This will make little girls everywhere just a little envious!

BIRTHDAY DAY

On Saturday February 13, we invited several friends over for "tea" and snacks, chocolate cake and Pinkberry to celebrate my real 60th Birthday. Wow- that is a BIG number. It was great to get together with friends from our school. My husband did an amazing job preparing, serving and cleaning up afterwards!

A gift from a student

A beautiful carrot cake from Grade 1 co-workers

Decorations from Emily and Lindsay- a Wonder Woman theme!  

So where did that time go? 

Cutting the cake is always a SCREAM!

HUNDREDTH DAY OF SCHOOL
Did you know that in Grade 1 the one hundredth day of school is often celebrated with dressing up, special activities, and special foods?  I didn't! But this year was my first celebration, and it was fun!

Making the Hundredth Day of School crowns

Home Decorated T-shirts and completed crowns- the boys from one of the two classes

And the girls, too!

100 Crepe Paper Roses- a gift from a child's nanny 

FISHING TRIP
On my husband's final week in Kuwait, we were invited to go fishing on Friday morning, accompanied by Tom and Kate, teaching colleagues. My husband caught several big fish, Tom and Kate each caught a big one, and again, I was shut out. Afterwards, we went to the fish market to have them cleaned, and later enjoyed a delicious fish dinner. 

Dawn on the Sea

First catch of the day!

So fortunate to be with my honey, even for a few months!

NATIONAL DAY
On February 24 our school celebrated Kuwait's National Day by wearing traditional Kuwaiti clothes, eating traditional Kuwaiti food (plus a few of the children's favourites- Krispy Kreme donuts, being the most memorable), and Kuwaiti music and dancing in the quad. The children were delighted with their day of celebration and even more so with the anticipated four day holiday.

Our quad, dressed up for the holiday. 

A unique flag in the front foyer

In the days leading up to National Day and Liberation Day, three grade one students
 read the English translation of the Kuwait National Anthem, while three others waved the colours. 

So fortunate to work with this beautiful lady

As well as this one...

And kind Khanti...

Children dressing in traditional and colourful Kuwaiti outfits 

One of the precious grade one students and me 

OMAN

As it was my husband's final weekend in the Middle East for this school year, we went to Oman to visit Justine, a lovely lady with whom we taught in Bangalore, India. This was my second trip to this warm and welcoming country. Among the activities we walked along the beach, enjoyed coffee by the water, went desert camping, walked the dunes, viewed the sunset and consequent sunrise, and enjoyed the company of friends. It was awesome! Thank you to Justine and her friends and family, for making our trip so memorable!

Our home for one night

Three amazing friends

On the dunes

Morning cooking fire

Baking baladi bread for breakfast

One of our hosts, striking a pose

Post breakfast camel ride!

My new favourite animal!

Souvenirs from Oman- sparking precious memories

KINDNESS CAMPAIGN      
     Since the beginning of the school year, we have been hearing about the Kindness Campaign, an effort to develop kindness and caring as a way of life for our students and staff members. This campaign included training for "kindness ambassadors", a "kick off "with the distribution of kindness bracelets to each student and staff member, a "High Five" recognition bulletin board, a kindness art contest, and an Instagram account #kindnesscountsatBBS. This unfolding and ever-evolving series of events has been eye-opening, especially at the Grade 1 level.

Many kind kids line up with the kind V-P

Another kind colleague-Alisha

Recognition board, which is now quite full

GRATITUDE 
     Inspired by my sister-in-law, Penney, I have also started my own personal campaign to be publicly thankful at least once a day for the big and little blessings in my life. This has helped me to stay positive and I am hoping that it will lead to further personal growth and contentment.

Gotta love modern technology

The outside of a new pharmacy on our street

Sunset on just another day in Kuwait

The days are long, the temperatures are rising, teachers in Canada are on their Spring Break, and I am officially living in Kuwait with my furry friend.

Peekaboo...my roommate until further notice

Until next time,


Bee Rich

Merry merry merry Christmas!

It is early morning on Christmas Day, 2015. 

It is not a white Christmas and that is probably a good thing, as we are taking a quick trip to southwestern Ontario to deliver gifts to the grandchildren, that was not in the original plan, but traditions do change over the years to suit the circumstances.

 

The tree is trimmed, the lights are on, the house is a decorated as it is going to get. Dinner is in the pre-preparation stage. Gifts have been opened, except for the stockings Santa lovingly laid out, and my heart is full. I am consciously deciding to choose joy over sorrow, peace over conflict, hope over despair, love over hate, and gratitude instead of depression! 

Until next time, 

Bee Rich

Home Sweet Home!

One of the best reasons to travel- it makes one appreciate home so much more!

-Bee Rich

View of the lake!

After solving the "problem of 2015" I am so grateful to be home sweet home on the lake in Ontario. 

I left the flat in Kuwait at 7:30 pm on Thursday, June 18. The driver dropped me off at the airport shortly after 8 pm, and after a slight argument about the fare, I was off to wait for my 12:25 departure to Washington, D.C., USA. 

Pinkberry (only the best frozen yogurt in the Middle East) and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf sustained me until boarding time, which was delayed due to the overselling seats on the flight. The captain casually informed us that arrival time would probably be around 7:40 on Friday, June 19, due to our late departure and strong (100 mph) headwinds. I started to panic when I realized that it was possible that I would miss my connection to Buffalo and consequently the reunion with my hubby. 

Fortunately I had upgraded my seat so that I was closer to the front of the plane (Economy Plus seats, just behind Business Class) and had lots of leg room despite a lack of arm room due to the rather large men on either side of me. So I stretched out and prepared for the the 14 hour flight. 

Two meals were served and I believe I even slept for a portion of the time in the air. To my surprise it was soon time for landing, and the captain reported that time had been made up and because of our late arrival, the line for customs was empty. What a relief!

I sailed through customs and arrived ten minutes before boarding the tiny Embraer plane to Buffalo. All was well and the mini-flight of 45 minutes put me in Buffalo right on time. I found my husband and doggy and then retrieved the two very large suitcases, rolled them to the car, and we were off!

With only the drive through border to worry about, I prepared myself for an interrogation. Lots of questions asked and answered successfully. As we headed down the highway towards our home in Eastern Ontario, Canada, I let a little whoop! 

Celebrating crossing the border

The rest of the journey was filled with exclamations, something like, "Everything is so green...look at the green...oh my it's so green." And yes, several hours later we arrived at our home on the lake.

The place has changed. My husband has built a new deck, moved some gardens, cleaned the house, inside and out; even the bedding had clean linens. The trees are taller, the flowers brighter and the neighbours friendlier than I had remembered. And yes, it is SWEET to be HOME!

Until next time,

Bee Rich

So thankful to be home!

Counting Down Again...

And suddenly, it is mid-May.

As I put next Monday's date on the whiteboard yesterday after school, looked at the calendar and planned for next week, I realized that there are only three (Three you say? Three?) yes only three weeks left of school. 

It is the long weekend in Canada and so it is here in Kuwait as well. Many families and teachers are travelling this weekend, but I am staying put, here in the flat, playing with my new little kitten, fighting a cold, thinking about the past year, and looking forward to what lies ahead.

May 2014- I was let go from s job at a pool in Canada and the search for a new job began

July 2014- My husband and I celebrated a special anniversary with family, friends and neighbours

August 2014- We travelled to British Columbia to cruise up the inside channel to Alaska

September 2014- I started a new job in Kuwait teaching grade two

October 2014- I visited daughter in Romania for a few days

November 2014- My husband joined me in Kuwait, along with our dog Mika

December 2014- We travelled together to Romania for Christmas with our daughter

January 2015- As part of the visa process, we went to Bahrain for three days

February 2015- I got a cold, which turned to pneumonia, and had to take a week off on sick leave

March 2015- My husband returned to Canada

April 2015- Our daughter was transferred from Romania to Texas, USA and I travelled to Oman to visit a friend

May 2015- I went with friends to Dubai for the weekend and adopted a kitten

June 2015- I look forward to a return trip to Canada

You could say it has been an eventful year- one of challenges and changes, appointments and disappointments, sadness and joy. It has been a year of friendship formation, relationship renewal, environment adaption and personal growth. 

Through it all I have learned many things about myself and others.  And with any luck, I will have time to write about some of that in upcoming posts. For now, I am content in Kuwait.

Until next time, 

Bee Rich