cultural experiences

Having lived in the middle east, I am fully aware of what Ramadan is and that this time of the year offers things that other times of the year do not. It is like Christmas over here....except no Jesus. But all of the same lights on houses and tinsle decorations. Red and Green...a lot of blue and yellow as well....a mixture of hannukah and christmas to the eye.

To the belly - something else entirely different. No eating during daylight hours. Ramadan is a time of fasting. It sounds like the poor people are suffering, but read this article that can be found at Undercover Dragons blog from an actual Omani eating schedule during Ramadan http://muscatconfidential.blogspot.com/2009/08/ask-omani-ramadan-eating-in-oman.html. They FEAST!

We were invited to an Iftaar. Which is a celebration/feast. This particular celebration was put on by a University here and was more of a cultural education type deal. We were ready for some culture. I wore big eye makeup (very arab) and the girls were dressed in Party dresses. However, when we arrived at 6:30, we were told that 1) the iftaar feast was sold out and 2) none of the activities started until 7:30. So, we missed an iftaar feast - still have to get one of those to check off my list. We did have arab food though. We have had arab food before in Oman...but I was interested in the differences here. I don't think I can count this experience. It wasn't very good. We returned back to the Iftaar party. There was a mini museum, a camel ride...which once again, Parker rode with zeal and glee. There were ponies as well. They made the kids all wear riding hats - I guess I'll start looking for lice tomorrow. It was still fun for the kids though and the horse/ponies were beautiful. The capper of the the evening was the Porsche Driving School for kids. They had about 30 pedal Porches and a driving course set up for them. The kids came in and went to the "classroom" which was simply little seats for them to sit in. They asked and wrote down each kids names and took pictures. They gave them caps that say "I drive a Porsche" and driving manuals. Then they start class as the guy prints out official drivers licenses. Really cute. Parker was the best and most excited though. He sat in his little seat so nice and tall. I guess when he heard the name "school" he thought it was. He kept raising his hand in the air, with his little fingers smashed together and saying "ME! ME! ME" everytime the instructor would ask a question.

First question:

"Who has a Porsche?"

Parker:

"Me! Me! Me!"

Instructor:

"Really?"

Other kids:

"NO! he doesn't"

Instructor:

"well, tell your mommy and daddy they need to purchase a porsche!" "ALL of you tell your mommies and daddies to get a porsche."

Instructor:

"ok, who has seen any of these signs?"

Parker:

"MEMEMEME!"

Instructor:

"What does this one mean?"

Kids:

all answer as she presents each sign: stop, right turn only, no u-turn, one way, etc.....

Parker: hand still going up in the air with vigor..

"mememememeME!"

Instructor:

"ok, Park-her, what is dis one?"

Parker:

"Round about!"

Instructor:

"How old are you? You are in School?"

Parker:

"I am one! I go to school!" He is 3 and does NOT go to school! But darnit, he knows what a round about sign is!

After she was done with the "schooling" they each got to ride their own silver mini-porsche on the course. It was hilarious! These kids were going through round abouts and following arrows...some more successfully than others. Lots of bumping of each other. Bumper car porsche style. Only in Doha!

What does this have to do with cultural experiences in the middle east, you might ask? Well, it's Porsche...an expensive, shiny car, spreading propoganda to the younger generation. A whole new level of marketing! Only in Doha!!!