Family

I had a very interesting conversation with a seventh grader I tutor who is studying for his social studies exam. The question was "Describe Ancient Roman family structure." We talked about how its very similar to Kuwait-three generations in a household.

Me: In America, it's just the mom, dad and kids.
Student: What about grandparents and cousins?
Me: The grandparents live by themselves and cousins live with their parents.
Student: What about the nannies?
Me: Well, we don't have nannies.
Student: Why?
Me: Well it's very rare to have nannies or maids. it's expensive.
Student: Then who washes the dishes?
Me: [holding back a giggle] The mom or the kids. Sometimes the dad.
Student: [blank stare]
Me: Kids usually have weekly chores like dusting, mopping, folding laundry...

We spent another 10 minutes discussing chores and allowances.

His question was so genuine. He has grown up in a house with 15 family members: parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Plus at least five nannies, a few drivers and other help. We had to tutor at a different table today, because the table we normally sit at was set up for family lunch. There were place settings for 20 people. Just a regular Saturday lunch. I think most families in America only do that a few times a year!

He said on Saturdays, his cousins like to play a big football game. But they don't have a yard-just a tiled outside area beside the basement. And it's going to be 109 today! I wonder how different their childhood would be if nature was a part of play. We rolled around in the grass, climbed trees, went to the beach, played in the sand and water. In the south, winters are mild and if you're from the north you enjoyed playing the snow. I know I say it all the time-but this is the hardest part of living in Kuwait.

Only 3 weeks left!

Bali

It's hard to blog, knowing I'll be home in 6 weeks!

For spring break Michael and I went with five friends to Bali.

The travel time was longer than our other trips we've taken. It was 12 hours in the air. We flew Etihad which is a nice airline and very comfortable. Each flight was delayed so we didn't have any layovers. We arrived at Uns Hotel in Kuta Beach Friday night. The town is pretty touristy, especially for surfers. The beach is okay-a bit of trash, but we were just happy to be at the beach! The restaurant right beside Uns is The Balcony, where we ate every meal. Their margaritas and seafood was delicious! Most of our time was spent by the pool getting sun.

On Tuesday we went white water rafting. It was our first time, so we didn't know what to expect. The guides just give you a helmet, life jacket and paddle and walk you down a steep 400m to the river. Before we got in the raft, we had to learn the commands: forward, back, and my favorite Boom Boom!! That means your about to hit a rock-lean in the middle of the raft so you don't fall out. I was terrified most of the way. We would come to a part of the river with rapids, paddle hard, and then relax a few minutes before the next rapids. That's when we would look around and realize we're in a beautiful jungle!

When it was done they fed us soup, fried rice, egg, prawn chips and fried noodles. I ate every bit of it! 

We slept the whole was back!

After Kuta Beach, we headed to Ubud. If you've read Eat Pray Love, you know all about it! Michael found a beautiful villa a little bit outside of Ubud in the middle of rice paddies.

We spent more time by the pool, got massages, visited Monkey forest and took a 40km bike tour down a volcano. The bike tour was my favorite part!

 We started by visiting a coffee plantation. We learned all about Luwak coffee which is special....the coffee beans are eaten by little mammals called luwaks, digested and collected again.

The coffee after it's been eaten. 

We all tried it. It just tasted like coffee, but apparently it can be  pretty expensive in the states. 

The bike tour was all downhill, through villages and rice paddies.

The photos don't do it justice! It was the brightest green I have ever seen!

This part was towards the end and was my favorite-palm trees on both sides. 

After our adventure, we had a home cooked Balinese lunch..more like feast! It was delicious!

Michael and his friend stayed a few more days. They went to a small coastal town called Tulamben. They rented scooters, went to a cockfight and lots of diving. Michael said the diving was nice. They dove two wrecks, a couple of reefs and a wall- all shore dives. And old Balinese ladies carried two sets of equipment on their heads down the beach...including air tanks.


Bali was never on my list of places to visit, but I'm glad we went.