Roz McCarthy writes:
My plan was to have the students write the blog, but it seems like we are so busy going places and doing things, I never seem to get them to sit down at the computer and write.

On Tuesday night, the whole group and their hosts met at Souk Waqif, a traditional market, filled with small shops that sell traditional clothing, souvenirs, birds, animals, hookahs, and where there are lots and lots of restaurants.

One of the students from Middle East International School donned traditional Qatari robes and acted as our guide.

After a dinner of kebobs and delicious onion bread, we roamed the streets for a few hours.   Our students found new friends in the animal shops in the market.

Mr. Eldigwy stayed with group and they all arrived at school the next day a bit bleary-eyed and draggy.

But it's not like they could just sit around and do nothing.  We promptly hopped on a bus and went to the Islamic Art Museum, designed by I.M. Pei, and it was absolutely beautiful.  The artwork from

the Islamic world was breath-taking.  Each room was dark, but the displays were brightly lit and the pieces were uncluttered so we could really appreciate the individual pieces.  We stayed less than two hours.  Although the students were ready to go (they were all hungry), I could have stayed for many more hours.

Today, we gave a presentation to the whole high school (200 students) about CGS.  We had the PowerPoint show that I use when I visit middle schools, recruiting new students.  Each student narrated a section of the show that he/she was most familiar with.  For example, Johnna spoke about sports and cheerleading; Nadia spoke about the music program and the plays; Lindsey spoke about the student tour to Morocco, etc.  All students did a wonderful job, with almost no practice.  They were exceptionally poised.

By the end of our visit, the owner of the school agreed that he would like to send students to visit us in the fall.

Tomorrow is the Sabbath and the weekend begins.  Students will spend the day with their hosts.  On Saturday, our last full day here, a large barbecue is planned for us with the host families.  I've been told it will feature traditional Arab food.

The school week seems to have flown by.  I hope to get students to write more of these blogs.  Their afternoons and evenings have been filled with hanging out with groups of kids, seeing the sites, having swim parties, and I'm told, eating, eating, eating.

We leave on Sunday morning at 9:55 for the flight to Morocco, stopping first in Abu Dhabi.