Last weekend I went to a pretty amazing event: Guitar Odyssey 2. This event is a way for everyone from ASD to get together to eat, drink, laugh, and enjoy some great entertainment by staff and faculty. There are some very talented people at ASD and others that just enjoy having a good laugh! However, the most important aspect of the evening is the fact that everyone must pay to attend. All the money that is raised goes towards a cause that the school is supporting. This year 16,500 QR was raised for the Mike Shahen Scholarship fund. Mr. Shahen was the former principal at the high school. However, he is now living with Lou Gehrig's Disease. All the money raised will help to support his two children.
Some of the talents really amazed me. They made us laugh and cry!
I had a nice little corner in the back where I could dance! :)
Two male principals dressed up in hula outfits. They were GREAT!
The video above may be a little long, but well worth it! One of the best acts of the night! There are quite a few inside ASD jokes, but they are still very entertaining.
The video below is a great rendition of There Goes My Life by Kenny Chesney by a parent of one of my students! What a great night!
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed an Executive Order establishing the Peace Corps, forever changing the way America sees the world and the world sees us. Today, one of President Kennedy's most enduring legacies can be found in the over 200,000 current and returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have collectively given over a half century of service to the cause of peace. On its 50th anniversary, the United States Peace Corps remains an enduring symbol of our Nation's commitment to encouraging progress, creating opportunity, and fostering mutual respect and understanding throughout the world.
Over the past five decades, Peace Corps Volunteers have served in nearly 140 countries, bringing a wealth of practical assistance to those working to build better lives for themselves and their communities. From the first group of volunteers to arrive in Ghana and Tanzania in August 1961, they have been emissaries of hope and goodwill to the far corners of our world, strengthening the ties of friendship between the people of the United States and those of other countries. Living and working alongside those they serve, volunteers help address changing and complex global needs in education, health and HIV/AIDS, business and information technology, agriculture, environmental protection, and youth development. With each village that now has access to clean water, each young woman who has received an education, and each family empowered to prevent disease because of the service of a Peace Corps Volunteer, President Kennedy's noble vision lives on.
In our increasingly interconnected world, the mission of the Peace Corps is more relevant today than ever. Returned volunteers, enriched by their experiences overseas, bring a deeper understanding of other cultures and traditions back to their home communities in the United States. The lasting accomplishments of the Peace Corps continue to strengthen partnerships with leaders and countries around the world. This year, we also mourn the loss and pay tribute to the extraordinary life of Sargent Shriver, the founding director of the Peace Corps. The impact of his decades of public service will echo forever in countless places across the globe that have been touched by the Peace Corps.
On this anniversary, we honor the men and women from across the country who have carried forward our Nation's finest tradition of service, and we rededicate ourselves to fulfilling the dream and continuing the work of all those who aspire and yearn for peace.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 1, 2011, as the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor the Peace Corps and its volunteers, past and present, for their many contributions to the cause of global peace and friendship.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
Yesterday I was able to help out and volunteer at an amazing ASD event: The Dragon Triathlon -- Just Tri It 2011! One of the lower elementary P.E. teachers organized the event and with lots of wonderful help it was such an amazing success. I have to admit that I was even choked up as the last participant crossed the finishing line. I think it was a such a great opportunity for people of all ages. There were adults that participated as well as children as young as four and five. It was great seeing some of my students out there trying their best and having a great time. If this becomes an annual event, I hope to participate next year! Here are some pictures from this amazing day.
The t-shirts all the volunteers wore. The participants received white ones.
Preparing for the big day.
Some of the registration helpers.
The bike area.
The youngest age group in the pool (0-5 years).
Again, the youngest age group doing their laps.
Bikes of all shapes and sizes.
More registration help.
Ben (the teacher who organized the triathlon) starting the biking leg of the race.
More participants and their bikes.
The finish shoot.
I had the pleasure of being out on the run course to cheer the athletes on for the final stretch!
The track was used as part of both the bike and run course. We had a lot of help from the Air Force and Army volunteers!
Mawlid is a term used to refer to the observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad which occurs in Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.
The observance of Mawlid can be found in 8th century Mecca, when the house in which Prophet Muhammad was born was transformed into a place of prayer by Al-Khayzuran (mother of Harun al-Rashid, the fifth and most famous Abbasid caliph). Abu al-Abbas al-Azafi (1162–1236) established the custom of celebrating Mawlid in Morocco. His son Abu'l-Qasim propagated it throughout the Maghreb.
This year it was called on February 15. It was actually a great time to be out in the souq with my friend Hillary because there was so much going on. We were lucky enough to come upon some great concerts as well as other presentations as we were wandering around. Hillary took some great videos (that seem too big to post in blogger) and pictures of the sites and sounds.
I even returned to the souq last night and it was still hopping. There were still a great deal going on and many people out. I went a little early and I saw a lot of performers sitting down and enjoying a cup of coffee or tea and some dessert.
A music group performing in the souq.
There were carnival tents sent all over!
Watching a performance.
This guy was really good.
He had some moves and look at the great smile!
Busy place on a Thursday night!
These two guys were dancing along with the performers.
We watched this group preform on Saturday afternoon.
Watch out for that sword!
You can see the drummers in the background.
It is really neat and wonderful to be able to see these cultural events and performances!
It was great to have a wonderful friend visit last weekend. Hillary and I spent a year together in Peace Corps Honduras. She finished in August of 2010 and since then has been traveling around Southeast Asia. I was lucky enough to make her list of stops. She had to stop in Doha on her way to England and decided to extend the layover. We had a grand time bouncing around Doha and enjoying the wonderful weather! Here are some shots of our adventures. As always, I had difficulty picking out which pictures to post...
A lovely night at the souq.
One of the restaurants at the souq.
Look at all the choices...
Hillary enjoyed the pet section of the souq. I tend to avoid it.
After all of our shopping we enjoyed a great dinner at the Lebanese restaurant.
Hillary was nice enough to give me her pictures. She got some shots that I normally don't think to take. Fanta in Arabic!
I took Hillary on a mini tour of my school.
Hillary and I with the Doha skyline in the background.
Unlike me, Hillary is not afraid to talk to strangers and found a very nice man to take our photo!
The big pearl on the Corniche.
Fancy mall at the Pearl.
A view along the Pearl.
Inside Villagio mall. Let's take a ride on the gondola.
The flowers are so amazing along the Corniche right now.
Happy to be in Doha!
Heading up the walk way to the Museum of Islamic Art.
The MIA.
Hillary out on the terrace at the museum.
On the terrace outside.
Inside the museum.
An amazing shot of the ceiling!
Enjoying more of the flowers on the Corniche.
Doha skyline in the background.
We head back to the souq for a little more shopping.
Always lots to see...
The big pearl and the Doha skyline at night!
Looking back the Islamic Cultural Center and the souq.
