The bad, the sad and the exotic locales.

It’s been a while since I couldn't think of a catchy little title for my weekly blog, but I have had that sort of week. I must say that there have been some hard times here, but this past week was one that I hope I only need to experience once. It wasn't all bad. As with all things, there is good that comes...just wish sometimes there didn't need to be yuckiness in the midst of the good.

Kuwait is a dusty place. Now, one might think, "How much dust can there really be?" The answer is more than you can imagine. Sadly, Kuwait is known for having one of the highest levels of particulate matter in the air. That's a bad thing, I've been told. As a result, I have been troubled by allergies since I arrived. This past week I once again, visited the clinic for a follow up appointment. My doctor was quite surprised, to say that least, that I was still having trouble with my allergies. Her comment was "your ears can't be plugged; we've got you on the strongest medication possible". Then she looked at my ears, and sure enough...

To make a long story short, it would appear that we've exhausted all the moderate - strong allergy remedies...all that was left was a shot of some sort of steroid thinger that will replace all the allergy meds for 2 - 3 months. Sadly, the shot has done nothing...I am worse off than I was when I went to see the doctor.

Tomorrow I will take the day off work (no voice left!!!) and seek out an allergist. Perhaps someone who specializes in such things will have a suggestion.

Aside from the constant battle with my allergy to Kuwait, the weekend was also filled with its share of sadness. On Wednesday night our middle school librarian found three little kittens that were abandoned on her driveway, tangled in their umbilical cords. On Thursday, our elementary school librarian took the babies to the vet, they were separated and now there were three little ones who needed a foster momma.

Andrea (the elementary librarian) and I both have two cats at home. Regardless, we decided that together we would try to give these three little fellas the best possible chance.

Now, let me just say here that I knew the odds were stacked against us, but somehow it just seemed like the right thing to do. Thursday after school, the three little ones went back to the vet. The vet said it would be touch and go, but they looked strong enough.

Looking after newborn kittens means feeding, burping and pooping every few hours. I didn't know, for example, that newborn kitties can't poop or pee on their own. There was lots I didn't know...especially how attached I would become to these three little gaffers. I would be on kitten patrol on Thursday night.

Things went along alright until about 11:00 at night...that's when the first kitten, Sam, started having trouble breathing. By midnight I was a mess as I'm holding this little one gasping for air. I called Andrea, and she and her husband came to pick the little guy up. He died around 4 in the morning.

The other two had a really good night...both were pooping on their own. M.J, the weakest of the pack, was really starting to eat. They were both really active. But sadly, on Friday morning around 10, M.J. died too. He was also having trouble breathing. Andrea and Scott came by to pick up M.J. I was in tears, again, and we decided that Scott and Andrea would take the last kitten for a while. By this point I had not slept more than 30 minutes all night, so a nap would be good.

Things were looking good for Coco as well...she was a good pooper (which, I know, sounds really lame, but we're trying to save these little kitties) and was starting to eat. However, early in the afternoon she too had breathing troubles and died. So within 24 hours, we lost all of our baby kitties.

It really was heartbreaking. I think this is the first time that I've talked/written about it and am not in tears. Mom was awesome as I phoned her to tell her of my sadness at losing the first kitten. And as mom's do, she also knew that there was far more going on in my head than losing a kitty...apparently being sick has finally caught up to me.

So, that's the week in a nutshell. It's been a doozy, but like I said, there was good that came from it. I discovered why I am a teacher and not a vet! I had the chance to love three little, helpless kittens and although it didn't turn out as I wanted, and although in the grand scheme of things it probably doesn't matter; they had a home and someone to take care of them.

I also have the cleanest classroom in all of Kuwait. You see, it would appear that I have also earned the respect of many at my school and the prospect of not being able to stay in Kuwait (because that is the next reality if we don't figure out an allergy solution) isn't a good one. As a result, I have people cleaning every corner of my classroom. I have two air purifiers and a humidifier. Now all I need is to be able to breathe while I am there!

I am also 11 sleeps away from spring break. Our break is really short this year...possibly because we had a month off in December. Nonetheless, I am getting out of the desert and heading to Greece. I will spend four whole days in Greece at a five star resort on the Athens coast. There is a free shuttle twice a day to and from Athens so I will have a chance to see some of the history. I will also have a chance to lounge on a beach and read, or swim up to the pool bar and have a drink. I am excited to go to Greece. It will be another "on my own" trip, but one that I am really excited about.

And that's been life in the last week. It's about 8:15 on Sunday evening and I'm ready for bed. I am keeping my fingers crossed that there will be good news as I am out seeking relief from my silly allergies.

I guess one other great thing is our school exhibition...it was a huge task to organize, but students are one week into the project and seem to be doing a great job. I'm hearing very positive feedback from many of the teachers directly and indirectly involved. Students are excited and, if all goes well, in 16 school days, we'll have one heck of a great, first ever, exhibition at AIS. If nothing else, it will be, yet another learning experience.

Signing off...

G & T