Golf and Goodbyes

Todd and I at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

Two weekends ago, Todd and I drove to Abu Dhabi (about an hour and a half drive) to go to the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.  We met my aunt and uncle there, and our friends, Nora and MJ, went as well. Originally we wanted to go because it would be a good chance to see Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy play. This tournament is the only one that Tiger plays with in the entire Middle East region. Unfortunately, they did not make the cut from the day before (well of course they didn't!), but we went anyway and enjoyed a beautiful day on a beautiful golf course. 

Our friends, Nora and MJ

Little known fact about me (or maybe you already know) is that I used to take golf lessons in middle/high school (can't really remember when it was?).  I was even in a golf tournament with my best friend, Christinann, in which I won second place! (OK, ok, there were only two people in my age bracket, but still!)  If you know me at all, you know that I don't do sports....any sports.  So for me, this was something of an accomplishment.

My other run in with golf was when I worked a couple golf tournaments with my cousins, Seph and Tate.  I really enjoyed running score cards and following the golfers around.  I even got to meet some well-known golfers, including Gary Player who is famous for being in shape and insisted I punch his stomach to confirm that he did have a six pack!

If anyone can strike up a conversation with a stranger, it's these guys.  And they did...a couple times.

All that to say, I really enjoyed going to the tournament in Abu Dhabi.  It reminded me of lots of good memories that I hadn't thought about in a while.  It was also our last weekend to see my aunt and uncle on this side of the world. (OK, that's a lie.  I couldn't resist going to see them one more time in Bahrain this weekend.) They are being transferred back to the states in a couple of weeks after about 20 years of living overseas.  It's been nice to have them close by and we are sad to see them go!  Thankful for the 5 months we got to share life with them as "ex-pats".

Todd and I with my aunt and uncle, Brenda and Thom

Incredible India

Oh, India.  You are a country like no other. You are smelly, dirty, either too cold or too hot, but there is something about you that keeps making me want to go back.

Todd and I spent a week in India.  Left Dubai on Christmas night and returned on the 1st.  This trip was very different from when I spent a summer there in college doing missions.  Here are a few differences....the summer I was there, the temperature was over 100 degrees, I wore no make up nor did I ever fix my hair, I wore local clothes, sat on dirty slum house floors to teach my students, huddled around the A/C unit in my room to cool off, and walked or rode in rickshaws around town.  This time, the temperature was too cold for my liking (especially coming from Dubai, where I have no winter clothes), we had a driver who took us everywhere, ate at decent restaurants, and huddled around the space heater to get warm in our hotel.  I also noticed Muslim influences in Indian culture so much more where I only saw Hinduism before (amazing how spending a few months in a Muslim country changes your context of seeing things).

In Agra at the Taj Mahal.  It was so foggy when we first got there, but most of the fog finally lifted and we got a few good pics.  I love the love story behind the Taj. (Look it up if you don't know it!)

At the base of the Taj Mahal.  

We did ride a few rickshaws!

Elephant ride through town.

In Jaipur at the Amber Fort.  Such pretty hills and mountains surrounding this fort.

I love that I got to experience India again, and this time with Todd. And I have a feeling it won't be our last trip to India!