Quick Escape

As a teacher, you know your year is busy when you feel like it's May and it's only November. My ever-growing "to do" list greets me every morning and puts me to bed at night. I check things off only to replace them with something else. Some days I just want to set fire to the thing.
But before I reach for the matches, I remind myself that I live in the Middle East. Flying to Europe or Dubai, or in this case, Doha, Qatar, is just a quick flight away. While I didn't do much during my two-day trip but relax, sometimes a quick escape is just what I need to keep my sanity (Lord knows teaching sixth through tenth graders certainly doesn't help!).

Today's lesson: Sometimes you can't do it ALL. Unplug for a couple of days, recharge, and come back stronger than ever.

View from breakfast. (This won't mean much to most, but living in a country with very little greenery, you come to appreciate this!)

The morning light is AMAZING! And my hair is doing whatever it wants, as usual. 

Morning cappuccino.

Enjoying the Villaggio Mall. Yes that's a man-made river, complete with gondola rides.

The ceiling of the Villaggio Mall makes you feel like you're walking outside. 

The Torch Hotel.

Lounging poolside. Doing absolutely nothing. SO necessary. 

At the airport in Doha, Qatar. Of course I had to stop and talk to this guy.