Qatari Baby Shower

This past week, I was invited to a colleague's baby shower. Very similar to what one would experience in the States, with the big difference that the baby shower occurs AFTER the baby is born. Little Essa was born 3 weeks early, and only about 2 KG.  A gaggle of girls were invited over to her parents house (it is customary that Qatari women spend the first 40 days at their parents house after giving birth).  We were welcomed into the front room of the home which is dedicated to entertaining.  We were offered fresh juices and small Arabic sweets until dinner.  Just before dinner was served, the new mom opened her gifts, which consisted of cute outfits for her little boy.  Dinner (Serbian cuisine) was served and followed by a warm Islamic oatmeal dessert.  The woman who arrived in their abays quickly took them off right after dinner. We spent the last hour chatting like a bunch of girlfriends who just happened to come from all over the world. Very cool!e