Pray

This morning I woke up with my back aching and the pain shooting down my right leg...anyone who knows me knows this has been an issue I battle from time to time thanks to two wonderful drunk drivers. Anyway, I had barely any sleep. My 5am wake-up call came at 4am. My abaya was wrinkled and my usual steam trick wasn't working. The iron kept coming unplugged. I was running behind and worried I wouldn't have enough time for breakfast and heaven knows I needed it this morning. I rushed through breakfast only to end up with an upset stomach and to top it off my bus was late. I couldn't remember what I had written on my lesson plans and the printer wouldn't work. Oh and I wasn't even sure of what my day would look like 'cause it all depended on if the other LT showed up to work today. I got to work and couldn't get into the room that has all my supplies. As you can see it was a crappy morning already and it was only 7am. Well, I found my way to one of the classrooms to get done what I could. At 7:25am I made my way up to the front of the building to greet the prrincipal, sign-in and get my head of faculty to open my room for me. My head was filled with all my problems then I heard the most gut wrenching crying. No it was not a child. It was the music teacher. She was on the principal's couch wailing. My principal's face was ashen and the school nurse was crying as well.

You see, in my self-involved morning I had failed to realize a very major event was going on in my part of the world. Egypt is unstable. Thousands are angry and want their voices heard. As I'm sure you know, this is not a peaceful time in that country. As it turns out 90% of the staff at my school is Egyptian. After the crying subsided I found out that my principal's brother had been shot as had someone in the music teacher's family. All my problems seemed so insignificant in that moment. All the drama that had been going on at work stopped as we came together to comfort our colleagues. Very little of the morning went as planned but that did not matter. We, the American teachers at the school are accustomed to flying from task to task with very little time to think let alone talk to anyone casually...well today was a day of hand holding and back rubbing. I pray that these women who I have come to know have favorable news soon and can have some measure of peace. I ask that you pray with me.

Update

Ok so I've been rather deficient in updating my blog. Wish I could say I've been so super busy with work and fun that it just slipped my mind buuuuutt that would be a lie. I've just been lazy. I get home, well to the hotel, and I kinda want to do some planning but then I get distacted and before I know it I'm yawning and it's bed time. I get ready for bed, lay down then my body decides it was a false alarm. So for the next two hours I attempt to put myself to sleep only to successfully get about 3 or 4 hours of rest a night. What does any of this have to do with updating my blog? Well, no idea. It's just part of what my life is like over here.

Now, onto today's events. One sidenote: I purchased my fridge and stove so hopefully I'll get everything delivered before ADEC realizes I should have been out of the hotel on Sat. One of the few perks of being off the beaten path! So today, I was informed by my head of faculty that part of my job is to mentor other teachers. News to me but whatever. I figured I would be modeling best practices for the Arabic teachers I would be working with. However, that was not what she was talking about. It appears my principal wants me to show the other LT how to teach kindergarten. Yea. Now because of this I'll be having everyone in my room on Wed. I mean my principal, vice principal, head of faculty and the other LT will all decend on my classroom to watch me teach small group. Oh and it gets better. The Cluster manager, prinicpal and head of faculty have now decided to change how we'll be teaching. We'll now be co-teaching some lessons. Which ones? No clue. What days? No idea. But they want it starting next week. Needless to say I need to move this weekend so the other LT and I have time to get a game plan together.

When this news was announced this afternoon I had mixed feelings. I have co-taught and it works well when both people are on the same page. I now have to convince the other LT that I'm  not going to take over while at the same time modeling in a manner that everyone above me thinks is appropriate. On the other hand this new teaching format will give us considerably more time to teach than what we currently have. Woohoo! How will it all work out? We'll see. But we did win the battle of plan time. We've now been given 2 hours a week of pure plan time. I know my fellow teachers at Shepherd would have a heart attack at the idea that's all we get in school yet are expected to produce high quality instruction. But hey, you take what you can get.

The idea that "my perception is my reality" is something that we're all grappling with. In that we have to change the perception of the Arabic staff on what quality early childhood education looks like and that is changing their professional world as they know it. And this comes after years of being told what a wonderful program they have. So it's not unexpected that there are many little battles that we fight...some we win, some we lose, others we table till another time. Plus the language barrier doesn't help much. Shway shway(slowly, slowly) it will be done.

The Best Staff Meeting Ever

Today our head of faculty had the best staff meeting ever. She divided us into two groups each one had an English speaking teacher. The task was for each Arabic teacher to write her name in Arabic then the other English teacher and I asked them questions about their names.We had to find out the meaning of their names, if thier name had a country of origin, why their parents chose that name and if they liked their names. Simple right? I tell you, as a newbie, this was the best thing she could have done. It allowed us to get to know each other. I learned that one teacher's name means "scent of Jasmine", that my co-teacher and I are both named after great-grandmothers, that the art teacher is hilarious and that two of the teachers' familes follow naming patterns(ie-all the girls' names started with R). We laughed and had a chance to come together as a staff.

After the meeting with everyone, the head of faculty had a meeting for just the English teachers that lasted like two seconds. It was basically a check-in and to show us the weekly schedule of events in the school that has been implemented. We let her know we had chosen standards for the following week for everyone except KG1 but that as soon as we spoke with the KG1 Arabic teachers we would let her know. Well we set out to find the ladies since we had so much time to plan. We found them alright but there would be no planning done. Everyone was gathered in the principal's office. At first we thought it was a meeting...wrong! They were just hanging out. We went there with the purpose of getting some work done but were ordered by the principal to sit down-when she orders you obey. We spent the next 45minutes eating chocolate and chit-chatting. We talked about people's diets. My co-teacher's mother-in-law who had just moved in with her and her family. It was fun. It took me a while to realize that while this gathering seemed like a waste of time, it was very important. I'm learning that being social is just as important as getting your work done well. So after a few uneasy moments I was able to push aside my workaholic inclination and relax into a most amusing conversation.

Bahrang & My First Evaluation

This is a short recap of my first week of teaching at Al Jinan KG. Overall it was a great week. The bus driver, Bahrang, who picks me up and drops me off has decided I need to help him with his English and inturn he's teaching me a few Arabic words. Though he's very nice, he's so loud. I don't want to be rude but in the morning all I want to do is get to work in peace and quiet but that has yet to be. It's also common here to give the driver your cell number 'cause keeping to schedule is a very foriegn concept. However, I am not comfortable with that so I just make sure I'm at my waiting spot with a book. I have no intention of giving anyone the wrong idea.

Now the most interesting thing part of the week was on Wednesday afternoon. My principal decided that she would conduct my first evaluation 4 days after my arrival. Yea. Let that simmer. I'm living out of suitcases. Trying to figure out how to get food that's not going to cost me an arm and a leg-beautiful hotels come with wonderfully expensive food. Still learning the names of my students and the staff yet she thinks this is a great time to do an observation. Whatever. So I pull on all my years of training at KU and teaching expereince for my moment of truth on Thursday. I kicked butt! She was so impressed and I was relieved to have it over. Then she decided that I should switch with the other English teacher...not quite sure what the purpose is but I just agreed then turned it over to my head of faculty.

Our Field Trip

Our trip to the supermarket went like this....
At about 830am I asked my Arabic teacher when we would be returning. Her answer was when the trip is over. lol Gotta love it. That was the tone of the entire trip. At 10ish we boarded the bus to head to the supermarket. I had no idea what the plan was but I flowed with it. There were 4 teacher, two Arabic and two English, two cleaners and a lady who I did not know for about 20 kids. The bus ride was um interesting. The only people concerned that the kids were standing on the chairs were we English teachers. We tried to get them to sit but success was not to be ours.

Upon arrival the children were lined up by gender and we marched in. The kids were led to the produce section where an employee was told our purpose and he held up items for the kids to label. He did so in Arabic and the other English teacher and I took turns doing so in English. The whole thing lasted may 15-20min. I thought that was it. We boarded the bus and headed to a souq(local market). Souqs are set up a bit differently, kinda like a farmer's market. We chose one of the fruit & veggie areas to go visit and the entire routine was repeated. This time the kids were given bananas as they left. It was a fun trip and when we returned to school I had the kids draw pictures of what they saw on the trip and they practiced identifying them in English.

I can tell I'm gonna love this class. They are so sweet...even the three boys who have decided that I needed to be tested. I think I'm winning them over.

Just another day at Al Jinan KG

Today I got my first taste of what some LTs had been talking about in terms of surprise field trips. It appears we have a field trip to the supermarket tomorrw. This is some thing the Arabic teachers were well aware of 'cause there are like a million papers that some through as the day goes on- all in Arabic, yea, even the ones that require my signature- and it was on one of them. Gotta love it. But so tomorrow at 10am we go to the store to look at fruits and veggies.

Today was tiring. I have one student who is clearly developmentally delayed and decided today would be the day to test me. Poor baby. He didn't know any better. I don't back down very easily. He'll grow to love me and I him. That's just how it works out for me. I love the difficult ones. However, we were warned to look past lots of behaviors or get a cleaner to handle it, least we get in trouble. What is a cleaner? Well they are a group a women that clean the school among other things. There is always one outside of each classroom to run errands, take the kids places and clean up basically. As an early childhood teacher I'm so accustomed to making sure my room is clean...a task I do everyday but here it's a bit different. The cleaners come in early, unlock the school and clean. They go into the classrooms when we are out for breakfast and clean. They go back again after the teachers and kids leave and clean.

The current fight at the school is for more time. We are expected to deliver amazing results but we're not allowed in the building(I am until I move to Ghayathi) till about 715(assembly begins at 730) and must be out at 2. The kids leave at 1230 but then we are in meetings  from 1245 till 2, at which point we are kicked out of the building. There seems to be a lack of understanding of teacher prep time. Oh well, we're leaving that to our head of faculty and the principal.

Pictures of My School

School!!!



My first day of school! I was told to be ready by 7 for the bus to come get me. This information was provided by my head of faculty who was just guessing since no one at ADEC had bothered to contact me with any info about pick & drop off. I'm learning to be like water and just flow. So after my skype conference with the Chairmen(my 2yr old nephew), his assistant(my 4 yr old niece), their Dad(my brother) and my Mom I got ready and headed down for breakfast at 6:35. Plenty of time to eat and make it to the bus. NOT!!! I was met by a man asking if I was a teacher followed by "You're late!" lol I told him no one told me anything then he insisted I get breakfast to go but the restaraunt wouldn't let me take anything... deep breath: I'm water...so I took a yogurt and went to the bus.

On the bus I learned that we were going to pick up other teachers in Ruwais and the children then we would all ride together. The ride was nice. I tried to speak with a few of the teachers but they speak little English I speak even less Arabic lol but we made due. Once inside the most important part of the morning is greeting the principal. I've been warned many times over to ALWAYS greet the principal. I met her and that started the task of the day. How to say or shorten my name. I gave her a shortened version but taught everyone else how to say it and by the end of the day she was on board as well. It's amusing how proud people become when they can say my name lol.

There are only 4 classes in the school, two KG1 and two KG 2. The day begins with Assembly at 7:30-8 then everyone goes to class.  At 10am they break for breakfast. I am with KG2(5-6 yr olds) the majority of the day and with KG1(3-4 yr olds) for 15min or 30min depending on the day. This week I am following the lesson plans of the LT that's there but honestly I'm having a hard time making heads or tales of it. School ends at 12:30 and we have meetings till abotu 1:45 then we must be out of the building at 2. Well all but me 'cause the driver takes home the kids at 1230, Arabic teachers at 2 then comes back for me. This is temporary. I also have to get there early. It'll be nice to get to Ghayathi and have a better transportation plan. Overall it's not bad though. I love the kids already and their receptive English is pretty good. I'm just glad to be back in the classroom after these months of waiting.

'Twas the Night Before School...

That's right! I was actually in a school today! Correction: My school! It was great but let's rewind.....Yesterday I woke up determined to see something of this place but not before I washed my hair. No sooner was I done with that long process-those who know me are well of aware of the lengthy process wash day is- than I received a call. It was Debbie my head of faculty. She was just heading to Ruwais and wanted to know if this was a good time to meet. I pinned up my hair and ran out of the door. Best decision ever! She took me all over. We went to the few shops in Ruwais, I saw the school(the outside anyway), our incoming competion. By the way the new school is HUGE!!! and going to be free for the international families so... we will loose students but eh what can you do. From what I understand they don't qualified teachers and ADEC is furiously working on that so there's some hope for us yet. Anyhoo, we had lunch at a little sandwich shop and picked each others' brains.  I learned that I would the only teacher at the school who has formal training in Early Childhood Education AND has taught Pre-K/K...um did I mention this is a Kindergarten school???

Whatever, after that I asked her about Ghayathi and all I had heard(good & bad). She was very upfront with me. So bascially I'm approaching living there as if I were living in DC...there are some places I wouldn't go at night by myself  PERIOD. She then offered to take me to see the place and there ain't much there. That's right I had to use "ain't", it's that bad lol. I wish I had taken my key with me but oh well I saw our buildings and her place. They are new and look it...read: no plant life near by. But I can see the camel farm off in the distance. And we are right next to the mayor's compound. It was interesting to see these large compounds with tents right next to them. I'll take pics next time I'm out there. But we do have marble floors throughout. How many teachers can say that?? I know, I know...marble isn't hard for them to get but still it's a nice perk.

Delma Beach

On the way to Ghayathi

Desert golf anyone? That's Dhafra Golf Club

The Long Road to Danat Jebel

Yesterday afternoon all of those who were being placed in Al Ain and Al Gharbia had to check out at 1 and we were to leave at 2. The Al Ain folks left first on two buses and a truck to carry their luggage.

                                                   Had to take a picture of the truck.
Well, after the 34 LTs bound for Al Ain we Al Gharbia folks sat waiting and wondering how they were going to transport us all. There are three main hubs, as I have deemed them- Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Ghayathi. Now Mirfa and Ghayathi are on the northern coast and Madinat Zayed is south. I figured we would be split into two groups and I would ride with the Mirfa group, drop them off then continue. That's not what happened at all.

Omar came up to my little group in the lobby, called my name and informed me my car was here to take me to Danat Jebel. We took a few pics and I was shown to the car. I was so glad I had made peace with my location or that 2 hour drive would have been so sad but it was a lovely drive into the desert. I read my book and listened to the music I had downloaded onto my phone. As you can see in the previous post my new digs are pretty nice...but I know it's temporary. So I'm taking it all in and enjoying it. Budgeting my money and making the most of my frugal teacher ways.

My new place! How long? Who knows.

                               Gonna enjoy this while I can...who knows what awaits in Ghayathi.

SIM card Adventure/Hotel Preview

Well I've had a phone but needed a SIM card but had been putting off getting one till we had to leave. So last night I absolutely had to get one. As excited as I am about heading to live with the camels, I was not going without mobile communication. Anyway, I learned that th Dh2 bus(#290) would be leaving around 7ish and was running every hourish lol. I love that we're all on CPT here... so I made my way to the bus stop at 6:45pm and caught the bus short while later. It was a nice ride down to Madinat Zayed Shopping Center. I kicked myself for not having paid more attention the first time but when you're with a group you just talk we to much to really take in what's around or the route the bus takes. Had I paid attention I would have seen that the bus literally goes next to the Grand Mosque, something I had wanted to see. It was so beautful, all lit up again the night sky...so peaceful looking. Oh well, I'll be here for the next 2-4 years so I'm sure I'll have ample opportunites to see it.

Back to the SIM card adventure. I get to Madinat Zayed, run accross the street(not the smartest thing but whatever), ask the security guard if there is an Etisalat station and he points me in the directions. Getting the SIM card required both my passport and visa-well he accepted my visa 'cause I didn't have my entry stamp on me. The whole process took maybe 15min. Now the fun begins...I remember that the bus is running on an hour cycle so I walk to the bus stop, which is pack with men, break out my book and wait. These guys stare like they haven't food in the past week and I'm a four course meal. I, however, have mastered the art of acting as though they do not exist and stare past them or read my book. At about 9:40ish the bus arrives. I have my money in my hand a proceed to the curb. Well, someone had parked their Land Rover where the bus was to stop and there was a military bus blocking the stop as well. I attempted to get the driver's attention but failed. I had to watch as my bus rolled on past. Angry? Just a bit. So I waited another hour for the next bus. So at about 10:40ish the next bus arrived. I was sure to get on this one. I was so pleased and releaved. I settled in and read a bit and transfered numbers from one phone to the other. Well don't you know I missed my stop. I had ridden to the end of the line and was asked to get off. Mind you it was almost midnight by now. I was tired and lost. I must have looked so pathetic. I asked the driver how to get to the hotel and he gave me directions insisted it was too far to walk. I said I had no money for a cab and he let me stay on the bus till he was ready for his next round leaving at 12:40am. At about 12:50am I made it to my hotel. Dog tired...until my body hit the bed then I was wide awake. Tired but wide awake. My body really needs to get it together.

Top pic: outside of Madenat Zayed Bottom pic: the mosque right next door

Anyway, as I type this I've just finished packing up my room, dancing around(Thanks Laura Rose for the CDs). Mr. Bear is safely strapped to his carryon bag and we're leaving for Danat Jebel at 2pm. That's where I'll be till I get my furniture allowance and from the looks of the hotel ADEC can take their sweet time with that lol.

Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort
 http://www.danathotels.com/Hotels-Resorts/Danat-Jebel-Dhanna-Resort?src=sl_tripadvisor_jebel_businesslisting

On the Move

I didn't think they would do it but they did. We newly arrived LTs will infact be in our respective classrooms come Sunday. At our meeting today with School Operations we were informed we would be leaving the hotel tomorrow. What time? Eh who knows but those of us in Al Gharbia and Al Ain need to be packed up tonight. As I type this I'm mostly packed up. Sooo glad I didn't listen to the front desk guy when he said we were due to be here for a month. I know some teachers who completely unpacked and I know had I done that I would be in tears now. I so dearly hate to pack lol.

Prior to leaving our meeting today I spoke with my LT support team and was informed I would be moving to a hotel until my furniture allowance is deposited into my account. However!...drum roll please...I was given my KEYS!!!! along with two letters to get my electric and internet turned on once I get my money!!! Woohoo! Happy? Why I do believe that would be the word to describe how I felt. I was also informed I would be given a driver to get me to and from school till I'm moved into my place at which point I plan on carpooling. We will all have to carpool or hire a driver for at least 3months or so. Apparently once you receive your resident visa an international drivers license is no longer valid. At that point you need a UAE license BUT you cannot get this without the UAE National ID, which is a 3month process. Boy am I glad I had no intention of driving for a while.

Placements

We have our placements! Well we received them yesterday but I was far to overcome with emotion to write about it with any clarity. I was so exhausted by the entire day and had to be up at 5:40am...so I Advil PM helped me quiet my mind to get some sleep.

Anyway, I am heading to Al Ghayathi to live but will be teaching in Al Ruwais...both in Al Gharbia as I expected. However, after being told about the remote pay we will be receiving in addition to our salary I was pulled aside and informed that my placement within Al Gharbia was very remote. That it was a difficult place to live and the locals had not taken too kindly to the teachers there. I was not pleased. I had a rush of emotion. But I nodded my head and put on my sunglasses. No need in them see me sweat. I covered as best as I could but I have no poker face. My face is an open book. Anyway, long story short, I got in contact with 4 people that have lived in the area or are currently living there. The opinions were split. So I spoke with the LT support staff and was told if I totally hate it there I can move. So it's with this out in mind that I'm happily going to Al Ghayathi.

I wanted to teach in Al Gharbia. I want to be among the folks that live there. I want to experience a culture completely different than what I know. I want the chance to become fairly fluent in Arabic. I got exactly what I wanted. So we shall see how this adventure goes.

                                               My first abaya! Ready for work? I think so!