Excitement of the day: I was the classroom hero because I caught the little lizard that leap from my bag. I think it wanted to know what that delicious American peanut was all about and had been hanging out just trying to get a taste of it. I didn't see any miniscule teeth marks on my pb lid, but hey, I bet its' tongue is pretty fierce combat, and busted that gecko up!
Lemme just say that despite my miraculous feat, I get no respect from those girls. Up until the they set foot in school (most not until the age of 6) they've had no discipline. I mean zero. They do what they want when they want and they want to keep it that way. The parents don't seem to care, and the nannies don't want to lose their job, so they don't say anything. I'm totally the bad guy now, because everything is "No! Sit down! Stop! Listen!" I feel absolutely wretched: for the first time in all my three(!) years of teaching, I raised my voice to a kid. And it wasn't just once, I was at the top of my threshold of patience and puttin' up with x y and zed all day long. Eh, nasty stuff.
Nonetheless, there were some highlights during the day. For instance, I got the girls rolling on some fun activities that they seemed to go for. Like reading books with me, mimicking movements and naming colors. Tomorrow we're going to do shapes, I'm hoping that they can figure out what a triangle is if I flip a right triangle on its side. Such anticipation as the adventure continues!!
In other news, I'm in my apartment, yay! Granted I am camping out on my lovely thermarest until my bed gets here (two weeks more!), but it feels good not to be shlepping my two years of baggage from five star hotel to four star back to five. Life gets rough without one's kitchen, and that beautiful breakfast buffet was doing a number on my hips... ha! I'm happy, and I'm working on settling in.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Teacher! Finsihed!
First Day of School
Well it was really the third, but it was the first with students, so I'll take it as the first day.
I'm trying to remember my first day of 2nd grade... I was living in the Florida Keys with my family. My brothers and I took the super sneaky backway (trudging through neighbors hydranga brushes primarily) to get to our bus stop. I had on my favorite hooded sweater, this nasty army paint shirt my mom used to wear. I thought that I was going to be teased on the bus because I wore glasses, but I wasn't. HOwever, someone could have told me that is wasn't cool to wear my glasses' sport band over my shoulder. It really wasn't fancy.
In any case, I got to my class, and when roll was called, I didn't know what to do. So I stood up and walked over to my teacher's desk to ask her why she called me. She looked at me funny, and told just to say "here!" I felt dumb.
Today was my first day of second grade again. And it was rough. The girls were super unruly (it's not me, I swear!) and I had come short on my patience by the fourth hour. Luckily, I only had one more to go, and so I set us to the great task of coloring birds to decorate the class. The students have a horrible habit of raising their hands and shouting, "TEACHER! FINISHED!!" Which is my cue to come over, praise their beautiful choice of colors, and tell them what to do next. They have a hard time of just sitting still and waiting. I'm gonna have to get this kiddoes into shape.
So I stayed 6 hours after the final bell to plan for the next day. Although I was able to put up calendars, helpers chart, a behavior system, and a class promise....I hardly planned for the next day. Consequently, I think I'm just gonna drill on the rules, expected behavior, and if any one of them yells TEACHER FINISHED! I'm gonna take their clothespin off the green smiley and onto the yellow serious face. Then they'll know I mean business.
FINISHED!!
Well it was really the third, but it was the first with students, so I'll take it as the first day.
I'm trying to remember my first day of 2nd grade... I was living in the Florida Keys with my family. My brothers and I took the super sneaky backway (trudging through neighbors hydranga brushes primarily) to get to our bus stop. I had on my favorite hooded sweater, this nasty army paint shirt my mom used to wear. I thought that I was going to be teased on the bus because I wore glasses, but I wasn't. HOwever, someone could have told me that is wasn't cool to wear my glasses' sport band over my shoulder. It really wasn't fancy.
In any case, I got to my class, and when roll was called, I didn't know what to do. So I stood up and walked over to my teacher's desk to ask her why she called me. She looked at me funny, and told just to say "here!" I felt dumb.
Today was my first day of second grade again. And it was rough. The girls were super unruly (it's not me, I swear!) and I had come short on my patience by the fourth hour. Luckily, I only had one more to go, and so I set us to the great task of coloring birds to decorate the class. The students have a horrible habit of raising their hands and shouting, "TEACHER! FINISHED!!" Which is my cue to come over, praise their beautiful choice of colors, and tell them what to do next. They have a hard time of just sitting still and waiting. I'm gonna have to get this kiddoes into shape.
So I stayed 6 hours after the final bell to plan for the next day. Although I was able to put up calendars, helpers chart, a behavior system, and a class promise....I hardly planned for the next day. Consequently, I think I'm just gonna drill on the rules, expected behavior, and if any one of them yells TEACHER FINISHED! I'm gonna take their clothespin off the green smiley and onto the yellow serious face. Then they'll know I mean business.
FINISHED!!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
out West for the first time
Hi again! I'm still alive and doing well in the UAE. And I have BIG news: I worked!
For real!
Haha, just kidding. Well, not entirely. Here's the scoop.
I went to my school today! Yay! After a lovely and adventurous two hour bus ride from Abu Dhabi to Midanet Zayed (whur? google earth: Liwa and then look about 30 miles north, that's me), I was greeted by my advisor, Anne, and she took me round town and introduced me to my principal. I'm pumped to meet the people I'm going to be working with. Everyone has just been lovely. However, I'm sure many Westerns would think the same as I because the first half hour was just niceties. Even after that, we didn't "get down to business, nah, instead I sat, chatted, and stared at the timetable of the next eight months of my life.
My schedule is pretty demanding. I am going to be teaching 24 one-hour periods a week. Half are first grade, the other half second. Plus, I'm assigned a planning hour at the end of the week. And...well...but...actually, that's it! That's the extent of my work day. Let's do the math together class:
24x1+1=25
Good! So that's my work week. Five hours a day, Sunday through Thursday. And I get paid full time for it. Believe it or not, my skeptical American companions, I'm working double amount of many of the other teachers. So I'll be slaving away while they play table tennis, or drink coffee, or don't bother to come to work because their cousin is getting married next month. I am the new high standard folks. People are looking up to my example. Crazy I know.
Despite the light hours in class, I'm expecting that I'll actually be doing a lot and taking a lot of out of class time to prepare my classroom, create lessons, and make supports for the chil'rens. My school is pretty well equipped compared to most others. Al Drafrah can pride itself on furniture, like desks(!), for the students, a library with English books (appropriate for young Muslim girls, including the absence of any books showing boys and girls playing together, or aliens), there are computers (internets too!), a play area minus the play ground equipment, and somewhere in there, I think there are plans for smartboards for the fine staff.
My newly painted sky blue classroom will be cleaned this weekend and the furniture will be installed, as well as some bulletin boards. I'm really excited for the bulletin boards, especially I found out that I'll be able to take pictures of my students and post them in the school. For awhile I didn't think it would be allowed, but my principal Salama says that she likes this and it is, "No problem!"
From what I understand, there aren't any photocopies in place besides the ones purchased two years ago aren't very nice anymore. So the school just bought some new ones. However, there are several lovely women who are happy to make me coffee or tea should I like it. Apparently, if I make coffee for myself it would be very insulting because I would be stepping on the toes of their job.
So my work today, was really just a tour of my school, meeting my principal, and getting a disorientation about the whole gig. Oh, and after that, my advisor and her colleauges treated us to a terrific lunch at one of the teacher's villas. I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with these slightly-older-than-me-expat-ladies.
For now, I'm just waiting to move into my new apartment on Monday. I have the keys, just no furniture, and that's my job. I'm just gonna camp out there until I'm ready to get the work crew together to doll up my white walls in ridiculous colors. I dunno, I have too much creativity considering interior decorating, especially for a two bed, two bath, living rm/dining rm, and kitchen. That's more space than I've ever had, and it's gonna get crazy! Especially because out west where I'll be, there isn't a lotta life outside my apartment. So whatever I make of it, is what I get. And I'm doing my best to make it fantastic.
Finally, it almost goes without saying, I'm looking forward to meeting my students. School might start on Wednesday, but if the moon isn't quite right, we might hold off until next Sunday. Oh, the mysteries of the lunar calendar.
For real!
Haha, just kidding. Well, not entirely. Here's the scoop.
I went to my school today! Yay! After a lovely and adventurous two hour bus ride from Abu Dhabi to Midanet Zayed (whur? google earth: Liwa and then look about 30 miles north, that's me), I was greeted by my advisor, Anne, and she took me round town and introduced me to my principal. I'm pumped to meet the people I'm going to be working with. Everyone has just been lovely. However, I'm sure many Westerns would think the same as I because the first half hour was just niceties. Even after that, we didn't "get down to business, nah, instead I sat, chatted, and stared at the timetable of the next eight months of my life.
My schedule is pretty demanding. I am going to be teaching 24 one-hour periods a week. Half are first grade, the other half second. Plus, I'm assigned a planning hour at the end of the week. And...well...but...actually, that's it! That's the extent of my work day. Let's do the math together class:
24x1+1=25
Good! So that's my work week. Five hours a day, Sunday through Thursday. And I get paid full time for it. Believe it or not, my skeptical American companions, I'm working double amount of many of the other teachers. So I'll be slaving away while they play table tennis, or drink coffee, or don't bother to come to work because their cousin is getting married next month. I am the new high standard folks. People are looking up to my example. Crazy I know.
Despite the light hours in class, I'm expecting that I'll actually be doing a lot and taking a lot of out of class time to prepare my classroom, create lessons, and make supports for the chil'rens. My school is pretty well equipped compared to most others. Al Drafrah can pride itself on furniture, like desks(!), for the students, a library with English books (appropriate for young Muslim girls, including the absence of any books showing boys and girls playing together, or aliens), there are computers (internets too!), a play area minus the play ground equipment, and somewhere in there, I think there are plans for smartboards for the fine staff.
My newly painted sky blue classroom will be cleaned this weekend and the furniture will be installed, as well as some bulletin boards. I'm really excited for the bulletin boards, especially I found out that I'll be able to take pictures of my students and post them in the school. For awhile I didn't think it would be allowed, but my principal Salama says that she likes this and it is, "No problem!"
From what I understand, there aren't any photocopies in place besides the ones purchased two years ago aren't very nice anymore. So the school just bought some new ones. However, there are several lovely women who are happy to make me coffee or tea should I like it. Apparently, if I make coffee for myself it would be very insulting because I would be stepping on the toes of their job.
So my work today, was really just a tour of my school, meeting my principal, and getting a disorientation about the whole gig. Oh, and after that, my advisor and her colleauges treated us to a terrific lunch at one of the teacher's villas. I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with these slightly-older-than-me-expat-ladies.
For now, I'm just waiting to move into my new apartment on Monday. I have the keys, just no furniture, and that's my job. I'm just gonna camp out there until I'm ready to get the work crew together to doll up my white walls in ridiculous colors. I dunno, I have too much creativity considering interior decorating, especially for a two bed, two bath, living rm/dining rm, and kitchen. That's more space than I've ever had, and it's gonna get crazy! Especially because out west where I'll be, there isn't a lotta life outside my apartment. So whatever I make of it, is what I get. And I'm doing my best to make it fantastic.
Finally, it almost goes without saying, I'm looking forward to meeting my students. School might start on Wednesday, but if the moon isn't quite right, we might hold off until next Sunday. Oh, the mysteries of the lunar calendar.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
First of all, I made it to the UAE for those of you who didn't get the word that I am still alive. Better yet, I'm happy here and I'm really digging the place, my colleagues, and looking forward to more!
My Hotel: A Top Floor Room with a Majestic View
So what's going on. Well, it seems as though the government here in Abu Dhabi takes much better care of its employees than what I would expect in the US. Granted, the Navy did a fine job shipping my family around the world when I was a kid and has been taking care of my pop for quite some time, but let's face it, it hasn't been five star. But here, it's like, six.
My hotel, The Intercontinental, is ridiculous, and I'm excited every time the cheap-o taxi (most expensive ride was three bucks for about a 20 minute drive) drops me off at the front. I'm a little embarrassed that someone is there to open my door, greet me, wish me well, and then escort me to the revolving door. If I have a bag with me, that's the end of me carrying it because a porter delivers it to my room for me. Lovely stuff for my over weight suitcases.
Housekeeping comes every morning to straighten my shoes, arrange my cosmetics on the bathroom sink, and restock my tea station with extra peppermint tea because they know I like that one. In the evenings I have been delighted to find chocolates, bath salts, lavender pillow spray, and refreshing face masks on my pillow.
When I go to the pool, the temperature is a cool 29 degrees Celsius even though it should be bath water temperature in this hot sun, but it's controlled to stay refreshing. The gym has fantastic equipment (yes, I know this from experience, thank you very much), and a lovely view of the hotel's private harbor and white sand beach, which are delightful themselves. Breakfast takes the meaning of continental to a truer meaning than any other place I've been. Think of all the countries you've visited, and there is a selection of delicious food from that region. Pretty awesome, especially during Ramadan because their still serving food (even pork!).
Everything here is just gorgeous, lovely, beautiful. The lobby is decked out in marble and crystal, while the rooms are trimmed dark woods and luxury fabrics. I'm just amazed, and even though I don't know when I'm going to start work, I really can't find a reason to complain. So what do I have to say about all this royal treatment? Shoot, this is my first all-inclusive vacation on United Arab Emirates, and it doesn't take too much time to settle in with beautiful treatment like this. I don't know how long la vie est luxe, but for now, I like it.
My Hotel: A Top Floor Room with a Majestic View
So what's going on. Well, it seems as though the government here in Abu Dhabi takes much better care of its employees than what I would expect in the US. Granted, the Navy did a fine job shipping my family around the world when I was a kid and has been taking care of my pop for quite some time, but let's face it, it hasn't been five star. But here, it's like, six.
My hotel, The Intercontinental, is ridiculous, and I'm excited every time the cheap-o taxi (most expensive ride was three bucks for about a 20 minute drive) drops me off at the front. I'm a little embarrassed that someone is there to open my door, greet me, wish me well, and then escort me to the revolving door. If I have a bag with me, that's the end of me carrying it because a porter delivers it to my room for me. Lovely stuff for my over weight suitcases.
Housekeeping comes every morning to straighten my shoes, arrange my cosmetics on the bathroom sink, and restock my tea station with extra peppermint tea because they know I like that one. In the evenings I have been delighted to find chocolates, bath salts, lavender pillow spray, and refreshing face masks on my pillow.
When I go to the pool, the temperature is a cool 29 degrees Celsius even though it should be bath water temperature in this hot sun, but it's controlled to stay refreshing. The gym has fantastic equipment (yes, I know this from experience, thank you very much), and a lovely view of the hotel's private harbor and white sand beach, which are delightful themselves. Breakfast takes the meaning of continental to a truer meaning than any other place I've been. Think of all the countries you've visited, and there is a selection of delicious food from that region. Pretty awesome, especially during Ramadan because their still serving food (even pork!).
Everything here is just gorgeous, lovely, beautiful. The lobby is decked out in marble and crystal, while the rooms are trimmed dark woods and luxury fabrics. I'm just amazed, and even though I don't know when I'm going to start work, I really can't find a reason to complain. So what do I have to say about all this royal treatment? Shoot, this is my first all-inclusive vacation on United Arab Emirates, and it doesn't take too much time to settle in with beautiful treatment like this. I don't know how long la vie est luxe, but for now, I like it.
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