I can drive!!!!!!! And fall

So, it's time to get my driver's license!!! I leave school and head home to get the translation of my Georgia driver's license that I had done last week. The taxi driver takes me to the "gray building" to get the receipt for my Emirates ID that I should get at some point, Insha'Allah. Which means there is really no timeframe for receiving the ID. So, I go in and this very nice man asks me my business and I tell him I need a receipt for my ID. He asks for my passport which I provide, prints a piece of paper and says go sit over there and the guy will stamp it. So, I go sit. As I look over the paper, it has a mobile number that is not mine. So I go back to ask him about it. He says it's fine and the number is for the person at ADEC who is responsible for distributing the IDs whe they are ready. So, I smile, say ok and head back to the other waiting area.  Another guy comes from behind with a stamp and pen and stamps my paper. As I get ready to leave, Christine sends a text and she is home and headed to get her ID. So, I decide to wait on her. While waiting, the first guy asks me where I teach and we discuss that briefly. I tell him I'm waiting on my friend and could I get her receipt so we can go get a driver's license. He says "what is her name?" I respond. Then, "what is her passport number?" Seriously?? He's going to let me have it??? I call Christine and get her passport number. He prints the page and has the guy stamp it right then, NO waiting!!! I call Christine and she is almost to the "grey building." When she arrives, I hop  in the taxi and off we go to the driver's license place.

Now, this place is not in town and it doesn't appear that taxis come by often so our taxi driver offers to stay and wait on us. No problem. We go in and are told to go to the Women's Waiting Area. There are only a couple of people in the room and we get through fairly quick. But wait! Now I have to go have an eye exam. What!!! Yep, back towards the front door is the place for an eye exam and I have to pay 20 dirhams. Not bad, about $7. Now, I have to take the eye exam back to the Women's Wating Area to submit the eye exam and pay 200 dirhams, about $70. Now to wait for the license. All in all, it was about 30 minutes at the license place. Christine and I are excited we may now be able to LEGALLY drive in the UAE.

Now, as we head out to leave the building we go out the glass doors and begin walking down the ramp. I slip on the tile/marble ramp covered in a thin layer of sand and bust my butt!!!! We laugh but as I get up I realize this is not so funny. I am in a lot of pain. However, we head to Carrefour to buy a GPS (the only way to get around here) and stop to get dinner. I go to the pharmacy to get some Advil since I didn't bring any with me to hopefully help with the pain. Once at home, I go to the freezer to get ice and realize there is NO ice. So, I fill up a ziplock back and put it in the freezer knowing I will need to ice my rear if I am going to go to work in the morning. I call mom and dad, as promised and I can still hear mom saying "Andrea" as I tell her what I did. Mom's voice will always be in my head, I guess!

 

Respect

I would like to clear up a few things. Coming to a new country to live has certainly opened my eyes to those who come to America. Yes, I was invited to come and it was my choice which may be different from some who are in America. I understand the frustration of going to the grocery store and not being able to find what you want from spices to cookies to meats or anything. I get that! Visiting another country for vacation just isn't the same because in a week or two you go back to your home country and get the things you missed on vacation. I can say that the spagetti I finally cooked at my apartment was about the only satisfying meal I have had since I have been here. Things here taste different and just aren't fully satisfying.

I understand not being able to figure out where I am or how I need to get to one place or another. I grew up in the Atlanta area as most of you know so I knew where I was and where I needed to go when I wanted to go. So driving was no problem. Here, I have no idea where I am or how to get to a particular place. This became evident when I was riding to school with a co-worker in a taxi and neither of us could tell him where to go. We were used to being in a taxi with a driver who knew where to go. Luckily, we made it with just a few extra turns. I hope to start driving this week which will mean I will learn how to go places. I think every taxi driver takes a different route everytime I go somewhere just to see how much he can confuse me!

Now, on to a topic that may either suprise you or for me is a sensitive subject or one of which I am quite passionate about...Respect for women!! Prior to coming to the UAE, I had done plenty of research about the culture. While most was positive, there was some that was not. I have a friend living here and would get first hand knowledge of things happening here. I did not come into this adventure blind! Many people would say to me, prior to leaving, they don't respect women in the Middle East, are you sure you want to go over there? Yes, I do! I love it here! There is more respect here for women than anywhere in the US, in my opinion!!! While there are a few people who do not respect women here, it is NOT the norm. I find that men are more willing to help a woman here than in the US. In restaurants, male servers or managers are very concerned in our satisfaction with the food and service. For example, Christine and I had gone shopping last weekend and bought tons of stuff. When we got to the taxi at the store, the driver got out and put all our stuff in the trunk for us. Then when we got to my place, he carried all my bags to my apartment door and I don't mean the outside door. I mean he brought them all the way to the door. Then he took Christine home and she lives on the 2nd floor and he took all her stuff to her door and told her "women not do this, I do it." That would have never happened back home.

So you ask, if they respect women so much, why do the women have to be covered. Well, for many, it is how they were raised. They are dressed quite well under the abayas (traditional black dresses). They cover themselves out of respect for thier fathers, brothers and husbands. This keeps them from "tempting" the men who they may be in contact with. I have not bought any abayas yet but plan on doing so. I will post pictures when I get some. I find the abayas to vary from simple to extravagant. Some may be simple black while others are beaded, embroidered or different textures. All are beautiful!!!

I know, I know...It's been a while!!

Ok. Sorry!! I know it's been a  while since I have posted. I have experienced a new kind of tired. The beginning of school is always crazy and exhausting. However, I can usually get over it in a week or two. Not so much here. From a teaching stand point, I am starting over...COMPLETELY!!!! This means that all the resources I had in the US are not here. Therefore, I have had to buy or create everything. This is exhausting. Also, quite frustrating knowing that I had all this at home. Thankfully, mom and dad are sending me somethings but it's still not the same as having it instantly in my classroom. Basically, I have started over as a first year teacher when it comes to resources but with the knowledge of a veteran teacher who misses her stuff. I have spent the last few weeks creating and trying to find resources to help my girls that is either cheap or free.

So here are a few things that have happened or that I have learned in no particular order.

• The "TV guide" on the TV does not give times of shows. It simply says now, next and later. You can find the times but they are simply suggestions and are not accurate from what I have found.
• There are very few clocks around. Basically, things happen when they happen and clocks are merely a suggestion and are not used for a particular event to happen. This culture is much more relaxed and laid back than anything back in America. I do happen to love this part!!!
• At 2:00pm when students are dismissed, it is time to go home. If you are there past 2:15pm, you are either alone with the cleaners or there is a meeting which may or may not be scheduled ahead of time. This part has required more of me. I am used to things being scheduled and working at least an hour in my classroom after school. NOT here!!!!
• Don't plan on going anywhere on Friday, the Holy Day, until after 4 because most everything is closed. Most restaurants are not even open until 11 or 12 on Friday.
• My students are still extremely talkative and require a lot of attention. I hope to start some centers this week but I'm not even sure 1 group can handle it. The levels of the students vary much more than anything I had in the US. I have a couple of students who know almost 100 sight words but most may know 10 and some 0. This makes it far more difficult in teaching them. There are only 2 of my 45 who can write the entire alphabet with capital and lower case letters.
• However, these amazing girls can do some addition like crazy and they love it. So this week, we played a game the last few minutes of class to see which table could earn the most points answering addition problems correctly. They loved it!! A little healthy competition between tables.
• Very happy to report that I found some slippers that are not thin and flat. I bought them at Payless and they are fuzzy soft slippers!! Now, I don't have to walk on this hard, cold, tile floor. It's the small things that make me happy ;-)
• Not everyone wears deoderant. Not sure why especially in the desert. However, those who do wear it and cologne/perfume usually have on enough for 12 people. So apparently it is an all or nothing thing. Some taxi drivers wear enough that you can smell it before getting in the taxi and others don't wear any and you will be sick by the time you reach your destination.

And finally, I was asked this week on Facebook about things I miss. Here are a few things in no particular order.
Ranch dressing. My dog, Sam. My parents. My friends (but I will talk to a few this weekend thanks to MagicJack). Lawrey's seasoning salt. Lemon Pepper seasoning. Driving and being able to go to multiple store without having to take everything with me to the next store. An oven-this toaster oven cooks crazy and uneven. Just to name a few.

Making Progress

Well, I have completed 7 days of school and most of us are already talking about our break sometime in Ocotober. Last week the girls were on their best behavior and this week they have been showing their true colors. It has been a rough couple of days. I know it is the girls "testing the waters" but I am ready to be in a routine. I hate teaching rules and routines. Most of it should be common sense but we all know common sense is not so common.

Today was actually much better than yesterday. I got my bulletin boards up and the rules actually posted permanently. This means the girls actually think they are at school and need to be ready to learn. Most of them are "pretending" to not know how to do any work and want to run to the bathroom a million times. So, I have had to be the mean "Miss" and say no and believe it or not, no one has had an accident in the room. Which means they only want to go play. No big surprise. Today I started with some new behavior management techniques and there will be more to come. Each table earned points when we were working and at the end, the table with the most points got a treat, an eraser of her choice. This seemed to work with all but 1 table in each of my 2 groups. I will be implementing individual behavoir management plan as soon as next week. I just have to locate enough clothes pins for about 50 girls. Also, I need to wait to make sure that I have a semi-final roster. It seems to be changing daily at the moment and that is to be expected.

So here are the pictures of my bulletin boards, rules and the small space by my desk.

Bulletin boards are finally up, English, Maths, Science and the calendar on the right. Yes, Maths! It is British and we are using British spellings of words. It's strange to me but I just go with it.

The Rules!! I found these on Pinterest and I liked the simplicity and the graphics. The girls are starting to learn them.

 

And the small space beside my desk has mom and dad and Sam!! I miss them all!!!

 

Grocery shopping

I've been grocery shopping a couple of times. While there are things I recognize and am familiar with, there are many more that I have NO idea what it is, how it is used or why.

Nicole and I went to "the big" Lulu's Hypermarket and were there for what seemed like forever, going down each aisle trying to find things we could knew or could figure out how to cook with. We were fairly successful considering the amount we had in the buggy, or trolley as they say here.

 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, you can get ground camel meat or slabs of it.

 

Keep in mind that the price is in UAE dirhams. To find the price divide by 3.66. I don't think I will be buying this!!!!

 

However I did buy ground meat from Australia. The meat tells where it is from. I could have gotten it from Pakistan, New Zealand to name a couple.

 

Also, there is a fresh seafood section in the back of the store (like at home) except that it is the WHOLE fish or seafood. If you want it filleted then you choose the fish and ask the worker to fillet it for you or as I was told you could buy the whole fish and let your chef fillet it for you. Well, since I don't have a personal chef, I guess I will have to let the worker do it for me....hehehe!!!

 

 

Danat Hotel

When Nirvana (travel agency) moved us from the InterContinental in Abu Dhabi to the Danat Hotel in Al Ain, we placed our luggage outside the hotel in groups. So there were 200+ peoples luggage outside and it was loaded in trucks to be transported. My initial reaction was "you want me to do what?" Then I realized that it was all under control and it would be ok. So, I placed my luggage in the pile that was going to the Danat. There were also 2 other hotels where people were being placed. I was quite pleased when I arrived at the Danat Hotel that everything was smoothe and organized. I got to the hotel before the "luggage" trucks did, so I relaxed in my room a bit. I could see the entrance to the hotel from my room so I knew when the trucks arrived. I whet out and claimed my 5 pieces of luggage and the porters delivered them to our room. I was please with the king size bed but I preferred the InterContinental to the Danat.

Here are pics from the Danat Hotel.

The brand new king size bed. They had just put new mattresses in all the rooms when we arrived. It looked more comfy than it was. Not as soft as the one at the InterContinental.

Bathroom. The shower is behind the door on the right.

I found the hairdryer in the drawer to the desk. Not sure why it was there but it was and it worked.

The plate of sweets delivered to my room when I arrived. They look better than they tasted!!

 

Survived the first week!!!

I survived the first week in a classroom with 2nd grade girls. This may not sound like a great feat but let me assure you that it is!! My girls are really sweet and some have great English already BUT they are extremely talkative!!!!! Most are 7 years old with a couple of them being 8. I have 2 sets of girls. I have group 2A and 2B. One group has about 22 girls and the other about 26. I say about because it has been different everyday and I am told this is normal. I anticipate this will be more steady once the year starts going. These girls are below "grade level" as we think in the US but considering this is their second language and few use English at home, I am amazed at what they know and if they can't find English words to explain to me then they are great about "playing charades" with me to explain what they want to tell me. They also ask others in the class to help them "find" the English word to tell me. I have learned a few Arabic words and my favorite so far is "hallas". It means done. I say it frequently as they respond to that. This week I spent the week guaging where they are and will begin the "real" teaching this week...Insha'Allah! Insha'Allah means "god willing." This has become the term everyone uses from when the a/c will be fixed as to what time we will begin dismissal (a whole different story).

Dismissal:
Wow!!! If I ever thought that dismissal at any of my American schools was crazy the first week of school, there is no comparison to here. When the final bell rings, the girls leave the classroom and go to the courtyard and create some lines. I am told that these lines are bus lines. But what is amazing is the girls know exactly where to go and which line to get in. This is remarkable because at my previous schools, the kids had no idea where to go or what bus to get on. So basically when I open the classroom door, the girls go get in line and I do not have to do anything. That is quite NEW to me. The first couple of days I tried to be "in control" of my girls and make sure they were in the right place but I quickly learned that was not going to work. So, they do it on thier own.

Classroom pictures:

 This is looking from the back of the classroom to the front.

 

This is from the door when you enter my classroom. Look at the 6 bulletin boards in the back and one on the right side. Yes, I have to keep these up. However, the ones is the back will be made into 3 boards and will show English, Math and Science work and skills being taught.

This is looking out into the courtyard where we meet in the mornings for assembly and then again for dismissal.

 

No Internet!

Well, it's been a while. So here is what I have learned since my last post.

• Life does go on without internet or free wi-fi.
• When driving in a round-about, always yeild (give way) to the cars in the center of the circle. There are 3 lanes. The one on the very inside have the right of way.
• You can buy large quail eggs
• LuLu's Hypermarket carries Dr. Pepper
• Have your produce weighed before leaving the produce section of the store. There is no weighing it in the check-out lane.
• MTV and VH-1 play music videos 24 hours a day. No lame reality shows.
• You can purchase ground camel meat.
• Paper here is longer than 8.5x11.
• There are intolerant and rude people everywhere. Apparently, some came over here to teach. Which I find extremely sad!!! And it gives those of us here a bad name.
• Clocks are merely a suggestion of a time schedule.

With all that being said, I LOVE it here!! I am having the time of my life. I will be teaching 2nd grade girls. They are extremely sweet and loving. But they are EXTREMELY chatty!!!

More to come later!!