Transferring Electricity to my name

Ok, so now that I have lived here since September, I have decided it's time to have the electricity put into my name. One would think that this would be a simple, painless experience. I'm here to tell you that is NOT the case. 

A month ago, I went to ADEC to get a letter stating that I work for them and a copy of a lease to give to the electricity company. After going to ADEC 6 times in 3 weeks, I finally got the letter I needed, so I thought. I was told that I needed to take this letter to the Al Ain Municipality and I would get another letter that would go to the electric company. Oh, and they close at 2pm. 

School was dismissed at 1pm, so I think this will be a great time to go and get my letter. 

I arrived at the Municipality and give my letter, written entirely in Arabic, to the man at the Information Desk. He says go through those doors to counter 36. I go through the doors and another man looks at my paper and he says "counter 35 or 36". I ask if I need a number because the others get were getting a number. He says "No, just wait over there." Now that may seem pretty simple to those of us who grew up in the USA. Lines are normal and we know how to stay in line and we are respectful of those who arrive before us. Here, NOT the case. 

So, I sit and wait and watch numerous people just walk to the counter with no regard to those of us already waiting. Finally, there seems to be some semblance of a line and as we all sit in the line, we begin to move seats to show we are next. Basically, like musical chairs while waiting for the man we need to see. 

Finally, it's my turn. I give the man my letter. He looks at it and says "This page doesn't have your name on it" (the contract page). So, I smile and say "Well, just write my name there". He laughs and says "It has to be typed." So, now I start to get nervous thinking I will have to go back to ADEC. I tell him it took me 3 weeks to get that letter and he says he will ask his colleague. Thankfully for me, I am not the first person this has happened to. The other man tells me I need to see Mr. Masalem Al Amri and he writes a note on my letters. He tells me where to go and off I go to find this other man. 

Well, NOT so simple. The place he said go, is not where I need to be. So, this other guy who is kind of like a "gopher" at an office tells me to go somewhere else. So, I tell him to show me. Directions here are not always good especially when someone may know 2 or 3 languages. So, this guy walks me down the stairs and around to some more offices where the man I am apparently looking for is not working. So, he asks someone else and the new guy in a kandoura says to copy my ID. So finally, I think I am in business. The "gopher" takes my ID and tells me to sit. So I sit and sit and sit. Another man asks if I need help and I say "I was told to sit here and wait." He says, "OK" and leaves. So, I continue to sit. Finally, the "gopher" comes back with my ID and tells me to just wait. After about 30 more minutes, the man in the kandoura comes out of the office and says "Here. Take this to the Electric Company."

So, I have the letter and I will pray that when I go to the Electric Company I will have all of the necessary documents. 

Now, I must call the Electric Company and have them come read the meter and send me a text message before I can go and pay the bill. So this adventure will be continued....

Al Ain Airport Field Trip

So, Thursday, after my Arabic teacher had been telling me all week that we would be going to the airport on a field trip "Insha'Allah", we finally went. 
It was really an amazing trip. I was impressed with how they treated the girls and with all the information that they showed the girls. At first, we were met by a beautiful young lady, Al Yaziia, who escorted us through the entire airport. When I say "entire", I mean the whole airport from security, to ticketing, to luggage, to passport, to the tarmac, through security again, then customs then back out of the airport. At each station, she told the girls in Arabic what was done and asked the girls many questions based on what she told them. Keep in mind, I know NO Arabic and was able to tell what she was telling the girls based on the objects she was holding, or the role playing she was doing. The girls got to see what happens if someone goes through security with a gun and how the monitors light up and how the security thing you walk through shows where the item is on the person. 
Then we went to ticketing where one of the girls got to be the "luggage" and she had the stickers placed on her and showed how the luggage gets from the ticket counter to the plane. 
Then, on to Passport control where Passports were stamped. Here the girls got a "Passport" that was stamped with a piece of chocolate. And once again, we were sent through another security scan and given another piece of chocolate. Now we are in the area where one waits to board the plane. At this time, there was a plane preparing to leave to Calicut, India. So, we waited and watched the plane being pushed out and go to the runway. The girls were very excited and were saying "Look, Miss!!! Look!!" 
After the plane took off, we were escorted through the airport and they explained how each passenger would have a retinal eye scan and a photograph taken. This is to ensure who is coming and going. While the retinal scan cannot be changed, people can change their facial features, beard, mustache, hair color, eye color, etc. 
Then through another security scan. We found out that plastic will show up orange, aluminum will be blue and any stronger metal will be black on the security screen. This is to assist with quickly identifying dangerous materials from entering the country. 
Now on to baggage claim, where our student who was the "luggage" would be matched up to the ticket that was given at the ticket counter. This ensures no stolen luggage. 
Then to customs, where the girls were told that no food could be brought into the country and where bags would be searched. Here each girl was given a small box that looked like a briefcase. In it was a pen, a key chain, and a small notepad in a case. 
Then we exit the terminal area and are back out at the front of the airport where we started. The girls were allowed to purchase items in the duty free shop and then we were on the bus back to school. 
While it sounds like a lot, there is only one terminal and only one flight leaves and arrives at a time. So, it's not that big!! However, it was fun and the girls had a blast!
Here are a few pictures taken before I was told that I couldn't take pictures in the airport. 

Ever Wanted a Cold Shower?

Ever been really hot and thought "Oh, I can't wait to get home and take a cold shower?" Yep, had one of those moments several times this week. It has gotten HOT!! Most of the temps were 108 or more this week. Several days, I came home from school thinking "Oh, I'm going to take a cold shower and cool off." NOPE...Didn't happen!! When it is 108 degrees and the cold water tank is on the roof of the apartment building, there is NO cold water!!!! So with the shower turned to cold, the water was still HOT!! Not quite so relaxing! Then, this morning I was brushing my teeth about 10:30am and the water was already quite warm. By the way, brushing your teeth with warm water is GROSS!!! I much prefer cold water! The bonus of the cold water being warm is that the hot water lasts longer. Which means in the mornings, I can take longer showers...hehehe. 

Just wanted you to know!

UNESCO Day

What an amazingly, CRAZY week!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
This week we studied various countries from around the world. The goal was to have the girls become respectful of other cultures, many of which are represented here in the UAE. 

My class learned about Mexico. They had a blast comparing and contrasting the UAE and Mexico. We made maracas out of plastic bottles and beans. We made salsa, where each girl worked in groups of four to make salsa for their table. We also made Mexican flags and glued popcorn on corn patterns to remind us how important corn is in their culture. 

Each teacher chose a different country. Some of the countries represented were Egypt, USA, Ethiopia, South Africa, India, Syria, Lebanon, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, and many more. 

On Thursday, there was an assembly where the gym and music teachers taught various groups of girls which they performed for the school and many mothers who came. After lunch, the girls took their "passports" and visited the other classrooms to learn about the countries. The girls were amazing and had a wonderful time. 

Here are some pictures of various groups who performed dances. 

Rain Forest or Desert????

I thought I moved to the desert NOT the rain forest!!

This has been the strangest weather!!!! For the last 3 days it has rained almost non-stop and cool. Virtually unheard of here. It usually only rains 3 days in the entire year. Friday and Saturday (my weekend), it rained so there was no going to the pool which I had gotten used to doing every weekend. For those of you who know me, know that I love sun and water. It doesn't matter if it is at the pool or the beach that is my "happy place" where I go to unwind and refocus. 

So, this weekend, there was none of that. I was stuck inside....BLAH!!!  Now I know later on I will be complaining about it being so HOT! By next weekend, we will be back into the 100's and sweating sitting still. 

Today, while teaching, I heard lots of noise outside. I opened the classroom door to look out and all the girls run out of the room at the same time and go straight out into the rain. Almost the entire school was outside playing in the rain. Even the Arabic teachers were walking around in the rain taking pictures. While I was shocked at this behavior, I had to stop and think that as a native Georgian, we are usually this way about snow. Anyway, after about 15-20 minutes the rain stopped and all the girls came back to the room. We attempted to get back on task but the girls were so excited about the rain that we just muddled through our math lesson. Then during the math lesson, we hear the rain again. I open to check outside and again the girls run out. However, this time our Assistant Principal is out telling the girls to stay under the shelter and close to the building since it was thundering. The girls were chanting something in Arabic that must have been a praise to Allah for the rain. It sounded like one sentence that was repeated over and over. The only word I recognized was "Allah".  So again, we stand and watch the rain until it stops. 

Here are pictures of the girls playing in the rain!  

This was a great reminder that while rain seems to be an inconvenience to me, it brings great joy to others! 

I'm in awe of what God shows me!

Strange Weather...Wet...HOT!!

The weather the last couple of weeks have been the craziest I've seen since being here. We have had rain, thunder, lightening and temps above 108 degrees. While the HOT temperature is not uncommon, the rain, thunder and lightening is. While many of my colleagues talk about be wakened by thunder and lightening, those of you who know me know that has not happened to me. I can sleep through most anything...including hurricane Opal many years ago. 

Here are a few pictures I have taken showing some of this. 

This is the temperature in my car. Thanks to Christine for showing me how to have this appear in my dash. 

This is The Weather Channel app on the same day. 

24 hours later, the weather looks like this. Rainy and a cool 82.

In the next week, temperatures will begin to climb back up to the mid-90s and will continue to climb until the only way to describe it will be "HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!"

To see more pictures about the strange weather, you can go to Christine's blog (http://www.christinesbigadventure.blogspot.com) and see pictures and read about the damage from storms at her school which is an hour and fifteen minutes from where we live in Al Ain. 

Spring Break is Over!

Spring Break is over!! While this is a sad thing, it is also exciting!! Why, you ask, is it exciting??? Because I am that much closer to coming back to the US to see my family and friends that I have missed dearly! The ticket has been purchased and I will be leaving the UAE on July 9 and arriving in the US on July 10. And the closer it gets, the more anxious I get. I will be home about 6 weeks and will attempt to see everyone while home. 

I have spent today preparing for this week at school. I will also be getting a student teacher who will be in my class for 4 weeks. So, today I have spent time printing lesson plans, making games, and getting activities ready for the week. 

I am truly enjoying my adventure here and I love living here in the UAE and teaching. I wish all my teacher friends could experience being at a school and being respected for what we do on a regular basis.