There have been many things happening the last few days. We had the last few of our "free" days, and began the work week on Sunday. This week our orientation is focusing on the schools and the reason for the reform, the vision that is in place, and where we are going from here. In the morning, we have guest speakers with presentations, and in the afternoon we take buses to a MODEL school for Arabic lessons and reflection time. One of our speakers this week was Ask Ali. I recommend looking him up, he gave a great presentation. He has lived in many countries, and he went to school in Canada and the U.S. He is a local Emirati and had a wealth of knowledge to share in a very personable manner. We all got a copy of his book, as well. http://www.ask-ali.com
Our Arabic lessons are very challenging because this language uses sounds that we do not have in the English language. For example, they make an almost snorting sound that is almost a combination /h/ /k/ /snort/. I don't really know how else to describe it and I don't mean that to sound awful but I can't make the sound yet and our teacher said the kids won't understand us if we can't do it. Which is interesting in a way, yet understandable, because when I think about it, there are SO many forms of English here with different accents. There are people from New Zealand and South Africa and England and Australia and Scotland... and oh boy, if I don't listen carefully, I will miss half of what they are saying if they are really talking fast!! So if you think about it, the 'accent' that we have by not making the sounds correctly will be confusing to the kids. Not to mention the variety of English they will be exposed to in the coming years of the 10 year reform.
The other day I rode the bus to Ikea because it was one of the only places open. It was Friday, the holy day, and everything else was closed. I figured that I needed to pick out furniture anyway, so I headed over. I decided to take the city bus with a couple of friends because it is much cheaper than a taxi (1 dirham, so about 27 cents as opposed to 20 dirhams). When we got on the bus, we realized that they are segregated by male and female. The women sit in the front of the bus, and the men sit or stand in the back. Even if a family gets on together, the man must go to the back of the bus. This is a large part of the culture here. When a family is walking together, the women often will be seen walking a few paces behind their husbands.
I also went to the Iranian market one evening. We thought that since it was on the route of the Big Red Bus Tour, which is a pricey tour, it would be a great place to see. Well, we got there, after getting a little help from the hotel staff to explain to the taxi driver where we needed to go. Sometimes the taxi drivers do not speak very good English, and because there are no addresses here and we do not know our way around, it is challenging to relay your destination. Anyway, we got there and I don't think it was what we expected. We should probably have figured to expect the unexpected. We were thinking we would grab some fruit and veggies for dinner... that didn't happen. We got out of the taxi and immediately saw tons of furniture, tents set up like buildings filled with lots and lots of STUFF, and further down many, many plants. The Iranian men kept jumping out trying to sell us their items. It was a little intimidating, but we survived. The next day, I was talking with someone who has lived here for a few months, and she explained that many of these men are only here because they need to support their families. They live in one room with 5, 6, or 7 other men and work very long hours, but they value their jobs and would never do anything to risk them because they will be deported if they do, and they need to send the money home to their families. They don't have t.v. in their home countries, and they don't have it here. So when they see westerners, or us (who were the only customers in the entire place) walking through, we are like movie stars to them. It was a different perspective and not one that we had thought of before.
Last night I had the best Chinese food ever. It was so delicious and I never knew Chinese food could taste so good. The chicken fried rice was NOT yellow and it was soft and yummy. The cashew chicken was just perfect, mixed with veggies. I don't even know how to describe it other than by saying, hop on a plane and let's go eat some!!!
Our trip out to Al Ain to see the accommodations last week never happened. It was canceled on Thursday, and was tentatively rescheduled for Saturday. That never happened, either. So we have yet to be to Al Ain. Today we were told that we will be moving to a hotel in Al Ain on Thursday before moving into our accommodations. I was also informed that I, along with another small group of teachers, will not be living in the large complex dedicated to Al Ain teachers because our school district is about an hour away. I knew the district was far, but they are going to be providing us with a bus to take us to school, so they are putting us in a complex closer to the south side of the city to cut down on transport time. So it is teachers in my district, and one even further away who will be living wherever they are putting us. We have seen pictures of where the other teachers are living and know a little about that area, but have no idea about where we are going... not even what it is called. So hopefully in the next few days that mystery will be solved. I will probably have to take a bus up to Dubai to get furniture because the delivery to Abu Dhabi is 7 to 10 days, and I really would like to be sleeping in a bed when school starts. Dubai is supposed to have a larger stock and same day delivery. So, inshallah, it will work out! Tomorrow we find out our exact schools, so we will know who from our group we will be working with. That will be nice. I'm sure there will be people from the first group that traveled, and the next couple of groups coming, too.
The weather is interesting. Some days I feel like I am going to melt, and others, like today, it is not bad. I did laundry in my bathtub because they do not have coin-op here and instead count out each individual piece and it is very expensive. It would not dry inside because of the moisture from the AC, and it did not dry outside either overnight because of the humidity. However, the humidity must be low in the morning because it dried right up in the hour I went to breakfast this morning and I switched it out for new clean laundry waiting in my room. Another good thing about Al Ain is that there is less humidity, so while I am waiting for my appliances to arrive, I will be able to wash and DRY my clothes inexpensively with the aid of the fancy hotel sink, tub and balcony!
Tomorrow we go to see the Mosque. The women need to cover completely and will be given abayas and shaylas as we enter. Men need to wear long sleeves and long pants, which is part of our dress code anyway. Shoes must be removed to enter, as well. This will be a great historical lesson on Abu Dhabi, and I am looking forward to it!
Time is flying and I can't believe I have been here for almost two weeks already!!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Pictures
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| My room looking in from the balcony |
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| They put a fruit plate in our rooms... which is very nice for when you get hungry during the day |
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| This arrow points in the direction to pray |
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| View from the balcony |
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| They still have Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins- Closed during the day because of Ramadan though |
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| My bathroom... have no idea how to use that other thing but I guess the concept is good |
The First Week
I have started to write this post many times, but the jet lag makes me fall asleep when I stare at the computer for too long.
The flight was long but easy. I met some other teachers in JFK and we chatted while we waited for the plane. They never weighed my luggage even though I spent FOREVER trying to get it to the right weight and left many things behind. It was about a 13 hour flight, and I don't know that I've ever eaten so well before. Ice cream at 2 a.m.? Okay!
Once we landed, the travel agency met us right at the plane and handed out our employment visas. They walked us to the retina scan, passport control, and customs, which were very easy. Then we collected our bags and waited for the buses to arrive. When we were pushing our luggage to the buses, we were handed roses. Then we were greeted with a blast of steamy air as we stepped outside for the first time. It was interesting to say the least. Our luggage went on a truck, we went on a bus, and off to the Rotana Beach Hotel.
At the hotel, we had to hand in our passports to get our room keys. They gave us cold cloths that were scented with something that smelled good and we were all checked in very fast. Then our luggage was lined up and we had to just point to it- it was all delivered right to our rooms for us! So easy!
Because I was on the Thursday flight arriving Friday night, we had Saturday free. There was another couple of flights coming in on Saturday. Friday and Saturday are the weekend here. It is Ramadan, now, too though, and everything basically shuts down in the middle of the day. This is not helping with fixing jet lag, because you have no choice but to take a nap in the middle of the day. 1- you can't eat in public so you have to go to your room to eat, drink, chew gum/hard candy, etc... and 2- the stores and everything else is closed!
On Sunday we had orientation. They talked to us a little, mostly things I already knew but it was good to hear it straight from them. About housing, when we would do some things, etc... They answered questions.. it is amazing some of the questions people ask- I think they don't listen... We filled out papers for bank accounts and handed in our passports again and employment visas so they can be switched to residence visas, too.
Monday was a free day for people not going to Abu Dhabi city. I am going to be in Al Ain which I think I will like better. It is a smaller city, less humid, more green, but I haven't seen it yet. Abu Dhabi is a big city and the drivers are crazy like you've never seen. Anyway, Monday they took the Abu Dhabi teachers to see the hotel apartments. It sounds like a great option, you don't have to pay any utilities and it comes furnished, but I guess they are far away from a lot of their schools so it would take them a long time to get to them so a lot of them are looking at taking the 100,000AED to find their own housing. That is another thing- when I go to stores, I stand their forever trying to figure out how much I am spending. 1 dollar= 3.66 AED= I have no idea how much anything really costs!!!! Also, I can't read arabic, so I know what the 1 dirham coin is, but no idea what the other ones are.
Tuesday we had medical checks. I thought it would be a long process, but it was quick and easy. They gave us a number and when it was called they filled out some paperwork and sent us down the hall. Asked if we had medical problems, if you are pregnant (they do an x-ray) and then on your way to blood collection. They are doing something wrong in the U.S. because this lady got my blood in about .05 seconds. Make a fist and before I could even look the other way I was out of that chair. No strappy band or anything. People who said they usually have to use really skinny needles for them said the same thing. I think she should come give some lessons. Then they did an x-ray of the chest to check for TB.
Wednesday we waited around to find out when we would have police checks. Turns out we would meet at 8 p.m. Iftar- the end of fasting, is around 7, so I went to the mall food court. The mall (one of them) is connected to the hotel. I had Hardee's. Never heard of it but for fast food it was pretty good. Ate it and went back downstairs to the lobby waiting for the busses. We got to the police station at about 8:25 but turns out it didn't open until 9 so we sat in the steamy weather for a while. When they let us in they told us we couldn't talk because it was a police station, not a cafe. So I sat in the corner very quiet with the 50 others, and many people continued to talk. This is what I mean about some people not being respectful. Somehow, I still managed to get called 3rd to last. He kept picking and choosing who he would call based on who was 'being good' or something. The last two people were one who would not stop talking and one who had broken the machine. I don't know what I did wrong but I guess being good does not pay off. Anyway, I was in the first group that got there and started printing at 9... we didn't leave until 11:30!!! There were two more groups of 50 after us! I felt bad for them, but things operate on a different schedule here. It was long and boring but there is a lot of waiting around.
Today they are taking Al Ain teachers out there to see our housing. It is in a complex that is new and I have seen pictures. It looks nice but I can't wait to see it in person. I also can't wait to see the city/ town/ whatever they call it, not too sure.
Tomorrow starts the weekend again, so things will be shut down. Next week is school orientation here at the hotel. I think they said they will give us a tour of the city. I did see Emirates Palace at night. It was beautiful, but my camera was dead and I needed another converter- just charged it up.
My school is in Al Wagan. It is pretty far from Al Ain, but there are a lot of us out there. There are some teachers even further out then that. I hear they are going to provide a bus for us, which will be nice because I don't really want to have to get a car, especially to drive that far in the desert everyday. I'd much rather ride a bus.
I will try to figure out how to post pictures later.. but not it is almost 7 a.m. here and I should get ready for the day. Sometimes they forget to stick things under my door telling me when to be places.
The flight was long but easy. I met some other teachers in JFK and we chatted while we waited for the plane. They never weighed my luggage even though I spent FOREVER trying to get it to the right weight and left many things behind. It was about a 13 hour flight, and I don't know that I've ever eaten so well before. Ice cream at 2 a.m.? Okay!
Once we landed, the travel agency met us right at the plane and handed out our employment visas. They walked us to the retina scan, passport control, and customs, which were very easy. Then we collected our bags and waited for the buses to arrive. When we were pushing our luggage to the buses, we were handed roses. Then we were greeted with a blast of steamy air as we stepped outside for the first time. It was interesting to say the least. Our luggage went on a truck, we went on a bus, and off to the Rotana Beach Hotel.
At the hotel, we had to hand in our passports to get our room keys. They gave us cold cloths that were scented with something that smelled good and we were all checked in very fast. Then our luggage was lined up and we had to just point to it- it was all delivered right to our rooms for us! So easy!
Because I was on the Thursday flight arriving Friday night, we had Saturday free. There was another couple of flights coming in on Saturday. Friday and Saturday are the weekend here. It is Ramadan, now, too though, and everything basically shuts down in the middle of the day. This is not helping with fixing jet lag, because you have no choice but to take a nap in the middle of the day. 1- you can't eat in public so you have to go to your room to eat, drink, chew gum/hard candy, etc... and 2- the stores and everything else is closed!
On Sunday we had orientation. They talked to us a little, mostly things I already knew but it was good to hear it straight from them. About housing, when we would do some things, etc... They answered questions.. it is amazing some of the questions people ask- I think they don't listen... We filled out papers for bank accounts and handed in our passports again and employment visas so they can be switched to residence visas, too.
Monday was a free day for people not going to Abu Dhabi city. I am going to be in Al Ain which I think I will like better. It is a smaller city, less humid, more green, but I haven't seen it yet. Abu Dhabi is a big city and the drivers are crazy like you've never seen. Anyway, Monday they took the Abu Dhabi teachers to see the hotel apartments. It sounds like a great option, you don't have to pay any utilities and it comes furnished, but I guess they are far away from a lot of their schools so it would take them a long time to get to them so a lot of them are looking at taking the 100,000AED to find their own housing. That is another thing- when I go to stores, I stand their forever trying to figure out how much I am spending. 1 dollar= 3.66 AED= I have no idea how much anything really costs!!!! Also, I can't read arabic, so I know what the 1 dirham coin is, but no idea what the other ones are.
Tuesday we had medical checks. I thought it would be a long process, but it was quick and easy. They gave us a number and when it was called they filled out some paperwork and sent us down the hall. Asked if we had medical problems, if you are pregnant (they do an x-ray) and then on your way to blood collection. They are doing something wrong in the U.S. because this lady got my blood in about .05 seconds. Make a fist and before I could even look the other way I was out of that chair. No strappy band or anything. People who said they usually have to use really skinny needles for them said the same thing. I think she should come give some lessons. Then they did an x-ray of the chest to check for TB.
Wednesday we waited around to find out when we would have police checks. Turns out we would meet at 8 p.m. Iftar- the end of fasting, is around 7, so I went to the mall food court. The mall (one of them) is connected to the hotel. I had Hardee's. Never heard of it but for fast food it was pretty good. Ate it and went back downstairs to the lobby waiting for the busses. We got to the police station at about 8:25 but turns out it didn't open until 9 so we sat in the steamy weather for a while. When they let us in they told us we couldn't talk because it was a police station, not a cafe. So I sat in the corner very quiet with the 50 others, and many people continued to talk. This is what I mean about some people not being respectful. Somehow, I still managed to get called 3rd to last. He kept picking and choosing who he would call based on who was 'being good' or something. The last two people were one who would not stop talking and one who had broken the machine. I don't know what I did wrong but I guess being good does not pay off. Anyway, I was in the first group that got there and started printing at 9... we didn't leave until 11:30!!! There were two more groups of 50 after us! I felt bad for them, but things operate on a different schedule here. It was long and boring but there is a lot of waiting around.
Today they are taking Al Ain teachers out there to see our housing. It is in a complex that is new and I have seen pictures. It looks nice but I can't wait to see it in person. I also can't wait to see the city/ town/ whatever they call it, not too sure.
Tomorrow starts the weekend again, so things will be shut down. Next week is school orientation here at the hotel. I think they said they will give us a tour of the city. I did see Emirates Palace at night. It was beautiful, but my camera was dead and I needed another converter- just charged it up.
My school is in Al Wagan. It is pretty far from Al Ain, but there are a lot of us out there. There are some teachers even further out then that. I hear they are going to provide a bus for us, which will be nice because I don't really want to have to get a car, especially to drive that far in the desert everyday. I'd much rather ride a bus.
I will try to figure out how to post pictures later.. but not it is almost 7 a.m. here and I should get ready for the day. Sometimes they forget to stick things under my door telling me when to be places.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Ready... set... go!
After constantly checking email, it finally came last Thursday. 'It' being the e-ticket that will get me to Abu Dhabi. I am leaving Thursday the 19- 2 days from now, on the 10:50 flight to Abu Dhabi. It is a straight flight with no connections and I will get to Abu Dhabi on Friday the 20th. There are other teachers on the flight, as well, but most of them are connecting from other flights to JFK so I will meet them at the airport. 13 hours on the plane, and when we get off, it begins!
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