Therapeutic

Every evening I sit - on the sofa, at my desk, in my bed - and recapture my day for you (and for me).  I enjoy this time of unwinding and sharing my experiences.  In fact, more than just a pleasurable time, I think it's therapeutic, too.

If I'm the patient, that makes you the therapist, and you're one of the best ever.  You don't say much, but you're a terrific listener.

Now let me fill you in on today's happenings.

I slept in and took care of some paperwork before going to the hospital again to get one of my meds renewed.  I was in and out in less than a half hour.  Thank God!  I saw an American doctor who knew that the medication I'm on to keep the migraines at bay, is used for that purpose.  The other doctor did not.

As you know, my school is in a rural area.  That's why I see the camels so much. Because it was later when I drove by, I could better see the area where they roam. There is a race track that about six of them where racing on.  It was amusing seeing them galloping along.  They usually look like they're moving in slow motion.

I spoke with Ben last night and I mentioned how much I enjoy seeing the camels.  He said, "You must see them everyday because you talk about them so much."  So, OK.  Maybe I've overdone it on the camel commentary.

Note to self - Mention my camel sightings sparingly.

Luther was amazing on the road trip to Abu Dhabi.  He is as smooth on the highway as his namesake was singing a ballad.

Still working hard to create a positive work environment.  It's funny, sad really, how one person can throw a kink in an organization and make everyone else miserable.

The Western teachers have been given a near impossible task of creating a reading curriculum.  No books or resources are available.  Yes, you read right.  No books, no reading material.  In fact, no paper, pencils, supplies.  Nothing.  Then when they go online and find something, they are limited on copying, and it has to be approved two days prior to needing it.

Yes, the salaries are much better than in the US, but they didn't mention that you would need to use a big chunk of it to create normalcy in the classroom.

This is not the case for the Arab teachers.  They have curriculum and other resources coming out the yang yang.

I was just made aware of the lack of reading curriculum this week.  I just assumed I was missing the reading instruction materials each time I visited a class.  Little did I know that there was none.

There are academic outcomes each grade level is expected to master, but no tools are given to reach those goals.

What makes this hard to endure is that we all know this is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and they're paying us hundreds of million dollars to bring us all over here, only to discover that basic needs like pencils and paper, and yes curriculum, are very much needed, and in fact, essential to running a school. This situation makes the job here much harder than it needs to be.

Just like how it takes as many as twelve teachers to sub for two that are absent. The job gets done, with much pleading and begging, but it would be so much easier to just have a sub pool - people to call or hire to cover the absences.  This current system is wild and results in lots of loss instructional time.

Hope this hasn't come off as moaning and complaining.  That's not my intention.  It's simply an objective view of situation, as I see it.  Someone else looking in on this might think it's wonderful.  That's doubtful, but maybe.

So my job, in large part, is to support all teachers, but especially the Western ones, in gathering the resources to teach.

I suppose every school has its burden to bear, finding pencils and paper, is ours.

Bet you're surprised by this, huh?

I'm remembering now that tomorrow I'll be back to waking up at 5:00 instead of 7:00 like today.  With that in mind,  I need to get to bed.

Sending positive thoughts your way . . . always

Bird Riding Shotgun

As I was driving in Abu Dhabi today, I looked up at one point in my rearview mirror to see a large bird, a falcon maybe, riding in-between the driver and front seat passenger.  No cage.  Nothing that I could see was keeping him from flying away. Every now and then he would flutter his wings, and the guys would say something to him to calm him down.  All of this happened while we were waiting for a light to turn green.  Fascinating!

On the drive over, I saw a caravan of camels walking through the sand dunes.  They were traveling toward a herd that was ahead, resting in the sand.  I'm amazed every time I see these marvelous creatures.

On the way home, I saw someone driving a dune buggy through the sand dunes. That's just crazy.  Driving through sand is incredibly dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.  Here's hoping it was an experienced driver.

The meeting I attended, and the reason for my trip to Abu Dhabi, was your standard administration get-together.  There was the exercise in imaging the ideal school and what that would look like.  When the conversation veered to what was actually happening in the schools, it was colorful watching how the presenters dodged the questions.  Some things don't change, no matter where you are in the world.

The meeting ran long so I missed my doctor's appointment and rescheduled it for tomorrow morning at 9:00.  I'll start my day there and hopefully I'll miss the crowds that show up after work.

One of my favorite sights in Abu Dhabi is a set of twin buildings that look like an ice cream cones made with a waffle cones and it looks like someone has eaten part of it on one side of each building.  Check out the pictures to see what I mean.  Yes.  I took them while driving.  Not smart, I know, but I wanted very much for you to see this.

Ice Cream Cone Buildings

Ice Cream Cone Buildings 2

I love this place!

Oasis Hospital

Oasis Hospital - "Our Mission is to provide an international standard of quality healthcare and services to the communities we serve while representing the compassion and love of Jesus Christ."

I was at the hospital again today - another three hours spent there after work - and I noticed scriptures from the Bible posted in prominent places.  I was really surprised to see them.  They were all over the building.  When I was leaving, I noticed the mission statement  that I opened with above, and although that explained the scriptures, I was still curious as to how a Christian hospital came to be in a Muslim country. According to the info on the web, it was founded at the invitation of the residing Sheikh in 1960.  

Side note - This is the hospital that is host to all of the different church services. Now I see the connection between the hospital and the churches.

This is the second day in a row that as I was waiting to be seen, my named was called, but I was in the wrong waiting area, or they mispronounced my name so badly that I didn't recognize it.  Either way, I was treated as a "no show" and they moved on to the next patient.  Hence, the long wait.

When I finally got in to see the doctor, he was pleasant and helpful.  I was there just to get some medication renewed.  It was very interesting that one of the drugs - routinely prescribed in the US - is considered a serious narcotic here.  I got a 90 day supply when I left the US, but here, the doctor I saw today could only prescribe three days' worth.  Three pills.  I have to go back tomorrow to see another doctor who is authorized to prescribe a month's supply.  

Also interesting - the package sent to me had some over the counter meds that were confiscated by the customs officer so they could be examined by a doctor.  Thankfully, I was able to pick them up today.

How did the customs folks know about the meds, you ask?  They were declared on the custom forms that have to be submitted with each package coming in or going out of the country.  In addition, the custom officer opened the package and exams the contents.  I don't know if this happens to boxes going the other way.

Side note 2 -  By the time I got home at 6:30pm (I leave for work at 6:00 am), there were no parking spots on the street, so I had to park in the parking garage.  As I drove in, I saw a young black girl sitting on a curb in the garage.  I thought that was strange until I heard the music and saw the women.  Loud, blaring music.  I looked up and there were about 20 women doing Zumba Fitness Dancing.  They were working it!  They were doing a funky line dance the few minutes I watched.  I recognized one of them as one of my teachers.  I spoke with her later and she invited me to join them.  Maybe.

I still have to send a few emails and memorialize a meeting, so that's it for today.

OK.  Just one more thing - I found out late this afternoon that I need to be in Abu Dhabi tomorrow for a morning meeting.  So off to the big city I go.

BRRRRRRRR!

It's flat out cold outside.  The high today was supposed to be 63.  I doubt if we got out of the 50's.  I'm usually warm in the school, so I dress lightly.  Today, that was a mistake.

Note to self - leave a shawl at work.

I was introduced to the medical system as I tried to see a doctor to get some prescriptions renewed.  Most of the doctors work from 7:30-4:00.  Their schedule is posted for all to see.  I arrived at 3:15 and by the time I got processed, it was 3:45. I waited until 5:15, then had to leave to make my Arabic class. I have an appointment at 3:00 tomorrow.

Although this is a hospital, it has the feel of a small clinic.  Looks like it has been around for awhile, but it was clean and well staffed.  This is where most of the Western folks go for medical attention, hence my reason for choosing this facility. I'm hopeful I can get in and get out without delay tomorrow.

Side note - If you like chocolate chip cookies, treat yourself to some from the Doubletree Hotel.  They are the absolute best chocolate chip cookies on the planet. They have nuts.  So folks with nut allergies, beware.  One of my dear friends from home is taking care of forwarding mail to me, and she surprised me with some of these. They were divine.  Seriously, you have to try them.  Bonus:  you can get them 24-hours a day from the coffee shop in the hotel.  They give them to their guests, so they always have them on hand.   You can buy them in tins.  They make great gifts.

Yes, the Doubletree should pay me.

It was a long day.  Not hard, just long.  So, I'm going to bed early.

More soon.

Goodnight to me.  Good morning to you.


  

Al Ain Oasis & National Museum

Last night I got a message that a package had arrived, so I began the day at the post office to pick it up. The lady I dealt with said it was probably in Dubai and would arrive here in a day or so.  Dubai?  Really?  Then why text me that it's here?

Deep breaths.

Note to self - find your zen place . . . quick.

Before I left home I decided I wanted to see the Al Ain Oasis, so that's where I went.  I refused to let the post office situation ruin my day.  The oasis sits in the business district.  I had passed by it several times but didn't realize what it was.

Aerial view of Al Ain Oasis from the web

It reminded me of the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz.  Except the road wasn't yellow, it was tan, the color of the sand.  The gushing water of the oasis has been banned from tourism because of bad behavior by tourists.  What you can see is the falaj, the famous irrigation system that is thousands of years old.  It is a water management system designed to get water to homes and the few crops that grow in the desert (palm dates).

Path in the oasis

I drove in, parked Luther on the side of the road, to take a closer look.  A security guy soon found me and asked me to move Luther.  No problem.  Once he was safely parked, the man gave me a tour.  He took me down to one of the troughs so that I could feel the water.  I assumed it would be cool.  It wasn't.  It was as warm as bath water.

Me feeling the water - it's warm

Me near the falaj

My guide

Although I'm not sure I got everything my guide said, I think the dates are created with something that is produced from the male palm tree that is attached to something else on the female tree.  Real scientific explanation, right.  The following website does a much better job than me:


http://books.google.com/books?id=cjHCoMQNkcgC&pg=PA138&lpg=PA138&dq=how+are+palm+dates+created+in+the+uae?&source=bl&ots=u_Yr4u5HUY&sig=OFVSoGnOhGJVsyOgLRQbHAORJP4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=moUaT52oKITmiAL867HXCA&ved=0CHEQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=how%20are%20palm%20dates%20created%20in%20the%20uae%3F&f=false


You can tell a male palm tree from a female because the leaves of the male trees grow from the ground up. The female trees grow at the top of a long trunk.  Also the leaves of the male trees are tougher and stronger.    All this I learned from my guide.

The falaj

Another view of the path in the oasis

Side note 2 - I'm eating dates as I write this.  They have an interesting texture. Chewy and nutty.

After my exploration in the oasis, I went next door to the Al Ain National Museum.  It relatively small for a museum, but it had some great artifacts.  Outside were life-size replicas of the hut structures used for shelter long ago.  There was also a bar-b-que pit like the one my teachers used.  The open pit next to it is where they burn the wood and fan the flames over the meat.  It appears they've been cooking like this for years.

Bar-B-Q Pit and Smoker

When I left the museum, I noticed a horse and carriage.  I inquired about riding and went back into the oasis, this time riding in the buggy.  It was cool with the shade of the many trees.  This reminded of the redwood forest in California where you see miles and miles of the giant trees.  Here, it's miles and miles of palm trees.

Me on a carriage about to go for a ride through the oasis

I'm including lots of pictures.  I hope they're big enough for you to see.  If not, you might try opening them in another window.  I've also included a link to a great video on the UAE.  It's about 30 minutes long, but worth the look if you have the time.  It's an aerial view of the country and some of the shots are spectacular.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0d3UqSVRbQ&feature=fvwrel

Coffee Pots

Ornate Vase?

Actual well used long ago

Lady in "mustache" veil

Fort outside of the museum

Fort outside museum 2

Cannon

Cannons in front of fort

Tent area outside

Wide view of tent sitting area

Me in front of hut

Cat sleeping on right bench

Ancient pottery

Info about the pottery

Falcon - Falconry is big time sport here

I just got a call from the post office.  The package has arrive.  You gotta love it.

Lazy Day

I didn't get out of my pj's today.  It felt great just to lounge around.  I watched another movie, listened to a podcast and washed my hair.  That was my day.

Tyrone (my wireless route) was acting a little finicky, so I was having trouble getting online.  Thankfully he corrected himself after a few hours.

Some random thoughts -

Did I mention there are roundabouts in parking lots?  I think they're taking the theme of having them all over the city a bit far, but they didn't ask me.

There are no stand alone coffee shops here.  Even if there were, they would probably serve the local coffee which takes a lot to get down.  It looks like tea.  Its served in small, espresso-size portions, straight - no cream or sugar.  It's an acquired taste, and I'm not there yet.  So, the only Western coffee besides Starbucks (which are only found in malls), is instant. Before you coffee snobs turn up your nose, it's really good.  Nescafe makes a single serving coffee pouch that already has the cream and sugar in it.  You just add the hot water and you're good to go.  I have some in my office so that the teachers can start their day with coffee if they want.

You can tell the direction of the wind by the way the sand moves across the roads. Its such a fine sand, just a gentle breeze causes it to move.

I have yet to see a hardware store.  There's nothing like a Home Depot or Lowe's. There is an Ace Hardware in one of the malls, but it's a crime calling it a hardware store.  There's not much to it at all.  You can find a pretty decent supply of hardware stuff in the grocery stores.  Remember, these stores also sell appliances and electronics.  They're the one-stop shop for all your shopping needs.

There are also not many restaurants.  Not for a city this size.  I don't think the concept of eating out is as big in this country.  I think most of their gatherings are at their homes.  Everyone has someone to cook for them, so it's no big deal to entertain at home.  You just let the help know how many you're expecting.

Paper napkins are hard to find.  Most places use Kleenex instead.

Notebook paper is a novelty, too.  Lots of notebooks of various sizes, but not a lot of notebooks that uses filler paper.  The notebooks or binders I've seen have either two or four holds.

Looking for thank you cards proved challenging, too.  You can only find them at a card shop.

I've looked high and low for Parmesan Cheese.  I'm told you can find it, but it's a rarity.

So are Jelly Beans.  I found them at Ferrari World, and the other day, I found them tucked away in one of the grocery stores.  They haven't caught on here.

I ate a piece of fruit and I'm not quite sure what it was.  It was pale green and looked like a pear, but was rounder.  I bought two pieces.  The first one wasn't ripe when I cut it.  It was hard and smelled pretty awful.  I waited a few days to tackle the other one, and it was softer, didn't smell and tasted  . . . interesting.  I should have taken a picture of it.  Not sure I'll ever buy it again.

On the rare days I've been out late, I've seen women out by themselves.  It really is one of the safest places places for women I've ever seen.  The men are very respectful.  I've mentioned this before, but it's worth repeating.  Men do not approach you or start a conversation with you.  They will only speak if you generate the conversation.  Even then, most are pretty shy.  An expat making advances toward women would be given a one-way ticket out of town.  Folks know that and are on their best behavior.

It looks like men outnumber by a large margin.  Not sure if that's factual or not, but you see many more men out and about than women.  All of the construction and building is done by men, all of the public works projects, the service workers in the stores, etc.

I just called Frankie and he was a work.  I thought it was Saturday.  I'm still working on getting used to working from Sunday to Thursday.

I just rented more movies to watch.  They'll be my treats.  I reward myself often.  I'm learning to be good to me.  It only took me 55 years to get here.  That's OK.  Some folks never make it.  I'm grateful I did.

How do you treat yourself?

The Camel Has the Right of Way

Cutest sight on the way to work yesterday was a guy leading a camel through a roundabout.  The camel is just cruising by.  Graceful and majestic.  It happened at dawn.  It was still dark and I knew trying to get a picture would have been fruitless, but it was a true Kodak moment.

Just got home from my Arabic class.  I totally forgot about it on Tuesday.  That was the day I was so tired and frustrated.  Anyway, the teacher is so gracious with his time to offer these makeup sessions.  I also appreciate having the one-on-one instruction.  Surprisingly, I'm actually starting to recognize letters and simple words. It will help so much to be able to say simple phases in Arabic.  Of course, I've picked up a few things just from hearing them used repeatedly.

The Venetian Cafe is having an Old School Party next Thursday night.  Thursday night is like Friday night in the US.  The owner of the cafe mentioned that this was in the works, so I'm happy that it will be happening.  I'm not a party person at all, but it might be nice to check it out.  I'm sure the Black expats will be out in big numbers.

Side note - I'm going to watch a movie tonight.  My treat to myself.  I got a pedicure on the way home.  Another treat.  That was a wonderful way to end the week.

Side note 2 - My apologies for being late in responding to emails.  My plan is to catch up this weekend.

As always, thanks for spending time with me.

Your blogging buddy

So Much Better

Today was a thousand times better, thank God.

Even though my day began at 4:00am and just ended at 9:00 tonight, the day at school was much smoother.  It's not that I had an easier day necessarily, but with an adjustment in my frame of mind, I was much better prepared for it.

We're doing teacher evaluations that have to be completed by the end of the month. Not a big deal except that there must be two people observing and the same two doing the post conferences.  The woman who is supposed to be my partner has been out sick all week, which has really thrown a kink in the scheduling.  Hopefully, if all goes well tomorrow, we should be caught up.

Interesting to note that the woman I had the tough conversation with is the same one who has been absent all week.  I know she's been really sick.  I don't wish anything bad, but I hope the absences are legitimate and not in protest.  Even if they are, what can you do?

It was suggested that I take off my US hat, in reference to the safety concerns at my new school, and think like my Arab sisters.  I think that's a great idea.  When they seemed worried about a situation, then I'll start to be concerned.  Until then, I need to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the craziness.  No problem.  I can and will do that.

Side note - My house phone just rang for the first time.  Yep.  Wrong number.

Side note 2 -The teachers are enjoying the snacks that I keep in my office.  It's amazing what a piece of chocolate can do for you on a long day.

Side note 3 - One of my teachers bought me some date-filled cookies.  They're very good.  They taste a lot like Fig Newtons.

Well, I have to be at school early again tomorrow, so this is another short one.

Hope you're having the best year yet.  

FRUSTRATION

Today was the most challenging yet.  I'm hoping this is as hard as it gets.

Four teachers were absent, which means twenty-four periods had to be covered. It took over a dozen teachers to fill the slots because No emirate teacher will take more than to, if she takes it at all.  Even though every Emirati teacher has open slots thoughout the day, as I've mentioned before, they can pick and choose if and when they'll fill them.  I covered classes several times today because it's easier to step in and take over a class than to search all over for someone else willing to do it.

It is an insane way of doing business.  There is no learning going on during absences, that's for sure.

What's even more amazing is that there are Western teachers being paid who are sitting around in hotel rooms waiting for assignments.  They could sub until permanently placed.  It is outrageously inefficient the way it's currently being handled.

My brain was fried by the end of the day.  I also had a couple of formal observations and need to write up the reports from them, but I'm just too tired tonight.  I will get up early in the morning to prepare them when I'm fresh and can think straight.

On a brighter note -

I got a call from the bank letting me know the info I needed to pick up was available. It was 1:45 when the call came in.  The bank closes at 1:30.  The lady asked me what time I would be leaving work.  I said within the hour and she said I could come by.  After hours.  She met me at the back door.  Incredible!

Since I was right next door, I went to ADEC to inquire about my health card. Gratefully, I was able to pick it up right then.  There's this whole system where one person from your school is supposed to pick them up for everyone.  As slow as things oftentimes happen here, I figured it would be the first of Neveruary when I would see it.

From there I went to the mall to increase the package for my internet service on my phone.  Jimmy Lee (my mobile internet service) is being used a lot.  Remember, it's rare to find wireless internet.   Jimmy Lee keeps me in the know wherever I am.  Here, that's priceless.

While at the mall, I received a text saying I had a package ready for pickup.  When I got there, the message was for the package that already arrived and had already been picked up.  Next time, I'll wait for the phone call letting me know I have something for pick-up.

Finally, I arrived home.

Side note - It's sweater cool here at night.  Usually breezy as soon as the sun goes down.

Well, that's it.  My "tired" is tired.

More soon.

Peter is Pretty Awesome!

Peter (my GPS) and I came to a greater understanding today.  OK.  Truth be told, I finally figured out how to use another of his many functions.

Side note - Peter got his name because of his British accent.  British English was the only English setting available for the voice commands.  Of course, I wanted a man's voice.  It's "Peter" because I like the way the Brits say the name.

I could not get why plotting the coordinates was not working.  I'd try to enter the numbers, but the slots didn't match.  I hit a switch and realized there were several settings for the coordinates and I had been using the wrong one.

This discovery came at just the right time.  I needed to find the school where the all-day inservice would be held. I used a "real" map to get me to the right part of town, but I still needed to find the school.  There were schools listed on Peter, but not the one I was looking for.  Just before I reached that "no turning back" level of frustration, I stumbled on the coordinates setting. Once adjusted, I was good to go and less than two miles from my destination.  I was still 45 minutes late, (and those of you who know me know what a stickler I am for being on time), but at least I made it.

It was a beautiful Kindergarten School.  They're called KG schools.  We spent all morning, til 1:30, discussing norms and setting goals.  Should have taken an hour, max.  Now the box can be checked that we met though.  I think some meetings only serve that purpose.

The meeting was followed by a catered lunch that was great.  I was surprised by them serving lunch at all.  The budget in the US was such that serving water was cut out by the time I left.

I met a couple of Black women from Brooklyn, and a Black guy from Chicago.  He was the spouse of one of the VP's.  He was quite the character and fun to talk to. He's a retired lawyer and the father of four grown sons.  His current wife was wife number two(???).  Anyway, he was really outgoing and knew how to make folks at ease . . . immediately.  He reminded me a lot of my brother Forrest.  In fact, they're the same age and he, too, had a music scholarship to Florida A & M University.  He declined it and went elsewhere.

The women were pleasant, too, but were bragging about how comfortable they were getting around the city . . . without the assistance of a GPS.  Really?  Had to go there? After I stood up to introduce myself and told the world I was late because I was lost.  The jury is still out on them.

Anyway . . .

I began the day at school.

On my way in, I received text messages from two of the Western teachers saying they would be absent.  I hit the school door trying to find out who would be willing to sub for them. Thankfully, the spots were filled before students were left unattended.

Then I had to have a tough conversation.  It took longer than I planned, but it needed to happen today, before we begin formal observations tomorrow.  It went well on my part in conveying the information in a positive manner, but I had to share some tough info.  The proof will be in the pudding, as to whether or not the needed changes will occur.  I'm hopeful they will.

Side note 2 - 8.5 X 11 paper is referred to as A4.

Side note 3 - An Emirati lady sitting at my table had six kids, and said she may have more.  She followed that comment with saying that Emirati's like big families. That's obvious by the enrollment in the schools.  Our school, 1st through 5th grade, has a thousand kids.  Our two neighboring schools, right next door in fact, also have large enrollments.

Side note 4 - Most of the doors going in and out of our building are chained and locked.  Even the main staff entrance is locked after the school day begins.  This would be considered a fire hazard in the US.  It's allowed here.  I'm praying that we never have to evacuate in a hurry.

The day ended with me getting a refund for the out-of-pocket expense of staying in a random hotel my first night in the country.  I was told where to pick it up in Abu Dhabi, but I reminded them that I live and work in Al Ain, about 80 miles away.  I asked if they would mail it, but the wired it instead.  I was glad to receive it and thrilled I didn't have to make a trip to pick it up.

Speaking of Abu Dhabi - the next VP meeting is in two weeks and will be there.

Note to self - Plan something fun on the way home.

Most of you are off today for the Martin L. King Holiday (that I completely forgot about).  Enjoy the day.

Substitutes and Camel Crossings

In an earlier post I mentioned that the concept of substitute teachers is a foreign one here.  When a teacher is absent, you scrounge around hoping to find someone who is willing to take the class. Today there were two teachers absent on the girls' side - my side - and I was responsible for finding coverage.  In both cases, I just happened to notice the classes were without teachers.  The kids are used to this and quite frankly, handle it well.  There hasn't been any outlandish behaviors, but its a huge safety issue, or it would be if we were in the US.  For whatever reason, students unattended is not a big deal.

This house is right outside our parking structure.

In between covering classes and taking them over periodically myself, I was able to visit all of the Western teachers, leaving notes for them all.  There are a hard working group.

Side note - Western teachers have six periods a day, the Arab teachers have four. That's why the Arab teachers are available to substitute throughout the day, if they chose to.

Another neighborhood home

Right now the Western teachers get a prep period every day, which is nice, but otherwise they have to be with their classes at all times, including lunch time - it seems like they don't have a break at all.  I get it.  I hope to have a schedule by the end of the week that will divide all teachers in half, so one group will work one week, the other group the next.

There are at least eight different teacher rooms for teachers to relax and make copies.  I have yet to see a Western teacher in any of these areas.  Another area was located that can be used for all teachers, but I'm hoping it will be a refuge for the Western ladies.  I've also made my office - with refrigerator, microwave and goodies to eat - a place for them to go.  I'm happy that they're taking advantage of it. This I know - a happy teacher is a more productive teacher.  Sometimes all they need is a piece of chocolate to get them through the day.

No joke.  The boys' behavior is as bad as advertised.  For the most part, they haven't grasped what is expected of them  in school.  When they went out to recess in the past, it took the teachers hours - literally - to round them all up again to go inside.  As a result, the boys do not have outside recess, and of course, no outlet to let out some of their energy.  It's a Catch-22 situation.  The boys need to play outside, but won't get the opportunity until their behavior improves.  The behavior is crazy because they need to burn off energy.  It's a vicious cycle.

I have another off campus training tomorrow, and you guessed it, I don't know where it is and will be relying on Peter (my GPS).  He doesn't like coordinates, so I hope to get a landmark that's nearby as a reference point.

Camels grazing in a pasture

I stopped on the side of the road to take pictures of the camels I see regularly.  I couldn't zoom anymore than I did, so you'll need to strain a bit to see them, but they are so cool to see.

The other pictures are of homes that are neighbors to my school.

Traveling camels

Traveling camels 2

Venetian Cafe

My liquor store buddy contacted me last night, needing some help today. Thankfully, she received her passport, so now she could get a post office box and look into getting a car.  Not much happens here without your passport.

On my way to her place, I made a stop at the bank to pick up something.

Side note - Everyone in this country gets their mail at the post office.  Most folks use the main one because you have access to your box at all times, day or night, and the office stays open til 8:00pm.

For whatever reason, the banks require that you pick up things in person, as opposed to mailing it out.  I had been by this particular branch three times before today trying to get what I needed and it was closed each time. It takes "bankers hours" to a whole new level.

I had a lot to do today, so I raced out of the house and didn't eat anything.  Although there are Starbucks here, I've only seen them in the malls, so they don't open early like in the US.  I drove around for a few minutes looking for someplace to grab a bite to eat, but had no luck.  I ended up going back home, eating, then going out again.

As we were winding down our lists of things to do, my buddy noticed a cafe across the street from the post office.  We walked over and were pleasantly surprised at how nice it was.  Large, spacious, but great little tucked away areas if you wanted more privacy.  We were greeted by the owner when we walked in and he  knew that we were first timers.  He was very friendly and outgoing.  As the conversation progressed, he mentioned that he was Egyptian.  The two car salesmen I dealt with were also Egyptian.  They, too, were kind and pleasant.

Me at the Venetian Cafe

Side note 2 - Visiting Egypt is on my bucket list.  These guys make me want to move it to the top.

Side note 3 - I was looking for some Arabic children's book on writing the alphabet. You remember, Arabic is read right to left, so books are bound on the right side. When you pick one up, you're reading it from back to front.  I didn't notice this until I was flipping through one.  It throws everything you learned about the printed word out the window.

Side note 4 - I also bought a copy of the Holy Quran.  I'm curious to know more about it.  Don't fret.  I'm not expecting any conversion anytime soon.  Just want to satisfy a hunger to learn more.  The Arab world is immersed in Islam.  I think it would help in understanding why things are done they way they are, if you have a better understanding of their guide book.

I really need to go to bed now, but I think I may watch a little TV.

What fun thing are you doing today?

Bon Appetit!

My cooking is . . . delicious.

Never thought I'd be writing those words about my time in the kitchen, but I've been surprising myself at my culinary skills.  It was a victory if I could eat what I cooked, but I've progressed to it actually tasting good.

I'm making a stew.  Over the break I made a big pot of spaghetti and froze it in lunch-size containers which I bought to school each day last week.  It was great having something homemade to eat, so I thought I'd do it again this week.

In the US you can find the dry seasoning packets for making stew.  Here, no.  The closest thing I found called for adding peanut butter to the mix.  Yep.  Peanut butter. I decided to ad lib and use the regular seasonings I could find and recognize. Thankfully, it turned out great.

Side note - I just discovered a wonderful website where you can read from hundreds of children's books and email it to the special little ones in your world.  The website is www.AStoryBeforeBed.com.  There's a deal on Zulily (www.zulily.com) today offering half off the annual price.  You can try it out free.  I just recorded a story for Zadie.  She'll be able to see me reading it to her.  This will be great for me and others who live far away from loved ones.  I know.  I should get a commission from the company, but this is too good not to share.

Side note 2 - Really enjoying video chat in gmail.  I just talked to my brother Forrest for a while and with the video, it was like we were chillin' in each other's home, basking in each other's company.  Tomorrow we're planning for our oldest brother, Willie, to join us, so I'm looking forward to that.

I'm going to end early today so that I can get some thank you notes written to the salesmen who sold me my car.  It really was a terrific experience, better than in the US.  Although the last car I bought in the US was purchased online.  The new one was driven to my house and they drove my old car away as trade-in.  That was a wonderful experience, but the last time I was in a showroom looking into buying a car, I didn't care for that at all.  The pressure.  The sleaziness.  I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

I'm loving everything about Luther.  The whole experience, from the moment I walked into the showroom until the day I picked up my guy, was spectacular.

Wishing you the best . . . always.

Your blogging buddy.

The Ending is What Counts

This day ended so much better than it began.

So, I'll start with the end.

As you know, I'm searching for a church.  Remember when I mentioned how things are zoned in this country where like stores are grouped together?  Well, same thing with the churches.  There are three for four rooms in the back of a hospital and the Christian Churches in the area all have their services there.

I was looking for one church, but stumbled on another one that was fascinating.  It was in the same room where the Ethiopian service is held.  But there was an altar now and the folks were dressed like priests, so at first blush, I thought it was a Catholic service.

My thought was, once Catholic, always Catholic, so I went in and had a seat.  It was about fifteen minutes into the service and a guy manning a table in the back gave me the evil eye for arriving late, I guess.

There were only about twenty five people there.  A woman sitting in front of me had an incredible voice.  She made the dry hymns they were singing come alive.  Kudos to her.

Anyway, what caught my attention was the black guy on the altar.  He looked just like Omar from "The Wire."  He was dressed in a fire engine red robe that was trimmed in white and it was pretty clear, he was the Head Negro in Charge.

This is Michael K. Williams who starred in THE WIRE.

He kept changing from a hot pink beanie to the triangle hat a bishop wears.  He was, in fact, a bishop.  He looked like he was twelve.

By this time I figured out this not was a Catholic service.  I thought it was Episcopalian because one of the guys officiating had on a wedding ring.

Anyway, the black guy does the preaching.  It was dry.  Dry.  DRY.  Very theoretical.  There was no emotion.  No connections between then and now and how what he was saying might be applied today.  It was clear why the congregation was so small.  He has been here for six month filling in til they found a permanent guy. They found someone, so this was the Bishop's last day.

There was more formality, then the service ends.  By the time I turn to leave, the Bishop has shed his bright read top and he has on the hottest pink robe underneath.  This brother likes color.

I knew he was from the US by the way he spoke, and my curiosity got the best of me, so I introduced myself and asked where he was from.  Philly.  This stiff brother was from the hood.  Although once he took that top robe off, he loosened up some.  I also asked him what kind of service this was.  Anglican.

Note to self - keeping looking for a church.

This experience, however,  made my day.  The service began at 7:30 at night.

I left there and went to the mall to buy mats for Luther (my car).  I couldn't believe how many folks were there.  It was like Black Friday.  People everywhere.  Not sure if something was going on, or if it's like that all the time on Thursday nights.  I'm never out that late.  It was about 9:30 by then.

I went there after my Arabic class.  I missed it on Tuesday when I picked up Luther, so today was a makeup session.  Just me and him.  It went OK.  This guy is a really good teacher.  I've got to practice and use what I've learned though to help me remember it.

Side note - This city comes alive when the sun goes down.  All stores are open late. I think it's because of the heat.  They wait til the sun goes down to get out because it's cooler.  That's my theory anyway.

Before that I was sent to another school for training and never could find it.  I was trying to use GPS coordinates.  I've found that entering that info doesn't work for me.

Note to self - ask for landmarks next time.

I was frustrated by that effort, and just came home after awhile.  I'll let the folks know what happened on Sunday.

So, like I said, the day ended a lot better than it began, and for that I'm grateful.

Hope you're having a great day.

I was Wrong

As my conversations with my teachers continued, I realized I was wrong.  Even though I was supportive, I thought some of their issues were petty.  But petty or not, if they were hurt by an action, or inaction of someone, it has to be addressed.  It really doesn't matter so much what the intention was, but the perception is what counts.  Whether you meant to hurt my feelings, really is neither here nor there. You did, in fact, hurt my feelings and that's what has to be dealt with . . . constructively. Walking into this situation, and helping to bring equilibrium to it, is a delicate dance. One I've done before, but it's still delicate nonetheless.

This is Luther!

Luther, my new car, is an amazing ride.  Solid.  Smooth.  Easy to love.  Like its namesake, the late Luther Vandross.  The difference is like night and day in the handling of my rental and this gem.

To top off the experience of riding in elegance, I drove through the mountain on the rode that is lit up like a Christmas tree.  As it turns out, this is the shortest way home, although it didn't seem like that the one time I took this before.  But this time I knocked at least ten minutes off my commute.  That was terrific to discover.

Isn't he a thing of beauty?

The view of the mountain at dawn is mystical.  Almost reverential.  There is no way you can question whether there's a higher being when you see His handiwork.  For those of you who doubt, I challenge you to come and see for yourself.

I've gotten very little sleep this week.  My body thought we were still on break.  I keep reminding her every morning, work is what we're here for.  Hasn't made getting up any easier though.

One more view

Ferrari.  Ferrari.  Who needs a Ferrari?

It's only 5:00 pm, but I'm headed to bed to try and make up for the sleep I've lost this week.

Good night.

New Car!

Again I woke up before 4:00am!  What is that about?

I've been trying to figure out how to mail merge to create labels, so I got up to work on that.  No luck with the merge, but I ended up just typing them one by one.  Of course, if I'd started when I first woke up, instead of trying to figure out the mail merge thing, I would have finished them.  Oh well.

I continued to meet individually with the Western teachers today.  Boy, did I get an earful.  I ask three questions in these meetings - what's working, what's not working, and how can I help.  It's amazing to me how petty some of the issues are.  It reminds me of one of my schools where the kinder teachers were constantly bickering.  It was at that point that I came to the conclusion that too often some teachers act the kids of the grade they teach.

Of course, I get it.  But I think they're making the problem much bigger than it actually is.  I'm hoping my presence and the implementation of some better communication tools will help to calm the waters.  This is when I really appreciate my 55 years on this planet.  Few things rattle my cage at this point in my life.

Now to the great news -

The absolute highlight of my day was picking up my brand new 2012 Toyota Camry! It ended up being a much better deal to buy a car rather than to lease one, so that's what I did.  I've never been more grateful for a purchase.  Not just of the car, but everything else I've needed and wanted to buy since I've been here.

My rental.
Thank God,  I was able to get the new car today.
The same day I had to turn this car in.

Side note - Had a fascinating conversation with the car salesman about Islam.  He promised to share some resources with me.  I think if we took the time to share our thoughts and ideas with each other, we could put the weapons down and grow as a people.  Idealistic?  Maybe.  Helpful?  I think so.

Side note 2 - He and I had the time to have this great conversation because I inquired about getting the car windows tinted and they were able to do it while I waited.  It took a while, but I think it will be worth it as most cars here have tinted windows because of the fierce heat.

Side note 3 - It was dark when I got home, so I didn't take pictures of my car.  I can't wait for you to see it.  It smells like new shoes.

Don't worry.  I promise not to seque into the funky feet conversation.

Side note 4 - I wish I could share the sunrise I see over Mount Jebel Hafeet with you.  It is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.

Here's hoping your sunrises are awesome, too.

UAE vs. US Schools

After four hours of sleep, I woke up just shy of 4:00 in the morning, ready to start another day.  I left home at 5:45 and was the first one at school at 6:20.  Yesterday, not early enough.  Today, too early.  I'm hoping for a happy medium soon.

Some interesting tidbits about UAE schools:

---There's no concept of substitutes.  If a teacher is absent, other teachers cover for them, if they want to.

---Emirati teachers have their jobs for life.  They can not be fired or disciplined.  You can request that they do something, but they can and do decline.

---Today there was a class of 5th grade girls who were without a teacher all morning.  Left completely unattended.  This happens more often than you think.  We would be fired on the spot if that happened in the US.

---If you ask a teacher to do something, it is not unusual for her to leave her class unattended while she takes care of whatever you asked her to do.

---Before ADEC took over the schools, teachers would often leave after two or three hours of teaching.  If they needed to shop or cook dinner, they were off, with no plans for the students left behind.

---There are no staff mailboxes.  They have them, but they don't use them.  No phones in the classrooms either.  When you need to reach a class, you get up and visit it.  There are more interruptions than we're used to because of this.

I spent most of the day talking to the Western teachers one-on-one.  I always enjoy these meetings because you get to visit in a relaxed setting, and although you're discussing school "stuff," it is usually a pleasant time for everyone involved.  These meetings are also very revealing.  From these I will be able to tell how I need to prioritize my work.

Other random thoughts:

---Speed bumps are not created equal.  Some are barely noticeable, while others have you galloping in the air.  They are striped, but not easy to see.  You're going over one before you realize it was even there.

---There is only one brand of gas stations in the country.  Is that why it's so cheap?  You'd think it would be more expensive because that company has a monopoly on the goods.  Not so.

---Potbellied men who wear the robes look pregnant.  You don't see it often but they stand out.  Their bellies and that "look."

---Found out today that in order to buy liquor legally, you are supposed to have a "liquor card" identifying you as a non-Muslim.  I'm told that's not adhered to here, but is in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

---Stopped on the side of the road this morning to take a picture of the lighted road that winds through the mountain.  It is a glorious sight to see.  Mine didn't turn out great, but I found this one online.

Mount Jebel Hafeet at night

---Tyrone (my wireless) router, has been a little sluggish today.  Not sure what's day about.

---A Toyota Van is called a "people mover" in its official description of the vehicle.

---My new favorite thing is instant coffee called 3-in-1.  It contains the coffee, flavored cream and sugar in each single serving packet.

Hope you're enjoying 2012.

More soon.

Quick & Dirty

It's already 8:45.  I've got to get to bed in a hurry.  I left this morning at 6:30 and it took 45 minutes to get there.  It's only fourteen miles, but for some reason, it takes a minute to cover those miles.  Note to self - leave earlier.

Arrived at school with bags in both hands.

Note to self - you need one hand free to hold the long dress so that you're not tripping over it going up the steps.

Put some things away, organized my space a bit before the start of the day, when I received a call on my cell phone, wondering where I am.

Protocol is for the admin staff to be in the lobby greeting the staff as they arrive.  Also found out I was supposed to be signing in.

Went to every classroom.

Had a two hour admin meeting.

Worked on items from the meeting.

Met with the Western teachers.  Set up one-on-one meetings with them beginning tomorrow.

Finished up and left to stop by the store for needed supplies.

Home an hour.

Off to Arabic class.  Love the teacher.  He's very good.  Class is ten weeks, twice a week.

Home again.

Writing to you.

Going to bed.

Forbidden is Good!

I cooked the ham yesterday.  I stepped out to throw something away and I realized you could smell the aroma even before you entered my place.  The sweet smell of the ham rubbed with brown sugar and topped with slices of pineapple permeated my home.

I should probably cook more.

The taste . . . was absolutely delicious!  Why is it that forbidden fruit always taste great?  What is that about?

I said I wasn't going to do any running around, but did anyway.

Symmetry is important to me.  Always has been.  The bulletin boards in my class and in my schools had to be just so.  Measured everything.

It bothered me that my television was off center.  Ridiculous, I know, but it was bugging me nonetheless.  Correcting this required a trip to the store to get a couple of longer cords.  Of course, once in the store, there were other things I "just had to have."  I'm happy to report everything is now perfectly aligned and all is right with the world.

A couple of black women and a young girl caught my attention at the mall yesterday.  When I arrived home, I was surprised to see that we live in the same building.  We introduced ourselves.  She is an ADEC teacher, here with her daughter.  The other woman was her mother visiting from Florida.  I mentioned that I went to college in Florida, and as it turned out, we went to the same school - Florida A & M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee.  What a small world!

Side note - FAMU is trying to recover from an awful situation.  One of the drum majors in our world renown band, the Marching 100, was killed as a result of a hazing incident.  Death by blunt force trauma.  It is absolutely horrifying that this kind of nonsense is still allowed.  The band director was fired, but more heads should roll because of this senseless death.

Now to more church news -

I'm still amazed at how familiar folks in the Ethiopian church look to me.  The guy playing piano has a striking remembrance to my Ben.  I didn't notice it last time because I saw him in profile.  Yesterday, he was facing forward.  The woman leading the choir could have been Iman's twin.  You know, Iman, the fashion model, married to David Bowie?

Interestingly, the other church I've attended in this same area, serves complimentary coffee or water that you can drink during service.  I was chilly the last time I was there.  Had a cup of coffee during the service and warmed right up.

Also, there's a little souq in the same building that has snacky stuff that I find useful after service.  I get something from there to tide me over til I get home.

It's about 4:00 in the afternoon as I write this.  I wanted to get it done early so that I can get to bed early tonight.  I'll probably need to leave here at 6:30 in the morning. No later than 6:45, for sure.  I should get there in about 30 minutes.  The boys' start time is 7:15.  The girls' is 7:45.  I saw only a handful of students before break, as it appears to be the tradition to ditch school during minimum days.  I'm looking forward to seeing what a 1000 little ones look like when everyone is there and the building is full.

Side note 2 - I discovered stores in the mall closest to me that I hadn't seen before. I'm a creature of habit.  I park in the same area, use the same entrance, etc. Today, however, my GPS dude (I named him Peter.  He speaks with a British accent) had me going a different route, and I ended up on the other end of the mall.  I decided to venture out and see new things, and I'm glad I did.  I found a shoe store that rivals Payless in their selection and prices.  It's much more conveniently located, too.

Side note 3 - Those of you who know me well, know that I have funky feet.  Yes.  I know.  Way to much information.  I share this not to gross you out, but to explain why I don't spend a lot on my shoes.  When they get funky, I throw them away.  I don't feel bad because I didn't spend a lot on them.  Dr. Oz's remedy of soaking your feet in tea works, but who has time to do that every day?  I've tried the powder, spray deodorant, etc., to no avail.  The culprit is sweaty feet.  What I find fascinating is that none of my guys have this issue - not my brothers or my sons. Just me.

OK.  Enough about my feet.

I promised not to post unless I had something to say.  Writing about my feet may qualify as stretching that a wee bit too far.  Duly note.  No more feet talk.

Side note 4 - I hope you're not reading this over breakfast.

More next time.

Your blogging buddy