School Day 2

I made it to work on the dot of 8am this morning.  The taxi ride took much longer than I'd anticipated as I hadn't been out in workday traffic at that time of the day.  So I'll be leaving earlier tomorrow and will try the bus and walk one block from there. 

Still no class teacher.  She isn't coming back so I'm it.  I have two Grade 4 classes of all girls with 23 or 24 in each class.  I teach each group 6 periods of English a week, 5 of maths, & 4 of Science.  A total of 30 periods.  Each day is split into 7 periods of 45 minutes with a half hour break at 10.45am.  School finishes at 2.15pm for the girls then we have a meeting on four days but are walking out at 3pm.  On Thursday (last day of week) we walk out at 2.15pm with the girls.

For those of you who did the maths that still leaves 5 free periods a week which I can use to plan, observe other teachers, or meet with my HOF or Social Worker to discuss things.  All recorded of course as accountability is foremost.  Today I had two free periods but didn't get to use either of them as I had to have a session on the curriculum and observe another teacher and comment on her lesson.  I learnt a lot from that session and took it back into my class in the afternoon.  Little things like routines used throughout the school made the management much easier.

The girls seem to be generally well behaved and respectful.  Like any classroom, each group has it's treasures who've already tested me.  They all line up outside class and wait to be invited in, then stand and wait until I've greeted them.  Once I've asked, "How are you today?" they reply, "Fine thank you and you?"  Very formal.  Then they sit.  And talk.

Everything is written down and notes are kept on everything.  And we worry about ERO coming.  Paperwork seems to be the key here.

On that note, I now get the joy of assessing two classes of children and inputting their data onto the system and highlighting the forms required and updating their individual portfolios with the numerous work samples which have been left for me.  Ongoing assessment is done in each lesson using a tick sheet to ensure all outcomes are covered and that we have evidence to show for our reporting to parents and to show what we have taught and can show for our own professional evaluation. 

Teacher planning for the next week is due in on the Thursday before and is a lot more detailed than we do in NZ, a small booklet in itself.  But on that note the HOF does the curriculum planning for the year, very detailed as to what we will cover and which term.  Even colour coded.  Then they also do the long term plan for each term showing what you will cover and which week.  This ensures all outcomes are covered over the year.  From that we decide on objectives from the curriculum and assess continually in class.

Our style of teaching in NZ has set me up nicely for this new school model that they are using here.

One difference I do notice is no lunch break, just the breakfast/morning tea one.  Also there is no staff room to meet or eat in.  Plus you provide your own tea and coffee, no milk either.  I miss that chance to sit down with others.  It makes it difficult to meet and form relationships if you don't have a chance to talk.  I'm not sure what the other teachers do, it seems they stay in their rooms.

We also have to clock in and sign out at the end of the day.  But no late nights or early mornings working here.  7.45am-3.05pm maximum hours.  There are also lots of people who work at the school doing things like: librarian, photocopier, runner who makes cups of tea & takes messages, cleaners, canteen staff, security man, ICT lab with staff member (plus another lab for our use with our class), science lab with staff member who prepares resources for lessons, bus monitors who sit outside in our corridors, social workers to contact and liaise with parents, HOF to deal with irate parents.  And no duty or extra curricular responsibilities.

School Day 1

This morning I met my HOF (Head of Faculty) over next door at the ADEC building at 8am.  I was feeling rather nervous but was reassured to find out that I would be teaching Grade 4 (8 year olds).  On the way I found out I was in one of the better if not best schools in Abu Dhabi with an Arabic Principal & Vice Principal.

My HOF is South African and has been here four years.  She started as an ICT adviser, then moved to a Literacy adviser, now a HOF.  As ADEC’s needs change, so do the job descriptions and positions. When I walked into her office I could tell immediately she was switched on as her wall had the planning for the year on it.  The whole school hummed with a vibrant air.  Display boards around the school were similar to high quality ones back home.  I was welcomed with open arms, literally, by the other English Medium Teachers and most of the Arabic ones.

I am to replace another teacher who is leaving at the spring break.   After being told that nothing would be overwhelming in this school, they run a calm school, I relaxed at all this information, had a cup of coffee and sat down.  I would shadow the teacher for the next few weeks then take over the class.  I had a tour around all the areas and was feeling decidedly okay with everything. 

But wait, where’s my teacher?  Not shown up again.  And not phoned in sick either.  And unable to be got hold of.  What is going on?  We go up to the class and the kids are fooling around with no supervision.  The HOF gives them a maths worksheet which looked very difficult then leaves them alone again.  Just like that.

By 9.30am guess who’s in the class?  I’d been given the weekly plan but couldn’t find the resources that went with it.  So in I go, cold so to speak, to take over the class.  I ended up teaching two classes for the rest of the day, finishing at 3pm after a staff meeting.

So much for not being overwhelming! 

The honeymoon is over.

Let’s hope she is back tomorrow.

Basketball anyone?

I'd found a website called Duplays that you register on to play sport around here.  So we'd organised to go down and watch the local mens competitive basketball league on Saturday night between 7-11pm.  As it was very expensive to play and you had to register and pay online beforehand we felt it was best to view first.

We arrived by taxi at 6.30pm and went into the school and found the gymnasium, grabbed a ball and the four of us started shooting hoops.  Next minute a security guard comes in and tells us (not very politely) to get out and wait until 7pm.  So we do.

At 7 we go back inside and watch a team warm up.  An hour later we're still there watching the same team warm up.  By 8.10pm there are two teams warming up but still no game started.  At that stage we left.  Two teams hadn't turned up but rather than get a game going nothing happened.

Talk about disorganised.  No need to say that I won't be paying the 550AED required for subs for Lochie to play.

We ended up with no idea what the competition is actually like as we didn't see a game.

Just before the end, one of our group went outside and when we went out to leave he was having a smoke.  Needless to say the 'friendly' security guard popped over to tell him not too.  If only it was that polite.  The guard yelled at him then took his photo.  So his career over here may be short lived!  We hightailed it out of there while we still could.

The weekend

Thursday night we headed into town to the dreaded footpath area to the beer garden at the Le Meridian Hotel on the Corniche again. As it was the other two girls last night in town we had farewell cocktails. I had a volcanic something or other which consisted of gin, apple syrup & champagne in a beautiful fluted glass. We sat on beanbags overlooking the beach. Lochie came with us this time so the five of us had a pleasant evening leaving around 11.30pm.

 Friday afternoon most of our group went off to their new regions to begin work on Sunday Two buses arrived, a large one to take the crew to Al Ain, a small rumpty one with a luggage trailer to take the others out to the Western Regions/Al Garbia. Now there are only 12 of us left in the hotel so breakfast today was a quiet affair. The girls with us have gone to the Western Regions and are loving their new hotel in Mirfa. Much grander than here. One poor woman got to go in a car on her own to Liwa Hotel. She's emailed today and is feeling lonely.

So my goal it to extend my group of friends now that the other two girls have left.

Friday 4pm the boys had teed up a game of touch with another kiwi guy. So off we set on the bus with the plan to go as far as it went then catch a taxi out to the golf club by the airport (Al Ghazal Golf Club by the International Airport, not the Abu Dhabi Golf Club which is out that way also. I know as the taxi took us there!). 1 1/2hrs later we arrived, at least 1/2 hr late. Ummmmmmmm!

So we rock up there and I'm thinking I'm the only female as the one rugby field was full of men. I thought I'd probably be able to play as some looked fairly overweight and older. I sure wasn't getting a taxi back home so resigned myself to sitting down and reading my book in the corner somewhere like a rugby groupie. Who me??? Then I wandered around the corner to the grandstand all covered in shade cloth to find a small group of women all drinking cider. Naturally I forced myself to join them and had a great afternoon. So much for getting away from teachers as 1/2 them were! I've been invited to join the Sexy Saracens on Facebook... But haven't yet.

The club is the Saracen's Rugby Club which is mostly South Africans with a few kiwis thrown in. They had a Brii at the clubrooms (Sth African BBQ) and had NZ rugby on the big screen, Crusaders vs Blues, so I felt quite at home. Heinekein on tap also. What more can I say? Some things never change.

We got dropped back into town later that evening by a kiwi guy and I think that'll be who the boys play for next year. Most welcoming and we made some good contacts for Lochie and his schooling, plus he got to mix with some girls his age.

I begin work tomorrow at 8am by meeting with my HOF (head of faculty) next door at the ADEC headquarters then hopefully she will take me to my new school. Soon I'm heading to the malls to get some last minute clothing for work. Yesterday I put on a sleevless top to wear and felt half naked and changed it. I've adapted very quickly especially when you use the bus, you want to be covered up. So I'm not yet sure on the dress code at my school but have bought a long, trailing on the ground, skirt to wear. My long skirts from home are way too short over here. Plus my cover up tops show too much neckline so our version of cover up is way less than here.

The weather is nice, we can walk around and it's okay to stand out & wait for the bus. I love waking up to the view from my room, usually at the call to prayers but have been sleeping through it a few mornings already.

Here is the view from the beer garden.

Sunday

I had a quiet day yesterday due to the fact that I fell on the street on Friday night.  No, not what you are thinking!  I was on my way to a beer garden in the back of the La Meridian Hotel down by the Abu Dhabi Mall when I slipped.  Very spectacular fall apparently.  There was a downward slope and we'd been warned to take care so I took a tentative step onto it and my feet slid out from under me.  I thought I was going to knock myself out as I just fell flat onto my back.  Luckily I didn't hit my head or I'd have been in a worse position.  So I'm very sore and my knee is not right.  I think I've jarred my hip which is causing the knee to protest so I'll keep an eye on it over the next couple of days.

The footpaths here are not made for walking.  One of our group ended up in hospital with a broken leg on the first night after she tripped.  So I have been careful.  All around the city there is building and new construction.  They continually rip up the old and replace with new.  Nohing seems to get finished.  The footpaths are brick and are as rough as can be.  Not for the faint hearted.  No walk this morning then.

Today Lochie & I are hoping to check out a couple of International Schools for him.  I'll phone them shortly to see if we can get an appointment today.  I'll also return to the Mushrif Mall to see if our bankcards are ready.  The third visit to the bank.  "Inshallah - God willing."  That's how things are done around here.

We should get the results of our medical back today.  If we don't pass we are shipped out immediately.  Apparently the catch phrase they use when you are being sent home is 'win or aisle'?  Meaning which seat on the plane do you want?  Nothing more, not much chance of there being less.  Obviously we live in dread of hearing those words.

I've been in email contact with Alec's former teacher from Springlands School.  She's teaching at an International School here and has been helpful in our search for a school.  I plan to meet up with her once I'm a bit more settled.  She's living right in the city.

I've also been checking out furniture for our appartment.  Expats leaving the country adverstise whole house lots so once I get our place I'll see if there are any going.  There is at the mo but no use to me even phoning as what would I do with it?  So may be able to get the house furnished for 1/2 the cost.  Saw one lot advertised on 'Dubizzle', like Trademe, for AED11,900.  When you arrive you buy new then most people only stay a couple of years and they have to sell everything.  What I love in our hotel is the washing machine that has a dryer in it.  I plan on buying one of them.  Mind you, your clothes dry in no time here but no outside clothes lines around here.

I've been impressed with the safety of the city.  Everyone is very respectful and Teachers are treated like Royalty.  We're up there with Drs & Engineers.  But with that respect comes expectations that our behaviour will be exemplary.  Two examples are clothing & relationships with the opposite sex.  You are reported to ADEC which is like our Ministry for any misdemeanour: by your workmates, parents, students, & those living in your appartment block.  So no men coming to stay.  No skanky clothing in public.  Don't annoy your parents or students.  If anyone reports you ADEC begins to 'watch' you and compiles a dosier on your behaviour.  You aren't usually even aware it is happening.  Then an investigation by ADEC.  It seems like at that stage it's dependent on what your Principal has to say about you so positive relationships are a must.  Lots of cheery 'Asalam Aleikom'' 'Good morning' and we were advised to walk through their office each day greeting them.

We have a two week break at the end of March/beg of April so am already checking out holiday packages.  Depends on when we get paid and how much I suppose but we may check out this country first or head to Cypress.  It will also depend on how much Lochie's school fees are as they vary considerably.  We may know more today.

Placement details

I seem to have lost a day, probably because we've been so busy.  ADEC has got us straight into it with a full day's orientation yesterday so the short holiday is over.  I've got my placement which is at a girls school here in Abu Dhabi.  It's very central in downtown Tourist Area by the Corniche which is the fabulous walkway around the beach.  Not sure which day we'll start but they aren't mucking around so I expect Monday or Tuesday. 

We all got taken by bus for our medical which included a skin check for leprosy, chest xray for TB & blood tests for infectious diseases.  Once we have those results back and have passed then we go for our police check which includes fingerprints.  Then our residency visa process begins.  They have taken our passports and visas so I can't buy a phone until I get them back! 

The other two girls with me are going out into the Western Regions so will be a few hours travel away.  The other kiwi is staying at a school here in Abu Dhabi so he's keen to get Lochie involved in rugby here.

We've been checking out schools for Lochie now we know where we'll be and hope to visit a couple on Sunday or Monday.  Hopefully we'll stay in the hotel for a few more days until they give us our apartment.  We get 20000 AUD to furnish it so have been out to Yas Island today (what a mission) to the IKEA shop.

We've had our first sandstorm and it's very unpleasant.  On the bus out to the Island you could hardly see anything then we got dropped in the middle of the desert and had to change buses.  Bit freaky especially when you're not dressed for sandstorms.  I can see the need to carry a scarf at all times.

We've been to Marina Mall, Al Wada Mall, Mushrif Mall so far.  Today is Friday and there is no work for the workers so the city is bustling.  People everywhere and the buses were packed. 

At 7am this morning outside my window cars and men began arriving in the 'space' behind our hotel.  They drove onto the pitch, opened the boot and took our cricket wickets.  I thought of the cricket buffs at work at that moment and knew you'd both enjoy the sight.  It looked like a race track as the vehicles rolled in.  By 7.30am four games of cricket had been set up with cones for the more organised and wickets only for others.  By now, 4.45pm there are at least six games going and we saw games on each green spot in town.

We are off to town again shortly to go to a beer garden with a woman who is heading back to Australia. Pity we weren't here a week ago as she's been trying to sell all her furniture and we're needing to buy ours.


Cricket anyone?

                                                                    Outside Marina Mall


Sandstorm from our hotel window

View from top of Marina Mall

 

Thursday 16th February 2012

I've managed to get back onto my blog which is great as I couldn't access it once I arrived in Abu Dhabi as my VPN didn't work.  Today I've managed to get onto it but it was in Arabic so has taken me a while to get that sorted and back into English.

I'm keeping a diary daily and usually write in it at some early hour of the morning, around 3am.  This morning I slept till 4.45am which is the best sleep yet.  As we are close to the mosque the call to prayer is at 6.30am but I've been up hours before that.

You'll laugh at me knowing that the gym in our hotel has the best view over the city.  I've been up there early on the bike and now we'vediscovered a special walking track around a walled women's park.  This morning we went out early for our walk at 6am then back for breakfast before 7am as we had a bus to pick us up 8.15am.

The weather is lovely, around 29-30 degrees they told us today although it doesn't feel like that.  I'm beginning to adjust to wearing more clothes than I'm comfortable in.

The traffic is incredible.  Outside our hotel there is a four lane highway each way.  We tried crossing the road and it was impossible and so dangerous.  You had to run but the cars travel around 100-120km in town.  Crazy!  We've been ripped off by a taxi driver who charged us 10 dirham to get from the mall.  Yesterday we went twice the distance for 6.50 dirham which about $2.25 NZ.

The flight over with Etihad was long.  Lochie was really sick and had to get Imodium from the cabin crew.  Thought he had food poisoning, probably the sweet & sour pork he ate at Sydney airport.  By the time we were landing I felt sick and had a splitting headache.  The other two kiwis also felt sick so we had the driver stop at a pharmacy at 1am and bought Imodium.
We were met at the airport just as we disembarked with a woman with our name on a sheet of paper.  We were treated like royalty and led along the long walk down to immigration.  A porter was summoned with a flick of her wrist and our numerous bags were loaded onto a trolley.  Ironically, I've spent years teaching Lochie to be the gentleman and lift our bags only to have him told, "No, Sir.  You not lift!"  Lochie and the bags were loaded into  one car and sent off while us three Kiwis and an English girl went with our driver.

First impressions were what at clean city.  The mosiac tiles bordering the highway were a sight to see.  We travelled at great speed into the city taking in all the sights along the way, remembering it's after midnight but everything was all lit up.

On arrival at our hotel we got given rooms, girls on the 4th floor, boys on the 8th (including Lochie).  So he's in teenage heaven with his own room.  The boys do boy stuff (eat) and hang out together.  They are locals at a food bar a couple of doors down from our hotel.  It's been great for the boys to  have each other while us girls roam the malls.

Our accomodation is at the Murjan Asfar Hotel Apartments next to Pizza Hut.  As there are no street addresses and it's even difficult to know what street you are in, you use landmarks to get taxis.  Rooms are nice, ours are basic but some have lounges. 

We have discovered a walking track around a woman's park that has a soft surface so we go out at 6am for our daily walk.  Then we all meet for breakfast and decide what we will do that day.

Must away.  Still having a bit of trouble getting the technology set up but seems to be getting easier.  Internet in the hotel is erratic and I often lose my work.

First Leg - Sydney airport

Well we've arrived at Sydney airport.  What a busy, noisy place.  There are three of us here from NZ & Lochie who is being our porter and IT man.

The flight from Auckland went quickly with a lovely breakfast.  We had front row seats with some extra leg room so pays to take a tall kid with you. We've been trying to get the same on the next leg, which is longer, but as we are in transit there is no-one to follow up with yet.  We are flying Etihad Airlines so will be able to tell you about them at the next post.

We have a five hour wait here so am getting to know my fellow teachers better.  Both of them have been over before so know more about it than I do.

Free internet is a great way to keep in touch so I'm looking like a nerd sitting here typing away.

Both the others have new macs and iphones so I'm a bit behind.  Guess I'll be spending some money!

Auckland Airport was chaos this morning.  Our hotel, Bella Vista Airport Express, was ok but I didn't sleep much.  I could smell the burnt toast at around 3am when the free breakfast opens.  Then I must have gone back to sleep as I never heard my alarm (probably should take the phone off silent!) and the wake up call was 10 minutes late.  So not much time to shower and have breakfast.  Then the shuttle was late  leaving.  Once we got to the airport the queues were huge.  This was helped along by the fact that the converor belt was broken so everyone had to line up to put their bags on the belt.  Air New Zealand weren't too good at telling us what was happening so everyone was lined up in the wrong line without checking in.  Finally got it sorted and bags on board then we had a couple of hours to kill.

Now more waiting.  I'd better do my exercises to keep the blood flowing (legs up the wall, Joanna).  Probably get arrested or taken aside.

Remember to add a comment so I know how you're all going.

I'm leaving on a jet plane

My bags are packed and I'm ready to go

Well it's finally happening.  We are booked for tomorrow from Auckland to Sydney, then Sydney to Abu Dhabi.  Arriving midnight Sunday. 

I'm currently in Hamilton at my sister, Pam's house.  We've had a few farewell wines, no tears yet.  Pam will drive us (Lochie & I) up to Auckland this afternoon.  I've got time to pop up and see the Aunty & Uncle (Pat & Jack) this morning.  While I'm there I'll get in my last sewing fix by taking up some loose pants that I've bought to wear on the plane.  Don't want the bottoms getting soaked in the tiny wee loos on the plane, do I?

Advice for anyone else considering a similar overseas teaching adventure.  Patience & flexibility.  Plus lots of money behind you before you leave your job.  Plus family to stay with once you've rented out your house, sold your car & wordly possessions and are homeless, jobless, & nearly penniless.

Update your passport with a new one before beginning any application process as you must have at least six months when entering most countries.  Mine seemed ok with 9 months left but didn't factor in the 3 months I'd be mucking around waiting.  Don't let the urgency from an agency rush you through the process.  As I've now got less than 6 months on my passport, hopefully they'll still let me in.  If not I'll be making sure I have a bit of a holiday before being deported.  Hopefully you won't see me on border patrol or anything similar.

To add to the stress Lochie's ticket didn't arrive with mine so it was a long day while I waited to phone Abu Dhabi and get it sorted.  The lack of English at the travel agents was another problem that, no doubt, I'll have to get used to.

Well must away and get sorted.  Don't know how my bag will get on the plane  or even to the airport as seems to be getting heavier each day.