It seems an age since I last posted although I know it isn't. After the excitement of the holidays life is settling back into an everyday routine. That is if you can call living here everyday.
I am still amazed that I am actually living here. When I awoke this morning and looked out the window at the awesome view I could see where the place gets it nickname from, "The Sandpit". The sky is hazy and everywhere I look are patches of sand with nothing on them. It is as if someone has come along and dropped down 50 huge sandpits onto our island. 'The Sandpit' refers to the whole of Abu Dhabi and the Western Regions in particular and can be used affectionately or not. The buildings merge with the grey sky so that the whole view becomes a murky, sandy vista.
School started three weeks ago with a massive Badeya which was mandatory attendance by all staff. This was held over two days at a huge venue and all the big wigs were there. After the vision was shared we had a wonderful lunch then went home ready to start the next day at school. The conference centre had many displays and I managed to get a photo with a falcon.
After the first week with no students the girls have arrived in force. My year has begun well with two small classes of Grade 4 girls. One class has dropped down to 15 students! Let's hope it stays at that number. The other class has 19 so both very manageable. I feel I will be able to 'teach' them this year rather than just manage them to survive the day as I did last year. Our teaching workload is heavier this year as we are one teacher down so have six periods of teaching each day without a break between the two classes. So I'm finding it tiring. Last year we had 4th period free so you could prepare for the next class and take a breather. We do get lunch but have duty and it's only 30mins so by the time you get a drink and grab a bite, it's over. We also had an extra 5 free periods last year over the week which we don't have this year.
Of course nothing is guaranteed here. We have already lost one of our new English teachers plus another Arabic teacher this week. So easy come, easy go. All the good Arabic staff are being transferred out to a new model school. We've decided they hire on looks as well as ability as the staff are constantly in the spotlight. The powers that be just email you and say you are being transferred so here's hoping I stay where I am.
I am loving living in our new apartment out here on Al Reem Island. It is so close to my work and only costs 13 AED in a taxi ($4 NZ) plus there are three others from work who live in the same building so I can catch rides usually.
The down side is that now I am a lot further from my UAE family in our old apartment and find I am missing them a lot. Even though we were all busy we caught up regularly. So to combat that I'm having a party this week and inviting them all here. I'm not sure how I'll get them all through security and down into the pool area but will be creative about it. You are allowed a couple of visitors but I don't know if 20 sort of fits into their idea of a couple. You know what we kiwis are like! Invite one, invite them all. Plus it is the teenagers birthday so having a bit of a bash. He laughed when I said I was inviting all my friends, some things never change! I think fondly of all those kids birthday parties I've had over the years (and my sisters too) when all our friends and their kids come over for food and drinks. I smile as I recall some great ones in Richmond Street with the neighbours and close friends. I think some of the kids parents wondered what sort of people we were when they came to pick up their kids. And all those sleepovers! I think the teenager had one every year for many years. So why change a good thing, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Now for some exciting news. I've had a breakthrough (not breakdown) in the education field and found a school for the said teenager. Finally! What a mission. He starts Sunday and luckily the bus comes onto the Island and will pick him up at the door. I've yet to find out what time but imagine it will be early, around 7am. That will be a shock to his system!!! All I have to do is find the money to pay the fees and the bus. We 'popped' out to the school yesterday to pay the 2500AED deposit. When I say 'popped' I mean journeyed as it is a 30 minute drive in a taxi so expensive to get out there. Plus it's in the middle of nowhere so difficult to find a taxi back. We were supposed to buy uniforms but funnily enough they didn't have any big enough so have ordered them to be made. It is the Canadian International School and they are very relaxed and friendly compared to every other school I've been to.
So to celebrate I took myself off for a mani/pedi and had my nails done along with a parrafin treatment and a 15 minute neck and shoulder massage. The masseuse had wonderfully strong hands and I think I may have found my massage place. The woman that did my nails is married to a kiwi and has visited NZ extensively. Her husband and son live there but she can't get a visitors visa to visit any more. She is Phillipino. I thought this sounded a bit strange but know nothing of our visiting system so couldn't comment. Sounded more like the hubby is stringing her along after 20 years of marriage. This morning I'm off for some waxing (not waning) and a Morrocan Bath and a hair wash. All these treatments were purchased using Groupon vouchers so have got them at a good price. You never know what you'll get until you arrive. My other massage place was closed when I arrived due to the power being disconnected so that was money down the drain. It pays to check the places out before you buy as some are sleazy but others are great deals.
I was so excited last week when my F1 tickets arrived by courier at school. What a package of goodies. The ticket presentation was amazing with a gold pouch enclosing them. The four tickets are in a box with a lanyard for each ticket. Wow! I can't wait for November to arrive. Our tickets include entrance to the three concerts, Kylie Minogue, Nickelback & Eminem with some free tickets for our friends thrown in. Apparently there are free concerts around town and it's a huge weekend. I'll leave you with some pictures of my goodies...
I am still amazed that I am actually living here. When I awoke this morning and looked out the window at the awesome view I could see where the place gets it nickname from, "The Sandpit". The sky is hazy and everywhere I look are patches of sand with nothing on them. It is as if someone has come along and dropped down 50 huge sandpits onto our island. 'The Sandpit' refers to the whole of Abu Dhabi and the Western Regions in particular and can be used affectionately or not. The buildings merge with the grey sky so that the whole view becomes a murky, sandy vista.
School started three weeks ago with a massive Badeya which was mandatory attendance by all staff. This was held over two days at a huge venue and all the big wigs were there. After the vision was shared we had a wonderful lunch then went home ready to start the next day at school. The conference centre had many displays and I managed to get a photo with a falcon.
After the first week with no students the girls have arrived in force. My year has begun well with two small classes of Grade 4 girls. One class has dropped down to 15 students! Let's hope it stays at that number. The other class has 19 so both very manageable. I feel I will be able to 'teach' them this year rather than just manage them to survive the day as I did last year. Our teaching workload is heavier this year as we are one teacher down so have six periods of teaching each day without a break between the two classes. So I'm finding it tiring. Last year we had 4th period free so you could prepare for the next class and take a breather. We do get lunch but have duty and it's only 30mins so by the time you get a drink and grab a bite, it's over. We also had an extra 5 free periods last year over the week which we don't have this year.
Of course nothing is guaranteed here. We have already lost one of our new English teachers plus another Arabic teacher this week. So easy come, easy go. All the good Arabic staff are being transferred out to a new model school. We've decided they hire on looks as well as ability as the staff are constantly in the spotlight. The powers that be just email you and say you are being transferred so here's hoping I stay where I am.
I am loving living in our new apartment out here on Al Reem Island. It is so close to my work and only costs 13 AED in a taxi ($4 NZ) plus there are three others from work who live in the same building so I can catch rides usually.
The down side is that now I am a lot further from my UAE family in our old apartment and find I am missing them a lot. Even though we were all busy we caught up regularly. So to combat that I'm having a party this week and inviting them all here. I'm not sure how I'll get them all through security and down into the pool area but will be creative about it. You are allowed a couple of visitors but I don't know if 20 sort of fits into their idea of a couple. You know what we kiwis are like! Invite one, invite them all. Plus it is the teenagers birthday so having a bit of a bash. He laughed when I said I was inviting all my friends, some things never change! I think fondly of all those kids birthday parties I've had over the years (and my sisters too) when all our friends and their kids come over for food and drinks. I smile as I recall some great ones in Richmond Street with the neighbours and close friends. I think some of the kids parents wondered what sort of people we were when they came to pick up their kids. And all those sleepovers! I think the teenager had one every year for many years. So why change a good thing, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Now for some exciting news. I've had a breakthrough (not breakdown) in the education field and found a school for the said teenager. Finally! What a mission. He starts Sunday and luckily the bus comes onto the Island and will pick him up at the door. I've yet to find out what time but imagine it will be early, around 7am. That will be a shock to his system!!! All I have to do is find the money to pay the fees and the bus. We 'popped' out to the school yesterday to pay the 2500AED deposit. When I say 'popped' I mean journeyed as it is a 30 minute drive in a taxi so expensive to get out there. Plus it's in the middle of nowhere so difficult to find a taxi back. We were supposed to buy uniforms but funnily enough they didn't have any big enough so have ordered them to be made. It is the Canadian International School and they are very relaxed and friendly compared to every other school I've been to.
So to celebrate I took myself off for a mani/pedi and had my nails done along with a parrafin treatment and a 15 minute neck and shoulder massage. The masseuse had wonderfully strong hands and I think I may have found my massage place. The woman that did my nails is married to a kiwi and has visited NZ extensively. Her husband and son live there but she can't get a visitors visa to visit any more. She is Phillipino. I thought this sounded a bit strange but know nothing of our visiting system so couldn't comment. Sounded more like the hubby is stringing her along after 20 years of marriage. This morning I'm off for some waxing (not waning) and a Morrocan Bath and a hair wash. All these treatments were purchased using Groupon vouchers so have got them at a good price. You never know what you'll get until you arrive. My other massage place was closed when I arrived due to the power being disconnected so that was money down the drain. It pays to check the places out before you buy as some are sleazy but others are great deals.
I was so excited last week when my F1 tickets arrived by courier at school. What a package of goodies. The ticket presentation was amazing with a gold pouch enclosing them. The four tickets are in a box with a lanyard for each ticket. Wow! I can't wait for November to arrive. Our tickets include entrance to the three concerts, Kylie Minogue, Nickelback & Eminem with some free tickets for our friends thrown in. Apparently there are free concerts around town and it's a huge weekend. I'll leave you with some pictures of my goodies...
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