The long awaited summer break has finally arrived. After along four weeks at school with no students it's time for me to relax and unwind after another busy year.
With the teenager packed off for a break in Thailand with friends I am free to enjoy what I like best. Silence! No cooking! Meals as and when I want them! Books! Jigsaws! Hanging out at the pool! Early morning walks! Bliss!
The one blimp on my horizon has been the lack of technology. Why is it that both my iphone and computer have died at the same time? My phone will not pick up wifi any more so a trip to the shop was necessary. Over a week later and it still hasn't been fixed. Then the computer keeps crashing due to overheating (and we all know about that disaster) so it's off to the shop at the same time for fixing. So for over a week I've had no contact with the outside world. Whatever did we do before? Life was probably a lot less stressful as you don't realise how much you are at the beck and call of everyone. I've probably left a few friends feeling decidedly left-out as I've been unable to contact them to say goodbye.
I've now got the computer back but it's still making a sick sounding whirring from the fan. Why didn't the man listen to me when I told him it needed to be replaced? So I'm making the most of it while it's working as I feel another visit to the shop will be in order today.
Ramadan has officially started today. I tried to view the moon last night but it was so overcast yesterday that I never did see it. It's like Matariki where the moon has to be a certain crescent shape for the event to begin. Needless to say, town was crazy all week, culminating in chaos yesterday as everyone did final grocery shops in readiness for the month long fasting.
Why do they need all that food I hear you ask? Each evening the fast is broken, usually by dates and a drink before prayer then an evening of feasting takes place. Iftar buffets are big business here and replace the normal Friday brunches that expats frequent.
So from today no eating or drinking in public for anyone. Dress needs to be modest, shoulders and knees covered even in our building which is reasonably western. So no water down at the pool today. Hopefully that will keep some of the kids away until after dark when it will be very busy.
Our lap pool is currently closed for tile replacement which is annoying as it means I don't get to swim regularly. The other pool is still open but it's too busy and a bit shallow for lengths. Still, it's great to cool off as the weather is heating up. The level of humidity has risen and my sunglasses are steamed up the moment I open the outside doors. I usually walk around the podium at 6-6.30am so I get a bit of sun for my Vitamin D fix but before the heat of the day. Then I head down again around 6pm just before sunset to warm up then swim.
The rest of the day is taken up with relaxing, cleaning the apartment and catching up on all those things that I don't normally have time to do. Hopefully one of them will be getting my blog up to date!
The school year ended well for me with a successful interview for a Head of Faculty (HOF) position. Only in the UAE would you be congratulated then told in the same email that there was no guarantee of a placement. So transfers were eagerly awaited, particularly as our school was closing so we all had to go somewhere.
Meantime I'm sent on a Cycle 2 (Grade 6-9) Maths training course. Someone's got their wires crossed I'm thinking so tell them I have a HOF position. I'm getting a bit anxious by now awaiting the outcome, sure they've placed me in Cycle 2. I currently teach Cycle 1 girls but the attraction of Cycle 2 is that you only have to teach one subject rather than the three we do now, English, Maths, Science.
So the transfer list arrives on the last week of term. By this stage we've been sitting around at work from 8-1 daily drinking tea, reading, watching movies, and chatting. No forward planning for us as we don't know where we'll be next year, although we did have to do 15 hours of PD. I led 5 of these sessions just to get my hand back in with some leadership.
We eagerly scan the list. I've been posted to the Cycle 1 girls school around the corner. Okay. But wait, I've been posted to a Cycle 2 girls school in Baniyas (like Siberia) to teach Maths. Oh! But wait, I've also got my HOF position in a Cycle 1 girls school out in Shamkha. Yeah! That's more like it.
Only in the UAE...
Come Sunday and we head back to our existing school to get our transfer documents which takes all morning so I leave my visit to the new school until the next day and head off to get a rental car for the week.
I've searched on the school finder for my school and it's way out past the airport. Luckily I went for a drive out that way a few days before with my HOF to check out another school out that way or I wouldn't have had a clue where it was. Still, I managed to turn off too early and had to phone for directions.
I arrive at the the school to be kept waiting for an hour as the 'important people' are all in an 'important' meeting. Great start I think to myself so I busy myself helping the Arabic staff get teacher stationery for the next year organised.
Finally I'm greeted and introduced to the HOF, VP & Principal only to find out that the important meeting was a transfer for both the Principal and VP. Totally unexpected by either so the school is in turmoil. One VP is staying and the existing HOF is staying. Thank goodness I think to myself as I get a tour of the school. It is huge!!! Over 1000 girls, 70 staff, 2 VPs, 2 HOFs, 20 English teachers for us to look after, around 50 teachers in total.
I am given an office on the second floor and over the course of the week manage to find a desk to go in there. So it's still pretty bare and basic. Let's hope I get a computer and other things when I go back.
The new Principal arrives to visit so I meet her on one of the days. I meet lots of staff but with 7 or 8 leaving there will be many new teachers arriving September 1st.
I'm to be in charge of Curriculum and Classroom, two of our four Professional Standards required for teacher evaluation. So my first job was sorting out the reading resources and organising PM writing resources for some PD at the beginning of next year. The school seems to be well resourced but like most things here the teachers don't know the resources or how to use them. All schools have just been provided with printed reading resources including a story and activities to complete afterwards. A wonderful, expensive resource with a new text each week. However, no-one seems to have given any thought to the fact that these students are second (or usually 3rd or 4th) English language learners and adjusted the levels accordingly.
Only in the UAE...
With the teenager packed off for a break in Thailand with friends I am free to enjoy what I like best. Silence! No cooking! Meals as and when I want them! Books! Jigsaws! Hanging out at the pool! Early morning walks! Bliss!
The one blimp on my horizon has been the lack of technology. Why is it that both my iphone and computer have died at the same time? My phone will not pick up wifi any more so a trip to the shop was necessary. Over a week later and it still hasn't been fixed. Then the computer keeps crashing due to overheating (and we all know about that disaster) so it's off to the shop at the same time for fixing. So for over a week I've had no contact with the outside world. Whatever did we do before? Life was probably a lot less stressful as you don't realise how much you are at the beck and call of everyone. I've probably left a few friends feeling decidedly left-out as I've been unable to contact them to say goodbye.
I've now got the computer back but it's still making a sick sounding whirring from the fan. Why didn't the man listen to me when I told him it needed to be replaced? So I'm making the most of it while it's working as I feel another visit to the shop will be in order today.
Ramadan has officially started today. I tried to view the moon last night but it was so overcast yesterday that I never did see it. It's like Matariki where the moon has to be a certain crescent shape for the event to begin. Needless to say, town was crazy all week, culminating in chaos yesterday as everyone did final grocery shops in readiness for the month long fasting.
Why do they need all that food I hear you ask? Each evening the fast is broken, usually by dates and a drink before prayer then an evening of feasting takes place. Iftar buffets are big business here and replace the normal Friday brunches that expats frequent.
So from today no eating or drinking in public for anyone. Dress needs to be modest, shoulders and knees covered even in our building which is reasonably western. So no water down at the pool today. Hopefully that will keep some of the kids away until after dark when it will be very busy.
Our lap pool is currently closed for tile replacement which is annoying as it means I don't get to swim regularly. The other pool is still open but it's too busy and a bit shallow for lengths. Still, it's great to cool off as the weather is heating up. The level of humidity has risen and my sunglasses are steamed up the moment I open the outside doors. I usually walk around the podium at 6-6.30am so I get a bit of sun for my Vitamin D fix but before the heat of the day. Then I head down again around 6pm just before sunset to warm up then swim.
The rest of the day is taken up with relaxing, cleaning the apartment and catching up on all those things that I don't normally have time to do. Hopefully one of them will be getting my blog up to date!
The school year ended well for me with a successful interview for a Head of Faculty (HOF) position. Only in the UAE would you be congratulated then told in the same email that there was no guarantee of a placement. So transfers were eagerly awaited, particularly as our school was closing so we all had to go somewhere.
Meantime I'm sent on a Cycle 2 (Grade 6-9) Maths training course. Someone's got their wires crossed I'm thinking so tell them I have a HOF position. I'm getting a bit anxious by now awaiting the outcome, sure they've placed me in Cycle 2. I currently teach Cycle 1 girls but the attraction of Cycle 2 is that you only have to teach one subject rather than the three we do now, English, Maths, Science.
So the transfer list arrives on the last week of term. By this stage we've been sitting around at work from 8-1 daily drinking tea, reading, watching movies, and chatting. No forward planning for us as we don't know where we'll be next year, although we did have to do 15 hours of PD. I led 5 of these sessions just to get my hand back in with some leadership.
We eagerly scan the list. I've been posted to the Cycle 1 girls school around the corner. Okay. But wait, I've been posted to a Cycle 2 girls school in Baniyas (like Siberia) to teach Maths. Oh! But wait, I've also got my HOF position in a Cycle 1 girls school out in Shamkha. Yeah! That's more like it.
Only in the UAE...
Come Sunday and we head back to our existing school to get our transfer documents which takes all morning so I leave my visit to the new school until the next day and head off to get a rental car for the week.
I've searched on the school finder for my school and it's way out past the airport. Luckily I went for a drive out that way a few days before with my HOF to check out another school out that way or I wouldn't have had a clue where it was. Still, I managed to turn off too early and had to phone for directions.
I arrive at the the school to be kept waiting for an hour as the 'important people' are all in an 'important' meeting. Great start I think to myself so I busy myself helping the Arabic staff get teacher stationery for the next year organised.
Finally I'm greeted and introduced to the HOF, VP & Principal only to find out that the important meeting was a transfer for both the Principal and VP. Totally unexpected by either so the school is in turmoil. One VP is staying and the existing HOF is staying. Thank goodness I think to myself as I get a tour of the school. It is huge!!! Over 1000 girls, 70 staff, 2 VPs, 2 HOFs, 20 English teachers for us to look after, around 50 teachers in total.
I am given an office on the second floor and over the course of the week manage to find a desk to go in there. So it's still pretty bare and basic. Let's hope I get a computer and other things when I go back.
The new Principal arrives to visit so I meet her on one of the days. I meet lots of staff but with 7 or 8 leaving there will be many new teachers arriving September 1st.
I'm to be in charge of Curriculum and Classroom, two of our four Professional Standards required for teacher evaluation. So my first job was sorting out the reading resources and organising PM writing resources for some PD at the beginning of next year. The school seems to be well resourced but like most things here the teachers don't know the resources or how to use them. All schools have just been provided with printed reading resources including a story and activities to complete afterwards. A wonderful, expensive resource with a new text each week. However, no-one seems to have given any thought to the fact that these students are second (or usually 3rd or 4th) English language learners and adjusted the levels accordingly.
Only in the UAE...
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