Holidays!!!! Love them or hate them, they are here again. And in this country we LOVE them!
This morning (Day 1) say me downstairs early for a swim. I flew through 20 laps, feeling like an Olympic swimmer. I'm not sure if I looked like one but my wine infused brain assured me that I was, so who am I to argue?
I'm not sure why it seemed so easy this morning. Was it the feeling of liberation that only holidays can bring? Was it a much needed tension release from the nonsense at school? Was it the image of me in a bikini lying on the beach at the Dead Sea that spurred me on? No one knows. Not even me but something fueled my body and my arms pummeled like windmills through each 50 metre length.
Afterwards I spent some relaxation time soaking up the already hot sun and talking to a Canadian teacher and her parents who were visiting. We reflected on the fantastic lifestyle we have here and how difficult it will be to give it up when (and if) we return home. But, as with everything, there is always a flip side. The craziness of this place had many reaching for the computer to input transfers or resignations yesterday. I asked at Head Office about a transfer but was told I need to show some commitment and they wouldn't consider it before I'd been in my school for two years. So suck it up!
Or go home!
All this madness comes on top of our esteemed employers deciding we need to return back to work a week earlier than planned in our summer holidays. Too bad if we have already booked tickets! Then they've taken away a week at Christmas which is a real blow! Now we only get two weeks which is an additional cost if you are traveling home or having visitors from the Antipodes.
Anyway, a few beverages and some kiwi company while the boyz cooked a lamb roast seemed to do the trick and today I'm rearing to head off on holiday and return refreshed. Then it's only one term before I have whanau visiting so I get to show off our amazing city.
A leg of kiwi lamb set me back 135 AED which is about $45 NZ. Australian lamb is cheaper and interestingly they don't cut the shank end off which they do on ours. Pakistani lamb is the cheapest while Welsh lamb is the most expensive. Needless to say, we are spoilt for choice.
Spuds are sold in small mesh bags as rice is the staple carbohydrate here. Kumara (or sweet potato as they are known here) usually come from USA but last night's were from Australia. A small butternut pumpkin and Watties frozen peas completed the meal. Gravy was made in the traditional manner using the roast drippings. All in all a great meal.
As two legs of lamb were cooked and there were only four of us (and I don't eat meat) there were plenty of leftovers so those fortunate enough to attend got to take some home. Whatever is left will go quickly in sandwiches for the boys while I am away.
This week we've had rain. When it rains here it pours. Thunder storms with lightening and heavy downpours. All this is an unwritten word for the locals to go crazy. Young men jump into their cars and skid around like - well young men everywhere! This means the accident rate goes through the roof and the radio announced there were over 6000 accidents in one day in Dubai.
On the way to work the road was covered with water in places as there is no drainage and cars began aquaplaning. As one would expect, the end result was several spectacular accidents. Tyres here are not designed for wet weather and the cars throw up an incredible amount of fine spray which makes visibility even less. Trucks overturn and the world goes mad! Slowing down and increasing following distances would have a major impact but it's all about life in the fast lane here.
I head off in the morning for Jordan, spending my first night in a hotel at the Dead Sea. Next day I will cross the border into Israel and spend the rest of my break there visiting an old Levin friend. As it's taboo here to enter Israel it all has to be done on the QT, hence flying into Amman in Jordan.
Anyway, I'm like a kid the night before Christmas so may not sleep much tonight. I've still to pack so will go and do that now.
Look out for some entries when I return in two weeks.
This morning (Day 1) say me downstairs early for a swim. I flew through 20 laps, feeling like an Olympic swimmer. I'm not sure if I looked like one but my wine infused brain assured me that I was, so who am I to argue?
I'm not sure why it seemed so easy this morning. Was it the feeling of liberation that only holidays can bring? Was it a much needed tension release from the nonsense at school? Was it the image of me in a bikini lying on the beach at the Dead Sea that spurred me on? No one knows. Not even me but something fueled my body and my arms pummeled like windmills through each 50 metre length.
Afterwards I spent some relaxation time soaking up the already hot sun and talking to a Canadian teacher and her parents who were visiting. We reflected on the fantastic lifestyle we have here and how difficult it will be to give it up when (and if) we return home. But, as with everything, there is always a flip side. The craziness of this place had many reaching for the computer to input transfers or resignations yesterday. I asked at Head Office about a transfer but was told I need to show some commitment and they wouldn't consider it before I'd been in my school for two years. So suck it up!
Or go home!
All this madness comes on top of our esteemed employers deciding we need to return back to work a week earlier than planned in our summer holidays. Too bad if we have already booked tickets! Then they've taken away a week at Christmas which is a real blow! Now we only get two weeks which is an additional cost if you are traveling home or having visitors from the Antipodes.
Anyway, a few beverages and some kiwi company while the boyz cooked a lamb roast seemed to do the trick and today I'm rearing to head off on holiday and return refreshed. Then it's only one term before I have whanau visiting so I get to show off our amazing city.
A leg of kiwi lamb set me back 135 AED which is about $45 NZ. Australian lamb is cheaper and interestingly they don't cut the shank end off which they do on ours. Pakistani lamb is the cheapest while Welsh lamb is the most expensive. Needless to say, we are spoilt for choice.
Spuds are sold in small mesh bags as rice is the staple carbohydrate here. Kumara (or sweet potato as they are known here) usually come from USA but last night's were from Australia. A small butternut pumpkin and Watties frozen peas completed the meal. Gravy was made in the traditional manner using the roast drippings. All in all a great meal.
As two legs of lamb were cooked and there were only four of us (and I don't eat meat) there were plenty of leftovers so those fortunate enough to attend got to take some home. Whatever is left will go quickly in sandwiches for the boys while I am away.
This week we've had rain. When it rains here it pours. Thunder storms with lightening and heavy downpours. All this is an unwritten word for the locals to go crazy. Young men jump into their cars and skid around like - well young men everywhere! This means the accident rate goes through the roof and the radio announced there were over 6000 accidents in one day in Dubai.
On the way to work the road was covered with water in places as there is no drainage and cars began aquaplaning. As one would expect, the end result was several spectacular accidents. Tyres here are not designed for wet weather and the cars throw up an incredible amount of fine spray which makes visibility even less. Trucks overturn and the world goes mad! Slowing down and increasing following distances would have a major impact but it's all about life in the fast lane here.
I head off in the morning for Jordan, spending my first night in a hotel at the Dead Sea. Next day I will cross the border into Israel and spend the rest of my break there visiting an old Levin friend. As it's taboo here to enter Israel it all has to be done on the QT, hence flying into Amman in Jordan.
Anyway, I'm like a kid the night before Christmas so may not sleep much tonight. I've still to pack so will go and do that now.
Look out for some entries when I return in two weeks.
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