Weekend - yah!

The weeks are flying by.  School has settled into a routine of sorts although the lack of organisation (meetings/PD/schedules) drives me crazy.  Nothing a good bottle of wine or a brisk walk can't fix though!  Oh to be able to get in there and have some sort of structure.  I can make multiple schedules (and others before me have) but getting the powers that be to follow them is another story.  Still, we work with what we have.

This is Grade 12 and final year of school for the teenager (finally!).  I attended a parent meeting last week and was shocked to find that I should be having weekly family meetings to discuss and track University applications.  What a neglectful parent I have been.  Considering I've hardly ever seen any homework this is a revelation to me.  My goodness, we have it easy as parents down under.  Kids just send off an application to the University they wish to attend and hopefully get accepted.  Maybe they apply to two or even three but this applying to up to 15, all with an application fee and visit fee, is out of control.  I've to write a thesis on my son and what has shaped him to help the counseler help him with his 'College' applications.  Surely they can just ask him?

On the subject of homework, this is out of control.  At least 5 hours a night and 10-12 each day at the weekend.  When I am told by my son that he can not come out to a whanau birthday meal in a restaurant as he has too much homework - well I thought the world had ended.  Or, even more concerning, that someone has switched my son.  He looks like my son, sounds like my son, eats like my son, sleeps continually like my son, but doing homework???

So times they are a changing...

On the subject of the teenager (how much longer will I be able to call him that?), it is his birthday this weekend so an obligatory trip to A&E (not the hospital, the bottle store) on the way home from school (mmmmm???) to stock up and off out with a few mates for a BBQ.  I did insist on the removal of his school shirt before entering A&E!

My role is to make lolly cake.  I have to thank sista Di for the fruit puff lollies.  Boy, was there an excited young man when I told him I have the lollies to make it!  Now I just need to try to find a substitute for malt biscuits.

Nana's caramel slice (tan square) is a favourite recipe at the moment and the boy is making it a lot.

I think the girlfriend, and mother, are very impressed by the cooking skills of the teenager.

I have finally got one of my much needed two missing Grade 1 teachers.  And, joy of joy, she is a kiwi.  Even better, a fluent Arabic speaking kiwi.  What are the chances?  I'm going into head office on Monday to ask if there is another kiwi in the wings that I can get.  You know, without blowing our own trumpets, we are so well trained as teachers.  This one can walk into a class of 37 Grade 1s (not a typo), 37 and wing it.  Plus she understands what I am talking about and I d ton't have to train her how to do basic teaching stuff like plan, take running records, assess.  Basics to us kiwis.  I have suggested that classroom management be the sole focus for the week and to use her Arabic as well as English as the major percentage of girls have no English and haven't been to KG.  Baptism by fire!

But that's what we kiwis do well...

Have a great week.

Hunting!

Abu Dhabi is never short of things to do to entertain us.  Many cost money such as weekly Friday brunches.  But there are always free events if you choose to look and find them.  The weekly free magazine, Abu Dhabi Weekly, has events listed and write ups about them so finding somewhere to go is easy.  The hardest thing is finding the energy to leave home!

The weekend just gone saw me meeting a couple of friends downstairs in our Boutiq Mall for the Autumn Bazaar.  This entailed many stalls selling goods and live musical performances up on the mezzanine floor.

This event ran for three nights and each night saw a different musical ensamble play.  On Thursday I was lucky enough to be entertained by a Jazz trio with an exceptional violinist.  Only in Abu Dhabi would you see a crystal encrusted violin!  But the music was riviting.  I was appreciated by the trio as I was the only one clapping after each song.

Bouncing baby Iri on my hip, I was able to swing along to the music - although it was a bit loud for her.

I was equally impressed with all the young designers with their wares on display.  Mum, how you would have loved to have seen the dresses!  Two sisters focus solely on '50s fashion and handprint their fabrics.  The local Emirate designers favour heavy brocade fabrics and the skirts were beautiful, if a little heavy for my liking.  Fingering all the fabrics as I pulled out dress after dress, I was in seventh tactile heaven.  Wow!  I miss sewing and all the accompanying creativity.  I'm not sure how much these young designers sell but as it's just a hobby to most of them it probably doesn't matter.

Heading back upstairs for a beer with a bottle of delicious ros'e chaser saw the night capped off nicely.

Saturday saw me with tickets to attend the annual Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition.

Once again this was free as the tickets were in the Abu Dhabi Weekly.  I was looking forward to seeing the Arab horses put through their paces and went online to find a schedule of events to see what time they were performing.  Of course the website had all the exhibitors but no programme.  So at 12 noon we headed off and joined the line of cars vying for a parking space on arrival.

Once we entered the enormous events hall it was difficult to know where to look and which way to go.  Opening out our maps we headed first for the horse arena to catch any show that was happening.  I hadn't gone more than 5 steps when I was distracted (the first of many) by a display of antler jewellery.  Wow!  All I can say is, Dad, you have some catching up to do!!!

This necklace is made from a piece of antler split in half.  The back is plated in silver (the artist is a goldsmith from Austria).  At the bottom is a boars tusk plated in silver and the final piece is a nub of antler (is that the correct word? Nub?)  The quality of the workmanship was exquisite.  Price around 2500 AED.

This necklace was inside the display cabinet and the lady got it out to show it to an interested couple.  I had to translate what the boars tusk was as they called it a warthog in South Africa.  Although the two women were Austrian they are heavily influenced by South African game.  I can't remember the price - thought I'd written it down but it was around 3000 AED.  Or maybe double that?

A handbag made from dyed springbok hide along with a fascinator.

A springboc gun case.

Check out www.capebag.at

This piece was made of chamois horn.

Our next stop was the arena to catch the Arabian horses.  On the way we stopped to look at the impressive displays by the racing fraternity.  Andrea and girls would have been drooling!  I tried to win various prizes and hoped they included a 'racing at Meydan.  But not to be.  A pause at the Omani Royal Cavalry provided us with a DVD.

Arriving at the arena we found that we'd missed the early dressage show and there wouldn't be another horse display until 6pm!  So we watched some Arabian Saluki dogs chase a pretend rabbit around the arena before leaving in disgust at how the dogs were terrified of their so called masters.

They have no idea how to treat animals here and while we were in the pet adoption area I saw a girl get her face badly scratched by a cat that was in a cage.  Another boy was dragging a dog around.  Kids here don't grow up with animals and the SPCA would be having a fit.  Most kids are scared of dogs and have no idea how to approach one.  At one stage 'they' decided we'd have to teach them in schools.  Yeah! Right!

Kids were well catered for with various displays.  I loved this one of the flamingoes.

Onto the Falcon Centre with it's impressive display of birds.  The structure they had was eyecatching and to see the birds up close with their owners and trainers was fun.  They were interesting and knowledable in most cases.  Falconry is a popular sport here and birds and paraphernalia were everywhere.

Next stop was the Arabic Culture tent to sit and drink coffee with old Arabic ladies making traditional crafts such as woven date palm baskets, woven mats & intricate plaiting in gold and silver thread that is used to decorate traditional dresses.

Then it was into the camping goods.  I loved this area and tried some amazing binoculars.  I bypassed the camping gear as I have tons of it at home in NZ and certainly don't need to be buying any here.  The knives would have had Dad salivating and perhaps he could have found some of his missing (stolen) ones here.  An attempt at lighting a flint with a knife was fun although I wouldn't want to be relying on me to start dinner.

Then I discovered the first of several kiwi booths attempting to lure locals to visit NZ to hunt Red stags.  High Peak Station in Darfield was represented.

Then it was on to Manuka Point Lodge from Methven.  Chatting to the young guy Patterson made me feel a bit homesick.  Hearing the 'real' kiwi accent, not the refined one we all seem to have adopted since living here, was like being back in NZ. 

Next stop was the Argentina Hunting Ranch, Cazapampa, where I entered a competition to win a three day hunting trip to hunt Red Stag.  What are the chances of winning that?  

Now that I was on a roll the next booth was also another kiwi.  By this time my kiwi friend had ditched me to go and look at more promising attractions - obviously not into the Great Outdoors. Chatting to Phil Wilson from NZ Hunt was informative especially when he found out I was born in Fairlie.  Where are their lodges?  Fairlie, Geraldine and Tekapo.  He may be phoning or emailing you Dad as I happened to mention that you had made a few antler chandeliers and they are opening another lodge shortly.  A head on display was for sale for 16,000 AED.  

Tearing myself away from the kiwi hunting fraternity I then tried out a few camper vans for size.  Now, no ordinary camper vans here.  They ranged from the container decked out with all mod cons for the horsey set to the rugged Australian Conqueror off-road camper.  If you are looking for something to take into the back country check out www.conquerorarabia.com.  There is an Ozzy equivalent of the design originally made for South African army to camp out in.

The motor homes were over and above the call of duty, with up to 3 tvs inside.  I overheard one local asking how long it would take to get one made.  After being told his reply was, "Too long, too long.  I need it before then."  Typically Abu Dhabi... we need everything now.

And I haven't even mentioned the weaponary section.  Entry was via airline type security.  There was every imaginable gun there, in fact many I couldn't even imagine yet alone figure out what to do with them or who would be buying them.  Signs saying 'Don't touch' were routinely ignored as they were all handled by adults and children alike.  Boys had real daggers out, playing with them.  And I thought we lived in a desert.  Why are all these people buying these guns?  Obviously there is a big wide world out there that I know nothing about.

As I admired the antler furniture I asked the price of the chandelier, only to be told by the well dressed gentleman wearing white gloves - I don't do furniture, I only do guns!  Well!  Put me in my place as he is screwing together a Mauser rifle from an ornate case.  Sitting beside it is a nice wee Beretta pistol aptly decorated with sparkling gems.  Perfect for any lady hereabouts.

 Antler wall light.

 Impressive antler chandelier.  Note the huge mirror underneath surrounded with antler.

 Antler chair dyed green to match the upholstery.

Side view of a two seater chair.

 Front of two seater.

 Glass topped table.

The final decorative piece that caught my eye was a Swarovski crystal decorated set of deer antlers. 

An ugly looking piece if ever I saw one!

All in all, a great day out.  And hunting sure is popular in Abu Dhabi.

1st week back with students

Just had to have a couple of cold bevvies last night to celebrate the end of the first week back at school!  Even managed some potato chips to go with them.  Minus the kiwi dip of course although I have some onion soup mix and a couple of tins of real reduced cream from the recent kiwi visitors.

The week started well with students arriving early on Sunday morning.  I was at work by 7.30am much to the horror of the teenager who got dropped off at his school just after 7am.  A 5.30am wake up didn't really go down well with either of us after weeks of holiday.  As the week progressed we seem to have to leave earlier each day so I can arrive on time.  Car parking is at a premium and having my car outside in the heat all day leaves a lot to be desired as it takes around 30 minutes to cool down and the leather seats and steering wheel burn when you get into it.  Only in Abu Dhabi!

I think I got some brownie points with my new Principal for arriving so early as no-one else from administration was there so I dutifully stood in the foyer, looking like a spare part, while all the parents asked questions in Arabic.  One stark difference here is the involvement of fathers in the education of their children and most girls were dropped off and escorted into the building by fathers or older brothers.  Any untoward behaviour from females is a reflection/disgrace on the father or brothers so they are carefully shepparded and watched closely.

As you could imagine it was organised chaos.  Class lists had been posted on boards so the students come in and find their class.  Of course no-one knew where the classrooms actually were and I am still (yes, after a week of students attending) still short two teachers.  Most importantly my Grade 1 (new entrant) teacher so the new girls had no-one to look after them.

Coverage has been arranged throughout the week for these classes and the Grade 5 classes.  Each teacher has two sections so that is four classes without a teacher.  Substitute teachers were assigned but the G5 girls have yet to see anyone so you can imagine the nightmare it has been in my hallway, especially in the afternoons.  Three 45 minute periods of sitting without any supervision!  One major difference for me is that I am not expected to go in and cover these classess although it has been difficult at times to walk on by.  But if I went in I would still be in there.  I am constantly amazed by how someone can sign to do cover and then just not turn up or refuse to do period 6 & 7 as it's the end of the day/week and they are leaving early - with no consequences!

Yesterday saw the start of the rest of the year with teachers up to their normal antics.  Thursday sees many teachers leaving early.  They know every trick in the book and try it on repeatedly with the new English teachers, telling them they have to cover classes, changing schedules, telling them they are in their room and to get out, parking outside so they can skive off early...  And the list goes on.  So now we have sign out passes and to even leave the grounds before the bell we must have permission on the computer approved, a sign out pass with our name on it for security, sign out with fingerprint, collect our pass, give to security, get out if we are lucky.  No $200 as we pass go either.

Duty is a similar experience and I was the administrator in charge yesterday.  Once again, Thursday is disliked by all and the new kid on the block gets the worst day.  So I took my wee list (all in another language) and found teachers.  One was missing and I found her asleep in the staff room. Tired!  Aren't we all?

I baked some smiley face cupcakes for my teachers to start the week off as they had worked hard.  One had had three changes of classroom during the week, even though she had all her displays up.  This can be a challenge and class room assignments were all changed as late as 10am on Thursday, the day before students were due.  So you can imagine the frustration of my staff.    Still they are luckier than my friend who is on her third school in two weeks!  Only in Abu Dhabi!

I put the cupcakes into a takeaway coffee cup along with a sachet of coffee and a foil wrapped tea bag then wrote a wee message on the cup.  They tasted pretty good as I used saffron to flavour plain cupcakes then iced with a custard icing and decorated with chocolate icing tinted with black colouring.  They left black stains on my hands when I ate one but the mess was worth the end result.

Transporting them to school was a challenge, solved by sitting them in cups and packing in a shoe box with coffee sachets filling the spaces in between.  They all arrived in one piece.

My school day is very different from my previous one even though my job description is identical. The biggest fact is that the AVP does all the administration tasks that I undertook previously which frees me up to work with teachers and the curriculum delivery.  As we have just received an updated curriculum I may have my work cut out!

I am heading out to dinner for a kiwi friend's 50th later today.  It is a surprise party for her so I am looking forward to catching up after the holidays.  Her son, 18, is doing exceptionally well for himself playing rugby and league.  Over the summer he has spent several weeks in the UK training with local clubs then getting himself selected for a tournament.  He is also completing his last year of school here then who knows what will be offered to him as a sportsman.

Well I'm off to skype my parents back home in New Zealand.  It is wonderful to catch up most weeks and 'see' them.  I feel almost as if I am in the kitchen with them and ususally make myself a pot of tea to feel right at home!

Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there, especially my wonderful Dad!