News and Updates

PLEASE GO BACK TO MY SEPTEMBER 29 POST FOR PICTURES OF THE GRAND MOSQUE, PURCHASES AND SOME SHOTS OF MY FRIEND EMMA MERCADO IN DUBAI.

Hi everyone -- my journey continues in the Emirates with overall enjoyment and positive adjustment. The school days fly by with non-stop business from 7:00 until 4:00 followed by marking at home at night. I am usually in bed by 9:00 to 9:30 and sleep soundly. 5:30 in the morning nearly kills me, but that too is an adjustment I am getting accustomed to. I really sleep in on the weekends to catch up a bit.

I just completed my first Parent-Teacher Conferences and they were a huge success. I was quite organized and confidant with the parents and always tried to praise their child in some capacity or another (although difficult for some). The parents were quite receptive to my observations and evidence, as presented in the form of their child's work and test scores. I have some very bright children in my class and some very weak children -- about 5 children are at kindergarten or grade 1 level and they are in grade 4. Can you imagine the range??? It is crazy and since they have no Special Education department for children with identified needs this complicates things.

As I type this, I hear the call to prayer and reading of the Koran over the city wide loud speakers. You really get used to this and the call to prayer is generally a very soothing melody -- don't get me wrong, it's not Sinatra or Streisand, but it has its own Arabic beauty.

The Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) is currently taking place in Abu Dhabi. Some of my fellow teachers have gotten passes to allow them to see several movies -- they are viewing constantly. I did not partake because I am a first time teacher and too busy with school work to attend that volume of movies. I hope to catch a couple of movies this weekend, but will play it by ear. Some of the movie viewings are at the Emirates Palace and that would be an excellent experience to view a movie in such grandeur.

I am in my own little groove with my grocery store, my laundry, my corner store, etc. I continue to understand the layout of the city and can manage to give directions to where I want to go to most taxi drivers.