Archives for November 2009

I’m doing it!

Traffic in Abu Dhabi is… well, a nightmare. People from all over the world merge on this city and basically follow whatever traffic laws they like. At least that’s the way it seems. Driving on the shoulder is common, horns are honking all over the place, and no one indicates (just like you, Mom!).

I was pretty terrified at even the thought of driving. However, after two months of taxis, buses, and hitching rides from friends… It was time. You can only stand on the road in the hot sun waiting for a taxi for so long. Not to mention my school is a good 45 minute drive from my apartment.

Last weekend I hopped into my very own rental car. Enjoying my new life over here… I thought I’d get something vastly different from my ride at home. A nice shiny silver Toyota Yaris… hatchback! That’s right. My choices were a silver sedan, a silver hatchback, a black sedan, or a black hatchback. I didn’t want a black car in the desert, and I didn’t want the exact same car I have at home… so hatchback it was. I love it.

Turns out… I love driving in this crazy city! This is what I see on my way to work:

Not too bad, huh?

Of course, just as I felt like I was getting the hang of this whole driving thing… I got a ticket! I was barely even driving! I was picking Molly up at our favorite hang out, Baby City, when an officer stopped me and asked for my license. The next thing I know a different officer handed me my license back… and a ticket. Molly, sweet sweet Molly, jumped out of the car to ask what the problem was… we didn’t get many answers. I took the ticket (in Arabic) to school and a teacher told me that the officer didn’t even write down my offense! We think I went straight in the parking lot when I should have gone right. Oops!

People drive on the shoulder at top speeds… but heaven forbid you miss a sign at Baby City!

xo, jill

It is what I came here to do.

You may remember that the first day of school my classroom was an absolute heap. Slowly but surely my fellow Western teacher and I have tidied up our little space. It’s much more workable now, thank goodness. It’s even recognizable as a classroom… you know, where learning takes place?

And little by little… I think we’re actually getting somewhere.

These first 6 weeks have been an absolute roller coaster. The week before last was a complete dream, last week was ok, and this week is still up in the air. My new technique is to plan a full day for Sunday… and by about Wednesday afternoon we’ll finally accomplish the majority of it.

Various factors contribute to why our pace is so slow. Some days the girls just aren’t in the mood to listen. Some days visitors arrive and hell breaks loose. Some days the air conditioning is limping along and affecting the girls’ attitudes. It doesn’t take much. Other days the school has planned “Healthy Breakfast Day” where we sit and eat breakfast for the entire first period. Or “Vegetable Day” where we eat vegetables for one full period. Then there was the “Fruit Olympics” … Really, there doesn’t seem to be much of a rush. I’m ok with that.

Currently we are studying “Family”. You might recognize a few faces? The girls love coming up to the board to be the teacher. It’s one of the few methods that gets them to close their mouths and pay attention.

The remaining part of the lesson asked the students to complete the sentence, “I have __ _____ .” with their family members. For example, “I have 1 sister.” The girls think it’s so funny that I have one sister and no brothers while they have 3 or 4 of each! Not to mention the mommy question. Men are allowed four wives here… so the question, “How many mothers do you have?” is not exactly straight forward. Just proves the point that families come in all shapes and sizes.

Despite a few mid-class breakdowns (It’s good for students to see their teacher cry, right?), I’m really enjoying teaching my students. They are beyond cute (wish I could show you all!), and I think they really like me! My quietest student gives me the biggest smile… and my naughtiest student… well, let’s just hope she doesn’t figure out that she’s my favorite…

xo, jill

It’s been awhile.

I’ve been desperate to get outside and do something in nature. Fortunately, the weather is finally cooling down enough to be out in the sun for longer than 2 or 3 minutes at a time. Finally entertainment can encompass more than just restaurants and shopping malls!

One of Molly’s friends set up a kayaking outing for last weekend, and I was delighted to be invited.

We spent nearly two hours kayaking around the mangroves. The water was so clear and calm it was like paddling around in a swimming pool.

Our guide explained to us the awesome nature of mangroves. The plants send their roots up out of the ground where they serve to filter the salt out of the water. The mangroves are like little desalination plants. Sadly, although Sheik Zayed declared the mangroves a protected area, later amendments by his sons have allowed for development nearby. Bummer.

The same company offers sunset trips and I can’t wait to set something up.

xo, jill