Many of you who know me know that I became a teacher because of some innate need I seem to have to help people. It is why I went to college originally to become a doctor and why I decided that I could help people, kids, just as much by becoming a teacher. So students like me, shy and awkward, and students like some of the kids I knew in high school, would have someone who was willing to listen and willing to go the extra mile to get them to succeed and want to succeed. When I first realized teaching was a possibility for me, I had no idea if I would make a good teacher. Sure I liked kids and I liked tutoring when I was in high school, but did that make a good teacher? I still remember the conversation I had with John Welckle, the Ed. Psych professor, when I was hoping he would let me into the interim study program in the cities, even though I was late signing up and very late entering the Education program, as it was my Junior year. I remember going into the office with no idea what questions he would ask or how I would answer...which really isn't like me. I remember when he asked me what makes me passionate...I explained my feeling of wanting to help and then I talked about my passion for literature and how it was a release for me when I was younger. I felt like I was babbling, but he must have seen something in me because he allowed me into the program and I never looked back. I was known for thinking outside the box and having a lot of energy when I taught both in school, student teaching, and my first job. So when I was offered the job here and told I would get many opportunities to do the same, I was psyched. But when I got here...it wasn't exactly what I expected.
Living in Abu Dhabi is great for the single person. Lots to do: Desert Safari, Beaches, Beach Parties, mor shopping malls then Paris Hilton could want (by the way there is a Paris Hilton store in the Marina Mall here...wow), pubs, brunches, water sports, sports clubs, and the list goes on. It is a never ending party here in Abu Dhabi. I was a bit surprised at the amount of teachers who I saw out on the weekends though, teachers who had been here more then a year. Now I realize why. Because of reasons I am not allowed to explain, we teachers struggle to fulfill our dreams of truly helping and teaching our students English. Instead we have to try to find small triumphs in our day...when a student finally gets a concept or is able to get out a whole greeting in English without mishap. I wish I could say it was the culture or the students...however, as in Morocco, I find the culture and the people intriguing and lovely as a whole. You get one or two who are Nosy Rosies, but on the whole my fellow Arabic teachers are lovely ladies and, other then the lack of repercussion, which I found to be similar in the states, the girls misbehavior is mostly harmless chatter or being late to class. So then where is the problem...well many of you can hopefully figure that out on your own. Needless to say, the honeymoon period on this job is way over and I am not sure I am not liking what I see with the veil lifted.
On happier notes, I absolutely love rugby and what it has done for my figure. I have lost ten pounds and gained muscle. I can run long distances without getting winded and I have gained loads of confidence...which kinda happens when you tackle people to the ground. The girls I play with are mostly British and Irish with a few Americans and such thrown in. They are all extremely nice and fun to hang out with, and always have your back. I am currently fostering a kitten...Leo as I have named him. He purrs louder then most cats twice his size and when he sleeps he either sleeps on top of me or behind my head and has to have his head resting on my neck or face...which can cause for me to almost crush him at times in bed. Typically he will paw at me until I move and then get up and readjust, he is adorable. I am looking forward to Eid break, which is a week from Friday. I am excited to get away from Abu and see a bit of the sights.
I have found that while I enjoy cooking for myself, I enjoy cooking for others way more...which is a problem when you live alone and have no dining room table, instead I make things to take for my coworkers. One of my coworkers, Stacy, has become my chill buddy. We ride to work daily and she has a worse Minnesotan accent then I do. She is from Colorado, but has lived in Alaska and Canada.
I had my first haircut since I left for Abu Dhabi tonight. My stylist, an Arabic man with ATTITUDE, flourished the scissors after every cut as if he were twirling a pistol in a stand off. When he finished cutting a bit of hair he would toss it aside like it had insulted him. If he needed something moved or retrieved he would summon the hair washer with a snap of his fingers. If the hair cut wasn't worth the money, the show definitely was. I struggled to keep a straight face. The experience wouldn't have been perfect, however, if he hadn't spent as long cutting my hair as he did styling it into what he called "50/80's chic" as he fluffed it while adding more hairspray. Luckily, I know the cut will look nice when I add my own touches and my students will fawn over it in the mornings saying things like "ohhhh miss miss, so beau-ti-fulll!" Definitely almost worth the money.
Well that's all for now, Leo is wanting to cuddle and is making it hard for me to see what I am typing as he insists on laying his head on my mouth. So until next time, night.
Living in Abu Dhabi is great for the single person. Lots to do: Desert Safari, Beaches, Beach Parties, mor shopping malls then Paris Hilton could want (by the way there is a Paris Hilton store in the Marina Mall here...wow), pubs, brunches, water sports, sports clubs, and the list goes on. It is a never ending party here in Abu Dhabi. I was a bit surprised at the amount of teachers who I saw out on the weekends though, teachers who had been here more then a year. Now I realize why. Because of reasons I am not allowed to explain, we teachers struggle to fulfill our dreams of truly helping and teaching our students English. Instead we have to try to find small triumphs in our day...when a student finally gets a concept or is able to get out a whole greeting in English without mishap. I wish I could say it was the culture or the students...however, as in Morocco, I find the culture and the people intriguing and lovely as a whole. You get one or two who are Nosy Rosies, but on the whole my fellow Arabic teachers are lovely ladies and, other then the lack of repercussion, which I found to be similar in the states, the girls misbehavior is mostly harmless chatter or being late to class. So then where is the problem...well many of you can hopefully figure that out on your own. Needless to say, the honeymoon period on this job is way over and I am not sure I am not liking what I see with the veil lifted.
On happier notes, I absolutely love rugby and what it has done for my figure. I have lost ten pounds and gained muscle. I can run long distances without getting winded and I have gained loads of confidence...which kinda happens when you tackle people to the ground. The girls I play with are mostly British and Irish with a few Americans and such thrown in. They are all extremely nice and fun to hang out with, and always have your back. I am currently fostering a kitten...Leo as I have named him. He purrs louder then most cats twice his size and when he sleeps he either sleeps on top of me or behind my head and has to have his head resting on my neck or face...which can cause for me to almost crush him at times in bed. Typically he will paw at me until I move and then get up and readjust, he is adorable. I am looking forward to Eid break, which is a week from Friday. I am excited to get away from Abu and see a bit of the sights.
I have found that while I enjoy cooking for myself, I enjoy cooking for others way more...which is a problem when you live alone and have no dining room table, instead I make things to take for my coworkers. One of my coworkers, Stacy, has become my chill buddy. We ride to work daily and she has a worse Minnesotan accent then I do. She is from Colorado, but has lived in Alaska and Canada.
I had my first haircut since I left for Abu Dhabi tonight. My stylist, an Arabic man with ATTITUDE, flourished the scissors after every cut as if he were twirling a pistol in a stand off. When he finished cutting a bit of hair he would toss it aside like it had insulted him. If he needed something moved or retrieved he would summon the hair washer with a snap of his fingers. If the hair cut wasn't worth the money, the show definitely was. I struggled to keep a straight face. The experience wouldn't have been perfect, however, if he hadn't spent as long cutting my hair as he did styling it into what he called "50/80's chic" as he fluffed it while adding more hairspray. Luckily, I know the cut will look nice when I add my own touches and my students will fawn over it in the mornings saying things like "ohhhh miss miss, so beau-ti-fulll!" Definitely almost worth the money.
Well that's all for now, Leo is wanting to cuddle and is making it hard for me to see what I am typing as he insists on laying his head on my mouth. So until next time, night.
