two more months

I am two months and four days from my first trip home. But before I get way ahead of myself, a bit about the last few months.

The heat of the Arabian desert has been gearing up. Gone are the cool winter/spring days. It never got cold enough for me to think it winter, plus all of the plants started flowering in December-February. My classroom's air conditioners are hobbled making me and my students alike irritable and it hard for them to learn. But this week, I enjoyed working with my grade 1s filling and comparing bottles with water for capacity. (Um, in what universe is capacity a reasonable grade 1 standard? Oh, yea, this insane one!) But being outside almost lead to heat stroke for at least me.

It will be great to see the Pacific again in two months. But until then, I shall keep hydrated in 115 degree weather and continue to help my wonderful and frustrating students grow.

A bit of respite

I am on spring break:) After visiting Doha, Qatar, for a few days, I'm back home with 10 more days of break. Doha was similar to the UAE. But there I saw a true thunderstorm, and get this...with rain! It was a downpour:) Abu Dhabi didn't get much precipitation at all. This has been the land of sandstorms for the last few months. Gone are four seasons each year. Cool to sweltering, that's what we see in the Arabian desert.

I have much to do this break. And now that I've successfully wasted a day since I've returned from Doha, it is time for me to get onto it. Hopefully I will not only catch up but get ahead for the third and final term of this school year:)

Term 2's end is near

As I am in work mode 24 hours a day, in the frenzy of the end of the term, I decide to write here! Why yes, I am easily distracted. Though you wouldn't assume that since it has been more than a month since my last entry:)

I am not what season we are in, but windstorms seem to be the norm today and in this last month. I can't help but compare it to my last location--the US Pac NW. Yes, my car is covered in sand, and I'm constantly trying to sweep up the sand that blows into my apartment. But there is no rain:)

Three more weeks of school with so much to do before its close. Yikes!!!!

And another month comes to a close

Yes, time does fly when you are not young. As January is ending soon, I can't help think that I only have 6 months to go. Tho, I'm a bit annoyed that we have to work into July. But I will be home for the summer:) At least for most of the Ramadan season. One arid summer here is enough for a lifetime.

My students are learning, as students always do and will.

To request a transfer to Abu Dhabi? It would put me back in an urban setting, which I was craving. I have a big decision to make. Watch me miss the deadline (Thursday).

January goes slowly

I'm trying to be more positive. But the best thing I can recall of this week is that the weather is nice (imagine April in Virginia--a warm April--or June in Seattle). Teaching all over the world is difficult and a bit demeaning. But I just love being treated like an idiot, doesn't everyone?!? Anyway...

This month, without several friendly faces of the later part of 2011, I'm making more friends. I actually went hiking last weekend at Jebel Hafeet. Me, hiking? I can hardly believe it. I've never liked it much at home where it is cool most of the time. Why would I walk along the driest river bed voluntarily? But I might as well make the best of these few cool weekends of the year:) Next weekend, I'll join friends at the early Friday morning camel races:) 

Back in the sandbox again

I returned on Tuesday/Wednesday to the sandbox that is the UAE. Germany was nice, but visiting friends was my focus. I casually took a picture of the Brandenburg Gate as I walked by it thinking it was too small to be it but I'd ask my friends later. I mainly saw what I saw from the windows of my friends' apartment and from buses. Now, I have one more day until school resumes. My 'overdue' list runneth over! I'd better get to it:)

An empty house

My winter break started after school on Thursday. It is now Saturday. My building is a ghost town.

I won't leave for another 22 hours (OMG, so soon!). More friends have left for good; too many have gone. Telling us to "be flexible" was just too vague, too nice toward this place, and unkind to us about what to expect here.

While I will return, I probably wouldn't be if I had booked a trip home for this break back in October. Half of my colleagues will be gone in the new year.

At least Fionka will be in good hands with neighbors. I'll come back for her:)