As the end of my first year teaching in the UAE comes to an end on Thursday, I can't help but reflect on the entire experience. My first memory of landing in the UAE is the intense wave of heat which fogged my glasses when exiting the Abu Dhabi airport. This was late at night and was so hot. I remember how tired I was, but excited to be here.
As a person who did not have a passport before embarking on this voyage, think I've done very well . I lived in South Georgia my entire life before coming to the UAE. Most of the people where I lived were like me....Southern Baptists and everyone knows everyone where I live. Think of Mayberry and you're there. The sheer size of Abu Dhabi was overwhelming to me at first, but made the transition to city life pretty quickly. The traffic and the local drivers were VERY scary to me at first. Roundabouts and lack of directions were hard for me at first, but now I speak like a local....."Go through three roundabouts, take the 1st road on the right, Go through three speed humps and flat is on the left. " There are no "street" names or real addresses here. Everything is spoken in the above manner. For a person who is DD (Directionally Disordered), GPS has been my saving grace. I can navigate roundabouts like a pro and drive defensively like the locals.
Getting used to the difference in the food here was a challenge for me. There are McDonalds, Burger Kings, Subways, Applebee's, Chili's, and many other American restaurants here. Items on the menu are sometimes different and some taste different (seasonings). There are many different types of restaurants here because there are workers from all over the world. I have to say that each week I try one new thing when going to the grocery store. When going out to eat, try new items on the menu. The way I look at it is....You only live once and be bold and try new things. If I don't like it, that's ok. At least I was bold enough to try and will know next time to mark that off the list. My favorite new foods....Falafel and Hummus. Never would have tried it back home, but a nice surprise for me trying something new. The other interesting part about food here is that almost all restaurants deliver to your home, so if ever get a craving for something, they bring it to your door.
Working in a school here has been very interesting and a great learning experience for me. The long drive in the desert to my school does get extra LONG sometimes, but try to use this time to reflect on my day, take a nap, or chat with my family and friends on Facebook. As a whole, I love my school and the people in it. Everyone opened their arms to me in the KG wing and helped me "learn" about the culture and the best strategies to help the students. Some things that worked at home don't work here, so have to feel you way and just figure out what works. Flexibility is very important here. I was a very "schedule" oriented person before coming here. I've learned to relax, go with the flow, and take things as they come. Not nearly as stressed as back home.
Discipline is harder here because these children don't hear "NO". Working out a system that works here took some time, but I had a pretty good class. Looking forward to having some of my students when looping up to 1st grade next year.
The biggest thing I've learned this year is that I am a strong, confident woman who can live over 7000 miles away from home and I survived my first year. There were moments when I said, "What did I get myself into?" and then the answer comes. If I can move this far away from my family and be successful, I can do anything. God has shown me that he has a purpose for me here. There are many people who have touched my life and hopefully I have returned the favor. I have missed my friends and family terribly, but technology has helped keep me connected.
The question I get the most is: Would you do it all over again? Without a doubt, the answer is YES. I've learned so much about myself, about teaching a foreign language, and reaffirmation for why I went into teaching....It's all about the children. I had been out of the classroom for 10 years before coming here. Teaching again helped me rekindle the fire for working with children. I have no doubt that I chose the correct profession. There was never another choice for me. A smile, a hug, or the sparkle in a student's eyes when he learns something is better than any bonus.
The first chapter of "Christine's Big Adventure" ends on Thursday. Chapter two will begin in the Fall. I will be home from July 27-August 23. Hope to see all my friends and family while there. Until we meet again :)
As a person who did not have a passport before embarking on this voyage, think I've done very well . I lived in South Georgia my entire life before coming to the UAE. Most of the people where I lived were like me....Southern Baptists and everyone knows everyone where I live. Think of Mayberry and you're there. The sheer size of Abu Dhabi was overwhelming to me at first, but made the transition to city life pretty quickly. The traffic and the local drivers were VERY scary to me at first. Roundabouts and lack of directions were hard for me at first, but now I speak like a local....."Go through three roundabouts, take the 1st road on the right, Go through three speed humps and flat is on the left. " There are no "street" names or real addresses here. Everything is spoken in the above manner. For a person who is DD (Directionally Disordered), GPS has been my saving grace. I can navigate roundabouts like a pro and drive defensively like the locals.
Getting used to the difference in the food here was a challenge for me. There are McDonalds, Burger Kings, Subways, Applebee's, Chili's, and many other American restaurants here. Items on the menu are sometimes different and some taste different (seasonings). There are many different types of restaurants here because there are workers from all over the world. I have to say that each week I try one new thing when going to the grocery store. When going out to eat, try new items on the menu. The way I look at it is....You only live once and be bold and try new things. If I don't like it, that's ok. At least I was bold enough to try and will know next time to mark that off the list. My favorite new foods....Falafel and Hummus. Never would have tried it back home, but a nice surprise for me trying something new. The other interesting part about food here is that almost all restaurants deliver to your home, so if ever get a craving for something, they bring it to your door.
Working in a school here has been very interesting and a great learning experience for me. The long drive in the desert to my school does get extra LONG sometimes, but try to use this time to reflect on my day, take a nap, or chat with my family and friends on Facebook. As a whole, I love my school and the people in it. Everyone opened their arms to me in the KG wing and helped me "learn" about the culture and the best strategies to help the students. Some things that worked at home don't work here, so have to feel you way and just figure out what works. Flexibility is very important here. I was a very "schedule" oriented person before coming here. I've learned to relax, go with the flow, and take things as they come. Not nearly as stressed as back home.
Discipline is harder here because these children don't hear "NO". Working out a system that works here took some time, but I had a pretty good class. Looking forward to having some of my students when looping up to 1st grade next year.
The biggest thing I've learned this year is that I am a strong, confident woman who can live over 7000 miles away from home and I survived my first year. There were moments when I said, "What did I get myself into?" and then the answer comes. If I can move this far away from my family and be successful, I can do anything. God has shown me that he has a purpose for me here. There are many people who have touched my life and hopefully I have returned the favor. I have missed my friends and family terribly, but technology has helped keep me connected.
The question I get the most is: Would you do it all over again? Without a doubt, the answer is YES. I've learned so much about myself, about teaching a foreign language, and reaffirmation for why I went into teaching....It's all about the children. I had been out of the classroom for 10 years before coming here. Teaching again helped me rekindle the fire for working with children. I have no doubt that I chose the correct profession. There was never another choice for me. A smile, a hug, or the sparkle in a student's eyes when he learns something is better than any bonus.
The first chapter of "Christine's Big Adventure" ends on Thursday. Chapter two will begin in the Fall. I will be home from July 27-August 23. Hope to see all my friends and family while there. Until we meet again :)
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