Things you want to know

As the end of January approaches, winter has set in here.  Temps range from 47-70 during the day. To all my friends who have had bitter cold this winter, I apologize for this statement...it's cold here in the morning (think I have climatized). Apartments here only have air..no heat and I'm scared of space heaters.  Tile floors make your feet cold and socks are my best friend.

Each morning when I wake @ 4:30, I have one thought that comes into my head....will there be fog?  The threat of heavy fog is always a real possibility during winter.  Thickest fog I've ever seen.  Leaving before 6:00 every morning makes the travel more dangerous if there is fog...not to mention the careless drivers.  Our school implemented a "fog" tree so we can be notified if there is a delay in the start of school.  We ride 86 km out into the desert to work.  Fog is the worst about half way out.  Can be clear in Al Ain, where I live, and dense fog just few km outside of town.

We pull over to the side of the road and wait for the driving conditions to improve.

While sitting by the side of the road, our children are told there will be a delay to the beginning of school whenever possible. Any teacher knows that when the students routines change it affects their behavior and this impacts instructional time.  We have a list of standards required to teach each trimester and this pushes us to teach more in less time.  We have standards based report cards where these specific standards have to be marked.  

I am so proud of the progress my students have made since the beginning of school.  They are beginning to use more and more English and are truly beginning to understand more of what I ask them to do.  I've been working really hard reviewing sounds, letters, sight words, and blending, blending, blending.  One of my boys was looking at a word and said /rokk/....rock.  I was one proud Momma because he was attending to the print and making English sounds :)    He knew all the sounds but didn't know to blend c and k together.  Another lesson for another day.  We have been working really hard in our centers.  Here are a few pics:

We are working on building number sense to 20 (number bonds)

ABC Order-"O" is wearing a shela (she's one of my favorites :)  I admit it! ).  

Girls usually begin to wear shelas in 5th grade, but her family asks her to wear one every Thursday. 

 She is very proud of her shela and I make a big deal about it to encourage O.  

Working hard!

                 Cut apart stories.  Our first time with no model and have to look in English book. 
                                        They did very well for the first time....proud of them :)

Each week brings new challenges....next week addition.  Should be interesting :)
Now for a side note.....recently I've had a lot of questions. Many people are very curious about this experience and where I am, so here are the answers to the most asked questions I receive:  

• Where do you live?  I live in Al Ain in the emirants of  Abu Dhabi, which is part of the United Arab    Emirates (There are 7 emirates).  Al Ain is half way between the city of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.  It is  a middle sized community of about 300,000 people.  The neighborhood I live in is family oriented  and mostly teachers and other expats (foreigners) live in this area. I have two-bedroom      apartment. All the occupants of this building are single or married teachers with no children in the      UAE.

• What can you wear to work?  I have to be covered from ankle (long skirts or pants) and 3/4 arms or wrists (3/4 length Coldwater Creek no iron work just fine).  I am not required to wear a head covering (shela) because I am not Muslim.  The girls like my short hair :)  Women here tend to have long hair and  it is covered with a shela so don't see in public. When going out, I dress respectfully in accordance with appropriate dress for here (no cleavage or revealing clothes).  A pair of jeans and a respectful blouse that isn't too revealing or form fitting work for grocery store, etc. I see many foreigners that wear clothes that are inappropriate, but feel need to be respectful of the culture here.

• Can you drive there?  Yes, I have a rental car.  I have a UAE drivers license and USA.  The UAE  is one of the most liberal Middle Eastern countries.  Local women must have permission from their    husbands to drive here.  Thus, many locals have hired drivers because husband doesn't allow wife  to drive. Driving here can be very dangerous. There are over 10,000 accidents a year in the UAE.  Drivers may drive 20km over the speed limit without a ticket.  There are traffic cameras that take  your picture and receive ticket in mail.  Fingers crossed none for me yet....may have just cursed  myself.

• What's it really like there?  Well, it's not like you see on tv or the news.  Where I live, there are lots of families and I feel completely safe here.  Would even walk to the grocery store at night if needed   something.  I've never felt scared here and have been treated with great respect for the most part.     There are times when I have been talked down to by an older man or a man broke in line in front of me. I must admit that at first it really bothered me and I never said anything. Now, as I become more confident with my Arabic, I say something.  Two men broke in front of me the other day and I said,   "This is a problem." in Arabic.  The man behind the counter looked stunned that I would say something and in Arabic.  He made them go back to their spots :)  I am very respectful of their culture, but these men were Egyptian and manners are manners.

• What do you eat?  Lots of fresh food with no hormones.  Milk and bread only last a few days because there are no preservatives.  Lots and lots of chicken here and they are the regular size.  First time I saw a "real" chicken, it looked anemic.  I was used to the large chickens in US.  There is food from almost  every nation here and I've tried a lot of new things that would've never tried before.  I love falafal (looks like hush puppy but is ground beans with spices), shawarma (chicken, veggies, garlic mayo, wrapped in arabic bread), and there's lots of American fast food places that deliver to your door (trouble)...Applebee's, Chili's, McDonald's, Burger King, etc... Eating is a big part of this culture, so no shortage of choices.  Just had to be open to try new things.  I always look forward to eating all my favorites back home....dream of El Girasol queso dip (sure sign of a fat kid).

February is approaching quickly and more challenges are on the horizon.  Pray for me because there are decisions that will need to be made...my 2 year contract is up and have to decide if staying here and renewing for another year or moving back to the US and try to find a job there.  God will show me the answer in his time, so just have to be patient :)  Lots of love to my family and friends...I miss you all!  Hope the weather warms up for you and have a more "normal" winter.  Until we meet again.