Winter in Doha

Can't believe it is almost a month to the day from my last entry.  Well actually I can, I have become quite lazy when it comes to writing here.  Often I am out walking and I think of all the things I want to write and then when I am home the ideas have disappeared from my mind.  Not too long ago I was thinking I need to get a little recorder so when ever I think of something to write I can just say it and come back to it later, but I think that is a little over the top.   I guess I could just carry around a little notepad, but that would be to simple.

So I finally received my residency permit a few weeks back, and got my passport back as well.  It has proved very helpful to be able to go out and do things.  I feel very official now.  But only a week or so after getting my passport I had to hand it back in to HR so she could process my exit visa.  Yes we have to have an exit visa to leave the country.  Whenever we are leaving we have to fill out a form with our travel plans and hand it in, with your passport, three days prior to leaving and then we will get a small piece of paper that gives us 'permission' to leave.  This is another thing that seems a bit crazy/controlling to me.

Today was the last of school, and I am so relieve to have a break.  Not only to be going to Thailand but just to have a holiday from my students and the school.  The last month has been crazy.  We had our Eid break which was fairly uneventful for me.  Went out to eat a few times, lots of walking, met some canadian and american teachers working in kuwait who were holidaying in doha, did some serious drinking and dancing and only worked on the last day of the break.  I was really proud of myself for that one!  As for thanksgiving, I had the best of intentions to make an actual dinner, I even made the trek to Mega Mart (the store that sells lots of western food items) to buy a turkey.  But it just seemed like a lot of work and a lot of money to make dinner for just a few friends.  Next year I will plan ahead and get people to bring dishes and then I can just concentrate on the turkey and hosting.

It really wasn't too bad not being at home.  I was sad to be missing out on the family gatherings, but other than facebook and the date I would have had no idea it was thanksgiving.  There were no advertisements or really anyone talking about it.  I went out for a meal with Jen instead.

When the break was over it was 2 1/2 weeks of madness.  We had three days to 'revise' (review) with  the students for their exams.  Yes I said exams.  I gave 6 and 7 year olds an exam. It was quite serious even, I didn't see the exams until they were delivered to my classroom in an envelope on the morning of the exam.  These last few weeks have held a lot of learning experiences for me from writing reports, giving exams, marking them in accordance to the British National Curriculum schemes, getting yelled at by a parent.  Just a few of the many things to add to my repertoire as an international teacher.

I could probably do an entire blog on the student reports but I will keep it simple.  For each student I had a three page word document.  On one page I had to insert their National Curriculum level, that was derived from the exams for maths, english and science.  I then had to copy and paste ticks (checks) to correspond with the students achievement.  Page two I had to tick behaviour and then I had to comment on what the student has acheived this term.  A few sentences about each core subject.  Then I had to comment on targets or goals for them to reach for, and thirdly I had to write a few sentences about what the parent can do at home to help  their child.  The final page had space for our SMT (senior management team) to make a comment, (they made handwritten comments on EVERYONE' trips).  Additionally on this page I had to add their absences and lates (which I had to tally from the weekly attendance sheets.  I am sure there is reporting that is worse than this, but compared to esis, I just wanted to pull my hair out.  It was just tedious working with 23 different documents.  Once my reports were read over by my KS leader, Nathan, I had to adjust anything notated by him, which many comments I had to add more to.  Then I imputed levels and handed them off to Head of Primary, Nadia, got them back with her comment and signature and I could finally sign and stuff.  I then had to compile all the the one page reports they received from their specalists: French, Arabic, Islamic, P.E., Music, ICT.  It wasn't until this morning that all my reports were in the envelope and ready to go.

So much more to say about exams, and our rainy day, and international day, but so very sleepy now.  I will write more soon, I will aim for before I leave for my holiday, but there is a slim chance of that happening.  Oh if you haven't heard I am going to Thailand for my holiday.  Really excited to start traveling.  I will do a few days in bangkok, head north to chaing mai and then back down to one of the island.  It will be a great 13 days!

<3 Viv

Checking in

It is crazy how time is flying here.  The days often seem long yet the weeks FLY by.  Every week Tuesday comes around I think, "Wow, my week is half over!"

On the whole things are continuing to go well.  I am still waiting for my residency permit, I was told soon, I think it should be within the next week.  Which will be nice, cause as of right now I am limited to only 2 places for going out.

I am not sure how much I have written about the drinking scene but I will give a quick recap (sorry if this is a repeat story for some).  In Doha, only major hotels are allowed to serve alcohol.  To go to the bars within the hotels you must acquire a membership.  This entails showing your passport with your visa information, they take this info and create a card with your picture and then you are allowed in.  There is a dress code at most establishments and other rules: 'No Qatari women allowed,' 'No head gear' (the traditional 'dish dash' the men wear (long white scarf)).  Craziness, every time I think about the No Qatari women rule it burns me up! I know it is partly a muslim thing, but it is also a control thing, I could not imagine being a native in a country that had so much control of my actions.

In addition to hotel bars you can apply for an alcohol license.  To do so you need a letter of 'no objection' from your employer that includes your salary.  You pay a deposit of QR1,000 (about $275), which you get back when you leave the country.  License holders and only license holders are allowed to enter the ONE liquor store.  Each license holder is only allowed to spend a percentage of their salary.  I do not plan on getting my alcohol license, I have plenty of friends who have already gotten theirs ;)

So the medical experience. My bus driver took me to the medical center at 6:30 am.  I first saw two women in full burka/hijab whose questions to me were, "baby?" and "mobile?," she then scribbled something on a piece of paper and I was directed to the next waiting room.  I was there with about 10 other women (which the number increased steadily through the morning), seated in chairs.  We were directed to scoot over to the next chair as each person got up, to stay in order.  At  the counter a photo was taken, through the glass barrier, and I paid QR100 ($28).  Next was a chest x-ray.  I had been pre-warned to wear a white t-shirt and a bra with no underwire, to avoid having to get undressed and wear a questionably clean hospital gown.  Then a quick blood draw, and I was done.  One more stop to a small clinic to get a finger prick for blood typing, and that was it.  I don't think my experience was quite as bad as others, who referred to it as similar to "cattle herding."

We are coming up to the end of the term.  Having to accept their form of report cards.  Which here they simply call reports.  I have to have my comments and general marks done by the 3rd of december for my Key Stage Coordinator to look over.  We give students exams the 6th-8th and then have to have all the final marks on and turn in the reports by the 13th so the Senior Management Team can look over and comment on them.  So as of today 0 down, 23 to go!

Counting down to the Eid break, November 25th to the 30th!  Don't have much planned, obviously working on reports.  Going to try to make it out camping, celebrate my friend Jen's birthday, maybe do a Thanksgiving dinner, get some mail out to my fab friends and family in the states :) and hopefully plan my christmas holiday, still unsure of where I will go.

As always thanks for following and for all the comments.  The support keeps me going for another day!

Viv

oh yea, I was walking in a park today, and saw two rats run across the grass, it was great!

Two months in Doha

October 28th, exactly two months since I arrived in Doha.  I am still here with no plans for an early return.  Not that there aren’t days when Portland sounds pretty amazing and there is no where I would rather be than home. 

Two months down and I am just beginning the process to receive my residency permit. When you come to work in Doha you have to have a sponsor, my sponsor is Newton Schools.  More specifically my sponsor is Madame Afaf, the owner of the schools. Everything goes through her, she actually signs each and everyone of our checks.  I had to get a copy of my passport, to take to the bank to open an account, and I had to wait for her to sign it.  And the bank account, whew, this experience has given me greater appreciation for the freedom we have in the states.  

To open a bank account you need a signed letter from your employee stating that yes you do work for them, and your monthly salary.  I brought this letter, a signed copy of my passport, filled out their application and then they would have to call and confirm that Madame Afaf is who she says she is, the owner of Newton schools.  I could come back to the bank in one week to get my cards.  One week has come and gone and I received a call from the bank today.  And this is only because Georgie (who went to the bank same time as me) has been trying to ring the banker for days with no luck.  She finally called the customer service line, lodged a complaint.  The very next day our banker calls us both with our account numbers.  We will walk over to get our cards tomorrow, if they are actually ready.  

I got a little carried away there. Back to my residency story.  Everyone has to get a medical examination (which consists of a chest x-ray, blood draw, blood typing), then finger prints and then a residence permit is issued.  All of the teachers that arrived together in mid august went for their medicals before I arrived, handfuls at a time people have gone to get their fingerprints done.  Two people received their residencies this week, they are the first.  Now arriving late, I am a special case.  Turns out I am extra special because someone filled out my paper work wrong and I was listed as working at the Newton British School instead of Newton D-Ring Campus.  I have been politely asking the HR person week after week what is going on with my passport and my residency, and all she can do is tell me about this problem (the wrong school) with my visa.  Weeks go by and I see other staff that arrived when I did and after go for medicals, and fingerprinting, me nothing.  This week was the end for me when a girl who arrived 3 weeks after me went in for the medicals!!  I marched into the HR office and made a big deal, I was really mad.  Turns out the HR woman did not like me coming at her and she came right back at me, (I had to hold the tears back as I left the office).  Basically she repeated the same problem and that there was nothing for her to do.

Low and behold, I get a call the next day to advise me that I am going for my medicals the following day...interesting.  “The squeaky wheel gets the grease,” comes to mind.  I am 99% sure that had I said nothing and continued my usual, “Just checking on my passport :),” routine, I would have not gone for my medical today.

Next entry I will tell you all about the medical, interesting.

Surviving

I am still here, alive, although the consistency of my posts may say differently.

Just as when I was at home I find myself in a constant search for balance.  How much work time?  How much social time?  How much me time?  I never feel quite in balance, but I am sure that is something that will come with time.

Last week marked the first full week with a set timetable, and the majority of students in class.  It basically felt the first week in September all over again.  I am finding myself struggling with a lot in the classroom and am pretty much in survival mode.  My main goal is to present the required curriculum in the simplest way possible.  It is really hard for me to stop trying to be an "incredible" teacher, and just make it through.  But right now honestly I just need to make it through.

Yesterday was day one of (essentially) week 2, (in actuality it is week 7 of a 16 week term, almost half way there!)  I received two students for their first day, not because they were newly admitted, but because of parent choice to keep them out of school, they both attended this school last year.  I had come in for a few hours on the weekend to prep and at the end of Sunday had the overwhelming feeling that things were not working how I had had them set up.  I stayed after school and completely rearranged the classroom, moved desks (incl. mine), moved bookshelves and cupboards.  Resulting in a layout and organizational methods that should produce positive results.

Monday's schedule should be a cake walk, students have an hour of arabic followed by an hour of ICT (computers), then lunch.  I see them only from 9:45-12:45.  It was just a bad day, I literally gave up at the end of the day and had them sit there and wait until release time (only for about 7 min).  Upon home time  I had about ten kids standing around me asking to go (the bus students whom I forgot to release), I had one father handing me a letter and proceeding to talk for five minutes telling me what was in the letter seemingly looking for an immediate response, meanwhile I am trying to write a note to another students parent who had asked for extra math help, this student was standing over me because his driver was looming in the doorway waiting for him, AND one of my students mother was telling me it was MY FAULT that I did not write the note to her in the pupil planner (that they are supposed to turn in to me daily, this student did not give it to me the day before so I had to write a note to give her spelling score and requested that she bring the pupil planner everyday).  The mother went on and on.  Took all I had not to cry.

Funny that the days staff meeting topic was "Dealing with Arab parents and students."  Which was interesting but more relevant to culture and religion, than pushy parents.

So it was a rough day.  But I know it will get better and it will help me become a better teacher and person.  But days like this make me wonder if I can really be a teacher for the next thirty years!

I had a good yoga workout this afternoon and am heading off to my favorite Thai restaurant.  So in a few hours I should be feeling a lot better.

Thanks again for following, I'll work on being more consistent...

Viv

One Eid holiday in the books...

It is Saturday night around eight p.m., I am sitting at a coffee shop around the corner from my flat.  A few short hours ago I was sitting at my table with lesson plans in front of me, trying to actually feel prepared to teach tomorrow, and there is a knock at the door.  Donna (a key stage leader from the Newton British School) comes in to inform us that due to the threat of swine flu, classes will be canceled for students this week.  Teachers are to report for regular hours (pick up at 6 a.m., return at 2:15 p.m.).  It almost seems like a dream.  I was feeling ready to go back to work, and now I get to go back to work with virtually unlimited planning time!! Yea!

As for the Eid holiday, I would say it was a success.  I spent two days at a compound (called Bevery Hills Al Rayan, there is even a sign that looks like the Beverly Hills signs) laying by a gorgeous pool.  Spent one day at the Oasis pool, where I proceeded to get my first sunburn, but it was minor and is turning a nice brown already.

The highlight of the break was for sure camping at the Inland sea.  We left in the afternoon on Sunday and drove about 45 minutes out of the city to the desert, first was Dune Bashing.  We were in a caravan of about 6 Toyota Land Cruisers just driving wild through the desert.  It was pretty amazing.  Sometimes it was hard to see where you were actually driving, but you would look back out the window and watch the car behind you and think, "Wow, we just drove down that dune!"  The desert was beautiful, and we made a stop and this steep dune, which looked over a sea and on the other side: Saudi Arabia.  About twenty more minutes of driving and we arrived at our camp.

It was not what I expected.  There were three large "traditional" tents, several wooden bungalow type buildings that had tables and chairs, volleyball court, lounge chairs by the sea, two camel's for riding, more tents for sleeping, and bathrooms with showers.  Pretty impressive.  I was with ten other teachers from my building and it proved to be a really nice time.  We had a few bottles of alcohol (my first since being here), and mostly just sat around and chatted.  Watched a little beach volleyball, watched and heard a HUGE group of phillipinos do karaoke until all hours of the night (3 a.m.!!), played some uno (some of my co workers had never ever played!).  We all ended up sleeping out on the bungalows, because the tent was too hot.

I woke up to the daylight at about 5:15 a.m., I knew there was no chance of falling back to sleep so I just walked down to the beach and watched the sun come up.  The sunrise/sunsets here are far less dramatic, but just as beautiful.  The sea there was much better than what I have in the city, the waves weren't too big, just big enough for me to get some practice floating in the ocean.  Swimming has not been a strong skill of mine, so I'm working on it.

I almost forgot on Wednesday we had the opportunity to take a free sailing lesson at the Intercontinental Hotel.  We were given a quick over view of how to work the steering (rudder?) and how to work the sail, and then sent out with two of us on a fun boat (small, workable sailboat, for beginners).  There was an instructor out in a rescue boat who would give us instructions when we got stuck.  I really wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did.  I always thought sailing looked a little boring and complicated.  But being out there on the water and feeling the power of the wind on the sail moving your boat along was pretty amazing.  There is a good chance I will be signing up for a sailing course!

It was a good break, I am excited to see how it will be extended this week!

Life in Doha

I feel like I'm settling in, starting to get used to the schedule.  Ramadan officially ended yesterday, so now I can begin to discover what life is usually like here.  During Ramadan there was no eating or drinking in public during daylight hours.  Due to the fasting many shops and restaurants were closed during then day, and did not open until seven or eight p.m. and then stay open until one or two a.m.  The streets were virtually empty during the day and everyone came out a night.  It has been pretty strange seeing people lining up at the bank at 9 o'clock at night.  I think the life at night will probably stay the same, but with more places open during the day as well, but we will just have to see.  Since it has been Ramadan the whole time I have been here, it seems really strange to change.  We went walking this morning and it felt completely wrong to be drinking water out while I was out in public.  But it was nice to have water while walking.  I have been doing lots of walking and slowly but surely getting to know the area.

My weekend

It has been a really nice weekend.  On Thursday after school I went with a bunch of girls from my building to the Oasis beach club.  There is a pool, the beach, and "gym" (a very simple room with weights), snack bar, restaurant.  It is nothing fancy, but it is nice.  It was so nice to lay out by a pool, which was very cool and refreshing.  It was really surreal to be there right after work.  It seemed more like somewhere I would have been for a vacation, not just an everyday place.  I will most likely join that club.  It is very close to home and a reasonable price, it is also nice because there are more locals that join there rather than the big hotels that will be filled with businessmen and people on holidays.

After a nice layout and swim in the sea, a big group of us went down to dinner at Welcome Dine, a restaurant right next to our building that serves, Indian and Chinese food.  Although we had to wait awhile it was really delicious.  I had dal and naan bread.  It was delicious, the dal was almost like a warm hummus but thinner and lots more flavor.  They also have an interesting drink that is pureed watermelon and vanilla ice cream, it was delicious.  After dinner we walked through the souks.  A few nights before we had found this bakery that makes fresh Lebanese flat bread (not sure if that is exactly what it is, just a good guess).  He literally hands it to you off the grill, it is delicious and so cheap.  I also found some bread there that was much fresher and cheaper than what I have been buying at the grocery store.  But I am still really missing whole grain bread, I think I am just going to have to learn to make it on my own.

Friday was pretty mellow, I went into work with two other teachers for a good five hours.  Got a lot of work done and took pictures.  Me and Georgie just stayed in the rest of the night.  I spent most of the night looking online for something to do on the winter holiday.  I think I have decided on an eight day Egyptian tour.  I'll fill you in once I have the trip booked!

Saturday, I started my morning with some yummy french toast (still good even without, sugar, vanilla, or syrup), I am improvising with honey.  Then Georgie, Jen, Charlie and I took a limo (not the limo you're thinking of.  Limo's here are cars that drive you places that are not proper taxis.  Its very strange, you will stand on the side of the road and cars will just pull up and ask where you need to go.  We had the same experience when going to school on Friday, a guy in a land cruiser pulled up, I told him we needed to get to D-Ring and we would pay 13 QR, thats what the actual taxi fare is, and he took us.) We took the limo to the Newton British campus, where Georgie works, and us three girls laid out by the pool, and swam for a good part of the afternoon.  The water was cold and the pool has an awning covering it so it was perfect.  And it was free!  To go to the Oasis is 60 QR* on the weekend and 40 QR during the week.    We then walked to Villagio, got some groceries and came home.  While at the grocery store they had a stand in the fruit department and a guy was peeling (not sure if thats the right word) and packaging fresh pineapple.  I got a whole pineapple for 8.25 QR (about $2.26).  It was so tasty I had to restrain myself from eating the whole thing in one sitting.

That brings me to now, 9:30 p.m., saturday night writing this blog.  I am pretty tired from my day in the sun, and will be asleep soon.  Thanks so much for reading everybody, I always look forward to your comments.  Sorry I'm not better at responding to them.

*$1 = 3.65QR (Qatari Riyals) I am still not used to the currency rate, and am always trying to convert it in my head.  It always seems like you are paying a lot, even when you are not.  Tonight for instance I bought a bath towel for 25 QR, that seems like so much but is actually only about $7.

Getting around

Newton International schools (my employer) has three separate campuses: West Bay, D-Ring, and Newton British.  For the most part the teachers live in two apartment buildings, Sana and Al Manzoura.  Every day there are three buses, one for each school,  that first come to Sana (where I live, the newer apartments), then pick up the teachers from the other apt, then go to school.  They are interesting little buses, there are about six rows.  with a single seat on the right side of the bus and a pair of seats on the left side of the bus.  The arm rest on the pair of seats is actually another seat that folds down in the middle (I'll have to take some photos).  These buses also take us home everyday.  The students leave school at 1:00, and the bus leave at 2:15.  On days without meetings it is the perfect time, but when you are in a meeting from 1:10 to 2:00 it doesn't seem very convenient.

These buses also sometimes provide transportation for weekly shopping.  My apartment is very close to several shops so it is not necessary for us to get transport for shopping but the Al Manzoura apts. have no grocers around.  So last Saturday the bus drove us to Villagio, a large shopping mall that seems to be a knock off of the Bellagio hotel in Vegas.  There is a cloud painted ceiling, and a waterway running through it.  There are lots of good shops there including H& M, and many english shops like Top Shop and Marks and Spencers. It's exciting to know these shops are here, but also a little disappointing that I cant wear a lot of the clothes they sell (skirts too short, tank tops).  Anyways I digress,  we did our shopping and on the bus back one of the teachers from my school, Marguerite was talking about taking a taxi in early the next morning, I said I would love to go.  It would be nice to share the taxi fare and nice to get a head start on the day.  So Sunday morning I get up at 4:45 and am down on the steps at 5:30 waiting for Marguerite.  I get a call from her a few minutes later asking where I was, she was there with the taxi, where was I?...Turns out I had completely spaced that she lived in the other apartment building! Really if my brain was not glued into my head.

So I am up and ready so I get my own taxi to school.  There are no addresses here, so you just have to go by location.  I had taken a taxi with some other teachers once before and was sure I could find it easily.  I was told a reference point was Birla School, and Indian school nearby, so this is the information I gave the taxi driver whom I later found out has not been in Doha very long.  It turns out Birla is on the opposite side of the main road D-Ring, and here you can't simply just cross the road.  The main streets and about 4 lanes going each way with a concrete divider between them, and there are large roundabouts to make turns.  It ended that a 13 QR taxi drive came to 24QR, he only made me pay 20, due to my obvious frustration.  In the midst of it all the curry sauce in my lunch had seeped through my canvas lunch bag and onto my new (floor length) skirt.  All of this before six am!  It was quite a day.

But I am proud to say that now I know how to get to my school.  I went early on Thursday also, on my own and got there straight away.  We've been spending a lot of time walking around and that is helping to familiarize me with the area.

First week at school

So I have survived the first week, all three days of it!  I went from 10 students on the first day, 14 on the second, and 12 on the third.  Very curious to see how it will be this week.  It was quite strange going through three days with nothing scheduled.  But they are short days, due to Ramadan.  8 - 12:45, and within that is two half hour breaks, and the PE teacher has been coming around and taking classes when she can.  So the time goes by quite quickly, the students do quite well when busy with work.  They are a little unruly otherwise.  I am spending a lot of time getting them to practice transitioning quietly and pushing their chairs in.  

Things are a little tough for me in the aspect that many times I don’t get a straight yes or no answer to my, “How do you handle...” questions.  I am starting to realize and accept I should do what I think is best and works best for me and if it doesn’t work for the school, I guess they will tell me.  It is a pretty big school.  I am not sure about the other age groups but in year 2 there are six classes with 25 students in each class.  It is very interesting here the classes are labeled by year and a color.  So I am 2 Orange, there is a 2 Red, Blue, Yellow, Green and Purple also.  It is very strange to me, but it works to easily label and know who you are talking about. 

One small struggle is the many little things that are different, mostly names for things. Here are a few examples: 

They say: I say:

Maths Math

Numeracy Math

Timetable Schedule

Folder Binder

I am drawing a blank here, but I know there are more.  And it is really not that big of deal, it is just one of those little things that gets to me a little bit.  Feeling strange to have to change words in my head that have been the same for so long.  I guess it is a little like learning another language.  Speaking of timetable, we have yet to receive ours yet for the year, and I am not sure if it will be ready when I go in tomorrow or not.  So mindboggling to me. 

Things are quite laid back here.  During our “lunch time,” which is at 9:30 am, two teachers are on duty and float between the six classrooms, leaving the children at times in a classroom with no adult.  This makes me VERY uncomfortable, back home I would barely walk out in the hallway and leave the kids alone, let alone leave them alone while they’re eating.  Also I have shown up at school around 7:30 to find one of my boys sitting in the classroom, alone, reading.  He is one of the really quiet ones, barely says a word.  He is also the only one fasting, I have not seed him eat a thing and he has been there everyday this week.  Pretty crazy.  I don’t think I, an adult woman, could fast sun up to sun down, I would wither away! 

My classroom is coming together, slowly but surely.  After shopping at three stores, I was able to find an alphabet to hang on the wall, as well as numbers 1 - 20, and a calendar.  No one here has a calendar set up.  It has really thrown me off that it is not a requirement, I really can’t imagine a classroom without the activities that surround the calendar.  I was so desperate to have a calendar that I had to buy one that was in Spanish and cover up all the spanish words with english words.  Lots of work but so worth it, I just feel better with that in the room.  For those non teachers out there, we use the calendar to work on days of the week, yesterday was, today is, tomorrow will be, patterns, counting, place value, and probably more that I can’t think of now.  It is just such a nice routine that I really love about the primary grades.  

This has turned out to be quite the long post, and now I have to get to bed, to face the new week.  Another new thing to adjust to: Sunday being the first day of the work week.  Getting up extra early, to catch a cab at 5:30 instead of catching the 7 o’clock bus.  Hopefully this early bird will catch the worm.

First day with students complete

I could call the day nothing but a success.  I may not have completed display (bulletin) boards, a calendar, or a system to organise their supplies, but still a success.  I had ten of twenty-five students arrive today, all very lovely.  I think one boy will be a run for my money but the rest seem great.  Yesterday having the only plan of "getting to know the students" seemed completely daunting.  But today I was so very grateful not to have a schedule to abide by.  I could spend as much time as I wanted practicing moving from their seats to the carpet, or lining up, or walking quietly.  I forgot how much there really is to teach students at this age.  I do still feel like there is a lot to do, and it is a bit frustrating that my work time is fairly scheduled, due to provided bus transport to and from school.  For example today after school we had a short meeting with all Year 1 and 2 teachers, and then a longer Year 2 meeting about planning.  We were still in the meeting at 2:05 when I asked if the bus was leaving later today, no it was not, the meeting had just ran over, so I had to run to the bus.  So after school today not one thing was accomplished in my room.  But I am ok with that.  I think a good session over the weekend and coming in for a few days during the upcoming Eid holiday and I could be set for awhile.  Then I will enjoy the work day ending at 2 p.m. each day.  Last nights sleep was very restless so I am going to call it an early night.  I want to thank all of you that are following and commenting.  I love to read what you have to say.  I plan to go through once a week and reply to comments.  <3Viv

First day with students

For the last two days I have spend getting to know my school, arranging my classroom, shopping for supplies and being reassured that everything will be just fine.  The students arrive today, I'm not sure what to expect.  I am quite uneasy being that we have no schedule for the day (other than two half hour breaks, on in the morning, one in the afternoon) and the fact that we are unsure of how many students to expect due to the Ramadan holiday.  I am sure it will be just fine, thinking about it is always harder than just living it.

Jet lag has arrived

I have never felt as tired as I did yesterday.  I barely got any sleep on saturday night, and was on the bus to school at 7 a.m.  It was hot and overwhelming.  At one point at school I was sure I was going to be sick, either from the heat, lack of water or food, I came home on the 1 p.m bus, stayed awake long enough to have a snack and then napped until 5:30 pm.  So much to do in two days time, I literally have words bursting out of me that I want to share about all I am experiencing, but they will have to wait for the weekend.  The two most interesting things about yesterday. 1. My school was an old palace built to "jail" a member of the royal family who had gotten sticky fingers with the royal funds.  2. I am teaching year 2, which I was just told yesterday is equivalent to 1st grade back in the states, get it: their second year in school, boy did I feel silly when I learned that.  Although it is good, cause I have done my most work in first grade.  Ok I am going to eat a big breakfast, so I am energized and ready for a big day.

First day

My first night found me quite restless until about 7 a.m.  The bed was to hard, the sheets too rough and the air conditioner too loud.  I finally was able to put it all aside and didn't wake until 2:45 p.m.  I was quite surprised that I had actually slept that long, but grateful.  I spent far too much time on the computer (putting this blog together so it was quite worth it) and then ventured out to see my new home with my flat mate.  A stones throw from out apartment building is a Baskin Robin, McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Papa Johns, so if I get a craving for home I don't have to walk too far.  There is also a decent grocery store less than a block and a half away, where we later did some shopping.  We walked a little farther to the souk, which is like an open air bazaar/market.  Mostly it was closed, there were a few shops open, we got some Haagen Dazs, held a tiny white kitten and then got a taxi back.  I will go back very soon, as even being closed I could tell it will be a place that I will spend a lot of time in, hopefully not spending all my money, but simply taking in the culture.  Buying my first groceries was a bit of a challenge, I didn't know where to begin.  Many things are the same and there are american brands here.  I have yet to try the local cuisine, but I will.  It is now Sunday morning, I have been up for a few hours, as again I could not get a good nights sleep, but I'm sure tomorrow will be better.  Today I get picked up at 7 a.m. and I get to see my new school!
P.s.  I am working to get photos up, it is just not as easy as you would think.

Arrival

I was picked up at the airport by my recruiter, Gail's, husband and his friend, both of whom are italian and when I told them Italy is the place I want to go to the most they suggested I go there next summer instead of going home, I don't think that would go over too well with my family, I told them.  I spoke to Gail and she informed me that Saturday was a free day for me and that I would be picked up on Sunday at 7 a.m. to go to school. I arrived at my apartment in a quick ten minutes.  From what I saw in the dark I felt like I was in a new city but not necessarily on the other side of the world.  My apartment or flat as they call it here, is beautiful. Hardwood floors, lots of dark wood, I have my own bathroom, with a tub, large flat screen tv in the living room.  I'll post some pictures soon.  I have one flat mate, Georgina, 23 from the UK, she is also a new arrival but has been here for about a week.  She was in the other apts. the school uses and says these ones are much nicer.  We went up to the roof of the building and I met quite a few other teachers, most of whom are new to Doha.  They also come from all around the world: New Zealand, UK, Toronto, Australia to name a few.  Everyone was very kind and welcoming, I am sure there will be good friendships made.  By 12:30 a.m I was feeling quite tired and hungry so it was back to the flat, ate some toast and jam, unpacked, had a nice bath and set out to sleep in my new place.

Travel

I left Portland, Oregon on Thursday, 8/27, at 10:20 a.m. and arrived in Doha, Qatar on Friday, 8/28, at 11:00 p.m.  This included stops in San Francisco and Dubai.  Longest day of traveling in my life, but well worth it.  My flight from SF to Dubai was pretty cool (for a girl new to international traveling).  It was a pretty empty flight, so I had the middle 4 seats to myself, and was able to stretch out to sleep.  There was tons of food (free), and real utensils! I also met some great people while traveling: A woman who has been teaching at international school for 15 years, she had lots of insight for me and shared my excitement of the beginning of this, and my many other adventures to come.  Secondly I met a guy who works for google who was able to sort out some things with my new computer.  My last and shortest flight was quick and full of anticipation.  I arrived to very humid 95 degree weather!