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.