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