Greetings America!

Video I made for my kids in the States

Looong overdue!

 

My apologies for leaving you in silence for so long! Before I get into how amazing things are now, let me take you back a few months when we last left you. Above you'll find a video of one of their morning routines -- reciting the rules. My students have them memorized and do a great job reciting them daily. My boys have  progressed well over the past few months! Check out my students introducing themselves:

There will be lots more to come soon!

apple, apple, a, a, a...

After packing up, my students engage in a quick, peaceful alphabet sounds review. This is one of the FEW relaxing times of my day! I could go to sleep to this song :-) 

Enjoy the 30 sec snippet below:

 

 

  

Alphabet Cards!

Watching alphabet sounds video.

Math workbook

First grade boys in my second section/class. (I teach 43 boys total!)

The Accident

Driving in the UAE has it's perks as far as convenience, but the drivers here are horrendous and have little regard for others on the road. Which is why most visitors who value their lives use taxis for the first few weeks/months. After leaving school on Thursday I was hit in a roundabout (they are EVERYWHERE). I wasn't injured and the police arrived on the scene literally in less than 30 seconds. They didn't speak English well so they didn't bother to question me about the incident. Luckily a close friend of mine speaks Arabic and I was able to call them to help remedy the situation by speaking to the police for me. After the police left about 15 min later a Saaed traffic officer arrived to investigate the accident. Pretty much I had two options, (1) admit fault and pay a 300dhs fine ($83) or (2)  refuse fault, have my car impounded and be detained at the police station for up to 3 days pending a thorough investigation. Needless to say, I am not in any rush to visit the police station in a foreign country, so I took option one. Luckily my damaged car was a rental with zero liability to me so I was given a replacement car a few hours later. Lesson learned. Drive slow and be cautious in traffic circles!

Poor Nissan Tida

Saaed officer is called to the scene after the police assessed the accident.

300dhs fine ($83)

First Days of School!

click pictures to enlarge

The first two days were supposed to be very easy as we weren't expecting any (zero!) children to show up. However, we actually ended up with quite a few students (and parents) coming. I taught my heart out and experienced an extremely demanding foreign educational environment!

To begin, my school is an all boys school (1st grade - 5th) and all male staff. The week runs from Sunday - Thursday and the day starts at 7:30am. Although I have not seen it yet, there is a morning assembly in the semi-covered courtyard that lasts 15 minutes and all of the students do exercises and read the Qur'an.

The class schedule is broken up into seven 45 minute periods. There are Arabic teachers and licensed English teachers (myself and 9 other men) My first three periods are spent with one of my first grade classes (I have two). The kids speak no/ very little English. They do, however, know their letters, numbers, and a few colors. The boys are VERY active and talkative and are not used to school structure.

There is a brief 15 minute lunch/breakfast break @ 9:15 am. Students are given pre-boxed lunches that include some type of bread and cheese wrap, fruit, a desert or two, and juice (YUM lol). During this first week the food was brought to our classrooms. Teachers are also provided this delicious boxed meal (lol).

After teaching three periods we are supposed to get 4th period off (this didn't happen the first day). There is a 15 minute recess which only lasted 5 minutes the first day. There was also a school candy man who came around with a basket of candy and randomly gave them to the boys during my lesson (sugar is not very helpful). School day ended at 1pm this first week, but will end at 1:30 normally.

So there's the basics. This will be a very challenging experience. I won't post the whole truth online, but those close to me will get to know just how amazingly challenging and rewarding this experience will be...so keep in touch via Skype, FB, phone calls or text.

STAY TUNED!

Dubai!

We took a quick day trip to Dubai (less than an hr away)! Check out the sights: 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2334600&id=36605158&l=c3bc839224 

 

Field Trip!

All of the international teachers were provided a tour of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It was an amazing cultural experience!

It is one of the largest mosque's in the world accommodating 40,000 worshipers at once (the largest, located in Mecca, welcomes over 800,000). Feel free to check out more pictures here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2326358&id=36605158&l=c73eb53221,


STAY TUNED!

I have arrived in Abu Dhabi!

Immediately stepping off the plane we were met with warm greetings (and roses!). Even though one of my bags didn't make it, I did, so that's what counts. My luggage arrived the following night. I love my hotel (Fairmont Bab Al Bahr), which is home for the next two weeks. See http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2315780&id=36605158&l=eb4f935447 for more pictures. 

So far since I've been here (3 days), I have gone through two orientations and a health screening. I've had lots of free time and have kept weird sleep patterns. Usually don't get to bed until around 5-6am here, which is 9-10pm in the States (+8hrs time difference). Oh well, I'll get it right soon enough. Stay tuned!

Time to take flight!

Etihad flight over Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.

Waiting game is over! Ticket has been issued. Delta flight leaves Orlando at  3pm  next Thursday. Then Etihad from NYC to Abu Dhabi! 21 hrs total travel time (incl. 5hr layover). Now it's down to my final preps: Packing, repacking, praying, re-praying, and last goodbyes. Stay tuned...until then, enjoy your in-flight entertainment videos below. 

Later gators!

My city has BIG plans!

What's your 2030 plan? Hmm...bet you haven't thought of one yet! Please watch and absorb a bit of their culture. They have amazing ideas!