The first day of school was a shock to my system. I went in armed with all of my plans and ideas, smiling and bright-eyed. Fast forward to 4:00pm and you would find me sitting on the bus home, exhausted, frazzled and silent - with no words left to say. Everything I thought I knew about classroom management and about lesson planning got thrown out of that bus window on the ride home that day. The students here are full of energy and are lacking proper parenting with healthy meals and bedtimes. Combine that with the fact they don't understand half of what you are saying to them and it makes for a very difficult transition. Saying that, after week 1 with many trial and errors I got things figured out! Simple things like talking in short sentences, using a lot of actions and pictures while speaking and using a lot of movement and fast paced lessons have made for great days with my new students. We are going into week 5 of teaching next week and my student have won over my heart completely. They have learnt that I don't respond to "miss, miss, miss" even when they say it 30 times and I have learnt that they love to dance to the "hokey pokey". They have learnt that it's not okay to stand on chairs or run across the classroom and I have learnt that they think it's hilarious when I try to speak Arabic. They have learnt that my favourite colour is green and I have learnt that I now have a class full of kids whose favourite colour is now green. They have learnt that I was sad to say goodbye to my family in Canada and I have learnt that they too have said goodbye to many fathers who they don't often see. They have learnt that in English we write from left to right and I have learnt that in Arabic they write from right to left. They have learnt that they should bring fruit and vegetable to school for snack time and I have learnt that when I bring an apple in for snack time, they will all have apples for snack the next day.
The kids love to please and they work really hard - maybe harder than grade 1's should have to! They are learning in both Arabic and English. I have had to find ways to channel their energy into fun learning activities and I have had to set extremely high behaviour standards for them but things are all working out. They are absolutely adorable and they make me laugh everyday. The girls kiss me on the cheek and they love to tell me they "love me times a million". The 3-4 preps I was so happy to see on my schedule are there for a reason - this job is difficult! And while it's great to have a team of grade 1 teachers who all share in the planning, if it weren't for that combined with our preps, we would be exhausted! The school has really high expectations of the teachers (understandable when parents are paying 20,000 a year in tuition!). We have team leader observations, subject specialist observations and random principal visits (that are never scheduled ha). Our school is in the process of being accredited so that adds to the expectations and puts everyone a little on edge. We also had an open house one evening last week. There was a separate time for mothers and fathers since a lot of the females wear full albayas when they are in front of men. It was definitely slightly intimidating when a group of females walk into your classroom and all you see is black. Once in the classroom the moms will take the albaya off of their face so I can see them. They are always beautiful and very well put-together. That is a preconception that I was completely wrong about! I imagined them to be plain, quiet and reserved. They are anything but! They love to joke and tease and they have big personalities. They are very loud and opinionated and their conversations often sound like they are in an argument.Under their albayas they are often wearing glitter, glam and beads. Their shoes are no doubt designer heels. They purses are often Prada and Gucci and I will bet they aren't knockoffs! They are full of makeup and perfume and they love to talk about fashion. They are also extremely welcoming and giving.
While in a ladies only salon (a lot of places are ladies only - ladies have separate lines at the grocery store, separate ATM machines etc - which is wonderful for not having to wait in line!) we met an Emirati woman who was getting married the next day. While her English was minimal and we had a hard time conversing she was friendly and wanted us girls to come to her wedding the next day. We got all dolled up and borrowed some fancy dresses from a friend. When I say we showed up underdressed that is an understatement! The women were in full-out gowns. I felt like I was at the Oscars. The wedding was females only so they were not wearing albayas. They had diamonds and hair that was professionally done. They had servants walking around spraying everyone with perfume. The hall was unlike anything I have ever seen. It was fancier than the nicest club I entered in Vegas. Everything was gold or diamonds. We were waited on all night with at least a 10 course meal. We were served tea and coffee (as Muslims do not drink alcohol). At five minutes to 10pm there was a buzz that the bride was coming soon. All of the women covered up with their black albayas. It felt like we were the only 5 uncovered in a sea of black. The bride walked in, escorted by a group of men from her family. They danced up the aisle and Arabic music was playing. The bride, Shamsah, was dressed in an exquisite, diamond studded gown with 4 women walking behind her carrying her train. She walked up the red carpet and onto the stage where she posed for picture after picture (none of which she smiled for). At midnight the groom arrived with a group of men. They came in throwing handfuls of money as they walked up the aisle. Onstage he sat on the couch beside Shamsah without looking at or touching her. They were greeted and kissed by many family members, pictures were taken and they walked off the stage and out the doors (while the men continued to throw handfuls of money). It was a rare and eye opening experience. While it is very different than our marriage ceremonies at home, it was beautiful in it's own way - I am learning that the traditions of the people here are fascinating and they reflect the loyalty and honor that they have for their family members and for their god.
Aside from school, salons and weddings I have been spending my time making memories and having fun with some wonderful people that we have met since being here. We play sports after school - volleyball and ultimate Frisbee are played weekly. The competition is always fierce - so fierce that I injured my thumb and have been unable to play for the past week! I do yoga and have painting get-togethers with some girls who are interested in that as well. We have been to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to go out on the town. The people we have met have been my favourite thing about our trip so far. They are open-minded, outgoing and fun-loving people! While it's either that or the shopping, buildings and nightlife in Dubai - it's a close competition!
