Another One Bites The Dust!

The last few months there has been lots of talk and gossip about the latest teachers who left.  We call these people “runners”!  Lots of runners lately.  They pack what they can in their suitcases and head to the airport and off they go – probably never to return again – EVER!  When I hear about these people who just abandon their job and leave the country, I never really question why.  I think anyone who is a teacher here can sympathize with the runners.  It is, however, very interesting that people are running during their 2^nd year here.  But again, I sort of get why they left and don’t blame them.  But it does cause an issue for our employer who then has paid rent for the year, electric bills left unpaid, and it seems to take forever to get a new tenant in the place.  And if you are a new teacher moving into a home where the previous tenant just “ran”, you have the hassle of dealing with transferring the water/electric in your name and that’s a whole different blog entry!  I have had the thought, “If Jennifer was okay with us pulling a ‘runner’ then I’d be on the first plane,” but then I remember the things that are keeping us here for our full 2 years: the opportunity to travel, the friends we do have here, and more importantly the end-of-contract bonus pay we get.  We’re talking two months’ salary for each of us when we leave here in July 2012. That’s a nice chunk of change to walk away with, in addition to our summer pay.  So when I consider those reasons I take a deep breath, and walk into the classroom and attempt to do some quality teaching.  And I suspect that when we all return from our travels in January that we will hear of many – MANY – more runners.    Not us though!  Well….not as of now.

The kids have been busy with Rugby – and they LOVE it!  We went to Abu Dhabi a few weekends ago for a rugby tournament. It was the kids’ first game!  They lost all of the games they played.  There was one try (try = goal) which was scored by Cole.  And when the coach gave the kids their medals, he said Caralyn got the most tags (we call them flags like in flag football).  They played every game since there were only 7 in their age bracket for their team.  They were worn out that night! 

We’re counting the down until we go on safari in South Africa!  We can’t wait!!!  We decided to do something “Real Housewives of Atlanta”ish too!  We booked a tour with a highly recommended tour company out of the Langa Township (the oldest Apartheid segregated township).  We’re going to tour the township (which includes a performance from their Happy Feet dance group where these children  dance and beat with their gumboots – which are rain boots to use American folks), and we’re going to have the kids pick up school supplies and other things we think the Happy Feet kids would like.  I think it’ll be good for our kids to do something like this.  And they’ll love it!  Can’t wait! 

And we haven’t even taken our South Africa trip and we’ve booked our spring trip!  When we first got to the UAE, we saw an article on The Maldives and immediately we both wanted to go.  But then we decided to make plans for Europe, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.  Until now.  We decided to do a few Europe stops on the way home next July (last July we were not able to go to Disney Paris since my sister passed away suddenly).  So this spring we’re going to go to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and the Maldives!  It’s a 13 day trip and will be amazing I’m sure! 

The next two weeks before our winter break – we’ll be busy with various things.  We’re heading to Global Village in Dubai this weekend.  Global Village is basically a shopping center/flea market set-up with booths representing countries from all over the world.  I think this year they added 16 more countries.  There is a lot of junk as well as some very nice things!  If I could just convince Jennifer to buy some African masks to bring home!  She’s not interested.  We will celebrate National Day here on Sunday.  It’s the UAE’s 41^st birthday!  Well – according to come car decorations we saw on Monday it’s the 41th National Day!  We’ll cruise through town center and check out all the cars and see how patriotic these people are!  I wonder if when their country turns 237 years old they’ll exhibit the same patriotism.   Then we head to Dubai the following weekend to visit Santa and some Christmas festival.  The weekend after that – we head to South Africa!  And when we get back from SA, we’ll have family waiting in Dubai for us!  We’ve missed our family soooo much!  It’ll be a fun break – a busy break – and a well-deserved break. 

Not to bring the mood down – but – this is my first holiday season since my sister died.  While I’m sure it was a whole lot more difficult for my parents, it really seemed normal to me – only because I was not home last Thanksgiving.  We worked Thanksgiving Day and so it was like a normal time of year for me.  Christmas will be the next holiday and we’ll be in South Africa.  I’m sure when my parents are here visiting after Christmas, I will frequently remember the memories I have of my sister visiting me last spring.  I am sure it will be different since she will not be here – but then I smile thinking of when I told her last May that we were not going to be coming home for Christmas in 2012 and then I told her she could always come and visit me.  She said something like, “No thanks! – That flight is too damn long.  I did it once, that’s enough!”  I remember my parents and mother-in-law talking at the airport about how the flight wasn’t bad and then Frannie had this crazy look on her face (after flying 16 hours! – and she was somewhat afraid of flying) and says, “I don’t know what flight y’all were on!”  I think the 2^nd year might be more difficult for me, since I’ll be home again, back in our “normal” setting, and she won’t be around.  Each day that passes, it gets easier to grasp the fact that I have no more siblings, that I am my parents only child, and that I will not see my sister until I pass from this life.  I often wonder what life might have been like if my sister hadn’t died.  But since I can’t change the past, I continue to remember her daily – through Facebook posts from her friends/coworkers who still miss her a lot, when my daughter gets sassy or has an attitude, when my kids talk about her and their memories of her, and pictures!  And I rely on these memories to carry me through and remind myself how much worse it could have been. 

Well – that’s enough for now.

Some car decorations we added to our vehicle - to celebrate the 41st National Day here in the UAE!

 

 

These few pics (above/below) are from the weekend we spent out in the western region of Abu Dhabi.  It's about 3 hours from Al Ain, very small, and quiet.  This hotel, Tilal Liwa, was very nice and quiet.  It was a nice weekend away.  We swam alot, met up with a friend, and visited a camel farm where we got to feed camels. 

 

Jennifer and the kids dressed up for the National Day festivities at their schools. 

 

Stay Tuned...

 

Easy Street...

 

What an easy week!  We were off Sunday for the Eid Al Adha holiday.  And many students decided to stay home on Monday and extend their holiday.  Jennifer was missing several and at my school they actually sent the ones who showed up, home.  Then Jennifer’s last three days there were a few kids out but they continued as normal. Not me.  I taught one class, which we did minimal work with the 7 that showed up.  Then the next day I taught one class with 4 students.  Aside from those two classes – no teaching.  And the kids that did show up were sent home around 11.  Made for an easy week.  I am sure the majority will be back at school and ready to learn tomorrow.  They’ll be back at school, but I’m not convinced they’ll be ready to learn. 

One of the EMTs at my school returned on Thursday from the Hajj (the pilgrimage that all Muslims are supposed to make once in their life if they are able and can afford it).  It was fascinating watching all these other teachers come and greet him shaking hands, cheek kisses, and many hugs.  This is something I’ve never really seen – at least not with any of the EMTs.  They’d say, “Hajj Mubarak” which translates to congratulations on complete thing Hajj. We had a breakfast on Thursday in honor of those who completed the Hajj.  They gave them a nice stand and a new Quran.  There were 8 staff members who were honored.  Some it was not their first time doing the Hajj.

And the breakfast was interesting all on its own. It stated at 10 and of course at 10 they’re putting out table cloths and getting ready when most of us arrived at the canteen (our cafeteria).  Rather than wait until they say they are ready, the guys just start sitting down , tearing open the bags of bread (like pita bread) and falafel, the humus containers, and some other interested container with some bean like substance that reminded me of refried beans.  It was like watching animals who haven’t found food in weeks.  I hate to compare them to animals (as kids here think that is one of the worst things you can do – call them animals) but that’s exactly what it looked like.  I actually tried the falafel which was my first time eating it. It wasn’t bad.  Not something I’ll order often. 

This week we celebrated Halloween in the UAE with the traditional trick-or-treating.  The complex we live in has lots of folks from all over the world.  There are quite a few Americans so trick-or-treating is popular.  The kids were so excited.  They racked up quite a bit of candy. There are some very nice costumes, some very nice homemade costumes, and then some that we were not quite sure what it was.  We did see Slash, a washing machine/dryer/laundry basket trio, a camel with no hump (so I guess it was a horse? Or giraffe?), and lots of cut up people.  It was a great time! 

Yesterday the kids had their first rugby match. It was a scrimmage within the team, but the kids really enjoyed it.  Cole really got into it. He was so proud he was able to get the flag of one of the good kids’ belts.  Caralyn ran with the team but was never really wanting catch a pass and run.  When she was passed the ball, she immediately passed it on like this was an organized game of hot potato!  But it is a huge improvement from when she played soccer at 3 yrs old.  She still enjoys playing – so that is all that matters, right!??!?!  I guess! 

Even though we just returned a week ago from Sri Lanka and enjoyed a vacation away, we’re already counting the days until our next holiday!  We have the Hijra (which is like the Islamic New Year) off in a few weeks.  And then our “winter break” starts like December 13^th.  And we can’t wait to experience Cape Town, South Africa and go on safari!  And then the family comes to visit!  It’ll be an awesome time for sure!

One thing that has been hard to adjust to or just accept is the way the housemaids/nannies are treated in this country – and I’m guessing this region.  It’s appalling how they just leave their housemaids/nannies to do everything – all day.  It’s not really a day job.  For many it’s a job as long as the family is awake.  Some get a day off, some do not.  Some get paid more than others.  I’ve heard that their salary depends on where they’re from.  And some feel like just because they pay a little more than their previous employer did, they’re doing them a favor.  A neighbor was shopping one day with her kids and their nanny. When the clerk at the store was handing the bag she handed it to her housemaid/nanny and I think said something about handing the bag to the “slave” – whatever that word is in Arabic (I forgot).  It’s like – really?!?! And yet these folks walk into the mosque and stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” and “foot-to-foot” to show they’re equal before God. Interesting. 

It has been interesting seeing folks who moved here from other countries (like we did) and see how they’ve embraced aspects of this culture – like their attitude towards housemaids/nannies.  And to be able to afford to hire someone to help in your home is great – but when you begin to treat them poorly – that is not great.  It doesn’t matter that they are still better off here, financially, than they were in their home country.  It doesn’t matter that they willingly accept a job with such a low salary.  It doesn’t matter that they don’t ever say anything to you about the treatment. It doesn’t matter that you might treat them better than their previous employer.  It’s so sad when a housemaid/nanny doesn’t even get her day off for the week – when they work 6 days a week already.  Or when they work from 6am until the family is asleep.  So anyway – back to the topic – I was able to see this contract one American teacher gave to a prospective housemaid/nanny.  Just read through it (look below the pictures – you can see the actual contract) and read some of the language. The most absurd part was the fact that this American woman refers to herself as “Madam”.  Really?  What if your last employer wanted to be called Madam __ instead of Mrs. ___.  What happened to basic human rights?  It’s things like this – I will NOT miss when I move back home in about 8 months.

And while I was typing all of this, Cole was watching Yogi Bear and chewing on his finger nails.  Next thing we know – his tooth falls out!  Finally!  It’s been VERY loose the last few weeks but he’s been too scared to just push it out.  He can’t wait for Caralyn to get home  (she’s at a birthday party) so he can show her! 

Our neighbors ready for trick-or-treating!

This was our first year carving pumpkins.  The kids loved it.

 

So this contract below is the one between an American teacher and her perspective housemaid/nanny.  It's disgusting.

 

Okay - so you don't get penalized for being out sick, but you're going to penalize your housemaid/nanny?  Either she takes a day of her vacation or works on her one day a week she gets off.  And the employer will choose that day?  It's so ridiculous. 

MADAM!  Can't believe it. It's even more interesting that since this prospective housemaid/nanny (that isn't going to go work for her) was to start on the 28th of this month and that when she got paid this first month she was pro-rating the salary since it was two days short of the typical month's work.  Really?!?!  We're talking 73 AED which is about $19USD!  I wish this chick's employer took every little dirham they could when she walked in work a minute late, or was on her phone instead of teaching.  Bring her back to reality.