Here we are in the thick of June and heat is out of control!  It is so hot we rarely play outside.  We have been enjoying swimming though!  And since we always have the same clear skies we can swim all the time!  The kids are doing great swimming and as usual Cole has no fear and just swims away.  Caralyn is finally swimming quite a long distance but still not really comfortable swimming unless it’s to the side or to one of us!  We’re back in good health after another – YES ANOTHER – round of illness!  It was like we were in our own version of Groundhog Day.  But it has passed…

Cole & Caralyn are finishing school this week.  Hard to believe they’re finished with grade1!  We have been blessed with the teachers they had this year.  Each one seemed perfect for our kids!  They have learned so much, are reading so much better, and it’s awesome seeing the confidence in Caralyn.  She is now picking up books on her own to read.  Hopefully they get some great teachers for grade 2 next year!  Inshallah…

We’re counting the days until we get out for summer break.  July 12th can’t come fast enough!  Last week was the week when we no longer had students to teach so it’s hard to feel sorry for ourselves when we go to work and find things to keep ourselves occupied.  I spend my hours checking our Facebook, seeing what our “friends” back home have been up to, checking the local newspapers, and chatting.  Last Thursday we did start exams and we do that for two weeks.  So about 90 minute block a day for exams.  Then if any grade took an English exam, we spend a few hours marking the exams.  When that is finished, we are finished for the day.  Tomorrow we have grade 8, 10, and 11 exams to mark.  So not sure what time we’ll get out.  Don’t you feel sorry for me! 

Jennifer is spending her time organizing her stuff, cleaning her room, enjoying hour long lunches, and who knows what else.  She is enjoying taking tea breaks with her English and Irish co-workers.  She just goes to chat not drink tea.  Her hours are now something like 8 to 12.

Other teachers are always saying, “oh a rough day at work?” with our schedule being so short these days and in my head I tell myself, “Hey – we’ve earned this!”  Which we totally have.  All the long days dealing with the behavior issues, lack of support, and no one caring about any of us isn’t always easy.  But we’ve made it!  One year down – one to go!

The end of the trimester is always interesting because the students all of a sudden have the strong desire for the highest mark they can get!  I’ve dealt with all sorts of students and parents and never – EVER – have had parents ask for higher marks.  And I guess the difference is back home we’d grade various assignments and the averages were averages and that was that.  And we sent home documentation every three weeks notifying the parents where their students grades stood.  Here we don’t do that.  We work all semester on one research project and then typically one or two specific skill based assignments and that is their mark.  And typically at the end of the trimester they find out their mark.  The downside to that is when they find out their mark there is really nothing they can do.  Time is out.  No more classes.  But it doesn’t stop there!  I hear lots of, “Why teacher….Why?”  And then I rehash all the comments I’ve said all trimester long about their efforts and behavior.  And it’s like – HELLO – did you not believe me? But it is what it is!  I have been fortunate enough to not have parents constantly asking for higher marks and then pleading with other teachers to come to me and ask for higher marks.  Other English teachers at my school – not as lucky.  Can you imagine going to get another teacher in your child’s school and asking them to go to a specific teacher and ask for higher marks?  And then to top all that off, you somehow convince the school nurse to go and plea for higher marks.  The nurse.  And all of this after you were told that your child is lazy, disruptive, skips class, etc.  Okay – I’m over it! 

This is typically the season for graduations in the states and it’s not really any different here.  Well graduations are not as typical as we’re used to in the states.  My school had a recognition ceremony and I think it was for all the students, not just the grade 12 ones. But I’m not sure.  The only think I knew about the recognition ceremony was that there was one on Thursday at some school in town and we were not required to go.  Communication here is not something that is common.  But I was reading a neighbors blog and her summary of her schools graduation was great, I thought!  So I included it here: 

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Yesterday we had the grade 12 graduation. This is a 'big' event in the school calendar. As always I bought my own preconceived notions and experiences of what is a typical end-of-year celebration of academic success to the event. I thought I knew what to expect.

I should have known better.

Of course, as is consistent with my experiences in the UAE, this was an event like nothing I've ever witnessed before! Gone were the blue khandoras and black abayas and shailas. The gowns were beyond glamorous. The make-up was a face-mask. The sequins and glitter were beyond comparison. The shoe heels were toe-curling. The flower arrangements, balloon archway and golden carafes of tea and chocolate were in abundance. The time, energy, money and planning that had gone into presenting these beautifully coiffed young women was significant.

The fact that the Sheikha (one of the Sheik's daughters) attended and the level of security surrounding her helped to boost the significance of this event. All but one of the external doors were locked (yes, I know, mum) and 200 cellphones were taken from attendees upon their entrance. Upon entering the auditorium you couldn't be blamed for thinking you were in a totally different world; nay dimension!

Yet, the paradox of this country played out yet again during this graduation ceremony. This lavish affair was surprisingly accompanied by what I considered some rather unusual behaviours/traditions/activities (not sure which is the best word choice here!) by western (or at least NZ) standards.

1. At least 50 girls that I saw arrived very late to the proceedings. They got their cap and gown on and then headed to join their peers in the auditorium during the celebration. No worries. No need to be on time.

1. Whilst an effort to take cell phones off parents was made, during the proceedings I witnessed many mothers chatting on their cellphones and even more local teachers chatting and messaging on theirs while the performances and speeches were being made.

1. There was not one moment in the almost 2 hours (it went on for longer) that I saw where the audience were quiet. There seemed to be no compulsion to hold one's tongue at all during the event.

1. Tea and chocolates and petit-fours were brought around to the audience throughout the proceedings. No problem with eating.

1. No males were allowed. No fathers, no brothers to share in the celebrations...

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And here is a pic from the United Arab Emirates University graduation that a neighbor went to.  She had a student teacher who was graduating with a teaching degree.  I loved this pic! 

 

A month or so ago, Jennifer read some blurb in a local magazine about a photo contest that the  Al Ain Zoo was having.  They are looking for the photos for their 2013 calendar.  So I figured, well I have some interesting pics that I took at the zoo.  I thought they were interesting.  Well apparently they did too!  I got an email last week that one of my photos (guess it was one?) was selected for their 2013 calendar.  And the family is invited to the awards ceremony this Friday.  It’s like a whole evening deal.  They start with a tour of the zoo, then some shows, photo exhibition, award ceremony, and then dinner.  I was soooo excited!  Can’t wait to see what photo they chose!  I’m hoping it’s the penguin one.  That is one of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken!  Can’t wait to see it!  I CAN wait to sweat my butt off in the heat.  That will not be fun.  But I’m super excited!!!  

One of the best things about being in this region is the location to travel to soooo many awesome places. We have a friend coming to visit us July 12th! Then on July 22nd we are heading to Paris for several days before heading home to Houston . And the best part about this trip is that we get money to fly home in the summer and we planned it so our stop is in Paris and we’re not paying anything extra! Heck –we might even make some money on the travel! We’re going to Disney Paris for 3 days. The kids are going to love it! And then we’ll see the Eiffel tower. That’s all we’re interested in, I think. And then this Christmas – we’re heading to South Africa! Never would have thought we’d get the chance to go to South Africa! We’re going to enjoy Cape Town and go do a safari! Our kids are going to love seeing all the animals in the wild! Too exciting!!! We want to get in our travels because before we know it, we’ll be job hunting back in Houston and moving home!

For the time being, we’re enjoying our relaxed time here in the UAE with our friends before we all part and do our own thing for 6 weeks or so. I’m sure September will be here before we know it and we’ll be deep into year #2!

 

Caralyn lost her 4th tooth the other day.  She was saying it was hurting and it was bleeding a little. When she moved it forward I could see the bottom coming up.  So after some convincing, she just kept pushing and BAM! it fell right out.  She was so proud of herself!  Her brother just screamed out of frustration since he's lost zero.  She went to the mall today to spend her money.  That will be a fun time for Cole!