Well, have just returned from a day of 'work'. Feels weird that it should be taking place on a Sunday though. In Abu Dhabi the weekend is Friday and Saturday, so we work on Sunday.
We caught the bus at around 7.20am this morning. I was well awake already having slept from 9pm last night to 3.30am this morning. I attempted to doze only to be woken at 4.45am by the morning alarm; a man who says a prayer over a loud speaker that can be heard everywhere. This happens of course a number of times a day.
So today was very informative in terms of curriculum, cultural sensitivity, appropriate clothing and what will happen from here on. It would seem that tomorrow we will receive an envelope with a stamped letter stating where we will be living. We don't yet have confirmation of our schools - but they are very keen that we should get started teaching as the schools are crying out for us to join them. By Tuesday morning hopefully we will find out when we will be heading off to Al Ain. Initially we will be in a hotel while they sort our accommodation.
It is 40 degrees right now but doesn't feel like it outside. I might be starting to get used to the heat! I'm going to head out soon with Emma to buy some school supplies and maybe have a look at purchasing an Abaya. This will become the regular work outfit which pretty much covers me completely. It is a respectful garment to wear as a teacher and will be well received by the staff and students. Some of the abaya are very plain; simple black, and others are absolutely beautiful with embroidery. The Emirate women are beautiful in the array of abaya worn, and at times it is hard to keep from staring at the magnificent colours and adornments.
The funniest thing happened at a mall a couple of days ago. It just shows that this is a place of irony at times. Abu Dhabi has surprised me with its lack of strictness in may ways. You still see people wearing shorts, t shirts and sometimes quite revealing western outfits in malls and around the place. However, it is also a country that is conservative and there are many things that one can and cannot do. Emma and I were looking at the paperbacks in the mall and to our shock saw a book that had us in fits of laughter. It isn't the kind of book you would think acceptable on a shop shelf in Abu Dhabi! You can see it in the photo where Emma is having a good read!
Despite not being in the 5 star hotel that the other LTs were accommodated in, we've decided that we're actually more fortunate. Our hotel rooms are roomy and clean, and have all the comforts of home. We have a fridge, microwave, freezer and washer/dryer. The Lts who were in the 5 star hotels had none of these and were required to eat at the hotel or go out. They were not allowed to bring food into the hotel and had no way of doing washing except to pay huge prices for the hotel laundry service. Last night we dined on chicken pot pie and a home made salad with ingredients purchased at one of the supermarkets (which are all attached to the big malls). We're proving to be very resourceful and frugal kiwis!
One of the great things about being here is the contact with the kiwis who are also LTs. There's a real camaraderie amongst us and a shared approach to the most difficult of situations that continue to test our resilience. It is great how those who have been here longer have reached out to us newbies and traveled us around to show us the sites.
Ka kite ano
We caught the bus at around 7.20am this morning. I was well awake already having slept from 9pm last night to 3.30am this morning. I attempted to doze only to be woken at 4.45am by the morning alarm; a man who says a prayer over a loud speaker that can be heard everywhere. This happens of course a number of times a day.
So today was very informative in terms of curriculum, cultural sensitivity, appropriate clothing and what will happen from here on. It would seem that tomorrow we will receive an envelope with a stamped letter stating where we will be living. We don't yet have confirmation of our schools - but they are very keen that we should get started teaching as the schools are crying out for us to join them. By Tuesday morning hopefully we will find out when we will be heading off to Al Ain. Initially we will be in a hotel while they sort our accommodation.
It is 40 degrees right now but doesn't feel like it outside. I might be starting to get used to the heat! I'm going to head out soon with Emma to buy some school supplies and maybe have a look at purchasing an Abaya. This will become the regular work outfit which pretty much covers me completely. It is a respectful garment to wear as a teacher and will be well received by the staff and students. Some of the abaya are very plain; simple black, and others are absolutely beautiful with embroidery. The Emirate women are beautiful in the array of abaya worn, and at times it is hard to keep from staring at the magnificent colours and adornments.
The funniest thing happened at a mall a couple of days ago. It just shows that this is a place of irony at times. Abu Dhabi has surprised me with its lack of strictness in may ways. You still see people wearing shorts, t shirts and sometimes quite revealing western outfits in malls and around the place. However, it is also a country that is conservative and there are many things that one can and cannot do. Emma and I were looking at the paperbacks in the mall and to our shock saw a book that had us in fits of laughter. It isn't the kind of book you would think acceptable on a shop shelf in Abu Dhabi! You can see it in the photo where Emma is having a good read!Despite not being in the 5 star hotel that the other LTs were accommodated in, we've decided that we're actually more fortunate. Our hotel rooms are roomy and clean, and have all the comforts of home. We have a fridge, microwave, freezer and washer/dryer. The Lts who were in the 5 star hotels had none of these and were required to eat at the hotel or go out. They were not allowed to bring food into the hotel and had no way of doing washing except to pay huge prices for the hotel laundry service. Last night we dined on chicken pot pie and a home made salad with ingredients purchased at one of the supermarkets (which are all attached to the big malls). We're proving to be very resourceful and frugal kiwis!
One of the great things about being here is the contact with the kiwis who are also LTs. There's a real camaraderie amongst us and a shared approach to the most difficult of situations that continue to test our resilience. It is great how those who have been here longer have reached out to us newbies and traveled us around to show us the sites.
Ka kite ano
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