Miss Me?

So. It's October now. I have missed two whole months of blogging.

That's right, I've turned into one of Those Bloggers - you know, the ones who start with the grandest of intentions then disappear forever?

C'est moi.

I won't tell you how many other blogs/pages/identities I have online. Okay, I will. Closest estimate is...five email addresses, 8-10 blogs, 2-4 facebook pages, only one twitter (I deleted the other one), and semi-active participation on several fora. To say I don't blog is to say I don't blog here. The lack of internet access at school has actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as those are the few hours of the day/week/whatever when I'm not online, posting, thinking, digesting.

I think I may have to cut back.

ANYWAY.....

Right. So I live in Abu Dhabi now. My facebook page/group has turned into a mudslinging free-for-all with hints of sanity popping through from time to time. I try to avoid it and have more or less given up moderating - because they're all adults, and if "just sayin'" is the persona they want to put out there, then more power to them. Or less, as the case may be.

My apartment is small, and on the 18th floor. To the left I can see (besides more construction, which is the main architectural theme of Abu Dhabi) Sheikh Zayed Mosque, which is the Grand Mosque, which really is quite grand. (No. I haven't been yet. Colour me lazy.) To my right I can see the other buildings in my construction site/complex. They are much nicer looking and larger apartments...but I think we have fewer problems in our building. Behind me is the Executive Airport (Al Bateen?) and ahead of me in the distance is some body of water - ultimately the Arabian Gulf. It's not so bad.

My friends are, to my consternation, all teachers. I live in a commune (and not the hippie kind, either) filled with teachers and families of teachers. This is the very opposite of what I hoped for, living in Abu Dhabi rather than Al Ain. On the other hand, I live in a proper city. With, y'know, stuff to do.

There's plenty to do in Al Ain, of course. Just...not city things.

My school is about 30 minutes down to road toward Dubai. It's apparently a pretty big school, and quite old. (By old, I mean about 20-25 years. They don't have actual old buildings here, unless they're national heritage sites.) It's all girls, of course, and I'm slowly coming to grips with what my job actually entails. (This changes on a daily - even hourly - basis, so progress is by the inch.) My girls are in grade 11 and vary in age from 14 to 19. They are pretty evenly split Emirati & non-Emirati. Every day they tell me my eyes are so beautiful (which is disconcerting, until I remind myself that my appearance is in every single way a completely foreign appearance...but still feels odd) and that my hair IS NOT ORANGE. That's right, they think I'm blonde.

My sister will never accept this.

The year started out with titters and whispers and "Why are you so fat?" I expected this and am not offended. I mean, it's not a secret to me that I'm rather large, so why shy away from the fact? I took a page from Jack Black's book and simply told my students I like to eat! Ice cream is delicious, y'all. Ask Ben & Jerry.

Besides my physical appearance, my students seem to like me. It's an uphill struggle, and I have more than one student who just sits there and stares at me for the hour and does nothing. On the other hand, I have a few students who are overachievers. (I have NEVER taught overachievers before and am at a loss other than to tell them to bring something to do in class while we wait for the talkers to shut up. Not that I say shut up, of course.) One class I have promised to teach a Spanish word a day, and they in turn teach me a new Arabic word a day. Better still, they teach me correct pronunciation! Sort of. And they titter and giggle and laugh outright when I actually use Arabic.


Some things, though, are the same the world over. Students are SHOCKED (shocked, I tell you!) when you overhear their complaints - especially in another language - and answer them in English. On Thursday (last day of our week - which starts on Sunday, lest you think we have it easy...which we kind of do) one of my students was complaining in Arabic to her seatmate about the work they had to do and why they couldn't do it at home.

And I answered her! 


You have never seen eyes so wide and round. It was awesome. And instantly shared across the classroom - Miss knows Arabic!

That's right, girls. Don't mess with me. As my Spanish-speaking students in Texas quickly learned (and my English-speaking students in England always resented), I know everything.

Everything.

And that which I do not know, I can surmise, guess, learn, or assume. Therefore, it's a rare day that my students get away with anything that I am not aware of. Sure, the little treasures get away with things every day. But usually those are just battles I am too tired to fight. Though if I hear "Sorry, Miss" one more time, I might actually scoop out my eyeballs with the broken end of a pencil and hang them from the white board.



But I think this is more than enough of an update for the past 2 months. I've left out loads, added some details that are utterly useless to the majority, and no doubt offended someone somewhere about something. Well, so it goes. Happy reading, friends. Now send me comments so I'm inspired to post more often!




photos from the following: blog4students.wordpress.com & northjersey.com

When I don't post here...

When I don't post on my Official Moving To Abu Dhabi And Leaping Into The TEFL World blog, it's either because:

a) facebook has stolen my will to blog

b) facebook has stolen my will to live

c) I'm ranting somewhere else

d) I'm thinking VERY HARD about writing something for me, instead of for posterity

or  e) I'm busy.

Today, though, I started reading a blog from another teacher who went to the UAE last year. Her blog doesn't end well, but it's so interesting to read! And, I mean, even unhappy endings have their place. And this teacher posted something interesting and amusing seemingly every day during her wait to go to Abu Dhabi! That inspires me and makes me wish I was a better blogger (wish I were a better blogger? well, wish my antiquated grammatical rules were clearer, at any rate). Maybe I should strive to be amusing and entertaining (and sometimes informative) every day!

Maybe I should spend less time with my group of teachers on facebook.



Maybe I should go to the gym more.


Maybe I should eat less refined carbohydrates and drink more water.


Maybe I should. Alas, I mostly amble through life taking the path of least resistance and having a good time. (And teach to the best of my ability and the highest of my students' goals, of course!)




But.....I think I prefer to enjoy life. Maybe this is the thing that will see me through the dark days of confusion and cross-communication that not doubt lies ahead until I get my bearings in Abu Dhabi (well, that and the fact that I need this job something fierce): when all else fails, at least I can still have a laugh. Sit back, relax, let life happen as it will, rather than try to force it to conform to my ever buoyant expectations.

One thing I fear, going back into schools, is getting sucked into all the drama. Drama happens, and I kind of just shut down. That's my defence mechanism: turtle.

Are you done yet?

But schools - or more specifically, schoolteachers - are a tidal force of drama. We act out, each in our own ways but eerily similar to the ways our students act: primary teachers tell, secondary teachers clique up, and middle school teachers do a bit of both. And once the drama starts, it's REALLY hard to stop. Especially when you're me and want to listen to everything everyone has to say about whatever issue is supposedly at the root of any given drama.


(Note for posterity: just about all workplace drama - all manufactured drama in general, come to think of it - is an issue of pride, and whose pride is going to be sacrificed on a given day. Bleh.)

I am so not into drama that when I am bent on creating my own (and let's face it, everyone has those moments), I go to my rant blog. Everyone should have a rant blog. Mine is set to super-extra private and is not attached to my other blogs. It is where I go to express my psychological ugly side. Some people use actual journals instead of blogs, but I like the blogging. It feels like I've put my negative energy away from myself. Journals are great for secrets and writing trashy novels and making lists (my journals are all half shopping list, half daydream), but secrets and lists are things to be kept. Ranting is something that, when I'm done with it, I want far from me.

And then I listen to some classic Tim Minchin or Russell Brand clips, have a laugh, and carry on with my life.


Still not posting.

Until something comes up.

Which it hasn't.

Yet.


Thank pete.









(ps - sometimes, when I'm in a really dark place, I watch Josh Groban on NMTB or listen to this song. And I can't help but be happy again!)

pps - or this:

best song in the WORLD

Read. These. Things. I Mean It!

I know I've posted several blogs about different things I think everyone interested in going to Abu Dhabi to TEFL should read. This time I'm collecting everything in one place.

I try to keep "required reading" to a minimum, because really, other than me, who's going to read every single word they can find about AD? And after awhile it all gets a touch repetitive. That said, there are some pretty basic questions that could be answered by doing a little research before you ask. Or at least you'll get a feel of the place first. I'm a big advocate of getting a feel for a place. So here are some things YOU should read in order to get a feel, collect a basic understanding, at least find some sort of grounding on which to base the rest of your everything.

• A Diamond in the Desert by Jo Tatchell
• Lonely Planet: Oman, UAE & the Arabian Peninsula 
• UAE - Culture Smart!
• Your First 100 Words in Arabic 
• Arabic for Dummies (There's also Intermediate Arabic for Dummies, but take it one step at a time.)
• 17 Questions... by Beverly Gallagher 
• Dave's ESL Cafe
• The National, Khaleej Times, Al Ittihad (in Arabic, but translate until you don't need to), Time Out Abu Dhabi (local/national papers, plus Time Out for socialising outside the teacher scene)
• UK vs US Spelling (for practice teaching English to the ADEC standards)  

I have mentioned all or nearly all of these things to read before, but now they're all collected in one place. Now let me break it down (and perhaps add other bonus reads, or links, or whatever, for fun).

A Diamond in the Desert is a travel narrative - one person's experience visiting Abu Dhabi & writing about it. Jo Tatchell is a Brit whose family lived in Abu Dhabi when it was still a frontier town, and she watched the city (and the country) grow up, more or less with her. It's eye-opening in very small ways, actually, but a slow read or re-read will give you an excellent beginning understanding of how Abu Dhabi really works. And how we work within it. Many Western teachers often come across as "We're coming over here to fix your broken system, and this is how you treat us?" It may not be intentional, but it will still get you nowhere fast. A Diamond in the Desert will help you remember how nonessential you really are - that you are merely a visitor, not the savior of the EFL world. And on the subject of being a foreign visitor invited to teach in a Gulf country, have a look at The Woman Who Fell from the Sky by Jennifer Steil. It's about Yemen but still relevant and quite fascinating.

The Lonely Planet Oman UAE etc is the only travel guide that spends much time at all on the UAE outside Dubai. I do prefer Rough Guides generally, but Lonely Planet still caters to the backpacking, adventurous sort of traveller. While you may prefer hotels to hostels, please just trust me when I say Fodors, Frommers, etc are not the travel guides you want for the UAE. It's kind of expensive as books go, around US$30 for the 2010 edition, but if you can't afford to buy all the books on my list, this one will give you a brief overview of everything. I'm always open to new travel guide recommendations, so if you have any, let me know!

Here is where I will link the obligatory LP travel forum: Thorn Tree, and the (in my opinion far more useful) sturdiest competitor BootsnAll. (The whole site is pretty fantastic, but hit up the discussion forums for all kinds of great travel advice.)

Culture Smart UAE is geared more toward business travellers. But it's quite short, about 100 pages, and actually pocket-sized, and packed with useful facts and tables. Read it at least once, make notes, and remember that it's just foundational. But ladies, if you want to know why men don't shake your hand like you're their equal, you'll likely find your answer herein. Additionally it's got the sort of facts and figures the family back home want to know. (Where is Abu Dhabi? Is it safe? How big is it? What time zone are you in? and so on...) I have heard tell of other good AD books; here is an Amazon.com list.

Your First 100 Words in Arabic will teach you classical Arabic, 100 basic words, with flashcards, games, pronunciation, etc. It also comes with a CD, all for under US$20. I take my flashcards with me to work and study them between customers. Compare that with the complete Rosetta Stone Arabic course at US$749 and you may understand why I chose to learn just 100 words. Arabic for Dummies was recommended to me by a customer (I work at a book shop until I start teaching in Abu Dhabi) from Lebanon, who was studying his Arabic at a higher level and said this was a great guide for beginners. It's a great stepping stone once you're at least vaguely comfortable with those first 100 words. 

The BootsnAll article, 17 Questions You Should Ask Before Accepting a TEFL Job, is something I have mentioned a number of times and even created a page for at the top of this blog. I really cannot recommend it enough. These are essential questions you ought to know the answers to before you sign your contract with ADEC or indeed with any TEFL provider. And while I'm talking about pages at the top of this blog, check out the ADEC home page (translate into English) and the ADEC FAQ and assorted links from there. And of course read through ALL the notes and discussion threads going back around 2 years on the Teach Away facebook page. 

Dave's ESL Cafe should be a first stop for any aspiring TEFLer. Go. Read. Ask questions. Read some more. And listen to the generally sage advice of those who've been there, done that, and retired after 20-40 years of doing it. 

As far as the national newspapers, start reading them now. Learn things. Read about what's news in the country you want to make your next home. Get a feel for the news, the style, the interests...Plus, as a grown-up about to embark on an international lifestyle, you should be reading international papers anyway. For more news, pick some other countries and some other news sources in those countries. If all you watch is CNN or Fox News, and all you read is your local news or Yahoo news, you're missing out on the whole rest of the world. More to the point, you're missing out on how the rest of the world thinks. About the world, about themselves, about us (whoever "us" may be). Let me leap up onto a soapbox for a minute. FOLLOW INTERNATIONAL NEWS. FROM INTERNATIONAL OUTLETS.  Because you're smart enough to know that not everyone thinks like you do. Or, for that matter, like I do. And as a teacher, it's essential that you understand there is more than one angle to every tale.

Time Out is for fun. Because, I mean, sometimes you just gotta get out and do something. Go to a concert, get prime seats at the latest hottest restaurant or club or event, figure out exactly which mall is the right mall for the day's shopping needs. Whims. Whatever. 

As to the spelling link, well, by now you might be aware that English in Abu Dhabi uses British spellings, leans toward an Australian curriculum, and hires North American teachers. (I think that's just down to sheer numbers, though.) I taught in England before, and spent some time in Ireland as a student, and you catch on pretty quickly. A good way to increase your acceptance of UK English, though, is to utilise it (see what I did there?) on your blog, in your journal, in letters home, etc. I haven't got a link to the whispered NSW curriculum, but that's because the curriculum for Abu Dhabi is actually still being revised, revamped and developed. You'll probably be flying by the seat of your pants, so think more about creating a curriculum than following one. Just learn your British spellings. 

These are the things I  think are essential to at least review. You may think differently or have more/better/other resources to recommend. I am open to all suggestions but prefer the essential to the interesting. At least when it comes to recommending it to, like, everyone. Tell me what you have used, read, found important in a comment!

Travel

The more I read the blogs and facebook posts of UAE teachers, the less I think they have travelled.

Now, I'll be honest, I'm probably rather unusual in this regard, as I've been travelling (and living!) overseas since 1996. And even within the US I tend to move to whole different subcultures every time I pack my bags. I don't have many roots, and I'm not terribly attached to any traditions other than going out for coffee and watching the world wander by. And I really don't get homesick. And I really do love living in new places.


So maybe I'm a weirdo. I mean, I, like everyone, get frustrated in the face of a new way of doing something I did quite successfully elsewhere...but in the end, I'm usually flexible enough to take new standards in stride. Two hours to get to the mall in Bangkok? No problem. The dead of night at 3pm? Kind of comforting. Rain 360 days of the year? Is this heaven??!?

(Of course, that last will be practically nonexistent in the UAE, but I think I can be flexible and substitute rain for relentless sunshine.)

What I like most about travelling is the flexible concept of time that most other cultures enjoy. Except when I lived in Britain (where time is kept at least as stringently as it is in the US) - and when I visited Germany - the people of the world (so far) are far less tense about time, on time, late, early, convenience and speed of service, etc. Life is more about people. Other people, usually.

I'm not spectacular about chattering with other people, but I like people. I find them interesting. And I'm usually more than willing to put aside a task (any task, really; I'm not terribly task-oriented) to deal with a person. This proved quite useful in an alternative school environment but was less impressive elsewhere. Whatever. It is a good habit 90% of the time.

Anyway. I like to travel. I'm not too fussed about the traditions of "home" (which topic is a post all its own), and I've managed not to put down roots anywhere much at all - or, conversely, I've put down little roots all over the place! It doesn't take much for me to feel at home, and I quickly find a semblance of balance in any new setting.

I see that a number of new teachers haven't had that experience before they moved to Abu Dhabi. Which is a pity, really, because the stress of forcing a new place to feel like an old place...is just one more stress added to a teacher's day, and it's a stress that's never resolved.

The lucky teachers adjust, find a new normal. The unlucky ones spend a year or two in an untenable situation, possibly sticking it out for the pay, probably giving themselves ulcers in the meantime.

I count myself among the very lucky ones, who've been in that place before - that place of understanding nothing but kind of enjoying it, actually - and have the experience to handle new challenges. Everywhere is different, no one does it like they do back home, and that's not bad or backwards - it's just different.

I like different.

And I strongly believe everyone should have a passport and get out of the country once in awhile!

On Culture Shock...On Lies

Recently (within the past few days), I've read a lot of negativity, on the TA facebook page, on ESL Cafe, and on the blogs. And SOOOOOOO much of it comes down to accusations of lying.

That's right. Teachers have begun to publicly accuse the government organisation that has brought them to the UAE as a part of a 10-year education reform, of lying. Of being untrustworthy, scamalicious, thieving liars.

It's very very difficult for me to believe.

Then again, it's not. It seems that many of the teachers hired over the summer have never travelled outside the US before (it seems that a majority of the complaints come, predictably, from Americans), or if they have, they have never encountered problems that their perceived status as Americans couldn't solve. These seem, for the most part, to be people who have always got their way - or at least always gotten what was promised them.

Let me be quite clear: there are always a few people whose problems or complaints are legitimate and cause for concern. This is NEVER the majority. And I am very sorry for those encountering legitimate and very trying situations. And I hope everything gets sorted out soon.


Now. Back to the whole lying thing.


Sometimes, being a Protestant or being raised in a Protestant-based society can pose problems for us once we leave the US. Or indeed, once we leave the comfortable mostly black-and-white concept of reality we grew up with. Everyone in the international working world is aware of the concept of saving face, but we seem to apply it only to Far Eastern cultures (Japan, mostly). Dear teacher, do you really think only the Japanese are concerned about saving face? It just takes a slightly different form in Middle Eastern culture.

My feeling is, take the concept or the essence of anything that's said, and leave the exact wording behind. It's about presenting a calm and prepared and unified facade, whatever's going on underneath. Problems are not solved, they're consensus-ed. The goal in most dilemmas is to reach an agreement through discussion or debate or back-room dealings.

Example: ADEC says "You will receive an AED20,000 furniture allowance." The essence of that statement is: "We will make sure you have some shelter of some sort. Furnished."

ADEC says "You will be paid on the 30th of each month." Well, honestly. Deadlines in a people-oriented nation? See my last post for thoughts on that. The essence of that statement is: "You will be paid." Sooner or later.

Teach Away says "Be ready to fly out on 1 August." The essence...actually, the essence in this instance is the same. But "be ready to" and "you will" are two very different realities.




See, situations like what's happening now with new Western teachers in the UAE are more about preparation and perception than any kind of underhandedness or deviousness on the part of ADEC or Teach Away. The facts are: this is a HUGE education overhaul. This is a HUGE undertaking of both people and resources. 1000 is a HUGE number of people to transport overseas from a handful of different countries, and then to house and pay and organise. The ADEC office in charge of all of this HUGE-ness is, in comparison, quite small. A few people. Maybe a dozen. Probably not 100. And they're still hiring more people for January and then for next year.

ADEC is trying to turn the UAE education system into a bilingual education system. In less than a generation. And this is the forefront. Militarily speaking, these first 2 years are like the grunt on point in a scouting mission: whatever dreadfulness is out there will obliterate the point man, but everyone coming after will have a smoother time because of it.

ADEC is not lying to us. Not as we perceive lying in our forthright American culture. They are telling teachers what they think the teachers want to hear. They are telling them what is more or less true. They are giving the company line. We are just not used to being told anything other than the facts, regardless of how dire. Or if we're promised something, we expect the promise to pan out, and quickly.

Seriously, can you imagine going to your principal or the School Board in the US and saying, "But you promised!" when something doesn't go as expected? How far do you think that'd get you?

It's just not America over there. It's the UAE, and like it or not, your personal comfort is not their priority. Your expectations are not their priority. I'm sorry, it stinks, but they're not out to get you. And they're not lying in order to get their hands on your money or anything like that. It's just a big Gordian knot no one's figured out how to cut yet. So in order to prepare, do your research. Read about Abu Dhabi and more important, read about the business culture there. (I recommend Culture Smart! UAE, or similar.) Get used to the idea that your plans are not of any importance at all. And try to remember that you're one of THOUSANDS, and there's just one guy in the office trying to sort everything out. (Also, make copies of EVERYTHING - EVERYTHING!!! - before you hand anything over.)

Sooner or later, someone will find a sword.

On Culture Shock...On Time

from October 2010

A lot of people say a lot of things about culture shock. And, I mean, why not add my .02 to the collection? I probably haven't got anything new to add, but I think I'll still talk about it.

First, my lovelies, it is muy importante to understand that the UAE is a Middle Eastern country. (What? I hear you ask, Really? No need to be snarky, people!) What this means is that the culture of the UAE is not time-oriented. It is people-oriented, even event-oriented. Time, timeliness, and silly little things like deadlines are pretty much of least importance, rather than most.

Guys. Seriously. WRITE THAT DOWN. The UAE is a people-oriented, rather than time-oriented culture. Now copy it out 100 or 1 million (or 1 dozen) times until the concept sinks in. Then practice your waiting skills. Because honey, you will wait. A lot. Like right now, when you will have to wait for the rest of this post, as I am at work in my Western time-oriented job, and I have to go punch a time clock two minutes ago.

There. I'm back. As a people-oriented rather than time-oriented person, I missed my scheduled break, in which I was going to write more of this post, and make it about more than just the time issue, but there you go. I was busy chatting with customers, so didn't take my break at the scheduled time, so missed it altogether (because I am still in a time-oriented culture, friends) and now have to blog after work. Which is what I'm doing now. Hello!

Anyhow. Back to the people vs time thing. As I read notes and discussions and other blogs, I'm finding that so-called culture shock is really more of a time shock than anything.

Full Disclosure: I've never lived, worked, or even travelled in the Middle East, let alone the UAE. But I have lived, worked, and travelled in other people-oriented cultures.

Thailand - laid-back, we'll get there when we get there, don't worry, it's okay. Jamaica - almost off the charts in its laid-back approach to life (island time ftw!) Even Ireland, though a Western European country, is more relaxed about time and schedules and things like that. Italy - well, we all know about Italy, don't we? Siesta country is good country; I support the siesta. Actually, even London, where I most recently lived and worked for a year, was less uptight about schedules and times than we are in the majority of the US.

London still falls under the Western time-oriented culture umbrella, though. Dang Protestant work ethic.

I feel at least slightly mentally prepared for the people orientation of the UAE (where, if someone comes into your classroom mid-lesson, you stop and help the person; there is no come back later) in that it is my psychological preference (according to the Myers-Briggs personality test, which you can take in essence here) and a good portion of my international experience.

A number of teacher blogs (see list, right) talk about the frustration with time, solid answers, definite times, schedules, approximate dates, time, deadlines, and time. Also time. Especially wasted time spent waiting for things that may or may not happen.

So let's talk about time.

The best and easiest solution to the culture/time shock is to always bring something to do. An eReader is dead handy when you don't know how long you'll be waiting. A camera or a sketchpad or a quilting block might also work.

Next, start practicing now for weeks of exercises in futility. My recommendation: hang out at the DMV. Better, pretend you're in 1985 and do everything without the modern conveniences of wifi and computers and mobile phones and all the rest. Try reading this page with a super-slow 1990s dial-up modem. Write a letter. Cook meals from scratch without the pleasure of a Kitchen Aid, a microwave, or a reliable stove. Camp. Do these things not because the UAE is backwards, or behind, or not modern (oh boy, are they modern!) or anything so ridiculous. Do these things instead because they will give you a new and more relevant concept of time. Then, for a real glimpse into how time is used in the UAE, repave the sidewalk in front of your house, using a herringbone pattern of different coloured bricks, by hand, stopping daily at around 1, for a couple of hours, then knocking off entirely at 4 or 5. Start in front of your door. Leave piles of things wherever you like, regardless of convenience for people like the postman or your children, etc.

Because some things, like personal convenience, are not of premiere importance. In fact, personal convenience comes way down the list in Middle Eastern culture. Again, not because they're somehow backwards or unworldly (seriously, have you seen Dubai?), but because as a culture they have different priorities. And your personal schedule? It's really no one's priority but your own.

I don't think I can emphasise that one enough.

There's a phrase I'm reading quite often: schway schway. It means slowly slowly, or like the water, or something like that. In essence it means, don't worry, it'll all work out, chill.

This is an important concept for all of us Westerners to bear in mind as we go through the process of interviewing and hiring and starting to work in Abu Dhabi. Just chill. Do what you can, then trust that it'll all work out. Because one way or another, it will.

Promise.

Read.

from September 2010

Today I started reading Culture Smart! - UAE. Also, my Urdu book came in. And some of my lovely bloggers decided to update their blogs today. All in all, a good reading day. Plus, I've decided on my ereader. I'm getting a nook, but I'm waiting to see if they go down in price any more for the hols.

That's all, really. OH WAIT!!!

No it's not. I also discovered dubizzle, thanks to Brandy's blog, and I had an epiphany.

Some of you who know me in real life (or via twitter) will know that I lived in London in 2009. And you may know some of the details of my living arrangement there (my studio flat was about 100 square feet, including bathroom). I paid GBP560 for the privilege of living in that flat. Well, today on dubizzle (seriously, guys, dubizzle), I had a glance at studio flats in Abu Dhabi. The majority of the flats were 500 square feet. Now, mind, prices varied between AED45 and 75000 p/a, but that actually works out to only about $200 (to double the price, depending on location) more per month than I was paying for an 8x12 room in London!

I mean, I don't think I even know what to do with 500 square feet!

And this was my epiphany: I neither need nor want a palatial villa in the desert. Like Eliza Doolittle, all I want is a room somewhere. (With internet. And on a bus route. Also air-conditioned. The rest is 100% negotiable.)

From the Blogs

Well, I have now completed my personal reading list (which is every blog of every teacher listed in the UAE Teacher blogroll, right), and I guess I have a few reactions.

lol, I guess. As if there was any chance I wouldn't have a few reactions. I am all reaction all the time!

First reaction: It's very much a hurry-up-and-wait process, this getting hired & transported & placed & settled in Abu Dhabi. And to every question of when, the answer seems to be, "Don't worry, it'll all work out. Inshallah." Which, I'll admit, is kind of how I approach my life anyhow, sans inshallah, so I'm trying to practice patience and a mellow attitude. Which is totally working. Maybe. Well, on Tuesdays anyway.

Second: The first week or 2 (or 3) are spent in the very lap of luxury for orientation. All anyone seems to be able to talk about/post pictures of are the opulent digs and out-of-this-world breakfast spread. No doubt when my turn comes, I'll do and think similar, but it seems a little bit silly to me sitting here on my lumpy bed in South Carolina, how "ooh!" and "ahh!" many of the bloggers are about food and damask curtains. It's a resort, after all. (Of course, I'm ridiculously excited about the possibility of a Waitrose as near as Dubai and will probably blog at length the first time I visit. And people will shake their heads and sigh. Also IKEA, though that's not quite as amazing and wow, since it's nearly everywhere.)

Third: All the wait-and-see is psychologically draining. Blogs that start out all excited and hopeful and I-can't-wait! are slowly but surely--actually, rather quickly, come to think of it--running out of steam. Irritants are showing up. Loneliness and homesickness peek through between paragraphs. Frustration....oh, the frustration. And as part of the frustration, a deep questioning of the decision to put their (the bloggers'/teachers') lives in the hands of Teach Away, ADEC, or anything/anyone outside the norm of what they've been used to. I can see very clearly the need to adopt a "whatever, it'll all work out" attitude. Quickly. And to hold onto it with all of my being.

Fourth: There are a lot of religious people. Maybe I notice the religiosity, overt or covert, because until pretty recently I'd be in there giving it all up to God with them. Or maybe this is how all non-believers read religious people's blogs. (Note: I am talking about the Good Christian Girls and Boys. Also note I am not bothered by all the religion going on - if it makes them happy, so be it. I just know it didn't make me happy, and few days in my life have been more freeing than the one on which I left all that religion behind. About a year ago. So being non-religious is a new thing for me, which is probably why I notice it so much in the blogs I've been reading.) A couple of blogs stand out for not being so innately religious.

Fifth: My blog has a vastly different...tone. Apparently I am bothered about things that More Serious People are not (read: clothes). At least not in the same way. And I'm just not that serious. I gave up serious when I gave up being religious. Also, from time to time, I swear. Stephen Fry is right about that. And I don't talk an awful lot about teaching (that will probably change as I re-immerse myself in academia. Or education. Which is sometimes quite a different beast.) Well, whatever, I enjoy my tone. Humorous, I like to pretend. Flippant, probably. Eager, like the nerd I am.

I dunno, this is just the way I've always approached life. Bumping into harsh reality from time to time but mainly existing in a realm of laughter and whimsy. I suppose I simply don't take life all that seriously. Well, and why would I? Few things are actually that serious. The rest-- Well, I suppose if you do your best, please your bosses, and meet/surpass expectations, the rest is just fun times, innit? Even when it's not?

Anyway, I am looking forward to my next read-through of the UAE blogroll. I think I'll wait a week and see how everyone's settled in. That'll be informative for sure!




eta: also, a lot of these teachers (on the fb board, not necessarily the bloggers) seem not to be travellers in real life. This leap to AD seems to be a Major Life Change. And, okay, fair enough. But that's another difference. I feel like I've been in transit my whole life long, and an international mover for (omg) fourteen years. Maybe that is the main reason I'm not all that het up about moving or waiting (and waiting, and waiting, etc).

Reading

While I wait for new communication from Teach Away, I have decided to seek out more blogs. I found a list (so far, primarily new teachers), which I've linked, right, and am working my way through. Amazing to think that if I had been responsible and fearless and turned in my application in June, I might already be Over There, but oh well. This way I can learn from those who have gone before. And later this week I'm going to start gathering again my assorted bits of paperwork for international job placement.

Good times.