The IB rocks.

This is an excellent video that outlines the Learner Profile in the IB curriculum. It sums up a great deal of why I am so keen to participate in this model of education.

I am debt free!!!!!!!!!

My Classroom

My house

My House:

If you can see the two guys at the window, they are cleaning off this strange white film that was covering my entire two story window. Out this window is a view of our bay on the Red Sea. We (that is, the maintenance department) had to put up scaffolding on my balcony to do it, but now I have one of the best views on campus. Here's hoping I get to keep it. This apartment is fantastic.

Notes from a broad (title suggestion by my ever hilarious former teaching partner. Thanks Cheryl!)

Here in the land of heat and sand,

work and more work is the task at hand.

Watching movie after movie is the thing I've found

to occupy my time while living in this compound.

It's true that only the mad dogs and the English men,

go outside when the desert sun beats down on them.

While none would classify me as English, male, or dog,

I wonder upon midday street: for what did I sign on?

To find the life in this hot place, (did I mention that it's hot?)

I've come to see that real life is not in the places that I thought.

Melanie and Nestor, who come from the Philippines

or Solomon from India, are here, like me, for means.

This unlikely global community in the House of Saud,

all have hope for something more, insha-Allah, if it's the will of God.

Tolerance for 'isms' is the template of our lives,

we'll put up with almost anything for the cash we'll put aside.

Now don't get me wrong, god forbid, it's not that I have a bad attitude.

It's just that travel adventures in Saudi Arabia seem to elude,

the quaint village-children-street food scenes one finds in the developing world.

Instead it has been like The Truman Show, a strange mall, a fishbowl world.

And yet, when at dusk I close my eyes to the wind filled with subtle rich call,

Come pray, sings the man, again and again. His lifetime to beckon us all.

And so, I contemplate imperfection, and how much I still have to learn,

and trust my truth to reveal itself. My home still needs to be earned.

new things

Air conditioner: off, ha! Take that, 40 degrees celsius.

Hijab: on, comfortably.

Crazy-white-full-size-window-stickers covering my beautiful view of the harbor: gone!

No drinky-drinky: happy liver and organ function. While I hesitate online to be too explicit with this description, lets suffice it to say that upon indulging in (a small amount of) local homemade treats I woke up feeling fuzzy and think I can do without except for special occasions! It kind of made me cognizant of the fact that it's actually POISON.

Beyond compound walls: discovered. Hee hee, after passing through the 2 majorly guarded gates of the university our taxi drive (Samual, from India) pulled over so that he and Chris (my borrowed husband for the evening) could sort out the mp3 player and plug it in. Behind us drives up a large National Guard vehicle with full spotlights lighting up our car, with a full on loud speaker demanding Samual to get out and identify our intentions. A little chaos ensued with the fumbling of cables and us unrolling our windows to say "oh sorry, we're just trying to get our tunes set-up!". Samual went over to them, made some hand gestures implying "whoopsy, sorry!" (he doesn't speak Arabic either being from India) and we were on our way. My thoughts on this: awesome! Not only are we very well protected (no random cars stopping outside the university walls, thank you very much), but if it's just some dumb-ass foreigners fumbling with an mp3 player you just get checked out and encouraged politely to mosey on your way! The National Guard, in this case, was most rational.

The little town outside the university: dumpy and refreshing, with not a woman to be found. Actually, we spied one making her way across the main road, which I mistakenly identified as a back road (silly me). Samual said, "oh no, madame, this is the only road". Cats everywhere and shops that could have been in any part of the hot developing world (you know the kind: cement pad in front, mini garage door opening, weak AC and a fan blowing, selling a random assortment of fishing, kitchen, household supplies...). Did I mention we (Liz - Chris's real wife) and I were the only women? There was sand and garbage dropped everywhere, and the fresh odor of rot and fish wafting by - but not consistently. We also found an awesome restaurant that we will go back to because it looked GREAT. You pick out your fish - like, a whole one, from the ice counter - and then they fry or roast it for you. The also serve other lebanese-like yummies. I'll have to try it and let you know how it is. I have a feeling that that restaurant is going to be a saving grace from the insulate nature of the university.

If you are wondering why I only say "the university", it's because online it's better not to have the name come up, just in case I say something too controversial on here and incriminate myself. Safety first!

Thanks for reading - feel free to write back!

C xo

The school

however..... this school has a strong mission and vision. It is filled with people who are really keen to implement a top notch international program. Personal integrity and professional dedication are high. I think collaboration is going to be fun and easy.

I have been assigned grades 1 - 5 performing arts. So that means that I get the kids three times per week for 45 minutes. I am welcome to teach them music, dance, and/or drama. This is great because not only do I see them more often that I normally have at most other schools I have taught, but the program can be more comprehensive and hopeful connect authentically with what they are doing in class.

My room is on hold. It is currently full of giant computer desks that are not gr 1-5 appropriate. So once those are moved out, and after I do some major shopping this weekend (which is tomorrow!! - TGIW, baby!), I think I will be feeling better about my classroom.

I met one of the other music teachers today and he is very keen, experienced, and creative. The secondary program is intense - strings, wind, brass, percussion, choral, and various other 'world music' ensembles. Not to mention the music technology stations. It's going to take some time and money to get my program up to a similar level. (Hopefully not too much of my own money!)

Miranda and I have been invited to a dinner party tonight with a group of returning teachers, so that will be nice. Miranda is an early childhood teacher from LA/Texas who is new to the school this year. We will be traveling to Dubai together in September during Eid if we can get tickets. I need to book those asap! My friend Fonseca, who used to teach at Greybrook, will be in Dubai by next week teacher there, so we will stay with him. It's fun to have friends all over the world.

Well, byebye for now. Take care anybody who is reading this!