Christmas 2013

It is that time of the year again.   The time has flown by, and I can't believe that Christmas is almost here.  For once I feel like I'm running behind schedule with most items, like this Christmas letter.  

My second year here in Dubai has been more comfortable, but the whirl wind continues.  The pace at work is faster than ever.   I have to say that I love my students, and I love the curriculum that I am teaching.

With that being said, I want each of you to know that you are in my thoughts constantly.   I am so thankful for all of your support!   Follow me in the review of the year.  I hope I remember everything.

J-just another new year

a-an amazing night under the stars in the Maldives

n-new year with new friends

u-underwater with whale sharks

a-another sunny day

r-running in the morning, still

y-yawning in the afternoon

F-feeling chilly in the early morning

e-easing into a routine, finally

b-becoming familiar with Dubai

r-running, running, running

u-under the covers in the cool evenings

a-away in Doha with the MUN students

r-resting on the couch

y-taking with friends

M-marching to the beat of KHDA inspection

a-away to Miramar with students for WWW

r-reacing for the regulator and diving with students

c-checking to make sure all of the kids are tucked in

h-having fun in the sun

A-aiplane trip to Turkey

p-playing in cappadocia with Wendy

i-Instanbul was amazing

l-laughing during our hot air balloon ride

M-making plans for the summer

a-away at the beach

y-yearning for June

J-just counting down the final days

u-unfortunetely saying goodbye to some good friend

n-next stop - Colorado Springs, Las Vegas, and Utah

e-enjoying snuggle with the cats

J-jogging in the daylight

u-unbelievable time with friends

l-laughing with Audrey in Crested Butte

y-yesh - I'm sick of y's

A-accepting that it is time to go back to Dubai

u-using the last days to pack and rearrange clothes

g-getting the luggage ready to go

u-unsually upset about leaving the cats again

s-saying goodbyes, again

t-time to greet Dubai

S-school starts

e-evaporating out in the heat and humidity

p-planning for Eid break

t-time to have fun with friends

e-enjoying old and new friends

m-making plans for Christmas

b-beach going 

e-exalting in the less hot mornings

r-relaxing in the sun

O-organizing a birthday brunch

c-countless choices of semi--precious stones in Katmandu

t-time to catch another flight

o-off to explore Katmandu

b-being caught off guard with life in Katmandu

e-enjoying my birthday with friends

r-running in the cool mornings - finally

N-nothing like baking banana bread and making toffee

o-opening up new adventures

v-visiting with friends

e-enjoying some down time over UAE Day break

m-making candid yams for out Thanksgiving dinner

b-basking in the sun, yes, in November

e-enjoying Thanksgiving with friends and peanut butter M&Ms

r-roaming around Abu Dhabi

D-decking the Christmas camel with holly

e-excitment building for Thailand

c-counting down the days until break

e-enjoying the Clarke's 30th

m-making to an IB Workshop on International Mindedness

b-busy as all heck

e-eating way too many goodies

r-rushing to the airport for my fight to Thailand

Christmas is soon approaching.  May we all take time to reflect on our lives, and the life of our savior.  Be thankful for all that you have in your life.  Know that I am grateful and thankful for each one of you.  You have touched my life, and I grateful for you.

As a new year rolls into town there are many new opportunities that await.  Many windows and doors open for you.  Walk with faith, courage, and confidence.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year!

Pam

Katmandu

Animal sacrifices, Kama Sutra, human cremations, and rain.  

Katmandu was like no place I have ever been to before.   I spent some of my time wondering if time travel was possible.

Katmandu gave me the opportunity to reflect on my life and career; it also made me very thankful for simple items such as toilet paper.

I have always thought of Katmandu as an exotic place - like  a mythical place in a mythical setting.  Reality was a little rough to deal with.    

I have always wanted to go to Katmandu, and I am so grateful and thankful that I took the opportunity to go.    There was a time in my young life when I looked into joining the Peace Corps and I would have gone if I could have gone to Katmandu.   They said no - I said no.   I wonder now what my reaction to being dropped in Katmandu 30 years ago would have been liked.  Would I have had rose colored glasses on or would reality have dealt me a blow?   Interesting to contemplate.  

My trip was during a very  scared Hindu festival time.  During this time the Hindi people sacrifice animals.   It took me by surprise to realize that certain religions still sacrifice animals.  I thought practice was out dated by 100s of years.  Guess I was wrong.  I can not tell you how many bulls, goats, and chickens I saw get sacrificed.   I saw one poor goat eating flowers just minutes before he was offered up.  It a real cultural experience to see a sacrificed bull carried through the temple streets, blood running down the cobbled stone streets, and entails sitting on the sidewalk.   Yup I really wondered if I was back in the times of the Old Testament.

My first couple of days in Katmandu was spent in rain.   It was wonderful to see rain and to feel it on my skin.  What a refreshing change from sun and heat.  I wonder if the clouds cast a gloom over the city that hampered my view.   I was able to buy a very good vortex coat that will come in use for many more trips.   

My hotel was in the perfect section of the city.  I was right in the center of Thalme Street.   Wondering the shopping area in the evening was an enjoyable experience.  My hotel room was originally booked as a standard room, which I was told later was referred to as the Beatle's section.  I guess it is where some of the Beatles and other famous 60-70's hippies stayed when they were in Katmandu.  However, it was a little too standard for me.  I upgraded the following morning to a deluxe room.   Time to reflect.  Pam has become a spoiled traveler and she likes her comfort when she can get it.

Every tour I took that involved a Hindu temple complex known as a Durbar in Katmandu involved Karma Sutra.  My guide would always have to show me the Karma Sutra temple and tell me about how an Indian travel brought the practice of Karma Sutra to Nepal and how if you practice it; the results involve peacefulness, relaxation, and happiness.  I wondered how long it would take a couple to make it through all 86 positions, and if yoga was part of the practice due to the limberness needed to get into some of the positions.  Lol!

I thoroughly enjoy the days that I spent outside of Katmandu in the country side.   Those days were full of quietness and reflection.   One day was spent hiking after watching a very cloudy sunrise.   The hike gave me time to reflect on who Pam is and what she has become.   Life is so interesting.   I grew up in Alaska; I've seen animals killed - heck I've even helped to butcher some of those animals.  So, why was watching animals being sacrificed rub me the wrong way?   

Why was I appalled by the filth and squalor of the living conditions?  Was this really my first exposure to how people in poor countries really live?   Had I become too soft?  No, my guide was amazed that I never needed to stop and rest for a 4 hour hike.   Perhaps I've become to sanitized.  I really think some of my reactions were summed up by a friend who said,  "Katmandu was your first real third world country to experience."  I think that statement is accurate.  

Then, I started to reflect on my career.  I started to think that if the people of Nepal have been living in such poor conditions (mind you they all had cell phones, satelite T.V. dishes, and computers) for hundreds of years and would continue to live in poor conditions for many more years; why did I care if my students could even write a sentence.  My students would be like the Nepalese and continue to live; however, I want more for them.  I want my students to know that they can make a difference; that they can change the world; that they can go out and do good; that they have the power to help others.  Realizing that I want them to make a difference, then yes, they need to be able to write a damn sentence, because the most important way to bring about good is through communication, and if you can't communicate effectively then no one is going to listen to you and you won't get anywhere.   So, I want my students to be the best writers and communicators in the world.  

My last morning in Katmandu I had the chance to fly along the Himalayan Mountains.  The blue skies, low level clouds, and sunshine were incredible.  The mountains were incredible.   Mt. Everest was beautiful.  What a fantastic way to end the trip.  

My last surprise of Katmandu was finding Bassett Licorice in the dinky Katmandu international airport.  Of all places to find Bassett! 

Animal sacrifices, Karma Sutra, human cremations, and rain had an impact on my life, and hopefully that impact will be felt by others.

Would I go back to Nepal.   Heck yes!   I may never need to return to Katmandu, but there are other parts of Nepal to explore.  In fact I'll be going back to Nepal in February with 6th - 8th graders for Week Without Walls.   Lot's of hiking and camping, and I've informed the tour guide no Karma Sutra, yet the sad thing about that is that some of them may know more positions than I do.

Back In Dubai

I have been back in Dubai for a little over a month, and I thought now would be a good time to sit down and share a couple of thoughts on returning to my desert home.

I had a wonderful summer.  It was great to see everyone and reconnect.  I had many lunches, dinners, and down time with friends that I had missed for a full 10 months.  Thank you everyone for a wonderful summer.   It was great to see you all and spend time with you - the memories that we made will stay with me forever.

Too soon it was time to return to Dubai.  I was looking forward to returning to my desert home; I was excited for this school year to start and to see the changes that had been made.

The flight back was long, and I learned that U.S. airlines have sucky entertainment systems on them and to fly other airlines that are not U.S. in order to get a better variety of movies and music to help entertain on a long flight.

It was great to land in Dubai and know how to use my E-gate card and not have to wait in the huge passport line.  My luggage came off quickly; and it was refreshing to know how to catch a cab from the airport and tell the taxi driver where to go.  

As I was approaching Motor City I had a huge wave of homesickness hit me.  I realized that I was returning to my flat, but the cats would not be there.   Oh my the ache was incredible.  Where ever I land next time those little shits are coming with me.  I still miss and crave their companionship.  One lesson reinforce - pets are part of the family and need to go with you.

It was wonderful returning to a familiar place and setting.  The nerves, tension, and uncertainty  were all gone.  It was hard to adjust to the first couple of days.  But how fantastic it was to have internet and the T.V. already set up and working.  It was great knowing that I could just walk to Hertz and get a car; I knew where to buy milk and I could finally have some of my black pepper baked potato chips that I had been craving.  

It was wonderful to meet up with friends and catch up with them about their summer as I walked around Motor City.  The breakfasts, coffees, lunches, and dinners with friends was a great way to reconnect with my Dubai friends.  

The anxiety of driving was gone.  However, I started to cuss at the drivers when my car shimmed as other drivers zoomed past.  I had to laugh because I was cussing at the drivers in Colorado Springs for being too slow and polite.  I am much more comfortable driving this year than last.

Time was nice; the jet lag was horrible.  

Returning to work has been a breeze.  Knowing what I'm teaching has taken a huge load off of my shoulders.  However, with returning to work all of my time is being taken up.   

It has been nice to return to a routine of work, karate, yoga, and quiet evenings.  In another month the weather will be wonderful.   Plans for vacations have been made and the planning is starting.

This year I am concentrating on forming new friendships and building existing ones.

Over the summer everyone asked me if I was staying in Dubai for another year.   I got rather frustrated with answering the question without answering the question.   I thought I would be able to come back to Dubai and have a couple of relaxing months to make the decision.  No, the minute I returned I had people here asking me about my plans.   

Plans, what plans?   I have plans to go to Nepal in October, Thailand for Christmas, South Africa for spring break, and maybe a quick trip to Hungary at the beginning of December.  

Plans, some plans have been made; some are still not firm; it depends on the day.   So where in the world will Pam be next year?  In Dubai?  In another part of the world?  Home in Colorado Springs?  Working for Walt Disney World?  Who knows - I'm not even sure.  Yet, I know the gypsies blood has stopped itching.   

Stay tuned - there is more to come!   Life is an adventure!

Summer Reflection

I know that this post is supposed to be about my adventures in Dubai; however, I figured that I would share some summer fun and reflections about coming back to Colorado Springs after 10 months in Dubai.

As always, enjoy.

I was anxious about coming home after spending 10 months in Dubai.  I wasn't sure what to expect.  I knew that my life had continued and that the lives of my friends had continued moving forward and I wasn't sure how the 2 were going to match up.

The flights from Dubai all went off without a hitch.  There were no problems with connections, flights, or time.  I am hooked on paying a little more for the economy plus seats.  It was great to have a little more more and extra space to stretch out my legs.  There was no one next to me on the flight from Frankfurt which was wonderful.

I never got that feeling of "home" when I returned to my apartment in Dubai, and I was wondering if I would get that feeling when I walked into my house.  Nope!  When I walked into my house it was just my house not my home.  Of course - what was I thinking.  This is not my home.  It is my house.  It was not decorated with my items nor was my personality present.  It is Sam and Kyle's home.  They have it decorated with their belongings and personality.    A new adventure will be to discover home when I return to Dubai.

I have been spending the summer in the basement of my house.  I have been very comfortable if cool.  I  find that the basement is my cave and I have enjoyed nesting in my cave.  Sam hung the quilts that Audrey had worked so hard on completing.  The quilts are created out of t-shirts and sweatshirts that had belonged to my mother.  Seeing them on the wall has flooded my mind with memories and has given my cave a very cozy feel.  Thank you Sam for adding such a welcoming touch.  (I'm wondering if I can hire Sam as my personal decorator when I return home.  He has such an eye for decorating.)

I have enjoyed getting together with my friends.   No worries there.  We have picked up just where we left off.  It has been so much fun hanging out with them and catching up with there lives.

I was counseled by some of my Dubai friends about what to expect when I returned home.  Some of the info they shared was right on. I listened to them, and have taken cues from my friends and have shared about my life in Dubai when the opportunity has presented itself.  I have enjoyed sharing tidbits about Dubai and sharing in the reactions.

I remember my first day back when I was running around completing errands.  I was walking through Target and saw a cute patio set.  I stopped looked at it, and said that is cute and it would look good on my balcony, and it is cheap - it is only 245 dirhams.  Just as I was ready to put the patio set in my cart I realized that I was Target and not Carfoure, and that the price was in dollars and not dirhams.  I decided that 245 dollars was a little too much for the set and that I had no use for it.

I don't know how many times I have opened up my wallet and gone to the side that has my dirhams instead of dollars and have been confused between the 2 currencies.  My coin purse has 3 different types of currencies:  Dirhams, Euros, and U.S.  I'm sure the cashiers think I'm a real ditz when I dump out my coins and go through them to find the right one.

I have satisfied all of my cravings.  Within 24 hours of returning I had a green tea frappicino from  Starbucks; peanut butter M&M's; and a charro from Costco.   I think I may need a couple more green tea frappicinoes and another charro or 2 before I leave.

I had a friend ask me if there was anything that I was missing from Dubai.  My answered was, yes.  I am looking forward to having my Lebanese/Arabic brown bread, bread from Spinney's (I'm not too excited about the bread here I have to go to a speciality store to get good bread.) And I am craving Forino's black cracked pepper baked potato chips.  

I would  have thought that the emotional roller coaster ride would be over by this time.  However, I was taken by surprised by the ride when I returned for the summer.  I spent a couple of days wondering if I wanted to return to Dubai.  I was home seeing all of my friends and falling back into a regular routine of karate training, yoga, visiting with friends - and did I really want leave all of that again.  As  I processed through my emotions I realized that my home was not my home so I would have to find a place to live, and I would have to find a job in order to support myself, and really how often would I get together with my friends. Yes, it would be easy to roll back into the comfort of routine, but I chose to do something different.  I want to continue to challenge myself and to have the opportunity to see more of this incredible world.  

I am excited to return to Dubai.  I'm looking forward to another year of adventure and travel.  I am very interested to see how my emotions this year compare to last year.  Who knows what the next 11 months  will bring in my life.  Will I stay in Dubai for a 3rd year; will I move to another part of the world; will I call it quits to the international life style?  I'm not even sure of the answers to the choices that are ahead of me, but I'm looking forward to the journey.  (I'm not looking forward to the packing that I need to do in the next week.)

Stay tuned - another adventure is about to begin.

10 Months



 

I meant to write this post at least a month ago, and here I sit with very little time left to my first 10 months of living and teaching in Dubai.  First off; where did the time go?

 

Ten months ago I zipped up my last suitcase and made my brother stand on the scale to weigh all of my bags.  I cuddled the cats one last time and walked out the front door of my house for an adventure.

 

I never once questioned my decision to this process of teaching internationally until I arrived in Dubai, and then I wondered:  "What the hell was I thinking?"  I was the one that wanted the adventure and the opportunity to do something different.  I wanted change.  You know that old saying - be careful what you ask for - well, there is some truth to that saying.  I'm not sure what I was thinking when I decided to jump off the deep end, but it has been an incredibly amazing journey of both highs and lows.

 

As I look back on the past 10 months of my life all I can say is Wow!  What a year of growth, learning, excitement, and adventure. 

 

I remember waking up last August, after I was dumped in my apartment, making a mug of tea with my favorite tea that I bought from Colorado(now I can't even remember the tea - I have another green tea to replace it), going and sitting out on my balcony and feeling like I was in a furnace (the weather has become very similar to that time), and wondering what had I done. 

 

I will be the first to admit that the transition was very difficult and full of raw emotional roller coasters, but now I feel comfortable.  For the last couple of months I have felt comfortable with Dubai, and know I'm leaving for a couple of months.  I'm sitting here thinking, "What will the next couple of months bring?'  I am excited beyond words to go home and see everyone and cuddle with the cats, but what other adventures are waiting around the corner? 

 

I have learned some very fundamental truths in the last 10 months.  Here are some of them:

 

1.  Schools are schools wherever you go.  There will be things that you really like about each school and there will be things that you don't like about each school.  No school is perfect, no staff is perfect, no administration team is perfect.  Truth learned:  focus on the good and positive and move forward.

 

2.  Students and parents are the same wherever you go.   You will have great students and parents, and you will find not so great students and parents.  You will have to deal with the same issues:  homework not being done, formatives and summatives not being done, parents denying any knowledge of assignments, etc.  Truth learned:  Holding students and parents accountable is the toughest part of teaching, and you teach as best as you can and hope that somewhere along the line learning takes place.

 

3.  People for the most part are good hearted.  Sometimes I think we get jaded and we loose sight of the good heartedness of people.  I think about all of the people who have helped me through this year and I am amazed at their kindness and willingness to help in the simplest ways.  Many times throughout this year I've had to turn to total strangers and ask for help and their kindness has been heartfelt.  I have had to rely on strangers in each country I have traveled to and never once did I feel threatened or nervous.   Truth:  Humanity is alive and well.

 

4.  I look back at the beginning of this journey and I look at myself now and I'm amazed at what I have accomplished and learned.   I wanted an adventure and I got one!  I 've learned and grown the most from this experience.  I wonder how much I've changed; how much I've grown.  One of the most valuable lessons that I've learned is just how important it is to have the love and support of people, accept what others can give and in return give to others no matter how strong and independent you think you.  Truth:  no man is an island unto himself.

 

As excited as I am to return to The Springs for summer I have anxieties about returning.  Odd, isn't it? I wonder if my cats will remember me, I worry about whether or not I'll survive seminar and how much I have lost, I am concerned about that awkwardness of reconnecting with friends,  I wonder if I can still remember how to clean a bathroom (I haven't cleaned a toilet bowl in over 9 months),  I have to remember to pump my own gas (here they have workers that do that),  I know running will be challenging -  I'll be coming from maybe 10 ft. above sea level up to 6,700 ft.  that is going to hurt for awhile.

 

When I arrived in Dubai one of the first units I taught was on change and accepting change.  We read Who Moved My Cheese for Teens.  In that book their is a handwriting on the wall that states:

 

What would you do if you weren't afraid?

 

I have tried to live by that motto for the last 9 months, and I have learned that sometimes I am the one that holds me back from experiences.  I will continue to try to live by that motto for rest of my life.  Have I grown and changed?  Yes, in one respect - everyday is a journey, every day is a new adventure; enjoy and savor it because you will gain so much in the end.

 

Ready or not I am returning home for 2 months and regardless of my anxieties and worries I will enjoy and savor in order to gain.  Here I come.  And I can't wait to have a Green Tea Frappuccino - I haven't had one in 10 months and I just may savor it enough to have whipped cream with it.

 

See ya soon!

 

 

 



10 Hours in Beirut

 

What do a large chai latte, a breakfast sandwich, a bag of Reese's Pieces, banana chips, and a Snickers before noon have in common?   Beirut, Lebanon of course!

 

Ten hours in Beirut was a day full of adventure, fun, and drama.

 

The scheme came about through two friends who work in the library.   One of the librarians is leaving at the end of the year to go home so that she can finish out her public teaching career and gain her state retirement.  (Like I did before embarking on this adventure.)  She had wanted to see Beirut for awhile, and with her husband home making preparations for their return, she decided that now was a good time. 

 

I was invited to travel along with them for the day.  The invitation was extended; I had to make my decision and buy my ticket within 24 hours.   Another spur of the moment adventure taken up. 

 

LJ, the other librarian that went with, had made arrangements for a friend of a friend's father-in-law to meet us at the airport and be our driver for the day.  When we got through immigration and customs to the outside world - there was no driver.  We walked up and down the exit aisle a couple of times looking for our names on a plaque, but there was none.  That is when the adventure began.

 

Thankfully a wonderful lady at the airport tired to help us find a taxi driver for the day.  Luckily we stumble upon Michelle, an elderly gentleman, that we ended up hiring for the day.  We were a little uncertain about the guy at the beginning, but in the end he turned out to be a great guy that was very helpful and did a wonderful job of showing us Beirut. 

 

Our first stop was at the Grotto.  We did both the upper and lower Grotto.  The upper Grotto was fantastic.  The formations in the cave were breathtaking!  It was interesting to walk through the cave and see the formations while being dripped on by water.  The lower Grotto was a short boat ride  that was nice, but again was cold and wet.

 

Our next major stop was at Our Lady of Beirut.   This is a scared Catholic site that contains a statute of Mary.  The statute is on top of the mountain overlooking the valley and the bay.  The only way to get up to the top is by cable car.   Ugh!  I do not like cable cars.  I bit my tongue and held on for the ride.  It wasn't that bad up or down.  The car didn't sway too badly.   The view from the top of mountain was incredible!  We were able to see down the valley, across the valley, and over the bay.  It was cool to stand near the top of the statute and see the sites especially since an afternoon storm was rolling in.  Watching the fog come in and surround the area was mystic.

 

We then went to the Old/New City for dinner.   It was very interesting to drive through the old sections of Beirut; we got to see some damage from the civil war.  We were able to see the Beirut Holiday Inn which is now just a shell of a bombed out building.  We wondered if the people of Beirut just left the ruined buildings from the civil war because it was cheaper than to rebuild.

 

The cornice looked beautiful.  The area was fancy and looked like a gem.  We had dinner at a local diner called Abo Hassan.  We had a traditional Lebanese dinner of salad, tubal (sp), humus, bread, and grilled meat.   We had waited way too long to eat.  We stuffed ourselves.  The meal was very good.  And I'm glad that we skipped the sheep brains!

 

We made one final stop at the Hard Rock Cafe to buy T-shirts.  We hit a sale and made a steal. 

 

Then it was off to the airport to catch our departing flight back to Dubai.  Many of the officials at the airport were a little confused as to  why we only spent a day in Beirut.  We explained that it was due to flights schedules and having to teach on Sunday.  

 

Our flight back home was not crowded and it  was nice to be able to move to a row of seats and stretch out and sleep for the return flight.   We walked off the plane at 3:45 am and caught a taxi home.

 

Ten hours in Beirut - yup I would do it again.  The adventures that I've had this year have been remarkable.



 

 





K-9 Puppy Ball

 

 

It was one of those nights that just turn out to be fantastic.   And you wonder what happened.  It was the annual K-9 Puppy Ball.  The ball is K-9's largest fund raiser of the year.  K-9's goal is provide ever homes to dogs that have rescued or left by their owners.

 

It started out as a prim and  proper night where you checked in the mirror to make sure everything was just perfect.  The make up was applied just right; the dress hung just right; and the hair looked just right.  Then it was off in a taxi with friends to enjoy the night.

 

The evening started with a single glass of bubbly and ended with I don't know how many glasses or bottles.

 

The prim lasted through the delicious 3 course dinner.  Then all of sudden it turned to  fun.   Caroline raffled off her puppy cake,  we danced and danced and danced, we searched for numbers ending in 9 to win door prizes, and ended up next to a Ferrari.

 

How many glasses/bottles of champagne were consumed?  I lost count.  And I'm happy to say that the night was one of those rare nights were fun turned out to be fun and it was a time to let totally relax and let my hair down.  Then a taxi home at 3 a.m. for a morning of rest.

 

Yes, it was a magical night.





What the f***!  It took my card!

 

I have never been a damsel in distress.  Even when I'm in distress I don't play the damsel roll very well; I'll be the first to admitt that I never did learn the girly flirty ways of my gender and many times I've been left on my own to figure out how to deal with furstrating events. However, when I ran into a bump in the road on my recent trip to Turkey it was wonderful to get some help!  Receiving the help and support of others really reaffirmed my hope in humanity.

 

Turkey was fantastic!  I would have to say that visiting Turkey is in the top 3 of my adventures this year.  Did you know that the tulip is originally from Turkey?  I have never seen such beautiful tulips in my life!  The colors were striking!

 

My good friend, Wendy Walis, met in Istanbul for the trip.  It was great to see her and spend the time with her.  It was a great experience to share with her.

 

Istanbul was great.  To see the great historic sights of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophie, the Basicilla Cistern, marvelous Chora Church,  and the Topkapi Palace was thrilling.  I love it when I stand in  historic places and I can feel the weight of the ages pass me.  It gives me goose bumps.  The Grand Bazaar was mind boggling.  The twist and turns of the shopping arena with the different sections was over load.  The Spice Market was not that thrilling.  Glad we didn't spend that much time there.  It was so enjoyable to be able to walk the streets of the Old City in the morning and in the evening.  Eating dinner on the roof top terrace watching the Blue Mosque and Hagai Sophie lit up was magical.  Istanbul was wonderful.

 

The Izmir area was beautiful.  The Aegean region was lush and green.  We had 2 days there to explore.  We walked around the city center and got  haggled by the sale guys.  Look at my leather; I've got great carpets to show you; I can give you a great price.  By the time I left Turkey I was sick of carpets, leather, and ceramics. 

 

Kusadasi was a jumping off point to see the great city of Ephesus.  Ephesus is one of the great ruins that need to be visited.  To walk the streets of  this ancient city and imagine the Romans that lived there a thousand years ago was historic.   Seeing the old pipe and sewer system that served the city was very interesting.  The public latrines were much larger than the ones we have today.  Many historians have made comparisons to the ancient Roman Empire and to the U.S. and how the U.S. is mirroring the economic fall of ancient Rome; however,  after seeing the Roman public latrines, I think we are  a little behind ancient Rome.  Ehpesus was a highlight.

 

Ah, captiviting Cappadocia.   I fell in love with Cappadocia; what a magical place!  The geolical rock formations were awesome.  The ancient carved communities by the early Chirstians were inspirational.  To see the work and dedication of those believers was heart warming.  The walks along the valleys was refreshing.  The early morning balloon ride was fantastic. Incredible is the only word  to describe Kale Konak, our hotel in Cappadocia.

 

"What the f***!  It took my card!"  I exclaimed as the alarm continued to blare.  I have used my debit card all over the world and I have never had any problems - that was until I tangoed with the ATM in Uchisar, Turkey.  I put my card in the ATM, and entered my pin number.   The alarm started blaring and  my card was gone.  After hitting the cancel button numerous times the alarm finally stopped. By this time I had attracted the attention of everyone in the village, and they were watching me.  I continued to hit the cancel button in order to get my card back.  Our tour guide started calling the phone numbers on the ATM; our driver started pressing buttons and hitting the ATM; other officail looking people came over and started to call people.  At last I have to admit that the damn ATM won.  I never did get my card back.  All of the phone calls made on my behalf came to the same conclusion - I wasn't going to get my debit card back.  A very long international call to ENT cancelled the old card and new one sent to Dubai.  (Infact when I got back home to Dubai my new debit card was waiting for me - thank you ENT for being so efficient).

 

Yes, I have never been or played the damsel in distress, but when the ATM ate my debit card I was a pissed damsel.  The help of the Turkish people in my crisis was so heart warming and touching.

 

I can share a wonderful outcome of this experience.  The Turkish bath, oil massage, and wonderful dinner I had that night was thoroughly relaxing!  Bring on the bubble, oil, and wine.  Debit card; what debit card? 

 

. . . And the adventure continues. . .

 

KHDA ?

At the beginning of this month my teacher friends in Colorado were all freaking out and getting stressed over the TCAP (Transitional Colorado Assessment Program).  I know that the state test is in a transitional phrase, but I know how public education works.  The Colorado state test will probably be in transition for years.  Anyway, my dear teacher friends were getting stressed over their yearly exam and the chaos it causes for teachers, students, and schedules.

I sat on my couch in Dubai smirking away thinking how wonderful it is that I don't have to worry about the TCAP this year.  Man there are times when life is just right.  I felt for all of my teacher friends, but I was extremely happy that I didn't have to give that damn test this year!  I had finally escaped!

Ugh!!   Double Ugh!!  Damn UGH!!!  Then I found out about KHDA.  Some of you probably saw the postings on my facebook updates.  UGH!  is all I can say as I tip my head back and shake it back and forth.  KHDA  the horror of every school in Dubai and the terror that is instilled in every teacher at every school in Dubai.  KHDA - Knowledge & Human Development Authority.

Yes, that "A" word  - authority!  KHDA is a team of current and former educators that work for the UAE government.  There job is to go around and visit each school and evaluate the effectiveness of the school.  They visit and talk to most of the teachers in the school.  they sit on your classes while you are teaching and take copious notes; then the "authority team"  ranks the school accordingly:  outstanding, good, fair, unacceptable.  

There was this massive build up to KDHA's visit with personal development days, department meetings, discussion of dos and don'ts, and just nervous expectations.  We had to complete lengthy lesson plans for their visit which include a clear objective that could be measured at the end of the class.   UGH!!!  At least the school gave us a lesson plan guide to use for KHDA's visit.  KHDA must be big stuff since I didn't receive a plan book at the beginning of the year and had to recreate my own, but on no!  When KHDA visits you are given a lesson plan template to follow.  I guess "authority"  carries a big stick. 

KHDA was scheduled to come right after we returned from Week Without Walls.  We had one day to breathe and then we were thrown at the "authorities"!  I spent hours before  leaving for Week Without Walls planning and prepping for KHDA.  I was at school late every night making sure everything was just perfect for the "authorities".

The day finally came.  The KHDA team finally arrived at our school; you could feel the suspension building that day.  Lesson plans were hung on the door and nails were bitten down wondering who was going to be first on their list.  The KHDA team consisted of 7 different members, I only got to interact with 1.  An elderly gentlemen from England who was assigned to evaluate the English department.  He came and observed on their first day here and then came back 2 days later to observe me again.  Was I good enough for the "authorities"?  We will have to wait and see if the English Department retains its Outstanding status.

Once the week ended we all gave a huge sigh of relief and then had one hell of a party!  Thanks GEMS for the party.  Then life got back to normal.

In retrospect  I may have been smirking that I didn't have to give the TCAP this year; however, I did have to sweat through KHDA.  Did I learn some lessons?  Yes, I learned that regardless of what KHDA thinks I'm a damn good teacher; I am always prepared for my classes; and I work hard at my job. 

Which would I rather do - the TCAP or KHDA?  I would pick KHDA.  Why?  My salary is not directly tied into how students perform, but how I perform as an educator which is what should matter.  Plus the snacks that the school provided for us during KHDA were wonderful.  I never got those types of snacks giving the TCAP.  During the TCAP  I had to hope some kid in my class didn't want their provided snack.  Also, we had a great party after KHDA - the school never threw a party for the teachers after TCAP.  Also, I learned not to fear the "authorities"  I can hold my own ground against any "authority", and I will know what to expect when they comeback next year.

Moral:  There are always people out there watching and evaluating what teachers do so don't spend too much time smirking at others.

Week Without Walls

(WWW)



This past week was our Week Without Walls (WWW).  Week Without Walls is a concept where students travel throughout Europe and Asia to learn and interact with a different culture and to do some community service.  At least that is the idea; some of the trips do turn into a week of touring.

 

This year we had groups going to:  England, France, Italy, Austria, Nepal, China, Cambodia, Tanzania, scuba diving, Oman, and Dubai based activities for students.

 

I was assigned to the scuba diving trip.  Why?  Because everyone knows that I'm a diver.  I wasn't happy about going diving with 40 odd students.  Yes, I love to dive, but not with kids and not while they are learning.  I did my share of grumbling to other colleagues about how I didn't want to go, and how I would have loved to have gone to England, Italy, or Nepal.  And come next year I know how to fill out the form for Week Without Walls. 

 

Grumble, grumble I packed my dive gear and got ready to go diving.  Stewart, the guy arranging the scuba diving expedition had me down to take the Advance Course;  I laughed at him and said that I wasn't going to take the Advance Class; I told him that there wasn't a class that he could probably offer me.  Yes, I was a little snobbish, but I wasn't happy about going diving with kids; and next year I would fill out the WWW form differently.

 

I was up early, met the bus and off to Fujairah  I went with 3 other chaperones and 39 students for a week of scuba diving.  Grumbling and wondering if I was going to get to do any decent diving during the week.

 

We arrived at the Miramar Resort 2 1/2 hours later and the journey began.  Wow!  I was impressed with the organization of  Divers Down, the dive shop that hosted us for the week.  They had the kids broken up into different groups and had the entire week mapped out.  The students were rotated between class/theory, confined dives in the pool, and open water dives in the sea. 

 

The kids started the minute they arrived.  All of the groups worked well and everyone stayed on their time schedule.  It was cool to see the students get involved and be excited to learn how to dive.  I was very pleased with the way things were organized and ran.  I have to say that because I have assisted with many classes in the past and I was wondering how this was going to work out with numbers, different grade levels, and skill ability.  I was very impressed.

 

And grumbling me; I thoroughly enjoyed the week!  I was able to jump in and dive with the group doing Specialities and with the Advance Class (O.K. so I guess I did semi do the Advanced class again at least I didn't have to do the course work.).  This meant that I was in the water early in the morning and did some awesome dive sights.  I was able to join in on some of the Open Water Classes and do a couple of dives with them.

 

The diving was great.  The life in the gulf in Fujairah is wonderful.  The visibility is never very great, but enough that you can see.  I was able to see lots.  Some of the highlights were large Honeycomb Eels, schools of Barracuda, pipe fish and other small items.

 

I got to dive some great sites.  I did Inch 1; Inch 2 (both wrecks); Three Rocks, and The Cemetery.

 

Since I was all ready certified as a diver I had a great week.  I was able to dive when I wanted, worship the sun, read my book, and interact with a great group of kids.  It was a very successful week.

 

And next year I know how to fill out the WWW form!

 

 

Unexpected Trip to Doha

 

It was 8:15 Monday morning and Jason McBride, the Assistant Head of School, was walking down the hall way towards me.  Nothing unusual to see him walking around.  Then he stopped in front of me and said, "Something has come up; can I talk with you for a minute in the classroom."

 

Automatically I start thinking, "No, I don't want to talk to you privately in my classroom; crap what have I done now; which parent did I piss off; what did I say or do that got me in trouble."

 

I think that administrators should prefaces their conversations with underlinings by stating this is a good conversation or a not so good conversation, and why is it I am so quick to assume that I've done something wrong (past experience perhaps).

 

As our conversation continued it turned out that the female chaperone for MUN (Model United Nations) became sick and was unable to attend the conference in Doha, and would I be able to drop everything and go at the last minute.

 

Absolutely!!!  I chance to see Doha, spend the week with great kids, and find out about MUN.  Another opportunity to grab.

 

I was able to get some lesson plans together.  The timing was good.  I had just finished my 6th grade unit so they could read stories; my 7th graders were working on their myths & legends summative and could spend the class time working on those; and my 8th graders were just starting Red Scarf  Girl it would all work out fine.

 

I raced home after coverage was found for my classes, and threw some clothes in a suitcase and got driven to the airport.  I purchased a ticket on Emirates to Doha.  I missed the 2 o'clock flight which the kids and Robb, the male chaperone, were flying out; I would fly out a couple of hours later. Flying out later was not a bad thing  I was able to get a latte, ear lunch, and get my "E" gate ticket which is a wonderful item to have when you are flying in and out of Dubai. The only thing I wish I knew in retrospect was how long we would be gone for - I wasn't sure if I packed enough clothes.

 

I arrived in Doha and caught a taxi to the hotel.  Taxi drivers in Doha aren't so different from Dubai, my taxi driver had to call the hotel to get directions, really! (I love London taxi drivers.  I am a firm believer that every city should institute a similar training program for all taxi drivers around the world.) Perhaps his lapse in memory contributed to the fender bender we got into on the way to the hotel.  No harm done to anyone just the bumpers of the car, but enough to send my nerves over the edge.  I was happy to finally get to the hotel.

 

I met up with Robb and the kids and the week began.

 

We had Tuesday on our own.  We went out to the Pearl, the exclusive area of Doha, and walked around.  We saw some mighty fine cars, Maybachs, Ferraris, Rolls Royce, and others.  I even went shopping in the Ferrari and Rolls Royce dealerships.  I couldn't take pictures or touch the cars, but I was able to look.  Yup!  Rolls Royce makes a fine car.

 

The MUN conference ran from Wednesday through Saturday.  Learning about MUN was great.  To see the kids setting in their delegations and debating real world issues really gave me a hope for the future.  What a great program for secondary students and what a learning experience for them.

 

The downsides of the trip to Doha:

*the fender bender on the way to the hotel

*the early mornings

*the piss poor magician from India that they flew in - not good at all - in fact he was on the sleazy side

 

The positives of the trip to Doha:

*seeing Doha (I was offered a job in Doha and being able to see it and talk to some teachers working there was good; I learned that I had made a good choice to go to Dubai.)

*networking with other teachers

*learning about MUN

*walking around Warfy Souk in the evening

*visiting the Islamic Art Museum - this place was incredible

*running on the Corniche every morning - is was great to be next to the ocean

*spending time with great kids.

 

I arrived home Saturday afternoon and had a couple of hours to relax until I had to go to work Sunday morning.

 

Going to Doha put me behind schedule and I've had to work extra hard to get caught up.  However, an another opportunity came my way and I Jumped at it, and I don't regret the choice.

 

Hopefully the next time an administers says can I talk to you privately it won't be a bad thing.



 



 



Maldivian Christmas

 

Christmas 2013 found me half way around the world by my own choice.  One of the reasons for doing an international teaching job was to be able to travel.  I had two weeks for Christmas break  (here it is referred to Winter Break since Christmas isn't celebrated in an Islamic country, see previous posting) and decided to cross another place off my list.

 

I decided to go diving in the Maldives.  I had heard so much about this magical place that I placed it high on my list.

 

Again, I was a little anxious about this trip.  It would be my second solo trip, and my first solo dive trip on a live aboard.  I was worried that I would be the only single person on a boat full of couples and not have people to hang out with.

 

Whatever the conditions turned out to be.  I was booked and paid to go.  I packed my dive bag and went to the airport. 

 

The flight to the Maldives was uneventful which was nice.  Qatar was nice to fly and things went smoothly.

 

I arrived at the airport in Male with good time to figure out where I needed to go to meet the crew from the boat.

 

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the boat wasn't full; the passengers consisted of half couples - half singles.  I was very lucky and ended up with a boat full of wonderful people and mostly experienced divers.  Since the boat wasn't full I had my own room.  Love it!  Cabins on a live aboard are small and tight; they can be a challenge to share with close friends let a lone unknown strangers.  It was great to have my own room and bathroom.  (I know that I am becoming very spoiled!)

 

The boat was decorated with streamers and bling.  The crew even had a plant decorated as a Christmas tree.  The atmosphere was welcoming, relaxing, and fun.

 

The crew was helpful and very experienced. 

 

Most experienced divers know the routine of a live aboard.  This boat was no different.  The routine was: sleep, eat, dive, eat, dive, sleep, dive, and eat.  We were able to average 4 dives a day.

 

Everything that I heard about the Maldives was true.  What an awesome place to dive.  Incredible life and big pelagic life to experience. 

 

I was able to meet great people and formed some connections and friendships.  That is what diving and traveling is all about.

 

For Christmas we went diving.  During the evening we had group photos taken around the Christmas tree, celebrated with wine, and had a Maldivian tradition for dinner - roasted duck.  The duck was unique, it was good, but it didn't measure up to turkey.

 

I was on the dive boat for a week, then the plan was to return to Dubai and do some touristy stuff; however, I fell into an opportunity and took it.  One of the other single gals on the boat had a room booked at one of the resorts and invited me to join her.  I took her up on her offer and spent the second week worshipping the sun, drinking, and eating.  It was well worth the $35 dollar charge to change my ticket.

 

Christmas was celebrated under water diving with cool fish; New Year's Eve was celebrated at the fancy restaurant at the resort in peace and quite.  I did stay up beyond midnight and rang the new year in under the stars. 

 

Traveling solo offers some unique opportunities.  Both Jordan and the Maldives worked out well.  Next trip will be over Spring Break to Turkey.  Soon I will have to make a new list of places to travel to - my top 5 are almost finished.  Yes, there are positives to living aboard.  I may return broke, but the experiences will be priceless.

 

Top highlights of  my Maldivian Christmas: 

*diving in warm water

*meeting some great people

*seeing eagle rays - incredibly beautiful

*diving with sharks lined up one after another for as far as the eye could see - incredible

*diving with whale sharks - oh momma what an incredible experience - I want more

*diving with manta rays -- more please - lot's more

*soaking up the sun on the beach

*not having to wake up to an alarm clock

*lots of reading

 

Next on the list - Turkey.  I can't wait.

 



Christmas In Dubai?

 

So I went off the deep end and decided to take a teaching job in Dubai.  In the Middle East where there are very few Christians and most people are Islamic.

 

Since this is an Arab country and Islamic is practiced here by the native people, Christmas should not have been a big deal.  In fact, Christmas should not have been celebrated or recognized by the State in any big way.  I thought Christmas would be low key even here in Dubai. 

 

How wrong I was!!!

 

I learned a couple of things this Christmas season in Dubai.  Here is what I learned:

 

1.  Christmas is big in Dubai.  It is huge.  Every place is decked out in holly.  The malls, hotels, and stores are all decorated for Christmas.  This seemed a little hypocritical to me.  Until #2 was really cemented for me.

 

2.  Dubai is about appearances and money.  Anything that makes a great appearance is used to advantage.  After all many expats live in Dubai and they celebrate Christmas so Dubai puts on a big show for them. 

 

3. Anything that will generate money is used to generate money.  Christmas generates money due to the large international population that exists in the city.  So, Christmas it is.

 

4.  Christmas is huge in Dubai.  Huge trees, huge ornaments, huge productions, huge advertising.

 

5.  You can buy real Christmas trees and wreathes in Dubai.  I have no idea where they come from but you can get; along with turkeys and hams.  (Of course if you want a ham you have to go into the Pork:  non-Muslim section of the store to order and buy your ham, but you can get them.)

 

6.  Christmas music is even played in Dubai on the English speaking radio channels. 

 

7.  Christmas lights are not called Christmas lights - they are called Fairy Lights here.  Really Christmas lights are Christmas lights.  If you're going to have Christmas trees for sale; then you have Christmas lights for sale.

 

8.  Christmas time is another time for parties.  Hey, any excuse is a good excuse for getting together and having some snacks and drinks.

 

9.  Christmas is Christmas where ever you go in the world. 

 

10.  Again, Dubai is about appearances and money; however even those 2 items cannot take away from the true meaning of Christmas.

 

11.  Christmas is Christmas, and it is about the life and sacrifice of Christ; and giving to others.  No money and bling can not take away the true meaning of Christmas.

 

12.  Muslim country or not, Christmas, even though it was nice to see the trimmings, is still Christmas and yes,  it should be celebrated in the correct way.

 

Christmas in Dubai was like Christmas in Colorado.  I was able to reflect on the true meaning, and share with others. 

 

 





Run, Run, Run Away

Run, Run, Run Away

 

 

"Choose wisely,"  state the ancient knight standing at the entry.

 

I think I did make a wise choice. 

 

At the end of November we received great news at work.  Our 3 day weekend was suddenly expanded to a 4 day weekend, and I decide to run away from Dubai on the spur of the moment.

 

One of the reasons that I made this International move was to get some traveling under my belt.  So, when I had the chance I decided to take it.  But where to go. . . . Somewhere close:  Egypt, Morocco (which is actually 9 hrs. away), or Jordan.  Uhm.  After some quick deep contemplating I decided on Jordan.

 

Why Jordan?  It is only 2 1/2 hours away, easy to get to, and Petra is there.  Made my decision and went to the travel agency and set up preliminary plans.  I paid for the flight, transfers from and to the airport, and for 3 nights at the Movenpic in Petra.  All I had to do was to pack on go.

 

I was a little apprehensive about this trip.  It would truly be the first solo trip that I would make for years.  I have traveled by myself before, but I have always met up with others at the other end.  The first solo trip in many, many years.  I was a little nervous about this solo trip, but I moved forward.

 

I caught a late flight out of Dubai to Amman, Jordan.  Arrived in Jordan in the early morning and then faced a 3 hour transfer to Petra.  While I was being driven to Petra by the driver I thought this guy could try and rape me or kill me and dump my body in the desert never to be found again.  I kept telling myself I'm a 2nd degree black belt and can protect myself.  No worries; my faith in the goodness of people won out.  In fact the driver who took me to Petra became my personal driver/guide for the rest of my trip.

 

The Movenpic at Petra.  What a fantastic hotel.  I fell in love with place.  Maybe I just fell in love with Petra.  The entire place was magical.

 

After getting a couple hours of sleep.  I ate breakfast and walked to Petra for the day.  Yes, walked.  The entrance to Petra was right outside the hotel entrance. 

 

I decide to pay for a guide to show me around for the first  3 hours of my visit.   I received a personal tour and history of Petra to myself.  I did the whole horse ride and walk through the Sig.  Walking through the Sig is the only way to enter Petra. 

 

How to describe Petra - magical, amazing, interesting, mind boggling?  I don't think words can describe the feeling of the place.  It was incredible.  Very place I turned there was something to see; everywhere I hiked there was a vista of awe.  O.K. O.K.  so you get the picture.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

 

For 2 days I hiked my butt off.  Up this mountain of stairs and then another mountain of stairs. Over this ruin and that ruin.  My treat for the day eating the dried dates and nuts I took from the breakfast buffet and drinking freshly squeezed orange juice inside the ancient city of Petra.  My legs were sore and I was covered with dust every night.  I was exhausted, but a good physical exhausted due to all of the walking and hiking.  I would go back and do it all again. 

 

On my last at Petra I went up the lounge at the top.  I sat and watched the sun set while I drank some wine.  It was a great way to end my Petra experience.

 

The 3rd day of my trip found me in Rum Wadi exploring the desert, visiting Lawrence of Arabia's Cave (I'm sure one of many caves that have that claim), and riding a camel.  It was an eventful day running up and down sand dunes which is harder than it looks.

 

My last day I toured Jersha, an ancient Roman city, a castle, and then found myself back on a plane to Dubai with an early morning arrival and work waiting for me.

 

Did I choose wisely?  Yes, without a doubt I chose wisely.  Some of the pictures can be seen on Facebook.  Enjoy. 

 

More to adventures to come.