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.

                                                                                                                   Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas!
      I hope that you are happy, well, and healthy.  As I was worshipping the sun one day on the beach in the past couple of weeks I began to reflect on the year.  I am still amazed at how this time of year always makes me reflect on my life.  There has been much reflection on this past year.  And what a year it has been!  It has been a year of decisions, choices, and change.  I am amazed at how much my life has changed and how I chose to turn everything upside down.
     However, each of you still continue to amaze me and touch my life in many ways.  I am very grateful and thankful for your love and support.  Travel with me down memory lane for a recap of 2012.

J- just enjoying the new year                                      F- feeling the wonder of winter
a-another cold morning run                                          e- enjoying snowy days & no school
n-never ending darkness                                               b- burning calories at the gym
u-under the covers to keep warm                                  r-running off to San Francisco
a-applying to Search Associates                                   u- unwinding after the job fair
r-running in the snow with the stars                              a-accepting a job in Dubai
y-yearning for sun                                                         r-realizing what I've just done
                                                                                      y-yelping with joy, excitement & hesitation

M- making time for work & karate                             A-accumulating more boxes
a-accumulating boxes and boxes                                 p-packing, packing, and more packing
r-running around with friends                                      r-rushing to get everything done
c-crunch goes the bubble wrap                                    i-into taking loads to Goodwill
h-heaving boxes away to store                                    l-labeling documents for Dubai

M-making plans for moving                                       J-jumping in a car for seminar in Vegas
a-attacking the house for more packing                     u-using more tape than ever
y-yikes 2 more months before the move                    n-newly retired from Falcon School District
                                                                                    e-eating Aunt Georgia's cooking - yummy

J-just one month left                                                  A-adjusting to roommates of  2 weeks
u-under the air conditioner                                        u-under a deadline date
l-laying out & worshipping the sun                           g-getting on a plane for Dubai
y-yikes!  I still need to finish packing                       u-under massive air conditioning in Dubai
                                                                                   s-sweat, sweat, and more sweat it is so hot!
                                                                                   t-time with my brother 

S-seeing Dubai                                                          O-off to tour Dubai with Audrey & Marlow
e-expanding knowledge                                            c-counting on seeing Audrey & Marlow
p-playing how to get from A to B in Dubai              t-time to make more adjustments
t-time to find a yoga studio                                       o-out enjoying the beach
e-enjoying the air conditioning                                 b-being in the Red Sea and diving with sharks
m-making new friends                                              e-Egypt, here we come!
b-becoming comfortable in a new place                   r-relaxing in the sun
e-experiencing change
r-relief every time I make home when driving

N-new days to look forward to                                D-deciding what gift cards to buy
o-on the prowl for camels                                        e-enjoying the memories of my life
v-viewing the ocean and the sand                            c-climbing all over Petra
e-enjoying Thanksgiving with friends                     e-enjoying the sun and warm days still in the 80's
m-making toffee                                                      m-making plans for spring break
b-baking in the sun                                                  b-being out and about
e-enjoying decorating the house of Xmas               e-excited to go diving in the Maldives
r-running off to Jordan                                            r-remembering the reason for the season

     This year has been a year of choices and tremendous change.  In the last 9 months I have had many wonderful opportunities.  some have been full of wonder and excitement; others have found me in the depths of my soul.  But, what an incredible opportunity!
     I am grateful for everyone's love and support.  Keep it coming.  I am looking forward to reconnecting with everyone when I am back over the summer (especially my cats), and I am really looking forward to the new opportunities that will come my way in the upcoming months.
     I am on Facebook; my email is blizsnowcats@gmail.com; my Skype address is pam.mcinturff, and my phone number is +971 0528493407.
    May you enjoy the year ahead; keep your family and friends close; and remember to be thankful for all that you have been given.  Most of all I wish you a joyous Christmas and a wonderful New year!                                                                      
                                                                                Love,
                                                                                Pam