Moving to Al Mirfa

Mirfa Hotel

Mirfa



Don't they look sweet!?



Another couple of entries and I should be caught up to date! On September 15th I was sent a note under my door saying it was time to move! It turned out that 13 teachers were moved to Hotel Mirfa in the Western Region of the UAE.  The Hotel is quite beautiful and sits on the Arabian Sea, so the view is great! I will post a few pics of the area! We actually started work on the 16th of September.  Better late than never! I am teaching 2 different classes of Grade 2 girls in a Co-Ed School.  The school is brand new and 900 students enrolled in Grades 1-5!  There are approx. 100 teachers in all!  The girls and boys are on opposite sides of the school as it is NOT acceptable for them to mix at this age!  For the first couple of weeks I was in a state of shock at the end of each day  The kids are soooo undisciplined....and used to getting their own way.  Have I got my work cut out for me!  My students speak only a few words of English.  Most of my colleagues speak VERY little English!  So the conversation in between classes is very interesting!  I`m learning to speak a few phrases of Arabic but depend mostly on my hands! The other teachers are very welcoming each day and go OUT  of their way to make sure the English speaking teachers have everything we need!  There are only 3 international teachers in our school as it is hard to recruit people to live so far out in the desert! Most days I shake my head and wonder why am I here. ADEC (my employer still hasn`t sent out the new curriculum so for now, I`m using my experience to get me through each day! It would be nice if I could find some paper or perhaps even an English Library book in our school.  My principal keeps saying, no problem,,,,,,next week....next week! Looks like I`ll be living at the Hotel for awhile while ADEC finds accomodations for us!  So I`m going to try and enjoy it while it lasts! So for now....Ma Salama!

Mosque

Abu Dhabi

Since my first and ONLY post to my Blog...I am learning the real meaning of  PATIENCE!!! I am learning that there is no need to react to anything out of the norm here in the UAE! Since my arrival I've lived at the Beach Rotana Hotel in Abu Dhabi for 1 month! I enjoyed living right next door to the Abu Dhabi Mall and all of the ethnic Restaurants nearby! It was Ramadan during most of our stay at the Hotel. Ramadan is the 9th month (Holy Month) when Muslims abstain from food and drink during daylight hours. We had to go to our rooms to have a drink of water and wait to eat until after iftar. (break of fast) I've made many new friends while staying here and look forward to reconnecting after we settle into our new locations. The Beach Rotana was very beautiful and had all the amenities that a 5 Star should have! Wow....I feel very lucky to have stayed in such a great place! Abu Dhabi is a crazy city! The entire city is under construction....no kidding!! When you look at the skyline all you can see are cranes and unfinished skyscrapers!  Driving here is NOT something I am looking forward to at all! Most people drive VERY big and luxurious vehicles and they drive very fast! I feel bad for the people driving the small, gutless cars...they don't stand a chance. There are on the average 7 car accidents per hour in the UAE! The buses and taxis are looking really good! I went to a Lebanese Restaurant with a group of teachers and had a huge feast! I am definitely NOT a lamb fan.  We tried smoking from a 'Hubbly Bubbly' also called a shisha after dinner.It was great! I tried the apple flavoured tobacco......hmmmm....I might have to buy a shisha for myself! Our group staying at the Hotel went on a tour of the Grand Mosque.  I was awestruck by the total experience! The weather is very hot and humid with temperatures averaging in the high 30's and low 40's C. Needless to say, I only go outside when I absolutely have to! Looks like ADEC will be moving me to the Western Region to teach in a Coed School. School starts on September 12th if the moon is spotted in the correct position....seriously! I'm learning to hurry up and wait for EVERYTHING!!!

Beach Rotana Hotel