February fun...

It is hard getting paid once a month. Lucky for us, there are free things to do in Al Ain:

Camel racing

Rob finally made it to the races.

Wild camels...

Hanging with friends

An international horse show

Photo ops in the mall

Lost in translation

Bidet: foot bath or booty washer

When I was little, my great uncle Marion taught me how to cuss in Polish, except I didn't know what I was saying.  In high school, it was a game to try and figure out what the cuss words were in French, so we could use them on trips to Quebec. I felt so daring.

In adulthood, I try hard not to cuss and it bothers me to be around a lot of profanity. I'm a bit of Puritan when it comes to things like that, but I'll allow there are times where a good cuss word can come in handy. When I decided to move overseas, I wasn't searching for cuss words in Arabic, but rather words that might help me survive in a foreign country. Luckily for me, and my inability to roll r's, almost everything I need to get done is able to be accomplished in English. The first Arabic word I learned was "shukran" which means "thank you." The second was "shway, shway" which loosely translates to "by and by" or "easy, easy" or "slowly, slowly." Yeah, you see the problem - few things translate exactly, and I don't know if you've spent a lot of time thinking about the English language, but we do some pretty crazy/silly things that make learning it a lot more challenging.

I've heard beauty can be found in
a saloon...
I didn't know it was interchangeable with  salon.

We've been working on verbs this term in my classes, and I needed to bring in a straw and water bottle as a prop to teach "suck" because the Arabic dictionary I used had it translated to an infant's nursing. But the verb is used in more contexts than that, and honestly, I've never really thought of sucking=nursing.  And we were working on food vocabulary - so context...

I've also recently learned that some English words have words that sound similar to Arabic words, but mean very different things. "To think" in Arabic sounds like a very vulgar English word, while the abbreviation for a common fastener sounds like a very vulgar Arabic word.

Ok, Santa on a camel was cool...

And then there was today....
I walked into my 10th grade class for our second period of the day (after reminding them at the end of our earlier period to make sure their homework was completed because I would be checking it then).

One of my favorite students looks at me and says, "Oh, sh*t." (This is a very respectful student who is always concerned with being a good, honorable girl.)
I swung my head around a la Poltergeist. "What? That is a bad word. You should not say that word."

The class and student looked at me in puzzlement. "But, Miss, it means: 'oh my gosh.'"

"No, no, it doesn't. It is not a good word for you to use. It is an unclean word. It is word for the bathroom."

The cussing student: "But it is on tv all the time and the translation says 'oh my gosh'. All the time, at my house, my mother and I say, 'sh*t'." I have had a recent conversation with her mother, who while limited in her English, is very strong in French.

"It is a bad word for 'poop'. You should not say it. Tell your mother it is the same as 'merde'. She will understand. It is unclean. Do not say it." Guess my French cussing came in handy for something besides being an obnoxious teenager....

Another student: "What about 'damn it'?" 
...........

A Visit to Paradise

I've never thought a lot about the Guinness Book of Records, other than marveling at the luck of living in the town with the world's longest candy counter, but we seem to be doing a good job of hitting the UAE Guinness spots: the largest indoor ski area; the largest sheet of plexiglass; the world's largest building (okay, we've only seen the outside - we still have to do the tour); and now, this weekend, we visited the Al Ain Paradise Gardens - which has the world's largest display of hanging flower baskets.  It was a perfect pick me up after last week and a weekend of resting. 

Here are some of the photos from our visit:

The round arches leading into the garden

Lots of ground displays

Pyramid of flowers

The Eiffel Tower of Al Ain

Belle

Family Photo

The best part was this garden visit took place in February (which means a lot when you are from northern NH).

And moving forward from the doldrums...

Source: Uploaded by user via Nicole on Pinterest

Some weeks are better than others... (aka the Wet Blanket post)*

For the last few weeks, I've been sick. It has mostly been characterized by exhaustion and lethargy, resulting in several trips to the doctor's office or urgent care clinics where I have been prescribed or treated with things to deal with the congestion (it doesn't seem to go away), allergic reactions, headaches, throat pain, and dehydration. I have been a barrel of fun.

Part of the cause, I am sure is that I am in the culture shock period of rejection. I wish I had been placed in Abu Dhabi and not Al Ain; I am annoyed at the lack of resources at my school; I am worried about my daughter's education and keeping her on par with her US classmates; my husband is not embracing this experience; our flat is in the middle of a construction zone which NEVER stops working - making it impossible to sleep; there are no kids near our flat for our daughter to play with; there is nowhere for her to safely play outside our building; you get the idea.

On Wednesday I had my first classroom observation (which I learned about the day prior). Wednesdays are my ping pong days, not only do my normal back to back classes not happen, but I am going from one end and one floor of the building to another, and one grade level to another, after every block.  So my first period observation was on my best day of the week.

It was not a perfect class (when are they ever), but my girls were well-behaved, focused on the lesson, and for the most part, on task. But when I had my post-observation meeting, there was a list of things I didn't do well and what I should never do for an observed lesson. This upset me in part because I don't believe an observed lesson should be any different than any other lesson. I do a really good job of blocking out the observers because my focus needs to be on my students (comes from years of having stage fright and yet being a cheerleader/actor).  And for those who have known me as a student, worker, or teacher, you know that I hold myself up to standards that exceed "fine". I don't ever want to be fine.  The quote I live by is: "May I never be complete. May I never be content. May I never be perfect."  (Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk) I am always striving to be better, but the feedback wasn't on how to improve but how to create a better performance. And I cried. I never cry in public. I hate it.

Then I came home, and tried to rest up because my husband and I had a date. We never go out without our daughter, unless we have company, and even then, usually one of us stays at home. But I had booked a babysitter the night before because we both needed an evening out with other adults, and Wednesday is the trivia night at the Rugby Club. Before our sitter showed up, Rob asked me if I was going to be okay going out because I looked like the walking dead.  But, we'd made plans to meet another couple, and we both really needed a "date". I drank juice and water, and sat in the sick corner next to another friend not feeling well, and came home before the music round. The next morning, when the alarm went off, I couldn't function. I knocked it onto the floor, and had to fix it. I tried to get up, but my eyes were gummy. I ended up going back to bed until after 10. When I went to the doctor's office, the doctor wanted to give me a sick note for 3 days.

And then I got an email from my observer hoping I had a good night at the Rugby Club drinking, and I wanted to scream. This person doesn't know me and is judging me because I took a sick day after going out to dinner with my husband, and drank cranberry juice AND water?!?

Yeah, so at this point I have two options, I can take my doctor's advice and rest, and feel better - regaining my normal optimism; or I can ignore her advice and continue to wallow in my pit of misery.  I'm pretty sure I know what I'm going to chose.




*Truth in advertising: I feel it is important to document both the good and bad of my journey.... even if this post has an inordinate amount of whining.

Numbered January Randomness

Rocking her new frock

1. Last week, we realized that Belle was quickly outgrowing the wardrobe we came overseas with and we needed to go clothes shopping. This whole wardrobe replenishment has never happened before because I love shopping, am a massive planner, and have had generous friends who kindly passed on their children's clothing...  So we drove over to the mall and had a shopping for Belle day. Turns out my darling daughter likes pink and sparkles. (Not really a huge surprise)

2. Our neighbor, Mohamed took Rob out to get our car windows tinted as well, so we have been making loads of purchases off this monthly check already. Mohamed is one of our favorite neighbors and so helpful whenever we need an Arabic translator.  I met him while staying at the Yas, and he has quite a reputation with many of the EMTs (our new acronym - English Medium Teachers) as one of the nicest people around. 

Camel picture by Belle

3. I've discovered a church that I really enjoy in Al Ain after fruitlessly searching for the one near Oasis Hospital. It is a fairly recent Christian addition to the community, St. Thomas', and has a location that is beautiful, but unfortunately going through some dissension with the municipality about it being a church.  Please pray that this situation is resolved quickly because it has a very friendly, prayerful congregation.  Belle and I attempted to go this week, but the gates were locked, so we checked out some camels instead. We love camels.

4. I'm a health care facility's dream. While my asthma is MUCH better, apparently, I will never breathe through my nose again (the congestion will not quit - boy, do I miss my NeilMed Sinus Rinse - which my internalist is going to order for me so it will be in the UAE!).  I had a random allergic rash on my leg that required an injection to help the reaction. And was dehydrated to the point that I needed an IV. Yeah. It was a fun week. I can now say that the Tyler family has frequented four of the local hospitals, and at the moment, Al Ain Cromwell Women's and Children is my favorite - even if Tawam is closer and has a Starbucks.

5. We've also decided to make some changes in Belle's education, and are withdrawing her from her private school to homeschool. So, Rob will be taking on the dual roles of daddy and teacher.  It will be quite a transition but we think it will help her stay on pace with her US school better. Stay tuned.

What really matters...

For those who know me personally, I am rarely silent, and probably less so on issues near and dear to me.  I became a teacher because I view young people as our future, as our leaders, as our greatest asset. The current climate for education in the US is upsetting. Teachers and schools are being vilified. Test scores have become the be-all, end-all of whether a school is good or not.  Percentages are being thrown about like schools are factories producing a commodity, which I guess in the way they are, because intellectual development, critical thinking and creativity are capital in today's world.

In the last few days, one of the topics under discussion in a Facebook group for ex-pat teachers is the situation in Pennsylvania where teachers are volunteering to work without pay because the governor is trying to move to a voucher system for charter schools.  Most of the discussion participants were upset, but not surprised by this report. However, one participant posted a link to the school's academic achievement report, which tracks its AYP (adequate yearly progress) based on NCLB (No Child Left Behind). This report looks at many factors but one of the most important are test scores.   The poster went on to comment that "any business running with these numbers would be out of business." First, let me restate that these posts are taking part in a group for educators, so ideally most of the members are educators or are connected in some intimate way to an educator.  We were urged by the poster to consider this information as we discussed the situation. What follows are my thoughts...

It would be lovely if NCLB really meant that, but to find out if children are being left behind, I don't think the answer lies in test scores, absenteeism or graduation rates.  These are all outcomes or benchmarks we can point to and declare whether we are successful or not, and they are handy for making statistics; but we should be looking at what these things measure. Tests measure one thing at one moment in time and it is short-sighted to believe that any one test can measure all that is actually happening in a classroom. Standardized tests are based on the perception that students share a background knowledge and cultural exposure that the test makers believe the majority of students have access to, when the reality is no one is "standard".  Economically disadvantaged and racial minorities are statistically less likely to have the required background knowledge and exposure to do well on these "standard" exams, never mind students who are not strong test takers, whose abilities will not likely be represented appropriately.  Economically disadvantaged students have been shown to be more at risk for absenteeism, low graduation rates, etc.  These are not necessarily the faults of the district, but a part of the many factors that accompany poverty, like less access to medical care, adequate nutrition, stable housing, etc. Taking money away from districts that are struggling is not necessarily the answer.

Education is much more complicated than test scores. Good teachers are one factor, but so are strong administrators, supportive communities and parents, access to resources, and student ability to concentrate on the task of learning, and yes, a desire/commitment to learn. Students are better able to focus on their learning if their basic needs are being met. I would question how bad the teachers actually are in their instruction in this Pennsylvania district because one factor that I truly believe really shapes the outcome of a student's education is the commitment of the teacher to the student. Teachers who are willing to work without pay, to put their student's education before their own economic security, must care an awful lot about providing the best education they can to their pupils.  I have never been in a situation where I could put the financial well-being of my family behind the desire to provide education to my students, and as teachers, I question how long they will have the resources to be able to sustain their mission. 

I wonder what would happen if we took No Child Left Behind more literally and really examined what it means to leave a child behind... I am from a state that in 2010 ranked 6th in the nation for child homelessness - which means we had the 6th lowest rate in the nation, meaning we had 4,436 children documented as being homeless. According to the Carsey Institute report, "On one day in January 2009, the New Hampshire Department of Education and New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services counted 1,402 homeless elementary, middle/juniorhigh, and high school students at school. Twelve percent (171) were unaccompanied youth under age18, with most of them probably homeless adolescents." I wonder how well those students did on a test that day?

My point is that many factors contribute to the development and education of a child and I really have to question a situation that creates more focus on test results and school report cards and less on what really matters, the overall well-being of a child.