Week 4 - October has begun.  We have been in Abu Dhabi just over a month.  We have moved into our apartment (next blog entry) and have been teaching for 3 weeks.  In this entry, Steve and I share about our schools.  One thing both our schools have in common is the check-in/check-out process.  The schools use fingerprinting.  We punch in our ID’s then the machine scans our fingerprint.  We get a message in the morning that says “Good Morning, Steve (Alison)” and in the evening the machine says, “Good-Bye”.  Accountability for time at school is closely monitored.  When I came back for parent night, I had to re-sign in and sign out at the conclusion.  Can you imagine that in American schools?

Finger Print Machine

Steve:

Just completed my third full week teaching English at Al Ittihad.  Presently I have three fifty-five minute sections, each meeting seven times a week for a total of 21 classes.  In actuality, the periods are more like fifty-minutes because though a bell klangs to end the period, there is nothing to usher in the new class so students wander in at all times intermittently those first fifteen minutes.  This lack of punctuality proved at first unsettling for a former German teacher.  But I’m beginning to understand how flexibility in this culture is key, and might work to my advantage.  Each of my three weeks we have had a different schedule.  The first week, school dismissed at 2:45; the second week at 2:30; last week at 2:10.  By December I figure there will not be a need for me to report.

Each morning starts with an all-school assembly in the courtyard.  Students, teachers, and administration stand at attention to an old recording of the strident UAE national anthem, a message from the Qur’an, and pithy educational jeremiads.  Reminiscent of Boy Scout camp at Osceola, MO circa the Bicentennial.  

Attached is a video from a visiting band, which used bagpipes and Arabic flutes:    Healthy parent brag:  daughter Etienne (and former Central Eagle band member) is a better twiller than the guy with the miter.

At this point, I have learned about 95% of the students’ names.  No small feat here as one may have a class with four Ahmeds and three Abullahs.  I do have a Buddy Holly-bespectacled student who shares his name with the heavyweight-boxing champ formerly known as Cassius Clay.   No Abdul-Jabbars, however, nor Bobby Moores.  Presently I’m working on second names to distinguish Mohammed Khalid from Mohammed Fahed.

On the topic of names, students call me Dr. Brock, so not to confuse me with another “Steve” in the English department.  Most assume Brock is my first name because they are already familiar with that famous Minnesota WWF wrestler/MMA fighter/behemoth Brock Lesner.  Surprisingly, fewer are aware of the oeuvre of the outstanding black actor in “To Kill a Mockingbird” Brock Peters.

My two eleventh-grade classes are working on the theme of health.  Fortunately during my stint with the Jesuit Virtual Learning Academy, I composed an online course for health.  Class began with the topic of healthy diet (so it was a bit ironic after-school Thursday when I saw my student Zayed eating a super-sized Big Mac at the nearby McDonald’s; I soon followed him with the same order, though with extra onions).  My upper-level class enjoyed their flipbooks; the lower-level group seemed to have issues with the paper construction.  No doubt, poor instruction on my part.  This week our attention turns to exercise. 

For my lone tenth grade class, the theme is Emirati heritage.  Students have a large summative project at the end of the tri-semester they are already working on.  The project includes some research and interviews.  As I know little of Emirate culture at present, I am now examining contemporary film.  Students here like the same films as teens in the US; in fact, “Fast and Furious 7” is to begin filming here next month when the weather dips below 100 F.  I told the class I have been signed to play Vin Diesel’s smarter brother.  My class has, nonetheless, compared Arab and Western foods, and dress through Venn diagrams and other graphic organizers.

In general, students are friendly, but would rather chat than listen to each other or me.  Even as engaging as I am.  Here are a couple to teaching techniques which seem to be stemming the tide of insubordination:  1) Standing:  Students who interrupt get to stand.  They do not like to stand, especially for prolonged periods.  2) Points:  Students can be awarded positive or negative points.  After ten points, they get a free pass on an assignment.  I whip out the IPhone to award points post haste.

Alison:

My placement has changed three times since I arrived.  All three have been cycle 2 - grade 6 science.  Truth be told, the third was only because the new facilities were not ready and my students were still being housed at Al Lulu, which is their previous cycle 1 (elementary) school.  Al Lulu is lovely.

  The principal and vice-principals are skilled and lovely people.  In most cycle 2 (middle) schools, teachers do not have their own room and science lab time needs to be scheduled.  I am fortunate: I have the science lab for my classroom.  My students come upstairs to the lab for class!  Bell-to-bell the length of a class is 45 minutes.  There is no passing time, which means in actuality my classes are about 35 to 40 minutes on a good day.  I love my girls.  Their English is still very limited so I am employing all my ELL skills and knowledge.  They have not had much exposure to lab skills or hands-on science.  We have started the year with learning process skills, observation skills, and lab equipment.  One of the girls commented that my class was really hard because I kept asking them to think! I do a lot of modeling on journaling and respond to our big questions (essential questions).  They struggle on extrapolating of information from multiple sources and making connections between investigations.  WE WILL GET THERE! 

The cycle 1 students wear pink jumpers with white blouses under them and my 6^th graders wear blue jumpers with white blouses.  Each morning the day begins with a 15-minute assembly.  The girls recite a prayer, and then sing the National Anthem.  Next several girls are selected to recite from the Qur’an.  Messages, reminders, and announcements are made.  About once a week, I am required to do a uniform check – clean uniform, black shoes, hair pulled back, and clean short nails.  I have now 7 abayas to wear to school.  I have to say they are very comfortable.  The two that I just had made are actually beautiful.  It is not a requirement, but more practical.  If I choose to wear a skirt it has to be to my ankles and the top must be at least ¾ sleeve.  On Thursday, I did not have my new abayas and the current ones needed cleaning, so I had to wear a skirt and blouse.  I felt uncomfortable.  I will post pictures of me in an abaya soon. 

At 10:30 to 11:00 the girls have a break to eat.  The canteen is open and many students purchase snacks and water.  We are working on better processes and encouraging the girls to clean up after themselves.  We have started using the 6^th grade girls to help “encourage” the younger girls.  They love the responsibility! 

This week we have given benchmark and skills tests.  I have been helping out the elementary teachers to give the reading inventories.  I sit with each student and have her read to me for accuracy and fluency.  It has been interesting to watch the progression from grade 1 to grade 5.  Once those assessments are evaluated I will be working with teachers and students supporting math.  I am also working with the Student Support Team to put in place better processes and procedures.  That is one of our SIP goals.  I have been asked to facilitate 2 SIP priorities (goals) committees (Note to Ann Mausbach:  I was channeling you last week and your analogy for writing a SIP.)  My experiences both in Montgomery County and Counsel Bluffs are serving my well.  

Next Entry: Al Reem Island – Beach Tower Apartment Living!

Week 2

Week 2:

Steve's comments are in italics.

 

Week 2 has been busier.  The week started with an overview orientation and was followed with medicals on Monday.  We have bank accounts, telephone numbers, school placements, and requests for an apartment.  Steve will be teaching Cycle 3 English (grades 10-12) at Al Ittihad School in the Al Banteen Area of Abu Dhabi (The oldest school here and the only exclusively Emirate public school.  Sort of like all-boys Central High—you get the picture).  I will be teaching Cycle 2 grade 6 science and ??? at Al Lulu (a bit of a change, but flexibility is a must over here).  Our schools are on extreme sides of Abu Dhabi so a car is a needed quantity.  We have put in a request to live on Al Reem Island, which is downtown and beautiful.  We would have beachfront property with a pool, a gym, and covered parking.  My commute will be approximately 30-45 minutes.  On Saturday, we rented a car and did trial runs to locate both schools and the possible new apartment.  Abu Dhabi does not currently use address numbers to identify buildings, schools, or homes; addresses are on the docket to arrive with the Guggenheim in 2015.  Instead, we use GPS coordinates and landmarks to locate places.  Garmin is a good friend in the car!  Alison did well driving.  People here use the horn more frequently than turn-signals.  It is not uncommon to have someone cut you off and then continue over two more lanes to exit.  One definitely needs to pay attention.  The radio remained off.  

  

The rest of the week was filled with school operation orientation and professional development.  The school operation orientation was held at the Sorbonne University Auditorium.  It was very informative.  The professional development centered on the ADEC twist of gradual release, inquiry, and an introduction to the curriculum.  Because our medical reports are not back, we will have 2 more days of professional development and hopefully be in school on Tuesday! (Insha’Allah).  Though school starts Sunday officially, students wander in piecemeal.

We started at school on Tuesday.  There was a little confusion for both Steve and me as to what we would be doing at each of our schools.  At the end of the day, things sorted themselves out – I had a classroom and a basic schedule.  Steve was told he would be teaching grades 10 and 11 and would begin with his students on Sunday.  After 2 days in school, I can say I love my girls.  This year will be a challenge to find appropriate materials for them, but they are eager. 

Tourist Update:

The exhibition center hosted an outdoor living exhibit with falcons and horses! Steve and I attended on Friday afternoon and Saturday evening.  Friday we explored the exhibits on camping, hunting, and traditional desert dwellings and lifestyle.  It was very interesting to see the old ways along side of the new.  They had traditional tents and then modern RV’s.  They had several displays of real falcons.  At one location, they allowed us to each hold the falcon.  What an experience!  While holding the falcon, the trainer kept urging me to hold the bird closer.  Go figure.  That beak looks much bigger up close.  Saturday evening we went back to the arena area to watch the showcasing of working dogs, horses, camels, and predator birds.  Each show was interesting, but my favorite was the horses and amazing display of horsemanship.  I preferred the camels. 

Camel racing

Alison holding a falcon

 Friday evening, we went on a desert safari, which consisted of dune-bashing, camel-riding, sand-boarding, henna, dress-up, “hubbly-bubbly,” dinner, and a belly-dancing performance.  Our driver was very skilled.  The drive was better then any rollercoaster ride. Steve tried the sand boarding and the hubbly-bubbly pipe, which had a licorice aftertaste.  I stuck to henna.  Dinner was yummy traditional fare with kebobs followed by a fabulous Kim Khardashian-like belly dancer.  Definitely a worthwhile experience that I would recommend to all.  

Riding over dunes in a Land Cruiser

Camel riding is not really comfortable

 

Steve in front seat ready to dune bash

Steve tried sand boarding

Going Native

Enough said...

Week 1

Week 1
This week Alison wrote the entry with Steve's comments and input in italics.  

Steve and I have been in Abu Dhabi for almost a week.  The greatest lesson that we have learned is patience! We have done a great deal of waiting – waiting for news, waiting in lines, and just waiting.  We have finally caught up on sleep (after a couple of nights waking up wide awake at 1:30) and now have settled into regular sleep patterns.

We are currently staying at the Aloft Hotel near the Exhibition Center.  It is a lovely modern hotel with a free breakfast brunch and it has a laundry so we can do our own wash.  We have taken advantage of the pool almost everyday to relax and get a break from the heat. (Alison neglected to mention the Thursday night poolside “Liquid Rain” dance-party, complete with loud, brain-numbing techno music until after 3:30 a.m.  We made the scene from 8-9, drank our drinks, and then left.)

Aloft Hotel and Exhibition Center

Pool at Aloft - Great way to end a day and relax

Another teacher who has been living in the Emirates told us on the bus yesterday that two of the most common things to do are eat and shop in Abu Dhabi.  I would agree.  I have never seen so many huge malls in my life.  Together WE have been to 3 - Marina Mall, Mushrif Mall, and Delma Mall. (That is more than Steve has been to in a year!  True, and with no apology.)  Add the Gold Souk (abaya-shopping with new friends) to my list and that makes four!  (Delma Mall has a Shake Shack with the best cheeseburger I have ever had abroad—and that’s Europe, Asia, Central America and Africa.  We’ll be back after I drop a few lbs.)

On the job side, we had our first orientation, survived our medicals, and received our placements.  We will be living in the city of Abu Dhabi with Steve teaching English in a boy’s cycle 3 (grades 10-12) school downtown near the Marina Mall and me teaching in a girl’s cycle 2 (grades 6-9) school in an area called Bani Yas.  Tomorrow we will receive more information about the schools and curriculum.  Students arrive on Sunday (with the teaching week running Sunday through Thursday) and we are hoping to be in our classrooms by then. 

On the tourist side, we have not done much.  Yesterday we visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.  The guidebook recommended a sunset tour, which was an excellent suggestion.  (Larger than the Taj Mahal, the marble edifice was absolutely amazing.) I was particularly impressed with the many German-made chandeliers.  Our nubile tour guide was delightful and informative.   Today we are planning on going to the Heritage Village in the shadow of the Marina Mall.

Facing the Worship Hall at Grand Mosque - Incredibly Beautiful

Steve inside Grand Mosque

Museum at Heritage Village

outdoor market at Heritage Village