Picking Up Speed…

So the biggest update since I last blogged (still wondering how “successful” of a blogger I am going to be)….school has started! We started school on the 6th of September and had two weeks of classes as of yesterday. The set up is quite different from the schedule I had in the States. Instead of being on a block schedule meeting ninety minutes every day for a semester, I have the students all year and we meet three times a week at varied times depending on the class and the grade.

A couple of random quotes stories:
When I was substituting for a class of eighth graders and was having them teach me Arabic:
“Miss (they call me Miss or Ms. Melissa), WE all know two languages, why should we have to teach you a second one.” I proceed to answer in German. Silence…”what was that Miss?” …”German…do you speak it?” …”No”…”Oh, okay then – you teach me Arabic and I will teach you German.” We had a blast after that. Minus a common German word being an Arabic swear word…oops! Guess that’s life.

From an eighth grader in that same class: “Miss do you know you look like a Russian supermodel…do you speak Russian?” I had no good comeback for that one, just to say no and ignore.

“Miss try my brownies….Miss PLEASE be in charge of Model UN….Miss you give us a lot of hard homework ”

Sounds like my kids from home. LOVE It

I am teaching two tenth grade world history classes from Imperialism – WWI, an eleventh grade history from WWI to current history, two senior economic classes, a college preparation for juniors and a college preparation for seniors. Classes during Ramadan are 30-35 minutes and after will be 40-45 minutes. THUS teaching life is quite different for me and I think that the schedule has been the biggest adjustment for me in the whole process. I did feel after two weeks, however, that I have a better feel for lessons look like in those time frames. We now have a week off for Eid holiday (celebration after Ramadan) which probably starts Sunday, depending on the moon. I have heard that watching the celebration is a lot of fun so I will be trying to do that as well as a lot of planning.

I have REALLY enjoyed getting back into teaching and ironically enough for those who know me well, I am having a great time with economics in spite of having determined in college that it would be the bane of my teaching existence if I had to ever teach it. Wonders will never cease and my time here has seemed to be full of things like that so I look forward to the continuing story.

The students are GREAT and meeting them has been among the favorite things that I have experienced here thus far. We had our first Iftar (daily breaking of the fast at sunset) celebration along with football (soccer) games Thursday evening and it was quite a fun event. It is relatively reminiscent of a Friday night school American football game. A lot of the moms or relatives made a plethora of amazing Arab and other dishes and after the call to prayer, we ate together (YUM!) and then I went with a couple of teachers to watch the various grades play each other in football. I had some students attempting to talk me into running/sponsoring Model UN….we’ll see. I think I might have to be careful or they will steal my heart and I would probably have to live at school for all I would be involved with .

Overall, I have really enjoyed myself and the things I am seeing and experiencing. I am told by my students that “Bahrain will be much less boring after Ramadan”….I do have to say I wasn’t bored yet but I am looking forward to seeing what life is like during the rest of the year as well.

Noises, Netherlands and Navigation

Well, yesterday marked two weeks for me here officially…it feels like a lot more time than that has passed though, probably because a lot has happened and there has been a lot of sensory intake going on. It is interesting because in some ways there is so much to take in – sights, tastes, sounds, smells, etc. that are really exciting and cool and yet it is hard to compute at times. For someone who likes to know what I am doing, it is a different world – though loud in many ways with things I am unfamiliar with, silent at the same time because of language barriers when I am out and no roommates when I am home.

These things are not bad but totally different and I am trying to feel my way through that. I want to take advantage of the gift of rest and silence because I tend to underrate them and avoid them so I think this is very purposeful in my life!

So to give you an idea of some of my on-goings as of late

• Got settled into my flat and really like it (pictures coming on FB whenever I get good internet access)
• Haven’t started school due to Swine flu precautions but will in two days.
• Am adjusting to the heat – I actually thought yesterday, “Hmmm, it feels cooler today!
• I have started playing piano again on a team and REALLY enjoy it – realized I miss playing music!
• Much to everyone’s surprise I am finding myself with a lot of possible opportunities to stay busy that I could commit to – teaching English, playing piano, helping with different groups.
• I have officially fallen to the vice of Settlers of Catan….not QUITE as viciously as peanut butter, ice cream or outdoor activities but I am wondering how I let myself miss out on this wonderful world….I am pretty sure I am hooked and am in for some good competition – or I maybe should say that THEY should watch out!
• Learning what it means to be quiet and enjoy time alone – I realized I don’t quite know what to do with myself when I have the time I have by myself.
• Have been discovering the city little bit by little bit – getting oriented a little through runs and riding around. Have a long way to go…
• Enjoying the gulf breeze and smell of fresh salt water!
• Trying to figure out how to work air-drying clothes…they just don’t come out the same as a dryer. Additionally, I dyed my first clothes another color yesterday! Apparently the water doesn’t get cold so washing a couple of things that were lighter with a black skirt that hadn’t been washed gave me baby blue shirts that had been white and gray capris that had been khaki….hmmm, going to have to work on that one!

Some goals of mine:

• Read more – have a list…
• Get back to doing art – I brought my charcoal pencils and the other day was at a teacher store and found acrylic paints and canvas!!!! :)
• Not get too busy

On a side note, it was suggested that I blog about food – things I have found and enjoy here so far…GREAT topic. I thought I would make a top 15 list for you…pictures coming

1. Dutch Peanut Butter – made in the Netherlands, this stuff is AMAZING!!! I got it as a house warming gift and saw it at the store for the first time today – my jaw dropped at the price…I will be rationing.
2. Halloumi cheese
3. Hummus
4. Mango-orange juice (mango mixed with personally fresh squeezed orange juice)
5. Peanut Butter
6. Eggplant (yes, I had not had it before – tried it on amazing homemade pizza)
7. Crackers, Swiss jam and New Zealand cheddar cheese
8. Middle East yogurt with granola and fruit
9. Peanut Butter
10. Banana chips from India (reminders of Honduras)
11. Lamb
12. All of the AMAZING fruit selections (it helps to be near tropical places)
13. Peanut Butter!
14. Dates
15. Did I mention peanut butter?!?!

Seeing as it is Ramadan, I expect that this will expand greatly afterwards when there will be more open eating and sharing of food. I will revamp the list later again…though I am sure it will still have peanut butter on it at least twice.