We Come from 6 Nations, We are Loud and We Talk a Lot.

Goals

I haven't been doing too well on my blog announced goals.  Visit 360 mall, Walk to the gulf from my apartment, and Workout 3 times a week- are still unmet. 

This week I have an excuse. Progress Reports happened. Friday was not a weekend day here, this week, either.

I did go to Marina mall and I watched the Giver. 

Did my grocery shopping at a grocery store within an even different new-to-me mall.

Felt strange taking my shopping cart up in the elevator.

Want to make pumpkin and leaf shaped sugar cookies for my class.
This new cookie sheet it too big for my oven, though.

Juice. It's cheap and there are so many varieties.

I got my passport back so I could travel during the upcoming break. So happy to have that option, but I don't think I'm going anywhere. I'd be going just to go, not because I feel like a new adventure yet.  

Things I've noticed
-No recycling options available. I've yet to hear of any place where I can take recycling. So I'm throwing away tin cans and plastic bottles and bags like its the 50's. It feels very wrong. 

- Golden Raisins are made from green grapes and they taste a little like crasins. My package says 'Fancy'.

-In Kuwait we use tissue as napkins. Like literally. The first day of school meetings, we used a box of tissue for napkins, at lunch, and I thought that is resourceful.  But it's normal.

A Small World

A student in the class next to me is from Nebraska. 

I ran into a Hungarian family on my Grand mosque tour last week.

Oh and for a tie in- As a Nebraskan drank her coffee at Kuwait's Marina mall Starbucks, she heard the song Budapest by George Ezra.

Coolest Starbucks wall. Ever.

School Stuff
I still get up work days at 3:10am and catch the 5:10am bus. I usually return home around 4pm.

Snapped this as I was waiting for the bus to leave in the morning.

We have two maids on our floor at school. They are there to clean the bathrooms and classrooms, as needed. They're wonderful. I find it interesting though that they douse the whole bathroom in water every morning. Then they squeegee it up.

People wear sunglasses here even inside. This makes it even harder to remember who is whose parent. Head coverings and sunglasses.

Broken Record

My kids are constantly starting their notebooks from the back.

Me- "When we are working in English, we start our notebooks from this side.(showing)"

I sound a bit like a broken record on many topics.

Me- "When you want to get the teacher's attention calmly raise your hands and...."  

Me- "1, 2, 3 eyes on me..." (Students-"1,2 eyes on you")

Daily Reflections

Sunday

Students- "It's picture day today? What!?" 

11 of them didn't realize it was picture day. Hmm. Is anybody reading my weekly newsletters?

Monday 

All 24 of my students have finally arrived back from summer break. We come from 6 nations, we are loud and we like to talk. A lot. 

At the end of the day, I have a throbbing so-tired-of-hearing-my-own-nagging headache. I decide I give this 2 years, and then I'll switch to learning support (aka smaller groups). 

Tuesday

Me- "It's a very exciting day today." drumroll... "It's the first day of fall!"- audible groans. They thought bobbing for apples sounded fun, though.

Wednesday

Me - "This is the best day ever, I love my job; my kids are angels and I got a new classroom rug(I'll have to take a picture)!" I decide I would do this for free.

Upcoming
No new goals for this week. Today, I am starting Arabic lessons. 

One month in Kuwait

When in Rome

I went on a Grand Mosque tour. We had to wear a head covering, long skirt and long sleeved shirt. I was dressed like I normally dress (capris and a tee), so I needed to cover with an abaya (long black covering) and a hijab (head scarf). They had free ones available for tour go-ers to borrow.

Very sweet, cute, sincere man explained Islam to us from his point of view. 

THIS is What I'm Talking About
Then we went to the towers.  I was hoping to eat lunch in the rotating cafe in the top of one of the towers, but it was still closed for renovation. So, we took pictures and ate lunch on the waterfront (at Chili's- my first time eating American food at a restaurant here.)

We also got a personal car tour by another teacher. By the end of the day I was feeling like I'm actually seeing Kuwait now!

Also returned to Al Kout mall to buy groceries and eat dinner this week. 

We ate at an Iranian restaurant. Huge pieces of bread and teeny strong cups of tea, at the end.  

BTW- feta cheese and soda are cheap here. Feta is only $1.80 for 18 oz. and a can of sodas is less than $0.50, even at convenient stores. I also discovered store bought fatayer (fa-thai-ya) that I mentioned a week back. Not as good as the stone oven-baked version, but I regular shopping item nonetheless. Also cheap- about $0.50 each.

School Stuff

2 weeks into school and we had a parent only Open House. I had to give two, 15 minute presentations. I was a bit nervous beforehand but it was fun. Less than half of my parents showed up but I have met most of them by now. 

I had 2 new students this week but I'm still waiting for 2 more.  

Exploration

So happy to say I have explored my area a bit more. I can now add Starbucks, Lebanese and Thai food to my repertoire.  

Going to a new (to me) shopping mall today. Marina mall . Planning to see my first movie in a theater here.

Can't wait for the weather to cool down a bit so I can stroll the corniche. 

Corniche- a road (in this case they refer to the walking trail) running along the coast.

Next Weeks Goals

- Planning to start Arabic lessons next Saturday. They will be 2 hours a week for 6 weeks.

- Another mall to want to visit, the 360 mall.  

- Want to walk to the gulf from my house, at least once. 

I did not meet my last week goal to exercise... full stop.

Up and Coming Breaks

We have a week off of school in October but I can't leave the country until I get my civil ID, so I may just get to know Kuwait better, which would be okay too.  

But, I bought my ticket to BUDAPEST for Christmas break. 

Bridge walks, trolley views, subway pastries and goulash- here I come.

Christmas Market, mulled wine and outside ice skating- HERE I COME.

Classroom Absorption, International Groups and Extracurricular Activities

Classroom Absorption 

Cannot believe it's the weekend again.  Had some ups and downs in the classroom. "Chatty culture", so I've been told. It's hard to get their full attention. Patience needed. But, I love my students and, almost all of the time, I am truly having fun when I am with them. 

Random no power, no internet or projector problems were surprising. 

Wow. Parent communication is a big deal here. I am emailed daily. I am also required to send out a weekly newsletter. Not that I can complain. Parent involvement is key. It's a partnership, right.

I find it interesting that none of the kids in the school wear head scarves or coverings, unlike in Nebraska.

It's common for kids to be absent: sick, tired, trip to Abu Dahbi. 

New English Word 

Someone mentioned Spain today, I said I lived there for a time. They said "Really, we have a house there."  Hmm.

I've discovered a new English word. Chalet(sounds like shall-A). After a couple mentions of chalet in our summertime shares, I asked, "Where is Chalet?". The student told me where their chalet was. I later asked another teacher.  Turns out it's a vacation home, often by the water. I've heard it almost daily since then. 

Let me just say summertime share is a bit different here as well. In the past, some of my students didn't have much to share about their summers or write about in personal narratives because going to the local pool or the state fair was the extent to their travels, but here.... You would be blown away. 

Most have maids, drivers and cooks. 

Nike socks for our whiteboard marker erasers.

Normal sweet, humble kids. Really.

International Groups

Still waiting for 3 more students.  They will bring my girl-boy ration a little more into balance.  I now have 2/3 adorable chatty boys and 1/3 adorable and only rarely catty girls. 

They will also make us a much more international group. Bringing us up to a 6 nation group.  If they come.

There is a church just down the road. I walked. It was very international. Love seeing people from all different nations coming together. It was also really long. An hour of singing and then an hour of speaking.   In the classroom, we are building our reading-to-self stamina. I need to build up my church stamina. 

Also went to a small group, which was not within walking distance. Drove with a few other teachers.  Great group of westerners.  

Extracurricular Activities

Must. work. Out. I'm on my feet all day but it's nothing compared to my mostly daily Nebraskan walks. 

Day 3- One workout room down.

Ran the stairs in my apartment once during week 2. Worked out once at ritzy health spa at end of week 2. 

Now nearing end of week 3 and... that's all folks. My goal is 3 times before this time next week. 

I went to the Aware center last week. There was a cultural presentation about Kuwait from a Kuwaiti who went to university in America. And great food. Great free food.  The whole thing was free. 

On my To Do List: 

- Mosque tour and hopefully cafe visit in the towers, tomorrow, Saturday. SO, MORE INTERESTING PICTURES TO COME. I'm still really happy with my pictures last week (the previous post) if you haven't checked them out yet. 

- Go to a movie theater in Kuwait. Maze Runner and The Giver come out soon. 

- Visit the Marina and 360 malls. 

- Go to a Souk (traditional market).

School's in Session

Independence

Tried to establish my independence last weekend. The school has guards 24/7 so we can go in whenever we want. So I did. 

I hailed 2 taxis alone(before I'd only called the taxi driver I knew to pick me up). One from the street outside the school. Uneventful(a good thing).

The second one was a guy standing outside of Ikea. He took my bag and walked me(the weekend before we did the same, and I was super-paranoid-suspicious girl, but the guy was legit) to an unmarked car(not a taxi!) and when I resisted(wrestled my bag out of his hands), he showed me his civil ID(I think) saying it was his taxi card. 
Yeah... no. 

I don't think he was trying to harm me. I think he just wanted to get paid for being my taxi driver. But... no. 

It all ended well.

I've hailed several taxis by now- can't say it doesn't cause some stress, but I always feel safe. One of the last ones asked if I was a wife(broken English), I tried to lie but he asked more questions and I fessed up. He went on to tell me I was beautiful and he didn't have a wife. 

Went to the mall again. Thankfully there was this British guy doing some funny magic shows. 

Well, I watched the guy a couple times and I never saw him do anything magic or funny, but he had a crowd.  I say thankfully because it gave me free range to take pictures without being obvious.  Lots of people had phones out.  Love the zoom on my camera.

I was even part of the show for a few moments. As I walked by one of his smaller venues, he changed the music yada, yada and everyone watched me and smiled. So, maybe I stand out a bit.

I don't think I get stared at though. I admit I don't make eye contact much, nor look around a ton, so I may notice more as time wears on. I should appreciate that I'm not younger and my hair isn't longer and lighter. 

I've ordered from Talabat, the online food service, several times by now. Not a cheap habit to form. I recently prepared lots of food and snacks so I won't be tempted to order online all the time. 

I have discovered the most wonderful paneer. If you haven't tried Indian paneer, you must. 

Random Stuff 

We went to have our blood drawn and a chest X-ray. I had to do all the same tests I was required to do before I came, here. It was slightly traumatic, as it was in the states but for different reasons. 

Okay, the drawing blood part was distressing for the same reason. Needle. in. my. arm. 

But, here we needed to stand in line forever with other foreigners taking over our personal space inch by inch.

Went to a fancy health club with beach access. Membership is equivalent to 1,750 dollars for 9 months with a 10 dollar cab ride each time(if you go alone). I'll make do without. Access to the water and the freedom to wear normal attire was nice. 

Swam in the Persian gulf. It was warm, nice warm and I thought it got pretty deep right away.

Fa-thai-ya love. It's this dough filled pocket yumminess(they seem to have variations of that all over the world. This one is oven baked and filled with cheese, spinach or meat. There is a shop close to the school that sells them for cheap. 

Syria (I don't know his real name).
Our Fa-thai-ya maker.

Trying out all the chocolate bars I can buy in the little bakala(little shop) downstairs.

The bakala right outside my apartment.

Got more free stuff. An electric kettle, drying rack, microwave(for cheap), etc., etc.

One of the new teachers is a fellow YWAMer. 

The Countdown

SUNDAY, 3 days before school started

My classroom is coming together slowly. 

Laminating is unlimited. Paper to cover my bulletin boards is available. There are helpers to put up my bulletin boards!

But, on the other hand, there is no supply closet. Things like a stapler, scissors, sticky notes, etc. I don't have them (You fill out a supply list. I eventually got some of the stuff on my list). If the last teacher in my room didn't leave it, I'm out of luck or, more likely, I go buy it myself. 

The students bring a ton of supplies themselves and if we need something for the class I can ask them for it.  

MONDAY, 2 days before school started

I got my class list. 23 students. And only a couple names I can pronounce.

The classroom is as good as it is going to get. I learned a little about myself in the process. Things don't have to be perfect, BUT I will do whatever I can to get them perfectly how I planned them. In other words I can deal, but I won't if I don't have to.

TUESDAY, the first day of school

The latest I can leave for school is 6 am because I must be there by 6:45, but I want to get to school a few minutes early so I am taking the 5:15 bus.  Which means I am planning to wake up at 3:00 ish. Okay, that's insane but the thing is I haven't even been here for 2 weeks yet and my sleep pattern isn't very set. And I'm excited to start school year.  I'll survive. And I'll go home right after school.

Today was a blur.  I didn't know school supplies could cause so much chaos and confusion.

Finally met some locals- students and their families. I'm still figuring out the particulars but I my class is mainly middle Easterners(1 who just came from living most of her life in North America), one European and 2 North Americans(who have spent most of their lives in the Middle East). 

Totally skipped my first school meeting, unintentionally. #badfirstimpression #actuallynobodynoticed. 

WEDNESDAY, second day of school

DAY 2 done(and awesome), but only 16 of 23 students have shown up so far. 

Maintenance is super speedy. My whiteboard fell off the wall the first day of school while I was teaching. The kids loved it. It was back up in a jiffy.

THURSDAY, third day of school

First week done. Check. Love my students! Still haven't met 5 of them yet. Was still, on day 3, excited to get up, even at, 3:10 to start the day. I've been going to bed at 8.

Random School Stuff

Happy that in a 3 layered school, I am on the first floor and close to the bathrooms and recess field. There is no playground equipment and it's over 100 degrees and they are fine.

Working with a famous Pinterest teacher. She has over 4K followers to my 246. 

Also big score that she is married to embassy. Can someone say shipping.

Upcoming

My big weekend plans: Orientation to Kuwait by a local nonprofit organization(with a free meal), homework for my UNK classes, lesson planning, guitar and church(for the first time).

Around my Neighborhood.
It's not all glamorous.