I haven't posted since October 29th!?!?!?!?!

 Dear Friends and Family,

I knew it had been a while since my last post but I had no idea it has been over 5 months!!!! I apologize for my oversight but as only 6 of you read this blog (and you all have kept in touch via Facebook) I can't imagine anyone is pining away for a new one but here it is all the same (I apologize in advance for its length and thank you for reading...even if this is where you stop).

I am not going to go into depth on the details of the past 5 months during which time I have experienced extreme highs, lows, excitement, frustration, and the most intense loneliness of my life. I am not going to spend the entire day rehashing for you these past events because I do not have that sort of focus, you don't have that sort of patience and I am doing my best to just keep my head above the sand these days. I will say (for the one person who has never read my blog and is just randomly stopping by) that I came here expecting to be changed by the experience and I have been.

I will list (in short) some highlights and then I will make a few pointed observations (probably much longer).

Since my last post from Bahrain in October of 2012 I have-

• Discovered that not everyone in the world celebrates Christmas...even a secular one. I did however get the chance to spend Christmas in Jordan where it was cold and I could sip wine and where church bells ring and Jesus is more than a prophet to some. I did get to spend Christmas Eve in Bethlehem and it was miraculous and I am grateful to have been there.
• Learned that I am not cut out for the teaching profession here in Kuwait however I am also not a quitter and will be back next year to test that hypothesis with a 2nd grade class.
• Moved out of a hotel room and into an apartment! I love my apartment. It is my sanctuary.
• Traveled to Thailand and island hopped. Thailand is fantastic.
• Discovered that I am easily swayed by big brown eyes and an accent, not as sophisticated as I keep pretending to be, still have a heart that can be broken and I am an amazing girlfriend! While I am trying not to fall for anymore honeyed words from a devil's tongue (pretty much ends any ideas of serious dating here in Kuwait)...I wouldn't change a thing. I have also learned that I really like myself and as soon as I meet a man who appreciates the me that I am then I will appreciate him right back.
• Started painting and writing poetry again. Solitude does wonders for creativity.
• Freely admit that I am not the world's most amazing housekeeper and I am going to hire a maid Insha'Allah.
• Life goes on back home and even though I am not there, people are having a good time anyway.
• Traveled to Amsterdam and Paris. I love both.
• Learned that I travel well by myself (that is not to say I do not travel well with others, that is to say that traveling alone is not as scary as some would have you think and everyone should try it).
• Admitted that I am not safe walking in clogs and will no longer be wearing them.
• And finally, I have fully embraced my nerdiness and will never again feel embarrassed or ashamed to freely quote Tolkien, Lewis, Gaiman, Rowling or Lucas. I will not act as though I am too cool to wear costumes if I wish too. I will proudly wave my collector's Hermoine wand at the world non-verbally chanting Reparo, sing drinking songs from the Shire and find numerous ways to interject Jedi wisdom in everyday conversation.

Pointed observations-

This past week has been one of horror and devastation for people in the United States due to the Boston Marathon bombings and consequent manhunt that followed and the explosion in West, Texas. My heart goes out to the families, friends and communities effected. It is never easy when something as incomprehensible as hatred and mass destruction happen on home soil. All eyes and ears have been watching and praying around the world and the world media has had 24/7 coverage. Brave acts are inspiring and the compassion shown by individuals getting involved is uplifting.

I in no way want to take anything away from what has happened back home and again want you all to know that you have my love and support. My thoughts right now are not about bringing pain or derision. I do need to say however that the intense media coverage both at home and around the world brings up a few feelings. The play by play reporting (often times inaccurate and damaging) mixed with the overabundance of up to date status posts on social media outlets was a tad overwhelming. Does it do any good?

Everyday here in Kuwait, I hear about horrific things that are happening in countries all around me. A day does not pass that I do not hear about the intense suffering of the Syrian people. While the reports were going non-stop about the manhunt in Boston, a cafe full of people was bombed in Iraq and at least 25 people were killed. People caught up in struggles between waring factions.

I have the great honor to call many people from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Iraq, Iran and other parts of the Middle East my friends. I work with devout Muslims who pray daily for peace and volunteer time and money to those in need. The school I work at had a blanket drive for Syrian refuges in Jordan.  I have even been able to have in depth conversations about our differences (Western and not Western, Christian and Mulsim) without ever coming to blows or disrespecting each other's cultures. I may not agree with many things that are genuinely believed to be true by other people but at the end of the day we can still share a laugh and perhaps a little more understanding.

It always hurts more when it happens at home. I just wish people would stop with the name calling, scrutinizing and jumping to conclusions. Wait for the facts. Tell the truth. And when tragedy strikes as it inevitably will because the world is filled with people who make the wrong choices "look for the helpers" for they too are everywhere. There are helpers in every country and heroes of every background. There are regular people who do the right thing and who never have their praises sung.

Enough of that...next observation.

I have been to 9 countries this year and spent quality time in 7 of them. I plan to see a few more before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st. In this time of traveling I have received a new calling and it is two fold.

1- I want to inspire you to travel more! Nay, not just travel but become Social Adventurers! In general people around the world believe that folks from the U.S. do not like to travel. I am always trying to dispel this myth but I cannot do it alone. While there are many people from the USA traveling all over the world...the stereotype persists. I am making it a personal mission to meet as many people around the world as possible to help them know that this is indeed a myth and that I am not an oddity from my homeland. Statistics are not helping me convince anyone as only about 25% of Americans have valid passports compared to 60% of Europeans. I know there are a lot of reasons why y'all don't get out more (namely vacation hours, expenses, families etc). I get it. It's not easy. But I KNOW it is not due to lack of desire! Or at least I refuse to believe it. So do me a favor...get a passport! Then do something even crazier...GO SOMEWHERE!!! There is a foreign country out there that you have yet to explore and you can afford it, you CAN take the kids, and you CAN TAKE TWO WEEKS OFF!

2- People are afraid to travel alone. I was. I would still be if I hadn't done it. I am not saying to go to places that are dangerous all by your lonesome (or at all for goodness sake) but don't let the excuse of not having a travel companion keep you from going somewhere new. Do your research. Save up some money. Stop making excuses and GO! I spent a week alone in Thailand. I didn't know the language and I was nervous but guess what? I met people, I tried things I never thought I'd try, I made mistakes, I asked for help and I had a life changing experience. Yes it got a little lonely (just ask the poor gecko on my wall in Koh Lanta who had to hear all about it) but you will find you do things differently when you don't have anyone else to answer to. You find you are much more resourceful than you thought. If anything, it makes you that much more likely to talk to strangers and share a meal with people just passing through.

There, I'm done. Well...almost.

Finally,

I am turning 40 in a month. It is a strange time in many ways for me. I am not married. I have not been blessed with children of my own (of course I am currently raising 25 six year old boys...so...that's taken a toll on the old biological clock). However, I know exactly who I am and I am not too modest to admit I am super cool with being myself. I am also cool with continuing to grow, learn more, and change for the better with every new experience.

I may not blog again before I go home (55 days!) so if you have skipped everything else please read this next part.

More than anything I have been blessed to meet folks from every walk of life who are here with me in Kuwait. It has been amazing and inspiring to be around people who say things like "Petra is breathtaking" or "The people in Tanzania are wonderful" not because they are bragging or pretentious, but because they are Social Adventurers who are "sucking the marrow out of life". Their excitement, challenges and willingness to "see more...do more" have been my favorite part about this experience. I have been able to talk to people who have shared their tips on traveling by camel back, sipping tea with Bedouins, teaching children in India, cruising down the Nile, glamming it up in Dubai or Qatar, or going on safari in Africa. I know where to go and who to call should I find myself in Korea, Egypt or Cyprus. In turn I am able to provide some tips and tricks of my own (don't even get me started on seeing everyone's pictures). So while the homesickness has been the ever present and painful challenge to my sojourn here, time spent smoking shisha with the girls or talking at school to people back from a recent trip to Morocco, Abu Dhabi or Oman has been part of making this the greatest adventure of my life. To all of those new friends, colleagues and passers-by I give the most heart felt thanks.

Alhamdulillah,
Michele

At the Heineken Eperience in Amsterdam. Photo credit: Maggie Stewart

 

Arabic Dress Day and Happy Camels...Eid Mubarak!

Howdy friends,

 

So here I sit from my office away from home at the Juffair Grand Hotel in Bahrain. So far it has been a fun and relaxing week off for Eid al-Adha break and I head back to Kuwait tomorrow. The funny thing is...as much as I like Bahrain, I am ready to go home. I kind of miss Kuwait (!) wait did I just say home in reference to Kuwait? Things must be changing for me (it is true that the one constant is change).

The past few weeks have been full of more learning experiences both in the classroom and out. For any of you new teachers out there who may be considering whether or not to teach abroad I highly recommend it. There are so many challenges to working with a different culture but there are also many pluses. My big pluses come in the form of a supportive school staff, actual prep periods during the day (I sit at my desk sometimes...for most teachers in the States this is unheard of), and I have the world's most amazing Teaching Assistant who has many years of experience in the classroom! Oh and then there is the paycheck (tax-free) and the paid rent and utilities so saving money is possible and paying off loans is not a pipe dream.

Here are some quick lessons learned:

1) When doing an activity with children that involves movement, make sure their shoes are tied.

In my classroom we do a "Brain Break" activity sometimes which is kind of like Simon Says but without the speaking. The students have to do what the teacher does. I stand in front of the class and do stretching exercises or make funny faces and the kids all mirror my actions which they really have fun doing. Two weeks or so ago, in a moment of inspiration, I had some of the students come up one by one to be the leader of the activity. My assistant and another 1st grade teacher were in the class to help out during the Spelling and Reading Comprehension tests. This was just a basic get the wiggles out sort of thing so they could be more focused during the test. All was fun and going well but inevitably the Karate Kicks started as that is what 6 year old boys love to do. I tried to settle the class down by switching gears and calling up one last boy to lead the class in some wiggling about. This child who I adore never ties his shoes. In fact they are rarely on his feet. As he came up he automatically kicked his little leg and his shoe went flying. Before I could laugh at this fact and while I was watching the shoe soar through the air towards the Word Wall, I suddenly caught a streak of neon orange in my peripheral vision. The little boy standing in front of me had also not tied his shoe and when he mirrored the leader's actions his shoe likewise went flying...into my face. Yes friends this is one of those teachable moments. In hindsight I should have stopped the game once the karate kicks started. Well I was too stunned and hurt to laugh but all the air went out of the room as the students and teachers watched to see how I would react. I just went right into test mode and then laughed pretty hard as soon as the pain in my face stopped throbbing.

2) Teaching at an American school with Islamic values has been a really amazing experience in learning about Islam. Eid al-Adha began the evening of October 25th and ended the evening of October 26th. As the Islamic calendar is lunar the dates are subject to change. At our school the 2nd grade did a rather large and impressive reenactment of Haj celebrations in Mecca and it was very informative.

· From Wikipedia: Eid al-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى‎ ‘Īd al-’Aḍḥá, IPA: [ʕiːd al ʔadˁˈħaː], "festival of sacrifice"), also called Feast of the Sacrifice, the Major Festival,^[1] the Greater Eid and Bakrid,^[2] is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to honour the willingness of the prophet ʾIbrāhīm (Abraham) to sacrifice his young first-born son Ismā'īl (Ishmael)^a as an act of submission to God's command and his son's acceptance to being sacrificed, before God intervened to provide Abraham with a ram to sacrifice instead.^[3] In the lunar Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and the celebration lasts for four days.^[4

^{If you do not know much about this holiday you should look it up. It is really fascinating.}

^{3) Arabic Dress Day at school is awesome.}

One of my students and his little brother.

Two of my boys hard at work

 

 

^{4) Arabic Dress Day on the last day of school before a major holiday is still awesome!}

Me and my class

^{5) Bahrain is very socially liberal and fun for vacation. It is a small Island and one that is worth visiting as the people are friendly, the restaurants and bars are great, the shopping is amazing, and the history of the island itself is fascinating.}

^{Here is a little bit about my trip to Bahrain and then I need to get back to doing nothing :)}

· ^{It has a wide open feel which is a nice contrast to Kuwait City.}

· ^{It is a shopper's paradise so if you are not a shopper (I only like browsing and then getting what I want and getting out) don't go to the malls with your friends who are major shoppers. The City Centre is humongous and the prices are much more affordable than Kuwait.}

Senor Pacos New West Mexican Restaurant is awesome!

· ^{Alcohol is legal here and there are night clubs in all of the major hotels.}

· ^{The Gold Souq is a must see and the souq merchants at Manama Souq are very persuasive and funny. It is really fun to haggle here as you can get good deals but even if you are not shopping, the merchants are great story tellers and it is a lot of fun.}

· ^{Downtown Manama is mostly filled with men. This normally would be something to get excited about but after dark it was a tad nerve-wracking. They don't harass you or anything but staring is even more intense than elsewhere as females venturing out alone are pretty rare.}

· ^{Rent a car. It is an adventure trying to figure your way around the island and it is possible you might find yourself on the toll bridge to Saudi Arabia. Don't worry though. Westerners won't get far without the proper paperwork and you can turn around.}

Not a real camel. Just wanted you to know that I know.

· ^{Camels are big and make weird noises. While they are not very graceful animals, they have faces that grow on you and before you know it, you find them charming...but be careful. They spit and bite so just keep a safe distance.}

· ^{The National Museum here is nice and has a small art exhibition, cool sculpture garden, and a very informative Bahraini cultural exhibit complete with a mock Bahraini Village to walk through where you can peek into merchant shops. It reminded me a little bit of Pirates of the Caribbean with out the Yo-Ho-Yo-Ho and the whole amusement park ride thing. Sort of the same scale.}



Al- Fateh Grand Mosque

· ^{The Al-Fateh Grand Mosque is a definite must see as it is not only beautiful in its architecture but it is very welcoming and multi-cultural. Our guide was wonderful and open to all questions. If you want to know more about Islam this is the place to come as they are friendly and patient. When we went there, they were having a big open house for visitors and there were activities for everyone including learning Arabic, having your name written in Arabic Calligraphy, traditional Bahraini dress to put on, Islam information tables, free literature, coffee, tea, and Henna painting. All of this was free and there was even a free gift at the end if you could answer three questions (or even if like me, you didn't get them all right but were willing to try). Of the Mosques I have visited so far, this one was my favorite.}

Karen being draped in Abaya and Hijab which ladies must wear inside the mosque.

1st stage of Henna

2nd Stage of Henna

3rd Stage of Henna

Me, Alexis and Karen enjoying a little royal treatment in a traditional Bahraini tent in traditional robes.

 

· ^{Tea at hotels is awesome.}

· ^{I love Turkish coffee!}

· ^{It turns out that my love for beautiful fabric from India would be rewarded handsomely as this was once a major trade route from India and there is a large Indian population here. I bought several items hand sewn in Kashmir and didn't spend that much.}

^{Now I need to get back to vacationing (I am supposed to be doing some schoolwork but I am procrastinating). The most important thing I can let you all know after being in the Middle East for two months is that I am finally adjusting. Actually I am growing to quite like it. I still miss my family and friends terribly and am looking forward to summer vacation but there are so many wonderful things about living abroad. I am happy to have made this journey. There will continue to be challenges and there is a lot that I don't like but the same can be said of my life in the U.S.A. Home is still where my heart is...and that will always be with my loved ones. Do yourself a favor...get out and see the world.}

^{The Road goes ever on and on}

^{Down from the door where it began.}

^{Now far ahead the Road has gone,}

^{And I must follow, if I can,}

^{Pursuing it with eager feet,}

^{Until it joins some larger way}

^{Where many paths and errands meet.}

^{And whither then? I cannot say.}

^{J.R.R. Tolkien}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attacked by stuffed birds, the Sandman really does come to Kuwait, and other Stories.

     Every day, for many days now, I come home bent on blogging. It is my number one goal when I walk through the door after a long day at work. There is so much I have to say. So I make myself a cup of tea, laydown in bed with my trusty laptop...I think you see where this is going (it was the lay down in bed part that gottcha wasn't it), and fall asleep for at least two hours. Then after waking up and wiping the spit from my cheek and readjusting my hair I feel too much self-loathing to write anything and proceed to watch back to back episodes of some show I'm addicted to (last week it was The Walking Dead, before that Supernatural, and now it is whatever is new on Hulu as I have run out of episodes of my favorite shows). So let's raise a cup of tea to getting things done!

Today I came home, made some tea, and instead of getting in bed, plugged my laptop into the wall and I am sitting at a table...in the living room...and multi-tasking! I am so very proud of me. It has been so long since my last post I don't even know what I wrote about so I am just going to bullet point a few things.

• They say there are 4 stages of acculturation. When I say "they" I mean people who have actually researched this and written entire disertations on the subject (yawn). The first stage is the Euphoria stage. Everything is new and shiny and fun and adventurous and blah blah blah. Clearly I am out of that stage so let's move on. Stage 2 is Culture Shock and Alienation. In my case culture shock happened in stage 1 and has eased off quite a bit. I would call my stage 2 Alienation and Frustration- I am not simply shocked by the culture anymore...I sometimes find I am quite slack-jawed by it. Example:

Ms. Michele- Jassehammad (not a real name as far as I know but I feel like I say something like it several times a day as I have 3 students named Jassem and 3 students named Mohammed) is such a wonderful student. He is so smart and will do well.

Ms. Sharinahasma (again...I made it up...I think) Oh Shukran habiti Insha'Allah!

Ms. Michele- The whole school is collecting blankets for Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Ms. Sharinahasma- Is this for a mark? How many blankets for an A? I want for him to go to a good college Insha'Allah.

Ms.Michele- It is not going to affect his grade but if you can help out that would be wonderful.

Ms. Sharinahasma- Insha'Allah

Ms. Michele- Okay well...ma' salaam. Have a good day. I'll see you tomorrow Jassehammad.

Ms. Sharinahasma- Insha'Allah.

If I said "By the will of God" after every sentence in Los Angeles my only friends would be the Zeitgeist Organic farmers Jebidiah, Eziekiel, and Esther Blue Rain whose free love cult I belonged to.

Frankly, the term Insha'Allah is not used so much in a literal way. Most of the time the actual translation is "Maybe" or "LOL".

So um yeah...I am in the frustration stage. I don't feel at home here. What with the drivers who just keep driving often times just barely missing turning you into flat bread, the overpowering smell of Arab purfume, the snarky looks and smirks that accompany many transactions... I could go on but I'm too frustrated.

I also feel alienated and extremely homesick. I check Facebook obsesively for the smallest news, text friends who are in different time zones and never available to chat when I am, and constantly think about all of the things I miss back home like clean sidewalks, proper plumbing, great customer service, people out walking with their dogs, green trees, grass, my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer Buttercup, my family, my friends, and blissfully blending in. In Los Angeles it is very difficult to be different because everyone is different. Here I am an "other" no matter what I do.

The other stages are Anomie or Culture Stress (which aparently is much better than culture shock) and finally acculturation. So seeing as how I have been here 2 months now, I should be acculturated about the time I pack up to go home. Which will bring on another stage...reverse culture shock. Yay.

I really didn't mean to go on this long...what happened to bullet points? I should write everyday. That would help.

Now on a much lighter note here is my second bullet point:

• All of the frustration and alienation has had a very strange effect on me. I am oddly much more confident with who I am as a person. Sure I am often cranky, lonely, and sad but let's face it...who isn't? We all have our good and bad days (unfortunately for my waistline there is an endless supply of chocolate here). Before I left L.A., people said this experience would change me, and (Nerd Alert) what they said is true, from a certain point of view (if you don't get the reference just go ahead and think I am brilliant). What seems to be even truer is that leaving home has made me more myself. I tried fitting in a little bit when I first arrived but as I stated before, no matter what I do, I am an exotic bird here. Something about being stared at constantly and talked about in Arabic which I am oddly beginning to comprehend, has brought out a steely internal confidence. The truth is, I am totally cool with who I am. Now that I have acknowledged this I am proudly letting my freak flag fly and guess what? People I meet think I am an interesting person. I have above all else in life always wanted to be fascinating. Boring has never been my thing. So for that I say Thank you Kuwait. But more than that, big ups to me for being so awesome.

And last but not least:

• I love teaching! It is the most exhausting, frustrating, heartbreaking, fullfilling thing I have ever done and I feel like I can be really good at it someday! Out of the 25 boys that I have, 20 of them are angels and the other 5 might put a gray streak in my hair. And even though every day (regardless of hours of planning) is a new adventure, I feel I am settling in and getting things done. It is really amazing to do something that I never wanted to do but felt called to do and discover that I really love it. I make tons of mistakes, I have moments of utter brilliance, improvisation and comedy have served me well as has my large voice and I finally get to use it in a drill sargeant roll. I have laughed and cried. I have been infuriated and had my heart swell with pride. Truly the hardest thing I have ever done, and I am so glad to be doing it.

So far on this adventure, I have sailed on yachts with both royalty and military, I have shopped, seen the most ostentatios wealth and the saddest poverty. I have danced at a ball and have a ticket to another one next month. And while I haven't seen a camel yet, I am leaving for Bahrain next Wednesday for Eid break so I will do whatever it takes to see one! I have met some amazing people and formed what I hope are lasting friendships and I have recieved hugs and love letters from my students which never gets old. Living here is hard but I am so glad I didn't let fear keep me from coming. In someways I wish I could get on the next plane home but as I am not a quitter, that will not happen. In closing here is a little true story:

My Mom and I have been talking on FaceTime and I knew she sent a care package a few weeks ago. I thought she sent it FedEx but instead she sent it with the US Postal Service. We had talked about what I wanted- Quinoa and Peet's Coffee. As per school instructions she mailed it to the school's address and I was anticipating its arrival. On Sunday I get a call from the office during one of my prep periods to come down to the office as I have recieved a package. Well I was pretty excited. I went down and discovered that a driver had to take me many miles away to the Kuwaiti Post Office at the Ministry of Information (not nearly as exciting as the Ministry of Magic but just as confusing). Kuwait is notorious for not getting packages to people and I have heard some horror stories including one about two big bags of mail discovered abandoned in the desert. Well chalk it up devine intervention (he must have known that I needed stuff from home) because the package was there and not damaged! The Kuwatis running the show wouldn't let me look in the box and the driver (who was nice but pushy) wouldn't let me carry it. Chivalry is nice when it is chivalrous but not when it is assumed that I am too much of a delicate flower to carry a box. I unloaded merchandise trucks at 5 am fueled only by an energy drink and a hangover when I worked in retail for goodness sake! So I sat anxiously in traffic as we headed back to school. As I looked out the window  at sandy streets and beige buildings a giant lump formed in my throat because something from home was here. As soon as we parked, I grabbed the box from the trunk and lugged it back to my classroom. Fortunately the boys were at recess so I had a moment alone. I looked inside the box and it was filled with bags of quinoa, a whole pound of Garuda Blend from Peet's, and an assortment of protein bars and Trader Joe's goodies along with some Halloween dish towels and back issues of the Hollywood Reporter. Well I just completely broke down right then and there. Heck, I'm crying right now just telling you about it. I held those towels to my face and they were soft and smelled like coffee and I just miss home and the people I love so much it is beyond profound. A care package is exactly that. It doesn't matter what is inside really. It's the fact that someone close to your heart sent it. It is quite honestly the sweetest gift I have ever recieved and that is saying something (the aforementioned Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer comes to mind). So there I am crying at my desk and one of my students (the one who has hair just like my nephew Micah) comes in (which he never does) and just starts talking to me about how he didn't want to play on the playground anymore. So I dried up quickly (best not to cry in front of a student) and we spent about 10 minutes straightening desks and chairs and just talking. Those famous "They" say that God works in mysterious ways. Well I say Amen to that because that care package came just in time...and so did my student.

I love you all,

Michele

PS... Next post from Bahrain!

 

Now who wants some pictures?

 

Anna Dello Russo H&M Launch at The Avenues Mall. Yes, that is a stuffed bird on my head.

 

Reading Week Parade: Here come the Sneetches!

My Horton's had a little trouble holding onto their Whos. I really can't find another way to say it. 

Thing 1 & 2 and one of the 2's was absent...how very like a Thing 2!

The Lorax speaks for the Trees!!

 

 

 

So yes, I was The Cat in the Hat

 

My first classroom birthday party experience. It was a major event.

 

 

I'd include pictures from the Embassy Ball (but we weren't allowed to take cameras in) and the Black and Gold Yacht party but...what happens on the Yacht, stays on the yacht.

 

 

Peace from the Middle East.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee, Big Band Music and Hijabs oh my!

So yet another two weeks have passed since my last post. What can I say? I have never been very consistent as a writer. Suffice it to say, I got better. Chest cold…obliterated! As far as teaching goes, I don't have anything new to report. The simple fact of the matter is (and all teachers know) that teaching is hard work. The week is spent working well beyond 8 hours a day and exhaustion is an occupational hazard. Then the weekend is usually spent working as well. I have made a contentious point to not work at least one day of the week which is usually Friday. As my Mother was a teacher for over 25 years, I have always taken great exception to people who think teaching is a cake walk due to the long summer break. Believe me when I tell you, that break is well deserved and necessary for sanity.

 

Now while I know this blog is titled A Year of Teaching (which implies that I should be discussing teaching) I am really just writing about the whole experience and/or whatever I feel like writing about…so there.

 

This morning I woke up in that lovely lazy way one does when one has been allowed to sleep in. The sun was up; I stretched a long stretch, made some French Press coffee and then decided to blog. Before I got to work though, I was suddenly struck with the desire to do my make up and try wearing a headscarf I bought at the Old Souq my first week in Kuwait but has remained in the closet. I admit freely to having headscarf envy. Many women here always look so polished and put together. The scarves are beautiful and frame the face in a way where the eyes become much more of a focal point. Having a conversation with a woman who has her hair covered feels more direct. Subtle expressions that can be hidden behind hair are not hidden here. So I did my face and wrapped my head in a gorgeous dark plum scarf and teal headband. The process of covering my head felt like a ritual. It may sound strange but when I was done and I looked in the mirror, I felt more confident. Staring back at me was a very intelligent, put together woman. When I took the scarf off I still felt beautiful and while I will not be adopting the hijab in my daily life I appreciate why women choose to. It didn't feel oppressive, more like a serious statement on self-respect.

 

No adventure to a foreign land is complete without challenges. It has not been all roses (although I did have one of my students bring me a rose the other day). Kuwait and Kuwaiti culture are not for everyone. It can be especially difficult for a Westerner. Unlike Dubai, Kuwait is not a city on the edge of a desert; the desert is in the city. The traffic is bad. The driving is crazy. People stare and sometimes follow you around. I always stay covered and modestly dressed but men here have a way of making you feel naked anyway. Things are beige and dusty. Dilapidated buildings with too many people living in them are everywhere and a brand new shiny but unfinished building might stand empty right next door. The summer weather is fairly dreadful and there are times when looking at all of the gigantic Chalets around town I wonder how people even live here. It is also very expensive! I mean really expensive! Fresh produce is especially pricy and it is no wonder given the geography. As a California girl I am extremely spoiled in this department.

 

Things also taste different to a Western palate. Gyms memberships are ridiculously priced and walking here can be downright hazardous to your health. Salons will put you out several hundreds of US dollars if not a hundred KD. As a result I have put on some weight and my skin is drier than it was before (and as an eczema sufferer...that is saying something)!

 

Now as I am on a rant, I must also admit that the Insha'Allah culture is also unnerving. When someone says Insha'Allah (God Willing) it is usually after every other sentence and lends itself to an entire existence of maybes, who knows, and good luck with that one darlings.

 

I am used to working my rear end off and getting things done. I don't expect anyone else to do things for me. If I need help I ask for it but it is not expected. It also means that as such I am used to things happening within a reasonable amount of time. In the States if the cable guy doesn't show up during his scheduled time, it is a customer service issue and if you play your cards right with the cable company (usually done through heated discussions with management) you might not have to pay the cable bill for a month or two. Here if the cable guy doesn't show up...he'll be there tomorrow Insha'Allah (which could be somewhere between one or thirty days...or so).

 

Realistic observations aside...life is what you make it after all. So I could spend all of my time complaining or I can spend some of my time complaining and the rest of it getting things done. I have met some really cool people and I have developed a social life. I am also planning on traveling to some pretty exotic places. Kuwait is in a wonderfully convenient spot for travel. Eid is almost here which means I get a five day break! I will let you know where I am going on the next post Insha’Allah (or knowing me, my next post might happen while I am on break).

 

Now however I must get to work. Lesson plans to do and Truffula Trees to make. Next week is Reading Week at school and my class is reading Dr. Seuss books. My room looks like a wonderful tissue paper flower explosion. I will post some pictures of the bulletin boards my assistant and I are working on. I am proud to say that while we may be at the end of the hall, our decorations are amazing!

 

Ma'Salaam

 

Michele

Sand Storms and Yacht Parties...none of which are mentioned here.

I woke up this morning to a sweet text message from my sister that contained an adorable picture of my Nephew holding his Grandpa’s hand as they walked up the street. They seem to be engaged in a lively conversation. I replied to the message and picture that “I love it” and my Sister quickly texted “I’m sorry. Did I wake you?” To which I said “Yes. But it was worth it.”

The time difference is kind of a trip. My family, friends and I have to schedule FaceTime dates as I am 10 hours ahead of Los Angeles. Last night at 8pm my time I was having a lovely FT chat with my Mom and while I was getting ready to turn in for the night (hey I have been sick with a chest cold…) she was getting ready to head out for the day. Around 7:30 this morning I had a FT conversation with one of my closest friends back home and she was in bed getting ready for sleep and I was getting ready to put the kettle on for some coffee (yes I am still drinking the instant stuff…but it’s really not that bad…don’t judge me). As we were getting ready to say goodbye we signed off with what I am hoping will become a tradition “Goodbye tomorrow” I said. “Goodbye yesterday” said she.

In my last post two weeks ago I was terribly homesick and in need of a hug. To my great comfort, several of my new friends here in Kuwait immediately sought to remedy the situation. I have now been nicely hugged up and the homesickness has subsided somewhat thanks to some really amazing people and my FaceTime and Skype chats with folks back home. Facebook has also become a lifesaver. I am able to keep in touch with people and see what shenanigans they are getting up to as well. The hard part comes in when you really discover that life goes on without you and while you are busy having all sorts of new adventures, people you love are having a tough go of things. To the people I have the honor of loving the most that are currently going through tough times: I wish I could be there to hug you or hold your hand. It is hard not being there in person but please know that I am thinking of you always and I love you.  I used to scoff at the expression “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” as I was narrow-mindedly applying it to romance but I know now that it is very true. For the loved ones in your heart, absence makes you appreciate what you have all the more. There really is an invisible cord binding us all together across land and sea. I am truly blessed.

Since my last post, I have had two more weeks of teaching. It has been challenging to say the least. In my class sit 25 boys with ages ranging from 5 to 7. All of them are ESL students who not only have 4 lessons in English daily but they also have Arabic daily and then rotating courses on Islam, Life Skills, Computer and P. E. It is a long day and while they are fairly well behaved in the mornings, by mid-day they are more than a bit squirrely. The program is also very demanding as it is a college preparatory school and students must be doing grade level work or they do not get to continue at the school. I have my hands full to be sure but most of the boys are quite articulate and bright and simply put I have fallen for all of them. They may not know it as I spend so much time being a drill sergeant rather than a teacher at the moment but it is very tough to look into all of those round little sweet faces (even the not so sweet ones) and not want to just scoop them up into a hug. Fortunately for me, I had very good training with my extremely adorable nephew who is also a handful. Now instead of being tired after one afternoon with him, I am exhausted after a day with 25 of them.

In spite of all the raising my voice and disciplining I have had to do, I have also managed to get several art projects done, teach them the Apples and Bananas song, read one of my favorite books from my childhood The King’s Choice, have them draw book reports, and share more than a few laughs. All of that squeezed into a full curriculum, math pre-assessments, and a very informative Open House night for the parents! Suffice it to say the parents didn’t let me off easy and I was much happier to be back in a room full of my 1^st graders than in a room full of adults. One of my best resources has turned out to be Pinterest where I have found so many great classroom ideas and blogs by 1^st grade teachers.

The only down side to my third week of teaching was getting a pretty bad chest cold. The up side is that here in Kuwait the pharmacies are really wonderful and you can get antibiotics without a prescription. Now before any of my concerned friends say (as they already have done on Facebook) that antibiotics should not be used unless it is an infection as they are not effective in treating viruses and prolonged use of antibiotics blah blah blah (no disrespect…I love you all, thanks for the information and concern)…I happen to know it was an infection as unfortunately I have had a lifetime of experience with illness and I do not take antibiotics lightly. In fact I try not to take them at all. However in this instance they have worked the way they should and after a day in bed yesterday (and probably another one today) I will be right as rain and ready for my little darlings tomorrow morning.

Now I must be off to do a massive amount of lesson planning etc. but before I go here is a list (which I am sure I will add to) of things I love about Kuwait and things I miss from back home (care package ideas for the family).

Love

Mango juice, mango ice cream, mango tea, dried mango, mango mango mango!

Spice Aisles, Spice Souqs, spices spices spices!

Pharmacies

Tax free everything

Long skirts, Long tunics, Fabric!

Lebanese Food, Thai Food, Food Food Food

You can get almost everything delivered

Housekeeping

Yachting on the Gulf

Dates (the kind that grow on trees)

Shawarma (back to food)

Food markets and the selection of cheeses!

 

Tea, Tea, and more TEA!!!!!

The new friends I have made. (Anyone who is willing to uproot their life to take on a new job in a foreign country is all right by me. It is not for everyone...only really amazing and adventurous people need apply. So um, you, the amazing and adventurous person reading this from the comfortable spot on your sofa...what are you waiting for? Get out there!)

 

Miss from home

My family and friends (obviously)

My room (especially my bed)

The Weather (even though lately L.A. has been trying to mimic Kuwait)

The beach

Peet’s Coffee and Tea

Dates (going on them with good looking men…in public…and being able to kiss someone you like a lot…outside…in public. Disclaimer here: I am not a fan of extreme Public Displays of Affection. I find it a tad disturbing. But there is something wonderful about seeing people who really like one another exchange a kiss or hug here or there. It is even better to know you won’t be arrested for doing so. Guess you can’t send this one in a care package Mom. So far all I’ve given you is Peet’s.)

Target (seriously…even with all of the shopping here…I miss Target)

Sitting outside at Le Pan Quotidian with my folks on Larchmont and watching the dog and baby show, there are Le Pan’s here but they are inside malls.

Driving

Wine, Cocktails (there have been a few days here where a margarita after work would have been helpful)

Trader Joe’s

Farmer’s Markets

A reliable Internet connection

Going to the movies (where the film hasn’t been edited. I can do without the graphic love scenes but this topic brings me back to kissing…sigh... ew, I must be lonely!)

My iPhone and being able to just call people whenever. Now my iPhone is a fancy wireless device, camera and iPod (I’m not complaining though…it is still way better than the little prepaid “smart” phone I bought here that uses up minutes like they are going out of style)

So there you go Mom…send the Peet’s.  Oh and bacon! (Wait...that might not be legal...let me look into that one) Oh and maybe a box or two of Quinoa from TJ’s. I haven’t found it here yet. Of course that might change tomorrow. We’ll discuss on FaceTime J

That’s all I can think of for now. I need to get going on my lesson plans. More updates to come.

Ma’ Salaam