Al Ain (Roundabouts and SAND)

This past summer was slightly confusing for those who aren’t used to the fact that my life NEVER goes smoothly. Following the decision to leave ADEC in June, I accepted a position in July to teach Middle School Girls in Doha, Qatar beginning September 2nd. While checking in at Philadelphia International Airport for my flight back to Abu Dhabi on August 26th, I received an email requesting an interview for a position in Al Ain, a small city 150km from Abu Dhabi. Thusly, I interviewed less than 20 hours after landing in Abu Dhabi. After being offered and accepting the position and the ensuing maelstrom, I never did get around to canceling my flight to Doha. I blame it on jet lag and not the party that weekend.

I entered Al Ain English Speaking School the first day to discover that I would be teaching Reception, the British Curriculum name for a 4 and 5 year old class. While I love this age group, I had not taught little ones since May 2007. It did take a little time to readjust after 5 years of teaching Middle and Secondary English. The next day, I met my students for the first time. After teaching English in a government secondary school, the fact that my students speak English was a wee bit of a shock. Out of the 17 students I currently have on role, only 2 don’t speak English. Being a private school, other demographics are a little different as well: only 4 of my students are Emirati and 3 are not Muslim. I am teaching both the child of a Sheikh and of an ADEC Vice Principal. 

Ca you imagine this much on the walls of a US Pre-K classroom? There is no such thing as too much visual stimuli here.

I didn’t get housing until the second week of school and was not completely pleased to have been assigned housing on the school grounds. The lack of a 90 km round trip daily commute is a nice plus, but I still drive to work as the dirt moat between “The Accommodations” and the school makes walking not an option. Yes, I am a PRINCESS. I was very pleased with the flat itself; though it has only one bedroom, it is extremely large. I am completely convinced that the showers here were purchased from a submarine supply company. I have never seen such a small shower in my life. I keep hoping that the water that lands in different areas of the bathroom while I shower will make it grow. Hope springs eternal. The very wonderful husband of a very good friend installed pool-side-raised-rubber thingies so that I wouldn’t fall on my ass one morning navigating the puddles. 

A very common sight, goats in the back of a pick-up!

The thing that is most annoying about Al Ain is the preponderance of roundabouts (aka traffic circles to us Jerseyans). I cannot get a handle on directions since I am always getting turned around. UGH. I spent 4 years navigating the Airport Circle in Pennsauken during rush hour traffic while attending Rutgers so these roundabouts don’t intimidate me; in fact there is actually a system for driving through them. I am used to “the faster car/less expensive car has the right of way” system. There are actually lined lanes in the roundabouts here! People can slam the Emiratis for their driving all they 

want, drive in Jersey if you dare!

Something I see way too often on my drive between Al Ain and Abu Dhabi: a blown tire at 140 kmh is dangerous enough, this guy had passed me going about 160kmh.

The biggest downside is that I was used to living in a 20 story tower with 178 other teachers. There was ALWAYS something to do and SOMEONE to do it with. Not so here. Well, there is if I want to drive. I was spoiled by the ability to jump on an elevator and go to the pool, the gym, the Jacuzzi, and to find someone with food or drinks. So, Smurfette and I make the trip to Abu Dhabi every weekend.

Zofia, the cause my my missed weekend in the city! I think she's cute enough that I won't hold it against her.

Since I arrived back in the UAE on August 27^th, there has only been one weekend that I spent in Al Ain. That was only because the previously mentioned very good friend with the very wonderful husband was expecting and the Baby Shower was that weekend.  The baby did arrive on October 16, the day after one of my student’s tore my rotator cuff. But then that’s a WHOLE different blog post. So what I save in commuting mileage expenses I make up for in entertainment mileage expenses.  I still only spend 100 dirhams a week (that’s $35 US) on gas. BUT, my tan is seriously suffering. 

Orange sweet potatoes this year!! Woo-hoo! This was the first of the three different Thanksgiving dinners that I attended this year. Thanks Jackie, Mimi, and Nicole!