Snow Day

It rained. 

Apparently, deserts don't see much rain. Well, I guess water mitigates the whole desert motif. Naturally, the appearance of rain is very exciting. Actually, a couple weeks ago, it got too exciting. There was a severe thunderstorm. Those of us in Fujairah experienced an electrical blackout. It only lasted a couple hours. This was great for those who, like myself, could comfortably view the storm from a living room window. Many others were very inconvenienced because the city does not have a very good drainage system, so the streets flood easily. 

The UAE had not seen rain for some years. When it rained a second time within a few days of the previous storm, many of the Emiratis became overjoyed. Some performed their own Gene Kelly like dances in the outpour. My students became distracted (actually, they are always distracted), and began to open windows and stick their hands and arms out to feel the rain. 

At first, of course, I was not cognizant of the momentousness of the occasion nature had bestowed. I continued to teach and admonished the students to pay attention. The students seemed bewildered by my blase attitude. Fortunately, I recognized the value of what was taking place, and put away my geographical insensitivity and talked rain with the students. 

Within an hour of the initial rainfall, students from every campus within our school system were sent home.  

We had a "rain day". 

Teachers and faculty were also released. I went shopping. The mall was virtually empty. The rain did not return. The sun came out. It was a lovely day.

Between the "rain day" and the impromptu holidays (and the fluidly scheduled annual holidays), these people are trying to get me to stay. 

LOL

Wednesday

Wednesday in Chicago, IL, USA

His Honor Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the CPS School Board of Directors graciously allowed teachers and students to enjoy an early Thanksgiving by closing the schools the Wednesday before the holiday. No pay of course. 

Wednesday in Fujairah, UAE

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, UAE announced to the utter joy of his people and educational expats that all public and private schools in the UAE would close Thursday because Dubai had just won the World Expo 2020 bid. No one's pay was affected.

To make the extra day off just that much more delightful, we were entering into a long weekend (Friday - Monday) because of the National Day holiday. This meant that I was off of work from Thursday until Monday, returning on Tuesday: 5 days! paid! Woo hoo! And, instruction finished for Term 1; all that remained were exams. Students would be leaving at 10:00 immediately following their exam of the day. Then, they would start their three-week winter break. Staff would complete a week of training before starting our two-week break. I love the schedule (even though my teaching schedule changed four times during Term 1!). I have learned to go with the flow. 

I miss the artistry of a Marvin Gaye.

So, I opened my YouTube account a few days ago, and there was a suggested video of a Korean female singer from the popular (in Korea) group Girls Generation. The California native was singing the national anthem at an LA Dodgers game. She did a creditable job. Her talent was evident. Our national anthem is a difficult song to sing. 

Naturally, this performance made me want to hear Whitney’s version again. Now, that is ability. There are as many good singers as there are families in the world. There are only a few who have a gift for singing. Whitney was undoubtedly such a singer.

Also Marvin Gaye. His rendition of the national anthem is award winning. The artistry is captivating. His voice is silk. I love it. To make someone love hearing the national anthem is talent on a higher scale.

This leads me to “Got to Give it Up”. 

When I walk between school buildings for my classes, I put on my shades and sounds. The purpose of the shades is obvious; I listen to music to take my mind off the heat. Anyway, I was listening to “Got to Give it Up”, and instantly one can hear Robin Thicke’s song, “Blurred Lines” (hmmm). While the young talents may not have outright copied Marvin’s song, the author of Robin’s song had to hear Marvin’s beat in his head as he wrote his own version. The rhythm is just unmistakeable. Anyone from the Motown era would recognize it in a heartbeat. I just think the young talents suffered from absence of historical perspective.

I appreciate the schtick (pardon the judgment) of Robin Thicke’s blue-eyed soul. I like soulful white boys; it is a different kind of sexy (though I have yet to experience one who can be comfortable in his own skin amongst us while trying to be of us). Anyway, to further support the accusation of plagiarism, one could write an essay on the parallel messages of the two songs. However, the young ones lack the subtlety necessary for true allure.

Their song is just nasty.

Marvin and Whitney, you are sorely missed.