Happy Eid

Eid is a Muslim holiday celebrating the Arabic interpretation of the events involving Isaac's obedience to God's command to sacrifice his son. For me, Eid meant a nine-day school break. So, a colleague and I decided to vacation in Abu Dhabi. On the way back, we stopped in Dubai. The photos below are of our hotel, the Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana.

An external view of the Khalidiya hotel in Abu Dhabi.
It is located on the Arabian Sea in a very posh tourist area.  

Interior lights of the hotel.

Hotel lobby near entrance. 

Chandelier in the small hall near the entrance to the beach.

Night view of neighboring building from
the al freso dining area of
one of the hotel restaurants. 

View of our hotel area from the Marina Mall nearby.
In the background, you can see the buildings that are in the photo
just above and to the left.

Life is Too Short

Life is too short for so many things. Life is too short not to venture to far away places and start your life anew even though you're in your 50s. Life is too short (and God is too good) to allow the apathy and immaturity of teenage boys to ruin your day. Life is too short to be impatient with your colleague when she re-tells the same story 3.5 times a day. Life is too short to entangle yourself with complications that are apparent to the blind (you know this one is about men). And, life is too short for Pilates. 

There is a lovely British woman who hosts Pilates classes in her villa for AED 25 per session (about $6.83). The location is close enough that I can walk back to my apartment hotel when it is over. Since the sessions take place on workdays, I take my workout clothes with me in the morning. Well, on this particular morning, as I was leaving the Teacher's Room heading to my first class of the day, I was overcome with dread (marvelous word). I nearly teared up at the thought of going to Pilates class after work. It seemed my knees and ankles were in agreement. Those two regions of my body were in pain at the thought of reclining on a thin mat and using my pelvis to lift my butt for what could not be more than a few millimeters off the floor. 

Hallelujah and thank you Jesus! I made a very mature and reasonable decision to find other ways to improve my physique without the emotional turmoil of strenuous exercise. Walking is good. It is kind to one's limbs and actually involves normal body movement. I think I'll take a walk to the corniche. There is a carnival there, and I am told they sell funnel cake! 

Saturday Afternoon Along the Coast

A colleague and I took a drive along the Indian Ocean. This is a shot of a beach in Khor Fakkan which sits at the edge of the Sea of Oman (I just love my new geography lessons!). It is not really clear in this photo, but the beach here is very nice. There is snorkeling and scuba diving (not that I care about such things); one can also rent a speed boat or sail boat. Just to the left of me in this shot, way in the back, you can see evidence of the vast shipping that takes place in this area.

We are still in Khor Fakkan in this shot. I just wanted a photo with the mountains. Love the mountains around Fujairah and Sharjah (another emirate).

This is the beach at the Radison Resort, Fujairah. It is about 25 minutes north of Khor Fakkan. There were no Emiratis at this (or the other) resort we visited. After two months of being surrounded by people of color, it was a little jarring, and very funny, to find oneself in "Europe" after a mere 45 minute journey through the Middle East.

This photo was taken at the Rotana Fujairah resort (in Dibba). This place is larger than the Radison and just a little more expensive (both just under $500 USD per night). The upside is that one can enjoy the beach for the day for just about $40 USD per person. We had lunch here; it was delicious. It was also fun to hear Western music (Rihanna and Usher, not Taylor Swift or Patsy Cline - though I am a fan of "Crazy") playing as we lounged in beach chairs enjoying the breeze. 

Night and Morning

This is the view from my desk in the sitting room of my hotel apartment. Beyond the lights is the Indian Ocean. It is a striking sight to see the emirate of Fujairah laid out before me. Most nights, between 7p and 10pm, the streets and roads bustle with activity. The street in this photo is a main drag. It leads east to the Indian Ocean and west to the highway that takes you to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other emirates. 

Same view at about 6:20 in the morning. I was leaving for work, and as I turned to shut off the lights, I was struck (awestruck) by the sun shining through my windows. The hotel apartment door is immediately opposite the window. Naturally, I had to stop and try to capture the image. And, naturally, a photo could not possible do justice to such natural beauty. Still, this is kinda cool, and at least, the memory is captured. 

1 Week Down, 34 to Go!

The week ended really nicely. First of all, I only had three classes (though one was a double, so I taught four periods). The first three periods started at the beginning of the day and ran in succession; so I got those over quick. My last class was my "A" class. They are the best. Many of the students are good at math, and THEY TEACH EACH OTHER. The level A class almost considers my involvement an intrusion. Oooooh. I am done teaching by 12:30p!!! And, since school runs Sunday - Thursday, today was like my Friday!!!

Overall, my first week was pretty good. There were some interesting occurrences, but none have a deterring affect. I think I can make it (at least through the first year). 

Thank you all for praying for me.  

Day 4 - Kids Are the Same the World Over

Well, it happened. I knew it would. And, I was having a GREAT day. I only had three periods to teach (one of which was a double period - so it was like having two classes), and the first class did not start until almost noon. And, I had a really good, interactive, hands-on, student-friendly lesson prepared. 

But, it happened. A kid p'd me off! Over the most typical teenage topic of dispute - a cell phone; wait, I'm in the East where they speak British - a mobile. I informed the dean in what I consider a really cool manner. We have these iPads and AppleTVs in each classroom. So, I typed an email in full view of the class (I did not use any student's name). I just stated that a couple students refuse to stop playing with their phones in class, and could he stop by when convenient. Of course, everyone but the culprits witnessed what was going on. The dean (a great guy) was knocking on my door in three minutes!

The dean confiscated the students' phones, and warned them about their behavior (in Arabic - I'll be fluent by the time I get home). Once he left, one kid had a fit. Of course, everything was my fault (this is what I don't like about teenagers). He proceeded to further disrupt the class in that way that kids do when they feel embarrassed - you know they talk loud (thankfully in Arabic so I don't know what he was saying) and make their peers laugh. His behavior (and the other students) did not stop until I started filming them with my iPad, and blasting them on AppleTV. They immediately composed themselves and sat down (I love technology!).  

Because I am too often given to perseveration, I could not stop thinking about the events in the classroom (this happened at the end of my GREAT day). So, I sent the dean a detailed email about the student's behavior. The student apologized. Meaningless. He did not acknowledge the most offensive behavior. Oh well. How refreshingly typical. 

Day 3 - "Yes, I am married."

It may not be classified as sin, but apparently singleness for women is unjustifiable to the Middle Eastern mind. 

I made the great mistake of answering what is generally an innocuous question in the U.S., "Are you married?". In the UAE, this question takes the form of asking if you have a family, which means do you have a husband and children. Upon hearing the "distressing" information that I am unmarried, the gentleman questioning me proceeded to enter into a matchmaking frenzy. (A single woman with a good salary must be in want of a husband.  --nod to Jane Austen)

This did not make me happy. 

The gentleman in question is a colleague. (He really is a very, very nice man, and meant me no ill will.) He stated that I need someone to wake up with and have discussions with. True. Could not argue his point. He asked if I lived in Fujairah, and whether or not I like it (I am not staying here for no man!). He asked how much I paid for rent (this is common fodder for discussion here). When I told him how much, he nearly had a conniption. Apparently, a single woman should live in a single room, and for no more than 5% of her monthly income. Well, the gentleman had to control his sense of incredulity because he had already begun discussing matching me up with a friend or brother or cousin; I'm not sure.

The gentleman gave me his number and directed (not suggested) me to call him after work so that he could discuss the matter further. Did I mention he is a teacher of Arabic, and that he has an extremely limited English vocabulary. He nearly says "Thank you" to any comment or query made to him in the English language, the Queen's or otherwise. Yet, he became amazingly lucid in his matching efforts. I think I was thrown off balance by his clarity. I'm serious. 

The husband he has in mind is 45 (well, that is within my age range). After confirming that the younger age is acceptable, my colleague explained that "my family" is in Jordan. Yes! He already considers me married to the man. 

I want to cry from the supreme annoyance of the situation. This is my fault for caring too much about someone else's feelings. When he asked if an Arabic suitor would be acceptable, of course I said yes. Though, I immediately thought that a Christian would not be acceptable to "my family". However, I felt too awkward to inject that bit of information into our discussion (not because I am in a Muslim country, Christianity generally changes an atmosphere even in the U.S.).

On the upside, there is a man in this world who considers me marriageable. Somehow I knew he would only be found in a land of dark men. 

From now on, I guess I will have to get deep in a weird way. If someone asks if I have a family (i.e. do I have a husband), like the nuns, I will just consider myself married to Jesus.

Lord, have mercy.