I'm a few days late and several pounds heavier, I'm sure, but Happy Thanksgiving!
I spent my first Thanksgiving away from home with my grandmother and great aunt, which was such a nice treat. They were able to fly in to visit from New York for a few days and we have been ripping and running ever since they landed. I unfortunately have no pictures to post because I was enjoying myself too much to take any but maybe they will be nice enough to share a few with me later.
We started our Thanksgiving with a tour of the Grand Mosque, naturally, and then had a traditional Arabic meal for dinner. Meals at traditional Arabic restaurants are served while you are seated on the floor and consist of really flavorful rice and either chicken or lamb. It wasn't the same as turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy, but it definitely hit the spot, so if you're ever in Abu Dhabi you have to go to Najd Palace to eat for sure!
On Friday, I had to do another border run to Oman, so grandma and Aunt Yvonne got to experience that with me. It wasn't really that exciting but now they can at least say they got to visit two countries in one trip. I also took them to see Jebel Hafeet because how could I not? It's not every day you get to see a huge mountain in the middle of the desert, and then to have lunch on the top of it makes it even better.
And finally, we spent today haggling and making new friends at the gold souk here in Abu Dhabi. From the outside the gold souk looks like some place you definitely would not want to go inside. It just looks kind of dirty and crowded and smelly, but we soldiered on and went inside. Once you get inside it's really a whole new world, it's air conditioned, clean, and there are rows and rows of shiny, sparkly jewelry stores. I've never seen so many diamonds in my life. I have my eyes set on a pair of beautiful diamond earrings, but that's neither here nor there :) We wound up spending the most time and money at the gift shop of two guys from Kashmir. Those Kashmiri are some charismatic people! They also make some of the most beautiful crafts I've ever seen. My grandma bought a handmade cashmere duvet cover set and a bunch of cashmere scarves and other gifts for family back home.
I'm sad to say that my time with grandma and aunty is coming to an end, they're heading home this evening. They were here just long enough to really mess up their sleeping patterns. It's hard to believe it will be December in just a few days, but December means I will be home very soon. Only three weeks and counting!
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Friday, November 21, 2014
You Can't Always Get What You Want
But if you try sometimes, You just might find you get what you need...
That song has been stuck in my head. What a lesson to learn. I feel like I've been learning the same lessons over again lately, I guess I missed something before.
I guess this one would be the lesson of...humility?
After 51 long school days of doing everything and nothing at the same time, I am finally getting my own classroom. I have been the art teacher, the p.e. teacher, and every grade level from pre-school to grade 4. I didn't hate it, I was still getting paid a pretty penny after all, and I got to try new things and meet lots of cool kids, but I didn't love it either.
So you would think that I would jump at the offer to take on my own class. Well, my boss didn't exactly present it in the best way so I got really upset. Sometimes speaking to my boss makes me wanna punch through walls like The Incredible Hulk. She's the reason why I sometimes need to listen to Kanye at work, but I digress.
Back to the title of my post though, I did not want kindergarten. Remember how I feel about three and four year olds? I'd much rather spend my days with well seasoned six or seven year olds any day, and so I pouted, my mind raced, and I nearly cried, but crying is a weak trait and something I just don't do without good reason. But as I was complaining to my friend about my predicament, another friend came in with the exact opposite predicament and things became so clear for me. My tune changed. As my future was becoming clearer, hers was becoming more uncertain, and I had to stop my complaining and be thankful. There are worse things than being a kindergarten teacher.
Although I'm starting out in the middle of the year, it'll be with kids that I already know and like for the most part. I'm joining a good team of ladies and I'll get to decorate my new room the way I want and its already my favorite color, yellow. But best of all, I get to pick my class next year :) So maybe this is what I need, an easing back into the rigors of lesson planning, and teaching, and the donning of the many hats that teachers wear daily.
And just as a little ray of sunshine from God just for me, I had the loveliest conversation with a little kindergarten boy yesterday. I told him that he could go pick what he wanted to do for his free choice time and he looked at me with the most serious look on his face and asked "Miss D, is it okay if I just play with my imagination?" Why, yes little boy, it absolutely is, I can't think of anything better! I think I'll like kindergarten just fine.
That song has been stuck in my head. What a lesson to learn. I feel like I've been learning the same lessons over again lately, I guess I missed something before.
I guess this one would be the lesson of...humility?
After 51 long school days of doing everything and nothing at the same time, I am finally getting my own classroom. I have been the art teacher, the p.e. teacher, and every grade level from pre-school to grade 4. I didn't hate it, I was still getting paid a pretty penny after all, and I got to try new things and meet lots of cool kids, but I didn't love it either.
So you would think that I would jump at the offer to take on my own class. Well, my boss didn't exactly present it in the best way so I got really upset. Sometimes speaking to my boss makes me wanna punch through walls like The Incredible Hulk. She's the reason why I sometimes need to listen to Kanye at work, but I digress.
Back to the title of my post though, I did not want kindergarten. Remember how I feel about three and four year olds? I'd much rather spend my days with well seasoned six or seven year olds any day, and so I pouted, my mind raced, and I nearly cried, but crying is a weak trait and something I just don't do without good reason. But as I was complaining to my friend about my predicament, another friend came in with the exact opposite predicament and things became so clear for me. My tune changed. As my future was becoming clearer, hers was becoming more uncertain, and I had to stop my complaining and be thankful. There are worse things than being a kindergarten teacher.
Although I'm starting out in the middle of the year, it'll be with kids that I already know and like for the most part. I'm joining a good team of ladies and I'll get to decorate my new room the way I want and its already my favorite color, yellow. But best of all, I get to pick my class next year :) So maybe this is what I need, an easing back into the rigors of lesson planning, and teaching, and the donning of the many hats that teachers wear daily.
And just as a little ray of sunshine from God just for me, I had the loveliest conversation with a little kindergarten boy yesterday. I told him that he could go pick what he wanted to do for his free choice time and he looked at me with the most serious look on his face and asked "Miss D, is it okay if I just play with my imagination?" Why, yes little boy, it absolutely is, I can't think of anything better! I think I'll like kindergarten just fine.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
New word alert
Obfuscation: the hiding of intended meaning in communication, making communication confusing, willfully ambiguous, and harder to interpret.
where I learned it: in a John Green book. Not having a tv means I read a lot
where I learned it: in a John Green book. Not having a tv means I read a lot
Monday, November 17, 2014
Punched in the crotch, the new hello?
I do not like 3 and 4 year olds.
I shouldn't say that, there are plenty of 3 and 4 year olds that I'm quite fond of and would willingly spend time with. I am not fond of some 3 and 4 year olds. There, that's better.
Working with children gives me a kind of joy and satisfaction that I never had in other jobs. Kids are funny, man. And they're interesting, and they ask good questions that make you think, although often not on purpose. Most of the time kids will undoubtedly think you are the coolest thing since sliced bread just because, and their smile can often make you smile. Way back when I hated my old school and I hated even walking into the building, it was the kids that made me stick it out and keep on trucking every day. Those were cool kids and I miss them.
But some kids just make you go hmmm. They have runny noses and other leaky body parts, they don't respect your personal space, and they punch you in the crotch not once but twice, all with a smile on their faces. The same child excitedly punched me in the crotch today and didn't say a word afterward. Is this the new hello? I'm so confused. Another child was groping and manhandling his friend, and when I told him that we don't touch others his simple reply was, "Yes we do, my mom said we do." He said it with such conviction that I really had to question myself, like wait, maybe we do? I don't like it when kids make me feel confused, that is not supposed to happen.
My mom would say that this is just preparing me for the time that I have my own children, and I would agree that it is, but I certainly hope my own children don't punch me in the crotch.
I shouldn't say that, there are plenty of 3 and 4 year olds that I'm quite fond of and would willingly spend time with. I am not fond of some 3 and 4 year olds. There, that's better.
Working with children gives me a kind of joy and satisfaction that I never had in other jobs. Kids are funny, man. And they're interesting, and they ask good questions that make you think, although often not on purpose. Most of the time kids will undoubtedly think you are the coolest thing since sliced bread just because, and their smile can often make you smile. Way back when I hated my old school and I hated even walking into the building, it was the kids that made me stick it out and keep on trucking every day. Those were cool kids and I miss them.
But some kids just make you go hmmm. They have runny noses and other leaky body parts, they don't respect your personal space, and they punch you in the crotch not once but twice, all with a smile on their faces. The same child excitedly punched me in the crotch today and didn't say a word afterward. Is this the new hello? I'm so confused. Another child was groping and manhandling his friend, and when I told him that we don't touch others his simple reply was, "Yes we do, my mom said we do." He said it with such conviction that I really had to question myself, like wait, maybe we do? I don't like it when kids make me feel confused, that is not supposed to happen.
My mom would say that this is just preparing me for the time that I have my own children, and I would agree that it is, but I certainly hope my own children don't punch me in the crotch.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Throwback Thursday
My tres hermanos <3 Gosh I miss them!
This is from our family reunion this past July (hence the lovely green shirts). My middle brother just sent me this video with a message that said he watches it at least once a week, which made me smile. In case you're wondering, they had just experienced the awesome party in your mouth and gift straight from Sweet Baby Jesus himself that is Chick Fil A, for the first time.
Today...
lemme tell you about today...on second thought, let me not.
If yesterday had me in a funk then today has knocked me out. Why does it seem like Wednesday takes more out of you than Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday ever could? If I were to compare my day to a boxing match it would be the end of the 12th round and I'd be up against the ropes, probably reconsidering my thoughts and choices in life thus far. I put up a good fight but there's just no way I'm gonna come out of this victorious. It is 5pm and all I really wanna do is go to bed. How sad lol
On another somewhat weirder note, I recently realized that I'm starting to find unibrows oddly attractive now, especially if they're worn with a shimagh. Must be a symptom of living in the Middle East. Or extreme exhaustion.
If yesterday had me in a funk then today has knocked me out. Why does it seem like Wednesday takes more out of you than Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday ever could? If I were to compare my day to a boxing match it would be the end of the 12th round and I'd be up against the ropes, probably reconsidering my thoughts and choices in life thus far. I put up a good fight but there's just no way I'm gonna come out of this victorious. It is 5pm and all I really wanna do is go to bed. How sad lol
On another somewhat weirder note, I recently realized that I'm starting to find unibrows oddly attractive now, especially if they're worn with a shimagh. Must be a symptom of living in the Middle East. Or extreme exhaustion.
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