Day from hell....

I have always considered myself fairly engaging and persuasive but it seems that 2 of my grade 10 classes don't share the same sentiment about Miss Heather...the one class is completely apathetic about school in general...one comment "i wish the school would burn down"...there was a ringleader prima donna in that class who takes delight in stirring up the rest of the girls and totally undermining the teacher's authority...nothing fazes this kid....marks lost, detentions, etc....the guidance counsellor switched her to the afternoon class and within 30 seconds of being in that class, 4 of the other girls banded with her to be totally belligerant and refused to stay on task and refused to stay for a detention...the counsellor assures me she will talk to them and to their parents...I AM TOO OLD FOR THIS!!...i really feel sorry for the lovely girls who are trying to pay attention and learn something...time will tell whether or not i will survive...

on a more pleasant note, i made the decision to join the hilton resort...which is the only place where i feel at peace...i better not quit because i spent a considerable amount to be a member...thanks to 3 of my colleagues, i will be able to get a ride to and from the resort...i am somewhat tied to their schedule but i can also take a taxi sometimes....

all i can say is..."stop the world, i want to get off!!"

Good and not-so-good news...

...it was just announced the other day that we will have 9 days off after ramadan finishes...so oct.12 - 20....YIPPEE!!...next decision is where to go...a few of the girls are going to jordan and i was going to join them but they had problems getting their flight tickets booked online...so are having to wait to get that sorted out...i really just want to go to a resort and rest for the 9 days...guess since i am over here i should do the tourist thing...i can't believe my level of indecision here....normally i am very decisive, especially where travelling is concerned but...i am lucky if i can decided what underwear to wear each day...WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH ME??...it probably doesn't help that i am experiencing severe insomnia...am able to sleep right after school for a nice nap but when it's time to go to bed, i can usually go off to sleep but don't sleep for more than 2 - 3 hours at a time and tonight...haven't really slept at all...i lie in bed thinking about everything i have to do...which brings me to the not-so-good news...just found out today that i will be observed by the acting principal for the high school...next wednesday...a normal 'school system' procedure but nerve wracking all the same...have a pre-observation meeting with her today...maybe that's why i can't sleep??...also, every night between 3 - 4 a.m. there is the call to prayer which is a droning 'song-like' utterance...it seems to be right around the time that i wake up...is there a connection???...MAYBE!!

...don't get me wrong, there are good times too...the other teachers are great and i have made some nice friends...although i must admit...i feel like a 'den mother'...my own self labelling i guess...most nights everyone is very busy marking, lesson planning, etc...there is a large 'newbie' population at AAG, i.e. new to AAG, so everyone has their work cut out for them...ahhhh...the life of a teacher...it is confirmed in my mind why i did not go into teaching after i graduated from university...i love to teach but there is 'teaching' and then there is 'behaviour modificationing' (pardon the slang)...

oh, another piece of 'good' news...NOT...i just found out that one of my students got the grade 9 english teacher fired last year because the teacher reprimanded her...yes, toto, we are no longer in kansas...kids and parents have POWER here...NICE!!...

well on that happy note, i will watch some tv since sleep is evading me...take good care...

Ramadan....

Ramadan (the month long fasting period for Muslims) began Thursday, September 13. They are never sure the exact date of start and finish because it is dependent on the moon?? What this means for us at the American Academy for Girls in Kuwait is that the school day is shortened from 7:30 - 2:30 to 9:00 to 1:00, the girls get progressively more tired, apathetic and demotivated (I'm not sure how that is possible since, in a lot of cases, there is not a lot of motivation or interest in school anyway!!) This should be an interesting month!!...then we have a few days off. It will be a shock to get back to normal school hours...getting up at 5 a.m....good thing I'm a morning person!!

This past weekend was very enjoyable as Michael jetted his way over from England for the weekend. In typical Michael Woodhall fashion we proceeded to do and see as much as possible in the shortest time possible...we managed to see virtually the whole country on Saturday by taking a taxi ride up to the Iraq border (he tried to cross it on foot but was prohibited by the guards!!)then down to the south almost to the Saudi border. The journey was miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles....of desert...EXTREMEY HOT AND DUSTY!! In the north, we saw remnants of the Iraqi conflict with Kuwait including demolished buildings, power towers, etc. Towards the south, there were many Bedouin (Bedouins are basically homeless tent dwellers in the desert)tents where we were able to see and take pictures of camels. By the end of the 7 hour taxi ride besides having a 'numb bum', it had gotten pretty boring...miles and miles....you get the picture!!

Last Friday, my superintendent, Gwen, took us as her guests to the Hilton and we enjoyed a few hours of R and R in the sun, sea and pool. In the evening we feasted on the extravagant offerings of a traditional Iftar (breaking the fast) dinner at the Hilton. My friend, Shawna, accompanied us (as did Gwen for the meal)and we had a lovely relaxing day and evening. On the way home, Gwen drove us to see a mall that was beautifully lit up with dancing pools, etc.

Sunday,I was back in school, and Michael called to see if he could meet with the British Ambassador. He was on his way to Dubai so was unavailable. We spent another few hours at one of the other resorts called the Palms and then went to a Thai restaurant The Blue Elephant back at the Hilton.

Michael whirled his way back home on Monday and called to say he had arrived safely...the amazing flying world...the world is really small.

I continue to try to understand the girls, their culture, their behaviour (due to extreme wealth and overindulgence)and try to impart some knowledge and wisdom to them...MAJOR CHALLENGE!! I pride myself on not being a quitter but I have to admit, I DO feel like quitting many days...we shall overcome...or die trying!! :)

Have to run to get ready for yet another day....

Sleepless in Kuwait

Normally I am not the best sleeper in the world....unless of course you sit me down after a meal or drinks and then I can 'saw logs' with the best of them...some of my friends know that 'glazed over look I get mid sentence before I nod off' only too well:)...however, since just before school started, i am lucky to get 3 or 3.5 hours a night...too much on my mind, too much new protocol to digest, regurgitate and start again...do i sound a little bitter...lol...maybe somewhat...many of us here are feeling quite overloaded...to give an example of what we are up against...we do not have access to a photocopier...if we want photocopying done, we have to have it in to the photocopy 'guy' up to 4 (school) days before we need it...can you say 'super organization needed'??...so if you decide something isn't working in your class and need to change gears and want to make some last minute copies...NO CAN DO!!...that's just ONE of the many frustrating things to deal with...but as 'they' say "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger"...hmmmm...

my last entry indicated that we were going to the Crowne Plaza hotel...that we did and spent a very leisurely 1/2 day using the fitness facilities (which were incredibly HIGH TECH...mind boggling for this brain!!), enjoying an amazing breakfast buffet and, my favourite, lounging by the lovely pool...unfortunately for them,it looks like NONE of us will be joining primarily because it is just too far from where we live and most of us don't have cars...too bad, so sad...

i have become buddies with a young woman from B.C. whose name, coincidently, is Shawna...she and i went down to the JW Marriott hotel on saturday to check out the amazingly expensive...chanel, louis vitton, etc., etc stores....she's a 'high maintenance' girl and loves the finer, expensive things in life...but only occasionally splurges!!...not I on the other hand...too rich for my blood...much to shawna's chagrin, the stores were closed as stores do here in kuwait for a 3 or 4 hour period...kind of like a siesta but i think here it's more for praying purposes...shawna was so disappointed...i assured her we would come again...lol

yesterday...sunday...which is our first day of the school week, we were 'back in the saddle' again...gearing up for ramadan...some of my students were telling me that they love ramadan...in spite of having to fast from sun up to sun down...they were describing the vast array of food that they eat in the evenings...school days are shortened...9 - 1 for them...which they LOVE (so do we!!)...after school they go home and sleep (so as not to eat, i guess) and prepare for their GINORMOUS meal and festivities in the evening...it would be interesting to be invited to one of these feasts but not sure that will ever happen....

life in kuwait is definitely interesting...that's all i can say...

later....

Time Passages

Time flies when you are having FUN...so they say...whomever 'they' are!! Since my last entry, I have been to the Evangelical Church of Kuwait (which was great to be in a Muslim country and yet be able to worship freely), have started school (which has been a shock to the system...to say the least) and am gearing up for the most sacred time in the Muslim calendar...Ramadan. The dates for Ramadan are different every year depending on the moon, apparently. I don't understand it and I don't think others do either. During that month, school days are shortened from 7:30 - 2:30 to 9:00 - 1:00 and those who are Muslim are not allowed to eat, drink, smoke, etc., between sunrise and sundown. They don't expect us as foreigners to adhere to the fast but we are asked to not eat or drink in front of the students. Should be interesting.

So far there has not been a lot to do around here except shop and eat...not a good combination for a shopaholic or eataholic. Tomorrow we are being driven to the Crowne Plaza hotel to check out the facilities...guess they are trying to woo us there to work out etc....but it is too far from our building.

It's been a long week and I need to get some sleep so...I bid you adieu.