As of 9/10
Hmmm.. only three days since the last update… but so much to
say before I get bored typing.
Two developments… car accident and kids have arrived at
school.
On the way to the gym for my first personal training session
a local cut me off on the expressway. He was following very closely flashing
his lights, beeping his horn to try to get me to switch lanes. Well at first I
was having fun honking back, slowing down and such…you know road rage. Then he
assumed I was switching lanes and tried to go around me on the left side,
problem was I was in the left hand lane. There was little room for his to pass
me, so he did it anyway and hit my car! He tore off the mirror and left a few
scratches on the fenders. Could have been many times worse, but still scared
the crap out of me. Not really loving having to talk to the police so far away
from home. So I called the local emergency line (999) and they were very
unprofessional. Sounded like they were having a great old time in their broken
English. Apparently the other guy called them to saying that I turned back into
the lane after he starts to attempt passing me. Now why on earth would a person
do that? So after the main drama was over I proceeded on my way down the
highway. At this point my personal training session was far past the agreed
upon time. So I called them and told them I wouldn’t be able to make it. So I
took Hannah (another teacher here from the UK), who was in my car the whole
time, to the mall so she could get on wifi since we don’t have it yet in our
apartment. After dropping her off, I had to go to the police station to file my
report. I was told that the other party must be there too. They called him and
he said he’d be there at 5:00pm it was only 11:00am at this point. So I went
back to the mall where Hannah was and jumped on the wifi too. We spent the
entire afternoon at the mall surfing the net. At about 4:30 we took off for the
police station, and sat there until 5:30pm when the guy finally showed up.
After the police officer looked at both cars he determined that he could not
write the report because we both blamed each other. I asked what the next step
was because I need that report to get to the rental car office to file the
claim on the insurance. So the police officer told me to come back the next day
early in the morning so I speak to the original officer about filing a case
against the guy. He went out and looked at the car again and walked in and proceeded
to tell me that it was “my mistake” not the other driver’s. I told him no, and
he proceeded to try to explain why he thought so. His English was so bad I
didn’t really understand. In the end I needed the report so I asked to write
whatever so I could get the report. Keep in mind this is all happening at
7:20am, the day I’m supposed to start school with kids! How does the teacher
miss the first day of the school year with students?! So I kind of made it
known that I was in a bit of hurry for them to finish up the report. They sat
there and wrote the entire thing in Arabic by hand! So I have no idea what it
says or contains. So after getting my report I drove off to school. Thankfully,
due to their crazy scheduling I didn’t have to teach the first two classes of
the day, so I really didn’t miss my students after all.
This school is definitely a work in progress. That’s putting
it mildly! One thing I can say for sure is that it’s missing structure. Each day
has a new plan and new system…so it’s hard to follow a system when there isn’t
one to follow. The kids are off the walls! My four classes are so talkative
that I had to ask for help multiple times. I’ve tried yelling, threating and
clapping loudly. I do not know how to handle middle school kids. When I asked for
the grade level supervisor to enter, they fear him…they instantly listen. He
can speak Arabic though, no chance of that here. Although I will say that when
the kids actually focused and got something done, they are pretty smart. They
know the basics for the most part, not really sure what basics are for 6th
and 7th grade. So my biggest task now is work on learning their
names and classroom management. Classroom management is not something I’ve very
good at. The last few years I’ve just relied on them liking me from year to
year and it’s worked out fairly well. I also had older students so it just
wasn’t that big of an issue. Students at this school just don’t seem very
motivated to do much of anything. Part of that problem is the lack of supplies;
the other is the missing structure. Free time is a very bad thing for these
kids, they need structure. So I suppose it’s on me to figure that one out on my
own. I’m constantly told they will get me anything, or if I need help to ask
but I don’t know where to start. In my opinion it’s their system that’s the
issue. Or lack thereof.
Oh and they delivered a coach to the apartment. So we are
getting close to being civilized.
Yesterday they took my passport to get my visa completed, so
hopefully that will be taken care of soon. Once that happens I can legally live
here and get other services. Such as a bank account and the all-important
Internet connection!
Today the rental car company exchanged my car for a
different one since the first one was now damaged. That process took forever;
they kept on telling me they couldn’t find the school. They called me several
times trying to find the school. Of course I know where it is now, but with no
address how does one explain directions? I did the best I could, and finally
handed the phone off to a local to better explain it. So finally, during the
kids’ prayer break I went out and took care of the exchange. I have the exact
same make and model as before.
Tonight off to the store to get another key made for the
apartment, return a power adapter for my computer and Zumba.
I’m tired now, just reliving all of that last few days! J
Oh and tomorrow is 9-11, and I’m here in the Middle East,
how ironic.
