Mirdif, Dubai

A Day in the Life

I thought I would post an entry to give you an idea of what my daily life is like here. I'm happy to keep you updated on my adventures too, but what I do everyday with AJ and Marya is the primary reason I'm here and I am loving it! (Although, in the wise words of a friend of mine, it's not without it's challenges, but what in life is?)

As I've mentioned before, the weekdays are Sunday-Thursday.


5:00 AM Wake-Up (unless I'm feeling ambitious and go for a run at 4:30) Between 5 and 6 I am getting ready for school. Packing a lunch, showering etc. The kids and Carla usually wake up around 6.

6:00 AM The kids and Carla are getting up and I assist where I am needed. Whether that is breakfast or clothes or collecting homework.

6:45 AM Ideally, this is when we will leave the house, but typically it is closer to 7.

7:30 AM Drop Carla and Marya off at their school, American Academy for Girls, just down the road. Arrive at AJs school, Uptown Primary.

7:45AM Homeroom begins. During this time, the teacher takes attendance and at some point the UAE National Anthem plays over the loud speakers. The students are required to stand, although only a few students sing along. It reminds me of my childhood, singing the Star Spangled Banner and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in Elementary School.

7:50 AM-2:30 PM This is the duration of AJ's school day. During the day I will "shadow" him in all of his classes (with the exception of PE, Art, Music, and Swimming). His schedule is different every day, but I typically work with him in Maths, Arabic, and Language or UOI (Unit of Inquiry). During these times I help him with reading or writing if he needs it, but try to work with all of the students to create a sense of comfort for him in the classroom. The goal is to help him succeed in the classroom without needing constant assistance. We want to build his confidence and learning skills.

Once during the day, I pull him out for about an hour and work with him on reading and writing and spelling. We use various programs and I try to incorporate reading that is applicable. For example, yesterday we worked on a presentation for the end of the current unit, instead of the typical routine we did some of a normal lesson and then I had him read through his presentation and practice it with me. I think this is important because it gives the reading meaning and it's easier for him. He also really likes to go to the library and choose leveled reading books. Without an education background, I struggle, because I don't exactly know how to teach him to read, but I am working with a program that, Maria (his previous shadow) and the Special Ed teacher pioneered for him. (However, I am accepting any input from those of you with an education background :))

2:40 PM At this time AJ and I head over to AAG, and wait for Marya to finsih with school and Calra to finish work. Marya is done at 3:30 and then the kids typically go down to the playground and play. I always check to see if they want to start their homework now, but they usually need a break. Carla finishes work around 4:30 or 5, and in that time I am usually reading or writing letters, or journaling.

5:30 PM Arrive back at home. Now I try to go for a run, and Carla and I make sure the kids get dinner and we find something ourselves. Carla is taking online courses, so she often does her work when we get home and I help the kids with their homework. Then they watch TV or play video games or play outside, and I usually e-mail, read, skype, prepare for the next day etc.

The week night evenings have been quite simple and low key for now, but am starting to make friends, so maybe I will find people to go to the cinema with or watch sport or shop and whatnot.

So there you have it! A day in the life :)

The Springs 2, Street 3, Villa 12

One week. One week has passed since I arrived in Dubai. It's amazing to me because I feel as though I have been here for so much longer. In one week I have learned so much, seen so much, and taken in more new stimuli than I could have imagined. While the jet lag fades, my mind still works. Processing each smell, each word, each accent, each sight, each day as if it's the first I've ever experienced. And that, my friends, is EXHAUSTING!

I arrived in Dubai Friday January 1st around midnight, but did not find myself at Carla's home until well after 1am. Because of the excitement, and the time change, I stayed up and unpacked and showered. I slept most of the day Saturday, and spent the rest of the day unpacking, talking to the kids, and just relaxing. On Sunday, Carla had a "professional day" at the school she works at, but the kids did not have school, so they walked me around the compound.

My first week consisted of spending every day in AJ's school with him. Essentially what I will be spending the majority of my time here doing is "shadowing" for AJ. AJ is 10, and is a clever boy who is fun loving and dedicated to his school work. However, he struggles with some of his academics. My job as a "shadow" is to follow him around school and work with him (in the context of his classes) or work with groups of students that include him as he gains the skills to complete his work. This week I focused on meeting his teachers and classmates so I can understand the context that he is working in. I have also been working hard to build a relationship with him. We have been getting along fine and I can already see a change as he warms up to me. Below is a photo of AJ's classroom.

I also work with his sister Marya, but not as closely. Mostly I help her to keep organized and stay on top of her school work. She is also a dedicated student and they both are very motivated to accomplish the tasks at hand and do well. This has made a huge difference in working with them.

In the time spent at home I hang out with the family, and am grateful to be living with former Glen Lakers. The kids have shown me around the compound and I have done some wandering on my own. We live in an area called "The Springs" which is part of a larger compound called "Emirates Hills." When I first started wandering around I made sure to ask Carla what to tell someone if I get lost and need help finding my way. In essence, everything looks the same! Dubai is developing insanely fast, and it is faster, more efficient, and less expensive to build communities that are identical. So my mantra.."the springs 2, street 3, villa 12." Below are two separate fake lakes with in the compound. I think I know where I'll be running for the next 6 months.

I think I'm fairly well adjusted to the time change, but I am constantly taking in new information and sights. Soon I will be driving, and that will be an adventure as the driving is fast and insane here.

This weekend we celebrated AJ's 10th birthday! He will have a party with friends next week, but his birthday was Saturday. We had cake and ice cream and went to the beach to fly is new kite.

This is the Burj Al Arab, a hotel.

culture shock:

• the other day we passed a large walled in area that was quite ostentatious. I asked Carla, "what's in there?" She replied, "a house." I said, "just ONE person's HOUSE!?" She responded, "well, there are probably four or five houses for his WIVES."

• I can already speak and write some Arabic. A young girl named Yara, in AJs class, has been teaching me during recess. She would rather stay in and get ahead in her work, so I've been employing her as my private Arabic tutor. YAY!

on the left is Yara, and on the right Awatif.

• when I get up i can hear the Islamic Fajr (pre-dawn) prayer call from the Mosque down the street. It's quite peaceful.