Disclaimer: This is not a post to talk down about being a teacher here. I love teaching here. This is a post that shows what being a teacher here is like. Teaching here is not for the faint of heart. Teaching here is not for those who dislike being out of the loop. Teaching here IS for the flexible. Teaching here IS for those who can Go With The FLOW! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today is the first day for students AT MY SCHOOL. The 1st day for students for everyone else in Abu Dhabi was September 2. Yup! I know what you're thinking. Why? How does that even work?When last school year ended we found out that our school would be renovated (CLICK HERE TO READ THE POST THAT CONTAINS THE PICTURES) because we'd be welcoming more students due to school closures and schools combining. We were told it would be ready by the time school started. The first day for teachers was August 26. I pulled up to the school on August 26 and this is what I saw. After snapping pictures, I walked into the school and greeted all of the teachers who were just as eager as I was to get back to molding and inspiring young minds. (Insert smirk here) I really was ready to get back to work. No, really, I was. I love teaching. We all chatted about our summers and sat and waited for instructions. Our school was still filled with construction workers and we all agreed that once they finished, our school was going to be beautiful. The principal walked in and we all greeted him and he went into a make shift office. We sat and talked some more. It began to circulate that we would be in content trainings for the next 3 days. I immediately thought to myself, "Great! That will give the workers time to finish and I'll come in on Thursday and set up my classroom." (Read on to see how that idea was crushed.) On Thursday, I walked into the school and saw that progress was made but I still felt like there was so much to be done to the school before we'd be able to receive students. Around 10:00am the Principal called a meeting. Below are the main points that stuck out to me:
Now, let's move into what happened on the 1st day. I walked into the school around 6:45am in my 1st day of school abaya. I was greeted by my colleagues who were quick to tell me that we'd be dismissing early because our cafeteria was not yet ready AND because we were still short teachers. (My thoughts, WOW!) I saw a few of my students from last year and talked to them about their summers. After a while the Administration posted class lists and students flocked to see if they would be in class with their friends. I had no class list. Shortly after that they began to line students up by class and I went out to see my new 6th graders. Many of them looked timid, shy, and nervous. The principal made a few announcements. While he was making announcements, teachers were given their schedules. I looked at mine and just took a deep breath. This year's teaching load is going to be vastly different than last year's. No problem. I've learned about being flexible and I'm ready. (CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT MY LESSON ON FLEXIBILITY.) The Principal dismissed us and I was off with my 1st period class. Class went well. The boys seemed to be attentive. No problems, really, and that's how my first 3 periods went. No problems. Is this the calm before the storm? Yup! We were told to take our students to the assembly area after 3rd period. I took my students and realized they'd be going home. All of the students were lined up by class, 5th-8th grade. All of the bus drivers were standing in the middle behind the Principal. The Principal then begins to yell out various areas in Abu Dhabi and point to the bus driver for that area. Once he calls the area the students are to stand with that driver. Let me paint this picture for you. Outside. Heat. Open Area. 400-500 boys. 1st day of school. No microphone. Most of the boys ended up with a driver but some had to wait because there was no bus for them at the moment. WHAT A DAY! I decided I would take my Go with the flow lesson into my kitchen. For dinner I made Chicken Stir Fry with all the vegetables I have in the fridge. That was A GREAT IDEA! It was a nice way to end this day. CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO THE RECIPE.
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