Week #2 Down!

Well, week number 2 has come to an end, and I must say it's been a bit interesting. I began the week with someone throwing up at the entrance of our hallway right before the bell rang (awesome) and me having to direct traffic so more people didn't slip through it (even more awesome). I swear, after this, it's all downhill.

Also, there were some protests this week (or was that last? time just flies by!), but it didn't really mean anything other than we were rerouted on the bus one day going home and the one day I stayed after I had to take a cab home instead of walking the half hour. Boo hoo. Apparently, this weekend there are supposed to be massive and widespread protests, but to be honest, I'm really not worried. We were joking on the bus that a "protest" here means a little smoldering fire on the street. It's probably a bit more than that, but you it's certainly not as dangerous as Syria or Egypt or Libya, for that matter.

Still, the government doesn't take any chances with its king. Yesterday, one of the "oldies, but goodies" from last year took me to the bank (with one of the newbies) and we got stuck in all kinds of traffic. There were police cars, bikes, armored vehicles, etc. everywhere. Something HAD to be going on. We thought it was maybe a protest until we were stopped in traffic and there was no one on the other side of the highway but police every now and then driving by. Then the police cars started more heavily and we saw a really nice cream-colored car drive by with some guy in a headdress sitting in it. We thought it was probably some mid-level politician, but I heard today it was the king. Meh. I saw the king of Bahrain. No big deal. (Actually, I couldn't care less, but it's still something to talk about I guess.)

In other news, our school is ridiculous. Two weeks into school, the owner/superintendent decides that we need to change our schedules. So my schedule isn't changing, but pretty much everyone else will be switching around. Some teachers will be moved out of the middle school into the high school. Some with have to teach over several different grades. Others will have to teach over several different subjects. Pretty awesome. And if you think it's just the teachers changing, you wrong! All of the 7th graders' schedules will be changing as well and some of the 6th and 8th graders' schedules will be changing as well. So this is the frustration of teaching in an American school in Bahrain: it's nothing like America! :-)

Finally, tomorrow I'm supposed to be going to brunch with the whole crowd (I think there will be 20 of us). Friday brunch is kind of a big deal here. You dress up, guys wear suits, women wear dresses. You eat and drink (alcohol, yes) to your heart's desire and then you get to go on the beach (which, admittedly, I've heard is nothing to speak of, but it's still freakin' sweet). Sounds like an amazing time. Unfortunately, it'll only cost me 20/25 B.D. Multiply that by 2.6 and you've got roughly how much I'll be spending on one meal with alcohol. That blows. Still, I feel like I'd be missing out big time if I didn't go. Soooooo I'll let you know if it was worth it the next time I write.

Until then, YOU all stay safe and be happy. I'll be doing the same!

School: First Impressions

Well, we're full into the second week of school, and it's all just flying by! First impressions: 1. I love my kids. Period. 2. I think the people I work with are the nicest people in the world, full of kindness and compassion. 3. I think we are run by micro-managers, but they're not mean so I suppose I should be grateful and just learn to work with it and not against it. 4. The curriculum: I'll let you know when I figure it out myself. 5. Being a teacher, overall: not easy!

Today was probably my hardest day so far, and not because the kids misbehaved, there was general chaos or someone threw up in the hallway (that was yesterday). Today was difficult because I realized that I am not performing to the level I expect of myself and know I'm capable of. In fact, based on the realizations I had today, if I were an administrator, I would not hire myself. And that's a lot to take on.

Now, there are, of course, a lot of factors to take into account here. First of all, I'm working with two different curricula and two different teachers who have already taught these curricula. This sounds like it shouldn't be that hard, given that I have the curricula, some of the materials and two ladies who are very willing to help me succeed. What I realized today, however, is that I have not given myself any autonomy in my own classroom, and I've tried to be someone who I'm not. I've tried to fit into someone else's box, instead of creating common goals and assessments and planning the individual lessons in my own way from those goals and assessments. I've been floundering because I haven't understood what our goals are for the unit (or the year or anything) and all else means nothing without a sense of purpose.

With these realizations, I spent several hours tonight in the cafe here trying to pull together lesson plans for both 6th and 7th grades that have goals at the forefront of each. And I feel a little bit better. Tomorrow is a new day and, with a renewed sense of purpose, I feel like it will be better than today. And that's all I can ask for, isn't it?

In addition to school, life in general has been getting better. This weekend I went to a get-together at a private pool near city centre that is apparently the largest residential pool in Bahrain. I met two middle-eastern men who are now friends! Additionally, I got paid today! And I believe my outlets are actually working reasonably now (Water heater? Not sure yet). AND my TV is working! YES! I was actually able to see snippets of baseball, football (European and American), and news tonight as I ate my middle-eastern version of Raman noodles! Classy, eh?

So, overall, I have to be happy here in Bahrain. Life isn't that much different from home, I'm making friends, and I'm doing what I've been waiting three years to do: teach!