It's been more than a year since I last posted on my blog. Where did the time go? 2018 has been a year of CHANGES.
Since January 1st, the country has introduced the 5% VAT on basically all goods and services. Employees have also seen a downgrade in their health insurance coverage and other benefits. In regards to health insurance coverage, some companies/entities have introduced a calling center type arrangement, in which a person who wishes to see a doctor or visit a hospital/clinic must first call the center to explain his/her symptoms/ailments. The call center personnel will then respond with a call back wait time that the person will receive from a doctor who is collaborating with them. From what I've gathered, more serious illnesses/symptoms will get priority and a shorter wait time, around 30 minutes to an hour. Less severe situations could see a 2 to 4+ hours wait time for a call back from a physician. However, I've seen complaints that some individuals have experienced wait time as long as 24 hours! For an emergency, it has been said that one can simply go to the emergency room to receive help and treatment. Some people have had success while others not so much. It's been a trying times.
There has also been changes in accommodation arrangements. Many companies now want the rental lease to be under the employee's name in order to avoid paying the 3% municipality fees. 3% might sound trivial at first, that is until you find out it is 3% of your annual rental amount. For example, a person living in a 2-bedroom apartment with modern finishings worth 100,000 dirhams in rent for the year could see himself/herself paying 3,000 dirhams in municipality fees. In some cases, people have had to shell out anywhere from 3,000 to 8,000 dirhams when making the switch from the lease under the company's name to their own name. 8,000 dirhams!?!? How does that happen? Well, let me break it down for you. Some lease management companies want a security deposit, anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 dirhams, plus fees for their services, which is around 100 to 750 dirhams. Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC) has been charged with the task of collecting the 3% municipality fees and even a backlog of said fees. Let's be conservative and say 3,000 (municipality fees) + 2,000 (security deposit) + 500 (other services fees) = 5,500 dirhams. I would like to also add that some newspapers have reported that the country might increase the municipality fees from 3% to 5% in the next year or so. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it's better to be informed than not so you can make the best decisions for yourself, your family, and/or your future.
Finally, there's been changes to companies'/entities' names and merging of entities. With these merges come different policies and ways of getting things done. As some of you might know by now, not all changes are transparent or made clear to the people that they affect. Furthermore, some changes can come swiftly, abruptly, and unexpectedly, such as termination emails. It hasn't been clear the rhyme or reason for some of the terminations but the guesses are employees reaching the retirement age limit (60 years old), low performance, no longer qualifying for the position that they hold, and/or their department has been eliminated for the next year.
There's been many rumors flying about at any given time that it's hard to keep up and it's difficult to discern what's real and what's fictional. Nonetheless, in order to remain sane, it's important to let rumors go in one ear and out the other. Be in the know but don't overthink it until there is evidence (an official, stamped decree) or report in the newspapers. Sooooooo there's also been talks that some places are implementing new contracts for existing and newly hired employees. The terms and conditions of the supposed new contracts are once again a mystery to everyone. In worst case scenario, these new contracts would increase the overall monthly salary by a small amount, let's say from 15,000 dirhams to 20,000 dirhams. HOWEVER, the company no longer provides accommodation so individuals must now pay their rent out of the inflated monthly salary. So if they live in a place worth about 90,000 dirhams annual, the rent is about 7,500 dirhams monthly. As a result, 20,000 dirhams - 7,500 dirhams = 12,500 dirhams...an overall lower net/take-home monthly salary (from 15,000 before to 12,500 dirhams). Now, don't panic just yet. There is a small silver lining in that rental prices have gone down in some emirates so if you're willing to look around and negotiate a good deal on your housing, the loss might not be as significant.
Other changes to be aware of include: (1) many petrol stations are introducing "premium service" vs "self service", meaning you pay a small fee for petrol attendants to fill your petrol for you should you drive your car to a "premium service" lane. Otherwise, you can get out of the car and pump the petrol yourself free of charge (but deal with the heat yourself)! (2) Salik tolls are coming to Abu Dhabi sadly. I sure hope this is it for the bad news!!!
Now for some positive news and life in the UAE. Some government employees have been the beneficiaries of a BONUS in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the country. Said bonus amounts to one month basic salary, so some people have seen their bank accounts go up by 5,000 dirhams while others have seen an extra (up to) 50,000 dirhams for the big shots. I, and many others like myself, am still waiting for this lovely surprise/bonus to show up. It's been said that the government is rolling out these bonuses in batches. I guess one cannot expect them to send out 1.7 billion dirhams all at once, right? Right? Here's to being optimistic that my bonus will come on or before Eid!!!
So, what else is new? I've definitely done my fair share of traveling. I have now visited Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Austria, Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, Italy, and Malaysia since I've set foot here. They have all been soul-satisfying adventures! Next on my bucket list are Morocco, Portugal, (Bali) Indonesia, a few more European countries, and some in Southeast Asia as well. I'm saving East Asia and Central and South America for when I return to the United States. At some point, I would love to visit Australia and New Zealand as well.
Whew, what a post!
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Yup, Still Here Playing in the Sandbox!
I'm writing this post from Hamad International Airport in Qatar, waiting to board my flight to Sri Lanka. Not sure what's causing the delay but I hope it doesn't get in the way of getting my Spring Break on!
3 years flew by just like that and I'm happy to report that Abu Dhabi and I are still getting along just fine. It's an annual evaluation and re-evaluation but I can see myself here for a few more years - 5 years in AD feels right though I just might weather out the Trump storm and see which way the US sways in 2018 and 2020. In the meantime I have many things to check off my Middle East and traveling bucket lists. Seriously, it doesn't get any better than this - eternal sunshine, safe and comfortable living, great work-life balance, the world at your fingertips. Yes there will be times when certain situations might test your patience and sanity but if you set and stick to your goals, choose your battles, and keep trucking along, you'll do just fine.
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I have noticed that newcomers have similar questions about working here, so I'm gonna try and answer them in this post.
1. Is it easy for my spouse to find work? Honestly, the answer is 70% no and 30% yes. It does depend on your spouse's field of work and the most ideal situation is for him/her to get hired by a company from your home country that has offices here. Otherwise, it can get quite competitive or opportunities might be limited or the pay could be low. The only other option is get creative and dig into your entrepreneurial spirit.
2. What is the hardest adjustment? For some people, it's definitely getting placed in a region (Al Gharbia / Western Region) that they did not want. However, I do know a good number of people who have made it work with frequent weekend getaways or extra money/savings they get from being in a more remote location. Another difficult adjustment is not adapting well to the work environment. The last one is not being able to go with the flow because there's quite a bit of running around from department to department, desk to desk around here from time to time. One person will tell you one thing and another will tell you something completely different. You might get passed around and around and feeling like you're not getting anywhere. BUT if you just persevere, things do gradually and then suddenly and miraculously get done! Oh, you might get informed about things last minute but expected to have them completed immediately so be ready for the unexpected!
3. When will I get my visa and ticket to begin work? Nobody really knows because there truly is no rhyme or reason for how things get done as the process goes through different departments, agencies, and hands. You could interview with the same people but some will go early and some late. You could be the last to turn in your documents but the first to fly - but definitely do try and turn in your paperwork as soon as possible. I do have to say, some things are becoming more clear and efficient to get done around here despite constant changes.
Well, this is all for now. I'll put up some pictures in my next post (hopefully soon)!
Xx
Becky
3 years flew by just like that and I'm happy to report that Abu Dhabi and I are still getting along just fine. It's an annual evaluation and re-evaluation but I can see myself here for a few more years - 5 years in AD feels right though I just might weather out the Trump storm and see which way the US sways in 2018 and 2020. In the meantime I have many things to check off my Middle East and traveling bucket lists. Seriously, it doesn't get any better than this - eternal sunshine, safe and comfortable living, great work-life balance, the world at your fingertips. Yes there will be times when certain situations might test your patience and sanity but if you set and stick to your goals, choose your battles, and keep trucking along, you'll do just fine.
-------
I have noticed that newcomers have similar questions about working here, so I'm gonna try and answer them in this post.
1. Is it easy for my spouse to find work? Honestly, the answer is 70% no and 30% yes. It does depend on your spouse's field of work and the most ideal situation is for him/her to get hired by a company from your home country that has offices here. Otherwise, it can get quite competitive or opportunities might be limited or the pay could be low. The only other option is get creative and dig into your entrepreneurial spirit.
2. What is the hardest adjustment? For some people, it's definitely getting placed in a region (Al Gharbia / Western Region) that they did not want. However, I do know a good number of people who have made it work with frequent weekend getaways or extra money/savings they get from being in a more remote location. Another difficult adjustment is not adapting well to the work environment. The last one is not being able to go with the flow because there's quite a bit of running around from department to department, desk to desk around here from time to time. One person will tell you one thing and another will tell you something completely different. You might get passed around and around and feeling like you're not getting anywhere. BUT if you just persevere, things do gradually and then suddenly and miraculously get done! Oh, you might get informed about things last minute but expected to have them completed immediately so be ready for the unexpected!
3. When will I get my visa and ticket to begin work? Nobody really knows because there truly is no rhyme or reason for how things get done as the process goes through different departments, agencies, and hands. You could interview with the same people but some will go early and some late. You could be the last to turn in your documents but the first to fly - but definitely do try and turn in your paperwork as soon as possible. I do have to say, some things are becoming more clear and efficient to get done around here despite constant changes.
Well, this is all for now. I'll put up some pictures in my next post (hopefully soon)!
Xx
Becky
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Pics of Interest - My AD Apartment, My School, etc.
We are just weeks from the end of the school year!!! Not quite time to start popping bottles and throwing confetti but I'm salivating just thinking about that magical date, July 10th, or the day that attendance drops and kids stop showing up (keeping fingers crossed from June 1st to June 18th). I cannot wait - lesson planning free, kids free, disciplining free, grading free, STRESS FREE!!!
Anyways, I decided that it was time to back up the pictures from my phone before I lose them due to a drop on the floor, a splash into water, or whatever other tragedies that could happen to it. As I was browsing through a gazillion pics in my smart device, I realized there are many, many pics that might be of interest to my readers/prospective ADEC teachers and that I should have posted them a long time ago but just didn't for some reason! So without further ado here they are below.
My Danat Tower B Apartment:
Anyways, I decided that it was time to back up the pictures from my phone before I lose them due to a drop on the floor, a splash into water, or whatever other tragedies that could happen to it. As I was browsing through a gazillion pics in my smart device, I realized there are many, many pics that might be of interest to my readers/prospective ADEC teachers and that I should have posted them a long time ago but just didn't for some reason! So without further ado here they are below.
My Danat Tower B Apartment:
Entrance of the Building
My Long Hallway - 1st Door = Half Bath, 2nd Door = Kitchen,
Around the Corner = 2 Bedrooms + Full Bath
My Big Balcony + Half Bath + Unfurnished Kitchen
No electrical outlets in bathrooms for your hair drying & styling needs - go figure
so be prepared to set your vanity near one in your bedroom
Furnished Kitchen
Water cooler thingy is essential - I purchased a 200 aed voucher book
from Nestle Water (800 4404) - 20 (5 US gallons) bottles for 10 aed each.
Washer/dryer warning: Dryers do not work well in this country.
Ended up buying large drying racks and setting them near a window.
You might want to save yourself some money and just buy a washer only
Some Bathroom Decor - Desert Style
A Bachelorette Living Room / Dining Room
I did change out that itty bitty rug to a larger one lol
My Serenity
My Toil
My Chillin' Spot
My School:
My school is one of the oldest, if not THE oldest, school in Abu Dhabi.
Festivities around National Day in December
Grade 6 Food Market / Souk
It was lovely to see the boys doing a great job managing the market
My Humble Classroom
Our Working Wall
SMART reading strategy + TAGS writing strategy
Pre-reading activity - Storyboarding
Alliteration Competition
Marking up baseline exams
Whew! That's the most pics I have ever posted in one post. I hope you enjoyed it! Until next time...
Saturday, January 17, 2015
It's 2015 Already?!?!
Happy New Year Everybody! In the blink of an eye, half a year flew by and here we are in 2015. Where did the time go indeed! So I totally failed at my mission of updating my blog at a consistent rate but really so many things have happened in my life and in the world around me that the task has truly slipped my mind. Where do I even begin? I guess it only makes sense to start from where I left off..July of last year (so weird saying that).
I landed in Chicago after a long 14 hour direct flight. No easy feat as it was incredibly uncomfortable being stuck in such a small space - sleepless, restless, tired, and cranky. Being on the plane with friends did make the time go by just a little easier. I spent a little over a week in the Windy City and got the opportunity to meet up and catch up with awesome friends over great food and venues. The time spent away from love ones does make you appreciate everything and everyone you have at home that much more. It was so nice that everybody took time out of their busy schedule to chat and bond. Some even opened up their homes to me so I could spend the night with them at their place. I am truly blessed with such incredible people in my life. I love and miss them tremendously, every single day. Then I returned to my hometown in Pure Michigan and spent as much quality time as I could with my family. It was not as relaxing as I had hoped - my parents had a lot on their plate and really needed me to help out with a lot of financial, medical, and business-y matters. Meetings, appointments, and paper work filled up my time there. I love being able to be the ultimate problem solver for them but it did put a damper over the happy family time that I had in my mind. I guess that's just how life goes sometimes. I did enjoy being able to celebrate my mom's birthday with the entire family there. It was the first time in almost 15 years that the 7 of us (mom, dad, and 5 daughters) were in the same place at the same time. You bet your bottom dollar that we took pics to commemorate such a monumental moment! haha We ate at a traditional Chinese restaurant with the little ones running around and being rowdy, crazy, and loud. I loved it! In a snap it was time to go back to Abu Dhabi.
I was jet lagged for quite a while but somehow managed to buy a car (and that was a whole other adventure for a future post), take care of a few things for the apartment, and return to work. It has been a super hectic school year, especially having to teach grade 6 boys at an all-male school as a female with no co-teacher even though I'm supposed to have one. Plus the classes are more filled this year than the previous. It's been a tough challenge. Despite the circumstances I've been making it work by staying focused on my purpose, steering clear of drama, and remaining professional with everyone at work. Just brush the dust off your shoulders and let each day be a new day. It's really important to smile, positive self-talk, seek support from friends, and give yourself some slack from time to time. And let me tell you Trimester 1 was crazy long...15 weeks long! Everyone was desperate for the 2-week winter break. So believe me you'll need a glass half full attitude to make it. Plus it doesn't hurt to always have something to look forward to during these long trimesters, may it be a concert, a friend coming to visit, a birthday party, a fabulous brunch, a trip over a long weekend, etc. I did travel to Hong Kong with a friend I met here over the National Day, 5-day holiday (what a gut-busting, foodie vacay...yay!) and then my parents came to visit me during winter break so I stayed in town. We had an awesome, awesome time together - I took my parents all over Abu Dhabi and Dubai and they cooked and cleaned and spoiled me every day by bringing my home to life with their voices, laughter, and presence. I was devastated when it was time for them to leave. My heart aches just thinking about it and I miss coming home to them from work. I believe God will give me the strength to make it and I treasure the great memories I had with my parents for it's been a long time since I've seen them so stress-free and happy.
Well that's all for now folks! I gotta get to my lesson planning for next week so no time to add pictures to this post but I will put them up when I have a chance, hopefully soon, like "before the week ends" soon. Wishing everyone the very best in the meantime and hoping 2015 treats you well with happiness, good health, and prosperity!
I landed in Chicago after a long 14 hour direct flight. No easy feat as it was incredibly uncomfortable being stuck in such a small space - sleepless, restless, tired, and cranky. Being on the plane with friends did make the time go by just a little easier. I spent a little over a week in the Windy City and got the opportunity to meet up and catch up with awesome friends over great food and venues. The time spent away from love ones does make you appreciate everything and everyone you have at home that much more. It was so nice that everybody took time out of their busy schedule to chat and bond. Some even opened up their homes to me so I could spend the night with them at their place. I am truly blessed with such incredible people in my life. I love and miss them tremendously, every single day. Then I returned to my hometown in Pure Michigan and spent as much quality time as I could with my family. It was not as relaxing as I had hoped - my parents had a lot on their plate and really needed me to help out with a lot of financial, medical, and business-y matters. Meetings, appointments, and paper work filled up my time there. I love being able to be the ultimate problem solver for them but it did put a damper over the happy family time that I had in my mind. I guess that's just how life goes sometimes. I did enjoy being able to celebrate my mom's birthday with the entire family there. It was the first time in almost 15 years that the 7 of us (mom, dad, and 5 daughters) were in the same place at the same time. You bet your bottom dollar that we took pics to commemorate such a monumental moment! haha We ate at a traditional Chinese restaurant with the little ones running around and being rowdy, crazy, and loud. I loved it! In a snap it was time to go back to Abu Dhabi.
I was jet lagged for quite a while but somehow managed to buy a car (and that was a whole other adventure for a future post), take care of a few things for the apartment, and return to work. It has been a super hectic school year, especially having to teach grade 6 boys at an all-male school as a female with no co-teacher even though I'm supposed to have one. Plus the classes are more filled this year than the previous. It's been a tough challenge. Despite the circumstances I've been making it work by staying focused on my purpose, steering clear of drama, and remaining professional with everyone at work. Just brush the dust off your shoulders and let each day be a new day. It's really important to smile, positive self-talk, seek support from friends, and give yourself some slack from time to time. And let me tell you Trimester 1 was crazy long...15 weeks long! Everyone was desperate for the 2-week winter break. So believe me you'll need a glass half full attitude to make it. Plus it doesn't hurt to always have something to look forward to during these long trimesters, may it be a concert, a friend coming to visit, a birthday party, a fabulous brunch, a trip over a long weekend, etc. I did travel to Hong Kong with a friend I met here over the National Day, 5-day holiday (what a gut-busting, foodie vacay...yay!) and then my parents came to visit me during winter break so I stayed in town. We had an awesome, awesome time together - I took my parents all over Abu Dhabi and Dubai and they cooked and cleaned and spoiled me every day by bringing my home to life with their voices, laughter, and presence. I was devastated when it was time for them to leave. My heart aches just thinking about it and I miss coming home to them from work. I believe God will give me the strength to make it and I treasure the great memories I had with my parents for it's been a long time since I've seen them so stress-free and happy.
Well that's all for now folks! I gotta get to my lesson planning for next week so no time to add pictures to this post but I will put them up when I have a chance, hopefully soon, like "before the week ends" soon. Wishing everyone the very best in the meantime and hoping 2015 treats you well with happiness, good health, and prosperity!
Monday, July 7, 2014
Things Are Looking Up! Yup!
My heart is pounding so hard it can burst out of my chest. Today is Monday, the 7th of July, and I'm only 3 days away from the last day of school for teachers and 6 days from putting my feet on American soil once more! My mood swings have been going out of control in the last few months but lately it's mostly been on the upside. Keeping myself busy and building foundations to solid friendships have been tremendously helpful - hanging out and catching up with people, hosting movie nights at my place, painting the town with friends throughout the weekend, celebrating birthdays, having one too many bubblies over fabulous brunches, getting pampered at salons, watching World Cup matches at various venues in Abu Dhabi & Dubai, and trying out new restaurants are just some of the many things that have occupied my social calendar.
Knowing that I have devoted followers of this blog and Youtube videos have also encouraged me to stay upbeat and positive on my AD journey despite the fact that I haven't updated them as often as I would like to. Anyways, here is another video for your viewing pleasure! The next time I update this, I'll probably be on Stateside! Woohoo! Even though I'm having a lot of fun here and little parts of me are beginning to make AD my new home, 'Merica is where my heart's at. ;)
Knowing that I have devoted followers of this blog and Youtube videos have also encouraged me to stay upbeat and positive on my AD journey despite the fact that I haven't updated them as often as I would like to. Anyways, here is another video for your viewing pleasure! The next time I update this, I'll probably be on Stateside! Woohoo! Even though I'm having a lot of fun here and little parts of me are beginning to make AD my new home, 'Merica is where my heart's at. ;)
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
It Gets Lonely Out Here...
...even if you live in the hustle and bustle of the city. I know I shouldn't be complaining, especially when I have friends who are trying to survive in the middle of nowhere, but I did say from the very beginning that I would keep it honest and keep it real here - that I would express myself and include feelings that I so desperately want to dismiss. It's like if I say them out loud, they become real. It's so much easier to paint a pretty picture and hide behind a veil of denial. I could do that and attempt to fool myself and fool everyone but it wouldn't be right. I think people should know the whole truth and understand what's happening from all angles. As hard as it is for me to do this, I am going to face my problems head on. How? Well I guess I can start by acknowledging that the problems are real so I can deal with them and hopefully overcome them accordingly.
Loneliness is not just boredom. It's a state of mind & being - and that's what makes it so dangerous and so overwhelmingly difficult to deal with when it hits you, especially when you least expect it. Sometimes it can hit you like a freight train - it knocks you down so hard you're out of breath. You feel empty inside, like a piece of your heart is missing, and it's almost impossible to fill that void. There is actually a lot of things to do here, plus another major metropolis is only a couple of hours away. But when loneliness attacks, you find it difficult to get yourself off the couch and out the door. Your energy is down, your motivation is low, and you just don't want to do anything even though you really, really, really want to do something so badly. It's like your mind is holding your body captive and you simply can't move.
I hate being the bearer of bad news but the monster that is loneliness is real. I'm usually a glass-half-full type person - nothing can keep me down for long, no matter how bad it gets. I don't know what's happening to me. It's not like I haven't been away from home, away from my family before. But I guess living across the ocean is a whole other beast than being a long 6-hour car ride away from home, heck it's definitely worse than being across the country from home.
I know I could Skype with family and friends, and I'm grateful that this technology exists, but it's just not the same as coming home to someone and being able to vent to them, laugh with them, sit quietly with them, chat away with them, argue with them, make plans with them, go grocery shopping with them, do something stupid with them, etc. etc. etc. So I guess those of you who are coming here with someone, the whole family or at least one other person, count yourself lucky.
I know I'm strong enough to get through this rough patch and I will but I thought I should share this with everyone. Right now I'll just keep myself busy while trying to steer clear of food so I don't emotion-eat and pack on the pounds that I'll probably regret later. Oh and I'm avoiding malls as well so I don't just emotion-shop and spend all my money away. I guess the only things left to do are watching tv, surfing the net, and working out. Ughhhhh I need to get myself out of this hole.
---------------------------------------------
Despite what I've written above, I am a person of my word (though a few weeks late). Here is my latest video. Once I get out of my rut, I'll probably make the next one on the JT concert that I went to a couple weeks ago.
Loneliness is not just boredom. It's a state of mind & being - and that's what makes it so dangerous and so overwhelmingly difficult to deal with when it hits you, especially when you least expect it. Sometimes it can hit you like a freight train - it knocks you down so hard you're out of breath. You feel empty inside, like a piece of your heart is missing, and it's almost impossible to fill that void. There is actually a lot of things to do here, plus another major metropolis is only a couple of hours away. But when loneliness attacks, you find it difficult to get yourself off the couch and out the door. Your energy is down, your motivation is low, and you just don't want to do anything even though you really, really, really want to do something so badly. It's like your mind is holding your body captive and you simply can't move.
I hate being the bearer of bad news but the monster that is loneliness is real. I'm usually a glass-half-full type person - nothing can keep me down for long, no matter how bad it gets. I don't know what's happening to me. It's not like I haven't been away from home, away from my family before. But I guess living across the ocean is a whole other beast than being a long 6-hour car ride away from home, heck it's definitely worse than being across the country from home.
I know I could Skype with family and friends, and I'm grateful that this technology exists, but it's just not the same as coming home to someone and being able to vent to them, laugh with them, sit quietly with them, chat away with them, argue with them, make plans with them, go grocery shopping with them, do something stupid with them, etc. etc. etc. So I guess those of you who are coming here with someone, the whole family or at least one other person, count yourself lucky.
I know I'm strong enough to get through this rough patch and I will but I thought I should share this with everyone. Right now I'll just keep myself busy while trying to steer clear of food so I don't emotion-eat and pack on the pounds that I'll probably regret later. Oh and I'm avoiding malls as well so I don't just emotion-shop and spend all my money away. I guess the only things left to do are watching tv, surfing the net, and working out. Ughhhhh I need to get myself out of this hole.
---------------------------------------------
Despite what I've written above, I am a person of my word (though a few weeks late). Here is my latest video. Once I get out of my rut, I'll probably make the next one on the JT concert that I went to a couple weeks ago.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Hashtag Fail!
It's 11pm on a Tuesday night - hump night...as in "it's the middle of the work week" in the UAE.
I'm feeling weird and inspired simultaneously so it's time to write something however long or brief this post ends up being when I'm done typing. I'd like to take this opportunity to document some hilarious "fails" that I've experienced in my personal, day-to-day and in the teaching world.
Fail #1: Random Fog Day
Due to a fog on a random day there was only a few students for Period 1. Normally all the students who are present would run around the school and play until the fog lifts and the rest of the kids arrive. However on this particular day the four sixth grade boys who were present decided to come into class. Surprised by this I jokingly and also sincerely said, "Oh! You came to class. You must miss us huh?" Not missing a heartbeat the boys replied, "A/C!"
They came into class because of the refuge that the a/c in our classroom offered, nothing else. FAIL!!!
Fail #2: LG Washing/Drying Machine
I bought a brand new washing/drying machine and after only 1.5 weeks of being functional it decided to flood my kitchen for a total of 6 times! I called the customer service of both the store I bought it from and LG many, many times - they sent out servicemen to repair my machine 4 times. I finally had enough of it and kept demanding for a replacement - after insisting this numerous times they gave in and said they would give me another new one.
I got a brand new replacement on a Thursday afternoon after a long work week, thinking that it must be my lucky day that it came just in time for me to do laundry on the weekend. I was just so excited and had too much faith in the brand that is LG that I decided against my best judgement and threw in some really nice bed sheets and pillow cases into the thing. After only 1 minute of washing, the machine made some funny vibrating noises, sounded off some music, and displayed an error message!!! The "Life's (Not) Good" saga continues even after a month of this hot mess!!! FAIL!!!
Fail #3: Professional Development
Apparently every English Medium Teacher (EMT) at my school has to lead a PD before the end of the school year. Even though my coteacher and I have only taught here for maybe 6 weeks, we were not exempt from this and got thrown into the fire. Up to the challenge we prepared a PowerPoint and a small packet of materials on teaching writing for our workshop. Upon arrival into our classroom, one of the EMTs said, "Got something good for us?" I answered, "Absolutely! It'll be the most stimulating PD you'll ever attend!" He responded, "We'll be the judge of that." (We are a sarcastic bunch.)
My coteacher and I were trying to get our attendees to brainstorm qualities that they look for in a great piece of student writing, they gave us a funny look and said, "Are we talking about our kids here or our kids back home?" This was followed by cricket, cricket, cricket. Then there were more awkward silence and reluctant involvement throughout the 30-minute PD. When we were done, they gave us a big round of applause!?!? Come on now, stop playing...I saw some of you nodding your heads and dozing off! FAIL!!!
Hashtag: End of School Year Blues, Hashtag: Nobody Likes PD, Hashtag: Teachers Can Sometimes Be the Worst Students, Hashtag: Jaded and Cynical
I'm feeling weird and inspired simultaneously so it's time to write something however long or brief this post ends up being when I'm done typing. I'd like to take this opportunity to document some hilarious "fails" that I've experienced in my personal, day-to-day and in the teaching world.
Fail #1: Random Fog Day
Due to a fog on a random day there was only a few students for Period 1. Normally all the students who are present would run around the school and play until the fog lifts and the rest of the kids arrive. However on this particular day the four sixth grade boys who were present decided to come into class. Surprised by this I jokingly and also sincerely said, "Oh! You came to class. You must miss us huh?" Not missing a heartbeat the boys replied, "A/C!"
They came into class because of the refuge that the a/c in our classroom offered, nothing else. FAIL!!!
Fail #2: LG Washing/Drying Machine
I bought a brand new washing/drying machine and after only 1.5 weeks of being functional it decided to flood my kitchen for a total of 6 times! I called the customer service of both the store I bought it from and LG many, many times - they sent out servicemen to repair my machine 4 times. I finally had enough of it and kept demanding for a replacement - after insisting this numerous times they gave in and said they would give me another new one.
I got a brand new replacement on a Thursday afternoon after a long work week, thinking that it must be my lucky day that it came just in time for me to do laundry on the weekend. I was just so excited and had too much faith in the brand that is LG that I decided against my best judgement and threw in some really nice bed sheets and pillow cases into the thing. After only 1 minute of washing, the machine made some funny vibrating noises, sounded off some music, and displayed an error message!!! The "Life's (Not) Good" saga continues even after a month of this hot mess!!! FAIL!!!
Fail #3: Professional Development
Apparently every English Medium Teacher (EMT) at my school has to lead a PD before the end of the school year. Even though my coteacher and I have only taught here for maybe 6 weeks, we were not exempt from this and got thrown into the fire. Up to the challenge we prepared a PowerPoint and a small packet of materials on teaching writing for our workshop. Upon arrival into our classroom, one of the EMTs said, "Got something good for us?" I answered, "Absolutely! It'll be the most stimulating PD you'll ever attend!" He responded, "We'll be the judge of that." (We are a sarcastic bunch.)
My coteacher and I were trying to get our attendees to brainstorm qualities that they look for in a great piece of student writing, they gave us a funny look and said, "Are we talking about our kids here or our kids back home?" This was followed by cricket, cricket, cricket. Then there were more awkward silence and reluctant involvement throughout the 30-minute PD. When we were done, they gave us a big round of applause!?!? Come on now, stop playing...I saw some of you nodding your heads and dozing off! FAIL!!!
Hashtag: End of School Year Blues, Hashtag: Nobody Likes PD, Hashtag: Teachers Can Sometimes Be the Worst Students, Hashtag: Jaded and Cynical
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