Today I went to get my hair cut, its not all I did but it’s the only thing I should write about to attempt in vain to keep you interested. (unless you want to hear about boxing training – Its going well, or tennis).
I haven’t had a hair cut since I have been in Abu Dhabi and today I bit the bullet. I hate getting my hair cut in England for the same reasons I hate going to lap-dancing clubs – The forced conversation.
I hate talking for the sake of talking and when someone is cutting my hair I prefer to just stare at myself in the mirror rather self consciously and not have to witter on about my next holiday or my plans for the weekend. (This is the same in lap dancing clubs, before you have the elusive lap dance, you have to go through the rigmarole of actually talking to the dancer. This is usually about exactly the same thing that a hair dresser will talk to you about – something I call a non-conversation)
Also you know you are going to head straight home to have a shower afterwards because of all the hair that falls down your back and itches like a mother-fucker.
These are not my only gripes, you have to book in advance and I hate having part of my day booked out in advance, in case something better comes along and I cant do it because I am getting my hair cut.
Also you have to tell a professional how to do his job when he asks what style you want – which inevitably leads to one of two, equally embarrassing, scenarios:
1. You awkwardly pull out a picture of David Beckham (or any other celebrity that you have printed off from the internet prior to coming) and mutter ‘like this please’ and then hang your head in shame as older and bigger boys have a stifled giggle. You know that they are thinking that ‘the best haircut in the world won’t make you look like that mate’ and you know that, you only printed off the picture so you don’t have to go through scenario 2:
2. ‘What can I do for you today?’ the barber asks. You're stunted, you can’t speak the lingo except for ‘short back and sides mate’ but you don’t want that. You don’t know what ‘blended on top means’ (you heard someone else say it last time you were in and it sounded cool) and you have no idea what to ask for without a picture from the internet.
It’s a minefield.
Today I walked into the barber and ill tell you now, it was great.(But weird)
First of all, the guy couldn’t speak English so that got the conversation worries out of the way. I then said ‘Short’ he said ‘all short’ I said yes. He then cut my hair.
Not only was there no conversation, they have personal televisions with English films showing. The barber puts an elasticized (or elasticated) robe around your neck, rather than a heavy clampy thing that they put on top of the cover in England, that stops all the hair getting down your back.
Anyway, now comes the problem of the title, after my hair (and beard) cut was finished he started massaging my head. It felt really good. I think he was getting a bit carried away though because the barber, while rigorously rubbing, scratching and massaging my head, was letting out little groans that sounded remarkably like sex noises.
This, albeit off putting for a second, was ok. Well, it wasn’t ok but the feeling of head (massage) was sufficient enough for me to not ask him to stop. I drifted off into a half-sleep.
Next thing I know, the chair was moving forwards little bits, almost a rocking sensation. Now, and I may be mistaken, I think he was rubbing his junk against the back of the chair while massaging my head. While making pleasurable little noises.
I STAYED!
He finished (not like that – I hope) and I paid, with a slightly to big of a tip, and left, relaxed and worried.
My hair, you don’t ask, is too short but I like it.
All joking aside, the service that people give here is great. It does border on annoying sometimes though (Sometimes I like to shop without an enthusiastic Asian ex-pat following me around a sports shop - and I mean a part-of-a-chain sports shop, not an independent one - trying to flog me everything I even glance at with cries of 'very nice sir, you want sir?')
At the hotels they fill up your drink before the last one is finished, and take away your plate the second you put down your fork.
At the supermarket there is a worker there that packs your shopping bag and carries it to the valeted car park (where they will wash your car while you shop for about 3 quid (5 dollars America :))
It is really something when you see up to five workers cleaning the ground of an underground carpark to make it look sparkly, when the windows of the skyscrapers are cleaned every day.
All this is because there is money here, they can afford to give these people jobs to do anything.
There is no recession in Abu Dhabi.
(There are issues with these jobs and the treatment of the workers but I will save that for another article)
Friday 9 November 2012
Monday 15 October 2012
Corporate Contender
It is actually happening. On the 14th of December 2012 I will step into an Olympic sized boxing ring and make my fighting debut. Yesterday I arrived home from work to find a message in my inbox from Michael Haddins (Owner of Haddin’s Gym) asking if I was still interested in joining the corporate contender programme and if I could come along to the gym tonight for the first session. I quickly cancelled my karaoke plans and made my way down there.
Corporate Contender is a bit like celebrity boxing in that you get put on an intensive, 9-week programme to learn the skill of boxing and get into fighting shape. At the end of the 9 week training course the contenders are put into a ring in a stadium, under lights, tables surrounding the ring, our own entrance music and ring announcer and even an entourage. We then fight against an opponent who has also trained for nine weeks for 3 rounds of 2 minutes.
Having grown up watching boxing at every opportunity, real and staged, this was an opportunity for me to live the dream of winning an actual boxing match of my own. (Don’t get it twisted, I am training to win, not to take part). There is no doubt in my mind that for the next 9 weeks I will be eating, sleeping and breathing boxing. I will be watching the Rocky films, back to back; I will be jumping up at the screen and fighting alongside DeNiro in raging bull. I will be looking up the training schedules of Christian Bale and Marky Mark for when they trained to star in the fighter.
Most importantly, I have already started to download the Sylvester Stallone reality TV show ‘The Contender’ and will be emulating their workouts and drills. I shall also be watching Ricky Gervais VS Ben Fogle fight (that Ricky won) as I think I will have the weight advantage, but not the speed, height, reach or fitness advantage. In this fight, I will no doubt be the Ricky!
This challenge is also going to mean a temporary but drastic change in lifestyle for me. This is exceptionally important as I know the other guys will be training hard. There is no better motivation for getting rid of my slightly, ok very, hedonistic lifestyle than the fact that I will get beat up in front of all my friends if I don’t.
As of today I will not be smoking any cigarettes, nor drinking any beer, nor eating any cake. I will not be getting seconds for dinner and I will not be taking money to school to buy Zatar. (an Arabic flatbread folded over green herbs – carb central). I will be training at least once a day and will not be going out drinking.
Those of you that know me know that this will be impossible for me under normal circumstances (or even extreme ones like this – MMA fighter anyone?) as I love drinking almost as much as I love smoking and junk food but now is the time. The way I will get through it is to keep thinking how hard my opponent is training.
As I walked into the first session at the gym I was visibly nervous (I was first there as I had to register) but luckily I had calmed down by the time others arrived as I didn’t want them getting the edge straight away. I tried to be as manly as possible, looking right at them as we shook hands meeting for the first time. (something that does not come naturally to me, but, as the saying goes, fake it until you make it)
There was a very small, but very real hint of tension in the gym until the organizer came over and broke it by proclaiming ‘look at you all measuring each other up, wondering who your opponent will be’. As this was so obviously true we laughed and relaxed a bit.
We had to go round the circle and introduce ourselves. I hate this as I always feel under pressure to say something funny, I don’t know why, but it always comes off as smarmy and for others it looks like I am trying too hard.
This time, being a bit more aware about how people should behave in these situations from watching others, I simply said my name (consciously trying to appear as confident as I could) then followed, a little self-deprecatingly, (Really need to stop trying to appeal to people) that I
‘was here to lose weight.’
Then I realized this looked weak so followed that up with
‘and truthfully, I just want a fight’
This made people laugh, albeit a little awkwardly, and I restrained myself from making further comment with a turn of my head to encourage the man sitting next to me to start his social torture.
Overall, I think it was a good showing, I think I conveyed a small amount of toughness (I accentuated the Manc accent for effect too, as I am always more intimidated when someone threatens me with an accent) that maybe made up for my body shape (fat – see picture).
The session itself was good, it tired me out but I wasn’t as out of puff as some of the guys there and I kept going hard until the end. Tomorrow we get our gloves and wraps and I think then it will become more real.
This is a picture of me now, taken just today (15th October 2012). I will be using this as motivation and every two weeks will take another one to compare.
One more thing, and I need your help with it. I need both a song to come out to the ring with and a boxing nickname. Suggestions below please!
Corporate Contender is a bit like celebrity boxing in that you get put on an intensive, 9-week programme to learn the skill of boxing and get into fighting shape. At the end of the 9 week training course the contenders are put into a ring in a stadium, under lights, tables surrounding the ring, our own entrance music and ring announcer and even an entourage. We then fight against an opponent who has also trained for nine weeks for 3 rounds of 2 minutes.
Having grown up watching boxing at every opportunity, real and staged, this was an opportunity for me to live the dream of winning an actual boxing match of my own. (Don’t get it twisted, I am training to win, not to take part). There is no doubt in my mind that for the next 9 weeks I will be eating, sleeping and breathing boxing. I will be watching the Rocky films, back to back; I will be jumping up at the screen and fighting alongside DeNiro in raging bull. I will be looking up the training schedules of Christian Bale and Marky Mark for when they trained to star in the fighter.
Most importantly, I have already started to download the Sylvester Stallone reality TV show ‘The Contender’ and will be emulating their workouts and drills. I shall also be watching Ricky Gervais VS Ben Fogle fight (that Ricky won) as I think I will have the weight advantage, but not the speed, height, reach or fitness advantage. In this fight, I will no doubt be the Ricky!
This challenge is also going to mean a temporary but drastic change in lifestyle for me. This is exceptionally important as I know the other guys will be training hard. There is no better motivation for getting rid of my slightly, ok very, hedonistic lifestyle than the fact that I will get beat up in front of all my friends if I don’t.
As of today I will not be smoking any cigarettes, nor drinking any beer, nor eating any cake. I will not be getting seconds for dinner and I will not be taking money to school to buy Zatar. (an Arabic flatbread folded over green herbs – carb central). I will be training at least once a day and will not be going out drinking.
Those of you that know me know that this will be impossible for me under normal circumstances (or even extreme ones like this – MMA fighter anyone?) as I love drinking almost as much as I love smoking and junk food but now is the time. The way I will get through it is to keep thinking how hard my opponent is training.
As I walked into the first session at the gym I was visibly nervous (I was first there as I had to register) but luckily I had calmed down by the time others arrived as I didn’t want them getting the edge straight away. I tried to be as manly as possible, looking right at them as we shook hands meeting for the first time. (something that does not come naturally to me, but, as the saying goes, fake it until you make it)
There was a very small, but very real hint of tension in the gym until the organizer came over and broke it by proclaiming ‘look at you all measuring each other up, wondering who your opponent will be’. As this was so obviously true we laughed and relaxed a bit.
We had to go round the circle and introduce ourselves. I hate this as I always feel under pressure to say something funny, I don’t know why, but it always comes off as smarmy and for others it looks like I am trying too hard.
This time, being a bit more aware about how people should behave in these situations from watching others, I simply said my name (consciously trying to appear as confident as I could) then followed, a little self-deprecatingly, (Really need to stop trying to appeal to people) that I
‘was here to lose weight.’
Then I realized this looked weak so followed that up with
‘and truthfully, I just want a fight’
This made people laugh, albeit a little awkwardly, and I restrained myself from making further comment with a turn of my head to encourage the man sitting next to me to start his social torture.
Overall, I think it was a good showing, I think I conveyed a small amount of toughness (I accentuated the Manc accent for effect too, as I am always more intimidated when someone threatens me with an accent) that maybe made up for my body shape (fat – see picture).
The session itself was good, it tired me out but I wasn’t as out of puff as some of the guys there and I kept going hard until the end. Tomorrow we get our gloves and wraps and I think then it will become more real.
This is a picture of me now, taken just today (15th October 2012). I will be using this as motivation and every two weeks will take another one to compare.
One more thing, and I need your help with it. I need both a song to come out to the ring with and a boxing nickname. Suggestions below please!
School
School is fine, and I will not bore you with stories. Instead, I will give a rundown of the differences between Abu Dhabi School life and that of England (and probably the US and Canada too)
1. The students are in charge
Never have I worked in a place where students have so much power and influence over the administration. A couple of times the students have asked for a new teacher and they got it. They can also request to leave early en-mass and they get it. It is worth noting that it is usually the Emirati students that get this privilege.
(Emiratis are the cream of the crop here and can basically do what they want, don’t get me wrong, they are very good people and also generous and hospitable – its just that they get preference, and it is their country)
2. Things change – frequently
My timetable has been changed at least 3 times a week since I arrived. I have even been transferred to a different school. There is a great fluidity here that keeps you on your toes and stops you from falling into a routine.
3. It is more relaxed
This is already changing and creeping in, but there is an absence of homework, not much monitoring of marking, only for formal assessment, no deadlines and an embracing of the saying ‘insha Allah’ (which I spoke about in a previous post). Students cheating? No problem, let them. There is an attitude here of that if the student wants to cheat, he/she will be found out eventually and they won’t get far. There is also the fact that if a child cheats in a test by looking at somebodies work, it is not actually cheating because he now knows the correct answer. I love it.
4. There is no martyrdom in the school amongst teachers
Everyone leaves when the bell goes with the students. Principal, administration and the teachers. If someone ever does stay behind and work they are met with almost unanimous suspicion. In England there is little solidarity between teachers (there is some mind) and for some, it almost seems like they want to be seen staying behind as it makes them look dedicated and a Martyr or education. I think if it takes somebody 4 hours after school to do something and it takes me 30 minutes, I should be the one that is seen as more professional. Arabic culture has a hierarchal priorities list with family, friends and religion all coming above work. If you need to leave early to pick up children or see your Father, nobody questions it.
5. The students, contrary to popular belief, and stories from other teachers, are well behaved.
I can’t talk for all students as I only teach grade 12 and 11 with a small experience with grade 10 at the previous school, but they are immaculately behaved.
( I do know that people that teach cycle 1 (Kindergarten – grade 5) have a much more difficult time dealing with ‘feral’ kids )
It is hard to teach the boys, don’t get me wrong, but there is little rudeness and no threatening or intimidating behavior to deal with like it can be in inner city schools in the UK. The main problem is talking – which is cultural and ingrained into them (even during assembly when the kids are quiet, the Arabic adults all speak loudly to, and over, each other while the kids are reading verses from the Qur’an) but there is nothing I can do about that.
The other issue is Laziness, but that isn’t a difference so I don’t need to talk about that – Kids everywhere can be lazy.
All in all I am enjoying my teaching experience and I would recommend it to anyone thinking of coming here to work. The money is great – not like in England!
1. The students are in charge
Never have I worked in a place where students have so much power and influence over the administration. A couple of times the students have asked for a new teacher and they got it. They can also request to leave early en-mass and they get it. It is worth noting that it is usually the Emirati students that get this privilege.
(Emiratis are the cream of the crop here and can basically do what they want, don’t get me wrong, they are very good people and also generous and hospitable – its just that they get preference, and it is their country)
2. Things change – frequently
My timetable has been changed at least 3 times a week since I arrived. I have even been transferred to a different school. There is a great fluidity here that keeps you on your toes and stops you from falling into a routine.
3. It is more relaxed
This is already changing and creeping in, but there is an absence of homework, not much monitoring of marking, only for formal assessment, no deadlines and an embracing of the saying ‘insha Allah’ (which I spoke about in a previous post). Students cheating? No problem, let them. There is an attitude here of that if the student wants to cheat, he/she will be found out eventually and they won’t get far. There is also the fact that if a child cheats in a test by looking at somebodies work, it is not actually cheating because he now knows the correct answer. I love it.
4. There is no martyrdom in the school amongst teachers
Everyone leaves when the bell goes with the students. Principal, administration and the teachers. If someone ever does stay behind and work they are met with almost unanimous suspicion. In England there is little solidarity between teachers (there is some mind) and for some, it almost seems like they want to be seen staying behind as it makes them look dedicated and a Martyr or education. I think if it takes somebody 4 hours after school to do something and it takes me 30 minutes, I should be the one that is seen as more professional. Arabic culture has a hierarchal priorities list with family, friends and religion all coming above work. If you need to leave early to pick up children or see your Father, nobody questions it.
5. The students, contrary to popular belief, and stories from other teachers, are well behaved.
I can’t talk for all students as I only teach grade 12 and 11 with a small experience with grade 10 at the previous school, but they are immaculately behaved.
( I do know that people that teach cycle 1 (Kindergarten – grade 5) have a much more difficult time dealing with ‘feral’ kids )
It is hard to teach the boys, don’t get me wrong, but there is little rudeness and no threatening or intimidating behavior to deal with like it can be in inner city schools in the UK. The main problem is talking – which is cultural and ingrained into them (even during assembly when the kids are quiet, the Arabic adults all speak loudly to, and over, each other while the kids are reading verses from the Qur’an) but there is nothing I can do about that.
The other issue is Laziness, but that isn’t a difference so I don’t need to talk about that – Kids everywhere can be lazy.
All in all I am enjoying my teaching experience and I would recommend it to anyone thinking of coming here to work. The money is great – not like in England!
Bragging much?
The Yas Hotel
This is a bit braggy so feel free to skip over this post
- We get free breakfast and lunch
- Every evening we can help ourselves from the 5 star buffet
- We can get our laundry done for free
- THE FORMULA ONE ABU DHABI TRACK GOES AROUND THE HOTEL
- We have been go karting there
- We have cycled around the F1 track
More Bragging
- I stayed a night in Atlantis Dubai after enjoying Dizzee Rascal at Sand dance.
- I visited the Aquaventure waterpark in Dubai (it has slides that go uphill)
- I am going to watch 50 Cent, Craig David, Nelly and duffy in concert next week.
This is a bit braggy so feel free to skip over this post
- We get free breakfast and lunch
- Every evening we can help ourselves from the 5 star buffet
- We can get our laundry done for free
- THE FORMULA ONE ABU DHABI TRACK GOES AROUND THE HOTEL
- We have been go karting there
- We have cycled around the F1 track
More Bragging
- I stayed a night in Atlantis Dubai after enjoying Dizzee Rascal at Sand dance.
- I visited the Aquaventure waterpark in Dubai (it has slides that go uphill)
- I am going to watch 50 Cent, Craig David, Nelly and duffy in concert next week.
The Great Al Rayyana Collapse
If you read a few posts back – OK, I realize I haven’t written for a long time, you will see that I have recently moved in to my new apartments. I have just finished furnishing the place with bed, sofa, TV etc when, as I was just about to eat my dinner that Mother had made (Oh yeah, my Mum was visiting at the time) when there was a shake. At first I thought it was an Earthquake but then rested on the fact that it was just somebody upstairs washing their clothes in a noisy washing machine.
Then my phone started ringing, then I got a text, then a knock at the door. It was my friends, running around the corridor Rambo-esque knocking on doors and telling people to look out the window. I looked. This is what I saw –
Basically the carpark and courtyard area of our building had collapsed and it had fallen one story into the underground carpark. Luckily nobody was hurt (better get that bit out of the way – sorry to ruin the ending of the story) but we all had to stand around outside after being officially evacuated.
My Mum wasn’t wearing shoes and she missed her flight as the passport and luggage were left inside and nobody was allowed in to the building to retrieve them.
The collapse cause a fair amount of anxiety for a lot of people, especially those with young children as it made people think of all the inevitable ‘what ifs’ and obviously, the fact we were forced out of our homes.
Before you all feel sorry for me though – read on
About four hours after the collapse we were shuttled via bus, to this fine looking establishment.
The Yas hotel is amazing, just as I was getting used to having to cook and clean for myself I find myself in a world famous hotel (2 weeks and counting now) with all my friends. My Mum even got to stay a night.
Then my phone started ringing, then I got a text, then a knock at the door. It was my friends, running around the corridor Rambo-esque knocking on doors and telling people to look out the window. I looked. This is what I saw –
Basically the carpark and courtyard area of our building had collapsed and it had fallen one story into the underground carpark. Luckily nobody was hurt (better get that bit out of the way – sorry to ruin the ending of the story) but we all had to stand around outside after being officially evacuated.
My Mum wasn’t wearing shoes and she missed her flight as the passport and luggage were left inside and nobody was allowed in to the building to retrieve them.
The collapse cause a fair amount of anxiety for a lot of people, especially those with young children as it made people think of all the inevitable ‘what ifs’ and obviously, the fact we were forced out of our homes.
Before you all feel sorry for me though – read on
About four hours after the collapse we were shuttled via bus, to this fine looking establishment.
The Yas hotel is amazing, just as I was getting used to having to cook and clean for myself I find myself in a world famous hotel (2 weeks and counting now) with all my friends. My Mum even got to stay a night.
Friday 14 September 2012
Planking in the U.A.E
I'm a bit of a child sometimes. I find really stupid things funny. Planking is one of these things. Here are some pictures.
Bars
In a bar. This was a great night as it was ladies night. This meant that women only paid 1 AED. (20p) for a cocktail. It was one of my favourite nights here as not only was I getting free drinks but I didn't have to go to the bar all night.
All night I had girls bringing me drinks from the bar. Suffice to say, I got very drunk and was in a brilliant mood. So I planked.
Ladies nights happen all over the city and there is one on every night of the week. This means that girls can pretty much drink for free every night of the week. And if I tag along, so can I. :) I love Abu Dhabi!
This is also in a bar. Surfing on top of me is my Habibi Andy. He likes to get involved and it makes planking more fun if an American is going to surf on you.
Hotel team plank
Planking is contagious. These are my new friends Kirby and Cory. They are great plankers and I hope to be planking with them again soon.
This was after a heavy night out in the lobby of a 5* hotel. Planking is more fun where people don't expect it. The concierge thought it was hilarious. (To our faces)
Water based planks
Planks don't have to be on dry land!
You can hardly see me in this one - but if you look closely. I am planking on an inflatable, water based climbing wall.
Nightclub plank
This is my favourite one. It is a shame you can not see the reactions of the people stood around.
Basically, there was a dance off going on and people were break dancing in the centre of a circle. I ran up, told people to stand back and to clear a space - I then made a show of psyching myself up, deep breathing as if I was going to do something spectacular. Then planked!
and finally....
The camel plank
I know, I know, I am not in a proper plank position. But the camel kept moving and I had to do it quickly or I may have got into trouble. (Thanks to Cathy for distracting the Bedouin for long enough)
My next post will be serious. Maybe
Bars
In a bar. This was a great night as it was ladies night. This meant that women only paid 1 AED. (20p) for a cocktail. It was one of my favourite nights here as not only was I getting free drinks but I didn't have to go to the bar all night.
All night I had girls bringing me drinks from the bar. Suffice to say, I got very drunk and was in a brilliant mood. So I planked.
Ladies nights happen all over the city and there is one on every night of the week. This means that girls can pretty much drink for free every night of the week. And if I tag along, so can I. :) I love Abu Dhabi!
This is also in a bar. Surfing on top of me is my Habibi Andy. He likes to get involved and it makes planking more fun if an American is going to surf on you.
Hotel team plank
Planking is contagious. These are my new friends Kirby and Cory. They are great plankers and I hope to be planking with them again soon.
This was after a heavy night out in the lobby of a 5* hotel. Planking is more fun where people don't expect it. The concierge thought it was hilarious. (To our faces)
Water based planks
Planks don't have to be on dry land!
You can hardly see me in this one - but if you look closely. I am planking on an inflatable, water based climbing wall.
Nightclub plank
This is my favourite one. It is a shame you can not see the reactions of the people stood around.
Basically, there was a dance off going on and people were break dancing in the centre of a circle. I ran up, told people to stand back and to clear a space - I then made a show of psyching myself up, deep breathing as if I was going to do something spectacular. Then planked!
and finally....
The camel plank
I know, I know, I am not in a proper plank position. But the camel kept moving and I had to do it quickly or I may have got into trouble. (Thanks to Cathy for distracting the Bedouin for long enough)
My next post will be serious. Maybe
Sunday 2 September 2012
Bedaya
Today was the first official day at work and it was pretty eye opening. All 6000 teachers from Abu Dhabi were put into a room and were given a talk by the head of education. This was quite possibly the biggest room I have ever been in.
The speech, although long, was a little bit inspiring. The ADEC (Abu Dhabi Education Council) told us all about it’s aims for the next 30 years. They, in a nutshell, want all the Emirati students to be equipped for life in the 21st century. They want us to raise the standard in ‘Critical thinking’ and to equip students for jobs that have not been invented yet.
They want to invest in people for when the oil has run out (expected to be in 100 years) and would like to be leaders in future industries such as nanotechnology, robotics, bio-engineering, augmented reality and environmental conservation.
I am very impressed with what I heard and saw over the past few orientation sessions. Yes, it was self-congratulatory, but it is also extremely ambitious and I was impressed at the scope. It is not like England where things are talked about and not implemented. Here, it seems they really listen to educational experts and don’t let politics get in the way of progress.
They are mindful that the old ways were not going to be sufficient. There is no point in teaching kids to memorise facts and figures because all they need to do is look it up on their Ipads or smart phones and it will be in front of them in seconds. Who knows, in the near future we may have a computer chip in our heads as an implant with all the world’s acquired knowledge on it.
What we, as educators, are needed for is instilling a curiosity for new information, but even more importantly, how to judge the information (is it sound? Who says? What is the opposing view? How many people in the sample?) for validity.
The most important thing at all though is teaching them how to use the information once they have it up on their smartphones.
That, it seems, is what ADEC want to do, along with fostering social skills and working creatively with others.
That can only be a good thing right?
On the other hand, this was all talk at this stage. I have yet to teach a day in a school and I haven’t even spoke to a teacher who has. That will change tomorrow when I actually go into the school that I am working in and I am really hoping that ADEC’s views and ideas are being used rather than just paying lip service to them.
The speech, although long, was a little bit inspiring. The ADEC (Abu Dhabi Education Council) told us all about it’s aims for the next 30 years. They, in a nutshell, want all the Emirati students to be equipped for life in the 21st century. They want us to raise the standard in ‘Critical thinking’ and to equip students for jobs that have not been invented yet.
They want to invest in people for when the oil has run out (expected to be in 100 years) and would like to be leaders in future industries such as nanotechnology, robotics, bio-engineering, augmented reality and environmental conservation.
I am very impressed with what I heard and saw over the past few orientation sessions. Yes, it was self-congratulatory, but it is also extremely ambitious and I was impressed at the scope. It is not like England where things are talked about and not implemented. Here, it seems they really listen to educational experts and don’t let politics get in the way of progress.
They are mindful that the old ways were not going to be sufficient. There is no point in teaching kids to memorise facts and figures because all they need to do is look it up on their Ipads or smart phones and it will be in front of them in seconds. Who knows, in the near future we may have a computer chip in our heads as an implant with all the world’s acquired knowledge on it.
What we, as educators, are needed for is instilling a curiosity for new information, but even more importantly, how to judge the information (is it sound? Who says? What is the opposing view? How many people in the sample?) for validity.
The most important thing at all though is teaching them how to use the information once they have it up on their smartphones.
That, it seems, is what ADEC want to do, along with fostering social skills and working creatively with others.
That can only be a good thing right?
On the other hand, this was all talk at this stage. I have yet to teach a day in a school and I haven’t even spoke to a teacher who has. That will change tomorrow when I actually go into the school that I am working in and I am really hoping that ADEC’s views and ideas are being used rather than just paying lip service to them.
Prostitutes
It was my understanding that prostitutes would not be in residence in this very conservative, Muslim culture. They are. In abundance.
It was surprising to go to a bar the other night and realising that the patrons were either on the game or looking for a night of loving.
What annoyed me though is that it seemed everyone was being approached but me. Has my Abu Dhabi bulge gotten so bad that even a working girl will not look at me twice? Of course, I wouldn’t have one if I was propositioned but it was a bit embarrassing that I didn’t even get offered. Everyone else in the bar was, even gross old men.
It seems that there is a blind eye being turned in Abu Dhabi towards the girls, as they were pretty blatant about plying their trade. The bar I was in was more like a brothel than a bar to be honest and I wont be going back, I cannot get too much on my high horse though as we stayed for a couple of hours drinking beer. (The charge to get in included beer tokens so it would have been a waste to leave. That’s my rationalisation and I am sticking to it.)
It was surprising to go to a bar the other night and realising that the patrons were either on the game or looking for a night of loving.
What annoyed me though is that it seemed everyone was being approached but me. Has my Abu Dhabi bulge gotten so bad that even a working girl will not look at me twice? Of course, I wouldn’t have one if I was propositioned but it was a bit embarrassing that I didn’t even get offered. Everyone else in the bar was, even gross old men.
It seems that there is a blind eye being turned in Abu Dhabi towards the girls, as they were pretty blatant about plying their trade. The bar I was in was more like a brothel than a bar to be honest and I wont be going back, I cannot get too much on my high horse though as we stayed for a couple of hours drinking beer. (The charge to get in included beer tokens so it would have been a waste to leave. That’s my rationalisation and I am sticking to it.)
Insha Allah
Insha Allah is a phrase that gets used a lot here in Abu Dhabi and it translates as ‘God Willing’ and it is, by far, my favourite part of this country and culture.
It basically means you don’t have to commit to absolutely anything, which, for those of you that know me, is a perfect fit to me.
I get pretty annoyed when I have to commit to things that are more than a few hours away because I don’t always feel like doing it when the time actually comes. (or I prefer to do something else)
Insha Allah gets me out of this because I can say ‘I’ll be there at 8pm insha allah’ and that means I may or may not be there and it’s up to God’s will and people are not offended if you don’t make it as it is part of God’s plan. Perfect.
Now, of course this comes with a price, if I want my furniture installed, it will be done on Tuesday insha allah. If someone doesn’t turn up to meet me at the right time – insha allah!
I can see how that may be irritating. But I think I will just use it when it suits me. And hey, when in Rome!
It basically means you don’t have to commit to absolutely anything, which, for those of you that know me, is a perfect fit to me.
I get pretty annoyed when I have to commit to things that are more than a few hours away because I don’t always feel like doing it when the time actually comes. (or I prefer to do something else)
Insha Allah gets me out of this because I can say ‘I’ll be there at 8pm insha allah’ and that means I may or may not be there and it’s up to God’s will and people are not offended if you don’t make it as it is part of God’s plan. Perfect.
Now, of course this comes with a price, if I want my furniture installed, it will be done on Tuesday insha allah. If someone doesn’t turn up to meet me at the right time – insha allah!
I can see how that may be irritating. But I think I will just use it when it suits me. And hey, when in Rome!
Wednesday 22 August 2012
Dubai
I took the bus to Dubai today! It feels surreal just writing that. Just a few months ago going to Dubai at all was just a pipe dream. Some strange, far away place that Piers Morgan once went too and where they have an underwater restaurant.
I didn’t see much of Dubai as it was too hot and the guides told us to stay in the mall, we were there 6 hours and I still didnt see all of it: This was the worlds biggest mall!
The World’s largest aquarium is in Dubai mall
There is also an indoor theme park, a full size ice rink, a ski slope, an underwater zoo, a 20+ screen cinema, hundreds of restaurants and it is right next door to the worlds tallest building. (I forget the name but it sounds a bit like ‘Wiz Khalifa’)
I didn’t see much of Dubai as it was too hot and the guides told us to stay in the mall, we were there 6 hours and I still didnt see all of it: This was the worlds biggest mall!
The World’s largest aquarium is in Dubai mall
There is also an indoor theme park, a full size ice rink, a ski slope, an underwater zoo, a 20+ screen cinema, hundreds of restaurants and it is right next door to the worlds tallest building. (I forget the name but it sounds a bit like ‘Wiz Khalifa’)
Hotel living
I am in the hotel at the moment and have not been here two weeks yet but I can certainly get used to it. ADEC have been treating us like kings with the luxury of the hotel.
I am in a routine now, of waking up at 8.30 and going to get a steak breakfast, I then train with my friends in the hotel gym. I then go and sit by the pool and perve at all the pretty beach bodies and maybe have a beer (£6) at the pool bar and talk with my friends.
After that I will go out to dinner with a rag-tag gang of independent travellers and interesting personalitities and depending on the mood we will go to a bar.
Of course, it will not be like this for much longer. I will soon move into my apartment and will have to open my own doors (seriously) and make my own tea (yup) and even fold my own clothes up (they even do that).
I am kind of looking forward to getting stuck into the work of actually teaching kids about commas and full stops. (Americans call full stops periods, which made me think of a joke. (What is a 6.9?
A perfectly good 69 ruined by a period!)
Sorry! But yeah, when I get into my school and get on with it maybe I can stop bragging about how good it is.
I am in a routine now, of waking up at 8.30 and going to get a steak breakfast, I then train with my friends in the hotel gym. I then go and sit by the pool and perve at all the pretty beach bodies and maybe have a beer (£6) at the pool bar and talk with my friends.
After that I will go out to dinner with a rag-tag gang of independent travellers and interesting personalitities and depending on the mood we will go to a bar.
Of course, it will not be like this for much longer. I will soon move into my apartment and will have to open my own doors (seriously) and make my own tea (yup) and even fold my own clothes up (they even do that).
I am kind of looking forward to getting stuck into the work of actually teaching kids about commas and full stops. (Americans call full stops periods, which made me think of a joke. (What is a 6.9?
A perfectly good 69 ruined by a period!)
Sorry! But yeah, when I get into my school and get on with it maybe I can stop bragging about how good it is.
North Americanisms
A lot of the new friends I have made here are from the US and Canada so I have started to become a bit bilingual and saying words that I would never normally use. As always – here is a list:
Work out – or Canadians ‘work ouwt!’
Elevator
That’s hilarious (sometimes instead of laughing)
Trash / garbage can
The washroom (This is a euphemism for going to the toilet)
Hey, what’s up?
Hydrated (This one gets me, I have never in my life heard an English person use the word hydrated. ‘Man, I need some hydration.’ ‘I feel so hydrated right now’.)
Grocery store
Drug store
It is amazing how often North Americans shorten their words and sayings into acronyms and half words. This is sometimes difficult and I have to ask for clarity sometimes.
DL – Means ‘down low’ or ‘keep it quiet’
FYI – for your information.
It is great to so many nice people and I wont gush about them because it will be boring for you guys but for those who are interested I am happy here and it is because I have a good group (some of whom talk funny!)
Work out – or Canadians ‘work ouwt!’
Elevator
That’s hilarious (sometimes instead of laughing)
Trash / garbage can
The washroom (This is a euphemism for going to the toilet)
Hey, what’s up?
Hydrated (This one gets me, I have never in my life heard an English person use the word hydrated. ‘Man, I need some hydration.’ ‘I feel so hydrated right now’.)
Grocery store
Drug store
It is amazing how often North Americans shorten their words and sayings into acronyms and half words. This is sometimes difficult and I have to ask for clarity sometimes.
DL – Means ‘down low’ or ‘keep it quiet’
FYI – for your information.
It is great to so many nice people and I wont gush about them because it will be boring for you guys but for those who are interested I am happy here and it is because I have a good group (some of whom talk funny!)
Safari
The safari was amazing. We were driven over some sand dunes in a land-rover jeep and it is crazy because they drive over them so fast and we cant see what is on the other side until we are over it. We hired some quad bikes and got told off. We saw some camels and got to sand board (although this didn’t work very well)
After this we were served food and drinks and it was coke and kebabs. But not the kebabs you buy in Britain after a night out. Shish would be the closest thing to what we had but also hummus.
While I’m on the subject of hummus, it is amazing here, I don’t like it in England but I gave it a go and it is so flavourful and they eat it with lots of pitta bread. It is incredible.
What do you call a man that rubs chick-peas all over his genitals?
A hummus-sexual.
The whole experience was amazing but at the back of my mind, all I could think about was camel spiders. Every little thing that touched me was, for a split second, a camel spider. I think I will die if I ever came face to face with one. I kept seeing things in the sand out of the corner of my eye and just really getting shit up.
Camel spiders are the size of dinner plates, they can run 10km per hour, they can jump up to 2 meters high due to their huge, grasshopper like back legs and the worst thing about them is that they are shade seekers, so they follow you around in your shadow. Its like something out of a horror film.
This is a small one!
They nearly even ruined my planking as I was scared one would get me!
After this we were served food and drinks and it was coke and kebabs. But not the kebabs you buy in Britain after a night out. Shish would be the closest thing to what we had but also hummus.
While I’m on the subject of hummus, it is amazing here, I don’t like it in England but I gave it a go and it is so flavourful and they eat it with lots of pitta bread. It is incredible.
What do you call a man that rubs chick-peas all over his genitals?
A hummus-sexual.
The whole experience was amazing but at the back of my mind, all I could think about was camel spiders. Every little thing that touched me was, for a split second, a camel spider. I think I will die if I ever came face to face with one. I kept seeing things in the sand out of the corner of my eye and just really getting shit up.
Camel spiders are the size of dinner plates, they can run 10km per hour, they can jump up to 2 meters high due to their huge, grasshopper like back legs and the worst thing about them is that they are shade seekers, so they follow you around in your shadow. Its like something out of a horror film.
This is a small one!
They nearly even ruined my planking as I was scared one would get me!
Wednesday 15 August 2012
Great, so now I’m obese
Just had the Medical and it was pretty painless. It is conducted like a conveyor belt.
You go in, get your picture taken, fill out a form, get weighed and measured, give blood and urine, give fingerprints and get a chest x-ray.
I was in and out within an hour. Impressive.
Couple of worries though – they said according to my BMI: I am obese. I tell you it’s a good thing they took my blood pressure first because I was boiling after I found this out. I would probably have failed due to high blood pressure.
The medical staff were very friendly, although, everyone is friendly here. (oh, except the immigration officials at the airport – they were rude and barked orders at me ‘SIT! LOOK AT THE CAMERA’ and ‘NO, CLOSER. CLOSER CLOSER!’. To be fair to them though it was 3am in the morning and it will have been a long day – who needs a night shift ay?) They told me to go and get an Emirati shave, cheeky bastards, at this barbershop place. I appreciated it though as I forgot my razor and I am getting a bit scruffy.
In other news
Lebanese restaurant
We went for a Lebanese Restaurant last night and let me tell you, its how restaurants should be. We (there were two of us, there was meant to be six but as we took two taxis, and there is three branches of the same chain of Lebanese Flower restaurants, we got separated and ended up in two different restaurants. What made it more of a comedy of errors was that none of us have phones yet so we had no way of knowing where the other guys were. After an acceptable amount of time to wait and assume they had got lost – 20 minutes, we ordered without them) ordered two dishes.
About 13 came out – there would have been enough food for the other four to join us and not order anything else. Hummus, salad, bread, olives and all sorts. We also ordered a drink each that was the most expensive drink (A Lebanese cocktail – alcohol free mind ) on the menu and it had ice cream, banana, pinapple, crushed fruits and almonds – it was brilliant.
The best part – the price. It was 50AED each for everything. (A tenner. In England just the drink was enough to justify £10 – I will be going back. Although, now I am obese, maybe ill get the veggie option next time)
EID
Eid marks the end of Ramadan (Time for drink and food in the daytime) and apparently it is huge here – Think Christmas but it lasts for four days. Im sure it will be an orgy of cheap shopping, cheap drinks, and lots of cultural festivals and music.
I am told that all the shops drop their prices to 30% of the original price and I will be getting some clothes – I will have to go with someone, as those that no me, know how agitated I get when shopping.
I am going to the grand Mosque later – I may take a picture for you, but will be better to type ‘Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque’ into google and have a look.
I now have a 5 day weekend EID break, all orientation is done.
You go in, get your picture taken, fill out a form, get weighed and measured, give blood and urine, give fingerprints and get a chest x-ray.
I was in and out within an hour. Impressive.
Couple of worries though – they said according to my BMI: I am obese. I tell you it’s a good thing they took my blood pressure first because I was boiling after I found this out. I would probably have failed due to high blood pressure.
The medical staff were very friendly, although, everyone is friendly here. (oh, except the immigration officials at the airport – they were rude and barked orders at me ‘SIT! LOOK AT THE CAMERA’ and ‘NO, CLOSER. CLOSER CLOSER!’. To be fair to them though it was 3am in the morning and it will have been a long day – who needs a night shift ay?) They told me to go and get an Emirati shave, cheeky bastards, at this barbershop place. I appreciated it though as I forgot my razor and I am getting a bit scruffy.
In other news
Lebanese restaurant
We went for a Lebanese Restaurant last night and let me tell you, its how restaurants should be. We (there were two of us, there was meant to be six but as we took two taxis, and there is three branches of the same chain of Lebanese Flower restaurants, we got separated and ended up in two different restaurants. What made it more of a comedy of errors was that none of us have phones yet so we had no way of knowing where the other guys were. After an acceptable amount of time to wait and assume they had got lost – 20 minutes, we ordered without them) ordered two dishes.
About 13 came out – there would have been enough food for the other four to join us and not order anything else. Hummus, salad, bread, olives and all sorts. We also ordered a drink each that was the most expensive drink (A Lebanese cocktail – alcohol free mind ) on the menu and it had ice cream, banana, pinapple, crushed fruits and almonds – it was brilliant.
The best part – the price. It was 50AED each for everything. (A tenner. In England just the drink was enough to justify £10 – I will be going back. Although, now I am obese, maybe ill get the veggie option next time)
EID
Eid marks the end of Ramadan (Time for drink and food in the daytime) and apparently it is huge here – Think Christmas but it lasts for four days. Im sure it will be an orgy of cheap shopping, cheap drinks, and lots of cultural festivals and music.
I am told that all the shops drop their prices to 30% of the original price and I will be getting some clothes – I will have to go with someone, as those that no me, know how agitated I get when shopping.
I am going to the grand Mosque later – I may take a picture for you, but will be better to type ‘Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque’ into google and have a look.
I now have a 5 day weekend EID break, all orientation is done.
Tuesday 14 August 2012
We're going on a beer hunt, I'm not scared, I'm not scared
So, as it's Ramadan it is hard to get a beer around here.
Not impossible though.
On the second night I went to PJ O'Reilys Irish pub for super happy hour and it was brilliant. 16Aed (about 3 quid- 5 dollars for my American readers) for a pint of beer, a glass of wine or a shot. This then doubled after the happy hour, but by then we were too drunk to care.
I met some very interesting people and had a great night and it felt like home. Except ... Wait for it...
You can smoke in the bar!
This is great, it's like going back in time. Like the England of old. Sure, my clothes smelled when I got home, but you gotta take the slightly rough with the very smooth- besides, it masks the smell of perspiration. (my deodorant has certainly had a good workout here)
Today myself and one of my new friends went to Spinney's- it is an expat supermarket that sells beer and we got some bounty. The beer was 50 aed for 8 cans (ten pounds/15 dollars) and the rum was 85aed (18 quid/28 dollars) and I didn't need a licence!
I am happy with this development and will be going for an Iftar (breaking of fast- literally breakfast at 7.15pm) after consuming the rum with some new friends.
Will write about it when I get back.
Not impossible though.
On the second night I went to PJ O'Reilys Irish pub for super happy hour and it was brilliant. 16Aed (about 3 quid- 5 dollars for my American readers) for a pint of beer, a glass of wine or a shot. This then doubled after the happy hour, but by then we were too drunk to care.
I met some very interesting people and had a great night and it felt like home. Except ... Wait for it...
You can smoke in the bar!
This is great, it's like going back in time. Like the England of old. Sure, my clothes smelled when I got home, but you gotta take the slightly rough with the very smooth- besides, it masks the smell of perspiration. (my deodorant has certainly had a good workout here)
Today myself and one of my new friends went to Spinney's- it is an expat supermarket that sells beer and we got some bounty. The beer was 50 aed for 8 cans (ten pounds/15 dollars) and the rum was 85aed (18 quid/28 dollars) and I didn't need a licence!
I am happy with this development and will be going for an Iftar (breaking of fast- literally breakfast at 7.15pm) after consuming the rum with some new friends.
Will write about it when I get back.
Monday 13 August 2012
The Apartments - and more advice
This is the view from my new apartment.
We traveled there today to see our new digs. Once again, ADEC have not disappointed.
The Abu Dhabi teachers are all in this complex that includes a gym, a pool, Jacuzzi and a tennis court.
This will be great as we will all have a ready made support network of people in the same boat as us. I met some really great people over the last couple of days and I hope that we will all become friends.
Friends will definately be needed out here as it can get a bit much if you have no one to confide in. We will be away from our families and friends back home so I was very happy that we will be in close proximity to each other.
Here are some pictures of the apartment inside.
Open plan kitchen
Closet corridor (no need to buy wardrobes)
Living room / dining room
And this will be where the magic happens (I will be making a spoof 'MTV Cribs' video when i get the place kitted out)
So. That's where I will be living.
More Advice for teachers not yet here.
- Bring lots of copies of passport - it is expensive to get them done in the hotel.
- You can literally get anything here that you can back home. (Including teacher resources.
- At the airport when arriving, you are entitled to get 4 bottles of spirits or 5 bottles of wine or 24 cans of beer. Do this as alcohol is expensive but it is cheap at the airport.
My medical is on Wednesday or Thursday next week and I really hope I don't have AIDS. That would suck - there is not much chance but I hate waiting for medical results.
I have a to do list as long as my arm so I better stop arsing around on here and get on with it.
Tipping
I never know how much to tip in the UK, never mind the UAE.
I have already had an embarrassing moment when the room clearer was still in my room when I came in. He pottered around with some towels for a bit and then came back in, stood there, and said – I have finished your room now Sir. I said thank you and he stood there for a bit longer than was comfortable. He then left, I then realised he wanted tipping but I only had a few Euros with me from the airport. I went out and gave him them and he didn’t really know what to do with them. He smiled and said thanks though.
Taxi Drivers – I asked the opinion of a Taxi driver after I had tipped him 2 AED on an 8 AED fare, he said that people aren’t expected to tip, but usually it is rounded up to the nearest 5 or 10. He may be biased though.
Shopping helpers – This is something I have never seen before, at the checkout in supermarkets, there is a guy that puts your stuff into carrier bags for you. I was advised not to tip as you are not meant to, but after doing a bit of research, these guys are on an extremely low salary and will be struggling. Hell, it’s the worse job I can think of too. I will be tipping these guys in future.
Porters – they are extremely helpful here, they will bring any bags up to your room, they say ‘hello Sir’ and always refill my coffee at the amazing breakfast service. I am lost in these situations. If I should tip at all, how much?
Ill get there in the end
I have already had an embarrassing moment when the room clearer was still in my room when I came in. He pottered around with some towels for a bit and then came back in, stood there, and said – I have finished your room now Sir. I said thank you and he stood there for a bit longer than was comfortable. He then left, I then realised he wanted tipping but I only had a few Euros with me from the airport. I went out and gave him them and he didn’t really know what to do with them. He smiled and said thanks though.
Taxi Drivers – I asked the opinion of a Taxi driver after I had tipped him 2 AED on an 8 AED fare, he said that people aren’t expected to tip, but usually it is rounded up to the nearest 5 or 10. He may be biased though.
Shopping helpers – This is something I have never seen before, at the checkout in supermarkets, there is a guy that puts your stuff into carrier bags for you. I was advised not to tip as you are not meant to, but after doing a bit of research, these guys are on an extremely low salary and will be struggling. Hell, it’s the worse job I can think of too. I will be tipping these guys in future.
Porters – they are extremely helpful here, they will bring any bags up to your room, they say ‘hello Sir’ and always refill my coffee at the amazing breakfast service. I am lost in these situations. If I should tip at all, how much?
Ill get there in the end
Arrival and advice for group 2 teachers
Arrival
Ok, Now that I have my new pawer chord I can update you all on how it is going and my experiences so far in the Middle East.
Beach Rotana Hotel
This is the hotel that I am staying at and it is the most amazing place I have ever stayed, no superlative does justice to the sheer class or the place.
I have a double bed, shower, bath and anything else you want from a hotel. It has a private beach (seriously), a tennis court, two pools and a gym.
Breakfast is the only meal of the day we get gratis so I stock up. They have anything and everything – except pork. You can go to the pancake and waffle bar and get fresh made crepes and waffles, get an omelette chef to rustle you up a create-your-own, there is a ridiculous assortment of cold meats, cheeses, breads and the best part? Unlimited hot steak - for breakfast.
Heat
It is hot. And Humid.
Everywhere is air conditioned though.
Vertigo
Everything is very high up here because most of the buildings are in small sky-scrapers. I have never had vertigo before (I’m used to jumping of huge rocks into rivers) but in the mall yesterday I started to shake and feel really anxious on the top floor looking down to the shops below. I had to leave.
Ramadan
Everywhere is closed and there is no alcohol served at the moment because of Ramadan. The Emiratis fast until 7.15 each day with not even water – in this heat, that is impressive. You have to admire their dedication to their religion.
Disclaimer – the following will be of no interest to most of you as it is about orientation at the hotel. It is mainly for group 2 teachers waiting to come out, or for people next year.
Orientation
Orientation was started on Sunday, we were all put in a huge room and were given a talk by the high-ups from ADEC. There were a lot (possibly too many) of questions from the crowd and they were well answered.
Here are some of the points of the talk.
1. We will get 20,000 AED for our furniture allowance and it will be paid as soon as we get our banks set up.
(the bank set up is brilliant, ADEC have already done it for us before we arrived, all we had to do is sign the end of a long form, and wait for our cards – we also get a credit card. Win!
2. Some teachers will be sent to the Western region and there were a lot of questions about that. The speakers made it sound really great, although this is easy for me to say as I will be in Abu Dhabi City. (Perks of the western region were : A higher salary due to the remote nature, A bigger (albeit shared) villa, free amenities and a better taste of Arabic culture. They are also told they will all get the 20,000 AED each (rightly so) so they will have a lot of that left over as they will be sharing the villa.
3. Internet in the hotel is free.
4. There will be a medical test – blood and piss and medical fitness tests!
5. We have to hand in our passports so they can sort out the visas – this will take a maximum of 60 days when our passports will be returned. However, this is worst case scenario and it will probably be a lot quicker than that.
6. We get 20% discount at Homecentre. They will deliver, assemble and clean up the boxes and this is all included in the price.
7. We then get in line for the visa and it takes forever, I was waiting for 4 hours because I dawdled. Do the visa first, and sit near the back of the hall so you can be first out. (You will thank me for this)
That is all I can think of at the moment. Feel free to ask any questions in the comment section.
Ok, Now that I have my new pawer chord I can update you all on how it is going and my experiences so far in the Middle East.
Beach Rotana Hotel
This is the hotel that I am staying at and it is the most amazing place I have ever stayed, no superlative does justice to the sheer class or the place.
I have a double bed, shower, bath and anything else you want from a hotel. It has a private beach (seriously), a tennis court, two pools and a gym.
Breakfast is the only meal of the day we get gratis so I stock up. They have anything and everything – except pork. You can go to the pancake and waffle bar and get fresh made crepes and waffles, get an omelette chef to rustle you up a create-your-own, there is a ridiculous assortment of cold meats, cheeses, breads and the best part? Unlimited hot steak - for breakfast.
Heat
It is hot. And Humid.
Everywhere is air conditioned though.
Vertigo
Everything is very high up here because most of the buildings are in small sky-scrapers. I have never had vertigo before (I’m used to jumping of huge rocks into rivers) but in the mall yesterday I started to shake and feel really anxious on the top floor looking down to the shops below. I had to leave.
Ramadan
Everywhere is closed and there is no alcohol served at the moment because of Ramadan. The Emiratis fast until 7.15 each day with not even water – in this heat, that is impressive. You have to admire their dedication to their religion.
Disclaimer – the following will be of no interest to most of you as it is about orientation at the hotel. It is mainly for group 2 teachers waiting to come out, or for people next year.
Orientation
Orientation was started on Sunday, we were all put in a huge room and were given a talk by the high-ups from ADEC. There were a lot (possibly too many) of questions from the crowd and they were well answered.
Here are some of the points of the talk.
1. We will get 20,000 AED for our furniture allowance and it will be paid as soon as we get our banks set up.
(the bank set up is brilliant, ADEC have already done it for us before we arrived, all we had to do is sign the end of a long form, and wait for our cards – we also get a credit card. Win!
2. Some teachers will be sent to the Western region and there were a lot of questions about that. The speakers made it sound really great, although this is easy for me to say as I will be in Abu Dhabi City. (Perks of the western region were : A higher salary due to the remote nature, A bigger (albeit shared) villa, free amenities and a better taste of Arabic culture. They are also told they will all get the 20,000 AED each (rightly so) so they will have a lot of that left over as they will be sharing the villa.
3. Internet in the hotel is free.
4. There will be a medical test – blood and piss and medical fitness tests!
5. We have to hand in our passports so they can sort out the visas – this will take a maximum of 60 days when our passports will be returned. However, this is worst case scenario and it will probably be a lot quicker than that.
6. We get 20% discount at Homecentre. They will deliver, assemble and clean up the boxes and this is all included in the price.
7. We then get in line for the visa and it takes forever, I was waiting for 4 hours because I dawdled. Do the visa first, and sit near the back of the hall so you can be first out. (You will thank me for this)
That is all I can think of at the moment. Feel free to ask any questions in the comment section.
I don't believe this
I will write properly later but just quickly : I brought my iMac to Abu Dhabi with me- lugged it all the way and sacrificed clothing space for it. I only went and left the fucking power chord at home.
No iMac now- will have to search Abu Dhabi for an apple store.
It's great by the way here- I will tell you all about it when I get the power supply.
No iMac now- will have to search Abu Dhabi for an apple store.
It's great by the way here- I will tell you all about it when I get the power supply.
Thursday 9 August 2012
Airport
Can't write a long one now but I am sat at Manchester airport, slightly hungover.
The airport is great, I think it's Matt Damon in Dogma that talks about how superficial all the greetings are at the airport when leaving loved ones or returning back to them. Where nothing before matters and it's all about the goodbye.
As I left my family to go through the gate I experienced an unfamiliar emotion. Deep loneliness, I was alone and off to start a new chapter in a place where I knew no one and had no idea what to expect. It only lasted a minute but it wasn't nice.
It's passed now and the excitement is back.
I was always told when travel writing to leave out the airport bit as its boring. I think you will now all agree.
They are calling my gate now, so must dash.
Write when I'm there and settled.
Bye England
The airport is great, I think it's Matt Damon in Dogma that talks about how superficial all the greetings are at the airport when leaving loved ones or returning back to them. Where nothing before matters and it's all about the goodbye.
As I left my family to go through the gate I experienced an unfamiliar emotion. Deep loneliness, I was alone and off to start a new chapter in a place where I knew no one and had no idea what to expect. It only lasted a minute but it wasn't nice.
It's passed now and the excitement is back.
I was always told when travel writing to leave out the airport bit as its boring. I think you will now all agree.
They are calling my gate now, so must dash.
Write when I'm there and settled.
Bye England
Thursday 2 August 2012
Possible Destinations
I don’t yet know where abouts in Abu Dhabi I am going to be living. It is between three locations: Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain and Al Gharbia. This blog post is an attempt to work out some pros and cons of each place. (Not factual, just opinion)
Abu Dhabi City
For me this would be my first choice. If I lived here it would be much easier to get around seeing as I don’t drive. I would also be in the hustle and bustle which is what I am used to in London.
If I end up in Abu Dhabi City I will be close to all amenities including the gym and the nightclubs and the sports clubs.
Abu Dhabi goals (If I am there)
1. I would like to get a band together so we can play in front of audiences in bars and clubs. I think it would be a covers band playing really well known pop music that people can get up and dance to, or sing along.
2. There is a programme in Abu Dhabi called Corporate Contender at a gym named Haddins. It is a 9 week boxing training camp (3 lessons a week and unlimited gym time) with a glitzy real fight at the end with someone else who has been training for 9 weeks also. This would be brilliant for me as it combines two of my favourite things – training and showing off. I would have to win though, I don’t think I could live with losing in front of a thousand people. (This starts in September – I really hope im in the city for this)
3. Stand up comedy. My career in stand up is still in its infancy, I have only done 2 gigs. I have been looking online and there are a few comedy clubs in Abu Dhabi, so I will be contacting them when I get there to see if I can get a slot. Maybe that will lead to a regular gig.
4. Get some tennis coaching (so I can finally beat my 58 year old father)
All these are possible in Abu Dhabi City. Fingers crossed I am placed here.
Possible cons include – expensive place to live, tempation of going out every week, not saving much money up.
Al Ain
Al Ain is a much smaller town than AD city but I have heard that it is a nice place to live. It is between AD city and Dubai so it will make trips to Dubai easier. This would be my second choice.
Al Ain Goals (If I am there)
1. Rugby is a big part of the ex-pat community in Al Ain. This would mean that I will join and learn to play. It is a sport I think I could get into playing (although as a spectator sport I find it boring). It will be a good way to make new friends
2. Learn to play the guitar (chicks dig musicians!)
3. Hopefully try to pass my driving test so I can visit Abu Dhabi and Dubai
4. Join a gym and get into shape.
The cons of living in Al Ain would be: I am not in a big city, it might be a long trip (on public transport) to my workplace, there will be less stuff to do on an evening after work.
Al Gharbia
This would be a rural part of Abu Dhabi. It would be my least favourite choice but Im sure I would find something to love about it.
Al Gharbia goals if I am placed there.
1. Write a novel, a play or a screenplay. It is something I have always wanted to pursue and if I have the time, and no distractions, it would be a perfect place to do it.
2. I would learn coding and learn to manipulate google and try and make some money from my blogs.
3. Get into the desert sports such as dune bashing or camel racing.
4. Definitely learn to drive,
The cons would be that it would be hard to get around as public transport is not as convenient here as in the city and due to the spaced out nature, the school could be miles away.
Anyway – Fingers crossed that I am in the city.
What will I miss about the UK?
My ticket has arrived. I fly from Manchester airport on Friday the 10th August which is in one week and one day. It has certainly sunk in that I am leaving and I have been doing nothing but watching videos about Abu Dhabi on youtube and I even watched Sex in the City two (set in Abu Dhabi) which I found actually quite offensive. Not only to the culture of Abu Dhabi but also to gay people. The world doesn’t need more stereotypes.
I digress. I have been so caught up in the future that I realised that there will be a lot of things that I will miss about England. In no particular order, these are the things I will miss most.
1. Pubs
I know, I know, there are bars and nightclubs in Abu Dhabi but I am not sure if there will be any British pubs. When I say this, I mean the pubs that have an open fire, giant Yorkshire puddings and a mat to wipe your wellies on when you enter. A place where you know everyone in there and in the summer, you sit on wooden benches outside. I will miss the community spirit and cohesion of English Pubs.
2. British Summer
Of course it will be summer in the UAE all year round. But it is not just the heat that makes the British summer great. It is the beer gardens, (man, im really going to miss pubs) the London parks, the girls wearing next to nothing and looking really, really good. It is the slightly rubbish, but no one minds, ice cream cones from an ice cream van and fighting to get on the tennis courts when Wimbledon is on.
3. Yoga Pants
The person that invented yoga pants should be knighted. I have never seen a girl look bad in them. It almost like they look naked. (Sorry)
4. Cycling
Mainly around London, I used to love flying around the roads on my single speed bike. There is no better feeling than being slightly drunk, cycling as fast as you can over Tower Bridge. Or the noise the millennium bridge makes as you dodge pedestrians going over the slightly loose planks that make up the pathway. It is apparently too hot to cycle in Abu Dhabi anyway, but also I hear that the roads are not as safe.
5. Sunday Dinners
Beef, Yorkshire puddings, Roast potatoes, mash, carrot and swede mix and homemade gravy. I have never had a Sunday Roast (the capitals are there because they deserve to be) I did not like.
6. The domination of football
As I have said in a previous post, I will be able to get the games. But I will miss the back pages of the paper being about just football, I will have to share the screens in the sports bars with American Football and Basketball. Not everyone will like football there.
There many more things that I cannot think of right now. I have left my friends and family of the list as it is obvious I will miss them. Anyway, the countdown is on. 8 days to go.
I digress. I have been so caught up in the future that I realised that there will be a lot of things that I will miss about England. In no particular order, these are the things I will miss most.
1. Pubs
I know, I know, there are bars and nightclubs in Abu Dhabi but I am not sure if there will be any British pubs. When I say this, I mean the pubs that have an open fire, giant Yorkshire puddings and a mat to wipe your wellies on when you enter. A place where you know everyone in there and in the summer, you sit on wooden benches outside. I will miss the community spirit and cohesion of English Pubs.
2. British Summer
Of course it will be summer in the UAE all year round. But it is not just the heat that makes the British summer great. It is the beer gardens, (man, im really going to miss pubs) the London parks, the girls wearing next to nothing and looking really, really good. It is the slightly rubbish, but no one minds, ice cream cones from an ice cream van and fighting to get on the tennis courts when Wimbledon is on.
3. Yoga Pants
The person that invented yoga pants should be knighted. I have never seen a girl look bad in them. It almost like they look naked. (Sorry)
4. Cycling
Mainly around London, I used to love flying around the roads on my single speed bike. There is no better feeling than being slightly drunk, cycling as fast as you can over Tower Bridge. Or the noise the millennium bridge makes as you dodge pedestrians going over the slightly loose planks that make up the pathway. It is apparently too hot to cycle in Abu Dhabi anyway, but also I hear that the roads are not as safe.
5. Sunday Dinners
Beef, Yorkshire puddings, Roast potatoes, mash, carrot and swede mix and homemade gravy. I have never had a Sunday Roast (the capitals are there because they deserve to be) I did not like.
6. The domination of football
As I have said in a previous post, I will be able to get the games. But I will miss the back pages of the paper being about just football, I will have to share the screens in the sports bars with American Football and Basketball. Not everyone will like football there.
There many more things that I cannot think of right now. I have left my friends and family of the list as it is obvious I will miss them. Anyway, the countdown is on. 8 days to go.
Saturday 28 July 2012
The Abu Dhabi Bulge
I have been on a diet for the last 6 months and have managed to lose 30lbs. I am happy about this. In the last month however I have put back on 5lbs. I blame this on the Abu Dhabi effect.
I am not sure if anyone else going out there next month is experiencing this weight gain (how could I?) but it is starting to piss me off and I know that it is going to get worse before it gets better.
Here are the reasons I think this is happening:
1. Leaving drinks
I have already had 3 leaving based celebrations. One for leaving the school a couple of weeks before the end of term and one on the last day and a third one for leaving my friends in Southampton) These have involved, without exception, my weight loss kryptonite – Pizza and beer.
2. Moving house
I have been moving a lot of stuff this last week or so, this means that the fridge had to be cleaned out, and the oven professionally cleaned before my departure so I get my deposit back. This inevitably lead to eating takeaway food every night for a week.
3. No gym for me.
My membership has now run out as I am leaving the city – I also couldn’t get there as my bike was stolen, and it is a long walk. I used to go on the way back from school, but because I am not there anymore, there was no motivation.
4. Leaving Presents
In my school, amongst the students, I have a reputation of being a bit of a sweets/chocolate fiend. (I even had a sweet treats snack rule in my classroom – this involved taking 10% of a student’s sweets or chocolate if they got caught eating in my room, if they paid it, they could carry on. This soon lead to no chocolate being eaten in my class because they finally realised that if they shared with teacher, they had to share with everyone) On the last day of term I was gifted many boxes of chocolates and packets of sweets. (They know me well). I have eaten them all.
5. Nervous / stress / boredom eating
Because I am going through a big change, maybe I am eating out of nervousness. Maybe because I am a bit in limbo, I am boredom eating. I doubt this but 5 reasons is a good number and I am slightly OCD.
This is only going to get worse. When I arrive in the Emirates I am going to be living in a hotel for up to a month, this will mean, again, takeaways. I will be meeting a lot of new friends (I hope) and will be going out with them a lot.
I need to think of a way around this as I still have two weeks of goodbye meals and drinks to get through before I go. I hope they put another fat person on the other side of the plane or we will be flying in circles if this carries on.
I am not sure if anyone else going out there next month is experiencing this weight gain (how could I?) but it is starting to piss me off and I know that it is going to get worse before it gets better.
Here are the reasons I think this is happening:
1. Leaving drinks
I have already had 3 leaving based celebrations. One for leaving the school a couple of weeks before the end of term and one on the last day and a third one for leaving my friends in Southampton) These have involved, without exception, my weight loss kryptonite – Pizza and beer.
2. Moving house
I have been moving a lot of stuff this last week or so, this means that the fridge had to be cleaned out, and the oven professionally cleaned before my departure so I get my deposit back. This inevitably lead to eating takeaway food every night for a week.
3. No gym for me.
My membership has now run out as I am leaving the city – I also couldn’t get there as my bike was stolen, and it is a long walk. I used to go on the way back from school, but because I am not there anymore, there was no motivation.
4. Leaving Presents
In my school, amongst the students, I have a reputation of being a bit of a sweets/chocolate fiend. (I even had a sweet treats snack rule in my classroom – this involved taking 10% of a student’s sweets or chocolate if they got caught eating in my room, if they paid it, they could carry on. This soon lead to no chocolate being eaten in my class because they finally realised that if they shared with teacher, they had to share with everyone) On the last day of term I was gifted many boxes of chocolates and packets of sweets. (They know me well). I have eaten them all.
5. Nervous / stress / boredom eating
Because I am going through a big change, maybe I am eating out of nervousness. Maybe because I am a bit in limbo, I am boredom eating. I doubt this but 5 reasons is a good number and I am slightly OCD.
This is only going to get worse. When I arrive in the Emirates I am going to be living in a hotel for up to a month, this will mean, again, takeaways. I will be meeting a lot of new friends (I hope) and will be going out with them a lot.
I need to think of a way around this as I still have two weeks of goodbye meals and drinks to get through before I go. I hope they put another fat person on the other side of the plane or we will be flying in circles if this carries on.
Thursday 12 July 2012
Excited much?
I feel, after that uncharacteristically pessimistic post I should balance it out with all the things I am looking forward to doing and seeing and experiencing.
1. Extreme desert sports (Dune Bashing, sand surfing, camel racing)
2. All you can eat/drink brunches
3. Meeting a brand new group of friends
4. Dubai on the doorstep
5. New foods
6. Every premiership game shown – even the 3pm kick offs on a Saturday
7. Being rich
8. Actually holidaying in the school holidays (Thailand, Mexico, Australia, Peru)
9. Living in a 5 star hotel for a few weeks, I have never been above a 3 star before
10. My friends and family visiting me.
11. Exploring and experiencing a brand new culture. I have heard that Emirati life is much less stressful and slower moving than UK life. I think I will fit right in.
12. Can’t believe I am putting this as I hate shopping, but I love negotiating and bartering so I can’t wait to get down to the local souks (markets) and drive a hard bargain.
It is my last week of school next week. I can’t wait to get my e-ticket.
1. Extreme desert sports (Dune Bashing, sand surfing, camel racing)
2. All you can eat/drink brunches
3. Meeting a brand new group of friends
4. Dubai on the doorstep
5. New foods
6. Every premiership game shown – even the 3pm kick offs on a Saturday
7. Being rich
8. Actually holidaying in the school holidays (Thailand, Mexico, Australia, Peru)
9. Living in a 5 star hotel for a few weeks, I have never been above a 3 star before
10. My friends and family visiting me.
11. Exploring and experiencing a brand new culture. I have heard that Emirati life is much less stressful and slower moving than UK life. I think I will fit right in.
12. Can’t believe I am putting this as I hate shopping, but I love negotiating and bartering so I can’t wait to get down to the local souks (markets) and drive a hard bargain.
It is my last week of school next week. I can’t wait to get my e-ticket.
The 11 things that scare me most
Of course, it is not all excitement, there are a few minor worries that I think I should let you know about.
1. What if I cannot teach over there?
2. What if nobody likes me and I become a social outcast?
3. I don’t drive, what if I get stuck in a school that is miles away from my living space?
4. What if a scorpion gets me?
5. Or a camel spider?
6. Or a camel?
7. What if my apartment is tiny?
8. What if I inadvertently offend a local?
9. What if I don’t get paid?
10. What if I get fired?
11. What if I get arrested?
I wish I didn’t write this. I was in such a good mood before.
I am hoping that these are natural feelings because, to be honest, I am mainly (99%) looking forward to my adventure in the sand pit. (hope that isn’t offensive)
1. What if I cannot teach over there?
2. What if nobody likes me and I become a social outcast?
3. I don’t drive, what if I get stuck in a school that is miles away from my living space?
4. What if a scorpion gets me?
5. Or a camel spider?
6. Or a camel?
7. What if my apartment is tiny?
8. What if I inadvertently offend a local?
9. What if I don’t get paid?
10. What if I get fired?
11. What if I get arrested?
I wish I didn’t write this. I was in such a good mood before.
I am hoping that these are natural feelings because, to be honest, I am mainly (99%) looking forward to my adventure in the sand pit. (hope that isn’t offensive)
About the Job
The reaction I have been getting when telling people that I am going to work in the desert is overwhelmingly positive. People have been saying ‘to get it done while you are young’ and ‘you will have a blast, it is a great country’. A few people have warned me about getting my hands cut off for stealing. But I don’t steal (check my CRB police check) so it will be fine.
I also have been asked a lot of questions about what exactly I will be doing and what the package will be like. I will try and answer these questions now.
1. I will be flying over around mid-August. I do not have my ticket yet but I am assured that it will arrive in my Hotmail inbox a week before departure.
2. I do not have to pay for my ticket and it is not my responsibility to sort it out. The ticket is part of a very generous package that also includes accommodation, medical, non-cosmetic (damn) dental, a furniture allowance and a return air-fare home.
3. The salary is pretty much the same as what I am earning at the moment. The difference is that it is TAX-FREE. This means I will get all my money in the bank as there will be no pension payments, no student loan (although I do need to see about that before I leave) and no national insurance deductions. Coupled with the rent saving this should mean I have around double in my bank after pay-day. (ABU DHABI DOOOO)
4. I have not started to learn Arabic yet minus a few key phrases for thank you, hello and goodbye. I really would love to learn but I am still teaching full time at the moment and think it will be better when immersed in the language when I move. (I will be conscious of not being a ‘Brits Abroad’ stereotype though, and will have a few polite phrases ready.
5. I do have a few worries, I will address these in the next post (they warrant a post of their own)
6. There is no war going on and it is a very safe country.
7. You are allowed to drink, but not allowed to be drunk on the streets.
8. The horror stories of people getting put in prison for holding hands or kissing in public are true. But, just by looking at the statistics, this is extremely rare. The Great-British-Media-Moral-Panic makes it out to be front-page news whenever it happens. I have seen about 3 in the last 5 years.
9. I will be teaching English to Emirati students and other students of Arabic decent in a local school, not a private one.
I think that covers most of it. Any more questions – use the comment section.
Go on, it will make my day.
I also have been asked a lot of questions about what exactly I will be doing and what the package will be like. I will try and answer these questions now.
1. I will be flying over around mid-August. I do not have my ticket yet but I am assured that it will arrive in my Hotmail inbox a week before departure.
2. I do not have to pay for my ticket and it is not my responsibility to sort it out. The ticket is part of a very generous package that also includes accommodation, medical, non-cosmetic (damn) dental, a furniture allowance and a return air-fare home.
3. The salary is pretty much the same as what I am earning at the moment. The difference is that it is TAX-FREE. This means I will get all my money in the bank as there will be no pension payments, no student loan (although I do need to see about that before I leave) and no national insurance deductions. Coupled with the rent saving this should mean I have around double in my bank after pay-day. (ABU DHABI DOOOO)
4. I have not started to learn Arabic yet minus a few key phrases for thank you, hello and goodbye. I really would love to learn but I am still teaching full time at the moment and think it will be better when immersed in the language when I move. (I will be conscious of not being a ‘Brits Abroad’ stereotype though, and will have a few polite phrases ready.
5. I do have a few worries, I will address these in the next post (they warrant a post of their own)
6. There is no war going on and it is a very safe country.
7. You are allowed to drink, but not allowed to be drunk on the streets.
8. The horror stories of people getting put in prison for holding hands or kissing in public are true. But, just by looking at the statistics, this is extremely rare. The Great-British-Media-Moral-Panic makes it out to be front-page news whenever it happens. I have seen about 3 in the last 5 years.
9. I will be teaching English to Emirati students and other students of Arabic decent in a local school, not a private one.
I think that covers most of it. Any more questions – use the comment section.
Go on, it will make my day.
About Me
Hopefully, in time, you will find out about what I am like by my writings. Before then though I feel I should tell you all a bit about myself, if for no other reason than to put my experiences in context.
I like bullet points sometimes – Here are 10 things about me:
• I am an English teacher with 3 years experience in comprehensive, inner city English schools.
• I am very impressionable and have been called ‘faddy’ (As in, I sometimes get into fads, not to be confused with ‘fatty’. I collected Pokemon cards, football stickers and Pogs as a child and never got a complete set of any of them. I have tried, and failed, to go on the Atkins Diet, and every time we get a training day at school about some new initiate, I will love it and use it for at least a week, if it was presented to me by someone charismatic.)
• I am a fussy eater
• I cannot live without certain things – Manchester United games on the TV, an internet connection to play online poker on, a few popular science books, English tea (will have to get used to putting the ‘English’ prefix in there) and Cigarettes – although I hope to stop when I start work.
• I like to socialise a lot, most people take ‘socialise’ as a not-so-clever euphemism for ‘drinking’ – In this case, well done. You saw right through me.
• I like to do things. I cannot stand doing nothing for more than a day. I like to be out and about and I enjoy other peoples’ company. I would rather spend a day with someone who I have nothing in common with than be alone.
• Some people say I have an addictive personality, and after looking at some of the case studies I think I admit, just, that I may. (Cigarettes, poker, the gym, Gran Turismo)
• I really enjoy being able to teach young people things that will help them in their future lives.
• When I grow up I would like to be either an actor, a stand up comedian, a magician or a rock singer.
• I am 26 years old, I am single, I don’t have any children, I have dark hair that needs a cut and a beard that needs a tidy up. I love holidays. I am 12st 11lbs and looking to lose another 4lbs. I am English.
Hope that gives you a bit of a picture of me. If not – see below.
I like bullet points sometimes – Here are 10 things about me:
• I am an English teacher with 3 years experience in comprehensive, inner city English schools.
• I am very impressionable and have been called ‘faddy’ (As in, I sometimes get into fads, not to be confused with ‘fatty’. I collected Pokemon cards, football stickers and Pogs as a child and never got a complete set of any of them. I have tried, and failed, to go on the Atkins Diet, and every time we get a training day at school about some new initiate, I will love it and use it for at least a week, if it was presented to me by someone charismatic.)
• I am a fussy eater
• I cannot live without certain things – Manchester United games on the TV, an internet connection to play online poker on, a few popular science books, English tea (will have to get used to putting the ‘English’ prefix in there) and Cigarettes – although I hope to stop when I start work.
• I like to socialise a lot, most people take ‘socialise’ as a not-so-clever euphemism for ‘drinking’ – In this case, well done. You saw right through me.
• I like to do things. I cannot stand doing nothing for more than a day. I like to be out and about and I enjoy other peoples’ company. I would rather spend a day with someone who I have nothing in common with than be alone.
• Some people say I have an addictive personality, and after looking at some of the case studies I think I admit, just, that I may. (Cigarettes, poker, the gym, Gran Turismo)
• I really enjoy being able to teach young people things that will help them in their future lives.
• When I grow up I would like to be either an actor, a stand up comedian, a magician or a rock singer.
• I am 26 years old, I am single, I don’t have any children, I have dark hair that needs a cut and a beard that needs a tidy up. I love holidays. I am 12st 11lbs and looking to lose another 4lbs. I am English.
Hope that gives you a bit of a picture of me. If not – see below.
Reasons for starting a new blog
Hello,
This blog will charter my traveling adventures around the world (ambitious I know). I have recently signed a contract to work for the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and I have been told, by my agency, that I should expect my e-plane-ticket between the 8th and 12th of August.
Reasons for keeping a blog Journal:
1. Narcissism - I miss keeping a diary. I have recently found an old diary that I kept on my first big adventure of moving into my own house when I was 16. It made me smile about a lot of things that I had forgotten about. I want to be able to come and look at the things I did when I am older, and maybe more settled than I am now, and think that I didn’t do so bad with my lot. (There will be a lot of self indulgent rubbish, I will try to edit it out)
2. Exhibitionism – People that know me know that I like to show off sometimes. I would like a big audience for the blog (who wouldn’t?) and it would make my day just to see a couple of comments on my posts.
3. Connection(ism) – I hate having to tell the same stories over and over again, mainly because I like to embellish and exaggerate facts and it is sometimes difficult to keep up with what embellishments I have told to which people. This blog will be a truthful, if biased, account of what actually happens to me. I can save the exaggerations and male bravado for the bars.
4. To give something back – Before leaving for Abu Dhabi, I have read about 6 blogs about the experience. Women with families wrote all of them (that I could find) and, although extremely helpful about what to expect when I arrived, it didn’t sum up the experiences I wanted to have. This blog could hopefully, some time around June 2013, help other maybe-employees of the Abu Dhabi Government decide if it is what they want to do.
5. Practice – I eventually would like to write full time, and they say that writers should write. This (and my other blog: London Ramblings) will be my outlet.
I shall be keeping up my London Ramblings Blog as much as I can, but it will remain as an academic (ahem) blog about things that interest me. Abu Dhabi Doo will be about me and my experiences of new places.
This blog will charter my traveling adventures around the world (ambitious I know). I have recently signed a contract to work for the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and I have been told, by my agency, that I should expect my e-plane-ticket between the 8th and 12th of August.
Reasons for keeping a blog Journal:
1. Narcissism - I miss keeping a diary. I have recently found an old diary that I kept on my first big adventure of moving into my own house when I was 16. It made me smile about a lot of things that I had forgotten about. I want to be able to come and look at the things I did when I am older, and maybe more settled than I am now, and think that I didn’t do so bad with my lot. (There will be a lot of self indulgent rubbish, I will try to edit it out)
2. Exhibitionism – People that know me know that I like to show off sometimes. I would like a big audience for the blog (who wouldn’t?) and it would make my day just to see a couple of comments on my posts.
3. Connection(ism) – I hate having to tell the same stories over and over again, mainly because I like to embellish and exaggerate facts and it is sometimes difficult to keep up with what embellishments I have told to which people. This blog will be a truthful, if biased, account of what actually happens to me. I can save the exaggerations and male bravado for the bars.
4. To give something back – Before leaving for Abu Dhabi, I have read about 6 blogs about the experience. Women with families wrote all of them (that I could find) and, although extremely helpful about what to expect when I arrived, it didn’t sum up the experiences I wanted to have. This blog could hopefully, some time around June 2013, help other maybe-employees of the Abu Dhabi Government decide if it is what they want to do.
5. Practice – I eventually would like to write full time, and they say that writers should write. This (and my other blog: London Ramblings) will be my outlet.
I shall be keeping up my London Ramblings Blog as much as I can, but it will remain as an academic (ahem) blog about things that interest me. Abu Dhabi Doo will be about me and my experiences of new places.
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