Amsterdam on X-Mas Day

I was glad to have gotten a flight at 1am; This allowed me to get some good sleep on an eight hour flight. I knew that there was less traffic during the holidays, but I was surprised that the flight from Abu Dhabi to Frankfurt was only about 15% full. This allowed me to sleep and spread out a little. The traditional German breakfast, sausage, scrambled eggs with potatoes, and spinach was decent for airplane food. The flight attendants even offered us extra. You know that I obliged.

I arrived safely in Amsterdam and had a rather easy experience getting to my connection flight to Amsterdam. I sat next to Daniel, a government employee near Amsterdam that has practically traveled all over the world. He said that Capetown, South Africa, Madrid, Spain, Rio Di Janeiro, Brazil were some of the top destinations to visit. He's also been all over Europe and Asia. I was inspired to see someone else that put a value in to traveling. He needed the same train as me so that helped me to get oriented on the town from a native.

I caught a short taxi to my hotel, the New Sleuwtania. I got a fairly decent rate at about $70 per night. It's about the best deal you can get before you get to a hostel. Since I'm not trying to crash with people I don't know, I decided to take the hotel route. The Internet only worked in the lobby of my floor so every one convenes there to get their daily fix of entertainment. The hotel took on a dorm feeling with younger occupants laying on the couches and putting their feet on the tables. Young party goers talked loudly in the halls for what seemed like hours. Suited me fine though. I definitely wouldn't have chosen it if I was with a female companion of family but that's a benefit of traveling alone! The hotel let me to check in early so I was able to get out and make the most of the day.

I caught the Tram 7 to Leidseplein, an entertainment area about fifteen minutes away from the hotel. It's a nice area with a Burger King, Hard-Rock cafe, coffee shops, and restaurants. It was a festive Christmas atmosphere with a store owner singing a traditional "Let It Snow" styled song. There was a chorus from some song birds being sold around the corner of the central area.
I hung out there and then caught a public bus to Central Park-Amsterdam, the main area of the city. From there, I caught a 13.50 Euro ($18) ticket for a one-hour canal cruise of the city. I was able to see beautiful sites of houseboats and major tourist attractions. The row houses on the canal were attractive as well. Home-owners decorate their windows lavishly with plants and extravagant curtains. Some even position their shutters in ways to add to the allure of the house.

Abu Dhabi and Europe have been my first times traveling alone internationally so I'm obviously on guard. I'm learning to ease up a little. While visiting a business, the employee asked me a question in Dutch that sounded like "menu". I abruptly shook my head like I wasn't interested. She insisted though and realized that I only spoke English. She then informed that I wasn't allowed to wear my hat and that she was giving me a free drink card. I was so embarrassed. Ha!

The next day, I took the 21 bus to the Anne Frank house/exhibit for a 2.60 Euro ($4) one-way bus ticket and a 8.5 Euro ($11) admission cost. The exhibit was unassuming and dated, but it's relevance is so strong because you are in the actual place where such a powerful story of a little girl occurred. It definitely seem as though her "presence" was there. I was able to stand in her room and look at her pictures of celebrities from America that she loved so much. There were powerful quotes from her diary all over the different levels of the house. Near the attic was an excerpt from her journal describing her love for going there to exhale the stale air of being inside all day. I learned that her family was wealthy in Frankfurt and were only in Amsterdam to get away from Hitler. They lived there safely for years until Hitler took over this city as well. I wasn't able to conquer all of the city on this leg of the trip, but I plan to return in January after the Frankfurt leg of the trip.

Let the 3 Week Holiday Break Begin!

Although I missed my Georgia State University graduation a few days ago, I didn't even remember until my mother mentioned it in a recent Facebook message! That shows you how much I am enjoying myself abroad. Actually, it's almost like I am living dual lives. Each day, I think back to my former house, car, and even bills and responsibilities. There is a whole new set of responsibilities now in Abu Dhabi but I often have to divert my attention away from my former life in America.

While I will definitely miss my traditional trip to Connecticut to visit my mother, sister, and niece, I am excited about the new memories I will create over this holiday break. I decided to visit Amsterdam and a few different cities in Germany. I just got some exciting news that I may be featured in Berlin at the top of 2012! Thanks to a poet friend by the name of Marc Marcel, I will be featuring in Europe for the first time in my poetry/spoken word career. "Berlin?!", you may ask. Well, through my research, this part of Germany has become a hotbed of spoken word in recent years. I am interested to see how they will receive me. This is definitely a milestone in my ten year run with spoken word. Aside from winning the National Poetry Slams with Slam Charlotte in 2007 and the Southern Fried Poetry Slam individual competitions in 2005, this will rank up at the top of literary accolades.

The main reason I chose this trip is surprisingly not for the "coffee shops" in Amsterdam! I actually decided on this vacation because I want to connect deeper to my Polish roots by visiting Holocaust memorials including the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam as well as a couple of concentration camps in Germany. I have already booked my train trip to Weimart, the former capital of Nazi Germany, to see the Buchenwald concentration camp (Click here for more info on Buchenwald). I am also considering the Dachau concentration camp near Munich. (Click here for more info on Dachau). Few people know that my mother is Polish-American and that the majority of my great cousins died in the Holocaust. My grandmother, Jean, had wise parents that moved from Antipolia (now in Russia) a few years before Hitler invaded and sent everyone in that area to the camps.

While many other places would have been nice, I think this trip will be a spiritual home-coming for me in a few regards. I never was really connected to the Jewish side of me and I am hopeful that I will become more aware of that ancestry after the trip is over. All in all, this trip should be a great respite for me as I look forward to starting out 2012 in a new land with a new career and new optimism for my future.

High Marks or the Highway!

Although I came in to my school at the end of the semester, I was responsible for grading final semester projects for my 12th grade students. Students here are very particular bout their grades due to stiff competition with getting to American universities. Parents can also be very strict about grades (or marks as they call them) because they see their child's success as an opportunity to move up in family prestige and social status.

No wonder my students began to get manipulatively nicer to me as the semester drew to an end. "You are the best teacher, teacher." and "We love you Mr. Roger" became more frequent as grades were getting close to being due. The moment students finished their PowerPoint presentations on "Comparing and Contrasting Ancient and Modern Leaders", they were asking if they received full marks or 100%. I told them that it would take time because I had to provide feedback and complete rubrics. I told one that he would have a high 90 grade and he almost had a heart attack. He explained that 1 mark, a 99%, would not be acceptable to him.

I worked hard and finally had all grades posted outside of my office by last week. Immediately, a deluge of students had hundreds of questions about their grades and how I had "given" them what they earned. Soon, parents were coming to the school to have a conference with me. I was not fearful because of how I prepared. Each student had a rubric along with comments. What I was not prepared for was the disrespect I got from one parent. He was incensed that his son received a 94 in my class. I was brought in to a conference room and was berated in Arabic about how he has a boot in his mouth at work. If you know anything about the Muslim culture, you know that the foot is seen as the dirtiest part of the body. This was why a shoe was thrown at George Bush that time! He said that to say that work was horrible and he had to leave to deal with this issue of his son's grade. As it turned out, his son really earned a 99% but there was a computing error on my part that was already fixed in the system. He was not satisfied with that answer. He went on to yell obscenities in Arabic while speaking to the translator. I was told that he was saying that incompetent Westerners are brought in to teach their kids and that there is no room for errors. I don't like stereotypes but was told that Egyptians can be very emotional and anal about their grades due to the stress of their children being competitive. Some even cane their children if they do not receive full marks.

I felt very disrespected but chose not to comment during the conference. After all, this is a different culture and I have to understand that Westerners are not always viewed in a positive light. I saw other parents and most were very respectful even if they didn't agree with their child's grade. It helped that I was prepared and calm. The manipulative students may no longer like me. I have found peace in knowing that. I hope that students will understand that they will have to work hard in my class to succeed. This is how the real world works and I hope they will respect me for it later.

Happy 40th!

You think America has strong national pride? Picture the patriotism right after 9/11 and then multiply it by ten. That is the best way to describe the atmosphere as Abu Dhabi and the rest of the United Arab Emirates gears up for their 40th anniversary celebrations that begin this weekend. All over the city, decorations with "40", 30 foot long pictures of H.H. Sheikh Bin Zayed, and beautiful light displays of the UAE colors, red, black, green, and white adorn the city. Already, students are wilder in the classrooms and halls. They were so wild that, on Monday, they persuaded the school to let them out two periods early. Never in the states! I have to admit, I have gotten caught up in the excitement as well. Although I am not from this land, it is exciting to hear more of the story about a place formerly of working class nomads less than 50 years ago that discovered oil, diversified, and jumped to a level of prominence unmatched in the world! Although I appreciate being American and the freedoms or promises of freedoms we have been taught since birth, I have never fully felt accepted or welcomed in my own country. The native Emirates have so much more ownership over here. The immense wealth is shared with every native from this area. From what I've heard, each citizen (you have to be an Emirate to have citizenship) gets paid for getting married, receives free housing, and other perks! That's taking care of your people! Their love for Sheikh Bin Zayed and his son, current leader Sheikh Khalifa, is unmatched in the Western world! I have heard few critics of them!

The festivities will get going on Thursday, the beginning of their weekend and go through Sunday. Already, I have noticed jets practicing stunts in the the skies above the city. Teachers that have been here for some time have told me that their national celebrations every year around this time are crazy! There will be parades, fireworks, plane shows, cookouts on the beach and bumper to bumper traffic. The cab drivers warned me to prepare for the craze. UAE drivers are already notorious for being wild drivers! You see accidents every day because drivers are impatient and most have so much money that they are not concerned about damage to their cars. Youtube (is that even a verb?) "UAE drivers" and you will see exotic, sports cars racing on the highways and attempting car stunts similar to street racing and drifting in America. I plan to be a part of the events but I will definitely be cautious. I am fearing an Arabic Freaknik without the freaking!

At school today, there were national celebrations in the gym with snacks and speeches. One student even had a camel walking around the school! On a side note, I heard the meat and milk was tasty and I just might be daring and give it a try. Why not? Teachers were asked to dress in the traditional abaya (long flowing outfit as seen in the attached picture.) I thought this would be a great way of showing my respect to receiving this position as well as an opportunity to connect further with my students and the staff. Boy, was I right. I couldn't have expected a warmer response. I looked so much the part that the hotel staff and other teachers in the hotel didn't even notice me at first. I felt bad that they were just walking by me and what I thought was ignoring me until I discovered that they mistook me for an Emirati! Arabic teachers that seemed distant to me as a Westerner over the first few weeks greeted me and told me that I looked nice. I got better service when I went to the bank to make a deposit. Interestingly enough, I have always felt a level of ostracism in the American South for being multi-racial. Only a minority in America can relate to this feeling. Now, as I am traveling the world for the first time, I am realizing that it can be a major advantage because you are able to be a chameleon of sorts, a universal citizen.

Great Progress at the Hamza School/Free Horse-Racing in Abu Dhabi!

I had a great start to my second week teaching at the Hamza school! My students and I formed a great relationship last week, and I am excited about how we will continue to get to know each other. Already, I have learned a few Arabic words. I hope that my vocabulary and language acquisition will grow during the time that I am here because I would love to be bilingual. Thank God I was prepared for my lesson because an English advisor asked if she could visit me for an informal observation. i gave her the daily agenda that I created and was confident that she would enjoy the class. I was right! What was only supposed to be a five minute observation turned in to a whole class period of visiting and observing some of my techniques or "tools" as she called them. She was very impressed with the free write that we have been doing and understood that this strategy not only builds fluency but also helps me to bond with students by giving them feedback on their journals and interests. She also liked my pacing in the class and the fact that I use different shorter activities to keep them engaged. She completed a great observation form for me to put in my teacher's portfolio and I was so thankful for her great debriefing and constructive feedback after the class was over.

I went home with my mind set on going to the free races at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club after work. Not only is it free, but visitors also have the opportunity to complete race ballots in which the person that picks the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place horses wins cash prizes. I watched six races and could not guess all three for any. I got close though. In the fifth race, I correctly chose the first and second horse but but got fourth place with the horse I chose to be third. I was so close and almost got a cash prize for choosing the first and second horse correctly. My friends and I were cheering and I got really in to it after a while! It is a very exciting sport if you like statistics because you have to pay attention to stats regarding previous races of horses, their final place, which races they are good at (depending on distance), their finishing times, whether they are better on turf, their weight, etc... I got a little goofy and started yelling out the hard-to-pronounce Arabic names of the horses. The fans in the stand seemed to be more quiet and reserved. I don't know anyone in the UAE, though, so I had no shame concealing my excitement! I'm lucky to have cool friends that thought it was funny and not embarrassing. I was impressed to see the dedication of the majority Islamic audience. When it was time to pray, a good number of race fans went from the stands and on to the field to join in prayer. It was a beautiful image to even see a young child of four or five join the men in prayer.

This outing was so nice that I think it is something that I would like to do weekly. With the races being free to the public, I think it is a great way for me to get out and have a good time with friends. On the way out of the country club where the races were held, we saw more Porches, a Ferrari, the G5 Benzes, Aston Martins, and more exotic cars. There was a weird exchange between what I assumed to be an undercover police officer and a taxi driver. He pulled in to pick me and my friends up, and a man waved me off from getting the cab as if to say back away. It was not worth the argument. He approached the taxi driver and yelled at him in Arabic. He then took the man's license away from him and sped off. The driver turned his hazard lights on and left as well. That's Middle East justice for you I guess! On the way back to the hotel, I made a mistake and left my camera and phone in the taxi. It just so happened that one of my friends was still in the car and gave it back to me. I was so excited about my day that I totally forgot. If you ever have the chance to go, please visit a horse race. You won't regret it!

Getting to Know Abu Dhabi/ Solo Trip to Dubai!

A friend and I went to see Twilight at the Abu Dhabi Mall. If you know me at all then you would know that Twilight would not be my type of movie! There was nothing else good out, though, so I relented. I was surprised that it was actually a good movie. The experience was much like America but different in its own way. When I got there, I was allowed to pick my seat from a ticket counter. I had to go back and ask how would I know where the seat was because I'm anal like that. When we walked in, an employee escorted us to our seats! Now, that's service you don't see in America. The Arabic teenagers squirmed in their seats and clapped for the hunks in the movies just like girls from the West! They made noises and talked loudly just like back at home too. This caused some disturbance in the crowd, though. A British man yelled out at them and asked them to be quiet. The girls had an attitude but did not challenge him. I found later that some scenes were edited because little to no adult content is accepted in the UAE and much of the Middle East. In the middle of the movie, I thought something was wrong with the projector until a notification came up that it was time for a brief intermission. Afterwards, we went to a great Mongolian restaurant across from the Abu Dhabi mall. The food was tasty and very reasonable. Most plates were under 30 dirham ($9 US) and you got a a whole "heap" of food! My beef spare rib plate was only a little more than $7 US and it was tasty!

The next morning, I decided to make the solo trek to Dubai, a little less than two hours away from Abu Dhabi. I caught a cab to the bus station with another teacher that was riding with friends to Dubai for a music festival. The bus ride was only 15 AED ($4 US) What?! That's right. For $4, you can catch a two hour ride on a charter bus! I couldn't turn that down for a nice day of sight-seeing. The line was super long. Women get preferential treatment and get to stand in the front of the queue (or line as we call it). I had an advantage though since all of the teachers I was with were female. The security officer let me stand and enter the bus with them to the disdain of all of the men that were in line for at least half an hour. We arrived to the Al Gubaibai bus station in the northern part of Dubai and I was overwhelmed! This was the main hub for the buses so I had to orient myself quickly. I initially came for free horse racing as well but that option was nixed when I got a map and saw how far it was from downtown Dubai. I decided to find one of the big malls where I heard there was a big aquarium. I asked around and found that I needed to take the 93 bus. I paid 16 dirhams ($5 US) for an all day bus pass! It was perfect because I got to take pictures on the way. With all of the frequent stops, it took an hour to get to the mall. On the way, I saw impressive four-door Porches, a Bentley, countless Mercedes Benz's, BMWs, and mansions. There were a lot of UAE flags and pictures of Sheikh Zayed, the deceased leader responsible for much of the region's economic success. This outpouring of national pride is always evident but more so as the area is gearing up for 40th anniversary celebrations at the beginning of December.

When I arrived, I realized that I had chosen the wrong one. I went to the Emirates Mall instead of the Dubai Mall! I caught a 8 dirham ($2 US) ten minute ride on the Metro, a state of the art train system that was attached to the mall. We got out at the station and I was impressed that I had arrived right in front of the Burj Khalifa (formerly Burj Dubai), the world's tallest building! At over 828 meters tall (2,716.5 feet), it was difficult to get the whole building in site of my camera. I gasped at the enormity of the structure! (Click on this link for a video on the making of this awesome building!) On the brief bus ride to the Dubai mall, I overheard an Arabic man on the phone talking about flying aircraft. He had on a Boeing shirt and I knew through his conversation that he was legit. I overheard him say something about the prince and flying him around. He said that he needed to hire more pilots and that money was no problem. The prince (either of Dubai or Abu Dhabi) could easily pay 150,000 dirham ($50,000) per month. I spoke to the man briefly when we got off to see if I could get more information. He told me stayed in America and took his lessons in New York at the White Plains airport. That's where I fly in to visit my family in Connecticut! He was very cool and we traded information. Who knows? Maybe I can get hired by the prince to be a private tutor for his children one day!

The Emirates mall was nice, but nothing could compare to the Dubai mall. I found the aquarium and it was breathtaking to say the least. Picture the Georgia Aquarium inside of a shopping mall! Massive water tanks were viewable to non-paying patrons. Inside were scuba divers, sharks of different species, stingrays, and more exotic fish. I walked around and was impressed with the opulent store fronts of the world's top fashion designers. I hung out briefly and then started the three hour trip back to Abu Dhabi. Although tired from a long day, I was happy that I stepped out alone to get just a small view of Dubai!

TGIT! (Thank God it's Thursday)

It is nearing the end of my first week of teaching at my school, and I am overjoyed at the strides me and the students have made already. The end of the week you say? Yes! Because Friday is the Islamic version of Sunday, the last day of school is Thursday in the Middle East! This means that the week starts on a Sunday! Everything that you are used to is flipped upside down. Now, my "hump day" is Tuesday instead of Wednesday. It is an easier transition for me because once you get past Sunday, you almost feel a day ahead of everyone in America. With Abu Dhabi being nine hours ahead of the states, this work week change is just another one of the major transitions that I've had to undergo so far. Did I mention that school starts at 7:20am?! I have to wake up at 5:30am (8:30pm Eastern Standard Time) just so that I can make it in time. The good news is that other teachers have picked me up because I do not have a car yet. What a blessing!

I've slowed down my speech and over articulated my words (by request), understanding that words I say are being translated by every student in the class. This week, we've focused on summarizing, paraphrasing, reading for comprehension, and other skills that native English speakers often take for granted. The students have embraced every single lesson and activity I present, and that has made my job so much easier. They love to "Free Write", a great starter activity that allows students to write journal entries without an assigned topic. This strategy was a great success with my students in America and is just as poignant here in Abu Dhabi. Students are so used to the "old school" English class, in which students are fearful to write because of the threat of losing points due to spelling, grammatical, or syntactical errors. While I do correct these errors in writing, I gain the students trust by focusing more so on their ideas and content. They love to receive their journals the next day with questions and responses about their writing. Students are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind (as long as it is school appropriate) and to start with, "I don't know what to write about" if they have no ideas. This stream of consciousness eventually builds confidence while improving reading and writing. It also is a great way of gaining trust and respect from your students. I also write a journal on the LCD screen so that students see that this is just not busy work for them.

I often use voice inflection and even improvised song to get students' attention. Like my students in the states (who I miss very much by the way), these twelfth graders also enjoy my, "If you hear my voice, clap one time" and "Put your pens down, put your pencils down" call and responses. The rapper/singer side must be obvious because of one student's comment at the end of class. He approached me and asked if I sing because of how I use my voice. He wanted me to rap for the class. I told him that I have to get permission first because it may be considered "haram" (against Islamic faith) to use music. The majority of people I asked said that only inappropriate music is haram, but one student mentioned in his free write that any music is against Islamic religion. I'm guessing that has to do with the level of orthodoxy in their faith. I do not want to offend or get in any trouble so I will do my research with the faculty/principal before I unleash my SAT Vocabulary Raps. These were a major hit at my former school in Atlanta! Here is one of them. Alacrity is speed/ derelict is run down/erudition's learning, sun up to sun down/exonerated means i'm not guilty/ exorbitant is too much/ juxtaposition two things/miffed you annoying me/ solace let me comfort you/superfluous unnecessary/ tremulous means hold up dude.

Already students have told me either in person or in their journals that they want me to stay as their permanent teacher. One even said that he went to the principal and told him the same thing. This meant a lot to me because school leadership puts a lot of weight in to how students, collectively, feel about the teacher and his or her effort in the classroom. I am also learning a lot from the students. They clap for me every time I learn a new Arabic word. For example, I corrected pronounced aunt as ama and got a stirring applause from one of the classes. I am learning that Arabic students are very similar to students from America in that at the core, they just want to be respected and appreciated. They love friendly competition and motivation just like any other student. I am excited to see what new challenges and successes await in my second week at school!

I'm also overwhelmed by the level of support that I've gotten from family abroad and fellow teachers that have moved here with me at the same time. Even staff at the school that were once in our shoes have offered to loan me money until my first check comes in. A teacher in the hotel is our adopted mother and cooks meals for us often. Tonight, nine of us had a great Bible study about anxiety, worry, and fear! God is good... all the time. And all the time?

"Did you live near Black people?"

This question from one of my students gives you a peek in to the curiosity and interest of the native students towards American, specifically Black Americans. I took no offense. I was just surprised that my Southern accent shined through even though I have consciously made an attempt to be as articulate as possible! Although, I reported last week, today was my first official day in the classroom. I am replacing a teacher named Joe, who is currently recovering from a surgery and will be out for the next few weeks. I was a little apprehensive because I did not know what to expect. It honestly is a little intimidating to be in a foreign country and to teach a class of 20+ Arabic teenagers that seem to have little in common with you. How was I wrong. The majority of these students love Hip-Hop and some of them can easily be mistaken for Black students in the U.S. One student told me how much he loved 50 Cent. If only he knew how lame he is considered in America!

I teach three different sets of students for a total of five classes. Two of the classes came to me twice so I had to try to keep the lesson interesting. I started with an icebreaker activity called, "Two Truths and a Lie". I changed the word "lie" to "joke" so as not to offend any students. I have been warned to be very careful with choice of language because you can easily say something that may be deemed as inappropriate or "haram" or forbidden. These violations are in the area of relationships (since Muslims don't "date" in the Western sense), inappropriate dance or music, anything about pork, and disrespect towards the Islamic culture. I have always maintained appropriate professionalism but I am sure that it will take some getting used to. The ice breaker activity went over well! I made it a competition between me and the students to see if we could figure out which of three statements were each student's joke. I lost in every class!

For the rest of the lesson, we used their E-CART (project-based unit) packets, to help students with their upcoming PowerPoint projects due on comparing and contrasting an ancient leader with a modern leader. The packet is somewhat scripted so I attempt to make it as interesting as possible. I have the higher level twelfth grades so the challenge is to keep them engaged with their work. I will soon start to differentiate the lesson. This means that a teacher can make different collaborative stations with heterogenous groupings so that students can complete a variety of activities that provide both variety as well as remediation and acceleration for the students that need it. Some students horse-played just as you would expect in the West but were very respectful and interested in learning for the most part. I received a lot of handshakes, questions about whether I am Muslim/Arabic, assistance from students, and even praise from some. One student asked if I will continue to teach at the school because they loved me! I was told by other teachers to take the compliments with a grain of salt because some students give praise and brown-nose to receive high marks during their senior year! Regardless, I have an intuitive hunch that we made a genuine connection. No need to rush, though. After all, it was only my first day!

First Day of Work/Free Wyclef Concert!

I split a cab with two other teachers to the town of Bani Yas (about 25 mins drive from Abu Dhabi) to report to my school. The total cab ride was 75 dirhams one-way (about $20 US) so I only had to fork up $7 for my third of the costs. We had a little difficulty finding my school but a polite bus driver gave the cab driver the confusing directions. The town of Bani Yas seemed to be somewhat run-down, but the school looked nice from the outside when we arrived. I got there a little early so the principal wasn't in the office. The first person I ran in to might be one of the craziest people I've ever met. His name is Hector and he ended up being the head of faculty of the English/Literature department, with which I will be working. He informed me to follow him to assembly, a time for teachers/faculty/students to greet each other. Because of the Eid holiday, few students came to school. I was introduced to other faculty (all men) and every one greeted with so much professionalism and warmth. Indeed, this is the way of the Middle East. An observant person, I watched closely how Mr. Hector greeted and was greeted by others. Every one seemed so excited to see him as if they hadn't seen each other in ages. Some gave him a prolonged handshake (lasting a minute or more), some gave the traditional Islamic hug (greeting with hands and then kissing the cheek three times of the person they were greeting), or even a full two-armed hug. All of this struck as peculiar because I have never witnessed such endearment. Some men even touched noses as if they were going to kiss each other's lips. I learned later that this was the traditional Emirati greeting between natives.

After assembly, Mr. Hector gave me an informal tour of the school and my office workspace. Mr. Hector began to give me the ropes and make me a part of the family. He has a light-hearted personality and is very down to Earth so I am confident that it is going to be a good fit I was informed that I will be taking the place of a teacher that will be out for a few weeks due to a medical situation. The students are currently working on some end of term projects so it will most likely be a fairly easy transition form me. We were invited by the principal for a traditional Arabic breakfast in the teacher meeting area. I was overwhelmed with the various foods to be eaten by hand and without a plate over three long tables. There was humus, falafel, goat, pita bread, vegetables, and much more. This form of eating forces people to commune together. It seemed somewhat unclean to me at first to watch a man tear away from the goat with his bare hands. I continued to tell myself that this a different culture and after doing so, I was not thrown off at all. I "dug in" like everyone else.

After work, I went out with the teachers in the English department for expressos. The teachers were a diverse group from Algeria, Arizona, Texas by way of Vietnam, and Columbia. Later on that evening, I met with Hector and we went to the Corniche (beach of Abu Dhabi) for the first day of "Beats on the Beach" with Dj Bliss and the feature act of the night, Wyclef! He performed classics from The Fugees like "Fugee La" and "Ready or Not". He also did joints from "The Carnival" album like "Gone 'Til November" and some other hits like "911". He refused security's request and jumped in to the crowd claiming that he knew martial arts in case someone tried him. He also brought break dancers on stage and even took a shot at doing some b-boy moves himself. His charisma shined on stage with no help from a rap crew, just him and his deejay. After an hour plus of vibing with the crowd, he had to end the show. He said that he would not come again and take the country's money if they did not allow him to do a four hour show! Now, that's a performer! I couldn't believe that all of this was free! It gets better because J.Cole is free tomorrow!

Here is a picture of my high school!

Reporting to Work Tomorrow!

I am a little envious of the teachers that will be placed in Al Ain (about an hour and a half from Abu Dhabi) and Al Gharbiyah (about three hours from Abu Dhabi) because they will not have to report to work until about another week and a half to two weeks. This is due to the fact that they have to be transported to these respective cities and be set up with housing before they can be expected to begin. The teachers that are in Abu Dhabi are already here so we will be expected to report tomorrow! The good news is that we will likely not be expected to begin teaching as soon as we report because we will still have to be oriented with regards to which grade level we will be teaching. I was placed in Cycle 3, meaning I will teach either 10th, 11th, or 12th grade Literature/Language Arts. I am placed in the Hamza Bin Abdel Muttalib School which is in the town of Bani Yas right outside of Abu Dhabi. This is approximately 25 miles from the hotel where I am staying. We will be in the hotel/apartment until they give us the keys to our permanent housing. The cab ride to my school can cost up to 100 dirham ($30) each way so a couple of teachers stationed in the same town will ride with me to help cut the costs. I eventually will have to rent a car if I cannot meet a teacher tomorrow that will allow me to carpool with them.

A lot of questions are running through my head about reporting to my school tomorrow. Will the students be able to speak much English? How will their behavior/discipline compare to my students in Atlanta? Will their needs be similar? Will there be a major language barrier? What will I teach if they throw me in a class as soon as I get there? Will I go through some sort of training or orientation? What will the principal or head of faculty be like? Will I make a good first impression? The good news is that there may only be a handful of students there because the students got the whole week off last year due to the Eid holiday. This will hopefully make my transition a lot better. Another teacher gave us introductory Arabic phrases to help us relate with the students. If I am put in the classroom, I will probably do an activity called "Two Truths and a Lie" (I think I will change the wording from lie to joke though so as not to imply that I am encouraging students to be facetious.) This is a good icebreaker activity that my students in Atlanta like. It allows the teachers and students to get to know one another by guessing which of three statements about them are untrue. While somewhat anxious, I am confident that God will not put me in a situation that I cannot handle. He brought me halfway around the world for this experience and I will make the best of it!

Just to give you a feel for how money stretches, I bought two, five-packs of Ramen noodles, two sodas, two Snickers, two fruit juices, a water, and two ice cream sandwiches for $7.90 (US). I know it's not the healthiest of items but, hey! My point is not what I'm getting but how much I got it for! We are supposed to get our pay advance on this Thursday. I have faith that it will come but if it doesn't, I am prepared to rough it out for another one to two weeks.

Happy Eid al-Adha!

The teachers would have started today if it were not for our good fortune of getting most of the week off for Eid, a traditional holiday in the Middle East. This holiday is meant to celebrate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to God. (Read more info about the Eid al-Adha here.)
The students are usually out for a week because of Eid, but we were asked to report on Wednesday to begin. One teacher that has been here longer than us told me that it is a slim chance that students will come to school on Wednesday and Thursday though. I rested a lot today. I also am getting back in to my creative mode of writing music. I found a virtual keyboard and wrote a nice song called, "Somebody Else's Girl". No, I am not going through that situation. I usually channel words, phrases, or experiences of others to come up with concepts and this one really hit me. I couldn't get the melody out of my head so I knew that it had potential. I recorded the concept and sent it to different producer friends of mine to see if they could make a beat around the melody I came up with.

Right before sunset, I went to the rooftop pool of my hotel/apartment and got a relaxing swim in. Afterwards, I got dressed to hit the town with some more teachers. We went to a Belgian pub near the marina at the Intercontinental hotel. I walked outside and got the chance to look at some nice boats and even a couple of yachts. More than ten of us got together to celebrate the birthday of one of the teachers in our group. From there, we went to another hotel called the Shan-gri La to visit some of their lounges. We got the party started with an American-style Soul Train line. We had fun breaking out all of the old dances. What dances did you think I did when it was my turn? Times up! I cranked the Tootsie Roll and jokingly broke out the Moonwalk. I also did the Robot. We laughed at each other and had a fun time living the Abu Dhabi night life until three in the morning.

Al-hamdu l-illah

This Arabic phrase meaning "praise be to God" exemplifies how I felt today. I was able to rest for most of the afternoon and write letters to my grandmother and home congregation back in Atlanta. Grandma Rogers is the surviving matriarch of my family at 87 and tells me every time I speak to her that she gets on her knees nightly and prays for me. I really believe that her prayers, my mother's, and others are keeping me in God's graces because I really feel that it is purposed for me to be here. Some teachers invited me to the Abu Dhabi beaches for the Yasalam festival, an event leading up to the big Formula races coming up next week. There has already been community events and outdoor movies. After the races, stars like J. Cole, Brittney Spears, Fatboy Slim, and Wyclef will be performing. (Check out the Yasalam Festival here)

Afterwards, we met some more teachers at a rooftop lounge on the top of the Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Abu Dhabi. The food was so expensive that, with no shame in my game, I walked right outside of the hotel for a quick bite to eat. For 26 dirhams ($8 US), I got two chicken gyros and a fresh pineapple juice at a Lebanese restaurant. They wanted about $15 US for a burger and fries at the Crown Plaza hotel and you know I wasn't having that! On the way back, I got on the elevator with what looked like a Middle Eastern man and woman. I heard her speak English so I guessed right that they were teachers from America. He just so happened to be really light like me! (If you read my blog from two days ago, you will see that a Middle Eastern man assumed that I was Middle Eastern. I guess that is what I get.) He just so happened to be from the same part of Atlanta as me. Later on that night, we found out that we both graduated from FSU. He finished one year after me! It's literally a small world. They both were a part of the first wave of teachers that came in August. It was great to meet them because they answered all of the questions that we, the newer teachers that just arrived, had for him.

He told me that the educational system here is much more laid back. The students can be rough because many are rich and spoiled, but he also advised me that I would do well after he heard I worked for Atlanta Public Schools, which is known for being a difficult school district. He also told me that he and some friends were going to Thailand for the three week break in December and that I was welcomed to go. He informed me on how to get a driver's license as well as the benefits of buying a used car or renting a car. He even offered to take me to my school on Wednesday because I do not have transportation yet. He told me that his apartment was like a skyscraper condominium that would easily cost $2000/month in downtown Atlanta. I am trying not to get too excited just in case my place is not as nice as his.

After we left the rooftop lounge, Levi, one of the teachers that arrived with me, invited some teachers to his apartment. He was one of the few teachers that has already gotten his keys to his apartment. We pulled up and i couldn't believe it! It was a brand new high rise with marble floors and a great view of the city and ocean. We were all a little jealous but, at the same time, excited for him. They are going all out to impress the teachers and it is working. I'm loving it here! I once again got overwhelmed with joy, thinking praise be to God or as they say in Arabic, "Al-hamdu l-illah".

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque!

I woke up late due to the fatigue caused by such a major time change! I needed some minutes on my phone as well as some batteries and a webcam to chat with family so I took the 10 minute walk to the Mushrif Mall, I had a great lamb and rice plate from a place in the food court. It was very tasty although the plate cost 39 dirhams. That's a little more than $10 (US) so I wasn't that upset with myself. I really have to budget until I get my advance pay, but I am starting to get tired of my Middle-Eastern Ramen noodles. After leaving the mall, another AD80 teacher informed me in passing that they were going to the mosque. I assumed they meant for prayer so I was going to pass until I remembered a place called the Grand Mosque. A few other teachers arrived to the hotel to catch a bus so I convinced myself to go. I'm so glad I did!

The Grand Mosque is the closest thing on Earth to what I would consider heaven to look like. It is overwhelming to say the least. I had to contain myself because I kept telling my colleagues how beautiful it was. They kept looking at me like, "Ok. We get it!" I felt like a kid just from walking around the outside. (Click here for pics of the Grand Mosque) We had a 5pm tour inside the mosque and they let us take pictures. Most mosques around the world don't allow non-Muslim visitors but Zayed wanted everyone to visit so that they could be educated and exposed instead of ignorant. Our tour guide said that UAE's ruler wanted people to dismiss the negative stereotypes of the Muslim culture and religion and break away from the lies that the media broadcasts.

Here are some interesting tidbits about the Grand Mosque (Click here for history of this one of a kind landmark.)

-During Ramadan each year, the mosque feeds over 20,000 poor people.

- Flowers are used as a design throughout the mosque. The main flower seen are representative of the indigenous plant life in the UAE. They are the lily, tulip, lavender, and iris.

- The domes of this mosque are just for decoration. Early mosques helped to project the sound when the person who made the call to prayer stood at the top of the tower or minarets.

- The courtyard and inside of much of the mosque are made of marble that should last for more than 100 years. The chandeliers made of steel and Swarovski crystals should last up to 1000 years! The biggest chandelier weights 9.5 tons!

-The carpet of the main prayer area is the largest man-made (woman-made actually) carpet in the world! 1200 Iranian women worked two years straight to create it. It weighs over 35 tons!

-The seven imported chandeliers from Germany incorporate millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier is the largest known chandelier inside a mosque and has a 10 m (33 ft) diameter and a 15 m (49 ft) height. (from Wikipedia)

-The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has seven imported chandeliers from Germany that incorporate millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier is the largest known chandelier inside a mosque and has a 10 m (33 ft) diameter and a 15 m (49 ft) height. (from Wikipedia)

-The 96 columns in the main prayer hall are clad with marble and inlaid with mother of pearl, one of the few places where you will see this craftsmanship. (from Wikipedia)

-The mosque is large enough to accommodate over 40,000 worshipers. )from Wikipedia)

In Shaa'a L-laah

I partied last night with some of the AD80 (group of 80 teachers that recently arrived from all over the world) but still had the urge to get up early and do some sight-seeing. I initially planned to hit the beaches on Corniche St. but thought it would make more sense to go furniture estimating since we will be getting our allowance soon. Get this... I caught a public bus for 1 dirham (about 60 cent) about 20 miles to the big Marina Mall! From there, I caught a free shuttle to Yas Island, a development project that already houses Ferrari World, the biggest indoor theme park in the world stretching longer than 10 football fields! (View Ferrari World here) I went to Yas because that's where the Ikea is located. I was able to scout essential furniture like bed, couches, curtains, computer desk, etc... I budget everything for around $1000 (US) so I was happy about that because the allowance is more. I still have to get a refrigerator, stove/oven, washer/dryer, so I couldn't get too happy. If you've ever been to IKEA, you know that it can easily get overwhelming. I had some terrible lasagna and vegetables but it was only $6 (US) so I wasn't too upset. I should've gotten the salmon for three dollars more!

While waiting for the free bus back to the Marina mall, a native middle Eastern man stopped and asked me a question in Arabic! I knew it would happen eventually. I've been mistaken for Hispanic by latinos and now Middle-Eastern by Middle-Easterners. I thought looking like Jon B was the only benefit of having a multi-ethnic background until now. On the way back, I met a cool girl from Bosnia that said she was a supervisor of operations at Ferrari World. She ironically also graduated from FSU so she offered me a hookup with my friends if we ever want to go. I also ran in to other AD80 teachers that told me of a used furniture website for the Abu Dhabi area. It is my belief that God is lining up networking relationships because everything is falling in to place. I caught the long ride back to my hotel and was in awe of all the breath-taking architecture. I made it back and took a much deserved nap!

Min Wayn Inta...

This Arabic phrase means, "Where are you from?" After today's orientation, I can proudly say that I live in the town of Baniyas in Abu Dhabi. After praying and being content with wherever I was placed, I was ecstatic to find out that I will be working near the capital city of the UAE, my first pick. Breakfast was not as appealing this morning because it had some of the same dishes as earlier in the week but it was free so great in my books. We headed over to the ADEC (Abu Dhabi Educational Council) to begin teacher orientation. One of our presenters, Khaled Subaihi (head of video production/multi-media) was hilarious and down to Earth, which eased a lot of our tension about what to expect. He went through general information about how things are different in the East. He informed us that Arabians tend to keep more personal space when greeting and that Friday is the religious day as opposed to Sunday in the West. He advised us not to eat with our left hand because that's what people use wipe with. He joked that he would beat the left-handed out of his son if he found out that he wasn't right-handed. His sarcasm was on point because people thought he was serious at first. He also informed us that it is very rude to show the sole of your shoes or feet when speaking to someone. Oh! That's why it was such an insult when that Middle Eastern dude threw a show at George Bush a few years back! He then went on to explain out Abu Dhabi is more conservative than Dubai. The crowd erupted in laughter when he said that Dubai was, "off the hizzain"! Right then, I knew I had to network with this dude.

Levi, a teacher from Houston, and I met him after his speech and found out that he is also a film maker and pretty well-connected with the Hip-Hop scene. We traded contacts. He said he would take us to a tailor to buy the traditional kandora and dishdasha that men wear if we wanted. Khaled said that we were allowed to wear the traditional clothing but, Levi, who is black, said he was shocked when he went in to a tailor and the owner would not sell to him. I guess racism didn't stay on the continent of North America. Khaled was so cool that Levi did the DJ Khaled imitation assuming he would get the pop culture reference. He didn't and I realized, right then, how far we are from home!

Lunch was great! We had tons of traditional finger foods from falafel to small turkey sandwiches with our choice of mango, orange, or strawberry juice. The day-long workshops were a little overwhelming but informative. I learned that I will officially be teaching high school English/Literature. There are very high expectations for teachers but I am confident that I will fit in well. The trainers suggested that we listen to our leaders and build relationships with faculty to make the transition easier. After the sessions were over, we all received our placements. Some were upset that they didn't get placed in Abu Dhabi. One girl from England said that she would fly back home if she didn't get placed in Abu Dhabi. Luckily, she did. Most were thankful for their placements even though they will be far from a big city. We were also told of a nice furniture allowance and pay advance that we should be getting in a couple of days. We should also be getting our keys to our permanent housing as well. That was all good news because I am tired of eating the Arabic equivalent of Ramen noodles! Some of us plan on going to Ikea tomorrow to begin pricing some furniture. Later in the evening, my new homegirl, that I affectionately call Mo because she resembles my poet friend, Mahogany Browne, had a small Bible study together reading Scriptures about spiritually healthy thinking. It was a refreshing discussion because there aren't many Christian churches although it is allowed in the UAE.

The Lip and Stick Buildings

Technically labeled "Tameer Towers A &C", these two massive skyscrapers were called the lipstick buildings by a few members of our teachers group today. We had a good chuckle about it despite the fact that construction in Abu Dhabi is no laughing matter. At a time when most of the world has virtually halted the majority of construction projects, Abu Dhabi seems to have not missed a step in the race to have the world's neatest skyline. On our way to today's first orientation for the "AD80", as we our aptly called, the sky was littered with construction cranes reminiscent to Miami in the early 2000's. The economy suffered like that of many other region's around the world with the economic collapse of 2009, but with the UAE's commitment to diversifying its infrastructure to be less dependent on oil, Abu Dhabi is continuing construction projects that it halted over the past couple of years.

We were treated to another eclectic breakfast this morning. We are quickly realizing that Arabian breakfast is more comparable to the West's dinner than its morning meals. There was chopped burger, egg plant, potato, and rice and beans. The cocktail drink mixed with what had to be mango juice had to be the hit of the morning, though. I personally had five glasses. The ice was broken with my fellow teachers as everyone pointed out the big diploma that I carried around. For some reason, Georgia State University gave me a super-sized diploma that looks more like a poster than a college degree. I framed it because it was too big to fold and carried it on the plane and with me throughout the day for orientation. It was a conversation starter to say the least. It was impressive to meet up with the remainder of the 80 teachers that were at other hotels. Everyone was cool and down to Earth. There are teachers from Scotland, England, Nova Scotia, Canada, and various places in the U.S. The largest group of Americans actually hails from Houston.

In orientation, we set up a bank account and heard more about our placements that we get tomorrow. We can be placed in either of three places: Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Garbia. In American terms, Abu Dhabi is like New York City, Al Ain is an Atlanta, and Al Garbia is best compared to a small town in Iowa. Most people prefer to be in the first two cities but others say they're content with even the rural area. Although I want to be in a bigger city, I am praying for serenity that I may optimistically accept either placement. After orientation, we went for medical tests. It was a long wait to get our X-Rays and blood tests but a necessary step towards receving our visas. While drawing blood, the two Phillipino nurses read my Black on Black Rhyme tattoo and the way they said it sounded great! I guess it's neat to hear other people from around the world say our name. Can you say, Black on Black Rhyme-Manila?!

I am beginning to open up a lot more as my comfort level is growing with my new colleagues. With this new comfort comes the false notion that people want to hear my jokes. Hosting the Black on Black Rhyme show in America has blown my head up to the point that I'm really starting to believe that I am funny. On the bus back, I began to crack teachers up with jokes that are not good enough to repeat in this blog. The bottom line is the third person in as many weeks said that I could be a comedian! I am flattered but I think I will stick to rap, poetry, and teaching!

More Construction Projects in Abu Dhabi

"Food for Thought Is No Substitute for the Real Thing"

This quote by Walk Kelly was on my plate mat at the complimentary breakfast this morning. Without processing the saying by a person that I assumed was really named Walt, I dove in to the smorgus board of food that was little like an American breakfast. I clumped a spoonful of beef liver, noodles, omelet with mushrooms and onions, turkey hot dogs in tomato sauce, and a good 'ole American hashbrowns. I drank guava juice to wet my palette. A little early for the rest of the crew, I continued reading "The Greatest Man that Ever Lived", a biography of Jesus. This book is really motivating me to be more spiritually focused while so far away from my home church near Atlanta. After a while, more teachers began to file in to breakfast. I was able to meet Chondra, Michelle, Caroline, Heather, Bre, and others. They are all a part of the AD80 (Abu Dhabi-80), the newest group of less than 100 teachers that have flown in with this teaching group. The group formed on Facebook before we departed, and everyone seems interested in bonding and getting to know their colleagues.

We all decided to go to the local mall for groceries and to purchase cell phones. Grocery shopping was interesting to say the least. This market blows Publix out of the water with a wide selection of meats, spices, and others products. For $83 UAE (about $25 American money), I bought enough

to last me the two weeks before we are placed in our permanent residences. The phone plus sim card was about $40 US. Although I will mostly Skype, we need a cell phone to set up our bank account so that we can get paid! I think it will be good to have in general, though. While we are at it, e-mail your Skype profile name to pauldtheripy@gmail.com and I will request you.

I have handled the jetlag pretty well so far but it is a shock to know that I am waking up when people are ending their days. We came back to the hotel/apartment and discovered that our first orientation is at the Millenium hotel. We will be getting picked up at 8am. Then, we will be taken to get our physicals and set up our bank accounts. I took a great, jetlag rejuvenating nap, cooked the equivalent of Ramen noodles (they go extra hard and put onions and oil in as well)! I hope to check back in soon. The quote from breakfast this morning taught me that food for thought is important but that a man has to literally eat well too! Hit me up with any questions or comments.

Arriving in Abu Dhabi- 10/30/11

I was blessed to dodge the big snow/rainstorm that hit the Northeast today. Thankfully, my flight to Chicago nor the one to Abu Dhabi was delayed. The day didn't go without hassles though. The flight was on a humungous Boeing 777 jet that fit over 450 people. It had all of the trimmings and more. You could touch a button and get a view from under the jet as well as from the pilot's perspective. It was hard for me to rest because there wasn't much leg room for a man taller than six feet. I entertained myself with movies and news on Abu Dhabi. I got a little rest in but it wasn't comfortable rest. Plus, there were babies wailing from the unsettling bad spots of wind that we got. It's a scary feeling in general when you get turbulence. It is even worse when you know that you are over the ocean and will be for hours. All in all, the flight spanned over 7700 miles.

We arrived to Abu Dhabi and I got hassled a little because I didn't have my work visa. My hiring company told me that they would have it there but they didn't. A small group of other educators greeted me but they were taken ahead to the hotel as I waited on approval to leave the airport. An hour and a half later, I was highly pissed but thankful that everything ultimately worked out. We made it to the hotel/apartment style room. It is fairly nice although we didn't get placed in the uber nice hotels like I assumed. The other teachers and their families seem to be cool. I think we will spend the next few days settling in and then begin training mid-week.

I feel good about everything for now. Let's see how things develop.