I could feel the music in this movie.......
Rau and I saw Duplicity yesterday, a bit disappointed although I didn't hold out great hopes for Julia Roberts as a CIA agent. The plot was convoluted and at times difficult to follow. Could have been because we were freezing in the air conditioning after gyming and swimming.
The good thing is, we found the Rotana theatre and it has a great selection of movies so we will get to see the latest. It's also walking distance from home, a bonus.
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Where the Wild Things Are
Nick sent me this movie trailer when we were talking on Skype..........
He wondered where I was reading the story from as I watched it. I know it by heart because it was his favourite book when he was little. I read it to him hundreds of times, no wonder he's excited it's now a movie.
He wondered where I was reading the story from as I watched it. I know it by heart because it was his favourite book when he was little. I read it to him hundreds of times, no wonder he's excited it's now a movie.
Friday, 27 March 2009
Thursday, 26 March 2009
It rained here today
It rained here today, a few drops on the car window on the way home but rain none the less. Last night there was quite a storm. Booming thunder and sparkling, crackling lightening disturbed my Skype conversation. At first I couldn't believe what I was hearing so went out to check, in time to see Christine wrestling with the outside door as the gale blew the sand full force into her face.
I ran to shut all my open things and then watched the spectacle. When it had calmed a bit, I went onto the roof to watch the show and get some photos. The lightening was off in the distance and so no clear shots but it was fun to watch the locals outside dancing, shouting and playing in the wild weather.
Today I hear that parts of Al Ain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi copped a massive hail storm, winds and dust caused heaps of accidents on the road and everyone had a story to tell of the stormy night. Manal and Sarah got hail and a whirlwind of sand and dust. Sarah watched the locals quickly vacate the shisha cafe where she was eating and run inside while she sat and ate. The sand in her food defeated her so she beat a dignified retreat home, only to get caught in the hail storm.
It's going to be quiet at work next week. Morag and Sarah are on holiday, one at home with her family the other off to the UK for a family wedding. I'm hoping to get some down time this week, more time for the gym and pool as well as yoga on Monday night with Anne. Anne's another KINA along with Kate who arrived last week.
Anne and I went to the Hilton for a yoga session, mmmmm can I bend THAT way, really? It was good to meet others from here outside of work and talk about things not work related, difficult at times with a large group who live and work together. After yoga I walked home camera in hand and took some night shots, not very successfully. I need some more tuition Di, would love you to come and stay. The only shot I was remotely happy with is here.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Of sand storms and things
It's sand storm season here. We've had a couple of beauties lately, ones where my kitchen bench had small dunes of red sand and my whole place was covered in a layer of dust. One of the worst things about the sand storms or Shamal is that people go a bit crazy in the winds and heavy, humid heat. The kids at school are no exception.
One of the teachers told me today that summer has arrived as we walked across the courtyard in 40C plus heat. I agree, summer appears to be here. Everyone seems a bit tired and cranky and ready for a holiday. Alas, there's no break until July for the new ones in the team, the teachers or the kids. The ones who have been here longer get this week or next off and it doesn't help to hear about where they're going for their hols. Wonderful, we say enviously.
At least the sand storms here are not as fierce or frequent as the ones in Qatar. The storms there were more dust than sand, sticky white dust from the construction and destruction in the city. I can remember walking through a dust storm to the supermarket one evening with a pashmina covering my whole head, difficult to see but a necessity. I had a guest coming to share my last bottle of red and wanted cheese. Despite being covered, I got covered in dust.
I'm busy at work, enjoying working in Arabi again. Enjoying the teachers humour, conversations with them, meeting their families, learning more of the language and the sharing of our cultures. I learnt a lot from the teachers in Qatar and have had their philosophy reinforced here. For the teachers, their families come first; they enjoy interacting with each other over food and they don't worry about the small stuff.
This is a culture of hospitality and friendly inclusion, and I feel privileged to have been made so welcome. I think that New Zealanders seem to be more accepting of the differences we find in other cultures and therefore we tend to be more readily accepted by others. This perhaps comes from our history of colonisation, the imposition of one culture onto another. We are aware of the issues. I take care not to do that here, to value what the teachers know and do and to work alongside them to improve our practices.
I had the loveliest conversation today on our way to a book fair in a bus full of chattering girls . The teacher is one who speaks a little English and she asked about where I was from. Near Australia? She knew that NZ had heaps of cows and sheep. Now she knows it's also a small country with few people compared to other places around here. I have promised to bring some photos, the KINAs who have been here awhile are keen to see some of home too. A job for the weekend.
I've really appreciated the flood of emails I've had in the past week or so. It's great hearing the news, the goss from home. Kez and Sasi are now home owners, Nick and Courtney have a new flat and I got to talk to Tim and Sarah on Skype. I hope to catch up with others on Skype this weekend and get some replies written.
Later I write, I've just been out to admire Tracey's car. When we arrived, Tracey declared she would never drive here. A couple of months later, she has a car. She's our taxi for the morning, looking forward to another adventure! At least we know the way to school between us.
I'm thinking now that I might need to get my licence organised so I can drive too. It'll make life easier although less social as I share a taxi everyday and get rides home via Scalinis or La Brioche, both of whom have very good coffee. They also know how I enjoy mine.
One of the teachers told me today that summer has arrived as we walked across the courtyard in 40C plus heat. I agree, summer appears to be here. Everyone seems a bit tired and cranky and ready for a holiday. Alas, there's no break until July for the new ones in the team, the teachers or the kids. The ones who have been here longer get this week or next off and it doesn't help to hear about where they're going for their hols. Wonderful, we say enviously.
At least the sand storms here are not as fierce or frequent as the ones in Qatar. The storms there were more dust than sand, sticky white dust from the construction and destruction in the city. I can remember walking through a dust storm to the supermarket one evening with a pashmina covering my whole head, difficult to see but a necessity. I had a guest coming to share my last bottle of red and wanted cheese. Despite being covered, I got covered in dust.
I'm busy at work, enjoying working in Arabi again. Enjoying the teachers humour, conversations with them, meeting their families, learning more of the language and the sharing of our cultures. I learnt a lot from the teachers in Qatar and have had their philosophy reinforced here. For the teachers, their families come first; they enjoy interacting with each other over food and they don't worry about the small stuff.
This is a culture of hospitality and friendly inclusion, and I feel privileged to have been made so welcome. I think that New Zealanders seem to be more accepting of the differences we find in other cultures and therefore we tend to be more readily accepted by others. This perhaps comes from our history of colonisation, the imposition of one culture onto another. We are aware of the issues. I take care not to do that here, to value what the teachers know and do and to work alongside them to improve our practices.
I had the loveliest conversation today on our way to a book fair in a bus full of chattering girls . The teacher is one who speaks a little English and she asked about where I was from. Near Australia? She knew that NZ had heaps of cows and sheep. Now she knows it's also a small country with few people compared to other places around here. I have promised to bring some photos, the KINAs who have been here awhile are keen to see some of home too. A job for the weekend.
I've really appreciated the flood of emails I've had in the past week or so. It's great hearing the news, the goss from home. Kez and Sasi are now home owners, Nick and Courtney have a new flat and I got to talk to Tim and Sarah on Skype. I hope to catch up with others on Skype this weekend and get some replies written.
Later I write, I've just been out to admire Tracey's car. When we arrived, Tracey declared she would never drive here. A couple of months later, she has a car. She's our taxi for the morning, looking forward to another adventure! At least we know the way to school between us.
I'm thinking now that I might need to get my licence organised so I can drive too. It'll make life easier although less social as I share a taxi everyday and get rides home via Scalinis or La Brioche, both of whom have very good coffee. They also know how I enjoy mine.
Friday, 20 March 2009
Of seagulls and things
It's Friday again, the weeks here fly past. I think it's something to do with the fact that Wednesday is no longer hump day, that's Tuesday's job. So when Wednesday comes, it's almost the weekend!
I don't normally write about my work but Thursday was so special it needs a mention. It was excellence day at school, celebration day for the kids and teachers and of course we were invited to be a part of it all. I really appreciate that the teachers do want us to be such a part of the school culture. We sat and watch the ceremonies unfold, the entertainment, the presentations, the speeches. And the tug of war competition.
In our translated programmes it said computations, little did we suspect that we were part of said computations. The kids had a tug of war against the teachers, much hilarity, the teachers had one against each other and then it was our turn. Not sure why the teachers were so keen to have little old me on their teams, I'm hardly an anchor!
We tugged and tugged, very competitive with sledging from both sides. The other team won, no one was badly injured but wait, someone mentioned a rematch so it was all on again. One of the teachers told me to take off my heels, no I don't think so!
The kids and their mothers enjoyed the day and it ended with a huge meal, a buffet only possible in this country with an amazing selection of food and Fanta. the teachers laughed and chatted with us in a relaxed social setting where the sharing of food and stories of the celebration day overcame any language barrier, a relaxed inclusion into the sisterhood.
We were stuffed full by the end and ready for another Fanta or several at Trader Vics. We went later to sample the seafood buffet at the Intercontinental. I managed to get through a lobster and other delicacies washed down with a lovely Italian white, perfect for the sea food. Nothing better than good food and good company, washed down with a smooth vino.
Oh, about the seagulls. They managed to get into most of my Dubai shots so here are two shots I dedicated just to them, one watching me eat and the other the early evening sky alive with gulls. I also have Jonathon Livingstone Seagull moments quite often here. If you're not sure what that means, read the book.
Monday, 16 March 2009
Milestones
I have reached an important milestone. I now have residency. This is a huge milestone because now I can open a bank account; have a post office box; go in and out of the country at will; hire/lease/buy a car; get my drivers licence; join the gym etc etc. Actually all the things that make me feel that important sense of belonging. And finally, I have my good old NZ passport back in my safe keeping complete with the residency document inside.
I've always wanted an interesting passport and looked longingly at other passports with multiple stamps and visas while mine only had Australia, soon to be a place we don't need a passport for. Now mine looks interesting, and sure to get more interesting as I explore both this part of the world further and return to Europe.
I opened my bank account today, with Rau watching longingly. Her residency is still on it's way. I said no thank you to two more credit cards, I do enough damage with the one I already have thanks. Once again the person at HSBC was very helpful and stayed on late to open my account and answer my 20 questions. It was great to put my cash in the bank out of my sight, too tempting to have so much handy.
I have really enjoyed the emails I've had from home lately, from the friends who miss me and take time to write. I have been a bit slow in answering at times and plan to write to all over the next week or so. In the meantime, please read this blog as my news and keep your emails coming, I love to hear from you!
Right, back to work. I'm procrastinating while writing a PD session so best I get it finished now.
I've always wanted an interesting passport and looked longingly at other passports with multiple stamps and visas while mine only had Australia, soon to be a place we don't need a passport for. Now mine looks interesting, and sure to get more interesting as I explore both this part of the world further and return to Europe.
I opened my bank account today, with Rau watching longingly. Her residency is still on it's way. I said no thank you to two more credit cards, I do enough damage with the one I already have thanks. Once again the person at HSBC was very helpful and stayed on late to open my account and answer my 20 questions. It was great to put my cash in the bank out of my sight, too tempting to have so much handy.
I have really enjoyed the emails I've had from home lately, from the friends who miss me and take time to write. I have been a bit slow in answering at times and plan to write to all over the next week or so. In the meantime, please read this blog as my news and keep your emails coming, I love to hear from you!
Right, back to work. I'm procrastinating while writing a PD session so best I get it finished now.
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