I have decided I cannot go away for long periods of time ever again. As much as I hate Minnesota winter, it seems too much happens when I am away and I just don't know how to deal with things with so much distance. To go along with my Nanny passing away, now my mother informs me that she has having knee replacement surgery on Friday. I know it is a routine surgery, but she has to be in the hospital for three days. Needless to say I will be doing a lot of praying this weekend and at the same time keep busy. I find it is the best way to pass the time. For the record, I am down to 36 days!
I haven't really done that much since I last wrote that is not school/work related. I have been busy working on getting things ready for whoever teaches 7th grade English next year. Also, there was a year plan to prepare and not to mention the final exam and a study guide. I have to say my students have it pretty easy. Not only are the questions on the final exam taken from the tests I have given...but they also get a study guide. So basically they have seen all the questions before. While I am in countdown mode to return home, it is also a countdown to the end school. Well I should say teaching, as I have to be at school until the day I leave the country. Two more weeks of classes and then final exams. Of course my students continue to be more and more crazy as the year draws to a close, but that is so typical I think of anywhere you are in the world.
I was sick last week and missed a day of school. Not sure if it was the flu, heat stroke or just mental exhaustion of all that is going on, but I felt miserable. I figure it was probably a combination of everything. I had lunch at the British Club last Friday with Peter and Kathy. While I had gone there to swim and eat, this excursion was for the Friday brunch buffet. Friday brunch is a very big deal in Bahrain. It was of course delicious food with a wide variety from Middle Eastern to Indian, British to American. It is always just fun to get out and go somewhere. The people watching is particularly fun to do in Bahrain. Today after school I went to TGIFriday's with two other teachers. Of course very similar to the States, but no American restaurant here has been exactly the same. I may have said this before, but the most similar to back home as been the Dairy Queen. Who knew? Tomorrow is the weekend and I think I have a few things planned. Of course you will have to wait until the next entry to hear about them. Hope you are well readers :)
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Remembering Nanny, Visiting the Oil Museum and 100 degree days!
Many of you know from Facebook that my Nanny passed away last Tuesday. She joined my grandpa in heaven on what would have been their 70th wedding anniversary. She lived a long and amazing life, but that did not make it any easier. I think the hardest part for me is that I am so far away. That and I received a letter from her two days later. Of course that brought on a new batch of tears. It was like any of her other letters, an update on things and what she had been up to. However, this is one that I will cherish and appreciate forever. I will miss the funeral, but there will be a graveside memorial service when I return home in July. That made me happy...it will allow me to grieve and celebrate her life.
I have a great support system in Bahrain. I know that my parents were worried about me being so far away and how I was dealing with things. All I can do is thank my friends!! They have all been great!! I am grateful for all the amazing people I have met and the new friends I have made. Everyone was so quick to come and offer their thoughts and condolences...and I cannot thank them enough. My friends have also been keeping me busy as it helps to keep my mind off things...mainly the fact that I am here and not at home during this time. Anyway, enough of this sadness. We will celebrate her 91 years of life.
It has certainly been a busy weekend. I had lunch with Peter and Kathy yesterday and then they took me to two more sites on my tourist list. I am proud to say that I have pretty much done everything on the list (minus a few places that it is not possible to get to right now). So, this weekend I got to see the Oil Museum and Oil Well No. 1. As I believe I have previously mentioned, Bahrain was the first country in the Gulf to strike oil back in 1932. So of course there is a museum devoted to the great discovery. It was a one room museum, but the pictures they had displayed were amazing. It was also interesting to see original drilling equipment. Nearby (outside) is Oil Well No. 1. It is of course a picture spot and just in case one did not turn out....I took three. You can never be too sure :) It was fun being a tourist for a day again. Today I hung out with my friend Mariam and her twin boys. We walked through the suq again. I love to do that.
It is back to work tomorrow and the long haul to the end of the school year continues. Apparently my last day of work is June 30th. Nothing like last minute as I have to be at the airport to fly out that night. Needless to say I will be packed beforehand. I cannot help but have a personal countdown going...47 days until I return home. This has certainly been an amazing time and experience, that I will never forget...but I miss my family and friends. Although I certainly do not miss the cold weather. Hopefully it will be nice when I get there in July. It has been 100 plus degrees here and while it is hot, I have really hardly noticed. I have always been a crazy one who does not mind hot weather. It just means changing clothes a few times a day. So, that is the latest. I fear my life is hardly very exciting, so I hope you still enjoy reading this blog. Greetings and hugs to you all wherever you are :)
I have a great support system in Bahrain. I know that my parents were worried about me being so far away and how I was dealing with things. All I can do is thank my friends!! They have all been great!! I am grateful for all the amazing people I have met and the new friends I have made. Everyone was so quick to come and offer their thoughts and condolences...and I cannot thank them enough. My friends have also been keeping me busy as it helps to keep my mind off things...mainly the fact that I am here and not at home during this time. Anyway, enough of this sadness. We will celebrate her 91 years of life.
It has certainly been a busy weekend. I had lunch with Peter and Kathy yesterday and then they took me to two more sites on my tourist list. I am proud to say that I have pretty much done everything on the list (minus a few places that it is not possible to get to right now). So, this weekend I got to see the Oil Museum and Oil Well No. 1. As I believe I have previously mentioned, Bahrain was the first country in the Gulf to strike oil back in 1932. So of course there is a museum devoted to the great discovery. It was a one room museum, but the pictures they had displayed were amazing. It was also interesting to see original drilling equipment. Nearby (outside) is Oil Well No. 1. It is of course a picture spot and just in case one did not turn out....I took three. You can never be too sure :) It was fun being a tourist for a day again. Today I hung out with my friend Mariam and her twin boys. We walked through the suq again. I love to do that.
It is back to work tomorrow and the long haul to the end of the school year continues. Apparently my last day of work is June 30th. Nothing like last minute as I have to be at the airport to fly out that night. Needless to say I will be packed beforehand. I cannot help but have a personal countdown going...47 days until I return home. This has certainly been an amazing time and experience, that I will never forget...but I miss my family and friends. Although I certainly do not miss the cold weather. Hopefully it will be nice when I get there in July. It has been 100 plus degrees here and while it is hot, I have really hardly noticed. I have always been a crazy one who does not mind hot weather. It just means changing clothes a few times a day. So, that is the latest. I fear my life is hardly very exciting, so I hope you still enjoy reading this blog. Greetings and hugs to you all wherever you are :)
Monday, May 9, 2011
Overdue Update!
It has been almost two weeks since I last wrote and I must admit that time is flying by. 53 more days until I return home! I do not think that there is anything wrong with having a countdown at this point :) School was off Sunday, May 1st for Labour Day and now the long haul continues to the end of the school year without another day off. Like in the States, students are getting restless and losing their motivation and they don't even get done until around June 27th. Still so much school work to do. I am reading the novel Hoot with my 7th graders and let me tell you after I am done, I hope not to see, read or hear anything about Hoot for a long time. I have three classes, so it is Hoot all the time....I am sleeping, dreaming, living Hoot! (or so it seems anyway)
The weather has steadily gotten warmer. It has been 100 degrees that last few days and tomorrow they are saying 103. Fortunately, the classrooms and my flat have AC- although I am still not to the point where I am complaining about the heat. Perhaps by the time I leave, I will be ready for cooler weather. Parent-teacher conferences were a few weeks ago and about half of my students had parents that showed up. Why is it that always the parents you want to talk to, do not make an appearance? They lasted four hours and while the first hour was busy and steady, teachers spent the last three hours walking around, talking to each other. talk about productivity :)
I have pretty much completed everything that was on my sightseeing list. I put quite a dent in 101 Places to see in Bahrain. Sadly the situation prevents me from visiting a few places on my list. I have great stories to tell and pictures to share nonetheless of all the places I did get to. Since last writing, I was able to see Al Khamis Mosque. This one is no longer a functioning mosque, so I did not get to get all decked out in an Abaya. It is one of the oldest mosque's in the Arab world, built around 692 AD. Also went to the Saar Ruins, which are...yes ruins...dating from the Dilmun Period (Third Millennium BC). While they are indeed just a bunch of ruins, I am always fascinated by how what is left has survived so long. Also got to check out an amusement park in Bahrain. Adhari Park gave me an evening's worth of entertainment going on many rides. It certainly was not Disney World or even Valley Fair, but it was certainly a lot of fun.
On Labour Day I had lunch at Chili's with some other teachers. Any American restaurant chain I have eaten at here has certainly been comparable food wise, but I cannot say a lot about the service. I will probably not complain about bad service when I am back in the states again...because here despite the horrible service you received they include the tip on your bill...you have no choice on the matter apparently. That is just one of the things I will not miss when I leave. I am actually developing a list of things I will not miss. Look for it sometime in the future.
This last week has been one of sadness. Peter's (the family friend I know in Bahrain) mother passed away back in the States. Later the same day that news was received I got word that my grandma Nanny was in the hospital with an infection. That was three days ago now and she is still hanging on. They took away all of the tubes and breathing apparatus and she is unconscious...but she is such a strong woman. She is at 91 what I hope to be one day. In many ways I get my love of writing from her, particularly where sending birthday and anniversary cards are concerned. She would also always remember the big events in people's lives. Being she did not have a computer she has handwritten me letters since I got to Bahrain and I would mail ones right back to her. I will certainly miss that correspondence. I have always remained an advocate of snail mail. There is just something about getting a letter or card in the mail :) Anyway, I call my mom frequently to check in and while Nanny's breathing goes in an out, she is still with us. Today would have been her and my grandpa's 70 wedding anniversary (he passed away two years ago). My mom held the phone up to her ear and I told her it was okay for her to leave...grandpa was waiting for her. So, we will see....I have done a lot of crying the past few days, but I know she has had a good life. I think what makes me the most sad is that I am here and she is there, so far away.
Anyway, I will change the subject. No need to depress or sadden anyone else. Last week was sports day at school and it was certainly not like any sports day that I remember. As a homeroom teacher, I had to sit with my class on the bleachers in the gymnasium for four hours. There was a whole list of games and sports, but only one went on at a time, so sometimes only two students were competing while the rest of us looked on. It was definitely a waste of time, if I may be honest? Even several of my 7th graders were bored and did not want to participate. When I think of all the grading or teaching, I could have done in that time....oh well....there were some students who had a good time and enjoyed themselves, so who am I to take that excitement away from them? My favorite part was when a few students even told me they would rather be in class. Gotta love moments like that!
The weather has steadily gotten warmer. It has been 100 degrees that last few days and tomorrow they are saying 103. Fortunately, the classrooms and my flat have AC- although I am still not to the point where I am complaining about the heat. Perhaps by the time I leave, I will be ready for cooler weather. Parent-teacher conferences were a few weeks ago and about half of my students had parents that showed up. Why is it that always the parents you want to talk to, do not make an appearance? They lasted four hours and while the first hour was busy and steady, teachers spent the last three hours walking around, talking to each other. talk about productivity :)
I have pretty much completed everything that was on my sightseeing list. I put quite a dent in 101 Places to see in Bahrain. Sadly the situation prevents me from visiting a few places on my list. I have great stories to tell and pictures to share nonetheless of all the places I did get to. Since last writing, I was able to see Al Khamis Mosque. This one is no longer a functioning mosque, so I did not get to get all decked out in an Abaya. It is one of the oldest mosque's in the Arab world, built around 692 AD. Also went to the Saar Ruins, which are...yes ruins...dating from the Dilmun Period (Third Millennium BC). While they are indeed just a bunch of ruins, I am always fascinated by how what is left has survived so long. Also got to check out an amusement park in Bahrain. Adhari Park gave me an evening's worth of entertainment going on many rides. It certainly was not Disney World or even Valley Fair, but it was certainly a lot of fun.
On Labour Day I had lunch at Chili's with some other teachers. Any American restaurant chain I have eaten at here has certainly been comparable food wise, but I cannot say a lot about the service. I will probably not complain about bad service when I am back in the states again...because here despite the horrible service you received they include the tip on your bill...you have no choice on the matter apparently. That is just one of the things I will not miss when I leave. I am actually developing a list of things I will not miss. Look for it sometime in the future.
This last week has been one of sadness. Peter's (the family friend I know in Bahrain) mother passed away back in the States. Later the same day that news was received I got word that my grandma Nanny was in the hospital with an infection. That was three days ago now and she is still hanging on. They took away all of the tubes and breathing apparatus and she is unconscious...but she is such a strong woman. She is at 91 what I hope to be one day. In many ways I get my love of writing from her, particularly where sending birthday and anniversary cards are concerned. She would also always remember the big events in people's lives. Being she did not have a computer she has handwritten me letters since I got to Bahrain and I would mail ones right back to her. I will certainly miss that correspondence. I have always remained an advocate of snail mail. There is just something about getting a letter or card in the mail :) Anyway, I call my mom frequently to check in and while Nanny's breathing goes in an out, she is still with us. Today would have been her and my grandpa's 70 wedding anniversary (he passed away two years ago). My mom held the phone up to her ear and I told her it was okay for her to leave...grandpa was waiting for her. So, we will see....I have done a lot of crying the past few days, but I know she has had a good life. I think what makes me the most sad is that I am here and she is there, so far away.
Anyway, I will change the subject. No need to depress or sadden anyone else. Last week was sports day at school and it was certainly not like any sports day that I remember. As a homeroom teacher, I had to sit with my class on the bleachers in the gymnasium for four hours. There was a whole list of games and sports, but only one went on at a time, so sometimes only two students were competing while the rest of us looked on. It was definitely a waste of time, if I may be honest? Even several of my 7th graders were bored and did not want to participate. When I think of all the grading or teaching, I could have done in that time....oh well....there were some students who had a good time and enjoyed themselves, so who am I to take that excitement away from them? My favorite part was when a few students even told me they would rather be in class. Gotta love moments like that!
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