Week 3 and 4
Well a fortnight has passed since my last post. I have been getting out and about a lot more and venturing out further. The weather is now more pleasant, especially in the evenings. It’s now around 42 most days and 35 in the evenings. I have discovered more shops and also a book store. Last weekend two teacher s and I went to ‘The Avenue Shopping Mall ’, a 100 000 square metre mall! It’s about a 20 minute drive away. Spent about two hours there which obviously wasn’t enough but certainly worth going back to when Ramadan is over and the shops are open during the day. I didn’t buy anything apart from dinner and a Kuwait sim card for my phone, which another teacher had to purchase under her Resident Visa. To call NZ is $1.50 a minute so probably won’t be making many calls home. I just need faster internet so I can Skype. I am really enjoying living here and the culture and friendliness of the people. Apartment living is also beneficial as I have my own space yet have many friends and conveniences nearby. I have even had cars stop in the middle of the road to let me cross. Just amazing! The photos are of the walkway on the Arabian Peninsula, just a 5 minute walk from my place.
Well a fortnight has passed since my last post. I have been getting out and about a lot more and venturing out further. The weather is now more pleasant, especially in the evenings. It’s now around 42 most days and 35 in the evenings. I have discovered more shops and also a book store. Last weekend two teacher s and I went to ‘The Avenue Shopping Mall ’, a 100 000 square metre mall! It’s about a 20 minute drive away. Spent about two hours there which obviously wasn’t enough but certainly worth going back to when Ramadan is over and the shops are open during the day. I didn’t buy anything apart from dinner and a Kuwait sim card for my phone, which another teacher had to purchase under her Resident Visa. To call NZ is $1.50 a minute so probably won’t be making many calls home. I just need faster internet so I can Skype. I am really enjoying living here and the culture and friendliness of the people. Apartment living is also beneficial as I have my own space yet have many friends and conveniences nearby. I have even had cars stop in the middle of the road to let me cross. Just amazing! The photos are of the walkway on the Arabian Peninsula, just a 5 minute walk from my place.
School Corner
School has begun for Elementary grades. I only had 4 students the first day and climbed to 9 by the end of the week. I am supposed to have 18, however parents are very paranoid about Swine Flu which has recently come to Kuwait and caused a few deaths. It's no worse than it was in NZ but now the government has closed public schools in the kindergarten grades until early December and advised private schools to do the same. Some teachers who have jobs at other schools have been told to take leave without pay, take their holidays or teach higher grades. The 11 kindergarten classes at my school are not now opening until the end of November. Luckily the teachers and their assistants will still be employed and will be assistants for the Elementary teachers, some of which already have assistants so very full classes. Great for the kids! The students who I have met are very nice. Most are polite and work very hard but there are a couple of talkative ones as there always are in a class. Unfortunately though I don't know what they are saying. During Ramadan they have 5 hours of lessons with only a 20minute break (+ no food or drink) and during normal hours they have 6 hours of class with just the 20minute break and a 10minute prayer break. I'm sure there would be a fewNZ kids who could not cope with this sort of schedule. Luckily I have an average of three 45minute breaks a day so I can mark students work and prepare for other lessons. The students come from incredibly wealthy families. All have maids and most have drivers too. Many have told me about their overseas trips to all over Europe and America. Hopefully I will encourage them to go to NZ to spend their dinars. I sent one student home with photos I have taken on various trips around the country. Hopefully with have a week's holiday next week as it is Eid, a holiday to commemerate the end of Ramadan. This will depend on when the moon shows. It could only be three days. Well must away, until next time.
School has begun for Elementary grades. I only had 4 students the first day and climbed to 9 by the end of the week. I am supposed to have 18, however parents are very paranoid about Swine Flu which has recently come to Kuwait and caused a few deaths. It's no worse than it was in NZ but now the government has closed public schools in the kindergarten grades until early December and advised private schools to do the same. Some teachers who have jobs at other schools have been told to take leave without pay, take their holidays or teach higher grades. The 11 kindergarten classes at my school are not now opening until the end of November. Luckily the teachers and their assistants will still be employed and will be assistants for the Elementary teachers, some of which already have assistants so very full classes. Great for the kids! The students who I have met are very nice. Most are polite and work very hard but there are a couple of talkative ones as there always are in a class. Unfortunately though I don't know what they are saying. During Ramadan they have 5 hours of lessons with only a 20minute break (+ no food or drink) and during normal hours they have 6 hours of class with just the 20minute break and a 10minute prayer break. I'm sure there would be a fewNZ kids who could not cope with this sort of schedule. Luckily I have an average of three 45minute breaks a day so I can mark students work and prepare for other lessons. The students come from incredibly wealthy families. All have maids and most have drivers too. Many have told me about their overseas trips to all over Europe and America. Hopefully I will encourage them to go to NZ to spend their dinars. I sent one student home with photos I have taken on various trips around the country. Hopefully with have a week's holiday next week as it is Eid, a holiday to commemerate the end of Ramadan. This will depend on when the moon shows. It could only be three days. Well must away, until next time.
Enjoyed the video Blair, found it interesting, so you will have to post more of those on here. Sounds like your having a great time.
ReplyDeleteInteresting Liffy! Thanks for the updates its good to see your okay! Nathan thinks you need some wine! I finished the red you left here. Thanks! Take care and keep in touch xx
ReplyDeleteHi Blair,
ReplyDeleteGreat video. Thanks for keeping us upto date. I am sorry to hear about your Granddad. You will be pleased you managed to spend some time with him prior to your departure. Nan was wondering if you could email me Barbie's home and maybe mobile numbers as she wants to give her a ring.
Keep up[ blogging.
Daniel