First Day of Ramadan and Some Observations

Saturday Aug 22, 2009
First Day of Ramadan

So, using the computer in the morning is a must. Since there is only one internet provider here the evenings are noticeably slower! And much more frustrating. But overall I am very pleased with the technological resources we have access to. We have a wireless in the house and it seems OK even when 4, 5, or 6 of us are accessing it at once. And there is a Vonage phone to call home with, I couldn't be here without it. If anyone is considering teaching abroad I would say that these factors should be key in your decision-making process. Do not underestimate them. And get the best computer you can to bring with you. I am frustrated with my computer's lack of speed and gadgets and screen size - BUT still love the price!

At school we will have desktops and Smartboards ( check them out on Youtube!) as well as really nice Xerox machines. So all will be well when we are there (I hope!)

This brings me to an interesting literacy conundrum that I am observing here. The villa we are in is the home of an uber-academic family. Braniac city. There are plenty of high-brow discussions anytime two or more people get together and books fill the shelves. However, there are few to NO writing materials. At first I thought I was not looking in the correct places but then I realized there were NONE. I almost bought doilies to write on after I used up the one pack of flashcards that I own! I even searched a local corner mart thinking there would be a small note pad of some sort but no . . . I mean, at home at Cumberland Farms there are probably some kinds of writing materials for sale - correct? Luckily two pads of paper were brought to me from Cairo. To have this discrepancy is very interesting to me and speaks to me about the literacy of the culture perhaps. I will have to learn more. Just as a beginner learner of the alphabet I have already learned that Arabic is VERY difficult to master as a spoken language and that as a written /calligraphy form almost impossible to master. That is not an understatement. Hardly anyone is a MASTER at the Arabic language in writing. So, what does that say about people using their language? Easier to speak and read it that put down all those mistakes forever in writing? And so, writing . . . .I am just not sure. More on that later. For now, I am happy with my two packs of very thin white lined paper ( in between 81/2 X 11 and legal size) the two packs of nice colored pencils, my one pack of sparkle gel pens and the roller tip pens they provided too. Whew!

We have no printer here either. This resort home that is beautifully appointed and filled with all the comforts of home. So, any documents we read or write or share are on our computer screens - no paper. So, this am I was up early writing out the alphabet recognition chart and Fry's chart of the first 200 words! Getting ready for my fourth grader to arrive tomorrow to meet me and read with me. Wish us luck!

Have you seen the movie Ruthless People with Bette Midler? Well, today we realized the gate to the villa was locked and we could not get OUT! (This is the 2nd time this has happened) Since it was early we did not want to wake anyone so just hung out doing an exercise video (Zoomba) in the living room until one of the workers showed up. All I could think about was Bette Midler's character in that basement getting thinner and thinner with her exercise videos. So much fun!!

Last night Mrs. L. was going out so she had the hairdresser come to the house as well as a sweet woman to do her nails. We were eating our dinner buffet (only 4 courses last night!) and she was having a salon across the room. Fun! I and another gal also got a mani and a pedi.(rest assured there was a foot bath made available to us no-problem, it took almost a week to get the paper). Partly it was to enjoy the pampering and partly it was to give work to this young gal who brought her 3 month old baby to the house too. We all got to hold this little sweetie. She slept almost the whole time. She had pierced ears with little diamonds in them and was smiling away at some dream time joke. Since it is Ramadan this woman also took one of the packages of food that we all prepared for the workers. We were more than glad to pay her. Even though Mrs. L. assured us we were paying her handsomely it ended up being the equivalent of 10 American dollars per person.

Two nights ago we played tennis at the local court (clay - - ish) and thoroughly embarrassed ourselves! The rental of the court came with the services of a small boy (maybe 9 years old?) and he ran to get all the balls. I think he is used to mostly running around after them INSIDE the court but we had him running around everywhere. He had a BIG smile on his face when we gave him a 10 pound note ( about 2 ish American dollars) as a tip. Now I can compare it to the wage of the manicurist I can see why!

Ramadan is today. Moslems do not eat or drink or smoke during daylight hours. After sunset anything goes though and they reward themselves with over indulgences then. We will see what the dinner (Fatar literally break-fast) brings tonight.

All is well here although I am disappointed about a delay in the opening of the school. Apparently the government decided THIS week that schools should not be open for Ramadan and sent a notice to schools that cannot be challenged. This is tricky for me as I have given up so much to be a good little teacher and arriving on time. Arriving later would have been perfect for me and here is the opportunity to have done that but . . . Arggggghhh! VERY frustrating. Did I say that already?

To end on good notes - Everyone here is working hard at making these times as productive and resourceful as possible. We have brainstorming sessions and discuss ways to travel and explore the country. All the while getting to know each other that much more. Here is a fun variation on Charades called Celebrity. You need about 6 people to play - 3 on each team. Everyone writes about 6-10 names of famous people on small pieces of paper and puts them in a bag. Taking turns each person on the team takes a turn. A timer is set and you reach in the bag and give clues to your team about the perosn you selected. After a minute you count how many names your team got. Sounds easy right? Well that is the first round. During the second round (Still with all the same names put back in the bag) you can only say a single word but must act out the rest. And of course, during the third round you can only act it out. FUN!

I am so glad the internet is working! Occasionally I get a web page - or this sign in page - and it is alllll in Arabic! Yikes! Shocking and yet a fun challenge!! (.. . . sort of)

Worried about the hurricane in Nantucket - will check in with the weather now. Thinking of ACK but in Agamy - and now that the gate is unlocked - planning for the Mediterranean!