Update from RAK! - 12th September

So we’ve had a 2 weeks teaching now and 1 week left before the holiday. Classes are fine etc. Loving everything about being here. Spending plenty of time down at Hilton Beach club and just generally enjoying life.

Last weekend Becky made dinner for a few of us to celebrate the end of the first teaching week which was really nice. There was me, Becky, Poonam, Tracy and Patricia. We had a really nice laugh and it was just nice.

This weekend we had a new teachers meal at Al Hamra with all the governors of the school. We ended up at the top table with management, which was interesting. Then we went to Sailing club as it was Patrick and Nancy’s birthdays so we went to celebrate. R was there playing in a band and he kept talking to me. It was the first time we’d really had a proper chat.

But then on Friday me and Linda were heading out to go to the Golf club for Internet when Maureen came home with her son. And OMG he is lovely! So I was thinking OMG he’s so nice. And when they went inside I expressed this to Linda. 5 minutes later Maureen came back out to get her house keys from the car. Linda said he’s got a nice car and I was like yeah nice car for a nice guy! We started giggling so Maureen asked what she’d missed. Linda said ahh Melissa was just saying how good looking she thinks your son Gareth is. I tell you at that moment I wanted to ground to swallow me up. Maureen said he’s got a good heart as well. Then as if it couldn’t get any worse she asked is he single then pointed directly at me. Maureen then put her hands together and was like oh we shall have to see about getting you two together.

So that night we were at the Sailing Club and he spent the evening flirting with me. Part way through the night he was getting money out of his mams purse as she kept telling him to get money out for her to buy drinks and he looked at me and went I’m raiding my mams purse I said isn’t that what all children do. He said I’m not a child I’m a real man! So then later on he got someone to take a photo of the two of us. Then a little later still he pulled his mam into a photo on one side of him and then pulled me in tight on the other side. He seems really sweet and he along with Michelle and Becky came back to mine for more drinks. I was then ill in the loo for a while as I had drank too much and when Michelle kept suggesting he could go he kept saying no not till I know Melissa’s ok! So eventually I pulled myself round and he was dancing round my living room like a mad man dragging me up to dance and I was actually really impressed by his ability to dance.

After Michelle went home he came and cuddled up with me on the sofa and it felt sooo right. He eventually kissed me and I was on another planet because it really felt good. He did try it on as is to expected he’s a man after all. But I calmly told him no not while we were drunk and that when that sort of thing happened we’d both be sober

Then when he finally left my flat about 3am he kissed me goodnight and I told him I would like to see him again as I liked him and he smiled and kissed me again. This means that hungover I’m not sure if this is the possible start of a relationship or not. Unfortunately he went back to Dubai today before I got a chance to speak to him.

I went to see Maureen to try and find something out and she told me he was back in Dubai and that she would catch up with me later in the week as she was off out. But he’d told her I’d been ill as she knew and that means he must have spoken to her about me. I hope she tells me he feels the same! I’ve added him as a friend on facebook so I am hoping that just maybe he’s already accepted me as a friend and sent me a message. I know its early days but I do really like him so fingers crossed everyone that he might like me too. He really seems sweet and I enjoyed being with him and well I reckon he’d be pretty cool. As he’d not be in my face all the time as he works away quite a bit with him being an air steward for Emirates and of course living in Dubai. But at the same time he has somewhere to stay here which isn’t mine in the early days plus his mam seems to have given us her consent, so she’ll be fine if he’s coming over to see me and staying with her. OHHH!!! I’m really going to have to keep myself busy so I don’t think about him too much until I know what’s happening. Going to have to catch up with Maureen as well as soon as possible. Really hope he gets in touch soon! It’s gonna drive me nuts otherwise.

Anyway, today we went to Spinneys to buy Pork as its the only place you can buy pork in RAK so I now have pork chops, bacon and ham! YEAH!!!!

Then tonight we were heading to Tower Links to use Internet and trying to find a taxi when a lovely family pulled over and offered us a lift part of the way. They seemed ok so I agreed. The guys turned out to be Australian and the wife and her part of the family were living in Abu Dhabi. So we got chatting and I said probably a small chance but not sure which school my friend works at do you know by any chance a Mr Cooney. And you will never guess the youngest child was like thats my teacher. So tomorrow Steve will get one of his children say I gave your friend a lift last night in RAK and she said to say hi she’s fine!

But what are the chances of that?

Anyway, I must go to bed now as really tired after 2 nights going to bed after 3am and still waking up at 6am! So need to try and catch up a bit of sleep for work. Last week before the holiday week! YEAH! Hoping to go to Dubai during the week either with Poonam to see her friend Shannon or to see Gareth if its a green light! Also hoping that my VISA is through in time so I can sort out a car and that Les manages to get across from Oman for a few days!

Will keep you posted and will try and not let it be so long in between postings next time!

10:53 - Tuesday 25 May 2010 - comments {0}

RAK Days 12-14 My Hard weekend and First Teaching Day!

Well, Thursday night was pretty random! First went to Golf club to meet up with everyone and everyone was quite happily chilling out. Most staff were there and we all settled down for a few drinks. Then the guys from the Kayaking turned up and joined us. Rick and Bob, spent most of their time chatting with us whereas the younger lads headed off earlier. Between them they drove us all to the Sailing club which is a shack in the middle of nowhere close to where we live. We had a laugh there before eventually making our way home. I managed to get a lift with Rick at 2am, but others finally made it home, some walking back at 4am! So it was a good but pretty random night. I got a shock at how old Rick was as I thought he was mid 30’s and he turned out to be at least 46! But he was a good laugh and he’s going to arrange my PADI (diving) qualification once I have a group of 6-8 of us arranged.

So what did I do the on Friday, the first day of the weekend? Well, I got up late then grabbed a taxi with Dean and Michelle to head to Home Centre, got there to find it was closed until 7pm due to Ramadam! So we walked to Carrefour, then got a taxi back. Headed down to Hilton Beach club around 3pm which on foot was quite a challenge. Its only a 10minute walk but in the mid-day heat its a challenge and makes you feel like you’ve done a workout by the time you get there! Spent a few hours just chilling round the pool and feeling sorry for the poor people who were only here on holiday. Its mad when you sit surrounded by tourists who are trying to max their sun time before they go home so that they get a tan when we can go everyday and enjoy the facilities, sun, beach and pool! It’s such a hard life here!

Then got back home around 6:45pm and headed out for a taxi to Home Centre with Dean, Michelle and Tony at 7pm! I managed to pick up a few bits and pieces to help make the apartment feel even more like home. Managed in particular to get a wicker style drawer system, as I had no drawers for underwear and socks. But paid AED 90 for it which is about 17 euros! I reckon the same thing back home would have been at least 50 euros! Also got some really nice bedside lamps for AED 50 each which is about 10 euros! Their orange and now I no longer have to keep getting up to turn light off

Was back at apartments for around 8:30pm and headed straight out with Paul and Tony to head to the Corniche for food at Casears. We had a really nice meal here and there was soo much to eat and it came to around 13euros each! So eating out here is quite cheap as this is one of the more exclusive establishments in RAK! Then headed to the Hilton Town Hotel for drinks and bumped into John there! Got a shock at John’s age! Maybe its just me but the men here who are in their 40’s look like their in their 30’s! Maybe international teaching is the way to stay looking young! So we had a few drinks and left there around 1am!

Saturday (day 2 of weekend) was spent first being indecisive, as Michelle and Dean wanted me to join them at the Golf club to use the internet but I knew Roger and Kay had said they would ring if they were heading to beach and I was torn as I knew it wouldn’t be long before they rang. So I started walking to find taxi with them when Roger rang and said he would pick me up in 30mins. So I ended up heading back. Hence still no Facebook activity since I got here!

Roger and Kay picked me up around 1:45pm and we drove to the Hilton where I finally signed up and paid my membership fees! I then headed to the beach to spend time with them. We swam in the sea and saw fish swimming round us. Then as they were getting ready to leave, John turned up looking for me as he had brought his diving book down to show me. So we chilled out and then swam more in the sea. Finally, we headed towards the pools and there we bumped into a load of the others. Karen, Nancy, Tom (our principles son), Tony and the couple who live in our building who have a 7 month old baby, but whose names escape me at the moment. (Update: Vicky and Patrick)

Finally, around 7:30pm I headed back to the apartments with Tony.

So finally, today! Well today was my first teaching day. I had my tutor group all day. But it started with assembly and guess what! I hate the way new staff are always introduced to the school! Last year it was me mis hearing Claude’s surname this year it was another teacher who had Mac...... as a surname. Thankfully it wasn’t so obvious today! As we were standing up anyway I kinda went to wave and then realised and stopped! But I really hate how they do that and wish they would learn to speak more clearly! Bloody head teachers! LOL!

Anyway, I have 7D who are a really nice group. Although I do have one who I can see as a potential nuisance! He reminds me loads of Mark Sweeny! For those of you who are not Pennywell staff. Mark was in my GCSE class the 2 years I was at Pennywell and was always my nuisance not because he was nasty or a particularly naughty but because he was the class clown! I will never forget Sweeney and all his pranks..... grabbing my hand to his neck and pretending I was strangling him to him pretending he was masturbating in my lesson! And now I have this little un in year 7 who I wouldn’t put past him to turn into Mark in a few years time. So we’ve already had a little chat about the time and place for his humour! But I like my group and I reckon they’ll do me proud although they do have a hard act to follow after I had 8.1 last year!

Well, I got to go as off to Hilton for a swim before heading to Home Centre and Carrefour. Also, going to go to Starbucks to see if I can use their wireless internet so I can access Facebook and post some photos and email you all!

10:46 - Tuesday 25 May 2010 - comments {0}

RAK Day 9-11 Tuesday-Thursday

Well lets start with Tuesday and the dreaded 4:30am pick up! OMG! That was sooo bad! It was like 3:30am and I was getting up thinking what on earth am I doing? Am I mad? But no this day was the team building exercises day! Fun Fun Fun! So we all met downstairs at 4:30am and were then driven by school drivers to school where we were met by the instructors..... who were all Fit! Proper well and truly Fit! Girls the day had just got better and it was only 5am! 

So we were divided into teams for the activities and as expected I was with Roger, but I was also with Paul (the sexy French teacher) and he was being really sweet, but then they split our group further and so I was no longer going to get the chance to suss him out!  But to be honest I was quite distracted by the instructors who were really nice! Did I already tell you that? LOL!

Anyway, we were driven to the Police Training Grounds on the Corniche where we would be doing our Kayaking! So we all got ready and headed down to the side of the river. In our teams we were then challenged to get all members of the group through a piece of rubber in the quickest time. We thought we had it but were beaten by another team, then the guys said that we were rubbish that the quickest time the day before had been just over 2 seconds. I knew then that my initial suggestion that maybe it would stretch round us all must have been right. So when we did this our team got the quickest time.

It was then time to get water shoes on and whilst doing this I found out that you should never pick a fight with a palm tree! I started to loose my balance trying to put the shoes on and managed to wack my wrist off the palm tree leaf. Probably your sitting there thinking yeah and big deal. Well put it this was it instantly drew blood and I now have a bruise which is around 3 fingers wide in both directions! So the moral of the story is that they might look pretty but their viscious!

Anyway, we went to the water and there was an odd number of us so I volunteered to go alone in the kayak as I’d done it before at LJS. So it was about 6am in the morning by now and off we went down the river. We played British Bulldog and I won Then we started to play tag with a ball and as I leaned to get the ball ..... yes you guessed it..... in I went! Well someone had to be the first to fall in I guess, but I wish it wasn’t always me! At least the water was warm! And cleaner than the Tees was when I fell in there! Anyway, we had a good laugh playing all sorts of games and then when trying to stand up on the Kayaks I ended up in a few more times! LOL! Unfortunately climbing in and out of the Kayak caused me to have a small asthma attack so I had to get the speedboat back to dry land!

When back on dry land everyone was coming up to check I was ok as they were worried about me, which was really nice. As soon as my principle found out he came to check up on me too, and then opened up about how he was also asthmatic and he’d found he needed his inhaler after falling in a few times the day before. But I thought it was really nice that he is so down to earth and cared enough to check up on me, and he kept doing so as the day went on!

I really find it so settling how much everyone here cares about everyone else and everyone is really caring and friendly!

So that night I got back and was still suffering from sunstroke which was what stopped me taking part in the mountain biking and climbing. But the guys at the place when we got back to their base kept feeding me orange juice with salt in, because they said it was obvious that my salt levels were low. But they were really sweet about it saying that I shouldn’t beat myself up over not taking part in everything, when I hadn’t been here that long and so was probably still acclimatising to what is extreme heat from the UK. I mean its nearly 5pm here and its still 42.5 degrees Celsius. So when I got home around 2:30pm I fell asleep on the sofa and woke around 8pm had some food and went to bed!

Next day we were back in meetings which departmentally were fine as Roger is laid back and pretty much giving me free rein to do as I want with the classes I have. I also got to meet Shammee (UPDATE: Shammi) who will be my assistant tutor with my year 7 tutor group. Who I will meet on Sunday!

Dean and Michelle arrived looking completely knackered, but it was good to chat with them. There are now 4 Mackums in the secondary staff here I did my best to give them help finding their feet filling them in on what I knew about shopping, phones, net access etc. Although talking to Michelle earlier today I think their finding the different pace between here and the UK quite a shock to the system. Thing is as I told them International Schools are a different world and so much more laid back about everything so they just need to chill out a little as things will happen eventually! But they seem happy enough and that’s what matters!

Today, was a planning day and so I spent the day in my room which now doesn’t have any chairs suddenly! But I got loads of planning done and have now completed a whole scheme of work for year 7 for the next 4 weeks, which will take us up to Eid break at the end of Ramadam. Chris has said he wants to follow my scheme not the old one and Roger said he liked what I had done! He also seems to have this false impression that I’m actually really organised! How wrong could he be? But I suppose I am being quite organised at the moment. No idea how long it will last!

Anyway, its the weekend now and everyone is going to Tower Links Golf club tonight. So I need to be ready for 7:30 when we’ll head out to find taxi’s! Need to make an effort tonight aswell as I’ve heard that R (a nice Ozzie guy) is going to be there and Tony told me that he’s definitely single so need to try and get some time to chat to him as I really like him. But at the same time I really liked some of the instructors from the team building exercise who are also going to be there tonight. This I know as I bumped into one of them in Carrefour last night!

So better go have a shower and decide what I’m going to wear! Might have a quick kip first though!

10:38 - Tuesday 25 May 2010 - comments {0}

RAK Day 8 (August 2009)

Yes, I’m now officially into my 2^nd week in RAK!!!!! And you know something I feel really content here. I have made a number of good friends, the management are all good people who have already gone out of their way to make me feel welcome and valued. My apartment is slowly looking more and more me And I am gradually getting used to the call to prayer from the mosque behind our building. Thankfully its on the opposite side of the building to my bedroom which means I don’t get woke up by the 4:30am call!

Roger, my head of department is great. He’s quite a silent man, but what I really like about him is that he is straight. He says things as they are and that gives me a feeling of comfort, as I believe that he would say something if I did something wrong so I’d know and be able to put it right. As you all know this is how I prefer people to be with me. He’s also a really good bloke, he’d been and cleaned out my room from the previous member of staff and sorted a lot out for me. All the resources I need are sorted and available to me. He’s also giving me pretty much free rain to plan what I teach to KS3 (yr 7 and 8) as I’m the only person teaching yr 8 and then in yr 7 I’m teaching all bar 2 classes. 1 of which is being taught by Roger and the other by Chris. So I’m looking at implenting schemes for KS3 this year. Just got to think of some themes now Also, as I’m the only one teaching the 3 yr IGCSE course, he’s leaving it up to me to work out how I will spread a traditional 2 year course over 3 years. So I’m pretty happy with the set up, my timetable is fine! I like my classroom, although it is a slightly odd layout because I have the stairs in my room. Its kind of a fat L shape! But its fine and its nice to be out of the closet rooms I’ve had in my last 2 schools! So work wise all is well! Although it has to be said that I think some of the staff need to stop complaining and take a reality check! It appears from some of the meetings today that we have a few wingers on staff, who want others to do their classroom management for them! I can’t help thinking that staff like this need a week in Pennywell!!!! 

So it’s 4pm here and Roger dropped me back at my apartment as I missed the bus due to emailing friends back home. But it was really nice of him, and just another example of how willing he is to look after me. I’m heading out to Carrefour soon as need to get some lunch in for tomorrow. Tomorrow is the dreaded team building day out in the mountains. It has the potential to be really good but at the same time I’m not really sure about it due to the heat. I mean its 46.4 degrees C and its after 4pm! Plus the bus is picking us up at 4:30am !!!! AGGGHHHH!!!!! I don’t do mornings!!!!!! But sure once I start to wake up in the morning I will enjoy it! Will get loads of photos if nothing else!

10:33 - Tuesday 25 May 2010 - comments {0}

RAK Days 6-7 Saturday and Sunday (August 2009)

Well Saturday had a very slow start. I think the tiredness is finally starting to catch up with me. Maybe the 3 ended candle is burning low.

Anyway, I was chilling watching Shopaholic DVD when my new head of department turned up to see me. He’s a really nice man called Roger and he’s a man of few words but seems friendly enough.

He was off to the beach with his wife and son and asked if I would like to join so off I went to the beach. His son Jordan is yr 8 and seems like a nice enough kid. His wife Kay was really nice too. They all made me feel really welcome and apparently they only arrived this time last year. But it was really nice, chilling with them, swimming in the sea and the swimming pools. Although I did manage to get a little sunburnt 

Other than that, I spent the rest of Saturday finally cleaning my wardrobe and unpacking my clothes. Before sleeping some more. On Saturday night Poonam gave me some Indian tablets to settle the stomach upset which was still a little bit of a problem and thankfully by the end of Sunday, I was feeling much better.

Sunday, was our first day of work where all staff would be present. It was the whole school in the theatre all day...the usual boring first day back talks. But once it was over it was nice to escape back to the apartements to chill. I however, chilled too hard and fell asleep loosing the rest of the day! It was gone 8:30pm when I finally woke up, so I went to see Tony who told me all about our French teacher. His comment: Have you seen the French teacher, he’s a good looking bloke – you should get in there before the other single girls do. Well of course we all know I have a little soft spot for French men, something about the accent! So I told him to point him out to me next time, but was still a little taken back that he’d pointed this out to me in the first place.

Not long after that I headed to bed after we’d had a short walk to the local shop, to see what they sell! And as a corner shop it isn’t too bad!

10:29 - Tuesday 25 May 2010 - comments {0}

RAK Day 5 (August 2009)

10:25 - Tuesday 25 May 2010 - comments {0}

RAK Days 3-4 (August 2009)

10:17 - Tuesday 25 May 2010 - comments {0}

RAK Day 2 (August 2009)

10:04 - Tuesday 25 May 2010 - comments {0}

RAK Day 1 (August 2009)

Well, I know it maybe a few days before I can connect to the net and send this, but hey, I may aswell write it anyway so that you can see how my days have progressed!

Flight from Newcastle was good, even if it did feel quite long.... wish I had the ability to sleep on planes sitting up. Unfortunately as I had twisted my back a few days prior to flying I just couldn’t get comfortable enough to sleep. But watched Ghosts of Girlfriends Past which was pretty good! Food was fab I had a lovely lamb curry, delicious..... then about an hour and a half before we landed we got ice cream, which really helped refresh me after my useless attempts at sleep. Was a little unsure about the flavour at first (sticky toffee pudding) but it wasn’t actually sickly. Conversation on flight was non-existent I must have been sat next to the most unsociable old fart ever. I said hello when I boarded and didn’t even get a response!

Arrived at Dubai airport, and as I stepped off the plane OMG the heat hit me! It was apparently only 34 degrees but it felt a hell of a lot hotter, more like 44 degrees. The heat here is very humid, although as its not too hot my body is slowly adapting. Although the changes in heat between indoors and outdoors is enough to make your glasses mist!

Anyway, the shuttle bus to the terminal took 30 mins and then once in the terminal I went to collect my visa from visa control which wasn’t too difficult. Had to go for a iris scan, but was able to use the ladies only lane so it was nice and quick. Then went through immigration and got everything stamped. All the emirates where really friendly. But when it came to going through the baggage scan.... I hit my first problem. And no Kath it wasn’t anything to do with my toys they got through without any questions asked. But they were a bit concerned about my hard disks which looked apparently like a machine. So everything in my orange hand luggage bag was taken out and I was asked to say what all the bits of IT equipment were. Then picked up bags off luggage belt and headed to find my driver. Headed out looking and then found the area and spotted my driver quite quickly.

Driver informed me that we were awaiting 2 other flights and I should go wait in the seating area for him. Well here lay the start of torture I was tired and just wanted my bed! I spent the time trying to work out if anyone looked like a teacher. Ended up talking to a few consultant teachers who were heading out to Abu Dhabi. Then finally about an hour later (2am UAE time) the driver came to get me saying everyone had arrived.

So off we trot to the school bus, our transport for the day. There was Lindsey, who is KS1 teacher from Inverness. Similar age to me I think but this is her first teaching job abroad and I think she’s only been teaching a short time. Then there was Frank and Kay, at a guess their in their 50’s as they’ve got one child mid 20’s and another just started Uni. It took about 1hr to get to RAK from Dubai and we were dropped off at the apartments, handed keys and told welcome packs were in the apartments.

I’m on the 1^st floor of the building and the apartment is bigger than my Amsterdam one but is really missing a balcony! Never mind, the beach is 5 mins walk from here with the Hilton Beach club not far from that. My only complaint about the apartment other than the missing balcony is that the beds are solid! They really are harder than your bed Roland! And I thought that was impossible! So considering getting a thin mattress topper from IKEA when I get up there as I doubt I will get used to how solid this one is.

Anyway, school appears well organised, there was even a bunch of flowers waiting for me! Missing a few promised articals like pans but sure they will arrive as most things seem to be getting sorted quickly like my washer and cooker were only plumbed in today!

Been to Carrefour twice today at Manor Mall! Picked up food, cleaning stuff etc. And I also now have a UAE mobile. Got a good deal on it. Basically got a phone plus sim for 165 dihrams but I get it back in international call credit over the next 3 months. Effectively meaning I get a free phone and sim!

As for how I am..... the answer is fine! Calm, relaxed and I have a really good feeling about this as school seems organised.... Monty (Head of Secondary) called to see me today but I’d gone out. And everyone so far seems really friendly!

Anyway, getting picked up at 8:30am tomorrow for a day of orientation etc. And its now 1am! Oh well! Got to write these each day as so much is happening that if I don’t by the time I get online I’ll have forgotten it all! LOL!

More tomorrow...... well today really as you’ll have got the first few days in the same day! LOL!

09:57 - Tuesday 25 May 2010 - comments {0}

Being Dutch!

11:08 - Tuesday 23 June 2009 - comments {2}

Preparing for the move to RAK

10:11 - Tuesday 16 June 2009 - comments {1}

OMG It's really happenning!

11:35 - Friday 12 June 2009 - comments {1}

The new job.... I'm moving to RAK

01:38 - Tuesday 9 June 2009 - comments {3}

Leaving Faulty Towers

11:07 - Tuesday 9 June 2009 - comments {0}

7 weeks until the move to The Netherlands

01:18 - Sunday 1 June 2008 - comments {1}

Leaving the UK for the first time to live in The Netherlands

10:04 - Monday 19 May 2008 - comments {1}