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