Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

Two weeks ago today I wrote my first blog post from Kuwait and the time has certainly gone by quickly! I am pleased to say that all is well and I am now into an enjoyable daily routine. A typical day looks like this:

• 4:30 am- Up and going, pack lunch, make breakfast, drink coffee
• 5:30 am- Often walk to work, which takes 20-30 minutes
• 6:30 am- When walking is not possible, due to snoozing, ride the bus just 10 minutes to work
• 6:45 am- (or 6:00 am on walking days)- Sign in, check the schedule (as it changes daily!), and prepare for the day 
• 7:00 am- Head outside for duty or to meet the children
• 7:15 am- "Morning Routine" which includes prayers, singing the anthem, flag raising and listening to announcements, all while keeping 21 children in a straight line
• 7:30 am- Proceed to homeroom where 21 children then prepare for their day of 8 classes and two 20 minute recess breaks
• 7:40-8:20 am- Period 1 class
• 8:25-9:05 am- Period 2 class
• 9:10-9:30 am- Lunch and recess
• 9:35-10:15 am- Period 3 class
• 10:20-11:00 am- Period 4 class
• 11:05-11:45 am- Period 5 class
• 11:50-12:10- Snack and recess
• 12:15-12:55 pm- Period 6 class
• 1:00-1:40 pm- Period 7 class
• 1:45-2:25 pm- Period 8 class
• 2:30 pm- Dismissal
• 3:00 pm- Extra activities at school and/or a visit to the local Champions gym for a workout and swim. 

Although the timetable looks pretty straight forward it is very busy and keeps everyone on their toes. Some teachers move from room to room and children always seem to be on the move. I am fortunate to have all of my classes in one location. Like I stated before, no two days are the same, so some of the children carry their timetables on a little card around their neck!

I am truly enjoying teaching again.  The students are sweet, my co-workers are amazing and even our Back to School Night this past week was enjoyable. It has taken a little longer to settle in this year, mainly because I arrived later than most teachers, but I now believe that everything is going to be just fine.

A couple of different expectations at the school surprised me, but I understand why they have been implemented.  The first is that every teacher must "volunteer" for a minimum of 20 hours per year. Attending extracurricular activities, coaching and providing activities for the children are all counted.

The second is that all teachers are required to earn 50 points towards professional development per school year. Attending conferences, publishing articles, reading books and articles or watching peers teach are just some of the options.

The culture here is also very interesting.  Only about one-third of the population are Kuwaiti citizens. The rest of the people here are from all over the world, working in various service industries. I have met people from Egypt, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Jordan, Palestine, to name only a few.  The Kuwaiti people dress either in fancy western clothes or in the traditional Kuwaiti clothing. At school the children usually wear their uniforms, but yesterday was a "free dress" day, and I enjoyed seeing the various outfits!

I am looking forward to National Dress Day in late February when everyone dresses in traditional Kuwaiti clothing.

Until next time,

Bee Rich

Sometimes the woman's face is completely covered,
except for her eyes.

Blogging from Kuwait

     It has been almost three months since my last post.  It has been three very interesting months of job searching, course taking, Alaskan cruising and travelling!  And now I find myself gainfully employed once again teaching at an international school. 

     This blog will highlight some of the events leading up to my decision to return to teaching for the next two years.
     In May 2014 I left a job I loved which was relatively close to home. That particular situation just did not work for me, so I  immediately began the search for new employment. Like most unemployed people of a certain age, it is quite difficult to find professional work in Ontario, especially as a teacher.  I applied for several locally advertised positions from the paper, but to no avail. I decided that I really wanted to stay in Canada.

A fine place to shop and people watch- The Avenues, Kuwait City

     A friend of mine from Egypt days was teaching in north west British Columbia on a First Nations reserve.  She sounded so optimistic that I thought, "Hey why not?" and applied for several positions.  In the meantime I thought I would take an additional qualification course called Teaching First Nations, Metis and Inuit Children.  Although quite interesting and really relevant to teaching Aboriginal children in Ontario. Despite being interviewed by one school, I was not hired. By this time I was getting pretty discouraged and my husband suggested applying for overseas teaching.
     This is where my story digresses.  Everything always works out for the best because in the meantime, my husband and I were planning a celebration of our 35 years of marriage.  On July 12 we hosted approximately 50 people, family and friends for a delicious dinner. It was but one of the highlights of this past summer!

     The challenge of overseas teaching, I found out, is that school usually starts in early to mid-August. The latest that most schools start their year is in early September.  My biggest obstacle to getting hired was that we had planned an anniversary Alaskan cruise between August 22-29, compliments of our daughter.  I could not cancel that trip so I had to preface every application with, "I would like to teach at your school; however, I am not available until September 2."  That did not go over very well with most Directors.
      Fortunately, there were three schools who were open to entertaining the idea of a tardy teacher. Two were in Kuwait and one was in Taiwan.
      One day in August I read a Facebook message from a friend who teaches in Kuwait.  The school was looking for an elementary English teacher. The Director was in Canada for a holiday and looking for new staff.  I was advised to send my resume and less than a week later I was offered a position, despite my anticipated late arrival. The school paid for my flight from Anchorage, Alaska (the final Alaskan destination) to Ottawa on August 30 so that I could get home, repack suitcases and leave Ottawa on August 31. After 48 hours of travel and 9 different airports I arrived at midnight on the morning of the first day of school, September 2, which was, by the way, my husband's birthday.
      So here I am, once again in the Middle East. However, this time my husband is back home in Canada until the end of October.
      To say that the past ten days has been a blur is an understatement.  In fact I really don't know where the time has gone.  I have been learning the 42 Arabic names for the children in my classes.  I am getting used to a new culture.  I have spent extra hours at the school preparing my classroom and preparing English, Science and Art lessons.  I am one of four Grade 2 English teachers and each one of us have two classes for which we are responsible.
      And so, another school year begins.  I am thinking there will be at least one more, maybe two. I am very fortunate to have employment at this point in my life, and for that I am so very thankful.

Until next time,


Bee Rich

The Avenues, an amazing mall in Kuwait...

Another section of The Avenues...

Coffee at Tim Hortons...

With one of my favourite people!

Home sweet home away from home