A New Beginning

Here I am at the gate to our apartment complex.  There is a side and front gate.

Since we stepped off the plane, the people here at Universal American School have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome.  They settled us into our apartments right away and all but tucked us into our beds that first night.  The next morning we were given an advance on our first paycheck so we could set up housekeeping, then they put us on a bus and we went shopping.  Of course, the currency is Kuwaiti Dinars which are worth roughly $3.55.  So now I'm trying to do the math so I can be a savvy shopper.  I'm OK with the paper currency, it's all the coins that confuse me.  I guess I had better sit in on a second grade math lesson! 

                 This was the banquet we attended at the American University of Kuwait 

Everyday has been a blur of activities.  We had a lovely dinner at a Lebanese restaurant, ethnic foods at a special luncheon at school, breakfast and lunch served by some wonderful teachers,  and last night a special gathering of new international teachers from across the city at The American University of Kuwait. I can't even describe the feast we were served.  It was spectacular.  The teachers have given us walking tours of the neighborhood.  I feel very safe here.  The shopkeepers are friendly and speak enough English to get us what we need.  I've even managed to get in a cab alone and get to one of the local teacher supply stores.  That was a little out of my comfort zone, but I managed to get where I needed to go.  Most of the cab drivers speak very little English, so you cross your fingers and hope you get to the right place!

I have a very nice efficiency apartment.  Utilities and internet are paid.  It's pretty interesting moving into a tiny apartment when I've lived so many years in a basic three bedroom ranch, huge yard, and many perennials to tend.  It's somewhat liberating not have to worry about the everyday chores involved in taking care of a house and yard.  I don't miss my fifty minute commute, but I do miss the freedom of getting into my car and going where I want to go, when I want to go.  There are always trade offs.  I wouldn't think about getting a car here in Kuwait, although many of the teachers do own cars.  These people drive like maniacs and park all over the side walks.  I prefer to come home on one piece, so I guess I'll be getting a lot of exercise!

     The Friday Market in Kuwait.  There were stalls as far as the eye could see.     

         

I snapped this picture on one of my walks.  In the center you can see one of the minarets from the local mosque.  Can you see how crazy these people park?

My main focus the last ten days has been getting my classroom ready.  This school hasn't had an elementary vocal teacher for two years.  Consequently, the room was pretty much a train wreck.   

I must say, after I got started, I enjoyed the challenge of turning this big space into my own.  I am very happy with the results.  It's the best music room I have ever had, with a wealth of Orff instruments.  It's ready for the students, but I will continue to add some finishing touches throughout the year.  I will post before and after pictures when it's done.  

Tomorrow is the big day.  Our school week is from Sunday until Thursday.  How strange to begin a school week on a Sunday!  In the Middle East, Friday is a holy day.  There are so many differences between east and west, but I suspect that there are just as many things that are still the same.  Kids are kids, rich or poor, east or west. They are the future and they deserve the best education we can offer them.  

I Have Arrived

I would never describe myself as a world traveler, but compared to a week ago, I feel like Hilary Clinton!  The leg of my trip from Chicago to Ammon, Jordan was about thirteen hours.  Not much legroom at all and there was no way I was getting much sleep between the little boy next to me who would occasionally sprawl across my lap and the little boy across the aisle who would let out a blood curdling scream just about the time I would start to nod off.  The term "weary traveler" has now taken a whole new meaning.

View at the top of the escalator at the airport in Ammon, Jordan

We arrived in Ammon at about six pm.  I went to the Royal Jordanian desk and picked up my boarding pass to Kuwait and discovered that I and and the rest of our party had been bumped to the next flight.  It didn't leave Ammon until seven hours later.  So I had some down time, which was actually not too

bad.  It felt great to stretch my legs.  It was eleven pm in Jordan, but I knew it was about the end of the day for my son's class of six graders several thousand miles away in Gibbon, Nebraska.  Back in February when I interviewed at the Overseas Job Fair in Waterloo, Iowa, I had FaceTimed this same class as I was waiting to speak to an administrator at a school in the Marshall Islands.  It was an amazing experience touching base with that same group of students seven months later.  I have to admit, technology is pretty astonishing at times.

The last leg of our journey began at 1:05 AM.  I can't describe the rush of feelings in my heart as the jet  touched down in Kuwait.  So many prayers for a safe journey were answered.  (Thank you, St. Paul Lutheran in Eldora, Iowa!) Ten months ago when I was essentially pink-slipped,  life as I knew it would never be the same.  The uncertainty of my future in education terrifying. In these economic times, older "seasoned" teachers are not always a valued commodity.  In the international community, quite the opposite is true.  There are many of us "over fifties" crowd that are making a fresh start in schools all over the world.  We are ready to hit the ground running!

Lists and More Lists...

I've never been a person to make lists, but that seems to be changing.  There are so many things to be put into place before leaving the country; banking, insurance, what to do with my car, mortgage payments.  The list just goes on and on.  Even as I was typing this, I remembered something else to put on yet another list!  

Then there's the packing.  Imagine trying to pack everything you need to wear for about 10 months in two suitcases!  When I cleaned out my office at school in Baxter, I brought home two carloads of stuff.

That "stuff" consists of nearly nearly thirty years of books, CDs, music games, and bulletin board material.  Not to mention my beloved beanie baby collection!  I can only take enough to put into one small suitcase and a carry-on.  I checked FedEx and UPS.  Their price to send boxes overseas was astronomical.  FedEx told me that the post office was much cheaper.  They were, however, it was about the same as taking another suitcase, so that is my plan.

 

                My last lily of the summer 

It has been in the triple digits in Kuwait the last couple months.  I refuse to complain about the weather. Every time I am tempted to grumble about the heat index, I'm going to remind myself about icy, treacherous, roads during the long, cold Iowa winters.  I have had my share of close calls.   I will not miss winter driving, not one bit!

It has been a summer of goodbyes.  I have been on the receiving end of many wonderful hugs.  I will miss my family and friends more than they will ever know.  But a new chapter in my life has already begun.  I already have a group of FaceBook friends who are also new to UAS.  Then there are my new students!  I have a hard enough time remembering American names.  Oh, the challenges ahead!