We had our Friday church service today. I have to download the sermon from our church in Korea and prepare some songs so we can have a home service. Our internet is not the fastest in the world by any count, so this needs a bit of preparation. Speaking of internet, since we are now connected, we can phone your landline through our SKYPE account, or you can talk to us through the computer when you are on and we are on. It’s a bit of a hassle since this is how we have to do all our bills at home until they can get an internet billing system arranged. Jennie spent a long time calling the different utilities to get our bills yesterday and was successful with all but the gas bill. Everytime she called they could hear her fine, but their line to us came out too broken up to get the information we needed, so she had to tell them she would call back.
The pace thus far is much slower. This is probably due to the ease of life here. Living on the compound is, indeed, a pampered life. Some things take time, and the saying “inshallah” often follows things that you have no control over. Such as, “you should have your internet router soon, inshallah” or “you shipping from Korea will arrive next week, inshallah.” The word basically means “when Allah wills” and it’s a great out. Meanwhile we are still waiting on our internet router (we all share the one connection cord, just trading off), and I found out that our shipment from Korea is in Dammam — 3 hours away — and should get to me this week when the personnel guy at school writes them a letter. Perhaps it is the sun or maybe it is the admonishment I received that you should never show impatience or irritation because the situation will escalate, but we are all just a bit more laid back about things.
The compound is quite secure, and, like the school, extremely nondescript on the exterior. As you come in, your car must have the compound decal and you have to stop, turn off your motor and wait while the guards run a mirror under the car, check your trunk, and look under your hood for any evidence of tampering. Reminds me of the similar procedure when you entered military bases in Korea. From there you pass through about four gates and based on the camo barracades set up, you are watched the whole time. This may sound like a long process, but it is actually quite fast and the guards are quite friendly. I drive a Toyota Camry, stick shift. I would say that driving is the thing that scares me the most. The first week, we got lost coming to and from school so many times, which was probably good because now we can navigate those streets. We have been told there will be a big difference in about two weeks when the Saudi schools start back up and the streets will be packed. The driving here is absolutely crazy; the laidback nature obviously does not apply to transportation! Jennie says she has no problem with women not being able to drive because she has NO desire in these conditions.
I would compare life in the compound to living in a resort. This past Wednesday they had a barbecue dinner at the restaurant here and it was great. Reminded me of dining at a country club. You had to make reservations and when you arrived, you were ushered to a table with your villa number on it. We had to go outside and let the chef know which of the meats we desired since the grill was out there, and then ate from a buffet of vegetables, breads, salads, and desserts. Delicious, but NO PORK!!!!
Nathan has gone to the pool at least once every day. All of us are trying to either swim or workout every night as well. I only missed one night when I had to get my syllabus prepared for my principal to see. PJ loves the compound, but I suspect he is getting sand between the pads of his paws since he spends a lot of time licking his feet now. His skin condition is also coming back, so we may have to call the compound vet to come see him. The vet makes a house (villa) calls once a week.
Nathan and Hannah had new student orientation and that seemed to get them excited. I asked Hannah what she thought of the school after orientation, and she said it seems like it will be good. She still worries about making friends, but the counselor’s daughter, who is in the same grade as Hannah, has been getting together with her and assured her that for the most part the kids at this school are not that cliquey.
We have had to make a few major purchases at the outset, which is expected but still tough when the first payday isn’t until Sept. 15. So we have a water machine in the kitchen, a new TV set and DVD player, and a few pieces of furniture from IKEA.
First day of school is tomorrow (Saturday), should be fun. I wish my Korea shipment were here so I could feel a little better about my lesson (all my files are in it), but all us newbies are in the same boat, their shipments are in transit as well. All of the English department except one are new. One man arrived yesterday and another one, who will be living next door to us in the compound, arrives late Saturday. They had to arrive late due to visa problems. We have friends from TCIS who will be working at another school in Saudi who have been delayed two weeks because of visa issues. The English department is four males and one female, so that will be a first for me. I did talk with the one guy who has been here and said, “should I be concerned that almost all of the English department left last year?” and he said that there were a few problems, but that it will be different this year with the new staff and the new principal.
I began to notice as I looked at the notes the teacher before me left that I did not understand how he was approaching his subject. His way of leading the kids through their essay was just confusing to me and I realized I was going to have to learn his method to teach the seniors that he had taught as juniors. Then I saw the grades he had given, and found that they were mighty low. When I asked my colleague about it, he said that the guy was quite confusing when you talked to him whether you were a co-worker or a student. He also reduced students to tears and embarrassed them quite a bit too. He wouldn’t say much more because he said that outside of school, he was a friend so he didn’t want to be too critical. The counselor called me in though and was not reticent at all to tell me how she felt about him and warned me that I would be doing some damage control with the seniors. The counseling office, unbeknownst to the teacher, had to go in and change about 20 of his grades because of the wide disparity between their marks from him and their marks in other classes. She (the counselor) said many of the students are scared that their chances of achieving their college goals have been dashed and they have a bitter attitude toward English as a result. But, she said, if you go in from the first day and show them that you know what you are doing and that you care for them, they will be grateful and loyal to you all year. It isn’t an ideal situation to come into, but it is so much better than trying to get apathetic students interested, so I am excited about what’s ahead.
Hannah managed to get into yearbook, which she never signed up for, but I told her she needs to keep anyway. Newspaper is a club, not a class, and I agreed to co-sponsor it with the veteran English teacher. I also told Hannah I want to see her on the newspaper (which she wants to do). Since she is taking IB English at higher level, she will not have me as her teacher, so I want to be her club sponsor.
Nathan is adjusting well. All of the differences with men and women separation befuddles him a little and he just wants to help everyone. For example, if we were to go to an amusement park here, the men (and boys) have to go at a separate time from the women. Some places do have family times when you can go together, but amusement parks do not. The prayer time interruptions to your day effect us so little that we often forget about them, only to get caught at a store or restaurant during prayer time and unable to get service. The compound and the school do not observe the prayer times, so beyond the amplified prayer “chants” broadcast from a nearby mosque, it hardly bothers us.
We are trying to call a travel agent to book our Christmas tickets now, since we were told it is good to start booking now. Unfortunately, our phone has been out of service the past two days and it is the weekend now, so we will have to wait to get that fixed.
It will probably happen soon, inshallah.
