MY HERO----MY MAMA!!!!

                HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!
      TO THE GREATEST MOM A GIRL COULD HAVE!!!

"Oh AMY ROCHELLE ___________"
    I so wish I could hear those words right now in person (even though when said like that, it usually meant I was in TROUBLE!)

But I find myself saying this to myself in my Mother's tone even, at times just so I could feel like she's here. :)

Sherry Glaze is a woman of MANY hats and incredible talents.  She has 154 faces (of which I've also inherited)  and 23 tones, ranging from TEACHER TONE to the infamous POOKY voice!  The Davidsons vote that Pooky's voice is the FAVE and makes alllllllll things better. 

My mother is an AMAZING woman!  She knows how to get things done!  She is actually SUPER WOMAN!!!! (or should that be WONDER WOMAN)? ! Either way,  she is ......
       A godly woman.
            A woman of strength.  
                 A woman of limitless creativity.
                      A woman of endless ENERGY (some might say with the help of her slight Caramel Drizzle and/or Diet Coke addiction.  (chase the hot drink with the cold drink to cool off :) )  yet another way I am JUST LIKE MY MAMA!!!!
                           A woman of  productivity and efficiency.
                                A woman of dedication and perseverance.
                                         A woman of FAITH.
                                              An INCREDIBLE multi-tasker.
                                                     A woman of humor (though sometimes her 3 girls would have preferred to sit and cry or pout or continue to be overwhelmed in a situation rather than "chop chop....we ain't got time for this")
                            A MIGHTY woman who can be a wife, a mother to 3 (sometimes, emotional, hormonal, but NEVER EVER difficult girls), teacher, principal, cook, housekeeper, leader, friend, counselor, listening ear, advice giver,  and problem solver ..QUICK problem solver that is, ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!!!! with the help of a 2lb bag of TWIZZLERS (and according to Riley--her newly found love--BOTTLECAPS)!!!

According to my Meme, "that woman (my Mother) never stops!"  And no she does not!!  She only THOUGHT she retired!  But because of her passion and her giftings that cannot be contained, she found a few more teaching, consulting, organizing and ministry jobs to pass the time! :)  I sure hope I grow up to be just like her! 

Since entering my adventure overseas, I've told her and everyone else: "OOOohhhhh this country NEEDS my Mama! She'd have this whole educational reform in tip top shape!"  Oh how I wish she was here with me to take on this challenge! 

Mama, you are my hero.  Not only because of all of the above listed traits but because you do them so effortlessly, with so much love and passion.  There were many times I thought you were "sooooo strict"  or hard on us (like, why do I have to read books with larger vocabulary than my beloved Sweet Valley Twins/High books?)  Oh, life was so hard!  ( I think I remember hearing that a time or too, probably as I huffed and grunted totally NOT appreciating the humor you were finding in my moment!) 

Now that I am a mama, I had decided from Day 1 that I wanted to be a mother JUST LIKE YOU!!  You did it RIGHT.  You trained us up according to the Truth of His Word.  You set boundaries and stood your ground when necessary.  You brought fun and creativity.  You filled our home with music and laughter (especially when it was time for the Poppa Poppa Patch).  Long trips were either full of fun-filled packets of entertainment or a map stuck to the van wall to mark the states traveled through on our first ultra-lengthy road trip (of which I APPARENTLY don't remember ---that OR the blue van---however....we won't talk about that!  Good memories!  And have no fear---I learned my geography! OR if boredom called for desperate measures.....POOKY would make an appearance as well as Thistlehair!

Oh how I miss being a kid in your house.  However, I am thankful for the relationship that we have now as we all are older and have our own growing families.  Thank you for your wisdom.  The coffee chats. The Target-popcorn, diet coke and Twizzlers "fix-it".  Thank you for teaching us how to love our husbands well, organize a home, make life fun and creative, use time wisely, TEACH and make the most of every opportunity.  I still don't know how you did it all....nor DO IT ALL STILL!  But I love you for it more and more everyday. 

I wanna be just like you when I grow up.  I pray that my kiddos get HUGE chunks of their Meme imbedded in their little personalities.  Thank you for being YOU.  Thank you for always ....ALWAYS being there for me!  Thank you for giving me all the pieces of you------because looking at that one wedding picture of yours isn't the ONLY time I see me in you!  And I am thankful! 

THANK YOU!  
     I can't say it enough. Because, now that I am a mother, I know what it means to be one.  I also know the times hidden in the LOCKED closet  or bathroom was for my own good.....so that you could get peace and gather yourself to open that door with a smile and a hug or another 30+++++ minutes to listen to me rattle on and on and on.......

Thank you for who you are to me THEN and NOW.  I love you more than words could ever truly express.  I wish I could be there to hug you and be hugged BY you!  Sometimes, a mama's hug is all you need no matter what kind of day/moment it is.  I miss you and I am hugging you all the way from here! 

Happy Mother's Day Mama!
Amy

A TRIBUTE to my FAVORITE 95 year old WOMAN!!!

                                         CELEBRATING 95 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!
                                    ( ok. So this "blog" /tribute turned into more of a letter to  the greatest lady I've ever known.....
                                                                                     please excuse me as I may go on and on about her......... :))

This is my Meme!  Today, she celebrates 95 years of life.  And I'm on the other side of the world not able to hug her and cherish this day with her and my family. :(

However, I refuse to pout today or in this post.  I am going to CELEBRATE a woman who means the world to me!

This woman is the picture of Jesus to me.  She was a Pastor's wife and then a widow since my Daddy was 11.  She never waivered in her faith.  She has trusted the Lord through good times, poverty, grief, struggles, loneliness, moves and raising two children as a single mother. 

She is a woman of STRENGTH.
              Of GREAT FAITH.  
                         Of  ENERGY.
                              Of PERSEVERANCE.
                                     Of JOY!
                                          Of PATIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (oh how she needed it Aunt Janice :)  heehee and Rhonda..... I mean ME!!  hahahahaha JUST KIDDING!!!!)

She is a picture of the verse, He keeps in PERFECT PEACE those who trust in Him.  She never seemed rattled..... no matter how messed up or how crazy or scary life could be at times. 

 To me, she is an exact replica of the Proverbs 31 woman I've always wanted to be. 

Despite what Sunday School taught me my entire life, it took me until I was 16 to really believe that that my Meme sinned.   I mean seriously, how in the world can you sin when you live alone and don't have anyone to talk to? :)    During one of our early morning talk times, I finally asked her and she just laughed at me, humbly shared that by no means was she perfect.....(though I still had my doubts) and shared yet another book load of God's Truth and wisdom with me.

My Meme taught me many things in life.  Every summer of my childhood, my sisters and I got to spend at LEAST 2-3 weeks alone with her in Alabama.  One of my favorite summers was the year I got to stay an entire month alone with her!  She didn't waste a minute of our time together. She taught me everything from baking pumpkin and pecan pies, to sewing and cleaning a house on a daily schedule as I am serving my husband to be (keep in mind.....I think I was 11at the time!) Everything was always tied to serving my husband/family--- as UNTO THE LORD (her words to each grand-daughter was that we were created to be a HelpMATE for our husbands)......even the darn IRONING fell into that category of serving him!  She knew I didn't like ironing, so she encouraged me to change my attitude by praying for the person whose shirt I was ironing.  Who can argue with that, right?  Well...... I STILL don't like ironing.  In fact, I rely heavily upon the dryer or a Wrinkle Free Spritzer...... maybe I should go back to my roots huh???? :)  Meme, I can see you smiling and just shaking your head at me right now!

She also  tried SOOOOOO VERY HARD to teach me to be a lady.  Whether it was "a lady sits like this and always crosses her legs at the ANKLES" or "Amy, try to walk LIGHTLY.  A lady doesn't sound like an elephant when she walks." 

Oh Meme, I'm thinking I may need to stop writing this "letter" to you because I'm realizing I have failed miserably!  I really DID listen!  I promise!  My kiddos are on a daily chore rotation and ......ummm learning!  However, I must confess, my corrections or constructive criticism/teaching and training isn't always held in the soft, patient MEME tone that you gave me.  Oh and yes Meme.....apparently I still roll my eyes (or so I've been told)! But I DO serve dinner with a protein, a green and a carb--making it colorful and healthy.  I still read all the time. I try real hard not to kill my plants.  We work hard to memorize verses b/c as you've said the Truth we memorize when we are young will not leave us.  You are living proof..... today, you may not remember what you had for lunch, MUCH LESS that you ATE lunch ( me too and I'm only 37  YIKES!) but you can still quote those verses you've clung to your entire life and those sweet hymns you, Aunt Janice and Daddy used to play/sing together! 

Meme.  Here's the bottomline..... you set the standard so HIGH that any of us will just fall short. Every. Single. Time. 

I've always described you in this way:  It goes like this:  God/Jesus.... MEME....Steven Curtis Chapman ( hahahaha)  See!  That's HOW LONG I've been describing you this way---since FOREVER ago when he was our favorite Christian artist! 

It would take a very long book to tell you what you mean to me.  One of the biggest things you've taught me was to "be anxious for NOTHING...but in everything....EVERYTHING....TRUST...be THANKFUL and PRAISE HIM!

Ohhhhh the FAITH and TRUST you have had all these years....... 95 years of living......serving......smiling.....struggling.....believing......running the race God has called you to.....and NOT ONCE COMPLAINING!!!!!!

I'm so thankful for 95 years with you (actually....only 37 of those have been with me!)   REGARDLESS----it's a long time!!!  You've touched many, many lives in that time! 

Thank you for letting this chatty-cathy stay with you all those days talking your ear off allllll day.....and allllll night as I talked us both to sleep at night under the electric blanket or my favorite handmade family quilt.  I loved watching you learn to swim for the first time when you were in your 70's.  I loved our times raking leaves and picking acorns. 

I miss swinging on the porch with you and our early morning coffee time.  I really wish I was there to have a cup with you on this very special day---because Meme, I finally DID grow up and start drinking coffee! :) 

I know you don't know what facebook or blogs are, but hopefully Mama will print this out and read it to you! :)  You always said you love my letters.  So here's my birthday letter to you Meme.  I love you and thank you for WHO you are.  Thank you for your steadfast, UNWAIVERING faith.  Thank you for all you've taught me.  Thank you for being like no one I've ever known! 

Today, the other side of the world TRULY feels THAT FAR AWAY!

 I miss you and love you and wish I was there to hug you and eat yummy cake!  Oooohhhh......and thank you for alllll the new soups for the night we arrived at your house after a long day of travel and the brand new cake that was always hidden under the silver topper "hidden" behind the door for dessert!  :)

Happy Happy 95th Birthday!!!
I love you Meme!!!

Amy

 

And the ADVENTURE continues......

 

 

October brings the beginning of several holidays in the UAE, from now until December.  This past week, our country celebrated Eid al-Adha. We got 10 days off!  Riley has decided she loves the UAE b/c holidays mean NO SCHOOL!!!!!!!!  :)

The Davidsons decided to try some of the places we have still yet to experience. 

One of the first places we visited was the Fish Market.  Pictured below, is the LAST time Riley smiled on this day! We do believe she has been scarred for life!  She announced: "Riley will NEVER eat fish again!"  (Her mother, who LOVES fish----came very close to removing all seafood from the Davidson meal plan as well after a day here!)

However......I decided I need to be mature about this and overcome.  So mature, in fact, that I tricked her into eating fish one night this week by telling her it was chicken  (yes, good parenting in action right there!) and another night, SHE asked for the fish option! :) So apparently, my clever parenting was successful! :)  

 

Below was one of the FIRST sights we saw entering the market.  Oh IF ONLY I could somehow record the sounds and the smells of this experience!!!  The pounding metal crunching the bones of sweet DORY and NEMO slightly tipped our little happy place of  Red Lobster enjoyment. 

 

I really just couldn't resist the nasty tongue sticking out at me!

 This man caught my attention and I spent a while just watching him. He had the sweetest, "old-man" kinda face marked with hard times and long years.  His outfit. His turban. Sandaled, worn feet.  All of it intrigued me. 

  I believe I was just having one of those moments of realizing just HOW different my "world" is than so many here and in other places of the world.  Sure, we may live in one of the wealthiest parts of the world, but here---it's not like that.  Some of these people have what I would put on the t.v. show-Dirtiest Jobs.  Some people, still function in Survival of the Fittest mode.  And SOME people aren't so spoiled that the "SUSHI" is served on the pretty platter---they were the ones who pulled it from the boat, drug it out of the truck, put it on ice, sliced it up (hopefully, WASHED it---didn't see much fish CLEANING that day---but I am choosing to not think about that right now!) and prepared it in the way that looks more appealing and "normal" to us "citified folk". 

Apparently, we came on the perfect day!  We were told that they don't normally get such a large shipment of SHARKS!! WOW!



 

 SHARKS ----SHARKS----and MORE sharks........

We did NOT go home with a SHARK purchase.  But we DID come home with some mahi-mahi and a quick stop at a "more American-type" store found us a buggy full of chips 'n salsa, sour cream, cheese, crab  meat, cream cheese, cocktail sauce and WHEAT THINS!! (we've only found Wheat Thins twice---at 18 U.S. dollars a box!!!  eeks--but well worth it for a moment of comfort food pleasure!)  Greg brought Schroeder's  and "Glaze holiday/ party appetizers" to the Yatim family and they brought us Indonesian delicacies! 

Over the holiday we also visited the Camel Market.  We saw "normal" camels, dark camels and the racing camels.   We even saw a 21 day old baby!   I snuck the above picture b/c I wanted a picture of the "shepherd" type people.  These guys SLEEP with the camels!  eeeewwww..... As we drive from Al Ain to Dubai we see tent after tent in the sand.  The tents are where the camel herders sleep.  I AM HIGHLY INTRIGUED!!! However, I am beyond thankful that this is NOT my lot in life! :)  Intrigued......yet disgusted!  Driving down the road we often see camel trucks packed with 3-5 big-ole- 1 or 2-humped creatures crammed in the back with their long necks and big nostrils peeking over the top.  Then you see a man or two sitting on the pile.  ewwww... Anyhow.....just wanted to share a little bit of our world with you. :)

getting a little too close for comfort..............please, little man, hurry and take this darn picture!!! 

Another glimpse into our world.  The "cooler" weather in the desert is bringing out the "picnic" life; or BBQ life as they call it.  We were told that we would see people on the side of the road, pulled over and gathering/eating as a family.  Right, they were.  This picture was taken up on Jabel Hafeet (the tallest mountain in the country).  We were also told how segregated these people are, thus the reason for the picture.  As you can see, the men are together,  and far away (in the black abaya's) are the women.  I don't think these two groups are related, I just wanted to create a picture in your mind of life as we see it here.  The malls are the best place to see the segregation.  Just so you know, STARBUCKS in the UAE is always full of MEN. 

A little different from America, eh?!

One more quick glimpse.  On the 2-laned road up the mountain we looked over to see these men praying on the side of the road.  This is not an uncommon sight, actually.  Traffic is INSANE here and we are amazed that there are not MORE accidents.  ESPECIALLY when you hear the call to prayer and the people put their car in PARK...... IN A LANE......ON  the "highway" (or in the middle of a roundabout) to jump out and run into the nearest mosque to pray.  We live right next to a mosque and many Fridays (Holy Day) our parking spots are blocked due to all of the Muslims coming to pray. 

As always, we hope that this blog helps you join in on our great adventure.  I only wish we could share all the pictures and all of the stories that take place.  Hopefully, you can enjoy the journey as you learn a little about life here.  It's totally different than  our lives in Rome/Cartersville, GA and Lakeland, Florida.  We are truly beginning to embrace our world here and love sharing it with you. 

We covet your prayers as we try to be Light and Love here. 

 Our pastor's wife has made it her goal to "MAKE the women smile at her" as she passes by.  I laughed as they shared that b/c I've said the same thing in my head.  "I will MAKE her see me and I will MAKE her smile back!" It's not the SOUTH,  people.  :)   

Thank you for praying.  We love you all and pray for you and your great adventures as well! 

 

 

Here We Go....Year #2!

On your mark.....get set....GO!!!!

Well.....we didn't quite start back so energetically!  Jet lag KICKED OUR TAILS!!!!  We've been back for 3 weeks now, and it was only this last week that we are feeling back to normal and sleeping at the proper times. 

We are back in the UAE ready to begin year #2!  It's hard to believe we've already been here a year! 

So much has taken place:
       Greg and I survived our first year teaching internationally................  
              6 new countries stamped into our passports.......
                   Arabic doesn't sound QUITE so foreign, shocking or ANGRY to us anymore.....
                           Roundabouts and constant honking DO NOT cause panic attacks any longer....
                                  We don't think 90 degrees F is quite so hot anymore.......
                                         Amy has earned a Master's degree in CHARADES!!!.....
                                               Hayden claims to be part Indonesian........
                                                     Riley is on her way to China (or so she says)..........
         Amy has also learned the art of LOOKING like she understands what is going on while actually having NO CLUE what is actually happening :)
                   Hayden can also speak a bit of Indonesian.........
                          Riley is working on her Afrikaans.............
                               We have enjoyed regularly worshipping with people from all over the world and hearing the Lord's Prayer spoken in many different languages every Friday..............
                                         We now know that all major supermarkets "flip the store around" every night and are no longer thrown into a tizzy when we can't find what was on isle 24 yesterday is now on isle 13............
                             The radars on the side of the road catch you quicker than cops pulling you over (whoops).......
                                                                               
                                                 and much MUCH MORE.

We are excited to be much more prepared this time around!  After bringing 16 bags back with us.....Amy has quite a few more resources to use while teaching! 

Do you see it?!! Who can name my FAVORITE things in this picture? :)

 If you know me WELL, you know that a new box of crayons and fresh markers make me HAPPY HAPPY HAAAAPPPY!!!  Thank you Walmart RollBack prices for helping me bring color magic to the UAE!  I've been saying for a year "My boys would enjoy coloring and drawing if only they knew what REAL markers and crayons were like!!"
 Hip Hip Hooray! I just hope my 20 packs of fun last a year! :)

This year, I have the joy of teaching the same 2 sections of ALL BOYS!  I looped with my 3rd graders and will now teach them in grade 4!  I've never taught grade 4 before....but hey, when you're on an adventure....why not make it ALL a new adventure, right?!?!  My two sections, 4C and 4D are as different as night and day.  One section is very verbal and full of life and personality.  Most of them know all of their letters and numbers and can even write sentences in English.  At the end of last year, I was able to introduce the beginning concepts of Writing Workshop with 5 of them!  This year, I hope to challenge them at greater lengths, expanding their vocabulary and their writing, thinking and creating abilities.  Fun times are ahead!!! :) 

I am thankful that this year it will not take me 1.5 months to figure out their names.  I already know my 7 Zayed's and 5 Mohammeds.  :) I also know how to pronounce Helal correctly enough now that it's not going to take me until Term 3 to realize the reason he never LOOKED at me, much less responded to me was because I wasn't saying his name correctly!

My goal this year is to implement more Arabic into my classroom. My job is to teach English, Math and Science.  However, I learned rather quickly last year that if I want to know what is going on at this school each day---I better learn some Arabic. :) 
 My boys loved trying to teach me Arabic last year so I am going to try to teach them what a good student looks like by being one myself.  I have MUCH MORE sympathy for them when they whine "Miss Miss, English hard" ( poking out their lip and giving me sad puppy dog eyes with their big beautiful brown eyes and LONG eyelashes).  I did not get my feelings hurt when they laughed at my Arabic writing rather than praise my efforts!  :)  I am growing THICKER skin in this country (another valuable lesson I am learning while overseas)!  We DID however pause for a mini-character lesson at that point.  :)  "I don't make fun of you when you mess up your English. You don't make fun of me when I mess up my Arabic. Got it?! Hamdilya (Good). Shukran. (Thank You)"


Since being back, SOMEONE special turned the big 12!!!!  This picture makes him look much older to me, something my heart is not prepared for!  He "graduated" to the Youth Group at our church and is excited about being older and more mature ( as he regularly informs us). ha!  After his 1st youth meeting event, he jumped in the car and announced that he learned that he is no longer a KID.  WHHHHAAAAT?!?!?! Maybe we should yank him out and put him back in the children's ministry for another year?!?!  lol 

Already, the Lord has answered some prayers of others as well as our own.  The day we took them back to Manor Hall to register them for this year we were told that the Lord brought us through that door at the perfect moment.  Manor Hall got a new Elementary Principal this year and his kids are struggling to adjust.  As the Lord would have it, Hayden and their son hit it off immediately and have been inseparable since!  It turns out, the family is from SC, loves baseball and football AND lives right down the street from us!  The cool thing is, Hayden was in need of a good guy friend to live close by since we moved away from his buddy at the old house.  The Lord is good to us and takes care of ALL of our needs! 

We now have a 6th grader and a 5th grader in our family!  Where has the time gone?  They are both excited about their new teachers and their classes.  Riley has a man teacher for the first time and is super excited about it now (after being a  bit nervous at first)!  HG is most excited about getting a locker and carrying the key on a lanyard (oh Berry college memories...flippin that thing around like we were important or something lol).  He is also excited about being in ADVANCED Arabic!  The kid amazes us as he reads the Arabic signs going down the road.  Oh how Greg and I wish we were young and could soak up a new language "just like that"! 

Greg and Hayden are anxiously awaiting baseball season to start again!  Greg's job this year will be coaching baseball and  instructing  private lessons.  Since Atlanta sent the largest number of teachers overseas to teach this year, we have already met a lot of baseball lovers and UGA fans!  Home doesn't seem quite so far away when you can walk through the world's largest mall and hear "Go Dawgs. Sic 'em"  Hopefully, the league will continue to grow and Greg will be able to recruit more and more players.  Dubai Little League offered us a sanity and familiarity that "saved us" last year.  Greg and Hayden are itching to get their feet on the mound and feel at home again. 

We say all that to say, our 2nd year is off to a fabulous start! 

Stay tuned for more adventures............ :)

 

God Bless the U.S.A.!

After a year of living in the Sandbox, we were finally able to go home to America for a rather quick visit.  It was a fast and furious kind of holiday, but it was well worth the many miles traveled across the South. 

We had quite the adventure trying to actually GET to the U.S., but finally, after 10 days of trying to get on a plane we did it! 



 

 We definitely enjoyed our fill of great American SOUTHERN foods!!!!

  

 As soon as we got home, we basically jumped into the car and drove clear across the South to the great state of Texas (which, by the way---over here, as soon as I open my mouth these people think I (Amy) am from Texas :)). Six people crammed into a car and a hotel room (2 of which being two little giggling girls who haven't seen each other in a VERY LONG time) for 5 days made for QUICK family bonding time!!! :)

beans 'n cornbread.......

True Southern Comfort food....

Praise the Lord for bacon and all things PORK!!!

 
 
 FUN TIMES WITH VERY MISSED COUSINS...FAMILY....and  FRIENDS!

.....of Course we had to hit up a BRAVES game!

 

 While in Florida, we were blessed to be able to be with Pappy for his deacon ordination service.  It was a very special night honoring such a godly man, a man who loves Jesus and serves Christ and others so selflessly!

Fun memories made with the Florida family!  HG made his very first trip around the lake on skis this year! 



It felt so good to be reunited with my sisters again!

 The summer was especially full of game nights, Phase 10 (yes, even in the car) and COLD diet Sunkists from gas stations!  You never realize what you took for granted until you don't have access to it anymore! 


 To someone's disappointment..... (that would be Belock's) two little "niece and nephew's" were as tall as her!!!!!  hahahah  We love our Aunt B!!!!! :




 




While the girls were in Texas, the boys reunited with the old team for a tournament. 

America, it was good to see you again! We were so blessed to see as many of you as we did.  We were in need of the hugs, laughs, encouragement and family/friend time!  Thank you for loving us, having us in your homes, and taking the time to hang out with us.  We also want to say thank you for continuing to follow us on our journey! 

Our time at home was necessary and good for the soul.  However, it made coming back harder on Hayden and Riley.  Halfway through our time in the U.S. it became apparent to us that we were going to have a tough few weeks/months ahead in regards to our kids being more homesick now than ever before.  Please continue to pray for us as we RE-adjust to living on the other side.  The new, the adrenaline rush, the excitement of a brand new adventure has worn off after a year.  This time they knew what they were coming back to and more than anything, they wanted to stay home.  :( 

We have been here for 3 weeks now and are getting back to normal.  :)  Please continue to pray for us and for them.  Thank you for loving us! 

We can't wait to see everyone again next year!  (HG already has the countdown going in case anyone needs to know!) 

 

A QUICK Treasured Moment

This week has been filled with an even MORE amount of CRAZY CHAOS.  But it's allllll good!  We survived and that's all that matters! 

As you might have seen on facebook, we've been celebrating National Day at our schools.  The whole country celebrates.

Did you see the car that was all tricked out?  That's the norm.  Just slap up the faces of the 4 sheiks with some red, white, green and black paint on your car and you may just win the prize!

 

Fun times in the UAE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

However, that's not the point of this blog. 

 

The week before a holiday, we tend to have fewer and fewer boys show up in our classrooms.  This is especially fun for me, because I get to have special one-on-one time with the boys.  Some of the ones who I've never heard speak will actually talk to me or offer a shy smile that I've never seen. 

 

Thursday was a very special day.  It all happened so quickly that I almost didn't recognize it's significance.  But I have pondered that quick moment and my heart is full. 

 

It was 7:30 a.m. during the morning assembly.  I only had a few boys in both of my classes that day.  I was in the middle of being all "teacher-y" and everything when I found myself wondering over to talk to two of my boys.  They smiled at me with big, huge, toothy grins.  I said "Salaam alaikum" (with a big smile and the obligatory handshake).  BTW, "Salaam alaikum" means "Peace be with you".  Then to my surprise, these two little munchkins shook my hand and pulled up close to my face to give me the traditional "nose kiss".  I was taken aback for a split second and continued to smile and chat with them.

 

I got up and went to the "teacher circle" and suddenly it hit me what just happened.  Tears began to form in my eyes as I told my HOF what just happened. 

 

Now, let me back up for a moment and explain this nose kissing thing.  It's SO VERY AWKWARD to watch--- because it's special greeting between a man and another man.  It's special because it's not just meant for everyone and it doesn't seem to be used flippantly.  For them, it's a special greeting for those they dearly love.  I have also learned that fathers greet their little boys that way as well.  It's a way of showing their love for each other.  Boys also do this as a sign of respect and affection towards their Babas (father). 

 

This place of respect and affection is earned in this culture.  To be called "Teacher" is a high form of respect (where we tend to view as annoying when said 32 times by the same kid in an hour, or annoying because we think that kid hasn't cared enough to learn our name).  NOT THE CASE!  There is so much more to this cultural barrier than meets the eye (or ears).  To be called "teacher" means they respect you.  To be "nose kissed" means they love you (or at least really like you). It means, you have somehow crossed over............ over  a very thick line. 

 

I HAVE CROSSED OVER!!! at least in the hearts of these two little boys from "scary white American, Westerner teacher lady" to someone they aren't so afraid of anymore and hopefully someone they are beginning to love!  It's a HUGE moment. 

 

I need a picture to remind me of this "cross over moment" for Tuesday....... when they ALLLLL return....... and it doesn't feel so warm and fuzzy anymore.  :)

Some of the many reasons I am here

Let me introduce you to a piece of my world in Al Ain.

It's been a long time coming, I know.  But I'm gonna pull the "Insha allah" card.  Oh how I wish those of you on the other side of the world understood just how funny that statement is right now.

ANYHOW...... we are coming upon NATIONAL DAY in the UAE.  Forty-one years ago, December 2nd, the UAE became a country.  This is a very BIG deal.  It is celebrated in a HUGE way! Lucky for us, their colors are green, red, white (and black) but it looks and feels like Christmas in our schools, all along the roads, on the cars....literally EVERYWHERE you turn!  They are serious about this day!  (more pics to come soon)

As I mentioned in my previous post, Thursday was a big deal for several reasons.  Yes, it was Thanksgiving and I was very thankful for many things.  That day, I was also very thankful for a MAJOR VICTORY kinda day!

Those of you who are not teachers, please bare with me.  I attempted FULL BLOWN centers (with my morning group) and it was a HUGE SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!  Like, messy play doh sight words, a cutting and pasting center, a magnets center and a flashcard type math thing....all going on at the same time! 

Okay....let me let you in on another piece of my world.  This seems like just a normal day in America.  I mean, seriously, I've only ALWAYS taught this way.  I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT the lecturing type or the worksheet queen.  Ummmm...... I am in a foreign land where the reason I am here is because of an educational reform.  Teaching the way we know it.........is COMPLETELY FOREIGN to them.  They've never seen it.  They don't understand it.  Some are embracing it. Others are not.

 Let me just tell you though, I was scared out of my wits the first day trying to take roll and calling out a name (I bet you didn't know, they all have 7 names).  AND I bet you didn't know.... they're all pretty much the same.  In one class I have 5 Zayed Mohammeds, 7 Mohammed, 3 Theyab Nassers......and so on.  So I'm calling roll.  I call the first name.  All the sudden, a kid shoots straight up out of his seat, stands at attention and YELLS "NAM".  No clue what is happening. Not a clue.  I literally JUST FOUND out this past week that "Nam" means yes.  oh. okay. (but you have to have a lot of throat action going on when you say these words).

ANYHOW again.............   I was soooooooooooo excited at break time I went and told everyone I could find!! But I resisted the urge to then ask my HOF and Principal if I could go home at that point b/c I wanted to end on a good note.  Beeeecause..... the afternoon group...is suicide. 

However, being the brave (or stupid) soul that I am I plowed on.  It's Saturday night, and I still regret it.   But it's all good. 

I wanted to show you some of the precious faces I see each day. Their deep, brown eyes will melt your heart. Maybe the reason for the delay in sharing this is because it has taken 3 months to get to this point.

Each morning, we have Morning Assembly.  Every grade/class stands in straight lines and does the morning routine.  Here, we are doing our morning exercises.  They are wearing their traditional dress, the Kandora.  All of the Arabic teachers (you can see some in the background)are wearing Abayas. This is one of my precious turkey-legs.  This week, they are coming all decked out in National Day decorations. 

 

Even in other countries, boys see a camera and they wanna give you the peace sign or the bunny ears.  lol  The boys do not wear the traditional headress to school.  This is for more formal settings or social events.

Our assemblies include morning exercises, the National anthemn, the reading and reciting of the Koran and presentations.  The presentations usually include something from their history or their beliefs. Here, they are remembering their heritage and how they became a country.

They are honoring the Sheiks of their past.  (by the way, they aren't called "sheek" it's more like "shaaaayk" but again....add a throat/cough/hock-a-lugi kinda sound and ya got it!)  My goal is to be able to master the throat sound when I say their names and some key words that will get my teacher point across (or make them stop running away from me!) ha! 

NOTICE:  the twirling guns.  GUNS???  why the Americans ask?  just sayin........  (always an adventure, right? :)) 

Here are two of my munchkins all decked out hoping to win the prize for most spirited.

This little guy's name is Mubarak.  It means HAPPY.  He is truly the happiest kid I know.  He makes me laugh alllll the time!   He's the sweetest thing, but ALMOST has more energy than I can handle!  (and if you know me, I have PLENTY of energy to keep up with the boys....but phew.....he can wear me out!  I like to think it's not because I'm getting old or anything....it's really more so because I don't understand his Arabic chatter.  Chasing him around the room is kind of tiring too.  lol

 This is a "new" addition to our days lately.  Apparantly, the 5th graders are being picked to be the "patrols".  These are the uniforms that real policemen wear in this country.  Becoming a policeman is the only thing these kids want to be when they grow up.  Now teachers, wouldn't you consider this to be a position EARNED by being good each week?  hmmmmmmmmmmmm.......  You WOULD THINK....right????? :) haha

I posted this little squirt for different reasons.  NOTICE the winter coat anyone?  Oh yes.  The boys have been coming to school in hoodies and thicker coats for the past 2 weeks.  WHY?  Not so sure.  It's still in the 80's here.  And--IT'S NOT COLD PEOPLE!  Granted.... the past week or so, I have not been standing through our 45 minute long OUTDOOR assemblies with sweat dripping down my face, back, and legs. 

And we will end on my proudest moment of the week!  SUCCESS!  No one died (meaning: moreso me from a panic attack or sudden high blood pressure).  Everyone had fun.  Some boys spoke for the very first time.  Others, recognized letters for the first time.  And others.... just enjoyed the touch, and probably the taste (EEK) of play-doh.  :)  I feel accomplished and triumphant! 

 

Now, let's see if we can pull it off again this week!!!?!

 

Insha-allah.:)