More Than This

I have finally hit my first wall after another good, productive and slightly shortened week.  Feeling high on my ability to cope with the culture and the demands on us as teachers, I had a few 'home made' drinks (only the second time I have consumed alcohol since I have been here) out at a compound on the eastern side of the city.  A night which was originally just meant to be about visiting another hotel and checking out a wedding video I had put together, turned into a longer session surrounded by mostly middle-aged female nurses, who were in post baby-shower party mode.  It was partly worth the trip but was spoiled by the general antics of some participants.  By the end, I was being Mr.Sensible, making sure my fellow boys were safely in a taxi and, subsequently, back at the hotel.  Today (Thursday) I have a cold, but I will attempt to shake it off before returning to work on Saturday.

The working week had been shortened again, by royal decrees announced by King Abdullah.    Again, the announcements are better summarised by http://saudiwoman.wordpress.com/.  


A big thank you for not taking in protests, the further monetary incentives and 'bribes' seem to keep the patroitism flying, but it is still not enough for some.  However, as saudiwoman commented, "I’m not worried {though}. Good things come to those who wait. What with 125,000 Saudi students abroad being exposed to a world beyond a Saudi life deeply entrenched in prideful denial, traditions and the opposite of critical thinking. And then about 40% of the population under 14 being raised in the new media age, change is just a matter of time."

Back on campus, this week's critical thinking exercises continued with socratic dialogues about fallacies, which worked very well once they had agreed to be videoed.  I was very happy with the way the 'pracitce' for next week's assessment turned out, on a day when most students drifted of early to study for their maths exam the following day.  I do feel that there is more than just teaching some of these young adults about 'English'... my sociological background infuses some of the discussions.  I am loving teaching my main class - the Level 6's - even more so that two-thirds are registering to take IELTS exams in a months time.  I still wish the Level 7's would show more motivation than they do.  The only two who turned up yesterday asked for permission to go to a mosque for prayers for the sister of one of my other students, who suddenly died.


I lost my teaching partner, Riaz, this week.  He suddenly ended up in hospital after a slip in one of the slippery bathrooms on campus.  He aggrevated a dodgy knee and it is unlikely we shall we see him at work for a couple of weeks.  I raised the issue of his classroom having a series of cover teachers... because it is not good for me or the students.  I may have to do more IELTS prep with my class and, if possible, teach them for longer.  



This week, the first tentative enquiries about interest in returning to the project went out.  I declared my own interest, although I don't feel in my heart of hearts that I will return.  Although it will prove to be a successful contract for me, I think I need to move onto something else.  In the meantime, I was offered 6 weeks at the Leys and, despite initially thinking I wouldn't do this summer, I have accepted once more - it is my second home, after all.  It also acts as something to fall back on should I leave this project early, for whatever reasons.  I don't believe on this occasion I will do a 'Michael Yardy' - my confidence is generally high and in tact - such a difference from just a couple of months ago.  Why certain situations work and others don't, I can never be entirely sure.  But I do know some of the factors which help.  Sunshine is one of them.

I certainly got plenty of exposure to the sun at the 'Edge of the World' last Friday.  A long journey into the desert, including an hour long rally across soft sands.  Our 2WD sedan got stuck in the Acacia Valley Wadi and had to be rescued.  Luckily two 4WDs were on hand - one to pull the vehicle free and another with spare seats to take us the rest of the way.  The 'Edge of the World' is a colloquial name for an area of high rocks and vantage points over a barren, 'wadi' landscape.  Beautiful, rocky scenery. Dry and precarious.  Popular with 'hashers', and a decent BBQ.  It is good to get out of the city and it counts as my weekly exercise (I still haven't joined a gym, and a swimming pool still remains elusive - terrible excuse, because they do exist in gyms and at compounds).   

One of the nurses at the compound I visited on Wednesday commented about the neccessity to join all the ex-pat communities.  She had been living there for a couple of years and the compound obviously gave her a little piece of home - an oasis in the desert.  But I can't help feeling that being an ex-pat comes with a certain exclusivity that keeps them separate.  They scoffed at the fact we were living in a hotel by choice.  The Hash, equally, has strong elements of an ex-pat coping device.  I can take it AND leave it.  I happy enough in my hotel room, with Luke.  I am more than happy enough with the job I am doing. Life is generally good!

TP