My Weekends

It's Thursday for many of you, but for me it's the weekend. In most Arab countries the weekend is Thursday and Friday. Friday being equivalent to Sunday.

I'm still trying to figure out what these girls really want and what Saudi culture wants of them. It's interesting and frustrating at the same time.

It's interesting because it's new and gives me lots to think about, and it's frustrating because of the language barrier and because education is so much more than reading, writing and arithmetic. It  also entails respect, punctuality, listening and working well with others. It is so difficult to reinforce this to my students. They seem to want to brush everything off, but in the real world problems don't disappear and they are not solved by pouting or giggling.

As for me, I'm drained this week. My days are long, and it seems that everything that I do or say in the classroom is in vain. I'm also assessing my personal life. I know which road I want to travel career wise, but I would love to have a caring and sincere partner to take the journey with me. I am constantly wondering if he's out there, and is so, is he already in my life?......Things you think about when you're single and in Saudi....Anyway as always I will not be defeated. Faith, persistence and patience always yield great rewards!

Until next time,
Alex

Who's on Third?

Happy Easter Folks!

Frustrating week. It seems that I am in a situation, at work, where I am giving 100%, but I really don't know what the actual game plan is.  Western teachers are expected to behave in a professional, honest and straight forward manner, but are the students and Saudi culture in general ready for our demeanor?

Change is constant, and in some cases may take centuries. As such, I sincerely  hope that my presence here is making a significant  difference. I want my students to flourish, and I want them to accomplish all that their hearts' desire. However, Saudi Arabia isn't the world, and if they are going to do great things, they must realize what the world outside of Saudi expects of them. I hope I am in rhythm with the big picture.


On a more personal note.... It's getting warmer here every day . Summer clothes are displayed in all the shop windows, and the energy associated with warm weather seems to be everywhere. The students are restless. They are thinking about exams and vacation, and the teachers are just as restless, thinking about home, vacation and in some cases what they are going to do with the rest of their lives. If you can make in Saudi as a single Western woman, you can make it anywhere. Me...I'm trying to take it one day at a time.


Until next time,
Alex