Enjoying Hajj :)

We get two weeks off for Hajj, and I have been enjoying it tremendously.  We have been able to see many different parts of Jeddah, including the not so pretty parts.  Here are some pictures of what we have done so  far:

Jungle Land...a small amusement park we went to with one of the Arabic teachers.  We rode this ride that spun us around and upside down with our abayas flapping in the wind and our bare feet dangling in the air.

Me and the Canadian teachers outside Jungle Land.  I love these girls :)

One of the private Western beaches where we can wear normal bathing suits.

Another view of the beach.  When I'm at one of these beaches, I feel like I'm no longer in Saudi Arabia.

Red Sea boat trip

Here are pictures from our boat trip on the Red Sea.  It was so beautiful and relaxing! What a great way to kick off our vacation :)

Walking through "Diver's Village" down to the boat.

Curious cultural pics

Every mall has a mini amusement park inside for the kids.

This ride was under construction, but looks like a water rafting ride.

This is the front of the Mall of Arabia, one of the biggest malls in Jeddah.

This is one of the souks, closed for prayer.

It's so deserted on the weekend during prayer.

Boom Boom Pow

My 1st grade boys continually surprise me by their behavior (good and bad), academic progress (they are picking up more and more English), and funny things like singing lyrics to English songs I didn't expect them to know. Today, three of my boys suddenly started singing the Black-Eyed Peas song "Boom Boom Pow". They knew more of the lyrics than I did! I'm not sure if they liked it because it had the words "boom" and "pow" in it (typical boys), but I was shocked that 1st grade Saudi boys would know that song! They were so cute and so serious. Then, later that morning, we were creating a mural of the four seasons. The boys who were drawing pictures to represent Spring (some of the same ones who were singing "Boom Boom Pow") decided to add Michael Jackson to their picture. They even gave him an umbrella since it rains in the Spring...and of course a microphone so he could sing. I'm not sure if they know he's dead, but one of my boys idolizes him. He wants to be like Michael Jackson when he grows up, and can even do the moon walk. I have a feeling I'm gonna miss my boys after two weeks of being away from them. But tomorrow I plan to enjoy the sunshine, the Red Sea, and being away from kids for a change.

Hospitals in Jeddah

I have been well the whole time I have been here. I'm used to being sick with a cold this time of year. However, two days ago I came down with a sudden, severe cough. My asthma was affected by it, so I was unable to breathe very well. My inhaler was expired, so I contemplated going to the pharmacy the next day. However, I wasn't sure if they would be open on a Friday - or what times they would be open. I tossed and turned all night with a cough, fever, and headache keeping me up. As soon as it was light out, I made up my mind to go to the hospital.
Now, you might be thinking, "Hospital? Was it that serious?". Well, the hospitals work a little differently here than in the U.S. The doctor's offices are within the hospital, so you could go to the hospital for a wellness visit or something serious. I was a little nervous going, since I had not been to a hospital here before. I was also by myself, since it was early in the morning on our weekend, and I was hoping that someone there would speak English.
I called a cab, and when I arrived I was directed to the Emergency Room. This was the only section of the hospital that looked open at this time of day on a Friday (their Sabbath). I was asked for my insurance card, my temperature and blood pressure were taken, and a female doctor came to ask me my symptoms. I was then escorted to a women's only room where I was put on a nebulizer. After my breathing treatment, they gave me a prescription for meds for my cough, fever, and headache, as well as a new inhaler. I paid 25 riyals (less than $7 USD) to open a file at the hospital and was directed to the pharmacy within the hospital to pick up my meds. Because I used the hospital's pharmacy, I did not have to pay a single riyal for my medication. So, my trip to the ER in Jeddah cost me $7 USD and I was in and out within an hour! I think I like this healthcare system...or maybe I just came at a good time of day?
I am feeling quite a bit better today, but I still have a cough and headache. I took the day off work - my first sick day this year. The hard thing about taking days off is that the school does not have a list of substitute teachers to call in. My principal is actually going to be teaching my students for part of the day, and then other teachers will be asked to cover my class at certain times of the day when they have a break. I feel guilty about taking a sick day and putting more work on the other teachers, but there's no way I would have been able to teach today when my breathing is still not back to normal.
Ask our Father:
* For my health to improve
* That the break we have starting next week will be rejuvenating
* That I will have boldness to speak the Good News to those around me
* That those around me will see J***s in my actions and speech

Internet troubles

Our internet at our apartments has not been working for the past week and a half. The internet at school is off and on. I am typing this at school during my break, so it will be short and sweet.
I just wanted to thank all of my readers for their encouraging words and prayers. My students are settling in to a routine, and I am falling in love with them more and more each day. They are now able to come in to class, put their folders and agendas in the bucket, and get started on their morning handwriting practice. They are even picking up some of the phrases and songs I use in class, and remind each other of the rules/routines. They have improved so much since the beginning of school.
We had parent input meetings last week, and all of the parents that showed up were very supportive and encouraging. A couple of days ago, we were invited to the home of one of the students in another teacher's class. It was just ladies, and we chatted about all sorts of things for three hours, while enjoying good Arabic food. The house was huge! The sitting room had about 7 or 8 couches in it, and four or five coffee tables. They also had an elevator inside the house. The decor was beautiful and the hostess was very hospitable. I wish I had pictures, but it would have been rude to take pictures in their house.
We have one more week until Hajj break. We will be off of school for two weeks, and I have already had many students absent. I'm not sure if they decided to take an early vacation, or they are just sick. I'm not complaining too much, because it makes my class of 25 down to about 20. During Hajj, the teachers are planning on sightseeing, going snorkeling, and shopping in Old Jeddah. All of the teachers are ready for a break, but we're a little worried about the students forgetting routines after a two week break.
I have to go now, but I appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers!

Videos, finally!

The tallest fountain in the world!

Listening to the evening call to prayer from our roof. There's not much to see, I just was recording the sound.

Pics of my classroom :)

Here are some pictures of my frog themed classroom.  I won't be including any pictures of my students, for safety and privacy reasons, but they are adorable!

My job chart - which I haven't taught to the students yet.  I plan on introducing it next week.

First week of school :)

I survived! My first week of school was crazy, but I still want to teach next week, so that's saying something.  All of the teachers were totally surprised by the behavior of the students the first day of school. By lunch time, I was thinking to myself "I am the worst teacher ever.  Why can't I get these kids to listen to me?".  Thankfully, after talking with the other teachers, it seemed as if everyone was feeling that frustration.  These kids have been out of school for about 4 months and many are up late every night, so it was understandable that they would be a little tired, rambunctious, and/or not used to school procedures.  However, we were all shocked by their inexperience with standing in lines, raising their hands to speak, and other typical expected school behaviors.  By the end of the first day, I was seriously considering going back to the States.  I got punched twice in the face by one of my students, had to chase after multiple students throughout the day who ran off down the hall, attempted to teach over four or five crying students, and re-injured my knee while dragging a student to the principal the first day (we both somehow tripped and ended up on the floor).

The Red Sea

We celebrated our last day before school starts with a day at the beach!  I was so excited because I finally got to swim in the Red Sea.  The water is so salty that you barely have to do anything to stay afloat.  Out of habit, I started treading water until one of the other teachers said, "Try being still for a minute.  You'll still float."  And sure enough, I did!  Every once in awhile, I found myself doggie paddling, and had to force myself to stop and just relax, trusting the water to hold me up.  It was a foreign concept for me, especially since there weren't waves to hold me up - just salt.  By the time I got home, there was dried salt all over me.  I'm not used to that much salt drying on me.  It was even in my eyebrows!