I’ve been in the Emirates now for two weeks, and feel like I’ve adjusted to life in Al Ain pretty quickly.  My classes began on Monday, and everything went quite well.  I am a 1st grade teacher, and I have a class of 29 students (which is quite a change for me, since my largest class in the past had been 14).  I feel like I’m teaching at the UN or something.  There are students from at least 10 different countries in my class (Sweden, USA, UK, Morroco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan etc.).  The little Swedish girl can already speak 4 lanuages- Swedish, Chinese, English, and French!  And did I mention she is 5 years old!!

All of the kids are much better at English then I had expected.  Some seem nearly fluent, so that’s been a nice change.  I teach the kids pretty much all of the subjects like Math, Phonics, Art, Science, Spelling, Reading etc.  (Luckily there is a music teacher who comes in and sort of takes over the class for me, otherwise I’d feel sorry for those kids having to listen to me sing!)  I am also teaching a special class with 2 4th grade boys who are new to the school and need extra help at English, so they can catch up with the rest of the 4th graders.  (It’ s really nice to have such a small class after dealing with 29 5&6 year olds all day.)

This month is Ramadan, so pretty much everyone in the country is fasting from sun up to sun down for the entire month.  Which means that stores and things are closed for most of the day.  Also, our school hours are shortened, which has been a nice way of easing into the classes.

I became a member of the Intercontinental Hotel earlier this week, which I’m really happy I decided to do!  (Intercon is a nice hotel, with a gym and a bunch of outdorr pools.  They also do belly dancing classes that I want to take with some of my friends.)  So my basic daily routine has been- going to school from 8-2, go home and chill out for a bit, then going to the Intercon and swimming/laying around by the pool, and working out.  (I feel like I’m on vacation at a resort in the Caribbean or something every afternoon!  The pools are really nice, and have a swim up bar, waterfall, jacuzzis, and a lap pool.) 

We have been eating way too much at the food court in the mall, but just the other day we found a nice little Indian restraunt near our apartment where you can get a huge meal for about $3 or $4.  So I’ll definetly be going there regularly,  you know how much I like Indian!  And yesterday I found a little carry out place that serves falafel and kebabs.  (For about $1 you get a pita filled with lamb, chicken, or falafel, with a nice yogurt type sauce, and some lettuce.  It was super yummy, and you can’t beat the price!)