Kids are just so freaking cute.

Yesterday was my first day as an SK teacher! I had 22 little munchkins show up to school yesterday, and boy oh boy are they adorable! I swear, they have the cutest faces in the whole entire world, and I didn't realize how much smaller than last-year's grade 1s they'd be! I'm happy to announce that yesterday went very well, despite parents walking in at all sorts of hours to drop their kids off, and despite some kids being so shy and scared to enter the class (for some it was their first day of school EVER) that they kicked and cried. I mean, who can blame them? They see this weirdo white girl telling them to come sit on a carpet... I'd probably cry too if I was them!

Overall, I think I have a great bunch of kids! My girls are just the cutest, and I've already had some draw pictures for me and tell me they love me. The boys are a tougher crowd and I already see some strong personalities coming out! Some of them are already becoming leaders, while some are the followers. Some don't like to do anything at all, but hopefully that will change! Yesterday and today were full of getting-to-know-you activities, colouring, crafts, and puzzles. My goodness do these kids love puzzles!

I'm so glad to have such an amazing team this year as well. I really think their support has made me a more confident teacher and I'm really excited to be working with this fantastic group this year! And you know what? I really think that I'm meant to teach the little ones, not just because they're really cute, but because I really enjoy it so far! Their minds are such sponges! I had kids who didn't say a word due to lack of English vocabulary who were saying the numbers and asking for water or to go to the bathroom by themselves today! Little accomplishments go a long way!

Unfortunately, with the beginning of school comes waking up at ridiculous hours in the morning in order to get to work for 6:30! My head is already pounding from the lack of sleep!

Let's hope the rest of this week continues to be as good as the last two days! (Hopefully I didn't just jinx it saying that!)

Kuwait, Round 2!

I'm baaaack! Back in the Middle East, back in Kuwait, back in the classroom!

Year 2 in Kuwait has started, and although I'm still suffering from severe jet lag due to a ridiculous 14 hour flight to Dubai from Toronto, it feels like I never left this sand box!

Kuwait is the exact same as when I left, with the exception of the Shrimpys (fast food) which they opened at the end of my street and an even eerier-sounding Call to Prayer which now conveniently sounds at 3:00am, and still manages to make the think the world is ending. There is also the addition of several new teachers.

Another difference from this year to last is that I am now teaching Senior Kindergarten! How awesome is that?! I loved my kids last year because they were just so freaking cute, and now this year they'll be even cuter! Unfortunately, it also means I will be really testing my classroom management abilities this year! But I have a classroom probably three times the size of last year and it's already almost finished! (stay tuned for pictures!)

But with the good always comes the bad: I really miss everyone back home. It was so nice to be able to spend time in both Toronto and Ottawa where I got to see my favourite people (and my cats!)

That being said, I just came back from the Old Souk (Souk Mubarakiya) tonight to celebrate a friend's birthday! The Souk is the typical Middle Eastern market that you might picture, with lots of people selling spices, fruits, and meats. However, there is also a section with "hole-in-the-wall" restaurants which have the most delicious food! Everything is fresh, and is made right there. You can get fish, shish taouk (chicken on a stick), or even lamb (which I don't eat). It's also the only place that seems to have hummus that I actually like in Kuwait! People here tend to add too much tahini and not enough garlic!  It was a great evening getting to see friends again and sharing stories from our busy summers!

Now, if only I could get over this jet lag a bit easier, life would be perfect!

Kuwait vs. Canada

It's just 24 days until I go back to Kuwait! How did two months go by so quickly?! To  celebrate my summer and to get used to the idea of going back to Kuwait, I've decided to compile a list of things I like about Canada and Kuwait, respectively. Here it goes:

Canada:

• going for walks without over heating
• GREEN.
• there is hardly any litter in the streets
• the air smells so fresh, even in Toronto
• cheaper shopping
• better stores to shop at
• people own pets and don't abuse them (not saying all Kuwaitis abuse pets... just saying some do...)
• my friends and family
• people can swim in the water at the beach
• pubs and bars
• wearing shorts isn't frowned upon
• tank-tops are also allowed
• so is showing your neckline
• and your knees
• there are many pretty flowers
• wild life like squirrels and birds, instead of dumpster cats and pigeons
• I can still practice my Arabic
• I can leave my windows open without fear of immense heat or dust storms
• I can drive without feeling like I am about to commit suicide
• hot yoga

Kuwait:

• it's summer all the time!
• even when it gets cold, there is not enough humidity for snow
• I have a job
• new friends
• sand storms (which are  pretty neat, especially when I get a day off work!)
• life is easy
• shopping is a national pass-time
• so is eating
• close to countries I want to travel to
• cats are the equivalent to squirrels
• I know people with sweet boats

Maybe it's just that I am not wanting to go back to work yet, but I can't think of anything else for Kuwait! 

Anyone else care to add to either list? Leave a comment!

Busy busy busy!

Asalaamaliakum people!

It's been a long, long time since I've posted anything! The past few months have been busy! Even months later, thuogh, some things still stay the same - like the fact that I have bronchitis again because of all the dust in the air! Coughing is one thing I definitely won't miss when I leave Kuwait!

The countdown begins! 6 more weeks left of school, 40 days until I am on a plane back to Canada! I can't wait! I really don't know how kids stay in school for 10 months of the year... I am beyond exhausted with the amount of work that has been done, and is still coming up! Our school is getting accredited this year, and along with that (although it's kind of an interesting process) comes a lot of paper work, on top of an already busy schedule of marking, writing reports, trying to cover up the rest of the curriculum expectations... without losing your mind!

February spoiled me though. Every week was a short week and I got to go to Egypt AND Dubai! Both fantastic places! Egypt is one of those places that seems to interesting and magical because we learn about ancient Egypt in Grade 4 usually, and all we hear about is the temples and the pharohs and the valley of the kings, we see mummies and Egyptian artifacts in museums... it's hard to imagine it being a real place! The Valley of the Kings was my favourite place. To see the ancient Egyptian paintings and such is simply amazing. I got to go into the tomb of King Tut  and saw his mummy! So interesting. Floating down the Nile on a little boat, it's hard to imagine just how much history there is there! A weekend in Luxor was definitely not enough!

The following weekend I went to Dubai with some people from school. Let me tell you  - I friggin LOVE Dubai! It was so much warmer than Kuwait, and I got to tan in my bikini on a beach, while a man in a dishdasha (the white dress they wear) went by on a camel. Dubai is really fantastic because there's so much history combined with new architecture and a more "Western" culture. It makes it hard to believe you're in the Middle East still! I also got to see a friend from Queen's in Dubai, which was a nice little reminder of home!

March was a long, long, long month... I thought it was never going to end! Maybe that's only because I was so anxious to go to Italy for Spring Break at the beginning of April! That was a fantastic trip. I think no matter where in the world I go, Italy will always be my favourite. I love Italian food, Italian language, Italian people... everything. Jordan and I stayed for three days in Rome before going down to the south and visiting Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri. Capri has always been one of my favourite places in the world, and I was sad we only had a day there, but it was great to go back. Jordan and I joked about going back to Sorrento for a month or so, being super poor... but that would actually be fantastic. I'd be a fatty for sure, but the beautifulness of Sorrento would be so worth it! We spent the last few days in Rome again, where it rained for the most part. We spent the only sunny day inside the Vatican, which Jordan had never been to, and I got to see my favourite painting - the School of Athens. I really was so sad to go back to Kuwait after Italy...

After Italy, my sister came to visit Kuwait! We had such a fabulous time! She left this morning, and already I'm sad and lonely (quite pathetic, I know.) She got to ride a camel, go to a ball (and won a trip to Dubai!!) which got shut down because of lack of dancing permits (I'm serious) and then got to experience what it's like to be a teacher! My kids absolutely loved her, and she was super helpful to me! I'm happy I got to show her around. We went to the Souq Mubarakiya (an interesting "traditional" market where you can buy almost anything), the Friday Market (again, a market where you can buy anything, including used clothing and garage-sale stuff... Stef bough an Arabic teapot!) , out to Brunch at the Crowne. We went for a walk along the beach, and even got to experience a sand storm! That's probably why we're both coughing so much!

So now it's the countdown til the end of the year. I am going to Bahrain this coming weekend for a friend's birthday, and then it's Spring Concert, Report card, and packing time! You know, I'm really going to miss my students. They turned out to be such fantastic little kids, and although it was a struggle, I'm sure it has given me great insight into teaching SK next year!

Report cards, International Week, and going to the zoo!

Wow, it's been a long time since I last wrote! Got back in January and got so crazy busy with life! Being back in Kuwait since Christmas has been good. I enjoyed coming back to a familiar place and it didn't seem so lonely this time after seeing my family and friends over the winter holiday!

School's been an asbolute basket case since January, especially with report cards. I'm not sure if every teacher despises them as much as I do, but writing them to parents who 1) don't care about their chíld's progress and 2) yell at you is all the more stressful! In any case, got those done and Í really felt proud of them afterwards. It was like being back in University when I had a very long and tedious paper to write... and the moment I finished the last sentence and hit save was like heaven. THAT'S how I felt about these reports!

On to more exciting things! The thing I liked best in high schoo was always International Week, and so I was so happy when we did it at our school! Each class picked a country and had to do a little something-something for other classes who would visit, be it bake food, sing a song, or teach them how to count to 10 in another language! My kids have an obsession with soccer and so they chose Brazil. I won't lie, I was a little stressed trying to get things organized but with the help of an amazing EA and fantastic parents, our class was transformed into the Amazon Rainfoest, complete with trees painted on the walls, vines hanging from the ceiling, and paper parrots flying around the class. We even had stuffed jungle animals! The kids loved it! We decided to do a presentation with facts about the Amazon and about Brazil, with each kid saying a part. I was suprised at how great they were! I'm a little biased because I'm their teacher (of course!) but the kids learned to dance the samba, learned to say some things in Portugese, AND remember their lines! I used to despise my kids for being loud and not afraid to say anything, but it definitely paid off during their moments to shine when other classes came in. The best part? The kids were proud of themselves! Obrigado (thank you) Grade 1s for making Ms. Krista so happy to be your teacher!

We went on our FIRST field trip yesterday to the Kuwait Zoo! Again, my kids did nothing but surprise me! The Kuwait Zoo, as one can imagine, is pretty brutal. The animals were going nuts, you could tell, and the pens were not big enough for these wild animals! But the kids were great. We talked briefly about rules to follow while at the zoo, expecting them to say things like "No hitting, no leaving your teacher," etc. (you know, basic safety) but they went further to discuss rules when interacting with the animals. "If you shout" one Grade 1 said, "the lion will wake up! He will be scared and roar and bite your head off!" Of course, the lion will not actually bite their heads off, but if it'll make them listen, all the better! I was worried that the kids would run off and that one of the kids would actually somehow get into the lion cage (it wouldn't surprise me the slightest!) but they actually stayed with me the whole time. They were fascinated by the animals and asked intelligent questions, and some great responses! The peacocks were showing off like they do at most zoos, and after explaining to them that the pretty ones are actually the boys and that the brown ones were girls, one little girl says "Boys always get the nice things. But they need to look pretty so people will like them. That's why it's okay if girls wear the abaya! We're better!" Smart little girl, that one!

I have one student in particular who, since the first day of school, I have been unable to control. He is disrespectful in every way possible (think it, and he's done it!) and is so defiant that he has not completed a single page of work in seven months! I was definitely considering not taking him on this trip because I was SURE he'd get us kicked out of the zoo. In order not to lose my little wandering students, I paired each of them up. I paired above-mentioned boy (let's call him Bobby.. obviously not his name in this culture) with a space-case boy (let's call him Mikey) who is so low he should not be in Grade 1 right now. I knew something here wasn't going to go well, but what are you going to do when you promised all the other kids could pair up with whomever they wanted? However, I was shocked. Bobby took Mikey under his wing and made sure he didn't wander off to get into any danger. I have never been more proud of Bobby in all the months I have been his teacher. He definitely got a happy face on his behaviour chart that day!

Alright people, I'm getting tired. Bronchitis and a fever will do that to you! Sigh.

The Special Chair and Other Things

I'm back in Kuwait after a wonderful trip back home to colder, damper Canada, and you know what? It's good to be back. Who in their right mind would chose -20 weather over +20 weather? NOT I! While it was great to be home anf see my family, friends, and the boyfriend, the hugs I got from my students the first day back made it all worth it! They're adorable! They actually asked how Canada was, and if I could show them pictures of my dog!

Before the break, I had introduced a new beheviour management idea where students get points for good deeds, working quietly, sharing with their friends, and being overall good student. If every student had 3 or more points by the end of the week, they'd get a treat. Although they really enjoyed decorating the cookies I brought in the week before Christmas, this week I decided to do something a little different: I introduced the Special Chair! The Special Chair is basically just a big red plastic chair, but whoever has the most points at the end of the day gets to sit on it the following day. Wow, are my kid's ever helpful and well-behaved! Of course they still have their moments (they are Grade 1s afterall) but it's getting better! They are so into it that they even tell me to give other people points for good deeds! Let's hope it continues this way!

This week we also did an activity where they each had a number written from one-twenty on a piece of paper, and they had to put themselves into order without my assistance (diagnostic) and I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. Earlier in the year, I had students try to do an activity where they had to break into partners and ask each other questions, and they didn't do anything. I guess my students were not familiar with group and partner work, and due to this, I didn't think they'd be able to work co-operatively. The results were stunning. In less than 3 minutes (I checked) the students had lined themselves up, with the help of two students who have become natural leaders in the classroom.Even though it was such a simple activity, I was really happy to see that they succeeded in working as a group, and I felt really proud to be their teacher!

For less school-related stuff, I went ATVing in the desert yesterday! One of my friends heard about a get-together/party in the desert at some Kuwaiti's tent/camp and so we decided that it sounded like fun! Now, when I pictured a tent in the desert... well, I pictured a tent in the desert! Very primitive, very sandy, nothing else around. Instead, it was a camp set up with four or five huge tents which housed real beds, tables, etc and their bathrooms have running water. I was shocked. This is camping to them! What surprised me the most is that come summer with the hot temperatures, they have to take down their elaborate camps and set them back up again next fall when the weather gets cooler. Apparantly it's government law to make sure people don't get bitten by scorpions and snakes and stuff, which makes sense, but I would definitely stick to my easy-to-set-up tent if I were Kuwaiti! It was a lot of fun though. There was food, ATVs that we drove around, a random horse which Rachel and Shauna rode, and a man-made lake!

Long post for now, so I'll stop. It's nice to be back in Kuwait with an easy, but jetlagged, beginning to the new year!