Astounding Florence assumes the Cloak of Elegance

So many shops... so much material!



The Textile souq is huge.... like really really huge! We only saw a little bit of it... in two hours.


I could get anything and have anything made.... which is what I will do  once I have done the Wednesday night markets near The Avenues!

What to buy ? What to have made? IT is easy to fall in love but it is harder to keep that love alive when you realise it was like a summer holiday love affair! So because this divine hot pink, blinged long flowing robe is awesome in Kuwait does not give it a place elsewhere where it becomes a little like  Dior at Salamanca markets!

So my friend took a few pics of me and my trials... and I took a few pics of the mannequins in garment thaat are not for me but are stunning in the elegance!

Florence Ponders the Meaning of Life

When I began this whole Middle East idea, from the beginning of June, I received so many different comments from people.

The first group were excited and pleased that an adventure was soon to be mine and in a place like this? Who knew what it would be like!

The second group were a little more hesitant and gave a few gasps before admitting that it would be a bit of a thrill to head into the great unknown .

And then the last group said loudly" What do you want to go there for?" , thus inferring that they had all the goss on Kuwait and were intimately aware of this place.

Let me now reassure all that at no time have I been exposed to the dangers such as those who travel to London are. At no time have I felt any kind of threat... in fact this place is just the opposite.

It is more safe than Salamanca  on a Friday night. No drunken brawls and pissed idiots out for a fight. I find the people here to  be kind and deeply respectful. Obviously it is not all great for those who do not fit the professional level of service to Kuwait but I am aware of my need to be respectful to all.
The kindness I have been shown, not only by the ex pat staff , but especially by the Islamic women on staff , has been extremely heartwarming. I was asked, the other day, what my impression of Kuwait was. I answered that kindness was obvious and it was a pleasure to see it practiced. I have not found it to be common in Western society even though we all have that capacity but it seems to be a covert thing often. ( All my wonderful friends are excepted from this broad claim).
However, Kuwait has little natural beauty expect for the Gulf area which is wonderful. Otherwise it is sand and date palms! The beauty comes from the colours of the sun on the water, on the buildings, shading the early morning sky. It comes from the elegance of the Kuwaiti women in their flowing robes and sharp whiteness of the men's dishdashas, contrasting with the pale surrounds.
There is an innocence to the girls I teach - their world does not contain wild Saturday nights of booze and drugs( please do not take this as being representative of the girls I have been teaching in Hobart as they were pretty amazing and not the ones I refer to) . They do not come to school coming down from a weekend of partying and all it entails.... It is a different world.
Tomorrow will be a foray into the textile Souq where I intend to find material and have some clothes made.... they say it is great. I also am keen to check out the Arabian Gulf pearls but will keep that for another day....

Florence of the Night - an adventure into the wilds of the Kuwaiti dark

It really has cooled down - last evening at the Marina Mall was like a wet season evening at Port Douglas. I love that feel as it envelops one..... I saw a frangiapanni yesterday- it was an image of struggle and obstacles to overcome.BUT it was growing!

One of my students showed me an image of a bush bursting into flame- the temperature had reached 60deg and that was this year in June/July. She told me it happened quite a few times across the city...

A roam around Marina Mall and then a night at the movies- this was after the Friday Brunch at Movenpick . representing Australia in the midst of Canadians and other strange speaking cultures.

The Kuwaitis are sensible - they do not become part of the heat of the day and reserve their energies for the night.
Thus

The Marina Mall is right on the beach, complete with its own marina, as one might logically expect.
The photos I show depict the attire and the absolute number  of people who roam the beach .

and in conclusion , I had wanted to show the movie theatre.... it was HUGE  and every single person in the theatre is clearly able to see the screen( unlike the State Theatre)... and the chairs are divine.... inclined and laid back!

Watched Kingsman

Tiger sharks circling net, seeking bikini clad bait......

Well, that might be a strange title but check out the photo:

 The morning gathering has begun and we watch as shark bearing jet skis and motor boats speed into view, intent on  lurking at the net, awaiting the unwary prey....

Its a bit of a circus actually as all these tanned young men parade around on jetskis , waiting for the lone bikini clad white babe who might be looking for a friend!  Two evaded the net this morning and created enormous unrest  when they sped into the bathing area, thinking to upstage the other lurking sharks and get first bite!

This is but one.... my video skills gave a great view which deteriorated  as my knee became the focus.... don't worry, as tomorrow it will be a repeat of today! You will get to see the lurking predators....... trolling the perimeter.

A few funny little things again. When I go anywhere that is not within a kilometer radius I get a cab. Usually it costs around 1-2 dinar so it is pretty cheap and easy to get around as there are many cabs roaming the streets... had a bad experience the other day though when one demanded more than I had agreed to pay... I handed him the money and got out but will be making use of the good drivers now- those who are know to a few people here.
People here are very used to the American or Canadian accent and they tend to understand it. They have great difficulty figuring out what I am saying though- some find my accent cute and others just cannot get what I am saying! I ordered food in and when I spoke to the guy on the phone, he had no idea what I was saying re my address so I had to text him!

This area where I live is  described by one US friend as the 'hood .  We do not sit amongst the "places to be" list! there is a big population of Indians and Pakistanis in this area, with many of them as the labourers who build these cement towers that surround us. Our local Grand Hyper Mart focusses on an Indian and Egyptian population so the spices and foods are representative of those nations- no problems there though.

And I have completed my second lesson of the Arabic alphabet and find that there is a block between the symbol and the understanding! I sat blankly last week thinking that I was blind, mentally limited or just ignorant- I was so lost that this week I asked my Home Group to help me - they are going to write their names in English and in Arabic so I can begin to learn what the symbols together mean.... I can see the symbols but joining them together is a mystery.

I had a few more epiphanies which have since faded from my mind but they will return after a sleep I am sure....

So, this morning I headed off to the gym and this is my view from the treadmill, with the main part of the city in the distance.

You can see the beach below which is a private one and the place where it is divine to just sit in the sun, read and watch those circling sharks!
And the teaching is great but the assessment is intense, constant, every lesson.... phew and it must all be recorded- very very formal re that. Everything we do is recrded for future viewing.... guess this means I might finally have to upgrade my admin skills!

Almost have finished the Civil ID process which will mean I can then travel out of the country as I wish........ should be about two more weeks.
This will be great!

Florence's Gulf Baptism.....

I did it!  I have swum in the Arabian Gulf

Yes I joined this  awesome health club at the beach - Al Corniche. Has pools ,spa, huge gym, private beach, restaurant...... very nice....



Brunch again at the Movenpick with a friend and many Canadians- friendly and good value. met an Australian couple and his Mum. was nice to har our quaint little accent again. I must add here that I heard Penny Wong speak the other day and I thought," She sounds really Australian!".  I  had never oticed it before but here my ear is constantly bombarded with the American accent .  Kuwait has been struck  by American cuisine!My tuning is wavering! Only with accents though.

Had already organised for a visitor's pass at the Corniche, via a friend...... so I got to check it out. Unfortunately I do not qualify for the Executive part- private, quiet and very very carpeted and gentle. I wonder if they actually sweat there? I will never know!

I settled for an afternoon on the beach, a swim in the Gulf and a parting with many dinar so I could regroup, reshape and whatever! I  will be there every day... it sits about 5 km from here where I live so a short cab ride each time .

AT the beach, the heat is less, the breeze is present and the radiant heat emanating from those concrete buildings is forgotten,,,,


and tomorrow?



Another day at the beach and  such. I cannot leave Kuwait at this stage as I have no Civil ID; they have my passport et al. So I am here! But I am thinking Oman might be the first place to go- it has a very diverse geography! Then Lebanon.... then Jordan... so much to do!

 

 Going home......

Florence Flies by Seat of Pants!

First week done! It is a whole new experience..... but then Kuwait is a whole new experience.
There are several things I will write about this afternoon . The first is that it is a bit strange to be beginning my weekend on Thursday afternoon... ready for a Friday morning brunch at Movenpick again...  Beginning work on Sunday feels as if it is not real and that we only work short weeks from Monday to Thursday. I am sure I will  get the hang of it..

Every morning at 6 a.m. I am on that bus to school, along with all the other women who teach at the Girls' Campus and live at H5.. a full bus! At work by 6.15, it is good to be able to get set up and organised  in yoour very own classroom that no other person uses . The girls arrive at about 7 although there are many there before... Life begins early here, before the heat removes the energy from the day and forces eye closure!

The  lessons are doable- 55 minutes is the longest and that is the first lesson... they decrease until 45 minutes for the last one of the day. It is so good to teach for that time... no time wasted at all. It is full on and dedicated time for learning unlike the ridiculous 100 minutes in Tasmania. I have a suspicion that the three blocks are purely about easy timetabling which causes several comments to rise up...... about things!!!!!! We have one timetabler for 7 lessons per day.... go figure!
I like what I am teaching and this week has been great for meeting the girls... the names will become familiar and the thing that amuses me is that instead of looking around the room and seeing would be blondes, it is a crowded room of dark haired young women! The girls are all and I mean all keen to do their best... they have already completed work set....  The one question that lingers is how much independent learning is happening...... that , I consider , might be an issue as there is a level of dependance that is not familiar to me but I love the enthusiasm. It doesnt matter where you but that enthusiasm is contagious as I have always found with the students.... and it is inspirational too!

So we have maids who clean and sweep and pick up rubbish and bring our photocopying to us. I have women who do my photocopying... It is a new thing!  And my teaching team is great.

It has been a good start for me and I know things settle out over the next few weeks but hopefully not too much. The girls get marks for their punctuality and respect etc - 10% of their final grade.

This weekend I think I will be trying out the Health Clubs......keen to be able to have another place to go without having to cover my shoulders.......
Photos will appear over the weekend.....

Wujud alwaqt almunasib wa'atamanaa lakum huna to you all!

No pics! Thats right... not one!The only photos taken were of my classes and that was so I could begin to identify them..... !

First teaching day- it was full on . Interesting thing is that at this school with its many classes of 35 per week and over 1000 on the campus, we have one timetabler for high school and one for Middle School...... how about that? That is the AP who does the timetabling...... interesting thought I had as memories sliced through my mind!

And it was flat out- but it was good.

I have a a very top  Biology class which will be awesome to take...... but they all seem pretty good and they are selected for this school as there are so many who wish to be there.
Left for school on the 6.a.m. bus and school began at 7.25 with HG...
and I was on duty outside
it was hot
I was hot

phew...

Home by 3.30 and off out tonight for my first Arabic lesson... a six week course so I can begin to write the alphabet

هناوجود الوقت المناسب وأتمنى لكم 

Expanding the Boundaries for Florence

Some funny things have happened since I arrived. Not only has Telstra come in for the kill( even though I have a Kuwaiti SIM and number now), but have already been pulled over by the police.

No I do not exaggerate.. only a little! Driving in the cab( there were three of us and the driver) and the flashing lights behind meant we were pinpointed! Driver's stuff checked and Lee, as he was in the front , had to produce his papers too. We  women were ignored and just sat! Apparently it has become more of a thing- people are randomly pulled over/stopped in the street and they must produce their papers. I carry mine with me at all times. At this stage, we only have photocopies of passports and work visas.Soon we will have our Civil IDs which must be on us all the time.
Are you surprised, given the position of Kuwait? I have no problem with this at all.


Today I have had a few cab rides some purposefully and others accidentally! This morning I brunched at the Movenpick Hotel with the Kuwaiti Canadian cohort- teachers, embassy folk, Shell workers and others. I existed as an honorary Canadian. Beautiful position , right on the beach and it was good to get back to being by the water, so I now know that Kuwait is more that sand! There I will have the opportunity for sailing,kayaking etc.....  So I travelled there in a cab. When I finished I wanted to go to the Marina Mall so I could get a printer(easier to print at home as we all know what wifi school printers do).... and because it was called to the hotel it was 3 KD..... off to the mall. Got the printer and took it home... another cab ride.....
Noone told me I needed a USB cable( no wonder it was so cheap)...................... back I went to the mall in a cab, clutching printer under arm. They were really nice back at the mall and told me that I had to purchase the cable separately. Being sensible I upgraded to a WiFi printer.... another cab ride home. By this time it was after three.  I had paid a fortune in cab fare.... 1KD = 4 AUD approximately....

Finally I got to work on writing the Environmental STudies Elective for Years 11/12.  Thank you Australian Curriculum. I will be teaching 4 classes of Biology and the Env. Sc. Not sure how many lessons but will be ok as we do 50 minute lessons.. and have seven per day... I nearly squealed with delight, then remembered that I do not squeal! School begins at 7 for us and 7.30 for the students. We finish at 2.30 with various breaks. . On Sunday, first day, we have parent orientation where the parents will come in and meet us and we will give them course outlines, modes of assessments and weightings for assessments. It is pretty structured- the American way! Testing is major form of assessment.....
So

I am trying to work .

Take a look at my morning....

 Very pink Australian

Feeling llike a MacBeth Character..... and surrounded by beauty

The heat is relentless- not just a blast of warmth but a full on oven environment and it is a wonderful thing to fall through the door into air conditioned comfort!  Mornings and evenings, it is fine but during the day it is burning. But still sweat pours down your back.... skin is well oiled!
But I like it.

The GRande Mosque was more than splendid- the dedication and spiritualty that is carved into the walls and the artistic calligraphy that flows around the room, manifest the spirit of creation. It is a beautiful place to be. Marble is used everywhere here but I cannot find where it all comes from- I am assuming that India and places to the east are suppliers but I did find  it mentioned( somewhere) that Yemen has marble deposits. I would like to know as marble is used in everything which implies an endless , local supply.
It is a beautiful stone- we have marble stairways in our building!
I cannot tell you of the mosque, with words and it is better that you look at the images

 The Courtyard

 The INterior

 Each block is for a person to pray on

 The tiles, the beauty

The Emir's Room for prayer.

 LAter at the Souk- hot and sweaty... will return another day. We had some great food though-tabbouleh, lamb, chicken, salad and bread... 5KD for 2

 The native wildlife ....

Gradual Revelations for Florence of the Overheated self

I am glimpsing a different world- one I was not aware of emotionally prior to this time. Intellectually , we recognise the difference in cultures and many people are open to those differences. Others fear the exposure to diversity and remain cocooned in a world of sameness, no moving, no changing and stagnating.

Last night we ( the new hires) went to a presentation by a cultural awareness group [ AWARE) and showed us the differences and encouraged all to remain open and to listen and to understand that as cultures , we are different. Our culture is so foreign to the Kuwaiti- our social mores and norms, our behaviours, the food we eat and our ways of being. These are all things that create our beliefs and values---- and we all know what values are don't we Ogilvie staff???????? Well we know what they arent anyway!

And then we ate- the most delicious feast and it was a feast- meats( chicken, lamb and beef) rices, salads and the sweets and deserts were absoute heaven. If you love fruit, pistachios, custardy things and nutty things and honeyed cakes... we all ate to overflowing cos it was pure heaven then emerged from this beautiful, marble floored building back into the heat, onto the bus and home to our own little homes.

ON our way out to the AWARE place, we went through Kuwaiti neighbourhoods , where there is so much building happening. There are huge mansions being constructed in the sandy surrounds- it looks so hot and it is burning ground. I believe that  the beauty happens inside the huidlings and I am yet to see that - it will happen when I am invited!

Prior to this we had visited the schools. The girls' school, where I will be , is quite old- the oldest building of them all . However , we still have marble floors! I am teaching right up the top, Floor three!. I am keen to begin! 

And beautiful mosaic floors on the outside of the Girls' Campus

The Boys campus is new and looks pretty good - more marble floors! And they have a small grassy area outside the primary area... lucky them as that is such a rarity here!

And so here we are... and today is an introduction to the Mosque with a visit to the Grand Mosque- i am really keen ... then off to the Old Souq...
Have to head back to IKEA this morning though as my bed needs a little bit of love- the mattress is HARD.. and I mean hard!