Catching Up

So, I missed October.  Whoops.

Partly it's because I forget.  And then when I do remember, I think, "My life is pretty boring (and a boring life in an exotic location is still a boring life).  Why would people ever want to read about my boring-ness?"  And then I remember how fantastic I am and think,  "Why wouldn't people want to read my ravings?" and then all the voices in my head start shouting at each other and I can't think straight. That's why it takes me awhile to write a new post.

As it is, I'm at school (it's lunch time) and I should be doing other things.  Work related things.  Things designed to benefit my students' musical learning and general well-being.

I can't be bothered right now.

See, I'm deadline driven, and the deadline is much more than 24 hours away, so I have plenty of time.  Or so I try to convince myself.

Anyway.

Backing up.

Since I last blogged, we had a week off of school for the big Eid (pronounced EEd), which is a huge holiday (similar to Christmas, which is how some of our Muslim staff explained it to me).  It was lovely.  I had to do a border run because my visa expired, so I spent the day in Dubai.  I went back to my old stomping grounds and was completely lost - the area I lived in, Al Barsha, is filled with tall apartment buildings.  The only thing that seemed familiar to me was the road by my former school - it was torn up for construction.  I ate at my favorite fast food Thai restaurant, and then later in the day I was going to go to the Cheesecake factory, when lo and behold, I saw it:  IHOP!!!!  There's an IHOP at the Mall of the Emirates.

I also made a stop at Ikea - had to buy some non-gaudy lamps and various and sundry storagey things.  I was delighted to find dried mango slices at the hyper market attached to Ikea.  Ah, mango slices.

For the rest of the week, I put my apartment in order.  Somewhat.  I got around to hanging things on my walls, rearranged a few pieces of furniture and slept.  And slept some more.  I drove around my town of Sohar, came to school (not to work of course, but to use the internet) and slept some more.  It was a great, restful vacation.

Since then it's been more of the same.  The exciting news is that even though my tourist visa expires today, my labor card and residence visa are practically ready.  Of course, that was the response I had 2 weeks ago, and even before our week long holiday.  Once I actually have those in my possession, I can apply for a phone line and have internet at home!  Hooray!  Netflix, I have missed you.

In school news, we are getting ready for our big music assembly this Thursday.  How it works here (for now; I don't really like it so I'll change it for next year) is every class performs on the same assembly.  There are very few evening events.  This will be a very informal gathering - the preschoolers will do a finger play (Tommy Thumb, Peter Pointer, Toby Tall Man, Robbie Ring Man and Polly Pinky - combined they are Family Fingers - will make an appearance), Kinders will play musical Duck, Duck, Goose, Grade 1 and 2 will demonstrate Rondo Form, Grade 3 will play Hot Cross Buns on that magical instrument, the recorder, Grades 4 and 5 will share a play party game and a longways dance, grade 6 will share a choreographed ostinato, Grades 7 and 8 will teach the audience the fight song they composed as a class, and the two after school choirs will sing.  Phew!  Plus, narration, plus announcements, all supposed to be done in 35 minutes!  Talk about a quick performance!

In other school news, the head of school told me he thought there is money somewhere to purchase $4100 US worth of Orff instruments -for this school year!  I sincerely hope that happens, because there's so much more that can be done (and yes, this formerly crazed Kodaly music educator has come around to the use of instruments in teaching music).

So.  That's pretty much everything.  All caught up.