Party at Arak

There are times when I feel like I'm in the old television series, MASH. Instead of being surgeons in Korea, we are ESL teachers in the Emirates, but we are still doing a tour of duty over seas far away from our families. I'm more of a Honeycut (married with kids), than a Hawkeye (single but cynical). I fret and worry about what I'm missing out of at home, I have anxiety about the old roof on our house and the walnut tree's limbs not being trimmed, and how is that old double glider holding up? Those who have pets will also understand how much I miss my dark sheltie, Sammy. Ah, she's a beautiful creature, friendly but not fawning and the obedience of a sheep dog is deeply bred into her. But I won't bore you with tales of my dog. I just miss it all. So, being far away from friends, family and loved ones makes getting together and connecting with all the people here pretty important.

At the ESL program in our University, everyone is a temporary worker. People come and go. That's because there really isn't much incentive to stay long term. While the salary isn't bad, there are many places here that offer quite a bit more. There are no raises here, no retirement, only the minimum that is legal for health insurance is offered, no educational fee compensation, no married housing--and that's a big factor. People who have no commitment and only themselves to care for are free to leave at anytime and often "pull a runner"when they can't stand it any more. So when the going gets tough, the tough start going, as in leaving.

I'm afraid I've mentioned a lot of negative factors here. There is a lot I also like about working here. I love my students. The Emirati men are the best group of men I have ever met. I find them gracious, charming, and generous. When I first started teaching there, I was a bit put off by behaviours that I thought were rude, such as answering cell phones in class, talking while other students were presenting or getting up and walking out of class at odd times. But I have started to realize that this is a cultural phenomena, that rudeness is not intended, and the truth is that they are very respectful of the teacher according to the rules of their culture. In fact, respect for the teacher is a huge value. I am treated like a royal.

I also like my fellow teachers. Expat ESL teachers here come from all over the world and I have loved the cultural exchange that goes with it. I am so rich for knowing St. Joseph, from Kenya, Kyle from Texas, Jo Jo and Evans from Cameroon, Keveen was from France, people from, Canada, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, England, and everywhere in the world. It is so cool to go to parties like this one and have fun. It is a relief from the stress, isolation, and alienation that can happen while living for a long period of time in a country that is not one's own.

I've taken a long time to express my gratitude to the people who put these parties together. They are important.