Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Ghorbeh
I am a person who gets very attached to people and places that I suffer a lot when leaving them and find a big difficulty in adapting to new ones.I've experienced what's called culture shock more than once in my life, and I'm prepared for yet another one that's coming very soon.
The first time was when we moved to another city, leaving my friends, with whom I spent eleven years of my life, back. Despite being in the same country, the change was too much for me to bear. At school, I was surrounded by strangers instead of friends. I felt alienated and heart-broken. I used to call my friends and send them letters telling them how miserable I was without them. I didn't want to study anymore, I hated everything and everyone in my life, my school, my classmates, my teachers, everything. My grades were getting worse and worse. And I was getting more aggressive and depressed. Believe it or not, (I myself can barely believe that) It took me years to get used to my new life.
I visit Jordan once or twice a year, and I do love being there and enjoy it a lot. But it takes me one month only before I start feeling uneasy and homesick and would cry like a baby asking them to "take meeee baaaack hoooome".
The idea of living abroad and leaving Lebanon used to freak me out, and I had a feeling that I was going to leave, sooner or later. And that's what actually happened. When I got married and had to leave I promised myself not to think much about it, to be open-minded and look at the positive side, and do my best to get used to this new life as soon as possible. You know during the first stage, one feels excited, everything about the foreign country and its people seems interesting and fascinating, but later on the suffering and the homesickness begins... the worst phase of all.. when you're overwhelmed with the uncomfortable feeling of not belonging, of being an outsider, which will eventually lead to a feeling of isolation and even a hostility to the new environment. These symptoms, however, are most likely to disappear with the passage of time. I didn't reach the "recovery" and "stability" phase which is the normal outcome of living abroad though because thankfully my unborn baby decided to put an end to my frustration and bring me back home.
What made me write this post is that I noticed that there are people who, just like me, feel like a fish out of water when they move from a familiar environment and enter a strange one, while others can more easily cope with culture shock, make new friends and move on in life.
I have these two friends, one of them left her husband in Spain after three months of getting married and returned back after she could take it no more. While the other has been living in Holland for years and barely complained of being bored, homesick or depressed. People are not the same after all.
I hate el "ghorbeh".
I visit Jordan once or twice a year, and I do love being there and enjoy it a lot. But it takes me one month only before I start feeling uneasy and homesick and would cry like a baby asking them to "take meeee baaaack hoooome".The idea of living abroad and leaving Lebanon used to freak me out, and I had a feeling that I was going to leave, sooner or later. And that's what actually happened. When I got married and had to leave I promised myself not to think much about it, to be open-minded and look at the positive side, and do my best to get used to this new life as soon as possible. You know during the first stage, one feels excited, everything about the foreign country and its people seems interesting and fascinating, but later on the suffering and the homesickness begins... the worst phase of all.. when you're overwhelmed with the uncomfortable feeling of not belonging, of being an outsider, which will eventually lead to a feeling of isolation and even a hostility to the new environment. These symptoms, however, are most likely to disappear with the passage of time. I didn't reach the "recovery" and "stability" phase which is the normal outcome of living abroad though because thankfully my unborn baby decided to put an end to my frustration and bring me back home.
What made me write this post is that I noticed that there are people who, just like me, feel like a fish out of water when they move from a familiar environment and enter a strange one, while others can more easily cope with culture shock, make new friends and move on in life.
I have these two friends, one of them left her husband in Spain after three months of getting married and returned back after she could take it no more. While the other has been living in Holland for years and barely complained of being bored, homesick or depressed. People are not the same after all.
I hate el "ghorbeh".
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Bad Boys
Children are curious by nature. They like to explore and investigate.. They are fascinated with the world of adults and would badly want to become adults themselves . So, we see the young girl wearing her mom's shoes and the boy trying his father's necktie, and later on she would secretly use her mom's makeup and accessories and he would steal his fathers cigarettes or even his car.
All these are normal things that most teenagers may go through. But what bugs me big time is that when children lose their cuteness and innocence at a very young age and start acting and talking like grownups. I hate to see an eight or ten year old girl wearing high heals and huge earings, dying her hair or even wearing makeup! For God's sake she's still a child and not a teen yet! What's even more disturbing is that when boys start to think about or even be obsessed with matters that are too big and too complicated for their age.
I totally understand that some kids can be aware of sensitive matters like sex at the age of 10 or 12, sometimes after or sadly before that, but what I cannot perceive is the parents' ignorance of their boy's early adolescence and the circumstances that caused it and took the boy to an advanced stage where sex becomes all what occupies his mind and determines his actions.
In my first year as a teacher, I was asked once to take the place of another teacher who had to leave for some reason. It was my first time in grade seven and my last one too. The class was working on some worksheet that their teacher prepared for them, except for one who didn't take his eyes off me from the moment I entered the classroom. I asked him to kindly direct his attention towards his paper instead of wasting his whole time staring at me. After that he started asking me questions every now and then, what's this word, what does this question mean, etc... then he was almost whispering while talking to me so that I get near and closer to him to hear him well. I was explaining something to him when I noticed that he wasn't paying attention to the paper and to what I was saying at all, instead, he was drawing closer to me looking at me in a very strange way. A filthy disgusting look that got on my last nerve. I could barely believe that I was just almost harassed by a seventh grader!
In the same year, a fifth grader used to throw rulers and stuff under the girls desks so that he takes a peek at their legs and underwear. In grade three, there was a boy who was caught more than once drawing pictures for naked women. His parents were contacted and asked to keep a watchful eye on their son, but unfortunately we didn't sense any change in the boy. Last year, we also faced one of those weird exceptional cases where a second grader (seven years old) used to do things that went far beyond anything we could imagine a seven year old boy would do, and used to leave us in utter shock and bewilderment, like bringing porn magazines to school, opening his pants zipper to show the girls "something interesting", utter bad words to them, and tell them that he'd love to do so and so with them, etc... In this case too, the parents were contacted, but in vain. We, the teachers, could no more deal with this boy as a child. To us, he became just like a man whose mind is always occupied with dirty thoughts.
I feel very sorry for such kids. I feel sorry that their innocence and naivety for some reason have been snatched away this early. The kids are not to be blamed though. I blame negligent parents who think that raising kids is only about giving them food and clothing.
All these are normal things that most teenagers may go through. But what bugs me big time is that when children lose their cuteness and innocence at a very young age and start acting and talking like grownups. I hate to see an eight or ten year old girl wearing high heals and huge earings, dying her hair or even wearing makeup! For God's sake she's still a child and not a teen yet! What's even more disturbing is that when boys start to think about or even be obsessed with matters that are too big and too complicated for their age.
I totally understand that some kids can be aware of sensitive matters like sex at the age of 10 or 12, sometimes after or sadly before that, but what I cannot perceive is the parents' ignorance of their boy's early adolescence and the circumstances that caused it and took the boy to an advanced stage where sex becomes all what occupies his mind and determines his actions.
In my first year as a teacher, I was asked once to take the place of another teacher who had to leave for some reason. It was my first time in grade seven and my last one too. The class was working on some worksheet that their teacher prepared for them, except for one who didn't take his eyes off me from the moment I entered the classroom. I asked him to kindly direct his attention towards his paper instead of wasting his whole time staring at me. After that he started asking me questions every now and then, what's this word, what does this question mean, etc... then he was almost whispering while talking to me so that I get near and closer to him to hear him well. I was explaining something to him when I noticed that he wasn't paying attention to the paper and to what I was saying at all, instead, he was drawing closer to me looking at me in a very strange way. A filthy disgusting look that got on my last nerve. I could barely believe that I was just almost harassed by a seventh grader!In the same year, a fifth grader used to throw rulers and stuff under the girls desks so that he takes a peek at their legs and underwear. In grade three, there was a boy who was caught more than once drawing pictures for naked women. His parents were contacted and asked to keep a watchful eye on their son, but unfortunately we didn't sense any change in the boy. Last year, we also faced one of those weird exceptional cases where a second grader (seven years old) used to do things that went far beyond anything we could imagine a seven year old boy would do, and used to leave us in utter shock and bewilderment, like bringing porn magazines to school, opening his pants zipper to show the girls "something interesting", utter bad words to them, and tell them that he'd love to do so and so with them, etc... In this case too, the parents were contacted, but in vain. We, the teachers, could no more deal with this boy as a child. To us, he became just like a man whose mind is always occupied with dirty thoughts.
I feel very sorry for such kids. I feel sorry that their innocence and naivety for some reason have been snatched away this early. The kids are not to be blamed though. I blame negligent parents who think that raising kids is only about giving them food and clothing.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Time to Say Goodbye
Despite being well prepared for this moment for so long, and despite waiting for this day impatiently, I couldn't but feel so sad when the time to leave my job finally came.
I wanted to leave as early as possible. I was so tired and badly in need for a rest. I needed to free myself from any duty and just relax and be able to focus on my priorities. But, after all, it wasn't that easy to leave the place where I spent three years of my life, the first place that made me experience the feeling of being productive and independent. It was hard to leave the place as well as the people with whom I spent three years, and with whom I shared lots of good and bad times.
I've learnt a lot there, went through many ups and downs, got to know many people, good people as well as weirdos. Dealing with children wasn't an easy task.. but the experience as a whole wasn't that bad.
So, Diana is no more a teacher, no one calls her miTH from now on :p . I resigned last week. didn't want to wait until the end of the month because I had many things to take care of, including which an extraction surgery for my other wisdom tooth. It's almost healed now, and I can speak again and eat real food after spending a few days eating cerelac.
I still, however, haven't said goodbye. I could barely hide my grief and keep my tears from falling while signing the resignation papers. I rushed outside the school as soon as I was done, promising to come back later to say goodbye before I leave to Jordan in a month or so.
A chapter closed, another one opened. C'est la Vie...
I wanted to leave as early as possible. I was so tired and badly in need for a rest. I needed to free myself from any duty and just relax and be able to focus on my priorities. But, after all, it wasn't that easy to leave the place where I spent three years of my life, the first place that made me experience the feeling of being productive and independent. It was hard to leave the place as well as the people with whom I spent three years, and with whom I shared lots of good and bad times.
I've learnt a lot there, went through many ups and downs, got to know many people, good people as well as weirdos. Dealing with children wasn't an easy task.. but the experience as a whole wasn't that bad.
So, Diana is no more a teacher, no one calls her miTH from now on :p . I resigned last week. didn't want to wait until the end of the month because I had many things to take care of, including which an extraction surgery for my other wisdom tooth. It's almost healed now, and I can speak again and eat real food after spending a few days eating cerelac.
I still, however, haven't said goodbye. I could barely hide my grief and keep my tears from falling while signing the resignation papers. I rushed outside the school as soon as I was done, promising to come back later to say goodbye before I leave to Jordan in a month or so.
A chapter closed, another one opened. C'est la Vie...
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Plz Salute Ahmed.. the Soldier
I was surprised when Ahmed, yesterday, showed up wearing a military uniform.
"hehehe, lak Ahmed! sho labes?"
"labeTH tyab THeiTH (jeish)" :D
And here, he was telling me about a snake he saw in the neighborhood, and that he will yTHeeb klaTHen y2aweTHa :D
Friday, June 08, 2007
والساحة حزينة.. ما عاد فيها زينة
فضيت الملاعب من الولاد
كلّن تركوها وصاروا بعاد
والساحة حزينة.. ما عاد فيها زينة
وصورن بالزوايا مخباية
خلصت السنة يا مدرستي
بدنا نفترق يا مدرستي
بخاطرك.. بخاطرك
انشاالله نلتقي السنة اللي جايي
شبابيكا الحمرة غلقوها
وبوابا الكبيرة سكروها
وما بقي غير فية
بسكوت الضهرية ...
وصرخة ضحكاتن الي مضواية
كلّن تركوها وصاروا بعاد
والساحة حزينة.. ما عاد فيها زينة
وصورن بالزوايا مخباية
خلصت السنة يا مدرستي
بدنا نفترق يا مدرستي
بخاطرك.. بخاطرك
انشاالله نلتقي السنة اللي جايي
شبابيكا الحمرة غلقوها
وبوابا الكبيرة سكروها
وما بقي غير فية
بسكوت الضهرية ...
وصرخة ضحكاتن الي مضواية
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
Springtime, Tabbooleh, and Other Things
At this time of each year, when the weather starts to get warm, our suffering begins. The children become very annoying. They get very hyper in the playground that they hurt themselves and their friends, and we got blamed for not keeping a good eye on them. In the classroom, however, they get unbearably lazy and sleepy. I feel as if I’m talking to myself all the time. All my attempts to capture their attention go in vain. I ask questions and all I hear is the echo of my sound. Great! It isn’t a nice feeling to be totally ignored, is it? And here I get really mad, I start yelling to wake them up. ( Am I really wondering where do I burn the calories?!). Now that they are giving a full attention, it’s me who’s not in the mood anymore to explain the lesson again :D
Ahmed doesn’t want to bother and hold his pen and write. All he wants to do is to talk, play and laugh. He even changes the subject when I try to persuade him to write.
“ Mith, mama el youm bada ta2mel mtaletlah”
“excuse me?!”
“ Mama bada totbokh mtaletlah, ana b7ebba tteel”
“ Here we go again, another riddle by Ahmed! Let me guess.. mtaletlah mtaletlah.. mda .. mdaredrah.. mdaredrah!”
“ eh mtaletlah”
“ tayeb sa7tain! Befham min hek eno you have no intention to write?! All you can think about now is the mtaltlah you’re going to eat when you go home?!”
He didn’t write anything for two days. On the third day he drove me mad that I yelled at him and he started crying. Poor Ahmed, it’s OK, let him cry :@
While flipping through grade two science book, I noticed an activity where we are supposed to prepare tabbouleh. I found it a good idea to break the routine and get the children more excited about the lesson and the school in general. Of course it was impossible for me to make tabbouleh for two classes ya3ni about 50 children. So I chose the clean ones and asked them to get the ingredients. On Thursday they got the tomatoes, cleaned and cut, parsley, mint, olive oil, lemon juice, mint, salt, onions, plates and spoons, a big bowl and even a board to cut the onion and the mint on in the classroom.
The children were very excited while they were watching me putting the gloves on and starting to cut the mint and the onions and then adding them to the other ingredients and mixing them. Finally the huge bowl of tabbouleh was ready and they couldn’t wait to taste it. Some of them ate 2 and even 3 plates mashallah. I was really happy that they liked it a lot and didn’t hesitate to ask for more. We really had a great time.
The other section’s turn was on Friday, but unfortunately, after finding the two kidnapped guys killed, the minister of education announced that there will be no school on Friday. The kids today were frustrated that the tabbouleh activity was canceled, but I promised them to do something else, cake maybe, or pizza, I haven't decided yet, any idea?
Ahmed doesn’t want to bother and hold his pen and write. All he wants to do is to talk, play and laugh. He even changes the subject when I try to persuade him to write.
“ Mith, mama el youm bada ta2mel mtaletlah”
“excuse me?!”
“ Mama bada totbokh mtaletlah, ana b7ebba tteel”
“ Here we go again, another riddle by Ahmed! Let me guess.. mtaletlah mtaletlah.. mda .. mdaredrah.. mdaredrah!”
“ eh mtaletlah”
“ tayeb sa7tain! Befham min hek eno you have no intention to write?! All you can think about now is the mtaltlah you’re going to eat when you go home?!”
He didn’t write anything for two days. On the third day he drove me mad that I yelled at him and he started crying. Poor Ahmed, it’s OK, let him cry :@
While flipping through grade two science book, I noticed an activity where we are supposed to prepare tabbouleh. I found it a good idea to break the routine and get the children more excited about the lesson and the school in general. Of course it was impossible for me to make tabbouleh for two classes ya3ni about 50 children. So I chose the clean ones and asked them to get the ingredients. On Thursday they got the tomatoes, cleaned and cut, parsley, mint, olive oil, lemon juice, mint, salt, onions, plates and spoons, a big bowl and even a board to cut the onion and the mint on in the classroom.
The children were very excited while they were watching me putting the gloves on and starting to cut the mint and the onions and then adding them to the other ingredients and mixing them. Finally the huge bowl of tabbouleh was ready and they couldn’t wait to taste it. Some of them ate 2 and even 3 plates mashallah. I was really happy that they liked it a lot and didn’t hesitate to ask for more. We really had a great time.
The other section’s turn was on Friday, but unfortunately, after finding the two kidnapped guys killed, the minister of education announced that there will be no school on Friday. The kids today were frustrated that the tabbouleh activity was canceled, but I promised them to do something else, cake maybe, or pizza, I haven't decided yet, any idea?
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Look Who's Back
It's Ahmedddd, 7abeeb el sha3b! Isn't he the cutest Bedouin ever? :Dand Duha.
Duha: mish ya mish, min wain jaybeh tanoortek?
El Mish: hehe, leh? 3ajbetek?
Duha: 7elweh kteer, min wain jebteeha? min Shaida?
Me: ah, min Saida
Duha: lama ekbar w etejawaj badi jeeb metla.
:D
Duha: lama ekbar w etejawaj badi jeeb metla.
:D
You can see more pictures here. I couldn't take any picture for the concert because taking pictures was fobidden.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Breaking the Silence
I haven't been thinking of anything to blog recently, I haven't been around and my blog has been dead since a while. So, I thought today of breaking the silence with some personal updates.I've been busy doing so many things.. the vicious circle of tests that never ends, preparing tests, worksheets, revisions, correcting, filling the evaluation cards, parents' meetings, yada yada.. and lately preparing for the spring school concert that's going to take place next Wednesday. Ahmed will dance dabkeh :D. So stay tuned to see pictures and videos. 
The social visits that were often being postponed due to the bad weather are to take place now since el donya rabee3 wel gaw badee3. I also suffered for a few days from severe pain caused by my wisdom teeth. I'll have an extraction surgery on Thursday and another one sometime later. I couldn't eat or swallow anything, and guess what? I am back to eating cerelac :D and I don't mind at all, it's yummy! :D
In addition to all this I was and still busy shopping :D , taking advantage of the sales, buying some of the 1000 things that I have in my shopping list.. ending up buying extra things that are not included in the list.. Girls never get enough, do they?
Mom says that I need a bag for my shoes, another for my handbags, a third one for my pants, a fourth for my skirts and dresses, another for my accessories, perfumes and makeup, a bag for tops and jackets, and one for my books and magazines , etc... :D
Ammar will definitely y6aleGni, I can imagine his reaction... o'3man 3alaya o'3man 3alaya :D
I'm also spending sometime checking the wedding dresses, accessories, bridal stuff, shoes, clothes, perfumes... The Lebanese designers make the best wedding dresses ever. Check Rony Richa's for example. I don't like classic dresses, I prefer the wedding dress to be something very special and original. I may end up getting a classic wedding dress though.
I may go to Jordan next month, and no this is not April fools' :p. hmmm, sho kaman? That's it I guess.
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