An Early Dismissal.

Nearly every day after teaching 4, sometimes 5, fifty minutes sessions of elementary social studies, I find myself feeling stressed out and frustrated. Being an educator at a school where student performance takes a backdoor to profit and revenue, and where discipline means students who fight during class are punished with a 15 minute visit to the principal’s office before returning to class to do the same thing – again, and where it is commonplace to hear a student tell a teacher “no” or “I don’t want to” with no repercussions can become quite discouraging.

When I prepare to teach a lesson, I have every intention of getting the knowledge to each student and making sure he/she understands the information that has been presented that day. Unfortunately, however, I spend more class time telling students to be quiet or to stay seated than actually teaching them anything, and for the administrators at my school that’s okay as long as the financial investors (parents) are pleased with the students’ grades and well-being. In other words, I work at an instructional day care.

After expressing my dismay about student behavior and other classroom disasters, my co-workers assured me that my expectations for respect and cooperation from the students were too high, and my best option would be to assimilate into the Arab culture where children are given free reign to do and say whatever they please.  Coming from a family where even LOOKING at my parents the wrong way warranted an immediate negative consequence, learning this information did not sit well with me.  I have certainly tried to remain positive about the situation, and I even incorporated 15 minutes of meditation into my morning routine; nonetheless, I have come to the realization that I have nothing to gain from this situation and if I stay here I will be plummeting into an abyss of negativity and ignorance.

I live by the quote “adversity causes some men to break, others to break records,” so in most tough situations I would tell myself to never give up and continue to tough it out until the end, but since receiving a Warning Letter and pay deduction after a student disrespected ME and I accidently scratched him, I know for sure this is not the type of environment I want to be in or the type of educational community I want to be a member of. I think the experience was definitely eye opening and I do not regret my decision to come here, but I will be returning to the US soon to find somewhere where I can make a difference and my voice can be heard.  

- FBG

Getting to know Qatar..

As expected, many of my friends and family members have been asking me about my experience in the Middle East thus far. Nearly every day I read a new message asking “How’s Qatar?" or  "How do you like it over there?,” and although I love the fact that people are interested in my life and well-being, I hate receiving this question because honestly I do not know how to answer it. In the past when when asked my opinion about certain places I have travelled to I’d answer reluctantly with an “it’s okay” or “its pretty cool so far” as to not make any presumptuous opinions about a place that I am not really familiar with. In this case, however, I really do not know. I've genuinely struggled with deciding whether or not I like living in Qatar, and I have finally figured out why..

Qatar has no personality. It’s dry. It’s like that one girl in school who you wanted to be friends with, but whenever you hung out with her you were so bored. She didn't really have much to talk about, no hobbies, no sense of humor, nothing made her stand out from anyone else, and when she tried to be cool it just made the situation even worse... Well Qatar is the same way. There’s not much to like here, but there’s also not much to hate either. I basically live in the middle of nowhere (the pictures do not lie), and if and when I want to go out into the city to explore all that Qatar has to offer, it requires a 20-30 minute cab right which isn’t exactly the most economical situation.

Nonetheless, I have made it a point to get to know Qatar a little better, despite a bland first impression, and my roommates have also done their part in showing me around and taking me to some of their favorite local venues. So far, my favorite place to visit is The Corniche, a waterfront promenade lined with restaurants, coffee shops, and many tall buildings that light up at night *heart eyes emoji*. Even during the day, though, I find the scenery to be beautiful as well as relaxing, and I enjoy taking a stroll along the water while engaging in good conversation or visiting one of the nearby art museums. Its one of the few places in the desert where I can find trees, and bushes, and water, so I definitely see myself making a lot more trips to The Corniche in the months to come.

Here are a few of pictures of me at The Corniche:

-  FBG

“Cities were always like people, showing their varying personalities to the traveler. Depending on the city and on the traveler, there might begin a mutual love, or dislike, friendship, or enmity. Where one city will rise a certain individual to glory, it will destroy another who is not suited to its personality. Only through travel can we know where we belong or not, where we are loved and where we are rejected.” - Roman Payne

Days in the Middle East

A New Beginning

Moving to a new city usually requires a great deal of planning and preparation. The responsibility of packing, arranging for transportation and/or shipping of goods, informing friends and acquaintances of your departure, and overall mentally preparing for the changes that are about to come can be a bit overwhelming. However, since I’m not one to do things the “usual” way, I find myself sitting here in my new home in Doha, Qatar after an impromptu international move, prepping for another week of teaching at Al Hekma International School.

I recently began a new life teaching Social Studies to 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade students, which after only two weeks of teaching has proven to be an intense & emotional activity (but that's a story for a different post). The demographics of the school are reflective of the demographics of Qatar as a nation. If you look inside one of my classrooms you will find students from all over the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula: Egyptians, Syrians, Palestinians,  Jordanians, Tunisians, very few Qataris, and sometimes even the occasional American. When you meet someone around the city, the conversation starter is typically "Where are you from?" and their response is never "Qatar." People always assume that I'm from Africa for some strange reason, which makes me want to give them a history lesson about the slave trade,  but I guess I can't really blame them for their ignorance because all the Arabs look the same to me regardless of their country of origin. 

Getting picked up from the airport
by a co-worker

My first few weeks in Qatar have been very eye-opening and certainly different from my normal life in the United States, but I can't say that I have had any real moments of culture shock, at least not in the way that I have in the past.  Although I wasn't met with any wonderment or amazement upon leaving the airport and moving into my new home, the transition from American life to Qatari life, has required me to make many adjustments to my lifestyle. As a citizen of "the land of the free," I am not accustomed to living in an environment with such restrictive laws like the modest dress code for women, gender segregation, limited web access due to blocked sites, and the prohibition of alcohol and pork. Luckily, however, I live and work with other westerners who can share my aversion and can provide me with a little piece of home in a sense. So far they have shown me around the area and have accepted me as a part of their family, and I am looking forward to learning more about life in Qatar and Arab culture.

- FBG

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, 

other lives, other souls.” – Anais Nin

'Twas the Night before...

It's Sunday night. I'm sitting on my bed in my very own one-bedroom apartment, just as I did 9 months ago when I first arrived in China. This time I sit here, not apprehensive about what I have gotten myself into, but grateful for having gained one year of teaching experience and many life memories that I will cherish forever. It is my last evening in China, and as I always do when closing a chapter of my life, I have chosen to sit back & reflect upon everything that happened this year - retrospection. 

A few weeks ago, my friend, fellow FBG, and partner-in-crime, Ashley, asked me what my takeaway was after leaving my study abroad program in South Africa a few years ago. I told her the most valuable thing I learned was the notion that "we are all Africans." She then followed that question by asking what would be my takeaway for China, and after taking a moment to think about it, I settled on "although it may be difficult, it isn't impossible."

My time in China, although filled with many fun and rewarding experiences, was very challenging for me. Tasks that were no-brainers in the US became nearly impossible. I found cultural barriers and language barriers in my way the entire year, despite my relentless attempts to assimilate. Living in China has been the epitome of 'stepping out of my comfort zone' and coping with life's changes. Many obstacles I faced throughout the year, such as being unable to express myself in the native language, coping with being away from my close friends and family, not knowing the first thing about teaching, or having to live in inadequate living conditions, could have all deterred me on this journey and caused me to quit. But I convinced myself early in the year that if I can make it through China, I can make it through anything - plus, I was taught WINNERS NEVER QUIT.

I'm proud of myself for not giving up because if I had, I would've missed the opportunity to see so many beautiful places, eat such delicious foods, witness the joy on my students' faces when I step inside the classroom, build relationships with some of my colleagues, and most importantly learn a lot about myself and how I deal with unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations. 

I once read a quote that said, "go someplace where no one knows your name and you will find yourself," and I think I have actualized that statement during my journey in China. I am not the same person I was when I left the United States 9 months ago. I have grown physically, mental, emotionally, and spiritually, and I am appreciative of everything I have gained through this experience. I'm not sure where my wings will take me next, but now it's time to close this chapter of my life. Until next time.

PEACE, China!

- FBG

p.s. Thank you so much to everyone who supported me during this journey, and thanks for reading!!

Tour de China:Final Stop

Since the day I arrived in China, I have anticipated taking a trip to the historical capital city of Beijing. I imagined myself visiting Tienanmen Square, seeing the beautiful Buddhist temples, and of course climbing the Great Wall. Unfortunately, being placed in a southern Chinese city meant waiting for the perfect opportunity to travel to the north side and visit Beijing. Last week, after a year of being tortured by pictures of my colleagues who visited Beijing and with my patience beginning to wane, my vision finally came true. During a 4-day trip to Beijing with my fellow FBG, I was able to put on my tourist hat (figuratively speaking) and explore everything the city had to offer.

This trip to Beijing was unlike any of the other trips I've taken while in Asia. This time everything actually went right! There were no missed flights or delays, public transportation was convenient and efficient, our living quarters were comfortable and provided wifi services, and the Beijing natives were surpringly more polite and well-mannered than the Chinese people I am used to here in the South. One thing I was not prepared for, though, was all the walking! Throughout the week we visited The Summer Palace, Tienanmen Square, The Temple of Heaven, The Forbidden City, The Great Wall, an art district w/ many art galleries, the Sunlitan Bar District, and even a couple parks, and by the end of each night my feet felt like they were going to fall off at any moment. Next time I will definitely have to remember to bring some orthopedic walking shoes.  

Here are some photos of my favorite moments in Beijing:

The Great Wall -  Badaling

The Temple of Heaven

Tienanmen Square

798 Art District

Taking a trip to Beijing was a great way to celebrate the end of my teaching experience in China!  With less

than a week left, now it's time to pack and get ready to head back home. Next stop: Virginia Beach, VA.

 

- FBG

Hidden "gems" in my backyard.

Ningbo, China is so beautiful during the spring/summer season.
I love being outside to enjoy the warm weather and peaceful scenery. 

- FBG

Who ate my leftovers?

Picture This: You’ve been away from home all day, running errands, working, etc. You haven’t really had time to eat, so you are really looking forward to eating those leftovers you left in the fridge as soon as you return to your humble abode. When you enter your house, you walk straight into the kitchen. Your mouth begins salivating before you even reach the refrigerator, and you can already taste the deliciousness your mouth is about to experience. Once you reach the refrigerator, you open the door and scan the premises only to learn that your leftovers are no longer there, someone has eaten them. Ahhhh!

Experiences like this happen all the time in China. There have been many instances where I have my heart set on going to a specific store or restaurant to enjoy one of my favorite dishes, but upon arriving to the specified location I find nothing. No one is coming to my apartment to literally go into my fridge and "eat my leftovers," but that feeling of disappointment is what I experience when I really want something and I find out the store has vanished. At first I thought I was going crazy or having navigational issues, but then I noticed that it was happening quite often. Recently, I went to get some Takoyaki, a Japanese, ball-shaped bread snack with pieces of squid in the middle, topped with mayo & sauce (it tastes way better than it sounds). I was surprised to find the store had been completely torn down as if it never existed. I stood there, in front of what had been the squid-ball shop, for 2 minutes with my jaw dropped. I didn't want to believe what I saw. Although I was a little upset when I learned that I couldn't have my tasty squid balls, I'm excited to see what kind of shop will pop up next.

Here's a picture of what was left of the Takoyaki shop when I visited:

- FBG