This was written on Monday,

but it is being posted on Friday. FYI.

Hello everyone!

We are nearing the 2-week mark. We have been in Abu Dhabi for 11 days, now. School starts in 2 days!

Today we had our convocation, of sorts, which ADEC called a bedaya, or a jamboree. I prefer to call it a convocation. 6,000 teachers sitting in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center while speech after speech is made does NOT call to mind what one thinks of as a "jamboree." There was no music, no confetti, no cheering, no bright lights, no amusement park rides-and as Daniel pointed out, no funnel cakes. Apparently, one must eat funnel cakes at a jamboree.

Pointless ranting aside, after the morning session we were given a paper detailing our position that we are to give to our principals on Wednesday. They need them to keep track of us LT's and to have on file as another means of proving that we are gainfully employed. Then they provided all 6,000 of us with lunch, which was very kind of them. Thanks, Sheik Khalifa.

Tomorrow we head out to our respective regions to have a professional development training, which will take most of the day. My guess is that what it WON'T do is teach us anything new (don't beat the children, don't freak out, try to teach them some stuff) but it WILL give us an opportunity to check out our schools a day in advance, or at least see the building and its general location.

Last night a group of us met at a Japanese restaurant for dinner and then headed to Cooper's British Pub, where an actual Brit asked made the mistake of asking if I was American? Canadian? In his defense, our conversation was extremely short and all he did was offer me a seat that he was leaving, to which I replied, "No thank you, I'm just waiting for my drink." No aboots or anything. He quickly recovered the situation and no shanking was required. I much prefer being presumed Swedish.

I just heard the call to prayer again which means that it is time to eat soon! 6:35 is dinner time.

Wish us luck on our first day, Wednesday!