Kuwait - week 1 reflection

As of today, we have been in Kuwait for 1 week! In some ways, it seems like a lifetime! I think it's because of the jet lag! It really took us several days to acclimate to the time difference, the heat, the noise, and the schedule! Plus, we really had no time to rest before we jumped right in! We arrived on Tuesday afternoon - having left home on Monday morning - had dinner with our partnership teachers even though I think we were all sleep deprived and in a fog! On Wednesday, toured the schools, shopped for food, ate dinner and crashed! Thursday morning at 6:10 am - we were in the classroom....and I took over teaching Math on Sunday! The week here is Sunday - Thursday, as Friday is the Holy day and Saturday is like our Sunday! On Friday, we went to the souq (local market) and visited the twin towers! On Saturday, we visited the Grand Mosque and went to another souq out of town! And then Sunday arrived and we were in the classroom - teaching! However, the day goes by very quickly and we usually crash early at night! (most of us - anyway - not me because I tend to be a night owl - then I suffer the next day!)
The people here are very nice - mostly. It doesn't feel like a Middle East country - except for the "men in white" and "women in black" wardrobe that is everywhere! It's comforting to know that the majority of the population prays 5 times a day - there's no alcohol - and no crime that I know of! Most of the people that I interact with on a daily basis speak good English (except for the bus drivers - who are Egyptian or Indian or Palestinian - and who knows what language they are speaking!) The people drive like maniacs! Their philosophy is to blow the horn and make a hole! I don't know how they avoid hitting each other - the space between us can be measured in yactometers (one trillionth of a trillionth meter - or some such). On the merging roads...there are no lines to define lanes. So, drivers try to cram as many cars and buses and vans in that space as possible. However, that merging road eventually narrows to 1 turn lane or 2 lanes! Vehicles literally ride bumper to bumper..(without touching)..blowing horns....and squeezing in where there was no space 1 second before! It's MADNESS! I really have to close my eyes or pay no attention - and then I worry that we'll get hit and I wouldn't have seen it coming!!! Any way - enough about that!
The school is amazing! Looking at the outside, you would never know that sheer chaos is taking place on the inside! There are 1700 students at the boys campus - ranging in age from 3 (pre-K) to high school! 99% of those students arrive by car - being driven by the nanny (maid) or driver! They arrive very early - mostly because of the traffic - and have to congregate at the play area (hard top - soccer field - under shelter because of the heat - until they are retrieved by the teacher at 6:55 am! They are English language learners - most do a pretty good job. They have 7 blocks of classes consisting of Arabic, Islam, Resource (Art, PE, Computer), Character Education (once a week), Math, Language Arts (2 blocks divided into reading and writing/phonics), and Social Studies/Science! The Arabic, Islam, Resource, and Character Ed is taught by other teachers....so there are days that we are finished our part of teaching by 11:45 am! However, we can't leave....so we use the excess time for planning and meetings! Most of the younger grades have TA's who are Arabic - as a liaison for the students and the "American" teacher - who speaks no Arabic! And then the day ends at 2:00! And the mass pick up begins!
It's very interesting and I am so glad to have had this experience! I'm sure the next 5 weeks will fly by!