Well I'm finished teaching. The class has its end term exam (final exam in our lingo) tomorrow morning. I will be coming to the campus to finish up the grading with the class coordinator. She administers the exam and the computer corrects it. However, there are discussion questions that have to be graded. Since everything is contained within the course management software, I'm not sure how the final grades get recorded and I don't know how it deals with things such as curving test scores. But that's why God made course coordinators.
Today is Friday which means that most businesses are closed for the Muslim religious day. I ate in the student cafeteria for lunch as everything else was closed. It was explained to me that the Emirates used to have a Thursday/Friday weekend but that that interfered too much with business with the rest of the world so they changed it toFriday/Saturday.
I learned a new word today from my class and it probably emanates from the British. The word is "freshers" and that means recent college graduates. When you look at the recruitment page of the business website for Indian businesses it often has a special section for application procedures for freshers.
I haven't described my living accommodations. They are sparse but all Ireally need. It's basically just an efficiency apartment with a balcony that you might be able to use a couple of days a year. As you enter there is a small kitchen that contains a sink and a microwave. Underthe counter where we would normally have a dishwasher is a very small clothes washing machine. I could request a stove if I want one. My understanding is that it is basically a burner attached to a propane bottle. I have the basic plates and silverware and a carafe for heating up water for coffee. I'm not exactly sure how it works as something lights up inside it when you turn it on but it boils water almost instantly.
If you turn immediately to the left from the kitchen you enter the bathroom. It has the world's smallest bathtub/shower. The tub must be four by two feet and has the typical shower curtain. However because it is so small, the wet shower curtain sticks to you as you try to take a shower. The potty, as do all potties here including those in the public restrooms, has a hose beside it with a spray nozzle.I assume I know what you would use it for but think it would bedifficult to not spray water all over the place. I've elected to leave it hanging on the wall. The rest of the apartment is just one large room with a table on which there is a TV, bed, two chairs (a straightback and a recliner type thing) and a computer workstation and ergonomic chair. The bed has a comforter and bottom sheet but no top sheet.
Ihave WiFi in the room and the TV has basic cable. The only channel I'vewatched in CNN-Asia out of Hong Kong I think. Along one wall there is a built-in closet and another built-in which contains a small refrigerator.
I'm trying to book a desert safari for tomorrow night. Everybody, including Alice, has mentioned that it is a unique event. Myunderstanding is that it includes a jeep ride into the desert to an oasis, Arabic barbeque dinner, belly dancer, etc.
I was working at about ten o'clock last night when the doorbell rang and that it was one of the other instructors. However, it was an Asian looking women wearing a large backpack. She asked me if I was interested in something but I couldn't understand her and told her Iwasn't interested in whatever she was selling. My initial thoughts were drugs. I asked the hostel manager and house boy the next morning andthey indicated she was selling knockoff DVDs and CDs
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