exhibit "a"

Okay, so I hate being negative but I have to share the first example (of this school year, believe me, there are files full of examples from the last five years) of why I get so frustrated with my job.

Right before summer break we sign this memo that says we must return to work on October 3rd, but have the option to come a week early to receive an extra week's salary. Shortly after that another memo comes along stating that we can return Saturday, Sunday, or Monday of that week before and we'll receive a whole week's salary(note: work weeks in Saudi are Saturday - Wednesday). So, as crazy as it sounds, this means receiving 5 days pay for three days of work...pretty cool actually. I was planning to come the week before to prepare.

Then the government issues a vacation extension of 2 weeks. So all of us teachers assume that we get at least an extra week too. It is then made clear that teachers must return as originally planned, which means no later than October 3rd. Right? WRONG!

Today, the day before, we receive text messages that all teachers, at least in our school, must return tomorrow. Do you know what time I found out? 10:30PM! And because my son and I have still not figured out how to adjust our time, here we are awake at 3am. I have to get ready for work in like 3 hours. And the little guy doesn't seem ready to sleep anytime soon. Lucky him he'll get to sleep while my housekeeper/nanny watches him.

So when I say my school is unorganized and has major lack of communication, here is exhibit "a" of what I'm talking about . And who wants to bet that we all show up tomorrow (well, actually today), looking all tired and worn out from lack of sleep because according to my friends they're not sleeping normally either, and they'll be so disorganized that they won't have anything for us to start on? Well, I'm not waiting around for them. I learned my first year not to wait around. I have my assigned grades and classes and plan to start organizing my syllabus tomorrow/today. Grrrrr!!!

On a more positive note: We don't have to be there by 6:45am, we get to come later at 8am, and I do intend to leave early!

Okay, sorry, that's all my grumpy grumbles for now. If you made it through this post, thanks for listening. Family: This is what I'm talking about!