#gafesummit

What the heck is #gafesummit?

This weekend I have been at the Google Apps for Education Summit Middle East, hosted by the American School of Dubai. It is a professional development conference put on by Google.

The weekend gave me, not only the opportunity to hone my Google App skills to a higher level, but also a chance to connect face to face with people I usually only interact with online through COETAIL and Twitter.

What kind of sessions were there? Everything from "Docs 101: A Getting Started Guide to Docs, Spreadsheets, presentations, and Forms" to "Managing your Google Apps Domain". Here are some more titles…

Conjugating Google Apps in the World Language Classroom
Inbox Management - Making order out of chaos
Get the Best Mileage Out of Your Drive
e-Portfolio Has Gone Google
Traveling cross the curriculum with Google Earth

That list doesn't include the sessions I went to or many others that were offered. There is another post coming with my reflections and take aways, but right now I must find my bed as the alarm will soon go off for the start of another school week.

Stay tuned!

Skiing in the UAE

When I thought about what I would want to do while I was in Dubai only two things came to mind; Burj Khalifa (which I had to work very hard to remember the name change from Burj Dubai) and Ski Dubai.

One down. One to go.

The funny thing about these two outings is that they are in the two most famous malls in Dubai. Last night we were at the Dubai Mall. Tonight, Mall of the Emirates.

Ski Dubai's website says, "The first indoor ski resort in the Middle East". That had me wonder how many indoor ski resorts there are in the world because this is the only one I know about. Wikipedia says there are 11 others. Who knew?

I also had no idea that there were restaurants surrounding Ski Dubai with glass windows for observing the fun on the snow. At dinner we were able to see the snow park part of the area with inter tube and huge, clear balls you could roll down the hill in.

When you walk in you pay for your experience and then collect boots, pants, and a jacket (as well as disposable socks). You then head over to get your skis. Once you are all geared up you head up an escalator to the slope. Just before passing outside you collect your poles. (They do have snowboards as well.)

Most people were going to play in the snow - experience the cold, perhaps try the snow park, and ride the chair lift all the way around. There were also local teens who obviously used Ski Dubai as their hang out.

Not only is there the quad lift, there is also a Poma lift along the one wall.

The walls are painted light blue, but the ambiance is not that of a sunny day on the slopes, more of an overcast feel. I felt right at home!

With 196 feet of vertical drop the lift takes much longer than the journey down the hill, but it made me smile. It was also very good for my ego as I had the best form anywhere on the hill. I found myself thinking 'I ski pretty' to the tune of "I Feel Pretty" from West Side Story.

I am glad I got a chance to make some turns and it is fun to say I mastered Ski Dubai.

It's Official

I have officially been to 55 countries with my successful arrival in the UAE this evening. I have had a delightful time with a metro ride, trip up the tallest building in the world (Burj Khalifa), Vegas like fountain show, and food. Highlights in pictures below.

Well Traveled

There are rules in my family for counting the number of states and countries you have been to. For example, you have to leave the airport. I have spent the night, twice, in Texas yet I have never been to Texas. (Four states to go, Texas being one of them.)

Tomorrow I will get to add country 55 to my list.

There are rules for countries as well. For example, I have been to both Hong Kong and China. If you were to visit both places now, for the first time, they could only count as one country. Confused? The first time I was in Hong Kong it was still independent, therefore I get to count it as a separate country. Another example is that my grandparents list would have been much longer if the U.S.S.R. had been disbanded when they took one of their trips.

Even living in Saudi has played into this count/competition. Since you can't just hop on a plane with KSA as your destination my mom and my aunt have been keeping an eye on one another. I really think if one were to come (though we do not know if we could get my aunt a visa, but I would be willing to try) then the other would be spurred on a bit.

This is the atmosphere I grew up in. I am very fortunate to have traveled as much as I have. And it is not as if my parents took us on backpacking trips through Europe. I did not travel out of the U.S. or Canada with my parents until I was an adult.

Why am I telling you all of this? This opportunity for a PD conference came up (Google Apps For Educators Summit). There were two 'near' me; one in Mumbai, India and one in Dubai, UAE. My husband and I talked it over and decided I would plan on the one in Dubai. After I was registered and the plane tickets were booked he came to the realization that I would be going to Dubai. In the United Arab Emirates.

So what? Well, his countries visited list tops out at 27 currently. The UAE is the only country he has been to and I haven't. Come tomorrow that won't be true anymore.

Birthday Hiatus

It has been more than 20 years since I have told people when my birthday is. I think I am ready to break the hiatus. It has been a long journey and I am ready to talk about it.

When I headed off to college I realized no one would know when my birthday was unless I told them. This was fine with me. I had been hurt too many times by hoping for it to be celebrated only to find the day slipping by. If I no longer had those expectations than I would no longer have the frustration.

During high school the group of girl friends I hung out with would celebrate one another's birthdays, however I was the one who usually at least got the ball rolling, if not planned it. That was one of my roles in that group. I enjoyed it. Having people feel special, if even just for a day, was something I could do. The challenge was that no one stepped into that role for my birthday.

Family would celebrate and I even had friends from other circles of life who found ways to make me feel special. (I will never forget this birthday.) But the realization that I had a chance to start over and decide who to trust with that information, to determine who would not let me down, was very powerful.

The twenty some years since that decision have been good. Sometimes my birthday has been celebrated and sometimes the day has passed by with me enjoying my little secret.

I know the day never passes without someone at least thinking of it. That is what happens when a step-brother and college roommate share the same birthday. I know we think of one another, even if it is not outwardly acknowledged.

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So why the change now? There are a couple of reasons.

Most importantly, I am ready. I am completing my fortieth year on the planet. That brings a nice, round number with it, one that I have been ready to embrace for more than a year. (Having a spouse that is older will always lessen any possible sting those big numbers might hold.)

Also, G is getting close to four. She asks about these things. Simply telling her mine is after Daddy's and before hers does not cut it any more. She has been wanting to know what big milestones stand between 'today' and her birthday since the fall. We included Christmas, Daddy's birthday, Valentine's Day, Mommy's birthday, Spring Break, and Easter, all before her birthday. She started asking what months these things happened in and we told her. Now that it is March she realizes my birthday must be near. When you have a pre-schooler, especially one as verbal as ours, you have to be willing for anything you share with her to be public knowledge.

Finally, I have a trip over my birthday weekend. I am headed to Dubai for a PD conference (more on that, I promise). One of the friends I am traveling with has been bugging me about when my birthday is.

I am ready.

My birthday is Saturday.

Gushing Water

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Gushing water may be a nice sound at a geyser or water park, but not in your home.

We were enjoying a quiet Thursday afternoon (our Saturday). G was down for her nap and the two of us were talking on the couch when we heard water. At first I thought it was a hose outside (common around here) while J thought G might have gotten up to go potty and turned the water on full bore to wash her hands.

Unfortunately it was neither. Once we realized it was a pipe, coming from in the wall, I shut off the water pump and J called maintenance. I then got out towels and kept the growing puddles, both in the bathroom upstairs and the kitchen downstairs, at bay.

Maintenance came and eventually put a temporary fix on the pipe, but told us we would have to wait until Saturday (read your Monday) to have it fixed. They will have to replace the entire pipe that goes from the bathroom up to the room. My guess is that there will be tile ripped out and who knows what involved.

The mold emanating from where the wall has been ripped open was horrific. I opened the window, removed all the towels, and closed the door. I am glad I wasn't here while the repair was done. I think these things are better to not know all the details.

I did two loads of towels after cleaning up round one of the mess. I called a neighbor and arranged for showers so we at least don't stink as we go into work.

I am also thankful that it happened while we were at home. I am thankful that we have maintenance available and won't have to figure out how to pay for this repair. Thankful for the neighbor's shower. Thankful that we still had water downstairs, and a trickle upstairs which equaled a fully functional kitchen and toilets we could flush.

Interviewing with your spouse

Everyone stop and think. How many positions are there that you and your spouse sit in on one another's interviews?

I can only think of two; co-pastors and international educators. (If you think of another one, please add it in the comments.)

Those of you international educators may not realize how unusual it is. I don't usually think twice about it, but it is the end of the hiring season for those of us who work in international schools and as good as time as any to reflect on this interesting phenomenon.

I was recently talking with a colleague who had been to a job fair. This was their first time looking for jobs since they had been married. Since they teach different subjects, at different age levels than one another, the questions that the other person was asked didn't necessarily fall into their own privy of experience. They left the interview both wondering what the interviewer had been talking about and having no clue if their spouse had answered the questions well or not.

Hearing them share their experience I realized how unusual it is, this sitting through your spouse's interview.

When you quickly have a job offer, or several, it may not cross your mind either. But, what if the hiring season progresses and you continue to interview, but do not receive job offers? Do you start to doubt your own ability, or your that of your spouse?

What about having a spouse who is fabulous at their job, but doesn't interview particularly well? You are in the room, and as a question is directed to them, do you wish you could use ESP to nudge them along? What about a spouse who is an inspiring educator, but when it comes to an interview situation the verbal fillers start to take over?

When I stop and think about how unusual it is to interview with your spouse, each for your own job, it is amazing that we still love our spouse and look forward to the next adventure!

(BTW - Now that my spouse is an administrator most of the interviews I am not even a part of. I sit in another room and pray.)