The Penguin Has Landed or This Little Piggy Couldn't Get In!
Yo Peeps,
I would like to think that you have been worried about me, crying into your tissues etc, but i'm sure you have had better things to do...
Lets start with the flight... As you may or may not know, I am terrified of flying. This however was a wonderful in the air experience, largely down to the unlimited amount of alcohol, although halfway through the flight I ended up with a hangover. Food was rubbish etc. Was sat next to a very nice Scottish guy who worked in Saudi, he regaled me with wonderful stories. Movies were also a bit rubbish btw. Three quaters of the way through the flight, I overhear people talking about teaching, and hoping it may be my crew I strike up a conversation, turns out that they are teaching at St C's the posh school. Their salary is better, their accommodation is sorted, and they know someone is meeting them from the airport, and they had a buddy system!
However, I tell myself, no, it will be all the ok ones, nothing to worry about. I go to customs, and say tourist visa please, they take my passport scan it and type in my name and say 'No, madam, you are working, not a tourist. You have a No Objections Certificate, you cannot have two visas.' To cut a long story short I spend four hours in a cold lonely room trying to locate my NOC and calling my lovely cons and my super efficient Moo, who in turn contact the consulate and he (very proper, jolly hockey sticks kinda guy) gets me out of my cell. At one point I considered offering my guard some money, or making a run for it in a Indiana Jones stylee, but alas I played it safe. Of couse in England I would have just flashed my knockers...
So Bahrain is ok, a beet hot, am missing the cons a lot, and can't wait to go out when he gets here. Still haven't found any where to live, but have met some very nice people: Helen, from Canada, married to an Italian, 2 kids Alex, 7, and Francessca, 3. Helen is my boss. Samreen, Head of English in the secondary school, 2 kids, Hassan, 5 and Yusuf, 3. They all have maids who live with them and look after the kids, man it is a different world. Hannah and Phillip, married new to the school, English. Schweb, friendly british Muslim.Life here is ok, but I haven't had a drink since I got off the plane. I like a lot of things, but the people are best, even when they stop you entering the country they are very polite about it. Taxi drivers also very friendly but a... rape you! Am starting work tomorrow, very excited am teaching 4th Grade, so they are 8-9 years old, thats going to be a bit wierd, but I will get used to it.
Tea towels, are more like table clotes, or bed sheets, worn long. Men in britain, I urge you to greet people the Bahrani way and touch noses, it looks good, very gentle. I like it.
Love you all, will let you know how work goes later.Miss you all so much too. Now i'm crying.
X
I would like to think that you have been worried about me, crying into your tissues etc, but i'm sure you have had better things to do...
Lets start with the flight... As you may or may not know, I am terrified of flying. This however was a wonderful in the air experience, largely down to the unlimited amount of alcohol, although halfway through the flight I ended up with a hangover. Food was rubbish etc. Was sat next to a very nice Scottish guy who worked in Saudi, he regaled me with wonderful stories. Movies were also a bit rubbish btw. Three quaters of the way through the flight, I overhear people talking about teaching, and hoping it may be my crew I strike up a conversation, turns out that they are teaching at St C's the posh school. Their salary is better, their accommodation is sorted, and they know someone is meeting them from the airport, and they had a buddy system!
However, I tell myself, no, it will be all the ok ones, nothing to worry about. I go to customs, and say tourist visa please, they take my passport scan it and type in my name and say 'No, madam, you are working, not a tourist. You have a No Objections Certificate, you cannot have two visas.' To cut a long story short I spend four hours in a cold lonely room trying to locate my NOC and calling my lovely cons and my super efficient Moo, who in turn contact the consulate and he (very proper, jolly hockey sticks kinda guy) gets me out of my cell. At one point I considered offering my guard some money, or making a run for it in a Indiana Jones stylee, but alas I played it safe. Of couse in England I would have just flashed my knockers...
So Bahrain is ok, a beet hot, am missing the cons a lot, and can't wait to go out when he gets here. Still haven't found any where to live, but have met some very nice people: Helen, from Canada, married to an Italian, 2 kids Alex, 7, and Francessca, 3. Helen is my boss. Samreen, Head of English in the secondary school, 2 kids, Hassan, 5 and Yusuf, 3. They all have maids who live with them and look after the kids, man it is a different world. Hannah and Phillip, married new to the school, English. Schweb, friendly british Muslim.Life here is ok, but I haven't had a drink since I got off the plane. I like a lot of things, but the people are best, even when they stop you entering the country they are very polite about it. Taxi drivers also very friendly but a... rape you! Am starting work tomorrow, very excited am teaching 4th Grade, so they are 8-9 years old, thats going to be a bit wierd, but I will get used to it.
Tea towels, are more like table clotes, or bed sheets, worn long. Men in britain, I urge you to greet people the Bahrani way and touch noses, it looks good, very gentle. I like it.
Love you all, will let you know how work goes later.Miss you all so much too. Now i'm crying.
X
posted by Tim Heidi Arthur Kofi X at 10:28 am
1 Comments:
Hmm... 5.22am eh Lotte? Late night blogging isn't a hazard I had considered before.
I too am now the proud owner of a blog - woo! - but only so I can post here. So I wouldn't bother looking at it.
Heidiho darling - I am very glad you survived your visa ordeal. I'm pleased the man from the Embassy sorted you out. I had supreme confidence in him as he sounded like the type of chap who could whip up a NOC in no time and be back in time for a pre-dinner gin and tonic.
As I write the rain is lashing against the window and I am already feeling rather jealous of your expat lifestyle. My very glamorous weekend included a trip to 'Annabelle's' in rainy Newport (which resulted, as ever, in a throbbing liver, remnants of chips and gravy on my chin, vague memories of the dancefloor and general nonspecific feelings of guilt).
I am poised to book my flights as soon as you're settled and have been in contact with DonnieDarko to co-ordinate.
I am missing you a beet already..
M x
Vegetable portion count: 7
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