22 jack-hammers busy digging to the centre of the earth

Another month has nearly passed since I last added to this post. Next week the school takes a mid semester break for one week.

I am travelling to Bahrain where I will meet Peter.  After a couple of days in Bahrain - an island to the east of Saudi where many of us in days long gone, stopped to refuel on route to the UK - we fly to Amman, Jordan.  We have about 4 days in Jordan, were will will travel to Petra and see the remnants of ancient cities built by the Nabataeans.  (familiar to those who have watched the Indiana Jones movies).  Everyone who I have spoken with who has done this trip says it is truly spectacular, so we are really looking forward to the visit.  we also intend to visit the Dead Sea for a day - and perhaps partake in the ritual of covering ourselves in dead sea mud then bathing in the sea.  It is supposed to be a wonderful sensation and be good for you, but stings badly if you have any cuts or abrasions.  Following Jordan, we head back to Riyadh, where Peter will spend a couple of weeks before flying home.  This should give him a taste of Saudi life and the wealth of the Kingdom - and a few visits to the huge Malls that provide every designer label known in the Western world.

School is busy a the moment as we progress through to the next phase of the leadership restructure in readiness for the next academic year. 40 positions for instructional leaders have been open for application and close tomorrow.  These positions will have a strong role in coaching the classroom teacher along with a reduced teaching load for themselves.  The role replaces positions of Supervisors.  Supervisors were like faculty/subject heads.  They didn't have a teaching component to their role, but had a role in maintaining their subject was taught in adherence to the curriculum.  They also monitored teacher performance.  If a teacher wasn't good, she/he was not employed the following year.  If they deemed the teacher very poor they provided formal feedback that their performance was less than 90% satisfactory and this saw the teacher dismissed immediately.  However this didn't mean that the school had a staff of excellent teachers.  It the teacher's subject area was one that was difficult to recruit a teacher may receive a performance score of 90% so that they could remain until the end of the semester when the school would look to recruit at a more convenient time in the year.  Supervisors saw themselves above principals, and some may have been in receipt of a salary that reinforced this thinking.  Under the new structure we have principals, vice principals, instructional leaders and soon to be introduced expert teachers - then of course teachers.  All teachers will receive a contract of between 3 - 5 years.  Up until this change, all teachers have a yearly contract.  Some have worked in the school for over 20 years and have never had job security, so this is a welcomed initiative.  There has been up to 300% difference in pay at EACH level of employment.  It just depended upon who you knew and who are your friends in positions of influence.

Trying to explain (and justify) merit based selection has been a challenge, but we are getting there.

A couple of weekends ago several of us went to the Riyadh Museum.  It was fantastic and worth trying to find it with a driver who can't read a map!  The museum has a number of permanent exhibitions along with temporary visiting exhibitions from around the middle east.  One exhibition explored the history of civilisation in this area - including the Nabateaens.  Made me recall Year 12 History of Western Civilisation.  A timeline over 10 000 years included Abraham, Moses, Alexander (the great), the Romans, Jesus and the Prophet.

Another exhibition displayed the two mosques of critical importance to the Kingdom and the Islamic faith - the Mosque at Makkah and the Mosque at Medina. As non believers we can't visit either of these
cities, so being able to see huge models of both buildings was great.  I have seen footage of them and photos, and they look amazing, but the scale must be truly inspiring.  The mosque at Makkah includes the Ka'bah.  This is the large black box structure in the courtyard of the mosque that the pilgrims making Hajj walk around as part of the ritual.  This box contains a meteorite thought to have hit the earth tens of thousands of years ago.  It has virtually being worshipped since.  Abraham is said to have lived near this at one stage and also participated in the pilgrimage.  Makkah has been an important city for thousands of years, being on the trade routes.  It has been a strategic city for those in power and Mohammed returned to Makkah after living in Medina following his deportation 30 years previous.  He wanted it to confirm his status as leader of the Muslim world.    The photos are of the models in the Museum and some information explaining some of the features.

The jackhammers still progress on the site outside the compound and outside my bedroom window.  I have only one day in the week that there is no work - Fridays.  There are now 22 working from 6:00 - 4:00 daily.  They have gone down about 10m and seem to be no end in sight.  No sleep-in for me on thursdays (the first day of our weekend).

Hope you are finding this post of some interest and sharing it with anyone who you think may enjoy the ramble.

Ka'bah at Makkah Mosque in the 1930s

The Prophet's Mosque - Medina

Mosque at Makkah (you can see the Ka'bah in the courtyard)

Friday 22 February

I'm still a novice with Blogs.  Each time I log on to update this Post, I strike problems.  The last time and today my menu bar was in Arabic.  Last time I must have fluked it and got to the new post section. Not so today ...  But somehow, following numerous screens I managed to get the English version - and here you are.  Lucky you!!!

Now the most wonderful news first.  I have an Iqama (pronounced ikarma).  This may seem insignificant to you reading this, but this allows me to travel in and out of the country, get credit on my mobile phone, get a bank account, hire a car (but NOT drive), and importantly sponsor family to visit me.  Peter is travelling here during the university semester break and thus an iqama is critical.  It is effectively a work permit, but can take ages to actually gain.  During the lasting placement here, we were promised an iqama each week.  Numerous passport photos were supplied, our academic qualifications were translated and stamped, letters from the school were supplied and still nothing.  This time we have all come in through Bahrain and on 30 day visas.  Somehow this has made the difference.

We have had a medical, which didn't endear one to the health system.  This is part of the iqama process. Four of us were taken to a hospital and as we arrived during Maghrib (the 4th prayer time of the day) we waited outside the entrance - the foyer was used by medical staff and others for their prayer space.  Once this was completed we were shown inside and taken to the dentistry section to wait for a nurse who would take a vile of blood for testing.  As you know, I have had heaps of nurses over the past few years take blood with (generally) no lasting effect.  The needle went in - a bit rough - blood was extracted into the vile and then the needle removed.  All's well.  The pain commenced later and i swear I had a knot in the crook of my arm where the needle went into the vein.  The bruise came out over the next few days and lasted 10 days.  Next, we were taken to another area where we would be examined by a doctor (or as it turned out doctors).  We had our blood pressure taken - all good - and then moved to the bed where the doctor asked if we were well, looked at our eyes, pulling down the lower skin from the eye, looked in our mouths checking teeth (?), and felt our heads.  then asked to lay on the bed he examined our abdomen with stethoscope and a bit of knocking with knuckles.  All okay!  but then the best and most unusual - we were requested to raise our abaya and trousers to just above the ankle.  The ankles were examined and that was it.  One in the group asked why this was important - it is apparently a method for checking for varicose veins!  Now why aren't medical checkups that easy.

We all passed...

I shouldn't let you think the medical system is that poor.  I have accompanied my housemate, Julie, to the dentist a couple of times in the past week (and still 2 more visits to come).  The dentist is located at a hospital in the commercial district of Riyadh.  The first dentist was a lovely young woman who was concerned that a number of Julie's teeth were 'mobile.'  The wisdom tooth was very mobile.  She also suggested that she see a paradontist. (sp?)  He was available immediately for a checkup and determine the future process to prevent the 'mobile' teeth from becoming more mobile.  He was very pleasant and the next appointments were made.  Now I know that some people are terrified of the dentist, but I'm not one.  However much of the following examination, that took 40 minutes, included much poking and probing with a sharp little tool, looked painful and couldn't be done with any pain relief.  After this - it was suggested that the wisdom tooth could come out today.  Go for it, I said from the corner of the room.  Why wait until the next week just wondering about it.  The tooth was removed and offered to her for the 'tooth fairy, but not taken!'  I however, got a great deal of reading done, caught up with some work and didn't feel a thing.

This placement I continue to work with English teachers from Grade 7 to 12, but have a colleague to assist.  Carolyn will be here for 2 years and before working in the Loddon Region as a teaching & learning support person in the Bendigo network (much like our School Improvement Person in our networks), she was an English teacher.  We are working with all the English teachers now which is much better.  We both work with teachers in the Intermediate school (Grade 7 - 9) working in the classrooms with our assigned teachers observing their practice and providing feedback and then working with those teachers together as a group.  Carolyn then works with the teachers from the American Diploma High School and I work with the teachers from the National HS.  The culture is such that they are excited when you come into the room and are anxious for the feedback.  Comments are taken seriously and they really want to improve.  I work with one new teacher who has only being teaching for 3 weeks.  Prior to this she worked in an English Language school (private company) working with adults and teenagers.  She is wonderful and is like a sponge with all feedback.  She does have an extremely strong Manchester accent, so I asked how long she spent in the UK.  She has never left the Kingdom!  Her teacher at uni must have had the accent and that's how she speaks English.

We have also completed the Vice Principal selection process and the outcome should be announced in the coming week.  We are about to commence the Instructional Leader selection process.  The criteria is based upon our Leading Teacher profile.  The usual structure in the schools here is to have Supervisors for each curriculum area.  They are responsible for the curriculum delivery and support of their teachers throughout the school.  There has been 12 Supervisors on the Girls side and 16 on the Boys.  This will double to about 40 in the new structure.  However they will have a teaching load.  This has met with some resistance and some of the current Supervisors will not apply for the new positions.  The Vice Principals will also teach a small load and have a role in leading teaching and learning practice.  Something they haven't had before - and some have never taught!  Once the next selection process is complete there will be a new classification of teacher implemented - Expert teacher.  Lots of work but the progress is noticeable.  The level of applications for the Vice Principals was generally very good, with some exceptional applications coming from a range of staff, not just those whose jobs had being spilled.

Got to close this now as I'm off to the supermarket - its an outing!  Hope everyone at home is well and that you are enjoying the lovely weather.  It is still coolish here with most days in the mid to high 20s, but then it is still Winter.

Friday 1 February

Now back in Riyadh after a delightful 6 weeks at home.  It was wonderful to see family and friends over Christmas and New Year, and then again for some in the weeks before my return.

By being here I've already missed some important events.  Granddaughters Elizabeth and Ruby starting secondary school and Audrey starting pre-school.  I'm promised a photo of Audrey and I chatted to Ruby on Skype this morning when she and her sisters and Tim dropped in at home whilst Peter and I were talking.  I presume it will take Elizabeth a few weeks to get the lay of the land at her new school, and then all will be in her control!  Audrey, I'm told, was last to leave at the end of her first day and had to be coaxed out having had a wonderful day.

I did, however work some of those precious weeks; one week with the Department before Christmas - had an enjoyable time in the Warrnambool Office, even though much of the time was saying goodbye to people who are leaving the department due to the massive cuts; and, a three days in Melbourne for a Job Fair representing the school.  I may have been one of the least sort after school locations for candidates who had some exotic locations available - Hong Kong, Jakarta, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur & Lucerne to name a few.  So many people are frightened of the Middle East and those willing to consider the ME are warned off Saudi Arabia (often by schools in other Middle Eastern locations).  But I had a result with an excellent young man (and his family) coming to Riyadh at the beginning of the next academic year.  He has taught in London and in Queensland is currently working in an Islamic school in Brisbane - hopefully he is above the high water mark as I write this.

The trip back was good - meeting up with a colleague at the airport and catching up with our respective summer break and discussing all manner of events with the Department, anticipating our work on return and generally ranging far and wide as friends do on meeting after a break.  Before boarding we found the other 4 members of the Team travelling on our flight.  Though these colleagues were all members of the 'New Kids on the Block' and hence travelled Business Class as a privilege of their first trip, whereas us second timers travelled Economy!

We arrived in Bahrain to be greeted by the Manager of PR from the school.  Mr Abdullah's big smile was welcoming and he was pleased to see us, but conversation was limited as he speaks as much English as we do Arabic - not much!  Another returning team member met us in Bahrain after travelling from Brisbane.  As our flights weren't booked onto Riyadh - in case we were delayed - we had an extra day in Bahrain and a flight would be a day later than planned.  This meant that we were able to organise a driver and take in some of the sights of Bahrain.  The highlight was visiting the Mosque and having a guided tour that included some insights of Islam and learning more about this religion that is so different from what we would know if we were just to read the tabloid newspapers anywhere in the West.

Once back in Riyadh and the Compound - and once the supermarket had been visited and the fridge had something to offer - life has taken on familiar patterns. Early mornings, early to bed, abaya for every trip outside the Compound - and visiting Shopping Malls as entertainment!

Our return to school was so warmly welcomed by those we had worked with last year that we became as enthusiastic as those with whom we are working.  Our Teaching and Learning Team has grown from 3 (Girls School) to 5 with the addition of another 4 working on various projects including ICT, English curriculum development, internationalisation of the whole school curriculum and data collecting and analysis.  The last project is critical to assess the impact of this work - and see if the money spent is having an impact.

Tomorrow the week begins and I will be working with another (new) team member with all the secondary English teachers (18- 20 women).  I'm really looking forward to this phase as we'll be able to have some sort of working relationship with all the teachers, which was an impossible task for me when  I was working as the only coach in these three schools (Intermediate or Middle school, American High School Diploma and National High School).  Carolyn is a former English teacher who has been working as a Coach and School Improvement Officer over the past few years - so her knowledge and experience will be invaluable.

Oh - the biggest change to life in the Compound is the beginning of construction of a new Compound in the vacant land to the south of us.  This work commences at 6:00am every day and the workers knock off at 4:00pm.  Currently this work is cutting into the stone - and this is done by at least 6 massive jack hammers - and moved to numerous piles by bulldozers and then carted away by tip trucks.  This is of little interest to anyone reading this - but for me this is all happening outside my window.  Work days are fine as we leave the villa by 6:15, but here in Riyadh construction workers work for 6 days of the week and that means my longed for sleep in on Thursday was destroyed at 6:10am with the thundering noise only 30m from my bed.  I should be glad I'm not in China where construction is often 7 days of the week and not limited to daylight hours.  I've been told by the owner of the Compound, who is building the new Compound for another 35 villas, that this part of the construction will only last another 10 days.  We shall wait and see with some interest.  That said, we have been waiting the opening of the Cafe and Restaurant and were given the same time frame of 10 days - Before Christmas!

Who needs an alarm?  Taken from my bedroom window

Grand Mosque central courtyard in Bahrain

The Bahrain royal camels!

Camels in the desert

Friday 30 November

My first placement in Riyadh is galloping to a close.  I can't believe we have been here since September.  Time has been spent on trying to prioritise the work, identify the major strategies, planning and delivering professional learning and working with teachers in their classrooms.  Every aspect of our work has been well received and this provides the incentive to keep working hard at developing the best path forward.  (Gosh - sound like a business management text).

This is not to ignore the fun we have on almost a daily occurrence.  We travelled to Al Khobar last week for a 2 day workshop with the 11 principals.  This annual Retreat has been a regular feature on the calendar for the school over the past few years, but has only been accessible for the male principals. This is due to the cultural consideration that women are generally not permitted to travel without a male relative.  Therefore the previous leadership determined that this would be too difficult to organise, and the women were omitted.  Ron initially thought that the women could have a 2 day event in Riyadh coming in each day for the workshops.  After some consideration and discussion with his deputy (Mr Abdulrahman) they decided to open it for the women.  Abdulrahman meet with the women and outlined the proposal and then asked them individually if they would attend. They could bring a male relative if they chose.  All attended, with 2-3 bringing sons with them, who we never saw and presume staying in the room playing video games or watching pay tv.  The women travelled by plane, the men drove themselves and we travelled by large 4 wheel drives in a convoy!!!  So I have seen the desert - not the Empty Quarter, but the desert no less.  The highway was 4 land (each way) all the way to the coast and the drivers generally sat between 140 - 150km, and they weren't the fastest on the road.  We think the speed limit is 120km.

This trip provided us with our first sight of camels.  We had the driver laughing as we would get so excited in seeing more camels of differing hues: brown, camel(!), cream and almost black.  We saw baby camels, camels in large herds, camels with herdsman and camels at the camel markets.  Ron has proposed that we buy a camel and have it agisted (spelling?) and on occasions head out to visit it and have afternoon tea in the desert.  It is not unusual for families in the city to head to the desert and set up a tent, light a fire and cook and prepare coffee and spend the time enjoying the desert (and maybe their camel(s)).

The work in Al Khobar included a morning visit to a school - which was wonderful and provided all of us with much to consider for application back in Riyadh - and a visit to SciTech.  This was like Science Works - with equal number of activities that don't work - but it also included an iMax cinema.  This was the first time I have ever been to an iMax cinema anywhere.  Not only was it wonderful to sit in a theatre in this Kingdom where cinemas have been banned since the mid 1970s, but the film we saw was absolutely brilliant.  It was called Arabia made in association with the National Geographic and narrated by Helen Miren.  It presented the 2 past golden ages of the Middle East and posed that we could be entered the 3rd great age if the opportunities of education are realised and the oil money invested to build a strong educated society.  If you get the chance to buy (online), hire or see this - do so.  We are so ignorant of the past achievements of this part of the world and the beginning of Islam.  So much miss information is presented in the media that the picture of the middle east is of a backward, women hating, west hating society.  Whilst there are those types about - that is not the reality, nor the reality of Islam.  Islam has been highjacked by some mad people, just like the fundamentalist of any religion highjack the central tenants of the faith.  Believe it or not, many people here are terrified of the west, believing that they will be persecuted, attacked or shot if they travelled there.  We seem to be always scared of what we don't know or understand.

Well enough standing on the soap-box.  Home in 2 weeks for a 5 week summer break before back here and hard at it again.  Looking forward to seeing you and sharing a drink - something that we don't have past non alcoholic beer (that comes in many flavours: apple, peach, pomegranate, pineapple, etc!)

The Desert.  We were heading across to Al Khobar which is on the east coast just next to Bahrain

The trip back a couple of days later was very different.  It was wet!  Camels in the desert.

Proof that it rains in Saudi Arabia

Friday 9 November
Finally another update from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia!

Since I last prepared a post the Team has run a 2 day workshop for Principals and Vice Principals at the school and a second 2 day workshop for the Supervisors.  The Supervisors are really the ones who work in the classrooms with the teachers.  They are soon to be known as Instructional Leaders.  The added complication of holding workshops apart from the language - that requires a 'sometime' interpreter' is that a screen has to be erected between the male participants and the female participants.  As presenters, we moved between the two sections and they could see the presentation on overhead screens, but the women stayed veiled throughout.  Additionally a record of the workshop was taken but only filmed on the 'mens side' as the women can't be photographed.  I had to argue the day before for a separate room for the women to eat lunch - or else they would have had to eat their lunch discretely lifting their veil to eat.  They were grateful for the lunch room as it allowed them to take off the veils and chat and eat in comfort.  Importantly the content was received well.  It was complex and much completely new - the Sergiovanni Leadership model, performance plans that aren't punitive as is the current practice, feedback and professional conversations that don't led to teacher evaluation and determine the next contract.

Following the 2 days (which included one day of the holiday) we had a day with Boston Consulting Group - who have instigated the work here in the school and identified 31 major pieces of work from HR to student assessment schedules.  We each have a project around this report to lead and commence the implementation in the school.   The purpose of this day was to present the progress on our projects and outline the work that is planned over the next 3 months.

Then we were on holidays.  This was the Eid holiday when people across the whole of the Middle East travel home to celebrate the time with family.  This is also the time when Muslims from across the world travel to Mecca to undertake the Hajj.  As non-Muslims were are not permitted to travel to Mecca even outside of major religious periods.

Most of the Team headed off to neighbouring countries to relax and see what the region has to offer.  I went to Oman and stayed with an old friend who has been living and working in Muscat for 5 years.  Liza has been working at Sultan Qaboos University for the Language Centre where she works with the students to improve their academic English.  English is the language of teaching at the university.  Liza certainly showed me the wonderful sites in and around Muscat.

Muscat 

The Sultan's Palace & old Fort

One of the highlights was visiting the beautiful Sultan Qaboos Mosque. The size was enormous and though built in the last 10 years (opened in 2005) the building was graceful and the art was stunning.  Set in gorgeous gardens with the smell of frangipani, the whole area had a sense of calmness.  We also visited nearby wadis, towns, beaches and ancient buildings (generally forts).  Great time and very relaxing - as well as a place where I had my first beer in 5 weeks!

Inside the Grand Mosque

Cloisters adjacent to the courtyards

 The inside of the Mosque is truly huge - rivals the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.  The carpet is made as one piece!  The patterns are stunning throughout and the carpet is just mind blowing.  In recent years they had a hurricane and the protection of the carpet was the 1st priority.

It seems that the Sultan is quite the modern progressive ruler.  He is the son of the previous Sultan who kept Oman in the past.  However he did send his son to England to study from the age of 12.  He was boarded with a vicar and his family.  On completing his education with university he returned to Oman and 40 years ago led a bloodless coup.  At that time Oman had 10km of made roads, 2 schools (for boys only) and no secondary eduction.  They now have schools for all and a quality university.  They have modern highways and freeways, international airports at numerous cities and a vibrant, modern commercial centre with most of the major international companies present.  Oil is a powerful thing to bring a country from poverty to great wealth.  Muscat saw the opening of its Opera House last year.

We are now working with our teachers in a coaching model. They are excited and enthusiastic about their involvement with us.  We often are approached with the query as to when we will take on more teachers (by teachers keen to become involved).  There are many challenges for us and for the teachers to move to a new paradigm - but the premise of improving the outcomes for the students drives their commitment.  The difficulties lie in meeting times (school is 7:00am - 1:30pm and work outside of these  hours is rare).  The teachers have a relatively low load - generally 20 periods each week from a 40 period week.  Most periods are 45 minutes but maybe 40 minutes or 50 minutes.  The Kindergarten has a rigid timetable of 30 minute periods and the children's week includes daily lessons in Arabic, Qur'an, English, Structured Play and weekly lessons for Songs, Drawing, Physical Activity and Computer. The Kindergarten Principal is keen to change this and is leading our work in enabling a program that is child centred.  She is brilliant and we are hoping to get to Reggio Emilia (Italy) next year with a couple of her staff to support the transition to a stronger program.

Enough for this post.  Thank you for your emails, comments and messages.  They are very warmly received.  It is difficult living so far away, but the team from Australia is fantastic and the school is so embracing of our work.  It is important to also say here that the Saudi people are warm, polite and considerate of us - except in queues, but then the Chinese can't queue either!  This is not a scary place!  Yes we wear abayas when out - and we have been picked up by the Religious Police and next time we will ignore them as they have no jurisdiction over us (and we were each given a copy of the Qur'an in English!) - and we are living in a Compound guarded by armed soldiers (with machine guns), but we haven't seen any anger or conflict since our arrival.  Perhaps the fact that there is no alcohol for the young men is a good thing.

The Girls School Team
Mary, Me, Sue, Julie and Lorraine

Sunset from my bedroom

Week 5 Wednesday 24 October:

Reflecting on the past month in Riyadh is full of challenges, new learnings, great experiences and new friends.

After flying from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi FIRST CLASS we had our last alcoholic drink - champagne - in the Business Class Lounge before embarking on our final leg to Riyadh.  On arrival we were met by Ron and 3 cars to take us to our new home.  I now know that I travel light!  Though I am here for three months at a time, so others did have some excuse for 2-3 cases that were large and heavy.

After 3 - 4 days Julie and I were moved to a smaller villa in the compound, but it overlooks the swimming pool, gym and soon to open cafe.  (I say 'soon' to be opened loosely - they have been waiting 3 months for mains power to be connected.  Currently the gym & pool area are powered by a generator that is a large industrial one.  Ron is keen for the power to be connected also, as his apartment is in the same building and he can't move in until power supply is guaranteed.  Our villa is very comfortable but has its own quirks.  The first couple of days we were both flooding our respective bathrooms and couldn't locate the cause.  It soon became obvious that when we were having a shower the water was running around the outside of the bath and then onto the floor.  Solution - the maintenance guys (Indians and Pakistani) came and build a 'wall' of silicon to trap the water.  A dam wall they called it.  This has worked well for Julie's but my wall just sends the water back the other way.  My solution to date is to keep a sponge there and constantly wringing it out.  Today they decided I need another 'wall'.  So hopefully soon I can enjoy a long shower without concern of flooding.

School has been really interesting.  The most obvious difference is that our side is only women.  Female staff and students.  The exception to this is that we have a Kindergarten on our side of the Wall.  This starts with 3 year olds, then 4 year olds and finally 5 year olds [KG1, KG2 & KG3 respectively].  The KG is staffed by women only and has male and female students.  From KG they transition to school - Lower Elementary which is grades 1-3.  However the boys remain for the first two years before they move to the Boys side.  It is amazing that most of the staff (including principals) have never seen the whole school, remaining on 'their side'.  We have only seen the 'boys side' on non school days.  This impacts on usual events that we have to stop and think about.  For instance major events and celebrations at the school are for the girls and their mothers or the boys and their fathers.  This includes Graduation.  This is something Ron is looking to change - but has to be thought through carefully as often the Prince is a special guest at the Graduation (boys) night.

The school is structured similarly to an American system: Lower Elementary, Elementary, Middle School and High School.  To add to the number of schools, Middle and High Schools have two schools for each: National and American Diploma.  When you then double Elementary through to High School, you can see where the 11 schools comes into existence.

Me pointing to the Door to the Girls
School. Our bags are at the door
of the Mixed Meeting Room

This separation is gradually being challenged under Ron's leadership.  He has instigated a number of firsts:  Weekly meetings of all principals in the same room, meetings with all teachers (males one time and women on another occasion), meetings with students (again male and female forums) and has commenced meeting with parent groups.  He has started Twittering and the students are constantly sending him emails (and now Tweets) with suggestions for improvement.  The major topic is the Canteen, but beyond that they want harder work, more subject choices and more extra-curricula activities.  To enable these mixed meetings the women (including the female students) must were their headscarf and cover their faces, with their eyes showing.  Though occasionally some will put a light a scarf over their face so that it is completely obscured.  The weekly principals meeting is held in a mixed meeting room near the entrance to the Girls school (see the picture).  We walk past this each morning to enter our side of the wall.  We go through a door and into a room before stepping into the expanse of the Girls school.  Its a bit like stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia.

The other major adjustment we have had to make is the wearing of the abaya at all times outside the Compound.  The only place we have been able to take it off has been when we have been in a Women's only Beauty Salon. As we wear them constantly we have all bought several more and even some for 'going out special'.  The last day of the term we went home via an Abaya shop.  Who would have thought 2 months ago that we would all get so excited with the experience of choosing another abaya for our collection!  We can't walk around the neighbourhood without one of our male colleagues.  We can't walk to the laundry to collect our dry cleaning.  This means that we always have to plan ahead.  The guys have been wonderful and willing to accompany us if we wish.  We have also shopped at Malls a great deal as we can be dropped off by our driver (Ahmed - drop dead gorgeous Egyptian - photos in the future) and we can roam the shops with a relative sense of freedom.  That said everything shuts at prayer time and we find ourselves sitting around waiting a fair bit.  Though this provides time for meeting locals and learning more about Riyadh.  The other challenge as women is that clothing shops don't have change rooms for women.  You can exchange and the time for this ranges form 3 days (Zara) to 30 days (Marks & Spencers).  Men, off course, have change rooms for their convenience.

Anyway enough for now.  Off to Oman tonight to spend a week with an old friend from Fiji - Liza.  Liza has been in Muscat working for several years now and I'll get to see more of the Middle East - and perhaps enjoy a nice wine.

Traditional meal being set for us.
Great food (including camel - not
so nice)