My life as a traveling teacher.

“Good luck in Dubai!”. By the time my move to Abu Dhabi was imminent, I’d lost count of how many times people had mistakenly assumed/thought that I was actually moving to Dubai, and not the UAE’s capital. Only about an hour’s drive from each other, Abu Dhabi was dubbed “the new Middle East” by the writers of the horrific Sex and the City 2 movie; however, is usually lesser known than its flashy, buzzing, EXPO 2020 host-city sister. This is in no way a criticism what became a common mistake that I found myself politely nodding to instead of correcting. Having Googled “where is Abu Dhabi” shortly after having seen it on the list that resulted from my “international schools with Alberta curriculum” search, I was not in a place to judge or point fingers. Finding Abu Dhabi on a map was the first baby step of many in learning about life in the UAE. Having been here for about 6 weeks, the lesson learning is JUST beginning… but here is a glimpse of some of them thus far. Less...

The last time I wrote, I pondered my next big life adventure – the one I wasn’t always certain would happen, but had been placed in the ‘maybe pile’. The opportunity I’d consider seriously in a time of need- during a sort of existential crisis where big changes needed to happen. The “next adventure” phase of my life moved from the ‘maybe pile’ to the ‘most definitely’ pile about a year ago.   I was in Cambodia and Hong Kong with my Senior High students on a two-week humanitarian and cultural travel studies experience. What I learned here shaped the decision I recently made to become a teacher in an international school. For those who want to know how it happened, read ahead. This also doubles as my blog entry for these countries, which I’ve never actually submitted. Oops.  CLICHÉ(S) ALERT(S): it was my first time in Asia, and I was absolutely taken aback. The locale was playing its part as much as the thrill that comes with seeing a new part of the wor...

Soooo. Here I am. A full 17 months after the completion of my venture on the high seas as a teacher on Class Afloat.   I’ve started writing this entry dozens of time… and I’ve thought of it at least 10 times as much. My last entry was in April 2011, about a month before our homecoming. By that point, I remember thinking there was little point to continue writing about what was happening. To me, it was starting to sound a bit repetitive… a bit mundane.. « So we sailed for a bit. I wasn’t sea sick! DOLPHINS! And then saw a lot of amazing places in port. I ate some good food. Now we’re sailing again! ». At the risk of sounding unappreciative, or unaware of the incredible opportunity that became my daily routine (I wasn’t)…..it did become very normalized. As mentioned in one of my postings, life on terra firma was now the anomaly. Life aboard the Sorlandet had become my home…and I felt as though writing about my experiences at that point would ha...

The green cliffs of the archipelago of the Azores Islands, reminiscent of what I have imagined Ireland to resemble, welcome us in Mid-March, after spending the first half of this month at sea. I, admittedly, do not have Geography as a strong suit. I first learned of where the Azores where located last year, while looking on a giant world map on the wall of CFIS’ cafeteria with one of my students. We were pointing to various islands and countries, expressing our enthusiasm of perhaps one day being lucky enough to see them through a traveler’s eyes. Amidst our wandering and deciphering of the gigantic mural, the Azores were pointed out. I had remembered seeing this location mentioned on the Class Afloat itinerary for the upcoming school year. “Hey - I’ll be on that island next year. Awesome.” We find Horta, on the island of Faial near the end of winter; a season which is mostly marked by rain, and wind. This changes the planned program of a day-long volcano hike, as vis...