Job Discussion Forums

abufletcher · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:42 am Post subject:

Given that snow is entirely possible in Levant region of the Middle East I suppose it's inevitable that there would be a word for it! We had "jaleed" once during a winter trip to Jordan (and a radiator frozen solid in the morning).

Rent clothes? If the Emiratis are anything like the Japanese they'll arrive for their first day on the bunny slopes wearing a $1000 worth of designer ski wear and a pair of skis fit for an Olympic downhiller!

Tuttifruitti · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 75

Hi VS,

Apparently the temp is a 'comfortable' -1 to -2 degrees!! I have an Emirati friend who went to Jebel Hafit last weekend and had to leave when it got ''really cold'' in the evening. I asked what the temp was...23 degrees!! I can't imagine who will be comfortable in Ski Dubai when the temps are below zero!

Smile

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I think part of skiing is enjoying the scenery and fresh air.

Anyways, perhaps we can continue with the original thread...

abufletcher · Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:10 pm Post subject:

Gordon, to get us back on track, why not tell us what your concerns are in respect to Islam in international schools? The general thrust of the information in this thread (up to it's "snow-jaaking") was that classes about Islam were optional and that the children of most Western expats will learn little or nothing about Islam at school. Or any other religion for that matter.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I guess I was hoping to hear from a variety of people about their expereinces with their kids in international schools. I am a little concerned about Islamic indocrination, perhaps I am imagining things, but when I see that Islam is taught in kindergarten, I get a little worried.

Thanks and if anyone has any more experiences to share, feel free to do so.

DesertStar · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 80 Location: UAE Oasis

Thanks Abufletcher for bringing us back on track.

But Gordon, I'm surprised that your comment sounds specific to Islam. I hope Islamophobia doesn't extend much more beyond the Bush cabinet and a few others. To reiterate, non-muslim children aren't required to study Islam as people suggested above. For the sake of the argument though, what about religion instruction in catholic schools back in the west for instance? Starts in pre-school actually, years prior to kindergarten. Is your concern general (e.g., separation of religion and state) or is it specific to Islam?

Appreciate an enriching discussion.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Desert Star,
My point is not to make a religious discussion. I merely was asking how Islam is presented in the int'l schools in the Gulf. Frankly, Buddhism and Christianity would not play a very important role there. My question is specific to Islam since that is what dominates the culture/schools...

You are more than welcome to start a new thread (if you like) in the Italy forum on Catholicism in the schools there.

DesertStar · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 80 Location: UAE Oasis

abufletcher · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:04 am Post subject:

I'm the one that mentioned that the Gulf can be quite colonial with western expats on one side of the veranda and the "locals" on the other. As an elite expat you live in a kind of bubble where you get to see all the culture around you but don't actually have to/get to experience it personally. In Oman expats can even get a liquor licence and buy booze at stores no Omani is allowed to shop at. There is even a "pork products" room at the supermarket so you can go ahead and get all your favorite harraam animal products -- which includes Mexican refried beans since they have pork lard.

There is also something slightly "military" about life as a western expat in the Gulf. Expats live on "compounds" and don't take vacation but "go on leave." I suspect these are hold overs from days when civilian/military contractors made up the bulk of western expats.

In short, as an expat, while you live in an Islamic country, you do not actually live on a day-to-day basic in an Islamic culture -- but rather in the culture that you brought along with you.

The international school, as DestertStar states are miniature bastions of western life, for the most part. If fact it's probably not right to characterize them as "international."

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

DesertStar · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 80 Location: UAE Oasis

Right on, Abufletcher.

Yet despite all the 'conveniences' you describe, you find some western expats who're still whinning (or 'concerned') about the impact of the local culture (Islam or whatever else) on their little 'special' western kids.

Western children who are allowed to experience life beyond the compounds are bound to benefit more from living overseas than their parents. I have seen children learning the local language fairly quickly (being kids and all). I've also seen children who were born in the Gulf (or brought shortly after) and are now teens who don't speak one Arabic word. Very sad.

We know this topic has been beaten to death on here; I still wonder why some folks leave their home countries in the first place?
True, working overseas isn't for everyone.

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Desert star,
I've never seen an int'l school in the Gulf. If I had, I doubt I would have posted this question in the first place.

I'm not the one wanting to start a religious discussion and I have been around enough to know where it will lead to. I am asking what I thought was a fairly innocuous question and thankfully the question has been answered by you and others.