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[Strolling minstrel]

As SAD sets in at this time of year (or is it just mid-year blues?) there seems to be a lot of grumbling and groaning on the boards in this neck of the woods. Thus I thought it would be worthwhile to list some of the good things that have taken place so far this academic year in spite of it all.

Your starter for 10 is HCT opening a new college in Madinat Zayed with only a few weeks notice. Take a bow all those of you involved. An astonishing achievement.

[Iamherebecause]

No, it's not SAD. Can't suffer from SAD here as it's too sunny. In fact I know sad SAD prone people who work here precisely there is no SAD. Mid-academic-year blues, or end of yet another calendar year in the Gulf blues, though, are entirely different. Many of us are stuck in contracts which are hard to get out of (6 months notice, and only being able to leave at the end of a semester is unusual in the academic world, after all) with salaries which are not rising as fast as inflation if they ever rise at all. Let's not even think about the exchange rate for non-US citizens.

I'm afraid that hearing that a new campus was opened at short notice doesn't really fill me full of Christmas Cheer. Wouldn't it have been better to plan ahead?

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

[Iamherebecause]

Anyway, 'Here's your starter for ten' is used to preface a question, not a statement.

Lets begin again.
Here's your starter for 10: As a UAE based TEFLER, what gives you reasons to be cheerful? And 5 bonus points if you manage to refer to your work without sounding like a sycophant.

[Spin duck]

quote]As a UAE based TEFLER, what gives you reasons to be cheerful? [/quote]

How about nurturing one's schadenfreude as a motivating drive? In the TEFL world, for instance, it's easy to assume that pay and conditions don't get much better than the UAE HCTs. Add a bit of sunshine, lots of 'isn't-it-techno-marvellous' and 'helping the locals to adjust to the modern world' rhetoric, and it's only natural to look back at where one has come from and at those that still work in cowboy corner shop schools scattered around the rest of the cold globe. As I say, schadenfreude - a commonly exhibited symptom of expat-ritus. Listen to lunch and coffee-time conversations with colleagues about this and join in the fun - it can make one feel better about UAE HCT life.

[Strolling minstrel]

On reflection I think I should have had two posts. One "Christmas cheer" and the other "bah humbug!". It would have allowed posters a little more relevance in choice of message destination.

If there is anyone out there with a positive vibe (I suppose Schadenfreude is the closest we've got, yet), come on down! Still 17 posting days till Christmas.

[eha]

1. Not one of your students has an ASBO to his name.
2. Students are not routinely checked for knives and guns as they enter the hallowed halls.
3. You get paid regularly-- and rather generously, for the TEFL world.
4. You don't have much work to do.
5. You aren't required to THINK at all.
6. It's not hard to get used to not barking, if you've never barked much. (ref: old Cold War joke about dog who defects to Russia)
7. Siddown; yer rockin the boat.

[veiledsentiments]

What's an ASBO?

[dmb]

[veiledsentiments]

... appears that it can also relate to adults.

Not a term widely known outside the UK, I expect...

VS

[ckhl]

Hey, as much as one may be weary and like to carp and complain, remember--it is easy and comfortable, if not a bit boring. And would it really be that much better elsewhere?

[like2answer]

Instead of 12, I came up with 10. That�s all that the Strolling minstrel asked for -

On the first day of Christmas, the Emirates gave to me, a tax free paycheck monthly.

On the second day of Christmas, the Emirates gave to me, sunshine every day, and a tax free paycheck monthly.

On the third day of Christmas, the Emirates gave to me, a safe city, sunshine every day, and a tax free paycheck monthly.

On the fourth day of Christmas, the Emirates gave to me, pretty sparkling lights, a safe city, sunshine every day, and a tax free paycheck monthly.

On the fifth day of Christmas, the Emirates gave to me, cheap GAS-O-LINE! pretty sparkling lights, a safe city, sunshine every day, and a tax free paycheck monthly.

On the sixth day of Christmas, the Emirates gave to me, mostly kind students, cheap GAS-O-LINE! pretty sparkling lights, a safe city, sunshine every day, and a tax free paycheck monthly

On the seventh day of Christmas, the Emirates gave to me, cultural diversity, mostly kind students, cheap GAS-O-LINE! pretty sparkling lights, a safe city, sunshine every day, and a tax free paycheck monthly

On the eighth day of Christmas, the Emirates gave to me, interesting colleagues, cultural diversity, mostly kind students, cheap GAS-O-LINE! pretty sparkling lights, a safe city, sunshine every day, and a tax free paycheck monthly

On the ninth day of Christmas, the Emirates gave to me, a lower cost of living, interesting colleagues, cultural diversity, mostly kind students, cheap GAS-O-LINE! pretty sparkling lights, a safe city, sunshine every day, and a tax free paycheck monthly

On the tenth day of Christmas, the Emirates gave to me, beautiful free housing, a lower cost of living, interesting colleagues, cultural diversity, mostly kind students, cheap GAS-O-LINE! pretty sparkling lights, a safe city, sunshine every day, and a tax free paycheck monthly

And I think I didn�t come off like a sycophant, so I want my 5 extra points!

[eha]

On the 11th day of Christmas, the **** gave to me: lots of empty rhetoric (�cultural diversity�? �interesting colleagues�?) etc etc.

On the 12th day of Christmas, the **** gave to me: A Tax-free Paycheque--- and let�s face it, that�s all that matters to MEHEEHEE (and theeheehee)

[ckhl]

A Tax-free Paycheque--- and let�s face it, that�s all that matters to MEHEEHEE

And isn't this the overarching reason why an EFL teacher comes to the Middle East? Forget the noble, self-deluding blather others may bore you with.

[eha]

Right. Empty rhetoric. Pass the waste-bin; I think I had too much 'postive' thinking this season.