So much has happened in the last week.
I finally arrived in Karachi last Saturday afternoon, after a very pleasant flight with Emirates. The aircraft are comfortable and modern and the crew very helpful and chatty.
Saturday allowed me to catch my breath and then on Sunday, Lubna who is head of Student Welfare, had arranged a trip out for the new staff who were around. We went to the Sunday Market where normally we would have been able to buy household items and food etc. Unfortunately due to the flooding, it was off!!!
There has been no rain since I arrived but there is still a lot of standing water left over from the last couple of weeks rain. When I arrived the school field was under a foot of water, that has subsided but it will stilll take a couple of weeks for it to dry out. Then it will need reseeding!
Sunday also saw my first go at driving in the city, and its wan't as scary as I thought it would be. Traffic is much slower here than in the UK, but also far less disciplined. You have to remember a few basic rules:
1. Don't assume anything - just because he is indicating right doesn't mean he won't turn left, go straight on, stop suddenly or turn right!
2. If it's bigger than you then it has right of way!
3. Possession is ten tenths of the law - ie if you have the road then you keep the road!
All in all I am enjoying driving and it means that I have the freedom to come and go as I please rather than having to rely on school drivers which is great. I am also slowly working out where everything is, no easy feat, as the only road map available, only has some of the street names on!
The rest of the week has been taken up with meetings and timetabling. When I arrived I had a timetable that worked, but it has ungone several revision as people have given me more accurate information than I had from the head.
I am getting on very well with the Head, Andrew and the other two members of the Senior Management Team(SMT), which are Lubna, Head of Student Welfare and Maria, Deputy Head(Primary). I think we will have a very good and sometimes silly working relationship.
Thomas has arrived safely in Cairo and heads off to Alexandria today. It has been good to hear his voice and know that his travels are going well. I will definitely be seeing him at New Year but we might get together before that.
Last week also saw my 37th birthday, and I know I don't look a day over 45 but I am only 37! For the first time in my life I was actually in school on my birthday which was a bit weird but I managed a quiet birthday tea for one, which was lovely!
Also the flat is being painted this week! It has been empty for two months but the landlady has chosen this week to start painting all rooms!!! I have been told, this is just part of life in Pakistan.
My thoughts and feelings as I come to the end of week one are all positive ones, I am really looking forward to life here, there will be challenges, including the roads, the slow pace at which somethings move, the constant power cuts, but all in all, I like my new home.
So let the adventure begin and lets pray that all the timetables are tyoed up in time for MOnday morning, or else chaos will ensue...
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2 comments:
So good to hear you have managed to do so much since you got there, well done, it sounds like you will really enjoy the life, and this kind of communication is good, cos it doesn't really feel like you are at the other side of the world.
That address for Kristy's blog is
www.vintagepleasure.typepad.com have a look if you feel the need for a giggle at the antics of the girls and the cats. Have looked on facebook every day since you left, it's great because you don't have to write to all of us, we can each read it on the one that you post on, so that's really good.
See you soon, keep blogging Love Gwennie
Hi Michael, this is the 3rd attempt at commenting and I keep losing it so just to say hope you're ok and keep blogging,
Lots of love,
Angela xXx
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