Morjes!

Welcome to my blog. I write about fitting in, sticking out, and missing the motherland as a serial foreigner.

The Ministry strikes again

Yesterday, the girls' school informed parents that the last day of school before Winter Break would be today, not next Thursday as was originally planned. Why? Because the Ministry of Education told them so.

The Ministry established a standard school calendar two years ago, which indicated a three-week break in December/January, a two-week break in March/April, and a school year that extended into the first week of July. In my opinion, this was a less than ideal schedule (actually, I think it's insane to have school in July when it's 115+ outside, but whatever. Let's stay with "less than ideal"). Still, the Ministry wanted all the schools on this same schedule as of two years ago.

Somehow, the girls' school avoided compliance. I don't know how. I only know that I was grateful for a more manageable two-week break in December and a school year that ended in June, not July. This year, the school is up for re-accreditation, so maybe that has something to do with why the Ministry cracked down. Now, their schedule is suddenly in line with most of the other schools the neighbor kids are attending, with the apparent exception of one that seems to still have school next week.

Anyway, the point is that once again, thanks to last-minute, Ministry-mandated changes in the school schedule, I am going to have my kids running rampant at home when I was banking on peace and quiet. My thesis defense (!!!!!!!) is scheduled for Wednesday morning. I was hoping to have the days to myself to really nail down my presentation, but now it looks like I'll be cobbling it together in stolen five-minute increments while barking at the girls to go back outside to play.

Oh well.

December 13th, outsourced

Immunizations in the UAE