Rambling #8- Miles to go before…I find my way

around Dubai roads, that is.

Now, those who know me well can vouch for my not-so-impressive way with routes. I have an inane quality of losing my way, even while driving along the simplest of routes. My sense of direction would put even Christopher Columbus to shame, if he were alive today! I am terribly direction challenged. I can’t even read maps. I’m sure the latter part of Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps was written after me.

As for the former part, I can’t really endorse it as my husband DOES listen when I grumble bicker nag talk . Now how well he grasps all that he listens is something that deserves a separate post though :P. For now, let’s just stick to my navigation skill. Or the lack of it 😉

When we were in Doha I never used a map or GPS, even though there were umpteen occasions when I had lost my way. I even remember setting out with Namnam to a friend’s place, barely 20 minutes away, only to end up hitting a road that went straight to Saudi Arabia! And even worse, by some freak way, I had got on to the opposite side of the road! Needless to say I was given the dirtiest scowls by other drivers when trying to cut across to the right side of the road. Anyway, as I was saying, despite the many fiascos, I never used a map because  I had R and my friends to fall back on. I always called them when I couldn’t get my way around and they would be right there on the other end of the line, guiding me through.

However here, ever since the day I got my license converted, R insisted that I got the google map application downloaded to my phone so that I could learn my way around more easily. While the map has certainly made my life easier, I have yet not succeeded in getting my way around with it. So map or no map I’m still losing my way!

A couple of months ago, when my father in law came visiting, I took him and Namnam to a sports shop which is just 15 minutes away from our place. While it took us no time to get to the place as I zoomed like a pro using the GPS in my phone, it took us more than an hour to get back home! Why? Because thanks to my great ability to understand maps, I had this smart urge to try a new route which was supposed to get us back in shorter amount of time. But obviously I didn’t read the map properly and ended up driving to the other end of the city and giving my father in law and my daughter a mini tour of Dubai in the process!

And now, my father-in-law has been wanting to know when I will be giving a similar “Dubai Darshan” to my parents as well! 😛 😛

 

Rambling #2- Open communication with school…good or bad?

In my previous post I had mentioned about Namnam’s teacher messaging me to come and pick her up as she wasn’t feeling well. This happened a few days ago. In no time I had rushed to fetch her from school and bring her home. Let me add that earlier in the day a couple of messages had already been exchanged between us as Namnam was anyway feeling a bit under the weather when she left home.  So I had to make sure that she was okay. Hence the constant communication.

Its at times like this that I feel immensely grateful for the school’s open communication policy. From the very day the school opened its gates to us, we have been given to understand that parents/guardians would have all possible access to our kids’ school and their teachers. At the first orientation programme, Namnam’s teacher had even shared her phone number and her email id assuring us that we could stay connected with her anytime of the day.

If I hadn’t had that direct contact with the teacher, I would have probably been hyperventilating at home, feeling guilty for sending my sick child to school, feeling utterly helpless even and wondering about her health. But because I had free access to the teacher, I could easily check on my child.

And I’m sure the teacher is just as accessible and supportive with other parents as she is with me. I have seen parents waiting outside the class, every other day for a little chit-chat with the teacher getting the required feedback about their wards and discussing their concerns. The school allows the parents to approach them at anytime for any concerns whatsoever. And as a parent I completely welcome this policy. Its quite reassuring to say the least. So if one is to ask me to weigh the pros and cons out of this policy I, as a parent would tilt the scale in favour of pros since I have only benefited from such a policy so far.

Personally, I like the idea of teachers sharing their contact with the parents because I feel it is always better to have direct access to the particular teacher who’s responsible for your child’s well being and safety for a good part of the day than waiting for the school to connect you to him/her.

Now I understand such an open policy can have adverse implication too if misused. And that is the only con, per se, that I can see coming out of this system. Parents may tend to take such generous services for granted. For instance, with teachers’ numbers out in the open, its every bit possible for the parents to call them at ungodly hours to discuss some frivolous issues of their child. But these are minor elements which I feel can be done away with if parents and teachers set boundaries and respect each other’s space. The teacher can always choose not to entertain any calls or messages after the school hours if he/she feels they aren’t urgent enough to be addressed. And the parents can/should always choose not to take undue advantage of the facilities that are made available to them.

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A Letter to My Daughter

Dear Namnam,

You’ll soon be starting a new school year, ushering in a new chapter in your life. Much as it makes me anxious to know how well you will eventually take to the new surrounding, your excitement about the prospect of going back to school is just so infectious, darling!

I know you miss your old school, your friends and your teachers a lot. You constantly reminisce about the fun you had with them, the lessons you learned, sometimes amazing me with the knowledge you’ve gained on various subjects for which I have no-one but your teachers to thank, making it all so obvious how much you have cherished those moments. Why, you even asked me if you could keep your old uniforms safe and wear them sometimes just because you loved them so much!

And now you can’t wait for the new school to reopen for I can see how much you hope to recreate those experiences of your previous school in your current one just as well. I’m so happy to see that eagerness in you! May you always be as positive as you are, sweetheart.

But do keep one thing in mind, Namnam. While it’s fine to relate the experiences that you may go through here with the ones you had in your previous school, please avoid comparing the two for the simple fact that each school is different and each experience, each person that comes your way may be different.

Embrace each moment with open arms and mind while preserving the memories of the moments gone by in your heart.

I can see how eager you are to join your new school, but I can also feel in your words a feeble sense of uncertainty about fitting in well. It’s perfectly normal to have such uncertainties, Namnam. But let me tell you, there is no need for you to be doubtful in any way. Be yourself, your kind, loving, fun, adapting self and you’ll be just fine 🙂

That’s not to say that you should compromise over your views. No, never. If you believe in something, stick to it, be assertive. Having said that, be also willing to accept if you are in the wrong.

Trust me, you’ll feel much better and more confident to face not just others but also your own self, if you can recognize the mistakes, whatsoever you have made and learn from them.

Take your time to make friends. There’s no hurry. Don’t fret if you can’t get along with your fellow mates. Understand that its not possible to get along with all of them out there! Make friends with children who may not necessarily agree with you, but who understand and respect you for who or what you are.

However, there’s one quality that I would really like you to work on. And thats your shyness. You’re still wary of going out there and opening up to fellow kids. It’s perfectly fine to be an introvert, Namnam. I am so I know. But if you like someone, be bold and go upto the person and introduce yourself. You never know, he/she may turn out to be a friend waiting to be made for life!

I know I don’t have to tell you what I am about to, for you know this already and you have adhered to it beautifully so far. Still let me tell you again 🙂

You’ll be away from home for a good part of the day.

And you will be in the care of teachers who would be trying their best to bring the best out of you.

Do cooperate with them and hear them out. Give them the respect you would give your Papa and Amma. Do listen to them and speak up if and when you have any concerns or doubts. Your teachers will be happy to clarify any doubt for you. I keep telling you this..please do not keep your thoughts cooped up inside you. You have a beautifully curious mind, express it!

You have been extremely lucky to have been blessed with wonderful teachers who have always been able to bring you out of your shell, help you become more and more confident in every which way possible. I hope and pray that you are blessed with such teachers here in the new school too.

While I realize, with a heavy heart, that with each passing year, you’ll be moving further away from me and papa..oh how I wish we could keep you safely cocooned in our protective hold always.. it overwhelms me to see you growing into an independent confident girl with a mind of her own.

So go out there and have fun, dear girl! A new door filled with wonderful opportunities is all set to open out for you.

Papa and I will be standing right here on this side of the door, looking forward to hearing about all your experiences of the day.

May God bless you, kanna!

Love you

Amma

Day 1- Red+White

Well, I must be crazy! I’ve a packed month already with a pile of things to take care of. I’m already in the thick of moving in to a house. And here I am adding yet another challenge to my list of things to do! The July Photo A Day 2014 Challenge. I have no idea how I am going to manage or whether I can even. But I am going to try anyway for as long as I can!

Thank you Smita, your post prompted and tempted me to take this up! 🙂

So here’s my photo of the day! With a bit of red, a bit of white and a few other colours thrown around. A click of a house that is waiting to be turned into a home.

My home…

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