Friday Fragments: Episode #4

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Abu Dhabi Sandstorms

For the past few days, we've been experiencing sandstorms. Nothing like the sandstorm in Mission Impossible 4, mind you, but still crazy. Visibility was practically nonexistent in some places. I've been sleeping with my windows opened with the weather being nice & cool. I had to close them this week cos (a) sand kept blowing in my room, and (b) the wind was blowing so hard, it had my door rattling. Hard. And even with the craziness that is a sandstorm, there were still idiotas who decided it's ok to rev their engines & speed down the street.



I can usually see beyond the ADNEC bldg, but not with the sandstorm.

Wind + Sand = Allergies

Earlier this week, I went running (I know, hard to believe). Lucky me, it was very windy. So, I had to deal with sand constantly blowing in my face. I forgot that sand triggers my allergies just as much as greenery does. It started out slow. A cough here & there. Slight congestion. Itchy eyes. Then, Thursday, my voice chose to slowly go away. And Thursday night, I was at my worst. So, needless to say, I've been sick this weekend...the whole nine: sore throat, no voice, coughing my insides out, sneezing, congestion.

My original plans for the weekend: clean my house, wash/fold/put away laundry, go salsa dancing, have fun. What I actually did: sleep, drink tea, wash laundry, dump said laundry on bed & leave it there, sleep, watch my tv shows, drink tea, sleep, etc. Didn't get much done. Man, I hate being sick! And I'm certain I've reached my tea consumption limit, tho I love tea. It's all I've been drinking.

Teaching With No Voice

Teaching 20-something 3 & 4 year olds who don't understand your language is hard enough. Teaching them ALONE, with a sore throat and NO voice is darn near impossible. Such was my day Thursday. But I survived, thank God. When they got too rowdy, I'd sit down on the carpet and cross my arms...wouldn't say a thing. They caught on that Ms. Raenice isn't happy. So one by one, they'd sit on the carpet and close their mouths. I didn't think it would work, but it did! A wonderful alternative to raising your voice, something I don't like to do.