Well before I start—the image above is of Snow World, which sits inside the Reem Mall on the third floor, just a few minutes from my apartment. The final image in this post will be quite the opposite.

Since my last post, life has moved at quite a hectic pace filled with orientation and the many administrative steps tied to settling in here. One big milestone: getting our fingerprints taken for our national ID cards.

A group of us piled into a school minibus and were whisked off to the Home Affairs offices. In less than ten minutes, one efficient operator had processed all of us—photos, fingerprints, palm prints, and even the sides of our hands (whatever those are officially called!). For the two of us from South Africa, this felt like pure fantasy. The office was spacious, uncrowded, and filled with empty chairs—something almost mythical when compared to the queues back home.

What’s striking is how much the host school and the country take care of. Tasks I would normally expect to handle alone are arranged smoothly here. My ID card will be delivered to me when it’s ready, and even my bank cards are arriving straight to my door without me ever setting foot inside a bank.

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For those who wondered what was hidden under the white tent peaks in the aerial photo I shared earlier—here’s the answer. It is one of the large play or assembly areas, but within it there are traditional reclining seating spots available. It’s a traditional seating area, which the teachers happily claimed for a short rest after lunch. Of course, once the students arrive next week, this kind of break might not be possible, but I have already noticed visitors to the school relaxing there quite comfortably.

The staff community is an expat mix from all over the world, and there’s a wonderful sense of everyone gelling together. The orientation into the IB system has been conducted at a high pace but always in a positive and motivating way. Alongside that, there are clear expectations around embedding national identity into every classroom—a fascinating blend of pedagogy and cultural awareness.

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I haven’t yet ventured too far beyond the staff accommodation, except for a walk through parts of the city where the streets are lined with shops and small stores. For practical things, the malls have been my go-to—I even picked up an iron and ironing board today since my last set of wrinkle-free clothes finally ran out!

Getting around is refreshingly simple. Taxis are very affordable here, and some even display the time and temperature right on top of the car—quite handy in a place where the weather is always part of the conversation. The one I took this evening showed 35°C, and that was after 8 p.m.!

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Until Next Time

Each day here is a mix of the familiar and the completely new, with small discoveries around every corner. Orientation continues at full speed, but the sense of welcome and the smooth systems make the transition easier. I’ll share more once my ID card arrives and the first week with students gets underway—no doubt that will bring its own set of stories.