Grover takes on Gurgiyan - September 17, 2008

We are more than half way through the Holy month of Ramadan. I know this because half way through we have a huge festival called Gurgiyan. Monday was said festival.


Gurgiyan is a huge deal. Imagine the candy associated with Halloween (intensified) and the store displays of Christmas (but without the reindeer) and you've got Gurgiyan.


The first part of the adventure was trying to find an outfit to wear. Gurgiyan is a day in which children dress up in traditional outfits reflective of culture. Teachers also get to dress up. And considering I don't have my sewing machine here it was definitely necessary to do some shopping.


On Thursday evening (September 11th) Steve, Jenny and I set out for the women's market. Knowing the general area of the market, and the GPS that got us pretty close, we set off in search of the land of Gurgiyan. Jenny did a great job getting us to the market. It was rather funny as we stumbled upon it unexpectedly.


And so began the adventure of bartering. I am a horrible barterer. I KNOW that because I'm an expat, I'm gonna pay way more than any Kuwaiti who visited the market. However, I just feel so bad bartering. I mean, really, what is an extra 2 KD?


Anywho, after visiting a couple booths we found a loverly orange Gurgiyan dress-type thing. It is very decorative...lots of embroidery and sequins and little bells. I felt like a princess.


Once I had the garment in hand, all that was left was the Gurgiyan experience. And what an experience it was. It began on Sunday...the day before Gurgiyan. Children started to bring in the baskets of candy that would be handed out. By the start of school on Monday, students had brought enough baskets of candy to feed an entire nation...and that was only in my room. EVERY classroom in the elementary school had similar displays.


The baskets contained bags or decorative containers full of candy and nuts. Needless to say the first question out of my students' mouths on Monday was "Miss, when do we get to hand out the candy?" That was quickly followed by, "Miss, do we have to do work today? It's Gurgiyan!". No they didn't hand out candy before lunch. No they didn't take an entire afternoon to hand out candy. And yes, they did work!


About an hour after our day started, we began to line up for the traditional Gurgiyan parade. the parade starts in the Auditorium. Keep in mind that we are talking about a parade of more than 800 students. Needless to say it was almost an hour before we all had walked down the catwalk and across the stage. One of the most entertaining parts of the auditorium was the Gurgiyan video that was shown at the beginning. The children were clapping and singing. It was so sweet. In addition, there were about a dozen high school students who came to check out the festivities. They were highly entertaining as well...always sure to get the clapping and singing started whenever the little ones would peeter out.

Next was the parade through the middle school and high school. Middle and high school classes were stopped so that as we proceeded from the auditorium back to class our parade continued. There was more cheering and singing and clapping. A grand celebration.

On Monday as I was walking home from school with Jessie (we were both wearing our Gurgiyan outfits) a car full of high school boys stopped and honked and sang the Gurgiyan song as they drove by. It really was a very festive occasion.

Today as I sit and write (it is now Wednesday) I am experiencing my first "Red Alert" day. We were uncertain whether it would be a red or yellow alert day. Yellow alert days indicate that the dust is such that students with Asthma are to stay inside all day. Red alert days mean that everyone stays inside all day. It will be a long day for the students...and teachers...but we'll make it through.

As I looked out my window this morning it was yellow with haze. As Jenny and I walked to school this morning we decided that if we were in London, and the haze was fog instead of dust, that it would look like the perfect winter day in England...not that I've ever been to England, but soon...very soon! Now, as I look out my classroom window it's strangely cloudy...I don't feel the sun beating down on my back today. I've had to turn one of my air conditioners in my classroom off...tooo cold for the little ones (and for me...believe it or not)

I have about an hour and a half of teaching left today...it's my three prep day. During Ramadan, my preps are only 40 minutes. Once Ramadan is over they will each be an hour. Imagine, two of my days are three prep days, four are two prep days and two are one prep days (no I haven't forgotten how to count...we're on an eight day cycle). Unfortunately, I'm rather efficient and have all my marking and planning completed. Thus I blog (for one of my preps, anyway)

Pictures of Gurgiyan and recent adventures (including the new addition to my family) will be up shortly...forgot to take the camera home last night and download pictures. I hope you are all well. Until next time...

The Adventure continues...

G & T