Bedaya Forum: Jamboree

Yesterday, Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), my employer, had a kick-off Jamboree at the ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre) building.  (By the way, I'll be spelling words the European way now since I am teaching that curriculum.  Don't want to be responsible for students misspelling their words!!)

This centre is home to the iconic gravity-defying tower, also known as Capital Gate, that we watched being built on the show, "Can it be Built?"  Our assembly took place in the convention centre right below the tower, whose interior is not quite completed.  We had a great, up-close view.

There were about 6,000 teachers in attendance for the Bedaya (Beginning) Forum.  Today teachers all over the country are attending training sessions and meeting faculty from their schools....except for those of us who are being moved from Abu Dhabi City to outlying areas.  We're in our hotel rooms waiting for the word to load buses to be moved to another hotel in Al Ain.  I'm hopeful we will receive word about today's training and what we missed so that we won't begin our year in the dark.

This is Capital Gate.  The part sticking out to the left is a pool.