Today I had my first teaching lesson in English where I was giving some spoken tuition to a Muhajireen lad about 23 or 24. Turned out he was a crook as he had no intention of paying me my $12 per hour. Other tutorers are charging $20 per hour and my rate was very reasonable for a native speaker. His mother didn't think so and payed me $6 for the 90 minutes saying that I said the first hour would be free to grade BUT I actually said the first 1/2 hour and she wasn't even there when I said this and aqlso other teachers in newspapers charge $5 an hour. I said that they're not teaching English and they're not native speakers, they're not designing lessons but using the school textbook but she wasn't bothered.
Lesson learnt - get money at start of lesson!
Their names and address will be provided upon request.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
licence to drive- part 1 million 3 hundred thousand and 1 hundred and 95
Went for my driving test examination last week.. It was quite technical and included things like an eye test where I had to say which direction a shape was pointing, squatting down and then standing up and alsooooo, I had to stand up and move my left foot up and down as if I was moving a foot pedal .... Oh, I get it now, so cruuuuucial.
I couldn't be bothered to get to the next stage of the licence where I have to go and collect my card from the driving school abot 10 miles away and then book in for a couple of lessons. Will probably wait until Sunday and make a day's outing of it.
I couldn't be bothered to get to the next stage of the licence where I have to go and collect my card from the driving school abot 10 miles away and then book in for a couple of lessons. Will probably wait until Sunday and make a day's outing of it.
update on new building
The foundations are up and the newest building in the area will apparently be a hotel. Just wondering who will be staying in them!
Had a look at the Blue Tower Hotel which is pretty nice. It's a 4 star hotel and it is always busy but.....
Anyway, it might not be a hotel but offices with high rent....
Had a look at the Blue Tower Hotel which is pretty nice. It's a 4 star hotel and it is always busy but.....
Anyway, it might not be a hotel but offices with high rent....
Friday, December 29, 2006
smoking
Why do people here love smoking? Fair enough, do it at home but not in shops, restaurants, offices, buses, taxis. It’s disgusting but it is their way of life! I think that thousands of Syrians will die of lung cancer before they hit 40. Kids smoke, women smoke and nearly all the men.
When I get in a taxi and the driver is about to light up, I tell him not to smoke as I have my daughter with me or I am allergic or I am off to an interview or something. They just take it for granted that they have the right to smoke and poison me.
My last escapade was at a nut shop. The guy was smoking and I said to him that I would respectfully like to mention something and hope not to offend. He indicates to me to continue… and then I said the following…
I am a customer in his shop and not his home.
You are selling food so hygiene is important.
You are smoking and germs from your mouth are in contact with the food I am buying so please throw your cigarette away, wash your hands and serve me.
He apologised and did what I asked, not really bothered as he didn’t want to lose the business and obviously once I leave, he would have just lit up again. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarghhhhh!!!!
And what about those disgusting hubba bubba’s! They’re just as bad. In restaurants people smoke them after a meal, before a meal and also DURING a meal. These places cannot forbid smoking as everyone wants to smoke and they will lose money if they prohibit smoking. I had great joy in going to a restaurant with my family and ordering loads of food, with the intention of eating, and when a guy started smoking, I asked the waiter to tell him to stop as I don’t like it and my children were with me. He said he couldn’t so I said thank you and walked out.
My next step in educating the masses is to first determine what the rules are concerning smoking in public places and then calling a policeman over to write a ticket to the culprit. I am sure I will get into trouble but the health of my family and me is important and no one is going to poison me with fumes if I can help it.
My wife smokes like a chimney but always on the balcony or near the kitchen window. When people come round, I throw them out onto the balcony to get their fix and they respect my wishes but I am sure they’re cursing.
But you know what, I DON’T CARE.
When I get in a taxi and the driver is about to light up, I tell him not to smoke as I have my daughter with me or I am allergic or I am off to an interview or something. They just take it for granted that they have the right to smoke and poison me.
My last escapade was at a nut shop. The guy was smoking and I said to him that I would respectfully like to mention something and hope not to offend. He indicates to me to continue… and then I said the following…
I am a customer in his shop and not his home.
You are selling food so hygiene is important.
You are smoking and germs from your mouth are in contact with the food I am buying so please throw your cigarette away, wash your hands and serve me.
He apologised and did what I asked, not really bothered as he didn’t want to lose the business and obviously once I leave, he would have just lit up again. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarghhhhh!!!!
And what about those disgusting hubba bubba’s! They’re just as bad. In restaurants people smoke them after a meal, before a meal and also DURING a meal. These places cannot forbid smoking as everyone wants to smoke and they will lose money if they prohibit smoking. I had great joy in going to a restaurant with my family and ordering loads of food, with the intention of eating, and when a guy started smoking, I asked the waiter to tell him to stop as I don’t like it and my children were with me. He said he couldn’t so I said thank you and walked out.
My next step in educating the masses is to first determine what the rules are concerning smoking in public places and then calling a policeman over to write a ticket to the culprit. I am sure I will get into trouble but the health of my family and me is important and no one is going to poison me with fumes if I can help it.
My wife smokes like a chimney but always on the balcony or near the kitchen window. When people come round, I throw them out onto the balcony to get their fix and they respect my wishes but I am sure they’re cursing.
But you know what, I DON’T CARE.
Monday, December 25, 2006
weird shopping
The shops here are very strange. Being an old city, a lot of the shops are converted from ground floor apartments and sometimes basement and 1st ones. You get the occasional shop such as Benetton or Kickers which convert a whole building of about 3 floors normally into 1 store. They are really attractive especially at night when they are lit up. Banking laws have been eased a lot now and there is an influx of foreign banks from the Gulf or European banks with a Middle Eastern partner. They are converting whole buildings and they are quite attractive.
Shopping is a strange affair. There are different markets for whatever you want. There is the electrical market, the herb market, the plumbers’ market etc. Obviously it’s not just at these specific markets that you can buy these things but it’s so easy to go from one to other to compare the prices. Compare the prices???? Yes ‘cos a lot of them sell the same thing!!!! You need to really know where you’re going to find the shops that sell that unique light fitting or the correct Grohe douche or the fresh, ground cumin. It really is an experience…
New buildings are springing up but not enough. Syria needs investment and believe me, the money is there with the people. They know how to spend their money and if the item is available and of quality, they will buy it. The average wage is about $300 which is very low. But consider this… It is very difficult or laborious to get a bank loan. Mortgages (European way) are not available, car loans or higher purchase are just being introduced… So when someone buys a house, they buy it in cash and in full! Cars until recently, the same. Everything in fact is paid in full in cash! People have cash and even though Syria is considered a poor country, people do have cash. By contradiction, having lived in Manchester for years, people are considered rich and YET they are in debt! They don’t actually own their own homes but house prices are doing well and they grade themselves by the cost of their house(s). Like anywhere I suppose but weird nonetheless?
There are shopping malls there and again, not enough. I was surprised at the cost of some of the items there. They were cheaper than from a market in central Damascus. I thought it would be more expensive so as to compensate for charges etc. but no!
Shopping is a strange affair. There are different markets for whatever you want. There is the electrical market, the herb market, the plumbers’ market etc. Obviously it’s not just at these specific markets that you can buy these things but it’s so easy to go from one to other to compare the prices. Compare the prices???? Yes ‘cos a lot of them sell the same thing!!!! You need to really know where you’re going to find the shops that sell that unique light fitting or the correct Grohe douche or the fresh, ground cumin. It really is an experience…
New buildings are springing up but not enough. Syria needs investment and believe me, the money is there with the people. They know how to spend their money and if the item is available and of quality, they will buy it. The average wage is about $300 which is very low. But consider this… It is very difficult or laborious to get a bank loan. Mortgages (European way) are not available, car loans or higher purchase are just being introduced… So when someone buys a house, they buy it in cash and in full! Cars until recently, the same. Everything in fact is paid in full in cash! People have cash and even though Syria is considered a poor country, people do have cash. By contradiction, having lived in Manchester for years, people are considered rich and YET they are in debt! They don’t actually own their own homes but house prices are doing well and they grade themselves by the cost of their house(s). Like anywhere I suppose but weird nonetheless?
There are shopping malls there and again, not enough. I was surprised at the cost of some of the items there. They were cheaper than from a market in central Damascus. I thought it would be more expensive so as to compensate for charges etc. but no!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
astrology
I love astrology. I think about it all the time. I am currently doing an online/postal Astrology course with Noel Tyl. I am way behind on it due to the post. It sometimes takes a couple of weeks for letters to arrive from America to a couple of months. I really need to sort out an alternative method of receiving my work.
Have thought about emailing the work which is pretty obvious but I get a tape back with feedback as well as the next but one course so will probably suggest to Noel that he sends an MP3 attachment and the next course by email. This way, no postage costs and instantaneous correspondence. Should really suggest this…
Have thought about emailing the work which is pretty obvious but I get a tape back with feedback as well as the next but one course so will probably suggest to Noel that he sends an MP3 attachment and the next course by email. This way, no postage costs and instantaneous correspondence. Should really suggest this…
house work
I’ve been told by more that one person that there are about 4 million Iraqis living in Syria. If it’s not 4 million it got to be close to this figure. There are Iraqis everywhere. I mentioned that I was trying to register my 2 eldest daughters in school… well about September time, I registered my 3rd youngest in a state school. It’s much easier registering someone in a state school than a private one. I managed to wangle all her paperwork quite quickly whereas the other two needed letters, confirmation letters, stamps from British Council and British Embassy and Foreign Office in Syria etc…. Anyway, the majority of people at the Ministry of Education around September time were Iraqis. Rental prices for houses and apartments have nearly doubled and whereas haggling was/is a part of life for Syrians, the Iraqis pay full price as they have plenty of dosh. Luckily we bought another house quite cheap and are doing it up now. We started last week and it will take about 2 months and once done, we will rent it out.
Repairing or renovating property can be a very delicate business. If the neighbours are stinkers, they can complain to the council and stop the work. If you have added another room or stretched out your balcony by a couple of feet, they will knock it down. You need to then apply for licenses and pay bribes here, there and everywhere and this can delay work by months. If you use too much water or are wasting it then the water department come and fine you and even more headache as you know someone is snitching on you, BUT WHO???
Luckily, our neighbours are great and most of the wall-knocking is finished and we can now say that we installing new pipes etc and then rebuilding the walls (they won’t know what it looked like before, hee hee)
To renovate the property will cost about £4500 which is very good. I should take before and after pictures actually… Mmmm yesss… I’ll start tonight as I need to check on the progress of work.
Repairing or renovating property can be a very delicate business. If the neighbours are stinkers, they can complain to the council and stop the work. If you have added another room or stretched out your balcony by a couple of feet, they will knock it down. You need to then apply for licenses and pay bribes here, there and everywhere and this can delay work by months. If you use too much water or are wasting it then the water department come and fine you and even more headache as you know someone is snitching on you, BUT WHO???
Luckily, our neighbours are great and most of the wall-knocking is finished and we can now say that we installing new pipes etc and then rebuilding the walls (they won’t know what it looked like before, hee hee)
To renovate the property will cost about £4500 which is very good. I should take before and after pictures actually… Mmmm yesss… I’ll start tonight as I need to check on the progress of work.
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