Category: Living in Arabia

Books, EFL Teacher Blog, English Teacher, ELL, ESL, EFL, Living in Arabia, PortugalLeave a comment

My Pen Name

Alice Delaney Walker, aka Dana Walker

In my 20s, one of my sisters congratulated me on my published book of poems. I was confused. I soon learned the book was written by another Alice Walker, an African-American who later wrote The Color Purple. If you Google Alice Walker in the United States, 5,840,000 appear, many added when Google included Ancestry.com’s database. Walker was once the 19th most popular surname in the United States. I intended to be a famous writer too. Alice Walker, the Black and Alice Walker, the White? I invented my first pen name using my mother’s maiden name: A. Delaney Walker. I hid … Continue reading My Pen Name

Asia, EFL Teacher Blog, English Teacher, ELL, ESL, EFL, Living in Arabia, Living overseas, Portugal, Women's Issues, World Traveller - Retired2 Comments

Top 10 Foreign Delights by countries lived in

Alice Delaney Walker, aka Dana Walker

(All photos are mine except for the Bali postcard and above UAE holiday card) 1.  CANADA – 2 years     Stanley Park, Vancouver http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park.aspx Two years of happiness. Fantastic opportunity to write and receive feedback on my writing in … Continue reading Top 10 Foreign Delights by countries lived in

EFL Teacher Blog, English Teacher, ELL, ESL, EFL, Living in Arabia, Living overseas, World Traveller - Retired1 Comment

Top 10 Wonderful Realities about Teaching English Overseas

Alice Delaney Walker, aka Dana Walker

Asian students are wonderful. They are quiet and respectful. They also study and learn. Arabic countries are superior to Asian countries in regards to housing, culture and food. In the Arabic countries of the UAE and Oman, the weather is superb. Al Ain in the UAE was like spring every day for five months. Sandals 24/7/365 was fantastic. Yearly round-trip tickets home or to other vacation hot spots were enjoyable, such as a Christmas week in Ubud, a painting-haven in Bail. No USA income taxes. Nearly 99% of teachers make less than $99,000 a year, the cut off mark for … Continue reading Top 10 Wonderful Realities about Teaching English Overseas

English Teacher, ELL, ESL, EFL, Living in Arabia4 Comments

How Living in Arabia Changed Me

Alice Delaney Walker, aka Dana Walker

Gulf countries are not just desert and oil. Two years in Saudi Arabia, two in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one in Egypt and 11 in Oman, total 16 years. How did I change? Attitudes towards clothing, money, health, food, socializing, and religion. First, clothing. Nowadays I prefer the comfort of loose clothing, mandatory in Arabia. It allows air to flow between skin, cloth and the outside heat while being modest. Jeans were too hot. Westerners insulting Arabs as ‘ragheads’ should look in the mirror: Baseball caps and hoodies. Payday in Saudi Arabia (1984-1986) – cash. Then I wired it … Continue reading How Living in Arabia Changed Me