Being a Good Smartian

There was an article in Gulfnews today. It was about a poor girl who achieves her dreams of graduation with sheer determination. Her mother is a house maid and couldn't provide for her higher studies. The girl was not one to be bogged down, she approached The said News agency and an article was run about her in the papers, of how she was an brilliant student with many trophies but no money. Finally college seeing her plight offered her 100 %scholarship for her entire three years studies.

I come across many such articles, I read them, feel sorry for them, but I never thought to help them. I am hesitant to help an entire stranger. I can't think of spending time to contact these people and inquire about how and where to do it. Do not take me to be a heartless person, I do help people that I know in their time of need. But-then I always had this notion that i was not doing enough.

Yesterday I did something that I would have never done previously. 

Me and my four year daughter were engrossed in the TV. Suddenly something hit the window, near which we were sitting, and fell down. It happened to be a bird. It was lying on the pavement and struggling. After a few seconds, it stopped struggling. It looked dead. I was torn between going down and having a look or leaving it alone as i was sure it was dead. I asked my little one what she wanted to do, she said she wanted to help the bird. So we took some water and seeds for the bird, in case it had just fainted. I sprinkled some water on the bird, it dint move. It did not move for a long time. I left the seeds and water I had next to it. I kept an eye on it from my window till evening. At dusk when i peeped out i dint see the dead bird. It was gone, taken by a cat am sure. 

Though the bird couldn't survive it was an important event for me.

Schooling in Dubai

A new academic year is starting. All the parents are hoping for a wonderful start. Kids are excited to reacquaint with their school buddies.
I know many kids who are joining new schools, they are looking for friends. Praying this school will be better than their previous one. Well, parents will know by the end of the first term.

Here in Dubai there is sizable disappointment among parents about the school. Kids change their schools frequently. There is very little percentage that remain in the same school for their entire education. House shifting to a different country may be one of the major reason. But there are other major factors to consider. Teachers too change schools regularly. So there is no sense of permanency. Schools fees play another major part, schools increase fees every 3 yrs. Very few schools provide an all round experience. even then parents are unhappy.

I have inquired with few of my family friends living in India and abroad. According to them, teachers change at their place too but not at this rate and school fees are definitely nominal. I came to a conclusion that it is the fees, education not worth for the money we pay. and it increases at an high rate. School fees vary
Though KHDA inspects schools every year, best review is through word of mouth. highest ranking schools too have their own problems, which I am not listing here

Finally which is the best school. Where to enroll my kid, the search continues.