tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49267088040329167312024-03-05T00:50:32.072-08:00From Frijoles to FalafelsFollowing my new adventure to my life out in Abu DhabiCupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-55596794444604335802012-03-09T15:46:00.000-08:002012-03-09T15:46:36.085-08:00A Hollywood Themed Night<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mx0prjRFRd4R49gGH7Pbqr8A7TVkQSLlKgvvYfMWA3YAqATI16s9mY_-3WbQhSxRLERZg_WK45X8mc-J1D7iwd5KfWQH1y9hduB9jStYOy8kEPIFTs4PmxTQUocff0oNuy16F-m2Yso/s1600/LMFAO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mx0prjRFRd4R49gGH7Pbqr8A7TVkQSLlKgvvYfMWA3YAqATI16s9mY_-3WbQhSxRLERZg_WK45X8mc-J1D7iwd5KfWQH1y9hduB9jStYOy8kEPIFTs4PmxTQUocff0oNuy16F-m2Yso/s320/LMFAO.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Tim and I dressed up as LMFAO</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tonight I attended a “Hollywood” themed party and had a remarkable time! Everyone dressed up as someone famous in Hollywood. The ideas people had were fantastic, creative, and quite unique. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was such a variety of people from Robin Hood to Charlie Chaplin. I was even privileged to win two awards during the night….Wow! One award was best dressed with my British friend for our costume which was a duo. We dressed up as LMFAO and I’m pretty sure we won because he looked legit. The second award that I won for the evening was with my impromptu group of all Americans at a doctor’s office and our given props. What a great night! The activities that were planned (impromptu, charades, and monologues) were so much fun and the people who attended were full of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was also great to just dance to some songs and get my bones moving again. They were pretty rusty, but after a few songs they were back in full force. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tonight is the kind of night that I enjoy and live for. To be surrounded by great people laughing, talking, and making new memories together. This night will definitely be an evening that I will never forget. I mean it’s almost three in the morning here and I still can’t sleep…that’s how much fun I had. What a way to be shown how simple things in life really are a blessing.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see all of Hollywood's elite in this picture</td></tr>
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #004387;">"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."<br />
<i>- Anais Nin </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We won two free movie tickets for our costumes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A demanded performance from the winners!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impromtu performance</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tina Tuner handing out our award</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally moving my bones....!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-21869551847702377052012-02-20T07:33:00.000-08:002012-02-20T07:33:57.058-08:00Coming Back "Home"<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">February 20, 2011</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coming back from vacation back in December was surreal. I came back to my new “home” Abu Dhabi and not back to the U.S.A. I really have had to take some time and realize that this really is my new reality. It has many ups and many downs as well. I know I have expressed it before, but some days I can really miss my life that I had back in Texas. Then, I quickly think….well if I were to leave Abu Dhabi today I’d miss the people who are here and the life I have now created. It’s quite perplexing at times, but I am thankful that this is the path I have been led to choose. I’ve always wanted to live this life overseas and am blessed that I’m able to live out a dream of mine.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lately I’ve occupied myself with many different things from laying low to hanging out with my friends of Abu Dhabi. This past weekend was my birthday weekend and the first celebrated overseas. It was very relaxing and had plenty of down time. For a while I was deciding to throw myself a birthday party, but became over whelming at times. Eventually decided to cancel things and relaxed instead. The only thing that didn’t cooperate too much was the weather. The wind was blowing so hard; which may be some people’s dreams depending on their jobs and hobbies, but when you live in a dessert….it’s not exactly what you want. Yeah… you may get a free facial and skin exfoliating, but it hurts so badly! As a result, I had some really good friends take me out and about Abu Dhabi to share small birthday celebrations with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In truth I enjoyed the one on one times. I learned much about them and will cherish those moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, there are still birthday dinners waiting in the midst….so pleased and excited! </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yesterday (Sunday),we took the students on a field trip to a “theme park”. It’s more like a Chucky Cheese or Gatti town, but without pizza being the main attraction and nix mascot. They are actually located all around town inside shopping centers and malls. So it’s rather different than taking a field trip back home. Before a big field trip back home you had to jump through hoops of fire, run around the school a million time, and oh yeah explain how the field trip was related to the curriculum that you were teaching. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here….I didn’t even know that the children were going on a felid trip until they started bringing in money on Thursday. It was something that the Arabic teachers had planned and did not give us notice ahead of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Essentially, the children played games and rode rides all day. I don’t know how that fit into the children learning about plants, letters, and non-standard units….but the kids had a blast. OH…and the icing on the cake for me, was that I had 13 students who showed up for the trip. I was basically on a honey moon again with the students who were there. Pretty sure they felt the same way as well. The Arabic teacher told me that a student kept telling me that he loved me and I was the best and another <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one snuck a kiss on the cheek. He pretended he wanted to whisper something to me and then planted one on my cheek….yes they were on a honeymoon with me as well.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the Tiger Woods cut out</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Doesn’t feel as if there is too much to report, but maybe I have just left out a lot of things. Johanna….stay on me to keep up with this!!! I need to for you, everyone, and myself as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only have pictures to post though of the time that I went to see the golf tournament here in Abu Dhabi. Luckily I was able to snap a few shots of Tiger Woods and Rory Mcilroy before my camera died on me again. Good news though…a new charger will be sent in from the U.S. very soon. If this doesn’t work then I will have to just break down and buy a new camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope everyone is doing well. Miss you and love you all!!!</span></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger and Rory walking to the next hole</td></tr>
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</div>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-71742458789317658962011-12-16T23:47:00.000-08:002011-12-17T00:06:54.332-08:00Celebrating The U.A.E's National Day<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Things have been quite busy in the U.A.E. lately with celebrations going on and holidays around the corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things are going well and the past four months have moved quite quickly. I can’t believe that the 2011 year is already coming to an end and that I am getting to be a part of another culture and its experiences.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On December 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> the U.A.E. celebrated its 40<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> National day with festivities unimaginable to an expat. The Emirates love their country beyond belief and go all out to show the love that they have for their country. The celebrations had really begun weeks in advance at our school with the children, teacher, and parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the week of National Day, we had events from small festivals, bus trips, and a performance day for the parents. The thing with the U.A.E. is that if parents do not want their children attending school, then “In’Shallah” we will have children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had schedules set for the week, which included our performance and the government decided that we should have the Thursday going into the weekend off. Yes…a three day weekend to celebrate the U.A.E’s national day for my first time in the country!!! The announcement of time off of course pushed all of the week’s celebrations to be earlier. So on Wednesday of that week the children we to perform their English song about National day that I had taught them two weeks earlier. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day of the performance I had a total of ten out of twenty-five children set and ready to perform. Luckily a few of the students who were here and ready to perform were some of the stronger English speakers and the ones who were eager to perform. When it was finally our turn to perform our song for the parents, my students did a stellar job and showed their parents the English that they have learned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really wish I had video showing you my student’s performance because they had done so well, but I to stand off on the side of the stage and sing along with my students and guide them. The students did a really great job performing and I was a really proud English teacher.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the students performed we were back to watching the children whose parents did not take them after the performance. I had about a total of four students who stayed behind with me. I have to say though that I really enjoyed the time, because I got to know some of my students better and I learned how to fix some of the boys dish dashes (the white scarf that the men and little boys wear around their head). It was quite relaxing and enjoyment to learn how to fix their dish dashes and feel like I was really being a part of their culture. It’s as if those students who stayed behind with me, gave me bliss inside my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few hours later the LT’s were called back into the stage area to help celebrate the Nation’s birthday. We stood on stage, light sparklers, and Arabic teachers sprayed cans of spray snow. Not really a good combination to have fire and a flammable can within meters of one another on stage. Here in the U.A.E. though you learn that things like that are not really paid much attention to and again “In’Shalla” things will be fine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Later on in the evening after work was done, I made it out to my weekly studies. While in the middle of studies; which is down by the Corniche, the first round of fireworks went off for the Countries celebrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were on about the 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> floor of the building right at a bird’s eye view and out of the crowd. The fireworks had perfect timing and a powerful silence amongst the people while everyone was watching the show in awe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The show was so impressive that everyone had wondered what the real National day fireworks show was going to look like since this was only the day before the “real” National Day (December 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup>). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next day; the Country’s real National Day, we spent the day preparing for the day ahead of us and our first National day in the Emirates. We went to our local hypermarket (LuLu’s) and stocked up on spray snow and silly string. This is what the Emirates stock up on and use on their National day. The snow and silly string is used to spray people walking in the streets and cruising around in their cars. It was quite a lot of fun participating with the Emirates. If they covered you with a can of silly string or snow, they would laugh and say they are “Just having a good time” (imagine that being said in their accents, and then give you a full can of spray to use on someone else. There was quite a few times where they walked pass us and would try to spray us first, but I was quick to aim my can at them first and get their Kandoras covered in snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was definitely an event that has become a huge custom to their country. The best way that I heard National day described was that a 12 year old boy must have come up with the idea. You get everyone driving around in their festive decorated cars, spraying people with stuff from cans, and staying out late into the wee hours of the night.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all hung out down at the Corniche from about three in the afternoon to one in the morning. We saw their parade displayed on the jumbo screen set up for the weekend’s festivities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had their show jets make their way down to the Corniche and display a show in the air with the smoke and their technical moves. My favorite is when the two jets make a heart out of smoke in the air for the crowd. These people really do love their country and will show it any way possible. There were a ton of free shows, water fountains in the beach water , and even another fireworks show set up for the evening. Unfortunately the fireworks never happened on the Friday of National Day. We waited and waited many hours for the show, but they never happened. Many people were asking us and others around if we knew when the show was going to start. The schedule said eight at night, but we were already at midnight. So the rumor is that there was too much wind for the show to go on so they had to cancel them for safety reasons. Either way it was a great experience to be a part of and something I will not forget. I’m not too sure if I will partake again in next year’s festivities, but it was great to say that I was a part of their 40<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> and their traditions. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The celebrations took place about two weeks ago and since then we have had a week of a “normal” schedule and now this past week <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the schedule with the students have been quite unusual. Today is the last day until we are off for a three week “Holiday” break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since Christmas is not celebrated it feels right now just like any other time of the year. The spirit is not around, there are no parties, gifts are not being exchanged, and the weather outside is not frightful. I am actually sitting in the staffroom with the rest of the LTs counting down the time until we get to go home. Our Principal doesn’t like to let us leave early at any point of time. She actually has the security lock the gates where we cannot drive or walk out of the compound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole week we have had about ten students total gone from each classroom. It’s as if when there is some kind of major holiday or break coming up the parents stop bringing the kids to school. Every day within the week approaching a Holiday/break we have less and less children show up to school. Today….we had no children to show up to school. Our work is all done and there are no children around, but we are stuck inside the gates of the compound. I’m just anxious to get home to start getting ready for my trip to Prague, Vienna, and London.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This coming Sunday I will head out to Prague from Abu Dhabi and spend a few days there. The plan is to take a train ride to Vienna from Prague and spend some time there as well. The train ride is evidently about a four to five ride. I have never been on a train before, so I am excited to ride on one to see the sights that the Czech Republic has to offer. We will stay there for ten days (Christmas Eve and Christmas) then head out to London from Prague and spend a week in London for New Years Eve and New Years. My first time to travel out to Turkey did not work out so much, but I hope this time I can get on a plane and spend my time enjoying the sights, sounds, and travels. With anticipation, I cannot wait to blog about my trip and share with you all my experiences.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watch this video that I made showing what I saw for U.A.E National Day</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzQ6cUgV4ezDgMY4kvjPjeYGoEmddNSaq6Gq7kBixUOjUN0QRfmyD7L33ZE_fbl-UAClaLCZrWOvW51swBAOA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-26313874762590153112011-11-28T05:52:00.000-08:002011-11-28T05:55:55.500-08:00Getting Ready for National Day<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Thursday:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> So at school the start of celebrating National day was on! We spent a good four hours inside our gym. Imagine four hours of three-five year olds having to sit still and be quiet? Yeah that really didn’t happen. The kids only lasted for about an hour at the most which I thought was quite a feat. The gym was decorated in all red, green, white, and black. There were pictures of sheiks everywhere and the UAE flags all over the place. Students were dressed up with U.A.E spirit and have the U.A.E spirit running in their blood. They are only three, four, and five year olds, but know their flag color and how to put the colors in the correct order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was an array of activities in the gym and Mothers surrounding the gym in their Abayas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children danced to traditional Arabic music, Mothers competed on who could read the Kuran the best, and they had a competition with LTs on who could shout “I love the U.A.E.!” the loudest….I lost. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took a tour of our school yards on a bus and most of the children were freaking out. Since they were getting on a bus they thought that it was time to go home and that they were being sent home on the wrong bus. Again, I couldn’t do anything to ease their pain with my words, so I just showed comfort and knowledge of their concerns the best I could. When the day was finally over, we were all exhausted and ready to go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was anxious to start preparing for my Thanksgiving dinner later on in the evening.<o:p></o:p></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGC2FP59pE9eE5PvkklolCRzCPPnEXWL2hbH_J0rsYYqEj8L1dTqeY8pZEa_nSeJAKFbtpJnIa24CSkaPem5beSgIWLOgULZV82Sa0JvAooSRoZAf4dkwyiOhyphenhyphenav_gO3Pz6wCsUHMQQE/s1600/SAM_1456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGC2FP59pE9eE5PvkklolCRzCPPnEXWL2hbH_J0rsYYqEj8L1dTqeY8pZEa_nSeJAKFbtpJnIa24CSkaPem5beSgIWLOgULZV82Sa0JvAooSRoZAf4dkwyiOhyphenhyphenav_gO3Pz6wCsUHMQQE/s320/SAM_1456.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the room before we sat and ate our Thanksgiving dinner</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiaKiyvLe46SQe-ddge0nNRoaSAN8JEOKm0_YkjUGdGfOvwLrCvHuPfnM9Qr8Ro4dBoog5aLUu1XajWmpvjilLCjRnT_4hH4p1yvDCu9Nml7EJ7xQlnAVaHIUSoca_XVt9d_9Y3NAh6s/s1600/SAM_1460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiaKiyvLe46SQe-ddge0nNRoaSAN8JEOKm0_YkjUGdGfOvwLrCvHuPfnM9Qr8Ro4dBoog5aLUu1XajWmpvjilLCjRnT_4hH4p1yvDCu9Nml7EJ7xQlnAVaHIUSoca_XVt9d_9Y3NAh6s/s320/SAM_1460.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Thanksgiving Dinner Table</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGu3QyYmvvWTY4cGCBrwTtbLYtTJZUeW90W74PXDhvsaLmrxvLTbkGdWwNBZ91bVpFMp_8ssybSAghhKiJMtMow9oVeLsU6OquhwGstNPZrPr9SAwzpainWv7mZKIAbYjnuVcmFQHf7WA/s1600/SAM_1454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGu3QyYmvvWTY4cGCBrwTtbLYtTJZUeW90W74PXDhvsaLmrxvLTbkGdWwNBZ91bVpFMp_8ssybSAghhKiJMtMow9oVeLsU6OquhwGstNPZrPr9SAwzpainWv7mZKIAbYjnuVcmFQHf7WA/s320/SAM_1454.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictures before dinner. My friend <br />
from the U.K.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Later on in the evening it was time to celebrate Thanksgiving here in the UAE. It definitely was an amazing experience! Thanksgiving dinner was held, was at our group sponsors home. They did a splendid job of coordinating everything and opening up their home for the dinner. It was a feast for sure and with a little more than fifty in attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many it was their first American Thanksgiving and for many others of us, it was our first in the UAE with friends from all over the world. As I entered the home, I stood there in awe of seeing all my friends dressed up and how amazing the home looked all put together for dinner. There were even placed cards set at the table with your name on it so you knew where you would sit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At my table four of us were from the US (two from Texas) and the rest were from all over the world. We had Canadian, South African, British, and Venezuelan….where else in the world would I get to say that I had an International Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone was filled with happiness and joy to see one another on a special occasion. Everyone sat around, ate dinner, and chatted with friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later desert was served and games were played. I didn’t make it home until two a.m. Abu Dhabi time. Which turned out perfect since back in Texas it was four in the afternoon and I was able to chat with my family.<o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDpd3zC0J1kT2Og8DldOktb0JvZ7hj6Zni_B6wJG87zTWGAhcQ28veVr0Cm_RC_-OmUNQrny3WxAegTbbwHAwV0BDiK99ocH7vRrDLLnC1DuJUUzoe-IbdFZ_OqAJkskNDXOqUaqLhOA/s1600/SAM_1464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDpd3zC0J1kT2Og8DldOktb0JvZ7hj6Zni_B6wJG87zTWGAhcQ28veVr0Cm_RC_-OmUNQrny3WxAegTbbwHAwV0BDiK99ocH7vRrDLLnC1DuJUUzoe-IbdFZ_OqAJkskNDXOqUaqLhOA/s320/SAM_1464.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgving with friends from around the world!</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Friday and Saturday:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> The weekend I just spent time hanging out with friends playing some soccer at a park, celebrating a birthday, and even enjoying a second Thanksgiving dinner. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Sunday:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFb0q2WjGqJuF6CXekTdCqZzL1JiAQDhL5u6G2rLv7-4khbL6vAm14NgTuzSAB4WOl1PayoryezdqpnnwYKJ94j66SySLAEflrk5IgHc6tq0kRbhsQDlPmV7ylS-td_38dVtuOOcQsgrQ/s1600/SAM_1474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFb0q2WjGqJuF6CXekTdCqZzL1JiAQDhL5u6G2rLv7-4khbL6vAm14NgTuzSAB4WOl1PayoryezdqpnnwYKJ94j66SySLAEflrk5IgHc6tq0kRbhsQDlPmV7ylS-td_38dVtuOOcQsgrQ/s320/SAM_1474.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drizzled rain on the cement at work</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> The day started with dark clouds and finally "some rain"! It may not have been much, but most I have seen in three and a hlaf months of living here in Abu Dhabi. I just had to caputre the moment. Then it was back to work and tough to settle down the kids with the upcoming National day celebrations. It’s like a major holiday in the states, where the kids know that a holiday is coming up and their adrenaline is all off the fun and excitement that is coming up in the next couple of days. Well, I can now say the same for the Emirati children here in the Middle East. I only had fourteen children show up out of my twenty-five students, which also may the day quite interesting. The children did pull through and learned for the most part and par took on working in the classroom. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa3a5qi4CQJHafXwxJ28omzV2edMiPGL-UrKjDsHghCe4bpfwEc0SuLGjPnS9A2Bx-ZvdjUqi8kbbelgdazJoKpMrWfUCGXeN-jY7vt94NLag0XyRVonKFkLaeSOXQjPMDca_EOwmisk/s1600/SAM_1476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa3a5qi4CQJHafXwxJ28omzV2edMiPGL-UrKjDsHghCe4bpfwEc0SuLGjPnS9A2Bx-ZvdjUqi8kbbelgdazJoKpMrWfUCGXeN-jY7vt94NLag0XyRVonKFkLaeSOXQjPMDca_EOwmisk/s320/SAM_1476.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the outside of work and the clouds with the drizzle</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Monday: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqAzePk9_fNFrakrDOcCpPUzm-azAbiwuzL3XKqrsaCRNbXf6-blmyqF8CddE6zSex-Aa_UF17CKy8TTMxqFBsSEZcB3b3-cdmy8yvfPG5Bbxr7wg7nahzHa6xkUUUh6iew4ReT3DB_8/s1600/SAM_1487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqAzePk9_fNFrakrDOcCpPUzm-azAbiwuzL3XKqrsaCRNbXf6-blmyqF8CddE6zSex-Aa_UF17CKy8TTMxqFBsSEZcB3b3-cdmy8yvfPG5Bbxr7wg7nahzHa6xkUUUh6iew4ReT3DB_8/s320/SAM_1487.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making the flag with the students today.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today was called “Open Day” for the continuous National Day celebration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again Mother’s filled the gym in their Abayas and the classrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The children were served traditional food from the region, games, and little girls were given henna on their hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The students came to school dressed up in either all red, black, white, and green. Then the students were sent outside to make a big U.A.E. flag. As they stood there the students were asked to name the three Sheiks, and to no surprise anymore they were able to name all three <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of them off without hesitation. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyq_Ud_uGTHAb6fXHEpE1dFoq5fMrIeTWPsLKmB7cdSNEKIrxMTD6c79oiJnCkjZmjnqaruXx4YL8efqK9rkA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> A video of a building for the 40th National Day celebration. Sorry it's sideways.</div>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-53026678680432637312011-11-19T02:54:00.000-08:002011-11-19T02:54:05.113-08:00Making Life fun in the Desert<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";">November 17, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"> Much time has passed since my last blog and now it’s time on an update of what has been going on out here in the Middle East.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";">Camping in Fujairah:</span></b></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYHdu60pUyJR9oDZ-3cKldvbrGnWZxLNq3duLCd4wAen52OTcyVApnLs1JlTikdPv5Y0d9QcnKU0Zzz82hi7vIu3fK9y0_SZBj6pfm4IHqITje0qpDyS45wPZW4YscOBs4jzVoXKpHDw/s1600/DSC08213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYHdu60pUyJR9oDZ-3cKldvbrGnWZxLNq3duLCd4wAen52OTcyVApnLs1JlTikdPv5Y0d9QcnKU0Zzz82hi7vIu3fK9y0_SZBj6pfm4IHqITje0qpDyS45wPZW4YscOBs4jzVoXKpHDw/s320/DSC08213.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out, having some fun on the mountains!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Camping turned out to be in the Emirate of Ras Al Khamiah, which was still amazing. The day started early Friday morning meeting in Abu Dhabi and picking up a few in Dubai. We drove through six of the seven Emirates in a total of about four hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we reached RAK the scenery was completely different than what I am use to here in Abu Dhabi. There are tons of camels, goats, and mountains in RAK. We stayed in the vehicles to begin and drove around the mountains. The formation and geology of the rocks was completely amazing. We had lunch in one of the mountain's valleys and had a few goats who came to visit for food. Once we were done for lunch we headed out to find a place to set up our camp. The decision was made to stay in an old settlement where there was an obvious sign of tribal villages many many many years ago. There was also signs of a water fall from the left over water stains on the rock and some burial sites found in the dry hard rocks of the desert mountains. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At night we had a nice campfire under the stars in which we cooked and shared conversations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was amazing to see the stars at night in a clear sky and how the constellations are on the opposite side now, since I am on the other side of the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an unforgettable and truly breathe taking experience to see this and to sleep in an open tent underneath the stars on a crisp night. The next day I woke up to two goats staring at me from the nearby mountains. Had a light breakfast and off we went to hike on the mountains. Wow….we hiked for about four hours and on some rocky mountains! We also had some time to mess around and take some pictures on the mountains. Brad has great photography skills and captured some great moments from our camping trip. Here is a link to see the pictures which only capture a small piece of our time there in the mountains.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><a href="http://bradkerr.phanfare.com/5340023">http://bradkerr.phanfare.com/5340023</a> (Please see all the pictures…amazing!) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before you knew it time had flown and it was time to come back home and get settled for work the following days. I definitely can’t wait to do something like this again. <o:p></o:p></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmx3VuiHkFFt1T0Ogxqw0DWzbCGTElUAwHO71AV_u5AbYdN5bK6rl_wDbeJfGMnLBgZu8B1YeulJwMcc5UsT36UyP222nG1sGdt8rGaarnxBHEPwnFoX5A4cJkZznAQKgy1yGdKH43FU/s1600/DSC08190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmx3VuiHkFFt1T0Ogxqw0DWzbCGTElUAwHO71AV_u5AbYdN5bK6rl_wDbeJfGMnLBgZu8B1YeulJwMcc5UsT36UyP222nG1sGdt8rGaarnxBHEPwnFoX5A4cJkZznAQKgy1yGdKH43FU/s320/DSC08190.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goat leaving after being fed carrots.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZLfWiOCiot4B3C54MV421cHkb0VDnHtEjNPHkjxW2iz1GzXs-GqCpKv1m6iZzej_wJKSZZfXlbOpt_Iti9y67at2ZJArRuUzNLUMEymkCXn5DAJTrezCxzfhQKPeJPl2xkggD4SgYNQ/s1600/DSC08197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZLfWiOCiot4B3C54MV421cHkb0VDnHtEjNPHkjxW2iz1GzXs-GqCpKv1m6iZzej_wJKSZZfXlbOpt_Iti9y67at2ZJArRuUzNLUMEymkCXn5DAJTrezCxzfhQKPeJPl2xkggD4SgYNQ/s320/DSC08197.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two black spots are the goats who <br />
were staring at me when I woke up in the morning.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";">Turkey:</span></b></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTtDuYFsOFmPvixl05XVswCt-B_OHWnVmPMz2GgEJVNdDfThlyoTUWAPKofZj2CSrNJYiHR9AJ4iPKaviv8ARiC6muihyYCt299Ymxi0VptncGpKXWnieO_i5ClUBVfb57_b-sisjpp0/s1600/DSC08203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTtDuYFsOFmPvixl05XVswCt-B_OHWnVmPMz2GgEJVNdDfThlyoTUWAPKofZj2CSrNJYiHR9AJ4iPKaviv8ARiC6muihyYCt299Ymxi0VptncGpKXWnieO_i5ClUBVfb57_b-sisjpp0/s320/DSC08203.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing some goats on our way to hike!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";">The weekend following I was set to go off to Turkey…never happened. So, we had been given three days off for the EID break (Sunday-Tuesday) and there were rumors that the government was going to announce later that we would have the full week off. When I booked my tickets I went ahead and bought the ticket to come back to Abu Dhabi the following Friday (Sunday-Friday), which would have been nine days to spend out in Turkey. As the days grew closer there were many local newspapers publishing that we would get the full week off and then the next day there would be a new news article saying that we would not get the extra time off. Our principal even stated that we needed to make sure we were at school on time those two days because we would have meetings and if we were even a minute late she would write us up. The last day before going into our break we all waited to hear if we would get the extra days off. Many people had said that last year they waited to the very last minute to announce the extra days, so I had waited to make any changes to my flight until this day….nothing!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thursday afternoon I came back to my apartment and knew that I had to change my flight itinerary to come back for Tuesday instead of Friday… a whole extra three days gone of time in Turkey. As I called I waited many hours to speak with someone all so they could tell me that the change could cost me an extra six hundred US dollars or two hundred US dollars to cancel the entire trip. The way that I felt; on the brink of getting sick, tired/exhausted, stressed from trying to get Romo out here, I thought it was the best to just cancel my trip. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured that this would also give me time to work on getting Romo out here to Abu Dhabi, since I had offers from people who were going back to the states during this EID break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My break turned into a few days of relaxing and hanging out with a few friends who stuck around here in the Emirates as well. Really, I would have loved to have gone to Turkey, yet really enjoyed relaxing here in the Emirates and getting to know a few more friends a lot better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNqdCXOE1LSjBe9r3O1-qfCd4NHfFabwp1ZnAkFRSUyAicb-dnrPzu4y7iAviSxBtXAm2EJOYjxGcGwP7TG4XM_LmqwVQzTUCQnExXRTZBSdbVEq6hswSS2tNY6wdUXD-N7cEhCseZH0/s1600/DSC08219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNqdCXOE1LSjBe9r3O1-qfCd4NHfFabwp1ZnAkFRSUyAicb-dnrPzu4y7iAviSxBtXAm2EJOYjxGcGwP7TG4XM_LmqwVQzTUCQnExXRTZBSdbVEq6hswSS2tNY6wdUXD-N7cEhCseZH0/s320/DSC08219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the tombstones we found while camping.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The two days that we did have to go back to work (Wednesday-Thursday) was quite interesting. On Wednesday we had three children show up in the entire school. So the principal called the student’s parents and sent them home. Thursday we didn’t have any children show up to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our two days were spent without students, working on work, and building relationships with one another. The Arabic teachers bought some local food and had asked the LTS if we would like to have some. So we all sat around on the carpet shared some conversations and some food. The next day we decided as LTs to buy some local food to share with the Arabic teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both days were a hit and helped bring us closer together.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As for Romo….yet again it did not go through. I tried getting in contact with those who said they would help me out, but never received a response from either one of the woman. There’s a man who has a plan…so I’m just trying to stay positive as to when and if Romo will come out here with me to Abu Dhabi.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yasalam</b>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So during the EID break there were a lot of events for the Formula 1 races that were held here on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Down at the Corniche for a full week there were special events and concerts being held. I went down to the Corniche on Wednesday night to see the start of the free concerts. There were acts from Korea singing “K-pop”, which I have just found out moving out here seems to be a big deal. They also had some famous Arabic singers who came out and performed, which I found to be truly amazing. There on the sand you had local teens dancing around and enjoying dancing to music native to their culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An image that I cannot forget is seeing the teenage boys dancing around in the sand while hold up their Kandoras similar to how women would have to hold up their dresses in the same situation. The locals and Arabic speakers went crazy for their “Arabic Idols” and were just like any other star stricken human being belting out the songs and feeling free due to the music. Some even held up the Emirates flag and chanted on the beach. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reminded me of being a Hispanic woman and seeing those who would go crazy for singers like Selena or Juanes. The celebrations with music reminded me of how diverse our world is and how our cultures can bring us together to celebrate and find happiness.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I fully enjoyed myself and was delighted to be a part of this unique experience. Later Wyclef John performed and did and amazing job of keeping the crowd alive and having a good time. Finally made it home around two in the morning, so I was semi thankful that we didn’t have students show up to work the next day which had already been anticipated by the veteran teachers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thursday evening I went to my usual bible study and when things had finished was offered a free ticket to see Britney Spears at the Formula 1 after the race concert. I was more than ecstatic to accept the ticket. Friday finally arrived and I was off to see Britney in concert. In my opinion she did a wonderful job and put on a great performance. Really I just enjoyed getting to see her in concert and feeling like I was a teenager all over again. When else would I get to say that I saw Britney Spears in concert and in Abu Dhabi? I just had to go and truly enjoy myself at her concert.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";">New Classroom:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"> On the Wednesday returning from our break we also found out that one of us was being transferred to a cycle one school (Grades 1-5). They chose and LT who had about ten years plus in first grade. Then, three of our Arabic teachers were off to new schools as well since they had been chosen as Arabic HOFs (Head of Faculty) for other schools. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This left KG-2 needing a teacher for a classroom now without a teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I found out that the coming Sunday I was now going to be a Kindergarten teacher with a classroom full of students to myself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This made me nervous and sad at the same time. I was sad to leave my students in the KG-1 classroom because they had already come such a long way with me and we had already built oour relationships together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nervous because the students who I was about to have as my new class had not really had a permanent teacher for the year. They had an LT at the beginning of the year who decided to just never show back to work again while their Arabic teacher was off in America on a two month vacation. So then these children were divided into the other remaining four KG-2 classrooms. Then their Arabic teacher came back from visiting the states and was now set to leave them two weeks later to be placed at a new school.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So the situation has turned out to be quite all right. I do not have an Arabic teacher any longer who sits with me side by side to teacher. This classroom is now “my” classroom where the students are with me the entire day. We do have an Arabic who comes in and teaches them literacy and Islamic studies for about an hour a day. For the most part the students are well behaved and you can definitely tell are craving some routine and a teacher to call their own. We have managed to try and communicate with one another, but I just feel horrible when the students will come and talk to me to tell me something and all I can respond to them with in English is “I’m sorry, I wish I knew what you were saying.” As I stated earlier though, this past week with my new class has gone relatively well and myself and the students are learning/trying to figure out how to communicate with one another. I have met a few of my new parents now, who seemed to be pleased that their child now has a permanent teacher in the classroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have come in to greet me and ask how their student is doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some come in and greet me in Arabic; in which I greet back with the Arabic greeting, and then being talking up a storm to me in Arabic. I politely try to tell them in Arabic that I speak English not Arabic. This again makes them think that I know Arabic and I try and to explain the best way I can that I only know a few words and phrases in Arabic. It’s not until they see the stumped look on my face that they realize I do not speak their language as a native speaks. I am more of an approaching BICS level speaker. I’m trying hard though to pick up as much Arabic as I can before I leave Abu Dhabi.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now we are just busy planning for National Day which is on December 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup>, but the celebrations and preparations have already begun. The Emirates will be forty years old and is a big deal to the people out here. I have to come up with a song for my students to sing at assembly and at a performance for their parents. Obviously I know nothing about their National day, but need to start on my research. Oh yes, and I have been getting students bringing in their flags, decorations that are all red, green, black, and white for the classroom, and pictures of the sheiks. Their countries birthday is a big deal out here like it is in the states as well. Only difference is that in the states we are on our Summer vacation for our Country’s birthday.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";">Sorry again for the lack of pictures...still without a camera or a way to charge it. May just have to look into buying a new camera while out here.</span></div>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-78747754721917766902011-10-27T04:32:00.000-07:002011-10-27T05:20:16.526-07:00Did I Forget to Mention...?!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">October 27, 2011</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPKv1kJy4JS4a_-9FJm5GRSZEPoYXI3TI48xAX4bn1wgqIGvZimqWO4X2UlmYCpTJTtUIov-Du0b3uDFWmjEzRdoXn3M5tY9wZuWSpnlrHuhaYiYffaSY67RK5FJcHIZZVPCjV3nmpXA/s1600/Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPKv1kJy4JS4a_-9FJm5GRSZEPoYXI3TI48xAX4bn1wgqIGvZimqWO4X2UlmYCpTJTtUIov-Du0b3uDFWmjEzRdoXn3M5tY9wZuWSpnlrHuhaYiYffaSY67RK5FJcHIZZVPCjV3nmpXA/s320/Island.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting to Maya Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I forgot to mention that I am going to Turkey in one more week. Next Thursday November 3<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>rd</sup> will be the start of our Eid break out here for the students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are suppose to have until the 8<sup>th</sup> of November off, but based on the moon we could have an entire nine days off of work. This is of course including the weekends. So we are still waiting to hear word on what the actual time frame may be, but for now we already have our flights and hostel booked for Istanbul, Turkey. Not too sure what to expect, but really ready for anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing I do know is that it will be significantly colder in Turkey than it is here in Abu Dhabi. Our current weather in Abu Dhabi is 94°F and in Turkey the current weather is 54°F, so I will need to be off to a mall soon to buy some clothes for the trip. I’m hoping to borrow a camera from a friend so I can take pictures and put them on here for everyone to see. It will be my first time to travel to Turkey which makes this even more exciting. Really I have not traveled many places, but Mexico, some states in the U.S. and now Abu Dhabi. Maybe this will be a start to something new. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3AEoNsf2pyCe_Q9VOM-pj5Zn08V2lvoGU5mbqiDxPTcunuZJ-hfBPP6D8_o1v352jRlSoEiTpiNEgDewHMiQkujpHT2acb1-Na5Tc89_zeRqP_TNDoBS_vqB4F7bBtGbg7p9sYTyG3k/s1600/Fog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3AEoNsf2pyCe_Q9VOM-pj5Zn08V2lvoGU5mbqiDxPTcunuZJ-hfBPP6D8_o1v352jRlSoEiTpiNEgDewHMiQkujpHT2acb1-Na5Tc89_zeRqP_TNDoBS_vqB4F7bBtGbg7p9sYTyG3k/s320/Fog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fog on the Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Next, I just have to tell you all about fog days. Fog days out here are like snow days. They don’t happen too often, but when they do school is ran in different procedures. The fog out here is so thick that you cannot see what is within two feet ahead of you. So, the busses do not run at normal time and they advise you for the most part to stay home until the fog has cleared and safe to travel. The students usually arrive to school around 7:30a.m. a bus; now arrive around<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10:00a.m. Really this procedure has only happened about three times this year (two which were last Wednesday and Thursday), but is so interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to think though that for Abu Dhabi, this is their extreme weather. It doesn’t get too cold here for snow to occur (it’s a dry dessert). Which also brings me to the point; I miss seeing clouds high in the sky, especially the cumulus clouds. Yes fog is a cloud low to the ground, but for the most part you will not see a cloudy sky…the sky is 98% cloud free for a great day. Even as I type this and look outside there isn’t a single cloud of any type in sight. </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD3a_0WSP7GjdaMdOmDbYVfFWDdK74ldqh9BqE_ysmhZQ4jq2ctN103bBGFHcK_GX2fdR84XZC1iDWRByNn3atwiDrIc4w3r9LCpRoejSNEz8r15czlUt39BH06_rVGfOqWE_fbjk56E/s1600/Island3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD3a_0WSP7GjdaMdOmDbYVfFWDdK74ldqh9BqE_ysmhZQ4jq2ctN103bBGFHcK_GX2fdR84XZC1iDWRByNn3atwiDrIc4w3r9LCpRoejSNEz8r15czlUt39BH06_rVGfOqWE_fbjk56E/s320/Island3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View Sitting at the Beach</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last weekend I spent it hanging out in Abu Dhabi seeing new sights that I had not yet seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few friends and I went to a “new” beach this weekend. It’s not new to Abu Dhabi, just new to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a secluded beach a few miles away from the main city of Abu Dhabi. You have to take a small fifteen minute boat ride out to get to this beach. The beach allows loud music to be played during the day and has more of a tourist feel to it. Later on in the day I went to the Abu Dhabi film festival with a friend who is from Ireland. We went out and saw Pina which is a 2011 German 3-D film. It has won many awards and even voted on the New York Times top ten to see. It was an entertaining and inspiring film, definitely not like any other dance movies I’ve seen.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mPVizmSd_7iqD403ZiCcihK3ciQdX-Ue0LowEykTIGJSeT1JSeUUEKNCyq_S47xhwd9yhgZV1eeq_ReeE8u3fOg1O8OxCCbUFEBglHH_gWYaI6OuMl821U7bebV3eUn3R7ghMGDuMGs/s1600/Jelly+Fish+Sting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mPVizmSd_7iqD403ZiCcihK3ciQdX-Ue0LowEykTIGJSeT1JSeUUEKNCyq_S47xhwd9yhgZV1eeq_ReeE8u3fOg1O8OxCCbUFEBglHH_gWYaI6OuMl821U7bebV3eUn3R7ghMGDuMGs/s320/Jelly+Fish+Sting.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was covering my friend's jellyfish<br />
sting on her leg :/</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Not too much has happened this week here in Abu Dhabi or out at work. This weekend I plan on just trying to get ready for my trip to Turkey and possibly go out camping in Fujairah on the mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems like there is a lot to do within a short amount of time, but I guess I rather be busy than not experiencing things out here within my two years. Not too much is planned out here for Halloween, except for what the LTs have planned on their own. There will be some children coming around door to door trick-or-treating here in our buildings and some people having get togethers. Really out here you almost forget about the Holiday since there are not decorations and candy sold all over the place. You may see a few decorations or costumes at some stores that just came out here about a week ago. Really though I have only seen signs saying Happy Diwali (a celebration of India and Nepal). There is a store out here called Spinneys that sells quite a bit of American products and had pumpkins for sale. A few of my friends and I wanted to buy one, but found the price of 90 dirhams (24 dollars) to be a little pricey for something that will be thrown away in a few days, since we are trying to save some money for our Trip to Turkey. So the next few weeks will be busy packing, get ready for Turkey, spending time in Turkey, and then coming back to Abu Dhabi to get ready for work again. I will be posting soon to keep you all updated on how everything goes. </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXUmG-ZFf44UttEdLrOISSNANFR0qAPT2CDLyJm1mD0f49jqspJ5DzOVMtXzCKGu2xFzzvvOMA6UtFQi02gZJhmH6PHDZVO1ARa_JZ8cfKue116g7C_DK26VDTlG2rVs-ruzpM0ALbK0/s1600/Boat+taxi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXUmG-ZFf44UttEdLrOISSNANFR0qAPT2CDLyJm1mD0f49jqspJ5DzOVMtXzCKGu2xFzzvvOMA6UtFQi02gZJhmH6PHDZVO1ARa_JZ8cfKue116g7C_DK26VDTlG2rVs-ruzpM0ALbK0/s320/Boat+taxi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> One of the Boats to get to Beach</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The pictures on here are from this past weekend from my friend’s cameras. Since we are all doing the same things you can see some of what’s going on in my life, just through their eyes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEi8crXBKesGynAabFDtyIm7L_m1DmUWRDQrGIDiijldvg8lFUho7mA2zifiFhtCnA0q5TeRGvZZC7CuikIPww4M4c5sX_TRqjf5RXCfJho0oVcwGTFsf5cwbM6xzsBRkHiqQJeQz-OeU/s1600/from+Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEi8crXBKesGynAabFDtyIm7L_m1DmUWRDQrGIDiijldvg8lFUho7mA2zifiFhtCnA0q5TeRGvZZC7CuikIPww4M4c5sX_TRqjf5RXCfJho0oVcwGTFsf5cwbM6xzsBRkHiqQJeQz-OeU/s320/from+Island.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Abu Dhabi from Maya Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKGGoJoYKVaCtfxj4lCPATxqicShcaRTEmIM3HCCwHWLtNPCTvb9TvV5DPgEZepevesP8ZGRkVFS8_r-o19Q_F1J__glwgqX5DGIj2w974iNVqXilxaWL-hL68-RhWIl3GeNUvw73zKs/s1600/Getting+ready+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKGGoJoYKVaCtfxj4lCPATxqicShcaRTEmIM3HCCwHWLtNPCTvb9TvV5DPgEZepevesP8ZGRkVFS8_r-o19Q_F1J__glwgqX5DGIj2w974iNVqXilxaWL-hL68-RhWIl3GeNUvw73zKs/s320/Getting+ready+boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the Boat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXG5egy_Eyu8kDxtOSLWWuZrIlBl4613CDXT9t7k31fVX8kdwuK1EmLBM0kYiq90wN8b78OsOGEOqgZlzaiseykkJbWxYLQp4soz3IaxXHVsjQkn5aWuRJ4ijJ_0NzvbUPx1v949NEQFc/s1600/Ride+Taxi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXG5egy_Eyu8kDxtOSLWWuZrIlBl4613CDXT9t7k31fVX8kdwuK1EmLBM0kYiq90wN8b78OsOGEOqgZlzaiseykkJbWxYLQp4soz3IaxXHVsjQkn5aWuRJ4ijJ_0NzvbUPx1v949NEQFc/s320/Ride+Taxi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding to the Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-21822055569805677962011-10-17T11:11:00.000-07:002011-10-17T11:23:09.051-07:00Back To Some Basics<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">October 17, 2011</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5vJkP6jW6af4VFNiS1iEfm7JTKFmSa1YFhogvXWBTGwNGL1dxTgK7vshpzsrHCwgPPz2LsBEcj5Svjwv81v5qosfMfjC6_TpHBOxIXGH3INO1eNEJwYCPJvChCBSJeAGBtPZ334LLSs/s1600/boat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5vJkP6jW6af4VFNiS1iEfm7JTKFmSa1YFhogvXWBTGwNGL1dxTgK7vshpzsrHCwgPPz2LsBEcj5Svjwv81v5qosfMfjC6_TpHBOxIXGH3INO1eNEJwYCPJvChCBSJeAGBtPZ334LLSs/s320/boat2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">On Board the Boat @ the Corniche</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So I spoke too soon the last time I wrote this blog. The next day after I wrote this blog I went to work and had to survive the classroom alone. Now you must be wondering why I am writing about being in the classroom by myself….that is what my job entailed in the U.S. right? Well, two big factors play a difference out here in Abu Dhabi.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The first (and major) factor is that the children do not speak very much English. They are three and four and have nothing, but Arabic spoken at home. I am not the best in Arabic, really just started learning Arabic two months ago. So our communication in the classroom on Wednesday and Thursday was very simple and somewhat difficult. There is once student in particular who just cried his guts out with just me in the classroom. He kept trying to leave the classroom while I was trying to teach twenty three other students in a language different than their native. So day one he didn’t do too well and the bus monitors took him out of my class. Really I think it just freaks him out that I am not dressed in an abaya , sheila, and don’t speak Arabic. He’s actually one of the students who has picked up English the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleyQKjyTkyla6qhNiBsb9BekKGoSaB91kZTB5VyrK9-ZwIrnjzctEInOuehKpPw_rKdBxeYLKjMohoUJVWPqH9TeOEZvVTQ9o_tEsN5-qBJBmoW3qGunWHhMJaq5pqRLtG6S8B0A6_DU/s1600/city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleyQKjyTkyla6qhNiBsb9BekKGoSaB91kZTB5VyrK9-ZwIrnjzctEInOuehKpPw_rKdBxeYLKjMohoUJVWPqH9TeOEZvVTQ9o_tEsN5-qBJBmoW3qGunWHhMJaq5pqRLtG6S8B0A6_DU/s320/city.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">The City of Abu Dhabi from the water</span></td></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The second component is the fact that there are twenty four of them and only one of me. They are three and four year olds who are very active.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So with students who don’t have discipline in their culture and do not understand my language….it was tough. Thank goodness for the classroom words that I know in Arabic. This definitely helped me when having to get the students to continue with their normal class routines.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEBcxyoO7uza1fbgTN5S0czfB5WlhR-mbO3SRpNYHcurtXFUfYtfvjqJsanHsbQTtgQ7MAh_Ck3BxCy9pPCWQfL4usQT0JiWheHb2UaSETd-ky31sRHIuYovFWfedb9iX0FwxLlTdNoQ/s1600/dock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEBcxyoO7uza1fbgTN5S0czfB5WlhR-mbO3SRpNYHcurtXFUfYtfvjqJsanHsbQTtgQ7MAh_Ck3BxCy9pPCWQfL4usQT0JiWheHb2UaSETd-ky31sRHIuYovFWfedb9iX0FwxLlTdNoQ/s320/dock.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Getting ready to board the boat.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqXVUS7T8wBFsdZV6U-TYK-RZ0MHAcaXxGoTVvyeQMiR4CSTX5huLWgUYSXf4RPwOueC8KEtPyCJtBR7IgEz9tDo9CFbcPk2OyFCG0Wt4umJepPnikEfhyt0fyaEXI3piChWvei_HR40/s1600/dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqXVUS7T8wBFsdZV6U-TYK-RZ0MHAcaXxGoTVvyeQMiR4CSTX5huLWgUYSXf4RPwOueC8KEtPyCJtBR7IgEz9tDo9CFbcPk2OyFCG0Wt4umJepPnikEfhyt0fyaEXI3piChWvei_HR40/s320/dinner.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our Friend's Birthday Dinner.</span></td></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Recently I have had a nice past few weekends. One weekend was a friend’s birthday who decided that they wanted to go down to the Corniche (popular beach here in AD) and ride a jet boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a splendid idea and loads of fun. It was nice to be out on the water with some great weather. Here we are still in the upper nineties (degrees Fahrenheit). The start was somewhat shaky, which was worrisome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After about twenty tries the boat driver (captain…I suppose?) was able to start the boat and get it going. We rode around on the water and at one point we all were able to drive the boat. The scene was beautiful with the city right behind us and the sun setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were also quite a few people out on their boats and jet skis enjoying the day as well. At one point we were allowed to get off the boat on swim on our own private beach. Later we all went out to a girls dinner and hung out the rest of the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had such an amazing time and it was so serene. It was nice way to rejuvenate myself here in Abu Dhabi.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAIws9RWL5zJcXyXfppKRAU7V3n1S-1t-pFARUdVhkRP7HKOBh9qfCqrNOoxTJox55gIVa65f_e89UQoVQnYoO1azeIkesj4InlW6eVuNe_LXJeADKu-fzdmhaEyRVUZh5tt5dpOB24s/s1600/driving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAIws9RWL5zJcXyXfppKRAU7V3n1S-1t-pFARUdVhkRP7HKOBh9qfCqrNOoxTJox55gIVa65f_e89UQoVQnYoO1azeIkesj4InlW6eVuNe_LXJeADKu-fzdmhaEyRVUZh5tt5dpOB24s/s320/driving.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Driving the Boat!</span></td></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This past Thursday I went back to the group Crossroads that I am a part of out here in AD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was greeted with such a warm welcome going back and seeing everyone who I hadn’t seen in a week. It was as if everyone hadn’t seen me in quite some time and was excited to have me back. It’s always nice to go have a homemade dinner and some quality time. The next day I continued my Friday mornings as I normally do here. Just because I can’t say too much here on my blog I will say that it’s the same way that I spent my Sunday mornings out in the U.S. Soon after it was time for our Jet Ski adventure, this time near the Fairmont hotel. Another day of sun, fun, and relaxation….this time on a jet ski that I was able to drive around for about an hour with the need for speed. Later on in the day we went out to see Abu Dhabi. As far as seeing everyone out and meeting new people, it’s just so surreal to me. You go out here and here and they play the same type of music that you would here in the U.S. Songs about life, love, and even….America? Yes, songs by Alicia Keys called “New York”. A song by Estelle called “American Boy”, and many other songs that are anthems in the states. Yet, you have people from Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and here in the Emirates singing these songs at the top of their lungs. So out of curiosity I asked my friend from New Zealand if these songs are played normally in her hometown. “Yes”, was her reply…. “All the time!” Maybe it’s that I have just lived in my U.S./Texas bubble for too long, but I just thought that they would be singing songs about “Ireland Boys” and big cities in their countries. I should have known though in the first couple weeks of living here when everyone including a cabby was jamming out to Justin Beiber’s “Baby”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An anthem out here that was new for me is a song by Shakira called Waka Waka. Pretty much everyone from South Africa sang this song from the top of their lungs and danced away. Now this I don’t think I would see the people as enthusiastic in the states.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2OjCxDh49loZdqEibL-OhZN9LVDuqZgUzuywiv2bXFmaOXh1hSjs5NdkGROr3IZzknpCW61xyJ41Q4bjotsdNfBJVaXInit9y_1plLYB77QiRMkkWvN_EJbixdnoIUXR1uNz3M-VBWI/s1600/Texas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2OjCxDh49loZdqEibL-OhZN9LVDuqZgUzuywiv2bXFmaOXh1hSjs5NdkGROr3IZzknpCW61xyJ41Q4bjotsdNfBJVaXInit9y_1plLYB77QiRMkkWvN_EJbixdnoIUXR1uNz3M-VBWI/s320/Texas.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">We're proud to be Texans!</span></td></tr>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I am back to my work week and back with my Arabic (co-op) teacher in the classroom with the students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do have to say that I am amazed with how much these kids have learned in the past six weeks. Every morning my students come in on their own time and greet me with “Good Morning Teacher”….Yes!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an expectation for them in the KG1 classroom, and the fact that they shake my hand as well. I am so proud of the students. It’s the cutest thing hearing them greet me with their little voices and accents. We still have a lot more to go, but we are taking things slowly and day by day. Hopefully the next time I blog, I will get to share another feat that the students will have overcome.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU3Wf8vDe3sA8gXVY3_XCmjt2_x1BI5Nk7azsmgnLamn7rYDMFQCMyQIWxggEzeuV60qSd1_O1-FPVsNbS3Z3GhyV_1pobrwFlVLLkCp-JGPshgLuwyUKDVJsa4m06ts83r2tTioATGc/s1600/girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU3Wf8vDe3sA8gXVY3_XCmjt2_x1BI5Nk7azsmgnLamn7rYDMFQCMyQIWxggEzeuV60qSd1_O1-FPVsNbS3Z3GhyV_1pobrwFlVLLkCp-JGPshgLuwyUKDVJsa4m06ts83r2tTioATGc/s320/girls.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Girls at the Birthday Dinner.</span></td></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRf80Gm36UwsbR24Jer6htkKSd0mRQFyeSmSpCmZvedwQHyzZAVA7BQo0iF3vF4CE49puHJSvzQ9qyout2FZLWp6UEOYHdlTMhBOdwJPIC4W9SYNxcZR4Rv7rC0OGnrWSHZPRw-iHU5k0/s1600/jet+skis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRf80Gm36UwsbR24Jer6htkKSd0mRQFyeSmSpCmZvedwQHyzZAVA7BQo0iF3vF4CE49puHJSvzQ9qyout2FZLWp6UEOYHdlTMhBOdwJPIC4W9SYNxcZR4Rv7rC0OGnrWSHZPRw-iHU5k0/s320/jet+skis.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our Jet Ski Adventure</span></td></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ah and finally some more good news. I now officially have gas to cook with my stove! After months of not cooking and not knowing when our apartments will be set up with gas pipes, I went ahead and bought a gas tank at the local gas station. Again, it wasn’t just that simple…I had bought it a week ago but had to go from “A” all the way to “Z” to finally get to point “B”. I’m just excited now that fire comes out of the burners on top. Never would I have thought that something that we see as so simple and take for granted could bring me so much joy. I already went out and bought some eggs and bread to make breakfast for the first time. Yes, my plan is to wake up early and cook some eggs with toast….just because I finally can. Hopefully, I haven’t forgotten how to cook since it’s been so long since I last really cooked for myself. In the summer my Mom didn’t want me to cook anything for her, because her “baby” was leaving the country and needed to “relax”. So, I think the last time I cooked for myself was maybe back in early May before I had packed up all my cooking utensils and supplies at my old apartment.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1NJRlZK-CLPoGu4BT6RMdJcqAU8REv2-QZnplmgC2taGIBY8hmJzTc9iG3BNCJX9L4ggJtveY8egilvTQbASlsKeY5Z1g7leHP8hxkzXRjK3adC7Y8hrA4OYCHzfyXxS9bdx_R7yHGI/s1600/315799_10150335933593509_652698508_8331809_800893295_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1NJRlZK-CLPoGu4BT6RMdJcqAU8REv2-QZnplmgC2taGIBY8hmJzTc9iG3BNCJX9L4ggJtveY8egilvTQbASlsKeY5Z1g7leHP8hxkzXRjK3adC7Y8hrA4OYCHzfyXxS9bdx_R7yHGI/s320/315799_10150335933593509_652698508_8331809_800893295_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Driving the Jet Ski.... :D</span></td></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now, I should be off to prepare for the next day to come out here in Abu Dhabi. Nothing is ever just “simple” out here and can really become exhausting after a while. Can’t wait to share more with you all soon. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">All pictures are courtesy of my friends and their cameras :/</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqXVUS7T8wBFsdZV6U-TYK-RZ0MHAcaXxGoTVvyeQMiR4CSTX5huLWgUYSXf4RPwOueC8KEtPyCJtBR7IgEz9tDo9CFbcPk2OyFCG0Wt4umJepPnikEfhyt0fyaEXI3piChWvei_HR40/s320/dinner.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 572px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1216px;" width="96" /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRpeEdMmmQ0">Shakira-Waka Waka</a></span>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-46327930609930641652011-10-12T10:00:00.000-07:002011-10-12T10:02:41.253-07:00Catching up and Taking Deep Breaths<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">October 11, 2011</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Time to start blogging again…it’s not that I stopped. I just had to take some time away to take some breathers and take care of some things around here in Abu Dhabi. Life is definitely different out here than what I have been use to living before. I would also have to be honest and say that for a good three week period I was having a tough time and second thoughts on staying out here. Really I didn’t want anyone to know that I was struggling because I feel that I have to be tough for those who see me out here and are amazed that I took this adventure. I have now realized that I am a human being and that there are many others like me out here and in the rest of the world.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNF4I0JyHcNrTygFCtn6gK1qybCXll_RkWvZIgXidKOhRTrF1RpQOc_uEC4lcA5NTkRd04oeqdqx_5NXDTl3DLO2H5xa-ZOmDgWdkiRgdmh46Tgutz-o-8deXVJrsVHIwsidW97sK8vw/s1600/SAM_1413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNF4I0JyHcNrTygFCtn6gK1qybCXll_RkWvZIgXidKOhRTrF1RpQOc_uEC4lcA5NTkRd04oeqdqx_5NXDTl3DLO2H5xa-ZOmDgWdkiRgdmh46Tgutz-o-8deXVJrsVHIwsidW97sK8vw/s320/SAM_1413.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thought it was interesting that the Duracell mascot<br />
is like the Energizer Bunny back home in the U.S.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So I have been teaching KG-1 (Pre-K) out here for about a month now. Wow, I surely have grown so much in the past month of teaching. It is a different experience out here beyond imaginable. I could have blogged about every single day, but I still don’t think that everyone would fully understand what teaching out here is like. The one thing that you for sure have to remember is that they are literally on the opposite world<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of from where I call home. The way the children have been raised and brought up are different than home. Really you can have children raised differently even within the same country, state, city, and school district. You just have to take into account that their cultural views are very different than what I have been brought up with. Doesn’t matter how many videos, sessions, and talks that they prepare you with….it’s something that you just end up having to experience and learn from first hand. It’s the nature of the game I suppose because even as a teacher you get all this schooling in college, but nothing can prepare you for your very first day of teaching.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First, take the children’s cultural views and how they perceive me. I am obviously someone who is foreign in their world. I am not wearing an abaya and sheila like the women in their culture do and I don’t speak their language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the children for the first few weeks would not show me any respect since I do not match their cultures description on a woman.They would go hysterical when left in the classroom with me by myself, either crying or running around the room like animals. Really option number two is what happened more often with the children here. You can’t blame them since I am dressed like their nanny, therefore why else would they treat me any different...? Thankfully I have had an Arabic co-teacher in the classroom that had to tell the students that I am a teacher just like her and that there needs to be respect towards me as well as her. We are still working with all the students to get on board with the idea, but we have made quite a bit of progress since the first day. </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSoUGSxl3_rGAbADaPpNeyer900UIxjmog6-MmPPQJ7lvdiRUKAs0eUEVjQPOdmRME9Fz5D5PvnMPrthLobYcDbLjQWUCrvKmqQy5TKL9m2j0qDaDWZS9KHl6lO6fNVD7KL38NNdzzBE/s1600/SAM_1441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSoUGSxl3_rGAbADaPpNeyer900UIxjmog6-MmPPQJ7lvdiRUKAs0eUEVjQPOdmRME9Fz5D5PvnMPrthLobYcDbLjQWUCrvKmqQy5TKL9m2j0qDaDWZS9KHl6lO6fNVD7KL38NNdzzBE/s320/SAM_1441.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trip to Ikea one day, already very use to seeing arabic <br />
writing everywhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Second take the student’s have been living their way of life all these years and now some woman from the other side of the world wants to change things. Uhh….not going to happen so easy. I have had to realize that what I knew and how I worked in the U.S. is not going to be the same way with the children out here. I have had to learn more of their culture and become even more conscious of how to be respectful with the children as well. I have since been learning Arabic and picking up some of their cues in the classroom to help myself to help teach them. This has made quite a change and now there seems to be a mutual respect between the students and I. Again not all students are on board, but really where there is a single classroom that has a hundred percent of students who are behaved “ideally”?</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Besides the challenges at work I have had plenty of challenges at home as well. I have to say that I am still not completely settled here in Abu Dhabi. I still lack things I need for my apartment. We don’t have gas yet here and they do not know when we will have gas to be able to start cooking. So I took it upon myself to buy a gas tank but, now I need some help with setting it up so I don’t start and explosion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So not being able to cook has led to not eating healthy as well. The gym just opened up here at our “flats” so I have just started being able to go and workout. I shouldn’t complain because back home I didn’t have a gym…would just us my resources around me. I have become lazy as far as taking care of myself. Really need to get out of it, since it’s a bad habit that has continued for a while now here in Abu Dhabi.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yes and let’s not forget my recent trip to the dentist…yeah I had to get my first cavity out here in a foreign country. I have to admit that I have had quite a bit of problems with my teeth since moving into my flat. They say that you have to buy a water filter to make sure that you get the extra junk out of the water that they have here in their water. Who knows what is, besides some left over sodium I suppose. The water has made my teeth hurt, my hair fall out and break easily, and my skin extra dry. So needless to say, I’m not looking to nice out here in the desert. I have switched to brushing my teeth with bottle water now. I use anti-hair fall shampoo and extra dry skin lotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So yes, many of the problems are not just at work but at home as well. Thank goodness the dentist and I did not have too much of a language barrier and he took very good care of me knowing that it was my first trip to the dentist.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1igaIr056wYamiwRhEBUIPAF6Gm09ryq0kiTsUkVylB5W6HylJKK3yYBhqg4zWo-NmwQokfTxU6TIeBGAF_3a2scDeFTx5EB8BY36Gntv_ie49Bo6gSJ8huzHKIEU2MWcBV_shFo-BM/s1600/SAM_1411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1igaIr056wYamiwRhEBUIPAF6Gm09ryq0kiTsUkVylB5W6HylJKK3yYBhqg4zWo-NmwQokfTxU6TIeBGAF_3a2scDeFTx5EB8BY36Gntv_ie49Bo6gSJ8huzHKIEU2MWcBV_shFo-BM/s320/SAM_1411.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small things from home that you miss. Searched far and wide for<br />
my favorite candle and finally found them here in AD.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also should be known as the Abu Dhabi fairy since I seem to leave my stuff everywhere and I am sure that people have found these nice new electronics. I have to say though that my biggest bum is the cord to my camera. Now I have a camera but no cord to charge it. So I have an amazing camera that does not turn on to take photos. We shall see, currently trying to see if I can find one in a store here in Abu Dhabi. You learn quickly though that out here nothing…I mean nothing is done easily. It’s as if you have to take three left turns and two rights before you can finally go straight. It’s never just a simple process, but over time you learn that it is life in the Emirates and you just deal with it. </span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Maybe now that I have gotten some things out I will try and blog more so you can understand what I mean by nothing is every simple. Everyday there is always something complicated that should be simple. Thank goodness for the friendships out here. If anything they seem to be simple. Hanging out with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>coworkers/friends at their flats while just watching a movie, playing games, chatting or even just hanging out. It’s a simple thing of life that you for sure do not take for granted while out here in a desert of nothing but complication. Hoping that this blog does not sound negative because it’s not intended to; more just to share what my life has been like in this past month. Talk to me about two weeks ago and I was ready to get out for my mental and physical health, but I was revived recently and so thankful for that.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you to my fellow teachers who have been there to talk to and share these experiences with. No one really understands what this is until they are out here and put in this situation. I am ever so grateful for our chats and laughs. Hoping that these next two years will be full of memories.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">P.S. I know my pictures are random, but it's hard when you don't have a camera that's charged to capture life around me. Hope I can get the USB cord soon.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> <span id="goog_1574592404"></span><span id="goog_1574592405"></span></span>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-20212473701087847812011-09-11T11:28:00.000-07:002011-09-11T11:30:28.026-07:00Ten Years Have Passed...and Look at My Life Now....<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">September 11, 2011</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I have to start off with saying that I have wondered all day today how America is spending the ten year anniversary of 9/11. I can remember that day almost as if it was yesterday. Actually, probably better than yesterday. Its days like this that remind me of “home” and makes me miss it more. Oh well I am a big girl and am doing what I have set out to do.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I haven’t blogged in a while due to time constraints and lack of internet. I am not even sure that I will get this blog out by tonight (here in AD). I’m going to have to beg and plead with someone to let me use their internet. So yes, I was officially kicked out of the hotel about a week ago and had to move into my “flat”. Doesn’t sound bad right?! Well, our flats were not really ready to be moved into quite yet. I have to say that they are still not all up to par, but what can you do? So we moved in and for a while I was camping out on the floor in my living room. Really my furniture came in yesterday sometime. So last night was the first night that my place looked like a home and that I didn’t have to rummage through suitcases to find clothes. Now I have everything that I officially need as far as furniture and appliances go. The only thing that lacks is gas to cook with. Most of us have gas cookers but have found out that there is currently no gas in our flats for quite some time. Rumor has it that it could be weeks and even up to months until we get gas. Thank goodness I have some friends who bought convectional ovens that allow us to heat up small food items. For now though cooking a meal is still out the window.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Last Sunday was the official fist work day for teachers and today was the first day of school for the children. It has already been quite a challenge and the language barrier makes things that much more difficult. I have signed at least five papers all written in Arabic that has been written by my principal. I had to find out the hard way that one of them was telling me that I had to attend a meeting right then and there. The Arabic teachers I feel have somewhat opened up with the new Licensed Teachers. The first couple of days there was a complete separation between us. They would sit and gather alone in one room and we would sit and gather alone in another. It wasn’t until we had our meeting that discussed the schedule for the new year, that we came together with each other realizing that we need one another’s help to do our job the right way.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjWbhqdfBA9NEev69W1IiBb6c26wALlog5_BSIfHdu0-IsFtTf4-PsbsdVaR4uFJRZBGkrVscPZdY0gVU1tly3t4ddBfF56Mo0r1LMvcS96tkFJ35giPEd2RuTqlp7xs6TWj0-JP7suc/s1600/SAM_1387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjWbhqdfBA9NEev69W1IiBb6c26wALlog5_BSIfHdu0-IsFtTf4-PsbsdVaR4uFJRZBGkrVscPZdY0gVU1tly3t4ddBfF56Mo0r1LMvcS96tkFJ35giPEd2RuTqlp7xs6TWj0-JP7suc/s320/SAM_1387.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Bedaya "New Beginning"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This year they have the Arabic teacher and “LT” working side by side in the classroom. So while she goes over something in Arabic I am there alongside her to reiterate in the English language. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that I am actually teaching KG1 this year which are the 3-4 year olds. So really it’s like pre-k in the states. So this is why they have both an Arabic and English speaking teacher in the classroom. They have decided this year to start from the ground up. Really it’s from the roots up to implement this reform in a way that they like. They hope that starting them now will have them a lot farther by the time they reach the upper level grades. So that is why I have an Arabic teacher in the classroom with me. I can’t complain because that means the language barrier is not quite as much as it may be without an Arabic teacher. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAe0889W0R15CquiT9WYew4G1zBDiXrbsrAwT8ZoL6zjPaFru4lKprjY4y45Uqla4RzqsNEkCSSJe8s4k0e8dOwty_bqsHfF8C1cBlirwqjoc0bo7zq-uY4MbxXWyzxEg6OsbAATELKo/s1600/SAM_1392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAe0889W0R15CquiT9WYew4G1zBDiXrbsrAwT8ZoL6zjPaFru4lKprjY4y45Uqla4RzqsNEkCSSJe8s4k0e8dOwty_bqsHfF8C1cBlirwqjoc0bo7zq-uY4MbxXWyzxEg6OsbAATELKo/s320/SAM_1392.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Co-Workers at Bedaya</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmX1eP1uSt7H6xJd8YO0UGeCBnVg5BePY6e9tA-g5ZigmvT2JENONmVB8yyR-dfEKm7Adfj5rdKfFIAZMHPN5PZEEr89di-rZ7YOto4RDJiq_bGS2wBzaPGomjyzhjZMNkMM-2IL-8iw/s1600/SAM_1395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmX1eP1uSt7H6xJd8YO0UGeCBnVg5BePY6e9tA-g5ZigmvT2JENONmVB8yyR-dfEKm7Adfj5rdKfFIAZMHPN5PZEEr89di-rZ7YOto4RDJiq_bGS2wBzaPGomjyzhjZMNkMM-2IL-8iw/s320/SAM_1395.JPG" width="320" /></a> So my cooperating Arabic teacher is a few years older than me and has four children. She received her bachelor’s from a university here and learned English while at the university. Really she had no choice because all of her classes were taught in English, so either you learned it or you did pass your classes. She seems to be a really great teacher and gets rave reviews from the staff around her. She had a lot of the basic labeling in English/Arabic before I arrived so she really does know her stuff. There are some things that I need to help her set up, such as centers and a few more labeling items. I think its best that I don’t say her name here on my blog out of respect for her and her privacy, so I will call her “Zoon”. The first day that “Zoon” and I met she made me feel very welcomed and privileged to be working with her. She told me that she was looking forward to working together and that she wanted for us to be close like sisters. I thought that this was a very nice thought and made me feel comfortable with her and the classroom. Zoon also stated that I could put up anything that I would like in the classroom to help out with English and to make it my own.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So last week we had meetings with the principal and head of faculty (HoF), grade level meetings, and the bedaya. Bedaya is an Arabic word for beginning, so this bedaya was a kick off to the beginning of our new school year. It was televised and had several media sources inside the convention center along with about three five thousand Arabic and English speaking teachers combined. They discussed the new school model that they want to implement and showed us their statistics from previous years. All in all it was an interesting even and was spoken all in Arabic. They say the “English speaking” teacher to one side of the room so they could pass out headsets to us so we could hear a translator through our headsets. It was an interesting experience sitting in the shoes of a person who needs a translator, trying to keep up with the speaker and translator as well as accounting for the bits and pieces the translator may have missed. After the speakers they served us foods galore from all different parts of the world. It was an International buffet that was extremely tasty and definitely satisfied my hunger.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzMcR9x2pRsgburYflXQtK0wFKRxM1YCRgfiZTwGwV-5_bW_9t2p2GRYgi0-YmfINsg0LxG-SJVfZDdhmwT' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> Fast forward to today and we have the first day of school. It is quite different than what I am use to back home. Usually we spend weeks, even the whole summer planning for the school year and the first day of school. “In’shalla “ we will have kids, “In’shalla” the first day will go well. Everything here in the culture is “In’shalla” and it isn’t any different when it comes to school. “In’shalla” is a phrase that could be compared to hopefully or for the religious people Lord willing. So here they have no concerns or worry about how things will turn out and they do not like to over prepare because “In’shalla” things will happen or get done. So with that in mind a day like today was a crazy first day. There was nothing planned and about fifteen three to four year olds inside a classroom crying for “ma ma”. Again the language barrier was the toughest part I have to say. I had kids yanking my arm and crying and I am only going to assume that they wanted “ma ma”. I was helpless since I couldn’t reciprocate to them that they would be okay with Zoon and I. I couldn’t distract them with a conversation. I could only speak my language and they could only speak there’s. I found myself at some points speaking to them in Spanish. I guess my brain is use to speaking in Spanish if there is a language barrier. Really I think I must have started the tears with at least three of the children. There were in a unknown environment and I am speaking to them in a foreign language. They would look at me with concern and confusion then would begin to cry.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I refuse for that to continue any longer so I went out and bought a program similar to Rosetta Stone called byki Arabic. It was fast and convenient and seems simple to use. The man at the mall selling it to me showed me all the quick and easy selling point. I was sold and plan to begin my fist lesson after I finish writing this blog. I also plan on making some flash cards to carry with me that may help me and the students in my classroom as well. So “In’shala” I will learn some more Arabic and become semi proficient that I can decently communicate with my students and their parents. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hoping that this blog finds everyone on well terms and that I can get internet very soon to keep you all up to date. So many new and interesting experiences are happening in this new chapter of my life. To my family: I love you all and miss you all. You are in my thoughts and literally in my dreams every night. To my friends/co-workers: Thank you for keeping in touch with me and reading this blog. Really your simple replies and comments help me feel a little less far from home. Thank you to everyone for your love and continued support. You all have been the ones to motivate me and inspire me to stick to the journey when times get difficult.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">P.S. Sorry for grammatical errors and continued use of “garbage” words in this blog. It’s been a long day, but I had to post for you all so that way more time wouldn’t pass without filling you all in on things out here in Abu Dhabi.</div>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-67110427393158201342011-08-23T07:34:00.000-07:002011-08-23T07:40:34.610-07:00AD and KG<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUO7-645OSgfVQrFXXq4yl6XZL7YU0tfXWzFPnGY3mbXch-zwk1wSYlu2L34OvnlatsBUbj_qgMD6ZcXbwhfDqznJSidq-jsixfU6Z6VmcFVSSkAPqEVHxzTSKjqUkwyDmuLWaGXfv5c/s1600/SAM_1221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUO7-645OSgfVQrFXXq4yl6XZL7YU0tfXWzFPnGY3mbXch-zwk1wSYlu2L34OvnlatsBUbj_qgMD6ZcXbwhfDqznJSidq-jsixfU6Z6VmcFVSSkAPqEVHxzTSKjqUkwyDmuLWaGXfv5c/s320/SAM_1221.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower Grill at Lebanese Flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So the past three days have yet again been filled with adventure and have been relatively interesting. On Saturday I decided to take a day to relax and play it easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t done this since about early July and I figured if I still had a little bit of time left I might as well. The most I did was go out to eat with some co-workers at the Lebanese Flower. It’s a restaurant here in Abu Dhabi that gets rave reviews….and I can see why. The food is amazing and served in large portions as if you will not see food in years. The service is also one of the many amazing things about this place. The owner was ready to greet us and even take our order. He gave us some complimentary hummus as well as the usual “salad” that is set at the table in the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all ordered (split) a Flower Grill which has the various types of meats on the platter. Similar to what a botana would be in south Texas. It’s very fulfilling and can easily be split among four people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has to be hands down the best food that I have eaten here so far. </span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v_lw7QED_Yf-Kq5oxSj55w9aMBevqcSJL-I5zCtiuyHYNdKpTvZy1PeRrAIo7t3N4V7AoU_VexEYs8h6JAdsAi0rYaHSfiLsL3LtgYobrI7u616sHGNnclcch9fIsEDUKrI9f5fGNP0/s1600/SAM_1276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v_lw7QED_Yf-Kq5oxSj55w9aMBevqcSJL-I5zCtiuyHYNdKpTvZy1PeRrAIo7t3N4V7AoU_VexEYs8h6JAdsAi0rYaHSfiLsL3LtgYobrI7u616sHGNnclcch9fIsEDUKrI9f5fGNP0/s320/SAM_1276.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramadan at Al Wahda Mall</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometime last week I had found out that I have been placed here in Abu Dhabi which was a tossup from the beginning. I’m going to say that I’m pretty pleased with my choice and look forward to staying here in the city and seeing what more it has to offer. Sunday night we were asked to be up and in the hotel lobby at about 8:00am so they could shuttle us to see our new apartments. Well…I should really say high rises….yes a high rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Monday morning (8/22/11) we were off. The place is beautiful and amazing. I can’t believe that they are paying for me to stay in a place like this. I will be on the eleventh floor which has an amazing view and a cozy little balcony. The place it a great size for a single person such as myself and will be even better if Romo can soon come and join me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The high rise also has a roof top pool and a separate gym (workout) area for the men and women, along with Jacuzzis. The floors are all tile and the and trimming in some areas is all pure granite…..!!! They have done nothing but treat us with respect here in Abu Dhabi and they are even going far beyond my expectations. I was thankful for them giving me a place to live, but I never dreamed that it would be like this….Amazing!!!!</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9its3nVh1LEo-3Udyp5rqHt1B68LCSxQVO319KEWNsVktpIt1KFK0X_H6uK7Yt0k6Bmv-ift1x5z6oN3JCzqqO86urD9cfYkmaXQnnyP0gV5LTuut2sx0pOX0TDaHbCDP_CXifqE6Xeg/s1600/SAM_1278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9its3nVh1LEo-3Udyp5rqHt1B68LCSxQVO319KEWNsVktpIt1KFK0X_H6uK7Yt0k6Bmv-ift1x5z6oN3JCzqqO86urD9cfYkmaXQnnyP0gV5LTuut2sx0pOX0TDaHbCDP_CXifqE6Xeg/s320/SAM_1278.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Al Wahda Mall Inside (check out the bowling alley)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shortly after seeing my place on Monday I decided that I needed to start looking for appliances and living furniture for my place. This has been a completely new experience and even feels awkward in a way. One, I have never had to shop around and look at appliances such as refrigerators and stoves. I can’t really say that I am doing things the right way either. I am just trying to find these appliances at a feasible price as well as also make sure that they last two years. Two, just a few months ago I was moving out of my apartment where I once lived that was filled with everything I needed. From couches, beds, tables, and clothes….now I’m back to square one; nothing. It’s a weird feeling to know that I am back to the beginning with my basics in addition to having to find out again what it is that I really need. Truth be told, back in Texas I always had someone who could help me out. If not then they knew someone who knew someone. Now I am halfway across the world and do not have those types of connections out here yet. I have found some deals and some not so great deals. We shall see in time what will happen and how things work out. I just have to stay positive and proactive on finding things for my new place.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UjZWIGS_siO-l1_Tc6504zBnJSpLQuzeTAQjJrHLaraU1n8qyRVGysnv8jOvc2u3x1yvdePC4cZHTeWIUkSN3UAL_l38n01POoC0WAi48hmJdwPpStHvn_uBnu8WYZt1V89Fovlo5ac/s1600/SAM_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UjZWIGS_siO-l1_Tc6504zBnJSpLQuzeTAQjJrHLaraU1n8qyRVGysnv8jOvc2u3x1yvdePC4cZHTeWIUkSN3UAL_l38n01POoC0WAi48hmJdwPpStHvn_uBnu8WYZt1V89Fovlo5ac/s320/SAM_1222.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Grand Mosque at Sunset (very far background)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here we are on Tuesday; we just finished out first day of orientation. It was quite enjoyable and I was very pleased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going back to a “work” setting was quite nice and has been much needed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things have felt “funny” here knowing that back home everyone is already back to work. I love my vacation time, but I think I may have already had too much. I know one day I may miss this time, but right now I’m craving the work. I also enjoyed the orientation because my interviewer was there. I think I was so happy because the last time I saw him was in Texas. So it was kind of like having a little piece of Texas with me here in the Middle East. We just covered the basics and learned our grade placements. As of right now I am a kindergarten teacher, but things could change. I am excited about this either way. If I get moved to second grade then that will be awesome since I already have that experience, but if I stay kinder then that will also be great so I can try something new. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw4_IGwBpmEz9r_kXQFlByQ1j-GzqI2su3VD3l5qNTAkZ9FVde1rXnzPdsghZGoA8MXKq-gT-7G9iFpUwFhdg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within the next few days I should be moving into my new place and out of the hotel. I have been in the hotel for almost two weeks now. I love it though because we get free breakfast and many of the hotel workers know who I am, know what I like to order, and call me by my name. The service here is wonderful and will be missed when I have to get out.</span></div><br />
In the video above you will find some pictures of this past week. Things from American food, grocery store items, waiting at the bus stops, and even some of my new high rise. Enjoy and I hope you all like it. Let me know if this works for you all. :D<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1M-bUE0bafTcF8UUay10hRwW4WwGRnPDrBzuboKJKm9v-chqHBcDzE02Qjhz-F6i6-6upeN0Pb5ofWZ3mAxrjQfO9XHwiWuiQaCCwB9GyNRQ7FAQBr133VqDwQjDcF53GVolGAVGZUS0/s1600/SAM_1272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1M-bUE0bafTcF8UUay10hRwW4WwGRnPDrBzuboKJKm9v-chqHBcDzE02Qjhz-F6i6-6upeN0Pb5ofWZ3mAxrjQfO9XHwiWuiQaCCwB9GyNRQ7FAQBr133VqDwQjDcF53GVolGAVGZUS0/s320/SAM_1272.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A City view of Abu Dhabi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-55388607092971104502011-08-19T14:42:00.000-07:002011-08-19T14:42:52.921-07:00Is This Really My Life?!I know I haven't posted for a week now, so much has happened too. It has been quite an adventure out here so far with so many wonderful people. I will have to catch you all up sometime very soon...hoping that I can balance those "old" memories with the new ones. For now though I decided to write about the day I had today and hope to start keeping up with this blog daily since *so* much has gone on in a week. Yes, can you believe it? I have been living here in Abu Dhabi already for a week. Here we go for today:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Today was quite a day to say the least. After only having four hours of sleep and surprisingly still making it to our tradition of 9:00am breakfast I had quite an adventure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After breakfast we decided to check out our apartments, which are about about twenty minutes from the hotel we are staying at. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I have learned anything about living here so far is that the cab drivers take a major advantage of you especially if you do not know the city and its ways around. The city does not have very many street names to help you understand or explain where you are going. Imagine that on top of some of the language barriers. Our first cabby took us about an extra five minutes around the town until we reached our destination. So, seeing as how we are no longer living in a country to speak your peace; we had no choice but to pay him the full price. We finally made it to our apartment building which was pleasant. It was hard to get a good clear perspective of them since they are still under construction. I took a few quick glances, but didn’t hold my breath for too long since I had really wanted to wait to see them until they were finished. There was no harm going though. I just decided not to take pictures of the unfinished project. I take it that is why the council has not set us up with a ride to go see our places. Coming back from the hotel our cabby seemed to be much friendlier and I decided to try and make conversation. I found out that he was from Pakistan and has lived here in the Emirates for three years. He tried moving to America, but it sounds like either paperwork or money was why he didn’t make it in. We talked about a variety of subjects and he thought I was from the UK, Australia, or Germany. I finally told him I was an American and he said “Ahh yes, Obama….Hilary Clinton”. He also knew about New York, Chicago, and California. It was interesting to say the least…..oh and the cab ride was six dollars cheaper coming back (since he wasn’t trying to cheat us out of our money).</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqX1hG4U627NhzF0fXSAZh_kXDFqn_DbNEk1mEtpEnoXL3CaUZzyg3SDB-BoBaPq8ELKYaH3K4VObidtZN2nRb49JoLqg3k5lK1_lbm634KpbdkW5UrSSD8GPovSRRY7odPJUXuXoVks0/s1600/SAM_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqX1hG4U627NhzF0fXSAZh_kXDFqn_DbNEk1mEtpEnoXL3CaUZzyg3SDB-BoBaPq8ELKYaH3K4VObidtZN2nRb49JoLqg3k5lK1_lbm634KpbdkW5UrSSD8GPovSRRY7odPJUXuXoVks0/s320/SAM_1204.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Top of A Sand Dune </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After arriving to our hotel we relaxed for a bit in our own rooms. I saw one of my co workers for a tad to make sure we had things ready to go for our evening adventure. Shortly following, I came back to my room and a few more co-workers came over and had some lunch. Before you knew it….it was time to start heading out for our adventure in the desert. </span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvmevjNbDZrX7mihyphenhyphenuBzpU5a-gIn2u2HExz0_BcxvnXsxn36kQ4KqrfzFONwkpYTHF0hHHL8M799yGq72bYM-iTV9lITNhF83Fjy6deJiiA6KrYNCq7aq9XTLTHRXkLuBMvyxHkMHng4/s1600/SAM_1213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvmevjNbDZrX7mihyphenhyphenuBzpU5a-gIn2u2HExz0_BcxvnXsxn36kQ4KqrfzFONwkpYTHF0hHHL8M799yGq72bYM-iTV9lITNhF83Fjy6deJiiA6KrYNCq7aq9XTLTHRXkLuBMvyxHkMHng4/s320/SAM_1213.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Traditional Iftal Meal</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was much anticipation as we all met up in the lobby and finally boarded a shuttle that would eventually take us out to our desert safari excursion. The ride was about an hour long and very lively on the way out to the desert. Many people were laughing and conversations were not scarce. Eventually after much anticipation we made it out to the desert and ride a land rover to our specific destination. There you first rode on a camel which was rather amazing. You are so high in the air while riding a camel. I just felt really bad because the camel I rode on did not want to cooperate and you could tell that it did not enjoy being ridden on by so many people. Following our camel ride we were able to sand surf from the top of a very tall sand dune. I only made it down about an eighth of the way before falling. It was truly a thrill despite the fact that I fell so quickly. I really should have gone back up and tried it another time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh well, maybe a different time. Finally, we got to ride in the Land Rovers and go “sand bashing”. This was by far the best part of the excursion for sure!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must have gone sand bashing for about twenty minutes; with each and every moment an adventure and never a bore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were some parts where you thought that for sure the vehicle was going to flip over and it was going to go tumbling down the dunes. I would have to say that “sand bashing” is for sure something to do for the thrill seekers. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8qz4YoX6hk17amImrDYRLgaSCIVpHbuGF7YWVMqVyhaQqRuBNNM62sobaUkIV4uYpCaL2LRDG8x3mQBT64RMQdwBjDHUVojs-Yl_2tBK-t3aUu-vbBro7io22qUJ_AgNejepG7ECM9Y/s1600/SAM_1209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8qz4YoX6hk17amImrDYRLgaSCIVpHbuGF7YWVMqVyhaQqRuBNNM62sobaUkIV4uYpCaL2LRDG8x3mQBT64RMQdwBjDHUVojs-Yl_2tBK-t3aUu-vbBro7io22qUJ_AgNejepG7ECM9Y/s640/SAM_1209.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dressing Up Was an Activity on the Excursion</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When all the sand “excursion” was done they had a nice place for us to sit down, mingle, do some activities, and eat. The food was what they considered a traditional Iftar meal (the meal breaking the fast for the evening).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was quite delicious and the portion was very generous. Actually there has not been a meal here that I have not enjoyed. Once done they shut off all lights and had us sit in the desert with nothing, but the natural light from the stars. The peace and serenity was unbelievable and had me thinking yet again….”Wow! Is this really my life right now?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also thought about my how amazing it was that I was sitting underneath the stars about to finish my day while my family and friends back home were still working in the middle of their days. This is truly amazing and still mind boggling to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then once the experience was completed we all loaded back on the shuttles and headed back to our hotel. The ambiance of the shuttle was quite different than on our way out there. This time many were sleeping or much quitter. I’m positive our adventure and the sun was the culprit seeing as how it was only 9:00pm and many of us have still not adjusted to the “time change” in our lives.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today was an amazing day and had me excited to have done something that most only get to think to do. I really am still in the “honeymoon” phase of this process and want to take full advantage of it. It really is wonderful to be surrounded by people who are a lot like you and have the same thoughts, wants, and goals. We all for sure were able to cross off something on some kind of “list” we have.</span></div><br />
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</div>Sand Surfing!!!</div>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-46720197218798477732011-08-12T08:27:00.000-07:002011-08-12T08:30:31.812-07:00I'm International Baby<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I finally arrived here in Abu Dhabi around 1:00 am Friday (AD time) 3:00pm (TX time). What a ride it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was quite a plane ride out here. In total I spent 22 hours on a plane and rode three different planes. My first flight was using United Airlines which could have been a real big hassle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was nine pounds total over weight with my bags, so they wanted to charge me $400 dollars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t willing to pay that amount so I decided to take stuff out of my bags and leave it with my mother. Fortunately there was a man named Todd at the check-in counter who saw this and gave me some great tips bout placement and what I should switch in and out between my check in/carry -on luggage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally I had everything arranged where I was able to bring everything I had originally packed in my bag. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On my first flight out from United I was seated with a man named Bernie who shared great conversation with me. We literally talked for the entire three hour flight. He was actually on his way to Belize to go out and teach as well for about fifty days. So we both had traveling abroad to teach in common. Once I reached Washington International Airport I had an hour to find Qatar airlines to check in. Well guess who I ran into at the same airport….Todd. Again he was wonderful; since he travels so much for his job he knew the airport system like the back of his hand. He had me running around the airport in order to check in with Qatar airlines on time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glad he did, because I made it to check in with a few minutes to spare. Definitely thankful for Todd and all the things he did for me to be able to have smooth travels. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTupy5RxrQECLTYO8DsHs_pBU9VRL7L0Us-pf3iAVCvjXQYHl_5zCBvaeFblk4cdvEthj7D6ooOKHoInQun4vOGdXw-7PodCUeclDxFt_IAYkK_I1aFHDeLWeNg4ucTVKC6Smqpaeh0kk/s1600/SAM_1048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTupy5RxrQECLTYO8DsHs_pBU9VRL7L0Us-pf3iAVCvjXQYHl_5zCBvaeFblk4cdvEthj7D6ooOKHoInQun4vOGdXw-7PodCUeclDxFt_IAYkK_I1aFHDeLWeNg4ucTVKC6Smqpaeh0kk/s320/SAM_1048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Seat and its Goodies on Qatar Airlines</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Qatar airline was definitely a new and different experience. Everything was so nice and we were well taken care of. They had pillows, blankets, ear plugs, toothbrushes, head phones, and so much more set up for us as we boarded on the plane. For dinner I had chicken, mashed potatoes, and buttered vegetables with some water and apple crisp for dessert. Snacks in between ranged from complimentary beverages, chips, crackers, and even some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Later breakfast was served with the choice of an omelet or pancakes. It also included fresh fruit, OJ, yogurt, and a bagel. I have never been so spoiled on a plane before. Anything you wanted or needed, they were there to service you right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was also entertainment on a personalized tv in front of you that offered so much to watch and do. I just chose an American show that I love to watch (How I Met Your Mother).</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVlGOsNzQxmn6hSQ4_lVRNL1m6VbyPVv9IeWEDPIV4_sITQbxieuwreBAjc4FvLV79KQSAf_9PEl7wF8BW54lWXMDIwEGoNJEVTx_Bk-FGC7S6IQpCCa5zLKenr5kXvgH_OI8ffjbT8s/s1600/SAM_1055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVlGOsNzQxmn6hSQ4_lVRNL1m6VbyPVv9IeWEDPIV4_sITQbxieuwreBAjc4FvLV79KQSAf_9PEl7wF8BW54lWXMDIwEGoNJEVTx_Bk-FGC7S6IQpCCa5zLKenr5kXvgH_OI8ffjbT8s/s320/SAM_1055.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With My Work Visa and Teacher Badge</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we arrived in Doha, Qatar where I ended up meeting up with some of the other teachers who are also a part of the same program that brought us out here to Abu Dhabi. They were all from America and lived in different parts of the states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked around and explored the airport in Qatar since I had an hour to spare. It was definitely interesting and how quite a bit of duty free shops located inside. Luckily they accepted American dollars, so I could buy some water to help my headache. Flying so high and for so long in the air definitely makes you dehydrated; which in turn you suffer from horrible headaches. That’s because I tried to drink water consistently throughout the flights. We eventually took off from Qatar and were off to Abu Dhabi. This was the shortest plane ride of my entire trip. It was only about an hour long. We had some spicy sandwich and water to drink. The next thing you know….we were in Abu Dhabi.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYR1TC5a4R9lPslLHgSaXrDy0w75ir1cl_cQq-T3jHGwIg8VaDsnMu2PoUtHMwAOB2WZ2y_GvLI6XHEh80xGE-pKAiDzeXTufAmjttufVi2YTyGiHwJrTZ1sBWw-rZBLMF4lbpL8UgmmM/s1600/SAM_1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYR1TC5a4R9lPslLHgSaXrDy0w75ir1cl_cQq-T3jHGwIg8VaDsnMu2PoUtHMwAOB2WZ2y_GvLI6XHEh80xGE-pKAiDzeXTufAmjttufVi2YTyGiHwJrTZ1sBWw-rZBLMF4lbpL8UgmmM/s320/SAM_1061.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting Eye Scan to Leave Airport and Enter Country</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, we had reached our destination (Abu Dhabi). Ahh, it was so nice to have landed to the finally destination after spending a whole day on an airplane. There were people there from our program to meet/greet us with signs. Once we were all gathered they passed out our visas and we were swept off to be let into the country. We took an eye scan and got our passports/visa stamped with an Emirate stamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They proceeded to take us to get out luggage and we had our own individual person who carried/push our luggage around. Next we were off to our bus where I met more people a part of the same program. These people were from London and as ecstatic as we were to finally be in Abu Dhabi. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the shuttle to the hotel we shared teaching stories from different states in the US and around the world. It was very cool to hear everyone’s stories and how things vary/change from place to place. In the end, we have one thing in common: all of us pour our hearts and souls into teaching. </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Lx2tuprU4g8k-CKk7EphsTgLJ9i_10WEg4NHohW79eRJjex7DUy5_Ke5w975EVzN-1UM7_zVNgqlQmTvLzwGmaMjcPry_4L0fldV6AiJk8VUuFia-_TkRrpzDawazfRpYsuiJzzG8oE/s1600/SAM_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Lx2tuprU4g8k-CKk7EphsTgLJ9i_10WEg4NHohW79eRJjex7DUy5_Ke5w975EVzN-1UM7_zVNgqlQmTvLzwGmaMjcPry_4L0fldV6AiJk8VUuFia-_TkRrpzDawazfRpYsuiJzzG8oE/s320/SAM_1066.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Licensed Teachers on Shuttle to the Hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now we are staying at the Intercontinental Hotel here in Abu Dhabi, which is very very nice. They had fresh squeezed juice for us as we entered and our rooms ready to go. So far I am very pleased with my experience and can’t wait to see what more Abu Dhabi has to offer. We have our first orientation on Sunday, so I have one more day to explore the city. Just in case some do not know; we have orientation on Sunday since that is the first day of their work week here in the U.A.E.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fridays are holy days so many people do not work and Saturday is part of their weekend. We also are currently in Ramadan out here so all food places are closed and do not open until sundown. Majority of stores and places are also closed right now due to it being a Friday and Ramadan. Needless to say…this American can’t wait for sundown, so I can eat.</span></div> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKmYHhqn5NY&feature=related">Pay Me- Usher Feat. Miguel</a>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-86585649678028924192011-08-08T11:53:00.000-07:002011-08-08T16:57:15.344-07:00My Golden Ticket Has ArrivedSo it is now official....I take off to Abu Dhabi on August 10th (this Wednesday). I actually found out this Saturday afternoon, but have been so busy with my "Going Away" events. I have to say that things worked out perfectly as far as how this was my last weekend and we had all of our events done this past weekend. It started out with my really good friend Lynisa coming into town on Thursday. I was excited the whole day and had so much anticipation for her arrival. She arrived at the airport Thursday evening and we had quite the adventure from the moment I picked her up. When we were waiting for her bags at the carousels we found hers. It was easy to distinguish for the fact that her bag was open and her clothes were all over the carousel going round and round. Cricky!!!We both were laughing so hard that we were in tears and others had to help us grab her clothes. It was just too much for us to handle through all of our tears of laughter. Thank goodness there wasn't anything embarrassing being shown. It was unfortunate for my friend, but we both could laugh about it all weekend. This was pretty much how our weekend went. It was full of laughter and tears from laughter. We met so many new people and made great memories with our "old" friends as well. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUPvVO4SIXi-4FuWn9cJPNm-ERa_0vHVwgu9A_worS2o4y5F8pxWvNG4UYOOS6LAiB2gUZf38bGXo7n4Z2Uo7eaXTCRAkR4UgJMG__3i_ZbiVP8egek8m7ucv7MV_rvVzhz97tFIl_1g/s1600/SAM_1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUPvVO4SIXi-4FuWn9cJPNm-ERa_0vHVwgu9A_worS2o4y5F8pxWvNG4UYOOS6LAiB2gUZf38bGXo7n4Z2Uo7eaXTCRAkR4UgJMG__3i_ZbiVP8egek8m7ucv7MV_rvVzhz97tFIl_1g/s320/SAM_1027.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@ the boat party :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> On Saturday is the day we had the boat party. It really was an amazing time and I am so thankful for everyone who went out and made it fun. The weather was awesome and the company was even better. I really hope that everyone else who made it out enjoyed themselves as much as I did. It was a great way to spend my Saturday. Being out there on the water with great company really gave me the opportunity to enjoy my time here in America one last time before I leave. There was a time on the boat where I found myself alone thinking about my life and the direction its going in. Looking around, seeing all the other boats full of people enjoying themselves and seeing the boat I'm in full of people with smiles and spilling with laughter made me thankful for my life. These images will forever be in my head when I think back of my life in America. I'm thankful for the time I had this past weekend; it really was a great way to spend my last weekend in America.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo_kKnSEYlSAg52vfXA-k-YHld-HLYrddhkREB-HTSCK96Ij7F4Y0MP0TSwezeay89XIDZYa2UbRlhL-5w-NIU6pR7HgqhbUKVzhrkopoWkMCgLDVXatuhtGUIulifJmMEKs7P6g1ZRo/s1600/SAM_1029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo_kKnSEYlSAg52vfXA-k-YHld-HLYrddhkREB-HTSCK96Ij7F4Y0MP0TSwezeay89XIDZYa2UbRlhL-5w-NIU6pR7HgqhbUKVzhrkopoWkMCgLDVXatuhtGUIulifJmMEKs7P6g1ZRo/s320/SAM_1029.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun with Friends!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> On the flip side, once everyone was gone...reality hit me in the face. Once my friends started leaving I realized that this would be many of goodbyes with people I love here. The biggest hit yet is Romo. On Sunday my friend Lisa; who will be watching him, was visiting and asking questions about him. Which pleases me, knowing that she wants to take care of him the same way that I do. Going through his things and showing her his needs and wants, had me choked up. That was my first true time that I broke down in tears. After this the day continued full of tears and realization that I am going to either have to live a few months or the next two years without my best friend in life. It may sound silly to those who don't know the bond an owner and a dog have, but I know that Romo knows. He has continued to be clingy and won't let me out of his sight. Friday when my friend Lynisa and I were leaving to go out; Romo ran out and hid underneath the car. I thought if he was out in the heat for a while he would come back if I left him be. Fifteen minutes later he still hadn't. I then tried to entice him with his favorite treats (Pupperoni) even with that he wouldn't budge. I decided I would just reach for him underneath the car and grab him. Romo would see me approach and squeeze himself into another crevice of the car underneath where he couldn't be reached. Finally I had to shimmy my way underneath the car to grab him. Romo didn't want me to leave. Even as I blog about this Romo is by my side with his head laying on my feet. I wish he could talk to me so we could share our feelings and make things better for one another. He's starting to mope around next to me and you can see in his eyes that he knows our last days together for awhile are approaching. I never thought it was easy but, never knew it would be this hard. My Mother has been doing a great job though of trying to keep his mind off things and play with him while I am packing up and running around getting last minute things together. <br />
So I must say that receiving the plane tickets are bittersweet. I'm glad that I finally know when the new chapter of my life begins, yet sad that I know when this one will be closed for a while. I find myself stretched very thin trying to call everyone, hangout with family and friends, and pack all within the next two and a half days. I don't think I will be sleeping much the next few days and will have to sleep on the plane. I will have plenty of time to do that since I won't arrive in Abu Dhabi until Thursday. I leave Austin at five o'clock and fly to Washington for four hours. Then I have a hour layover in Washington and fly out to Doha. I will be on my flight to Qatar overnight and will arrive there on Thursday. I have a few hours in Qatar and fly off to Abu Dhabi. Finally on Thursday I should arrive to Abu Dhabi around 11:00p.m. Abu Dhabi time (7:00 a.m. Thursday Texas time). I will have quite a flight to look forward to the next couple of days. Hoping that all goes well (Inshallah!)<br />
Now it's time to buckle down and pack for the next two years of my life, pretty easy huh?! Wish me luck :) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhTweJ3mDKs&feature=related">Like My Dog- Billy Currington</a>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-58828314993496625362011-08-04T13:03:00.000-07:002011-08-04T13:03:38.093-07:00So...When Are You Leaving?The million dollar question right now....So when are you leaving?<br />
This past week has found me playing the waiting game. For a few days I had found myself constantly checking who was getting their flight tickets and then immediately rushing to my inbox to see if mine was there. What worried me the most was hearing that some people could have delays on their tickets and work visas due to lack of paperwork and security clearance on behalf of the U.A.E. Me just being myself, I thought the worst and figured some paperwork had been my hold back. Everyday at least two-three people have asked me when I am leaving. My only response is that I don't know and I'm still waiting on my ticket.<br />
I did get some relief on Tuesday when I got my work visa from the Emirates. It was great knowing that I'm ticket less due to them having to process so many tickets and not because there is some kind of hold up on my behalf. So, today I still wait for a ticket and an itinerary to be sent my way. Some of the other fellow Licensed Teachers (LTs) have landed in Abu Dhabi today from their flights out yesterday. They arrived around 11:00 am our time and 8:00pm Abu Dhabi time. I can feel it getting closer. Just seeing my work visa and confirming that everything was correct on it made me put a pep in my step. <br />
I pretty much have most things squared away: my car has a place to stay, insurance for my car is taken care of, important documents scanned, extra passport photos, cell phone cancelled without a fee, appropriate clothing bought, communication resources taken care of, and Romo has a place to stay.....for a while....???<br />
Most people know that Romo got sick very recently and had to receive emergency care. This changed my perspective on how Romo and I would spend the next two years of our lives. Together...or not?! I initially thought that it didn't seem feasible to take my dog with me half way across the world and put him through all that traveling simply because he truly is my best friend and I want him around. After his incident in emergency care my train of thought completely changed. I feel as if Romo needs me as much as I need him. Anyone who's an owner to any type of animal knows the connection you build with them. Romo and I have been a part of each other's life going on four years now. That is really a long time and a lot of commitment to each other. Romo has been there through some of the toughest times of my life; lapping up my tears. He's also been a part of the happiest times as well. The bond I have with him is far beyond explanation. When he's sick I am essentially his "Mom"and take care of him and provide him with the things he needs.<br />
So, it's not as if Romo is going away to some random family, but he will be staying with one of my friends. As much as others love Romo around me, not many were keen on letting Romo stay with them while I was gone. Which is a point proven to me. The bonds they share with Romo is a different one than what Romo and I have. So if there is ever another emergency situation I don't want someone to doubt what to do. Pay whatever the amount is....I'll find any way to care care of my pup. Plus he's not someone else's responsibility. I decided I wanted a dog not someone else. So for now he will stay with a good friend of mine and her dog Bolt. This makes for a great situation seeing as how Bolt and Romo get along well and they will have another to hang out with during the day while my friend is at work. I've started working on getting Romo set with all of his requirements so when the time come he can be sent out to the U.A.E. as well. The last thing for him will to make sure to try and find a dog friendly accommodation for him to come join me. We shall see what cards I am dealt while I'm out there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhmQPGmxT9pnJd_-IuE1Zt5s7xX2tmS4cI0ysOCImaUwqJOU6q4K2fiLEVrQPP-hR9ifXe78mZS2ghcAOi46m0yueoLjj7HZwRQhnhw7qtmIW5HqL7U9VAfwArNmJOzMwG_rGJMwM_A4/s1600/SAM_0969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhmQPGmxT9pnJd_-IuE1Zt5s7xX2tmS4cI0ysOCImaUwqJOU6q4K2fiLEVrQPP-hR9ifXe78mZS2ghcAOi46m0yueoLjj7HZwRQhnhw7qtmIW5HqL7U9VAfwArNmJOzMwG_rGJMwM_A4/s320/SAM_0969.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobby Bones Show!!! Name That Tune </td></tr>
</tbody></table> Since all other things are taken care of (besides my packing), I have still been taking advantage of getting out and enjoying things here in Austin. Recently I participated with some of my friends in the Name That Tune contest for the Bobby Bones Show. They are a really big morning show here in Austin and are syndicated in other areas of Texas and the country. That's my name drop for them, just because I find myself listening every morning and laughing with these people on the radio. I also went to this free summer concert here that Austin has called Blues on the Green. I loved sitting on the grass and feeling the fresh air of a Summer night. I've also have just sat many times outdoors and thought about somethings I take for granted hear that I will not have or see much of while out there. One thing is the rain....I know we're in a drought here in Texas, but when it did rain a week ago I had to film it. The sound and smell of rain is so soothing to me. We may have not had much here recently, but living in a desert...there really won't be that much rain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzX7k0P1A4JNwFVFz_EBpw1MnGip721Z9ij7LHWrqmRnXe0tb7SSFHP1GKgAO62n578W47yC9S1HpjCtSge1UnTA7kBNi52k07nPG6rPCISPy9goS55RCqKzPnizpzoTPR35K7Ht2BpI/s1600/SAM_1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzX7k0P1A4JNwFVFz_EBpw1MnGip721Z9ij7LHWrqmRnXe0tb7SSFHP1GKgAO62n578W47yC9S1HpjCtSge1UnTA7kBNi52k07nPG6rPCISPy9goS55RCqKzPnizpzoTPR35K7Ht2BpI/s400/SAM_1016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blues on The Green <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Today one of my really good friends comes into town for my "official" going away celebration. While she's in town I plan on enjoying my time with friends who I won't get to see for at least the next two years in my life. So much can change in two years, so I hope to take advantage of what's in front of me today. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwu-vKdLA-SA3-hnbqBD12NW6TwBd2CxvA-s0VEa3lHt5Vm20_Pp2NnAwNn_g8W8QW4UsmrIfBJ8rYqVHDV8Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>< Sitting outside and watching the rain. May be my last for a while.</div>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-8608673589226692682011-07-25T23:30:00.000-07:002011-07-25T23:50:02.344-07:00Oh Nothing's Sweeter Than Summer Time and American HoneyMaybe the title of this blog can help explain why I have not blogged in over a month. Nothing has been sweeter than the summer time here in America. Grant it I have never experienced a full summer in any other country, but a year from today it will be the case. I am trying to absorb as much of my "American life" as possible. My thoughts on things have changed so much. I don't just think about life here. I think about my life here and how my life will change living out in the U.A.E. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJDwRZLiY9G-Vlmn9eZQLcUj34fyY6bgOM2SVhYXJQIax4jhaU9QyNr9uCUJ5M8U2tkkFMyThHmDIBQ0NNdJ6fWE_KSeX1kTv47kuyDEzLLKvQ9hfY6v5maUIrmtaQyf4s89nUHNeAeI/s1600/SAM_0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJDwRZLiY9G-Vlmn9eZQLcUj34fyY6bgOM2SVhYXJQIax4jhaU9QyNr9uCUJ5M8U2tkkFMyThHmDIBQ0NNdJ6fWE_KSeX1kTv47kuyDEzLLKvQ9hfY6v5maUIrmtaQyf4s89nUHNeAeI/s200/SAM_0823.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Peach Buell Bell Ice Cream </td></tr>
</tbody></table> One thing that comes to my mind immediately that I have not blogged about is Fourth of July. America's Independence Day. Seeing as how that is an American holiday, this past one of 2011 will have to hold me up for the next two years. This year though I didn't just see it as another time to celebrate with fireworks at night. Actually due to the drought there were no fireworks in the locations I was at. I spent the whole day thinking how much I love being an American and how grateful I am for those soldiers who are out there fighting for the freedom I have today. Realizing how much I have taken these things for granted the past 26 years of my life. For my Independence Day I spent it relaxing without much with an agenda. I had an awesome dinner and great conversation with a lot of laughter. I couldn't have thought of any other way I'd like to have spent my day. We had a great American dinner of hamburgers and peach Buell Bell ice cream ( I think that this is more Texas). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_b2EobBApyquhyphenhyphenTLuofTRDn2UZrIAfl0NCAEt3tvzFkXKn0AEewJFh6BdnMPOOvgu81XPvVIQudWvXh9OY_1OyoIZ78i34PSW1DvbLvWma0xzCKlAej2bTdZVt1GmaBTJxfSpdLH3nY/s1600/SAM_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_b2EobBApyquhyphenhyphenTLuofTRDn2UZrIAfl0NCAEt3tvzFkXKn0AEewJFh6BdnMPOOvgu81XPvVIQudWvXh9OY_1OyoIZ78i34PSW1DvbLvWma0xzCKlAej2bTdZVt1GmaBTJxfSpdLH3nY/s200/SAM_0806.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud to be an American</td></tr>
</tbody></table> So going into July I spent about a week in Houston checking out some things that it had to offer. I had quite a bit of fun while I was there and very grateful that I did it. I may not have traveled as much this summer as I usually do (due to expenses), but it was a nice get away from "my reality". One thing that I also realized as I drove to the East side of Texas is how much I will miss trees. There are trees every where here in the hill country but, they are huge going to the East side of Texas. It's so breath taking. I will miss the greenery of Texas and hope to enjoy the desert on the other side of the world.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczUaHPub9SsTn9m6CUXO-NWHftF_Tz8KVZVKpuchymtzngdoU4JioQuGPYB9oJL6_F0OuHT8mR_Ds8Qy4nyqE57D2w_IT5kDAABoMcCwkhVDSsyTond8aPkx_HqVSE_z2-7E-f2wAWs0/s1600/SAM_0818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczUaHPub9SsTn9m6CUXO-NWHftF_Tz8KVZVKpuchymtzngdoU4JioQuGPYB9oJL6_F0OuHT8mR_Ds8Qy4nyqE57D2w_IT5kDAABoMcCwkhVDSsyTond8aPkx_HqVSE_z2-7E-f2wAWs0/s200/SAM_0818.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving to East Texas</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Off my list of accomplishments for the summer; I was able to complete " Going to the Lake". I didn't care which lake. Austin, Houston, Dallas....I just wanted to go to a lake. I have not seen on a map or have I heard of any lakes out in the Middle East. Beaches yes, but not lakes. I was invited to spend a day at Lake Austin on a Saturday. What a wonderful day to spend my Saturday. Nothing to do except feel the wind breeze through my hair and feel the cool water on my skin. It was so refreshing and wonderful to get to go out and spend a day on the lake. I'm not sure that even if there were lakes out in the U.A.E that it would be spent the same way that "Americans" spend their days out on the lake. Hanging out on a boat, swimming, skiing, wake boarding, and various other activities. There's a possibility that I am wrong on this. It's the unknown right now, but will become my life within the next few weeks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9gkG601zm8GdO10GBDQV6pJ9d75ZA9sZK2DcPLXCzpAwRQ3KtzLKwqsRiwzMmGs7VR5YYt23VRpWOEHm5o8bQSKDV2U9u7znvK7q46rzU4Uh0dJnaU03Aa2_gfnmdbus5mYtdltaxiI/s1600/SAM_0956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9gkG601zm8GdO10GBDQV6pJ9d75ZA9sZK2DcPLXCzpAwRQ3KtzLKwqsRiwzMmGs7VR5YYt23VRpWOEHm5o8bQSKDV2U9u7znvK7q46rzU4Uh0dJnaU03Aa2_gfnmdbus5mYtdltaxiI/s200/SAM_0956.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Austin on a Saturday</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Another event that I think was a huge one for me was watching on T.V. the Shuttle Atlantis fly off into space for the very last time in history. Coming back to the United States in the next two years; NASA's programs will no longer be the same. I'm a nerd and love the whole NASA program. Maybe if I wouldn't have missed my field trip in fifth grade to NASA I could possibly be an astronaut today. I love being a teacher and wouldn't change it for the world, but the possibilities are endless and you just never know.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlperkKTpc98MN7Fm3SCfRIGxQypuRY_q73JH-NrAA_FY3_fEpIdhI5fCJJbtEy4voI4kyi9HHQMBYyvMGSKaNVn5Vz79NdDEG9Y53-fvfHZMbgH8d9YpktBkKLrTQrECIkktYaldlow/s1600/SAM_0992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlperkKTpc98MN7Fm3SCfRIGxQypuRY_q73JH-NrAA_FY3_fEpIdhI5fCJJbtEy4voI4kyi9HHQMBYyvMGSKaNVn5Vz79NdDEG9Y53-fvfHZMbgH8d9YpktBkKLrTQrECIkktYaldlow/s200/SAM_0992.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Emirate Stamps</td></tr>
</tbody></table> During this time of not blogging I have even made some more updates with getting my self set up to move out into the U.A.E. My documents finally came back from Washington. They are actually very cool. Hilary Clinton signed them "officially". No stamp with a pad....it's a real signature that she had to do. She had to confirm my documents herself and sign her name at the bottom to verify. The documents also have the U.A.E. stamp which I also find to be very intriguing. It makes the process seem more real. The stamps let me know that this is my life and pretty soon its going to happen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RLYsYtPAVT1GJAVLhezfHoB9nDtULLCc2JL0gxDYCY6osFQLLrShbp7ULHB2LLpzS2zGLcQ2lU8blPX0eU66eMcBSZMOnPAHT5dIAYjM69S_5P0qhbOuqburxOvBkbz0l1Nfo5gp0aw/s1600/SAM_0993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RLYsYtPAVT1GJAVLhezfHoB9nDtULLCc2JL0gxDYCY6osFQLLrShbp7ULHB2LLpzS2zGLcQ2lU8blPX0eU66eMcBSZMOnPAHT5dIAYjM69S_5P0qhbOuqburxOvBkbz0l1Nfo5gp0aw/s200/SAM_0993.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Documents from Washington</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Speaking of that, they are already quite a few people who have received their "golden ticket"(flights to the Emirates). They are already flying out as soon as next week on August 3rd. Then you have the rest of us who are patiently waiting for our "golden ticket". They say that we may not know even until the day before we flight out when we will leave the states. I am hoping for more notification than that, but have already started packing my clothes into my duffle bags just in case. I'm also trying to make sure that I am sqaured away with all technology and different ways that I hope to communicate with family and friends. I have also practiced Skpye and I love it. It's a wonderful feature for families who live far away. I should have had Skype for many years now....I don't know why I didn't. It's too much fun and too simple to use to have not had it all this time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOOOBKqS6Y-3hfBlVgonauefSGWnXkNgt-DUMFRvJ414CA67Y4gOnfZT7i3xrJG6NcoS9G3wohNQx3cI1w6-X4CnnJ9D1_2oV8OA6sFlyeYFNLulAIa8t00I4veuafPh2HKnMn2p-W-k/s1600/SAM_0934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOOOBKqS6Y-3hfBlVgonauefSGWnXkNgt-DUMFRvJ414CA67Y4gOnfZT7i3xrJG6NcoS9G3wohNQx3cI1w6-X4CnnJ9D1_2oV8OA6sFlyeYFNLulAIa8t00I4veuafPh2HKnMn2p-W-k/s200/SAM_0934.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funeral</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I have to admit though, that this Summer has not all been a walk through the park. It's had it's struggles and questions. Loss of friendships, deaths,loss of jobs/income, and illnesses. The Summer has also been quite a struggle and assume that I am being prepared for the tough road to come in my future. Moving to a new country will also not be a walk in the park much like my Summer. Maybe since I have been able to make it through these summer struggles, then I can fight through the tough months in a new country. I am doing my best to prepare for the road ahead, but nothing really prepares you like experience does. I am grateful for all these struggles that I have been a part of because they have all made me stronger, wiser, and not to take life for granted.<br />
So needless to say so much has happened in a month and I know that there was more I had wanted to put into this blog. I'm going to get better at my blog updates. There's just to much happening right now to not blog. <br />
Thank you all so much for reading my blog as well. I have discovered many people who read my blog. Please feel free to read and even share with loved ones. I hope that everyone will get a better understanding of what I am going through by reading this blog. Also, leave a comment so I know you have visited if you'd like and feel free to ask questions. My hope is to be able to answer them whether now or even in the next few months.<br />
"Couldn't wait to get going, but wasn't ready to leave.....American honey"<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzzr7RbzUTs&ob=av2e">Lady Antebellum-American Honey</a>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-20178243663132048442011-06-21T09:48:00.000-07:002011-06-21T09:53:07.540-07:00Baby You're A Firework...Come On Show Them What You're Worth!!! Ignite the light and let it shine...ohh how I feel as if I am working on doing this everyday. Wow, I have been so busy while being back here for the past two weeks. My first Monday on June 6th, I woke up as I normally would have for a work day and started my day. I drove to downtown Austin and got my documents authenticated by the State Secretary. Nothing to special about that. I found the office, showed them my papers, had them "authenticated", paid my money, and out the door I went. The total time I spent at the state secretary's office must have only been about twenty minutes at most. I really had thought that this was going to be hours and see lines filled with people waiting...I was wrong, but sure glad I was :) <br />
Immediately following, I drove 30 minutes south to San Marcos. Ahhh,what a great feeling to see my old university and was flattered when the man at the booth asked if I was a current student. Of course I proudly stated, "No sir, I am an alumna." Continued on my way to get the letter needed from the university to show that it's and accredited university. That too was a good experience. I was unsure of where exactly I needed to find the "office" that wrote those types of letters. It's not everyday that someone questions their university's accreditation. We just take for granted that our degrees are suffice. Luckily everyone at Texas State was so friendly and they guided me into the right direction. Got the letter I needed free of charge and was on my way out the door to enjoy the beautiful Sam Marcos scenery.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPhDjDLMbm-lolHhQkQR-4-_8BkJGj0C5kXHRjjXz9zVSmmvBDe9UZTIzsmKfOXHyyunpFkzDT3ZFFTUaw-srctaA8FbhvtsI9a8poDrsyF1fpW6MPxRgralWIbPy7cr57jsJ-NQhgrI/s1600/SAM_0753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPhDjDLMbm-lolHhQkQR-4-_8BkJGj0C5kXHRjjXz9zVSmmvBDe9UZTIzsmKfOXHyyunpFkzDT3ZFFTUaw-srctaA8FbhvtsI9a8poDrsyF1fpW6MPxRgralWIbPy7cr57jsJ-NQhgrI/s320/SAM_0753.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girl's Night Dinner</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Now that I completed that process, I knew I had some time to breathe for a bit. I spent the next couple of hours and days hanging out with friends and enjoying my time with family. We went to the pool since I won't get to wear the same type of swim gear out in the U.A.E and spent some quality girl time there. I have also gone to friend's soccer tournaments, spent time with one of my best friends and her two year old daughter, had "family dinners", girl's nights out, Sunday Fundays and even running on Town Lake. Pretty much just trying to squeeze in as much friend/ family time as possible and do things that I will miss out on for the next two years of my life. It's incredible how much things change in such a short amount of time. I can only imagine how much my life here in the states will change after the two years in the U.A.E pass. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtw0tqiAwRkGmIBBil4BWB6bzX4PWXgozGzXG_fVnX6TlOy35YZfdfI0UPCnsKuLFaxKMtfPAfkyqLkl0EX2gldhqxRi5cxhUzgXmeZ7QQXMPWM62XZU4F6aINdq6nc-9e7r-864xQDh0/s1600/SAM_0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtw0tqiAwRkGmIBBil4BWB6bzX4PWXgozGzXG_fVnX6TlOy35YZfdfI0UPCnsKuLFaxKMtfPAfkyqLkl0EX2gldhqxRi5cxhUzgXmeZ7QQXMPWM62XZU4F6aINdq6nc-9e7r-864xQDh0/s320/SAM_0800.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Run on Town Lake :D</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> Even in my two weeks here in Austin, things have changed so quickly. Some have been days to the next, hours, and even within minutes. Amazing how life works. Everything happens for a reason; God has things in his plan that he wants for us and I strongly believe that. I feel blessed with everything that I have and that have stayed positive or have looked for the positive even in difficult situations. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> After having too much fun, I had a wake up call last week from my represenative asking me if I had recieved my passport yet. I informed her that I hadn't and she told me that if we didn't have it in by Thursday we were going to have some trouble. Thank goodness that it came in the mail the following day and I had it scaned and sent over to her. She confirmed the receipt of my passport through e-mail. Another task down! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> I started to realized I was having too much fun and started working on getting my documents sent out to Washington. Wow....it was almost three hundred dollars to get all of this done and all I can do now is play the waiting game. I am hoping that I sent out the right amount of money and all the right documents, but not quite sure. Connecting with others who are doing this process as well has made me fearful that I haven't since everyone did things different from one another. Guess we will just have to wait and see. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> Now my time is spent waiting to get back my documents from Washington (completed hopefully), looking for clothes suitable for the weather and culture in the U.A.E, electronic devices compatible to stay connected with everyone in the states, and looking for an e-mail or recieving a phone call stating what cycle I will be teaching and the week I leave the states. These are things that I can't wait to find out so I will have more of an idea of what to take with me. My time has also been spent reading up on their countries education reform "handbook".</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> Talking to so many people about how things have worked out in my life which have lead me to where I am today really does make me feel like a firework. There's a spark in me that I have ignited and am letting it shine on everyone!!! My colors are bursting and I hope they burst even more out in the U.A.E :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw">Firework-Katy Perry</a></div>Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-77882755860648180622011-06-05T15:31:00.000-07:002011-06-05T15:39:47.073-07:00The Dance I have officially moved back to Austin. I packed up everything in my apartment Friday and spent one last night there remembering all the memories I had in the past three years there. Saturday all I did was say goodbye to my family and drove off. Sounds easier than what it really was. It was tough packing and getting everything in. I'm exhausted and bruised like a banana. It was *even tougher* saying goodbye to my family. It's so hard to have a split family and on top of that have them live in seperate cities. I always miss out on someone's big event or a sibiling growing up. It's tough, but the life that God has chosen for me. I suppose to make me stronger and wiser. At least I am blessed enough to have family and friends in both cities that love me. I would say the hardest thing was seeing my down break down and cry. I can't say that I have ever seen my dad with tears in his eyes. He's the toughest and most stern man I have ever known......but he did. He cried when I left and was choked up. Sorry Dad to put this out there, but everyone knows the love a man has for his children. I felt guilty as I drove away and watched my Dad in the rearview mirror. Was I leaving too soon? Was I making the right choice for my life? I will never know those answers, but must continue to move on. I felt the love from my step-mom and sister too. My Step-Mom gave me a great gift... a laptop to take with me out to the U.A.E which is *perfect*!!! Now I'm one step closer to skyping. I told her she had to make sure she gets my dad to skype as well :)<br />
So, after my heartbreak and a five hour drive, I am here. I'm taking a break from all of this unpacking. I am so exhausted and have the look of death upon me :P I hope to finish today so that way I can continue working on my document authentication. Since I'm living back in the big city I'm hoping to have this process go a little quicker. I plan to get my Secretary of State Foreign stamp tomorrow and then shoot for sending out my documents to the US Department of State. Once I send the documents out to Washington, it is going to take at least four to six weeks to get them back. So I have to start working on this process *now*. <br />
All in time I hope this will fall into place and I can hopefully get a few weeks to relax before I leave the USA. I am going to do the most I can this summer to enjoy my American life. Just simple things like going to the movies or hanging out with friends at the park. I'm not saying that I can't do this out in the U.A.E. I'm just not sure of it.....it's still the unknown. I do know that my dress will be different so I want to enjoy getting to wear shorts while it's still socially acceptable. Hopefully tomorrow will go as planned. I'm feeling positive about all of this right now!Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-8694090087799300272011-05-30T19:48:00.000-07:002011-05-30T19:48:42.788-07:00I'm Finally Feeling Human....Ahhh!So, I had been doing a wonderful job the past three months of composing myself and keeping it all together. Well now after all this time..it's hitting....stress has arrived. Could it be due to the fact that I am scheduled to move in five days?!? I'm thinking yes! I have done most of my packing in both the classroom and apartment, but still wonder if I will have it all completed in time. Haha so why am I ever posting on this blog? I guess this is my way of letting out the stress.<br />
On top of all of this I am stressed out about getting all my documents notarized, then sent out, received, and then sent back out...(takes a deep breath) all in time. I'm doing my best to take it a day at a time, but seem to be focusing more on the move right now. I figure once I move to Austin I can then start worrying again about getting all my documents authenticated. Then I think " No, there's no time to waste!"<br />
See getting all my documents done an turned in on time plays a crucial role as to whether or not I will have the job. I mean the contract is signed and what not, but I have quickly learned that in order to work in "a whole new world" (Jasmine and Aladdin reference :P) you really have to have *a lot* of documentation done to prove that you are really a professional at what you do. In the long run it makes total sense, but right now is a total pain! I can't wait for this move to be over. That way a hundred and fifty percent of my focus can go on this new job. There is a million and one things to think about, to buy, to research, over all to get done before my departure date in August.<br />
It's also rough trying to balance my last few days of packing with the last moments to spend with people who love and care about me, as reciprocated. I work with so many people and feel blessed for the bonds that we have made together in the past three years. It's been my first job as a professional and have met so many wonderful people through this experience. I just hope that everyone who I have met here knows how much they have touched my life and how they have *all* made me feel so welcomed. I know that these friendships will be long lasting. My move will be a very bittersweet ending. I trust that everyone knows I'm doing my best to manage my time and am hoping to spend some time with each and everyone of you before I leave. We have only five more days...let's get moving!!!<br />
So... yeah all in all I have a lot on my plate with packing, moving and still trying to manage getting all my documents done in time for an opportunity of a lifetime. Ahh stressed, but it will only make me stronger :DCupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926708804032916731.post-26121781017861289502011-05-25T19:19:00.000-07:002011-05-25T19:19:44.947-07:00Starting a New AdventureWow! It's amazing how life can change from a year to the next, a month to the next, and in my case from a day to the next. So many things have led me to this journey I am about to go on. All perfectly planned by someone above who loves me. I never would have dreamed that my dreams could actually come true. I'm going to get to live my life like I was dying (reference to Tim McGraw song).<br />
For those of you who are still unaware, because I have been so crazy busy to make the time to tell all the people I know and love.....I'm moving in two months to Abu Dhabi or more like that United Arab Emirates. This is out in the Middle East and many many many hours away from the people I know and love. I stumbled upon this opportunity only after making a life changing decision alone to resign from my current teaching position. This is a job that I love with all my heart. I prayed and prayed not sure if I resigning was going to be doing the right thing for myself. It was either security or "fulfillment" of happiness. After many restless nights and hours of praying I decided to resign and leave the position for someone who was loosing theirs and wanted to spend the rest of their lives in my current city.<br />
I went through a month of grueling applications for all sorts of jobs from teaching to being taught to follow specific directions. No one was hiring me, I questioned whether I done the right thing for myself. I had many dreams of all the unthinkable and horrible that could happen to me while being jobless. Some of it had even come true within those weeks. My spending was back like how it use to be when I was in college, saving every dime and cutting all corners for the fact that my income would soon come to an end. One day while taking a break from packing I saw the Houston cable news and a lady taking about how she was going to move to Abu Dhabi to teach. I became intrigued seeing as how my options were open for *anything* at this point of my life. As soon as I heard that I could take my dog Romo, I was sold! I quickly checked things out and began to apply. Then...I chickened out, I didn't know if I could do it. Was I equipped to move so far away? Could I leave all the ones I loved behind? Would they even say "yes"? So with all these questions in mind I didn't apply. I left it knowing I had some days to think about it until I really needed to apply. After discussing this with many co-workers they all gave me the extra push I needed and helped me confirm that this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity and on top of it all *now is the time!* I'm single...so why not?!<br />
After getting my last and final push I decided to apply, next day received a second application, days later a phone interview, few days later an in person interview, and here I am now with an application ready to sign and just ending a webinar on this whole process and the final things I need to do in order to make sure that this is all completed. My life has changed so quickly in less than a month. I look back at my life from a year or two ago and see how far I've really come.<br />
I have at least until sometime early August until I head out, but I wanted to start this documentation of my life. Since I've found out the good news many have had questions for me. Some I can answer now and some are yet to be answered. I hope through this many will follow and get to share this unique experience with me. Yes, I'm scared of the unknown, yet so excited of my life yet to come.<br />
I don't think many believed me when I had discussed taking this adventure with my family and friends. Now some are upset with me and we have not spoken. I hope this will help reach out to those as well. Yes, I know I will be far away for a few years, but I'm here now. Let's spend these next few months we have together before I leave. I've always been a little girl with big dreams...and now I'm chasing them! I hope you enjoy this adventure right along with me.Cupcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13143254587968859870noreply@blogger.com5