Coming Back "Home"

February 20, 2011

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.

                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.  In truth I enjoyed the one on one times. I learned much about them and will cherish those moments.  Actually, there are still birthday dinners waiting in the midst….so pleased and excited!

                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.  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.  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  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.

With the Tiger Woods cut out

                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.  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.  Hope everyone is doing well. Miss you and love you all!!!

Tiger and Rory walking to the next hole