What comes next?

It’s Term 3 here in the Abu Dhabi public school system.  In about 8 weeks Ramadan will begin, the work day will be shortened, the students will stop coming to school, and the year will end uneventfully.

Being the anxiety ridden gal that I am, I have worked very hard (and am STILL trying everyday) to live in the moment; to embrace life as it comes at me, to take challenges and opportunities, and to not fret about what will be.  Coming from a teaching job in the states where it’s high stress, ultra intense, and immense pressure all the time, I believe moving to Abu Dhabi saved me from devoting my life to heart palpitations, alcoholism, and prescription anti-anxiety meds.

Sure, there are days here that make me want to rip my hair out.  There are days where I am so profoundly confused at the system, but I feel comfort knowing that almost everyone I teach with feels the same way, and most administrators do too.  Everything is changing here daily.  No one knows what the heck is going on and that’s okay.  If I have learned anything while being here it’s that I don’t have any control over a lot of things, and I don’t have to understand everything…and that’s okay.  Everyone here is so “go with the flow.”  Yes, there are aspects of teaching here that make me feel restricted, but I definitely feel more freedom and creativity to teach the way I know and feel is best for my students here.  I don’t feel as bogged down by ridiculous mandates and absurd testing ideologies. I am learning to just let it go, do my very best, and be happy with that.

However, sometimes when I look off my balcony at night at stare at the lights flickering from the buildings surrounding my desert neighborhood I sometimes feel afraid of what’s to come.  Ben and I don’t plan on leaving the U.A.E. anytime soon.  The money is good, the leisure activities are plentiful, the people are unique and amazing, the opportunity to travel is open and waiting for us, and right now we really love it here.  However, all good things eventually have to come to an end and I wonder what I will do when I move back.  Will I pick up teaching where I left off?  Will I even want to teach?  What will teaching be like in the U.S. in 2 or 3 years upon my arrival?

Everyone I know hates it.  Well, they don’t hate teaching, they despise the system.  They see what it’s doing to kids, to families, & to good educators.  I know some very talented, amazingly effective, and creative teachers who are bowing out.  Some aren’t even sure what they will do, but they know they won’t make it another year in the classroom without visiting a psychologist to help them cope with the stressful demands of a thankless job, and it’s not worth the meager yearly income to waste a short life that way.   I started to feel that way before I left almost 2 years ago, and today while thinking about what it would be like to go home, I felt that way again.

I love teaching.  I love children.  There’s this feeling I get deep inside when I see them read a word independently for the first time, or discover something new, or bring in something from home that connects with what we’re learning just to show me.  When I have students accomplish goals, rise above circumstances, and get excited about learning I light up inside.  I can’t imagine not having that everyday.

I guess tonight is an example of how I’m still trying to live in the present.  While meditating today I had to keep reminding myself that all that matters and all I can control is the moment I’m in.  It definitely takes some practice. I do know that life is way too short to spend it worrying about what’s to come.  For now I will relish the fact that we are happy, healthy, and have everything we need right here.

Counting Blessings

It’s been a couple of weeks since my last post.  My last post was a pretty somber one, and these past two weeks have had their ups and downs considering many American teachers are feeling a little on edge here in the UAE.   It’s understandable in the aftermath of the senseless and tragic stabbing of one of our colleagues.  New conspiracy theories and rumors are flying around stirring up feelings of fear, uncertainty, and doubts in regards to how safe American teachers really are here.

However, amidst all of that hullabaloo I have found myself feeling much more grateful, inspired, peaceful, and blessed.  I know it seems paradoxical to have those types of feelings when Islamic extremists are hell bent on trying to rid the world of us terrible American heathens, but I can’t help it.  I really feel so lucky to be here; to have this opportunity, to be able to travel, and to live side by side with people of all religions, all nationalities, and all walks of life.  Billions of people wish for experiences like this and never get out of their home towns, and I’m actually living it!

I’ve never been one to be “scared” of what’s around me.  I’m a practical person.  If someone is determined to hurt you, they will.  If you’re lucky enough to get away unscathed…super.  If not, oh well.  Life happens.  I used to park my car on side streets in Downtown Orlando, party all night, and walk to it again in the  wee hours of the morning pretty “schnockered”, and I just wasn’t scared.

So, when it comes to this one incident happening in Abu Dhabi, I just feel like I have a better chance of being hit by a car here than targeted by someone and stabbed to death in a bathroom.  I’m not making light of the horrible situation, or even saying that I don’t think it could happen to me.  I’m just saying that I don’t feel like a lot of people here.  I am careful, vigilant, and keep my wits about me…but that’s no more than usual.  I genuinely feel safe here.  I actually felt a little bit more on edge living in the US.

In fact, when compared to most American teachers here, the exact opposite feelings have overcome me.  I look at my life;  How insignificant I am in the grand scheme of the world, and I am in awe that I get to see the things I see, and do the things I do.  I meet amazing people every day.  I’m surrounded by the most adventurous and intriguing individuals.  We may not think the same, or believe the same things, but we all respect each other and love each other for our differences.  These experiences challenge me.  They have and are currently shaping my world view.

In light of the holiday season I’ve decided to make a list of the things I’m so grateful for this year.  We leave for our 10 day Balinese adventure tomorrow, so I won’t be blogging until after the new year.  It seems only fitting that I end this year with a little Christmas cheer.

1.  I am so thankful for my husband, Ben.  This man works so hard to make sure I’m happy.  He cooks, cleans, takes care of our finances, and I am so lucky to be his wife.  I couldn’t ask for a more supportive, loving, and caring man to be by my side exploring the world.  It’s not always easy, but I can’t imagine anyone else holding my hand through this journey called life.

2.  My Arabic co-teacher this year is a phenomenal rock-star named Huda.  I love her.  She is an amazing Emirati woman who sticks by my side all day with our little kiddies.  We work together like bread and butter.  She is so open and giving and willing to share her customs, religion, and beliefs with me.  We laugh together, and we cry together.  She has opened my eyes to what Islam is and how true Muslims should be.  I will cry if we ever are separated.

3.  Traveling is my new addiction.  I can’t get enough of it.  The wanderlust that has taken over my entire being is not conducive to my current budget.  Thank God my husband is here to keep  my spending in check. The ability to see other cultures and immerse oneself in it has been the best gift.  I can’t wait to see what is next for us in this world  playground.

4.  My friends have always been my family.  I spend much more time with them than my family, and in many ways they’ve helped me through some of the hardest and most dark parts of my past.  It’s the same here.  I have met the most lovely people here.  People who are selfless, compassionate, and generous exist everywhere here.  I am so thankful to call them friends and build our little Abu Dhabi family together.

5.  This job.  However chaotic, confusing, frustrating, and down right stupid working over here can be, this is still the highest I’ve ever been paid to do what I do.  It will probably be the most I will ever be paid.  We live in a nice apartment, and it’s paid for.  We have great healthcare, and it’s paid for.  We have the means to travel.  I love it here, and I plan on staying quite a while.

Life is great and I can’t complain.

Thank you for reading. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Brunching It Up

Brunch is an all day event here in the Dhabi.  A gluttonous, booze-induced good time that bleeds into a hot mess of an evening.  If you’re going to a brunch you better not have anything planned the next day because it’s a 2 day commitment:  1 day for the party and 1 day to recover.

Some of my best friends with whom I had the pleasure of arriving in this awesome city last year joined me in a celebratory brunch this past Friday to commemorate our first completed year here.  What made this celebration even more special is that my friend & fellow teacher Mandy who I have known for several years has finally arrived in our little playground sandbox for her teaching abroad adventure.  I can’t even tell you how excited I was to have a friend from back home experience this all with me.  AAANNNDD, she’s not just here for a visit.  She’s actually going to live and teach here just like me.  It was a celebration of old and new.  And celebrate we did.

We survived our first year teaching abroad after being brought into the country 5 weeks late, being thrown into classrooms without any curriculum, behavior managing kids who seem to have just been brought out of cages to attend school, and adapting to a new culture.  PHEW!  It has been QUITE a year.

A large table set for 15 people was held just for us at our old “home”, The Grand Millenium-Abu Dhabi.  Their restaurant, ‘Portobello’ holds quite a lovely brunch for a pretty decent price.  There’s more food than you could possibly eat in one day, and unlimited beer, mojitos, wine, and sparkling wine.  A feast fit for a King, but also for some very thirsty, energetic, and crazy teachers.

The food…Oh-Em-Gee, the. food.  Anything you could ever want is there.  Grilled lobster, shrimp, kebabs, corn on the cob, chicken, beef, and schwarma.  A pasta and brick-oven pizza section with fresh ingredients and chef who is willing to whip together some deliciously carb-filled meal exactly how you desire.  Sushi, salads, gazpacho, quesadillas, soups, freshly cooked fish, desserts, lions, tigers, and bears…OH MY!

They have a live band that plays some pretty decent music to keep the mood lively, and when they’re on break a swell Asian duo entertained the tables with guitar and cello renditions of oldies but goodies.  Let me just tell you that after 3 hours of “brunching” it is fun to sing to anything…even if you don’t know the words.

http://instagram.com/p/taHgq-FHzc/

As if that party wasn’t enough, we had to keep the ball rolling and head to the local teacher hangout, Cooper’s.  Yea.  Cooper’s always ends in ways I can’t quite remember.  (ehem…ehem)

We all had SO. MUCH. FUN!  One thing I love most about living here is that everyone else who is here is outgoing, adventurous, very social, and LOVES a good time.  Every person is living for the present; embracing the moment.  Moments like last Friday night are the kind that I cherish.  Good friends.  Good food.  Good drinks.  Good times.

Summer Luvin’

A week and a half into summer break and my husband and I have been to and from the airport 6 times.  It seems like such a tease since we never get out of our car.  We only get to circle around the bustling departures or arrivals driveways, dodging car doors opening dumping out eager and frazzled passengers with way too much luggage, crappy drivers in fully loaded SUV’s, and taxis that are determined to get wherever they need to go before you.

Helping our friends forgo the cost of an uncomfortable taxi ride to and from the airport is the least we can do since we’re here for the summer.  In addition to our airport chauffeur title this summer, we’ve taken on cat sitting, plant watering, and apartment “land-lording” for friend’s who are renting out their flat for the summer.  With all the running around Abu Dhabi we do on a daily basis we keep pretty busy.  Not to mention, the flats we have access keys to have some pretty fantastic amenities that Ben and I are more than happy to partake of.  Resort style pools, gorgeous high-rise views, professional exercise facilities, etc…  It’s a pretty sweet gig.

We also purchased a steal of a gym membership thanks to ADEC.  Lifeline Fitness Gym is offering a HUGE discount to ADEC teachers for the GOLD Membership.  Ben and I bought a year-long couples membership for only 3,660 dirhams.  That’s roughly $1,000 USD…for ONE YEAR!  It has separate ladies and gentlemen facilities, a rooftop pool, and a Carrefour Market downstairs for all my pre and post workout needs.  Can’t beat that.

It’s hard to believe that in just 5 weeks or so, the school year will be starting again and I’ll be in my 2nd contractual year here in the Dhabi.  I have a friend who interviewed and is coming out here to teach in just a few short weeks.  It will be so nice having someone from home here with me!  Watching her go through the same things I went through just a year ago stirs up a bit of nostalgia in me.  This is really the coolest experience I’ve ever had.

Buongiorno Italia Part 4: Riomaggiore

Do you ever feel like what you’re experiencing can’t be real?  Like what you’re seeing or experiencing is the stuff of dreams or Hollywood fantasy?  Riomaggiore was that kind of a place for me.  Nestled along the coast of the Mediterranean lies Riomaggiore and 4 other villages connected by coastal and mountain hiking trails.  They call this area Cinque Terre.

As we made our way up and down the curvy (and sometimes pretty scary) mountain roads we came to the entrance of the little village of Riomaggiore.  There is no driving allowed past the parking garage so we parked our little Fiat Convertible, grabbed our luggage and carefully made our way down the steep street towards our little B&B.  Little shops adorned with handmade Cinque Terre trinkets, local Liguria wine, and local-made Limoncello lined the road.  Tiny restaurants boasting the best local seafood that Cinque Terre has to offer wafted an aroma that made us wish we didn’t have all our luggage with us so we could stop and satisfy our craving.  Every building was colored in bright yellows, pinks, reds, oranges, & browns and the sound of waves from the not so distant marina urged us to hurry up, drop our bags, and explore already!

We were warned ahead of time by many tourist sights that the stairs here are no joke.  I am here to confirm that the stairs here are indeed, no freaking joke.  After checking in to our cozy room, we were led by the manager up 6 flights of steep, narrow, and very difficult to manage with luggage stairs.  However, our room was perfect as it sat on top of the building with green shutters that opened to reveal the little neighborhood below and the church directly behind our building.  It was worth the gasps of air.

It took us all of 5 minutes to drop our things, maneuver our way down the challenging 6 flights of steps, and begin wandering the streets of our new city full of adventure.  We headed towards the marina where blue and white boats were lined up for day excursions to fish, or just spend a day rowing around the coastline.  Large rocks surrounded by beautiful blue water coaxed tourists out onto them for perfect photo opportunities.  Of course, we made our way out there too.  We dined atop a cliff that overlooked the little marina and the Mediterranean feasting on focaccia, flatbread, wine, and beer; The sun slowly setting into the sea.

It was then I had to pinch myself.  Is this for real?  Could any place on earth really be this beautiful?  Everything looks like a movie set.  I kept waiting for a director to come out and yell, “CUT!”  Only in my dreams has any place looked and felt this beautiful and perfect.

A few beers and many plates of delicious food later, we started the hike back up the hill towards our cute B&B and the 6 flight vertical climb to our room.

The next morning we woke up early to hike.  We stopped at a tiny Coop Market and bought some salami, focaccia bread, and a block of parmesan cheese for our lunch after hiking the trail.  However, for us amateur hikers, this was no ordinary hike.  The lady at the inquiries counter down by the train station said there were a few options for hiking that day.  Unfortunately, the coastal hiking paths that we’d hoped to take were shut down for repairs.  We could either take the train to Manarola (the next village over) and then hike back to Riomaggiore, OR we could hike from Riomaggiore up and around to Manarola and take the ferry back to the Riomaggiore marina.  We were concerned about the difficulty of the hike, but because we thought it would be cool to take a ferry back to town we decided to hike up from Riomaggiore to Manarola.  Besides, the sweet information lady said there would be “some stairs” to climb, but nothing that we couldn’t handle.  Either she mistook us for expert hikers, or she’s a very good liar…

There were like a bajillion steps.  Not only that, the trail of stairs winds up the mountain between vineyards and mountain roads so there’s no railing, or anything to help you along the way.  HO-LY- BUNK!  Just when I thought we’d reached the top, I’d look down the trail and see more stairs.  Stairs, stairs, stairs.  Like 3 kilometers of stairs up the 01 Trail to Sella la Croce.  My heart was pounding and my legs were burning worse than the hardest stairmaster workout I’ve ever had.  If I had to climb those stairs every day I would for real have the nicest ass.  I was NOT in a good mood on the way up that trail.  I said several four letter words along the way.  I won’t lie, I almost cried a few times because it was that difficult.

Looking down at just one set of stairs

It looks like it ends…but it doesn’t. That glorious heavenly glow is really just my hell…more stairs.

Finally, we came to the decent path that crossed the top of the mountain ridge towards Codeglia.  The tall trees, stripped of their leaves from the winter cold were just budding with tiny green sprouts.  The birds were singing and on either sides of the trail at different times you could see the steep plunge down into the forest below.  This trail was nice, flat, and manageable.  It had some great views out onto the Mediterranean.

And then we had to go down.  Down, down, down steep paths and guess what?!  More stairs!  Down the 02 trail to Manarola.  Dare I say, going down was a little bit harder than going up.  Maybe it’s because my legs were already worn out, or maybe it was just because there were stones and rocks along the stairs and trail that made it difficult to get my footing.  That trail was serious, and it seriously kicked my rear.  I only fell twice.

The serene trail along the mountain top.

A view from the top.

Taking a break on top of a boulder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We made our way into Manarola, the tiniest of all the Cinque Terre villages.  After buying a few (i.e. 4 large) Peroni’s, we settled down by the marina and feasted on our much anticipated and well deserved salami, cheese, and focaccia bread.  It was the yummiest meal ever!  The ferry ride back to Riomaggiore was gorgeous.

The evening sun, cool breeze, salty sea air, immaculate view of Riomaggiore from the sea, and thirst quenching Peroni’s…it doesn’t get much better than that.  I felt so accomplished that day.  That was a trail made for expert hikers and we did it.  We ended the day with some new, and very amazing Australian friends who have invited us to stay with them when we visit sometime in the near future.  I think that’s what I love the most about traveling…meeting others with the same wanderlust as me.

(Sigh)…perfection

 

And so it begins

Well, it has come and gone.  I survived my first year teaching abroad.  To be honest, it flew by, and so starts our summer.  My husband and I are braving the summer here in the Dhabi.  In what I view as a very adult move on our part, we are avoiding more unnecessary debt and not jet setting to wild and exotic places we’ve never explored.  Anywhere we want to go (Europe) is too expensive this time of year, and all the other places we want to go (Southeast Asia/India) are hot and in monsoon season.  It sucks.

Yes, we’re being all grown up, responsible, and stuff and paying for Ben to go back to college in August, putting more money towards my student loan debt, AND putting money in savings.  Being responsible is not always fun.

However, I’ve decided to make the most of our short 6 weeks of boredom here.  Below is a list of how we plan to spend our time in the desert during this sweltering summer season.

1. Organize my closet and drawers.  I am the WORST with clothes.  I will do laundry, no problem.  However, I loathe…No, I mean I seriously HATE folding and putting clothes away.  My wardrobe looks like  it vomited clothing.  You can’t open it without an avalanche of t-shirts, bras, jeans, and skirts cascading onto your body.  Before I got married, my spare bedroom was my clothing pile room.  I would wash my clothes and throw them into that room.  Throughout the week I’d just pull what I needed to wear out of the pile.  No problem.  Apparently, it is a problem when you get married or share your house with anyone other than yourself.

Let me just say, in my defense, that this is just with clothing.  As a bachelorette, my kitchen was always spic-and-span.  My apartment was mopped and dusted by yours truly at least once every other week.  Bathrooms were scrubbed, and the fresh smell of lemon cleaning products filled the air.  My problem is just with clothes.

Ben has tried numerous times to help me get organized.  His wardrobe is OCD (my opinion).  It’s organized by article of clothing, and then by color.  His shoes are always neatly lined up and belts are rolled into manageable coils to place into drawers designated for such an item.  He keeps thinking that if he sets an example I’ll catch on.  Yesterday, he bought me drawer organizers.  We’ll see how that works out.  I’m supposed to start this project today and as you can see I’ve decided to procrastinate by blogging.

2. Get healthy.  Of course Ben and I would be housed in a building that has a filthy joke of a workout room, and a swimming pool that is always empty and being repaired.   Ben and I would love to spend our free time at the gym or relaxing by the pool since there is no end to the glorious sunny days here in Abu Dhabi.  Instead, we have spent on the couch catching up on the last 10 years of television we have missed (I blame Netflix).  We eat relatively healthy, but our activity level has plummeted.  We’ve both gained what I’m calling the “Dhabi 15”.  That’s stopping this summer.  We’re getting up and getting fit thanks to the access cards we acquired to a few friends apartment buildings to feed plants and animals this summer.  Hello nice gyms and resort style pools!

3.  Finishing our flat.  We’ve been waiting to complete our apartment because we wanted to make sure that what we bought is what we really wanted and needed.  For 8 months we’ve slowly been making our flat feel like home, but this summer we’ve decided to finish.  Ben’s building me a vanity (mostly because he hates that my makeup has commandeered our guest bathroom) complete with backstage like makeup mirrors and everything.  My compromise was that he gets to build a desk for the laptop, printer, and his school work.  I personally think that desks are for high school & college kids, but whatever.  I always just put the laptop on the dining room table and go to town.  No worries.  But a good wife compromises…so he gets a desk.

I’m sure we’ll do a few more things this summer.  Perhaps we’ll explore some of the U.A.E.’s 7 Emirates, or take a jaunt over to Oman.  You just never know.   I’ll keep you all updated about the wardrobe situation.  My goal is to get it organized and keep it organized, but that’s always my goal and I always fail.  We shall see.

 

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!

I used to think I knew what Football was.  I’ve spent many Saturdays watching College Game Day, wearing my Florida State jersey, laughing at Lee Corso while nursing an ice cold Miller Lite.  Sundays used to be a bar hopping extravaganza.  Adorned in my best Chicago Bears t-shirt (DA BEARS!) I would get the best seat in front of the biggest TV’s showing the best games.  My weekends were full of friends cheering loudly, pitchers of beer flowing, cheeseburgers, and chicken wings.  Then I moved to the Middle East…

I know NOTHING about Football.  In fact, I’ve apparently been in love with the wrong football all these years.  The excitement of American Football doesn’t really cross the boundaries of America.  And if we Americans thought we could party hard…No.  We are tame compared to the night’s of Football game watching over here.  Football (a.k.a Soccer) in the U.A.E. is like the American Super Bowl every game.  Before the World Cup, pubs and restaurants with television coverage of the soccer games would be packed with fans drinking, cheering, and hoping to see that one goal that would clinch their teams win.  It’s 80 minutes of suspense, pins and needles, and 1 minute of pure elation.  Drinks for everyone!

As the 2014 FIFA World Cup approached there were advertisements of the best FIFA Tents available to view all the games.  I honestly underestimated what this meant.  I envisioned a makeshift party tent (like the ones erected for outdoor weddings), some tables, perhaps some waiters serving food and stuff like that.  Nothing too fancy, just  a place to watch the game.  WRONG!

We’re talking swanky tents, lavish upholstery, chandeliers, posh couches and armchairs with dainty tables, and huge projector screens.  It’s like being in a movie theater made for a queen.  There are drink specials, food specials, and even cover charges.  It’s outrageous.  And these viewing tents get so busy you have to make a reservation.

Here are a list of the places that I, or some of my friends have been to watch World Cup games.  If you’re looking for somewhere to experience the adrenaline rush of hundreds of people cheering together for just one or two goals in 90 minutes, these are the places I’d recommend.

1.  Fairmont Bab Al Bahr – Abu Dhabi

Up to 600 people can be held in this opulent tent.  For the 100 dirham entry fee, you can sit and watch all the games you want and receive 3 complimentary drinks.  Ladies get in free, but have to pay for drinks.  For 270 dirhams you can get entry and all the drinks you want, until the end of the last game.  That’s like 3:30 am!

2.  Intercontinental – Abu Dhabi

About 60 dirhams will get you entry into the Saharaa Tent.  You can pay for drinks as you go and watch boys chase a ball around a field like a king.

3.  Du Arena – Yas Island

Although alcohol free it has food, and large tables can be booked for you and all your friends to watch the games.

4.  Amber Bar @ Novotel Al Bustan

Yummy food, good beer, decent atmosphere, and great specials.

5.  Stars N Bars – Yas Island

Super fun!  There’s no cover charge, but book your tables early because they fill up FAST!  The food is good, the drinks are better.  Gather together and cheer along with people around the world!

Fairmont FIFA Tent

Intercontinental FIFA Tent

Toilet Paper is NOT for drying hands.

Have you ever tried to dry your wet hands with toilet paper?  If you’ve ever been to the U.A.E., I’m almost positive your answer would be, “YES!”  I seriously can’t get used to it.  I really can’t stand reaching for a substantial amount of toilet paper to dry my hands off only to have it come apart in squares on the roll, or having it dissolve into a sopping mess all over my freshly cleaned hands.  Then, you spend the next few minutes picking off wet scraps of tissue paper off your hands.  UGH!  Why toilet paper?!  Oh, and if not toilet paper it’s tissues…like the crappy one’s you’re supposed to blow your nose into, but the force of it all just busts a hole right through it.  Seriously?  In this wealthy nation that actually does have paper towels available for purchase at every hypermarket I’ve been to, why are we using toilet paper?  It seems like such an obvious thing to me.

In the 8+ months I’ve been living in the U.A.E. there’s just some things that I can’t get used to.  I’m sure that people who visit America find many things weird too.  Different countries, different strokes, I guess.  Often I end up laughing to myself because it just seems so, well…weird.

Has anyone else’s bathrooms at their school scented with moth balls?  Moth. Balls.  Apparently, the cleaners at my school think moth balls are Glade Plug-ins.  Sometimes they decorate the bathroom with little glass bowls and they fill them with, you guess it, moth balls.  Not just any moth balls though…colored moth balls.  I think it really adds to the femininity of our wash closet.  No.  It smells like an old person’s closet.

And speaking of smells.  Oud.  You either love it or you hate it.  Personally, I can’t think of a worse shopping experience than walking leisurely through a beautiful mall only to hit a wall of the most potent incense ever.  Or, entering my school only to get smacked in the face by this thick and heavy cloud of stank.  It takes my breath away…and not in a good way.  It’s like when you get close to a guy who has applied too much cologne or aftershave.  It’s too much.  It makes me head hurt.  Stop it.

School buses pick up each child at their doorstep.  For reals.  AND, some of the kids literally live in the houses right next to the school.  I hate getting stuck behind the bus that picks up and drops off by my school.  It stops every 20 feet.  Did you know obesity is really becoming an issue here.  I can’t imagine why.

Why do I need to ask my waiter for my check?  When I first moved here, I’d wait for 20-30 minutes for my waiter to bring my bill to me.  I was obviously finished with my food.  The table was cleared.  My drink was empty.  What more do I need to do to make it clear that I’m finished and ready to leave?  Oh yea, ask for your bill.  If you’re moving here, remember that.

On the other hand, there’s a lot of things I can get used to.

For instance, getting to stay in my car and out of the heat while a gas attendant fills my car tank for me.

I love that hiring a house cleaner here can be as cheap at $10 an hour.  That’s a steal, friends!

Women only lines and seating areas.  Women’s lines move faster, and I don’t have to be around the stinky men. Score!

Almost every restaurant delivers right to your door, even late into the night.  It’s spectacular when I’m hungry, but feeling lazy.

The parties that cater to pretty much every nationality represented here.  There’s always a celebration going on, and everyone is invited!

I love living here.  The quirks only make it that much  more interesting.  Actually, I sometimes find comfort in the things that make me shake my head.  It’s just so funny.

If you live in the U.A.E. and have any other quirks to add feel free to post.  I know I haven’t listed all of them.  And don’t neglect the good things too, because they really are good.

Sometimes it’s Just Hard

“It’s supposed to be hard.  If it wasn’t, everyone would do it.  The hard is what makes it great.” A League of Their Own

Yesterday was my blog’s 1 year anniversary.  I honestly can’t believe it’s been that long.  Last year at this time I was selling off all my belongings, breaking leases, battling to get all my documents attested and mailed out, and moving in with my parents.  It’s been a whirlwind to say the least.

And now here we are, a month from summer vacation and I see all my friends back home happily celebrating the end of their school year this week.  I’m jealous.  I’m homesick.  I want to party with my nearest and dearest; the people I consider my family.  I want to go canoeing down the Wekiva River, and swim & drink ice cold beers at Wekiva Island.  I want to hold my best friend’s new baby boy and veg out on her couch while we eat blueberry muffin batter and watch marathons of reality shows that make us feel pretty good about the fact that we aren’t those people.

This morning was the first time I’ve felt really homesick.  I mean, really homesick. The fact that we aren’t going home this summer is starting to settle in and I’m feeling a tinge of sadness.

This feeling is so silly, too.  I love it here.  Ben and I feel like moving here has opened the door for so many opportunities.  The money is hard to beat, and we are planning on staying here for at least 5 years or longer.  Sure it’s hard, annoying, confusing, frustrating, and ridiculous at times…but what job isn’t?  Just like my intro quote says, if this was easy everyone would do it.

What is making this adventure even harder is keeping our financial goals at the forefront of every decision we make here.  It is so easy to get caught up in spending and traveling.  The Emirati lifestyle is one of excess and opulence, and it’s hard to not want to have nice things.  However, we came here to pay off debts owed in the US.  That’s why we’re not traveling this summer.  We’re staying put and braving the holy month of Ramadan (yikes).  I’m trying to stay positive, but I’m not looking forward to it.  This blog post is my brief pity party.  Let me have it.

I have to keep reminding myself that we are already in debt in the US, we do not need to rack up debt in a foreign country…Especially a country that can jail you for not being able to pay off what you owe.

“We’re doing the right thing.  We’re doing the responsible thing.”  This has been my mantra since the beginning of May when we seriously decided that traveling this summer was not a financially great idea.

So, that’s what I’m battling with today.  I know that some of you who read this blog want to know what it feels like on a day to day basis.  Frankly, today’s just a bittersweet day for me.  Doing the right thing isn’t always easy.  Living here isn’t always easy.  In fact, life here can be down right difficult at times…but being here in this moment, I realize that if it was easy, everyone would do it.  That has to say something about Ben and I.  At least, I hope it does.

The Real Husbands of Abu Dhabi

“What will my husband (or wife) do while I’m teaching in Abu Dhabi?”

That is the question I and several other fellow colleagues who’ve made the adventurous trek around the world to this Middle Eastern country asked ourselves.  Being offered a job in a foreign country as a teacher is a pretty amazing thing.  One usually dreams about a career move like this for a long time.  It is not considered lightly and has usually been a deep and long-rooted yearning for a bit of time.  It takes a lot to uproot one’s life and teach in area completely foreign to them.  And of course, if you’re a couple the announcement of a spouse getting a job that fulfills lifelong dreams can spark a flame of excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and elation that doesn’t quickly go out.  The idea of making more money, having housing paid for, receiving a travel stipend each year providing a ticket to the world, all the while experiencing a new country and new culture together is sure to make any couple fly high on the clouds of glee for a little while.

But after the tornado winds of change have died and the dust in its wake settles, there sits a husband (or wife) left with little to do to occupy the bright sun-shiny days in this desert metropolis.  The excitement of it all has turned into a mundane day-to-day trek through the hours.  I can tell you from experience, it’s hard.

Ben and I did our homework before we came over here.  After reading several Expat blogs and discussing the matter with married couples who were already over here, we realized that finding a job for Ben was probably not going to happen.  The fact of the matter is that if you aren’t recruited or transferred here for a job that you are specifically trained for, the chances of being hired for pretty much any job is nil.  Most companies here will hire people from Eastern countries before any Western countries because they can and do pay them pennies on the dollar for hard long work hours.  It’s sad, but those pennies earned are still more than the Easterners earn in their home countries.  Every day there are buses going to job sites filled to the brim with workers who are hardly trained for anything, but will work 16 hour days if you ask them for next to no money at all (which explains the crappy building of pretty much anything that is outsourced here).  Most jobs here are outsourced to Filipinos.  All the “good” jobs are acquired by people who have worked with companies that decided to open their wings and try their luck here in Abu Dhabi and would only transfer their biggest and best people to carry on the name of the company with pride.

Unfortunately, any source of income that Ben would have would have to be from a side business that he created himself and ran “quietly” earning cash profits.  We figured that would work out great for us because Ben has been and still is planning on returning to college to finish his degree.  We planned that while living in Abu Dhabi Ben would become a sort of “honey-do/handyman” for the Expats over here to earn some extra cash and kill time so that he wouldn’t have to sit around all day twiddling his thumbs while I work.

However, plans don’t always go the way you well…plan them.  Although Ben has had plenty of jobs painting, assembling furniture, installing appliances, hanging pictures, etc…  The jobs tend to come and go.  It’s nothing super steady at the moment and that poses a problem.  What does a grown man who has never worked less than 5 days a week for 12 hours a day for the past 15 years of his life do with all that free time????????

I have to commend my husband.  He works very hard.  He absolutely hates to sit around and do nothing.  He keeps our apartment super clean, the kitchen is always immaculate and the dishes are always done.  Our bed is always sharply made, and the clothes are washed and put away.  He cooks and he cleans.  He’s my superman!  But we both knew that being a “house husband” would not and could not fulfill him.  He’s just not a homebody kind of guy.  This journey has been tough and I’m sure Ben is learning things about himself that he has never known before.

So, where does this story lead to?  I am going to offer some suggestions to those of you who have a spouse coming with you who really has no idea what they’re going to do over here.  Banking on finding a job just won’t cut it, and it’s best to not be let down thinking it will be like the countries who are looking for well-qualified workers to pay top dollar for good work.  Those jobs just aren’t here unless you’re recruited.  Ben and I are still new to this and are learning along the way.  The good news is that he will be in school soon and that should take the frustration of boredom away and pack his days full of textbook reading, paper writing, and mundane college coursework.  Super fun!

1.  Begin networking now.  Get as close as you can to other “couples” over here and build relationships.  It’s much easier to cope with this kind of shock by having a support system of friends.  Perhaps those days can be filled with a book club, exercise groups, or other daily activity that provides something to do.

2.  Perhaps take this opportunity living overseas to take online courses towards a higher educational degree.  Never again will you have all this time to devote to the coursework of a rigorous Masters or Ph.D. program.  Might as well just do it now.

3.  If you have no kids, maybe this is the optimum time to start a family.  Healthcare over here is pretty great, and the cost of having a baby in the hospital is practically free.  If I’m not mistaken, the only extra charge while having a baby is for the epidural.  It’s pretty much every parent’s dream to have at least one parent home with their child for the first few years and now’s the big chance!  Pop out a few babes without the extra daycare costs!  Also, if infertility is an issue for you, IVF is super cheap here as well.

4.  Start some sort of online business.  I haven’t really thought this one through, but it must be a way to keep yourself busy.

5.  Become a super hot smoking trophy husband (or wife).  Use these extra hours to really focus on your health and fitness and become the healthiest you that you’ve ever dreamed you could be.  Your spouse might even join in after work.  The family that stays fit together, stays together.

6.  Be prepared and understand that life in the UAE is very different from life anywhere else.

(If anyone has any other suggestions, I invite you to add to this blog.)

My biggest suggestion is just to make sure that couples support each other as much as possible while over here.  Communicate, take time for each other, and be understanding of each others feelings.