Some days are easier than others…

I’m having a bad day.  No, I’m having a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

So, today’s post is a rant.  You can choose to bow out now if you’re not keen on listening to whines and complaints from others.  I don’t complain too often, so I think I deserve this bout of crazy jibberish. You have been warned…

It’s bad enough that I’ve been waiting.  Waiting.  WAAAAIIIIITTTTTTIIIINNNGGG for these elusive e-tickets with my Visa and flight information on them so I can get out of America and over to Abu Dhabi, but…

Money is dwindling. One income that slightly tops mediocre just isn’t enough.  Especially with baggage fees and things to pay for once I arrive in Abu Dhabi.

I feel like I’m not contributing to my family because I don’t “technically” have a job or an income until I get to the UAE.  I feel like a lump of nothing.

I sleep in.  I exercise.  I ride my bike. I read.  I eat.  I feel worthless.

I can’t get a job because who the H.E. double hockey sticks knows when I’m going to be granted the golden ticket to leave.  By the time I actually find a job I’ll get the email I’ve been waiting a month for because that’s how it always happens.

I can’t drive anywhere.  Why?  Oh yea…because I sold my freaking car.  I’m at the mercy of a bicycle, Orlando public transportation (which sucks), and my Step-Mom’s car.

What’s really just put me in a stellar mood today is this fine prescription company called Express-Scripts.  I have had numerous problems with them in the past 4 years since OCPS decided they were good enough to provide prescriptions to teachers.  Today they just basically told me I was out of luck.  In the past, they have been late delivering my scripts, refused to cover emergency scripts I needed to get from a local pharmacy, and they have horrible customer service.  The worst I have ever encountered.  I can’t even tell you how happy I am to be moving to a country with better health care, insurance, and prescription coverage than America.

I hope they go out of business.  I hope their headquarters has a terrible “act of God” happen and that their insurance won’t cover them.  Take That!

You see, I did my part.  I changed my address, both online with the USPS and with their company.  However, my prescriptions were still mailed to the apartment I just vacated.  USPS, in all their fantastic shipping glory states on the tracking number that they were delivered on August 9th.  Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s September 3rd, and I don’t have what I need, AAAANNNNDDD I’ve already been deducted my copay to Express Scripts for these missing scripts.

Now, because I don’t have a job, my medical benefits expired as of August 31st.  They say because I didn’t call before then, they can’t ship me replacement scripts, or credit me my copay.

I asked to be transferred to the supervisor.  Well, I should have known about their crappy customer service to begin with.  The only “advice” this nasty woman could give me was to have them call the prescriptions in to my local CVS so that I could buy them at full price.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!  I’ve already paid you a copay and you won’t mail me replacements because my account has been inactive for, ummm… 3 whole days.  And because USPS, the most reliable governmental office says they delivered the scripts safe and sound you can’t offer me any other suggestion than that?  You won’t even give me back my copay that I paid you for basically nothing.  Pay full price??  Why?  I already paid you.  I’m telling you that I didn’t receive the prescriptions and need replacements.  That’s all.  What if I was going to die from not having these scripts?

I have no job.  I have no money except what my husband brings home every two weeks, and that’s supporting the two of us. I can’t pay full price, you idiots.

I hate you Express Scripts, and your unborn children for the headache and unnecessary anxiety you have caused me when I’m already teetering on the edge of sanity.

AAAHHH!  I need these etickets to come soon or I’m gonna crack.

I am just feeling hopeless right now.  I guess I’m getting a taste of what unemployed people feel like.  It sucks.  It’s horrible.  I’ve learned to be empathetic.  I am pretty darn patient.  I’m trying so hard to just keep a smile, but today I feel like it’s not even worth it.

Sigh…

Please God, immigration gods, ADEC, Nirvana Travel, and every thing else that may work together for good.  I need some sign that this is moving in my favor.

Insha’Allah

The Arabic phrase Insha’Allah (if God wills it) has become my new motto. It’s August 28th, and my Visa, along with hundreds of other teachers Visas are still under processing.

I can’t say I wasn’t warned that I would be waiting, waiting, waiting. I went back and counted how many times I was told things liked this:

“Their way of life is much slower paced than yours.”
OR
“There’s this phrase that they use, Insha’Allah, which means if God wills it. And basically, that means when God wants things to happen, they will.”
OR
“Be prepared to wait…a lot…for everything.”

I heard these exact quotes six times in my interview/authentication process. I’m thankful that I listened and half expected something like this. I decided a while ago to just take it as it comes and not expect anything. One can’t be let down if there weren’t any expectations to begin with. And this way, anything is a welcome and pleasant surprise!

So, at this point, Insha’Allah, we’ll be heading to Abu Dhabi by mid-September. (See what I did there? I can be all “Insha’Allah” too)
Anything earlier would make me ecstatic!

I keep seeing pictures and updates from the EMT’s (English Medium Teachers) who have already been relocated there in the past couple weeks, and I can’t wait to start my adventure in this desert world! The culture intrigues me, the people seem so generous and humble, and the places to see…Well, it’s unlike anything I’ve seen in my whole short little life.

Anyways, as soon as I know when I am the one in which God decides to will something to happen, I will definitely let everyone know.

Until then, I’m reading like I’ve never read before, exercising like a madwoman, and catching up on television that I’ve never really gotten a chance to watch in the past 7 years because I’ve been working.

I’ll leave you with a picture, courtesy of Donna Hill, a fellow EMT who was lucky enough to be one of the first over there. She went on a tour of the Grande Mosque. This is just one of her amazing photos of this gorgeous place of worship.

They’re in, and the checklist gets a little shorter.

Well, here they are.  The final step in document authentication has been completed.  I can’t stop looking at them.  This made everything so much more real.  Sure, my husband and I have sold off pretty much everything from our apartment…AND we’re getting ready to move in with my Dad and Step-Mom until we leave, but these documents make me feel so giddy inside!

In all their John F. Kerry glory…

Just look at them.  All signed and authenticated and ready for use in the UAE.  It may not mean much to you, but I have the biggest butterflies in my stomach right now.  It makes selling things, packing things, and moving things feel SO worth it!

Now, comes the daunting task of completing my TO-DO LIST before I leave.  Somehow this involves using all the money we are making from selling off our lives.  However, I feel like this is all going to be worth it in the end!!!

In case you are considering taking on the exciting adventure of teaching overseas, here’s just a peek at my TO-DO LIST since May:

1. Obtain copies of marriage license, notarized color copy of my Master’s Degree Diploma (not transcripts…the actual diploma), and a notarized color copy of my Teaching Certificate.

2.  Send copies of those 3 documents to the Florida Secretary of State for authentication.  Once they are returned, use GoProEx to have documents authentication in Washington D.C. and at the UAE Embassy.

3.  Scan 2 professional letters of recommendation (on letterhead with signatures) into PDF format and email them to Footprints Recruiting.

4.  Get a passport, then color scan into PDF format and send to Footprints Recruiting.

5.  Have 4 conservative passport photos taken, scan into PDF format, & to send to ADEC.

6.  Complete and email ADEC Introduction Statement, scan into PDF format, and email to Footprints Recruiting.

7.  Sort through all clothing, shoes, and makeup to figure out what to keep and what to give away/sell.

8.  List “big-ticket” items on Craigslist.

9.  Have a garage sale for all household items and “things” we don’t want to keep.

10.  Purchase a decent luggage set (5 pieces).

11.  Purchase technology for UAE compatibility: Buffalo Router, Roku2, Magic Jack Plus, Voltage Adapters & Converters on UAE Teacher Tech Website.

12.  Learn as much Arabic with Rosetta Stone as possible.

13.  Make color copies of the front page of my passport, Ben’s passport, and both our Driver’s Licenses to keep for Visa purposes.

14.  Purchase a few kurtis (tunics) and long maxi-skirts for the first few days of work.

15.  Purchase a few “conservative” items of clothing.

16.  Cancel electricity, and internet services and give address for final billing.

17.  Set up a VPN for mobile device and laptop before leaving.

18.  Create SKYPE, and TANGO accounts for Ben and I, and other family members to communicate with while we’re apart.

19.  Pay off my cell phone, get it unlocked, and cancel contract before leaving.

20.  Contact financial advisor and have her put my FRS money into an IRA account.

21.  Set up a joint checking account and get their Swift Code for wiring money to the states for U.S. bills.

22.  Change address to Dad’s house.

21.  Be sure to just go with the flow.  Nothing can be planned.  InshaAllah!

Expatriate Experience: Part 1

Example for a Visa Run (Laos). Entrance and departure on the same day. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As an American preparing to venture overseas for 2 years (or more), I find I have a lot more questions than answers at this point.  This is a very overwhelming and tedious process.  And for a control freak like me, the process of waiting and relying on the government is a nail-biting experience.

One question that has been plaguing me is: When will my husband will be able to join me in Abu Dhabi?  For those of you about to teach overseas, I’ve noticed that several of you have the same question.  Perhaps you will find this post most useful, and I am all about sharing knowledge and information.

After lots and lots of phone calls, emails, and several different replies, I finally found out the real reason the ADEC suggests husbands, wives, and other family members wait 2-4 weeks before coming to meet up with their loved ones overseas.  They cannot make someone leave their family members, but they advise against it.

It all has to do with the Visa process.  As a teacher hired through the ADEC I will have my Visa sponsored through them.  My Visa will be processed before I even arrive there.  However, my husband will have to get a 30-day travel Visa upon arrival, which is only renewable once.  If my husband’s Visa in which I am his sponsor isn’t process by the time the temporary travel Visa expires, we could be facing harsh penalties.

To avoid these penalties however, there is another option.  It’s called a “Visa Run.”  Basically, if my husband’s Visa isn’t ready by the time his temporary one expires, we can drive to Oman, exit the UAE, and then re-enter, allowing him to get a new 30-day Visa (at least that is how I understand the process to work.  If I’m wrong, someone please let me know).

If you have any questions, or want a step-by-step Visa Run-down go here:

http://www.maxlyth.com/?p=134–

Here are some other websites I’ve found useful in answering my ever-expanding list of questions:

http://www.uaeinteract.com

http://www.expatexchange.com