The First Week

Well, it has been a rather slow week. Here is a quick rundown of the events:


Sunday morning began with a brief orientation. Part of this included getting bank accounts set up and photos for our ADEC identification cards.

Monday was a day off for Al Ain teachers (myself included) since ADEC was showing Abu Dhabi teachers accommodations around the city.

Tuesday was our medical exam day. Within an hour of arriving at the hospital, I was done! This included giving my medical history, blood drawn and chest x-ray. They sure were fast! And, everything seemed to be very modern, much like the States.

Wednesday, we had our visit to the police to have our fingerprints taken and photos for our IDs. This was not until late at night, so I ventured around the mall-again.

Thursday, we supposed to travel to Al Ain to see where we’ll be living for the next two years. Unfortunately, this trip was canceled and we ended up with another day off. The highlight was dinner at a little Lebanese restaurant. The manager (from Jerusalem) and the chef (from Jordan) treated us to a number of dishes in addition to our meal-it was really great food and we had a nice conversation with them as well.

Friday, in the Muslim culture, is a Holy Day. As a result most everything was be closed until late in the day. Over here, Friday and Saturday are the weekend-not Saturday and Sunday like in the States. However, the IKEA was open so we took the afternoon to shop and get a better idea of what items to order for our apartments.

Today, is another day off, so I spent some time down by the pool, getting cool in the water and soaking up the rays. Tonight, we are planning to go to the Iranian Market and do some shopping. I am told that here we will see sellers pulling things off the boats and selling just about anything. We’ll see how accurate that is.

In the mean time, School Orientation starts up tomorrow and from what I hear, it will be a much busier week.

First Days in Abu Dhabi

Well, I’m finally here in Abu Dhabi. The flight from Chicago was a long, 14 hours but Etihad provided some great service. There was plenty of food including 2 hot seafood meals, Klondike bars, and caramel corn, and drinks. The only downside for me was that my headphones didn’t work, so there were no movies on the flight for me.


When we arrived, Nirvana Travel met us and led us through Customs very smoothly. They did a retina scan on us as well as part of the processing. After claiming our bags, we were given roses, left the airport, and went to our hotel. I am staying at the Beach Rotana (5 Stars)! It has been very nice. There is fresh fruit and bottled water in our rooms each day. The only down side is no free wi-fi. The room though, is serviced 3 times a day! In fact, here is a picture of my room:

Yesterday, I went to the Marina Mall with some other teachers and we visited the Carrfour-think Wal-Mart on steroids. The food selection is tremendous, including fresh fish, spices and produce from around the world. There is everything I could get in the US and more! After that, we went to visit the Emirate Palace (a 7 Star Hotel). WOW! It sure was beautiful and grand. We also stopped and visited their Embroidery Exhibit. It was amazing.

Finally, last evening, I met up with several other teachers and we went next door to the Abu Dhabi Mall and had dinner. Since Ramadan is going on right now, we had to wait until 8 PM to eat (it is illegal to eat or drink anything in public during the daylight hours). By the time I got back to the room for bed it was 11 PM. I will have to learn to become a Night Owl and take naps during the day to keep up with everyone!

Anyway, I have to run now to get off to my orientation. I will try to post again in a couple of days. Bye, for now!

Travel Day

Today is the day I travel half way around the world.  My bags are packed and now I'm just waiting for my husband to return from running some errands before we head off in a bit to have lunch with my mom before heading to the airport.  My flight leaves St. Louis at 4 PM and then I leave from Chicago at 8:30 PM.  It will be Friday at 7:30 PM in Abu Dhabi when I arrive.  Keep in mind there is a 9 hour time difference.

Anyway, saying my goodbyes to my kiddos this morning went much better than I thought it would go-mo major tears.  I am hoping for the same when I have to say goodbye to Curt at the airport later.  This trip is going to be a test of just how independent I can be and how great a father Curt can be.   I know that we will both succeed and grow as a result of the challenges that will be ahead.

Finally, thanks to everyone for their prayers!  I love you all and will miss everyone, but will keep in contact as much as possible.  In fact, my next post will be from Abu Dhabi and will include pictures, too!  I can't wait to get there and see what awaits.

Packing for the Journey

In just five short days I will be boarding my flight in St. Louis, head to Chicago, and then make my connection to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.  Then, the adventure will truly begin.  I'll be teaching Kindergarten and living in a foreign country for the next two years.

As a result, much of this afternoon was spent packing one of two suitcase I can take on the long flight to Abu Dhabi.  Going through all of my belongings and trying to decide what to take, what not to take, and staying within the limits of my suitcases and the airline weight limits sure is a challenge.  Luckily, after about 4 hours, I have one bag packed and am well on my way to filling up the second.  I do have to give a shout out to my daughter, Abra, for helping me make some crucial decisions about what to take and how to pack it-You Rock, Girl!

Anyway, be sure to check back often and see my progress!  I promise to post often and tell the story of my adventures here.