I need another weekend

Well another weekend has come and gone. Although my work week technically started yesterday, I play along and wait until Monday because most of my friends are on the Monday-friday grind. This past weekend we didn't do a great deal but we also didn't just hang around the house, which is a first within the last three weeks. Point blank, I have been tired and lazy, and tired.

Thursday I couldn't get out of work fast enough. I am never like that so I knew it had been a long week. My hubby had the ride because the dogs were at the vet getting neutered (they still love me) so we headed to pick them up. They were not happy and they were donning the cone of shame AKA the leg slicer 3000.

He is pathetic, I know.  Weezy wasn't having one single picture taken of him so you only get pathetic Princeton.

On the way home from the vet, I got the email I had been dreading telling us that we can renew our fabulous apartment for the bargain price of AED 50,000 more than our previous lease. 

Yes, I knew that a rent increase was coming. Yes, I knew that it would probably be a little bit more than the usual 3-5% but damn! I was being overly optimistic that it wouldn't happen. So that was the topping of a craptastic week. Normally this wouldn't be a huge big deal (other than moving sucks) but our lease ends on December 29, paperwork takes forever, and oh, did I mention we are scheduled to be out of the country?! Arg.... So all this fun lead to us trying out a new Moscato and it was amazing. Or the week had been really long. Or it was just amazing. I finished about 3/4 of this glass and completely fell asleep. How sad. 

Friday we decided to drive around to get a feel for different areas outside of our extremely westernized apartment complex. It is way outside the comfort zone but I think that if the negotiations don't work out with the property management company it will be for the best. The villas are huge and they offer private yards and some even have private pools. Here are a few of the beauties we looked at, attempted to find or drove past. 

 

I guess it could be worse, right? 

So in our adventures, we 'had' to go by Starbucks and I was kind of surprised that the PSL has made its way to AD. However, who can even think of drinking this at a balmy 105 degrees? I am waiting until I get a hint of a chill. It may be November. 

Saturday we held to hanging out on the couch for the most part. Lots of TV and movies to wind out the weekend. A friends called to meet for dinner and we tried out a new place that is pretty close to the house, Stars and Bars. Seeing as it was September 11 I figured it was quite the appropriate venue. 

The food was excellent! It was a true taste of home and I am a fan of 'bar' food like nachos, wings, potato skins, etc. I ended up having a Philly and it was out of this world good! The ambiance of he place is nice. Our table was a football table with glass over the top that is a playable which was a hit. They have billiards and lots of TV's to watch sports. They are also holding down a pretty large bar that serves alcohol. I know many people think 'Duh, of course it serves alcohol' but not many bars serve alcohol here. They serve mocktails which are quite deceiving as they always look like the real thing. I am looking forward to heading back to Stars and Bars when we are sans kiddos and I am in the actual mood to hang out and enjoy the place. At about 8:30 the atmosphere completely changed and went from family restaurant to sloppy bar with girls stumbling around that had consumed way too much and had on way too little. I forgot how much I dislike this scene since moving here. It is ironic how desensitized you are to certain things when around it all the time and now its almost hyper-sensitive. I couldn't get out of there quick enough!!

I do love the area of the Viceroy hotel during the day and at night. It is beautiful and so different than anything else I've ever seen. So another lovely weekend comes to a close; I can only hope that this week shows some mercy!

Spring Break kick off

I am over the moon excited today as we pack our bags and head to Thailand tonight! I am not exactly sure what to expect but I know one thing for sure it is much needed after the last few weeks. I only planned a jungle excursion in advance so we can trek through the waters on elephants but other than that we are going to book some things once we are there. I don't want the entire trip to be running around. I hate coming back from vacation and feeling dead and completely worn out. The jet lag will probably take care of that for us.

Seeing as I am newbie traveler, I have absolutely no idea what to pack. So I have taken to Pinterest to get some ideas. Did I mention I will not be checking ONE bag!? So everything for a 5 day trip has to go in a carry on. Jesus take the wheel... So I will be posting up my favorite packing sites some Pinterest and some other sites that I found useful in my journey to pack up all the things that I need to take with me.

So check out this ridiculousness from yesterday. Talk about a way to kick off Springbreak: A huge Sandstorm. I would have to say this is my least favorite part of the UAE. I hate feeling gritty and dirty and there is zero escaping it when these babies come through. What stinks even more, there is zero warning. Usually you wake up and here it is, like yesterday.

I will say that it does a number on breathing though. Ugh.. I've gotta be more prepared and carry a scarf with me. The sand is real. While the sandstorms come quickly, they also go quickly as well. I went in to get a pedicure (this picture was about 5 minutes prior to entering the salon) and then about an hour and 15 minutes later...all gone! It was amazing. Today is absolutely beautiful and clear. So funny this weather is. I never thought I would find weather more unpredictable than Florida's but I was wrong. It is almost identical here in Abu Dhabi. 

Apparently these bags won't bag themselves and I know this is going to be a struggle so I need to get to moving. Follow the adventures in real time on Instagram @justcallmesparkles

This is like digital scrapbooking!

Still in the effort of playing catch up, I figured I would do a picture bomb post with some of the highlights over the last two months. I feel like after that I can officially move forward with the craziness. Lofty goals but you know, someone has to have them.

So up above we have:

1. Two days after my husband arrived in Abu Dhabi we stumbled upon a Mexican restaurant on the roof of the Abu Dhabi World Trade Center Mall. This was also the inaugural run of the self stick. A win all around. 

2. Finally some living room furniture and lamps. I am in love with the final look. 

3. The fog here is real. Very real. In fact, often because my school is a bit remote and outside of the city we have "fog days" and we have to wait for it to clear up before it is safe to drive. It is definitely a bit unnerving to drive when you cannot see. 

4. I broke down and bought a nescafe machine or something like that. It makes pretty drinks but it has NOTHING on my Starbucks Espresso machine that is scared and lonely in my POD storage container back home. 

5. My first henna - LOVE it!

6. Our first sunset on the beach outside of our apartment <3

7. If you follow me on Instagram you will notice that I use the hashtag #thingsthatshowuponmydesk -- these fruits are one of those items. They are kind of like an apple/pear combo. They are pretty good! No idea what they are called.

8. We found an Applebees! Yay! No bar...boo!

9. I cannot even begin to describe the nightmares that this gives me. I don't know the official name for this non-toilet but squatty potty has been used at work where I encountered my first one. Just no. It freaks me out on so many levels. 

10. Best coffee I've had here thanks to The Bagel Bar in Yas Mall :)

11. A great vintage find in the Virgin Music store - I love Gizmo!

12. When driving in Abu Dhabi you never know when a wrong turn will take you into the longest under ground tunnel ever. 

And for the late January/Feb collection:

1. Al Bandar building. I can see it everyday from my apartment and I think it is the coolest building. I am a bit disappointed that it is just boring office spaces. I mean they could put a starbucks on the ground floor of that bad boy and I would definitely keep it in business.

2. My new dining room table with buffet table. Not sure what I will ever do with the buffet but I am positive that some holiday decorations will looks fabulous on it!

3. I really want to go see Drake in Dubai. However, I just saw him in September. I mean... I could justify it under the category of "But I'll never have this chance again.."  That will become a catch all ;)

4. This is the foyer of my school. HUGE. I wish I could take better pics but there is a strict no picture policy for fear of showing someone who cannot be seen in pictures. So we settle for little glimpses and I always make sure I am solo so I don't mistakenly get someone in the picture.

5. This is how so many things get to my apartment, including groceries. I just bring a shopping cart up the elevator. Yep, no shame. There is even a number on the handle of the cart and they will come pick them up. I usually just leave it in the hallway.

6. Repeat picture... moving on..

7. Driving through Al Ain on a Thursday evening.

8. Opposite view of the living room looking towards the kitchen and balcony.

9. 24 caret Ferrari - no big deal

10. Some large lighted display in Al Ain smack dab in the middle of a roundabout. Not the safest place to put it because it is definitely a distraction but it is really pretty. I am pretty sure it is a national day left over decoration. They love them some national day.

11. I like to take pictures of my cappuccinos, what can I say. #bagelbarlove

12. One of the most bizarre occurrences since moving here.  I asked for a pedicure and I get hot wax and thermal booties put on my feet. It was beyond strange. But my feet felt amazing.

13. Saadiyat Beach Club - love this place!

14. I knew we were doing a fire drill but I had no idea that the fire department actually comes to the school and unloads the truck an does a real life scenario. It was pretty cool.

15. The view of the courtyard from my office.

16. Another item in the #thingsthatshowuponmydesk I was told it was that orange thing you use to celebrate the costume day - aka a pumpkin - but I am not 100% sure. It wasn't bad just super sweet for my taste.


Hope you enjoyed the sampling or the "photo dump" of the recent happenings. What have you been up too??

Hello, Hey, Hi, How ya doin?

So here I am. A full two months have flown by and I have thought about typing it all out several times on the computer, yet I just could never seem to get the precious minutes to sit and just spill things. Moving away from home will shake you to your core if you have never taken this leap before and I will say that even for this 30-something that is so strikingly true. I have felt emotions I didn't even know existed. I have had the highest highs and surprisingly not so many lows. For that I am thankful. I don't like to pat myself on the back much but I think that my state of mind had a lot to do with that...and I have great friends. So now I am at the cross roads where I have to make the choice of do I try to summarize the past two months or do I just say - it was okay and move forward?

Yep, not skipping it. It is bad enough I failed to blog about it, but wait for it... I didn't even write in my planner the month of February. Not.one.day. The horror. So we can hit the highlights...shall we?

So I spent NYE 2015 in the desert amidst the sand dunes and people from the U.A.E., Syria, America, South Africa, and multiple other places. I wrote a camel, had henna done on my hands, and I stayed in my new home for the first time on NYE night. The picture is definitely blurry but it serves as enough photo evidence that I have in fact ridden a camel. Check that off the bucket list.

At the beginning of January I was invited to head out with some fellow expat vice principals and that was the best invite that I have received since arriving here. These ladies have come to be my daily source of help, support, and many laughs. I also now car pool with one of them and she is by far the funniest person I have ever met. She hails from Ireland and uses the F bomb often. I like her.

My husband joined me January 8 here in the U.A.E. and that made everything seem so much better. I had been here since November 28th completely on my own and I was ready for a piece of home, especially my husband. He is adjusting well to life in the UAE and he has made a friend with a fellow husband of an AVP that live in our complex. It makes my life much easier since I know that he is not sitting amongst these preverbal 4 wall everyday. Upon his arrival we were able to pick our furniture (thank goodness!!) and get all the final touches for the apartment so it is starting to really feel like home now. We have even been out a few times to a local club - the Saadiyat Beach Club and that has proven to be a great time. We have really began settling into our new life here in Abu Dhabi. We have both found that we are becoming much more active in our lifestyle such as going out, meeting new people, and not staying in as much. It is so much easier here because if we want to have a drink or two we will but we always use the cabs here as the UAE has a zero tolerance for drinking and driving which I completed support. Since I work for the government, I definitely keep myself in check and I am careful of my surroundings when I decide to have a few drinks. I guess I am overly cautious but then again I don't think there really is such a thing.

We've had to do two separate border runs for my husband since his residency visa had to be activated by exiting the country then re-entering. We just made the trip to Oman to complete this and I will be posting specifically on this later this week to add to my previous series of post about Moving to Abu Dhabi. The border run really is easy, but it is also easy to miss steps. Luckily everyone here (and in Oman) is super nice and helpful.

While this isn't everything, it is some of the major highlights. We also bought a car (!!!) but I will do a separate post on that later this week because of those who may want to purchase once they get here. There are a few steps you need to go through so look for that later this week.

It feels good to be back :)

Furnituring & Napping for Weekending

It is always a bit difficult to remember to do any weekending link ups since my new weekend is Friday/Saturday. By Monday I forget and I am in on day two of my week and yadda yadda. However, this weekend was pretty decent so I may as well share.

Friday I decided that I needed to get busy with shopping for some furniture. I hit up the Gold Souk aka Madinat Zayed Mall. For your reference, the mall looks nothing on the inside as the pictures depict. It is more of a flea market type place, only the stores are actual stores and not booths like a traditional flea market.  However it does offer this "spiral escalator".

It is a little overwhelming as per usual Abu Dhabi, it is a large place. However, I wandered around the mostly Abaya stores (I have to get some more made) but I was on the hunt for furniture. I knew that I would be getting the keys to my new apartment on Sunday so I wanted to have an idea of how much I would be looking at. It is quite expensive when you have to furnish a home from scratch. I want a gray couch. I don't know why really other than I want to do the accent colors of teal, turquoise, and purple. So I guess it just fits.

So this gray couch has turned into a wild goose chase. I have found some that I really like, but they are not quite "it". I want separate couches, my hubby really wants a sectional which I am not opposed to so that doesn't keep me to just one type but the perfect gray couch continues to alluded me.  However, here are some that caught my eye:

I don't know exactly why this set has caught my eye.. but it is that chic, unique look that I am loving. This is my absolute favorite - only the couches and I do like the curtains but that is a whole other bear to be tackled at a later date.

This is the original couch I was going to purchase from IKEA sans owl pillow. I love owls, don't get me wrong. These owl look like they are hungry and will eat your eye as your sleeping.  This couch may still make it into the apartment and get shuffled to the upstairs living room once I decide on a nice set. Not that this isn't nice but for the space we have it will get swallowed up. 

How funny. I didn't notice but I guess this couch and the IKEA one are fraternal twinsies.

This sofa is the one that my husband really likes. It is really nice, and almost gray but is a dark brown. I was convinced that it looked gray until I uploaded this picture and I am seeing it on my computer screen rather than on my iPhone screen. Boo. I like the style of this but I.Want.Gray. Damnit.

I also scouted out beds, tables, chairs, and other miscellaneous household items before I threw in the towel. These are only a few of the pictures from probably 60 or so and several hours. There are just too many options. My husband is the decorator - I am the buyer. Not because I have the money but I have the haggling abilities and have absolutely no shame in asking for discounts, free delivery, and I don't do 8 hour delivery time frame windows. So as you can - I am missing an integral piece.

Saturday I went to the unbelievable breakfast buffet here in the hotel {that is dripping in sarcasm} and had some toast. It has been a running joke with my sister about the off the wall offerings here at the hotel on the breakfast buffet. As a friend said, it is like a T.G.I. Friday's exploded. They have toast, some juices, fruit, penne pasta, chicken wings, onion rings, egg rolls, scrambled eggs, pizza, apple pie, olives, pickles, hummus amongst many other random things. Truly bizarre. While at breakfast with another guy from my group he told me that he had English channels on his T.V. - say what?! I had not found any so I had given up and quit T.V. cold turkey. So when I got back to the room, I tried it out and hit a few buttons and by gosh I found movies. Only two channels, but I'd take it. I say on the couch, which turned into laying on the couch, which turned into napping on the couch. I woke up about 9:30pm had some M&M's and hot tea and went back to bed. I guess I needed the down day.

Sunday (my Monday) I went to ADEC first thing to pick up my contract as I was meeting the property manger at noon. I have to give props to the lady in housing (I won't use her name, she may not appreciate that) but she definitely runs a tight ship and was wonderful to me. I will be taking her some dates probably this week as a thank you. After picking that up, went right next store to the little coffee shop and had the best latte and breakfast I've had since being here in AD.

Who doesn't love pretty drinks?! 

Met up with my property manager at noon and finally got my {multiple sets of} keys! 

The view from my living room overlooking the Persian Gulf.

That, my friends, is how you end a great weekend!

Expat Journey, V2: Authenticating Docs, Items to Pack & Cell phone needs

As promised, here is the second post of this series "So you wanna teach overseas".  If you miss my timeline of events check that post out because that is always a hot questions as well. I am not an expert but since I have recently lived all this I figured sometimes it is just easy to share to ease the mind of people that are making this journey or even just thinking about it.

So you've been offered a position in Abu Dhabi by way of TeachAway and now you have to gather up your documents and get them authenticated. I waited until I had the offer letter to authenticate because I knew that it was going to be costly. Major props to all those who do most of the authentication on their own. Me, not so much. I was under a major time crunch since I has an ASAP leave time and I was scared to death I would do something wrong.  Here is what I needed to have authenticated:

1. Current teaching certificate (I made a color copy at Kinkos to send)
2. My highest degree (again, a color copy)
3. My marriage certificate (obvi. you won't need this if you're flying solo)

My cost = $520
Yeah you read that correctly. If you only have 2 docs it should be about $370.

If you are a parent traveling with kiddos and/or your divorced there are other papers you have to get authenticated as well (like birth certificates, spouses permission, etc). The lady at ProEx is great, and can walk you through everything. I only had to worry about sending her my papers and she did everything else. I HIGHLY recommend them.

If you want to do the document authentication process on your own (mad props!) take a look at this post by another expat who gives really good directions.

Once you get those docs back DO NOT TAKE THEM APART!!! They will have stamps and ribbon and be bolted together. I am pretty sure I had the ribbon and the bolt thing in my craft room but it was all done. Now scan and send them to TeachAway.

So the burning question..What do I pack?!

Well I thought I had all of this figured out. However, when I took my 3 suitcases to the airline counter and was told I could have 2 of the three and to make my decision, I wasn't prepared. I needed everything I packed. Everything. Yeah, I didn't need everything but I wanted everything. So here are my must haves, or rather what I wish I would have brought more of:

*T-shirts - maybe I am just picky but I like what I like.
*Workout pants/capris - especially more if you plan on wearing an Abaya for work
*Tennis shoes - they have them here, but I think they are cheaper in the states
*Any hair products you are a die hard about (for me, deep conditioners or straightening serum) or brand specific.
-----they have several brands (Tresemme, Pantene, Herbal Essence, Lorel Vive) available but if you are a Paul Mitchell or Salon Brand person -bring some and have some shipped over. I haven't found them yet.
*Make up foundation. I wear exclusively MAC - the studio finish liquid make up is $58 a bottle! You can get it here... but it is not as cheap as the states. They also have Maxfactor, Lorel, and Maybelline; I have not found covergirl yet.
*Plus size clothing - bring clothing that you are comfortable in. I have found business clothes in larger sizes but for the most part, its size 0-14 or 16. I found 18 in a few places. Same for guys.
*Shoes- If you wear a size 10 or larger in ladies, you might want to bring your favorites. I have been able to find size 10 shoes, but it is not as accessible. I'd say save the room in your bags and buy here. It is not impossible to find.
*Passport photos - it has taken a few weeks to figure out why I need these, but I have to give one to my landlord, to the property management company, to ADEC. You will use them just not right away.
*Apple TV or Roku- I brought my Apple TV with me. I also have subscriptions to Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime for movies.
*Headphones- my dad gave me beats with the noise canceling feature before I got on the plane. They were the best thing ever on that long flight.
*iPad/Laptop - I would definitely bring one or both. Keep in mind that many schools do not have laptops or computers for their teachers so you could be using your own. I brought a MacBook Air because the school computers are riddled with viruses.
*Pens - my family will laugh about this one, but I am a pen snob and I only like to write with certain pens. Again, this is a preference thing. Also Sharpie markers and Expo board markers if you are particular about brands.
*GPS - like a Garmin or Tomtom - when you rent a car it will be a life saver. I am great with directions and I paid attention a lot in the cabs so I am without one. I also can use my cell phone sometimes to load the map feature but sometimes it doesn't work. Or bring a good ol' map.


*Unlocked cell phone- You will need a GSM unlocked cell phone if you want to pick up a SIM card and be ready to go once you land. You can also buy a phone here, this is a preference thing if you want to shell out the money when you get there. Here is what I did:
1. Switched my service to T-Mobile before I left the states. They have coverage here in the UAE.
--My plan includes international coverage so I have my same unlimited texting and unlimited data with calls being .20 cents a minute. I have been using my phone on Wifi Calling in the hotel and the calls are free as well. My coverage is fantastic as they are partnered with Du (local provider here) and I have been extremely pleased with my service.
2. Before I left the U.S. I requested the unlock code from T-Mobile (keep in mind this takes about 72 hours to get sometimes so plan accordingly).  This means I can take out my US SIM card and put in the UAE SIM card to use my phone with a UAE number.
*I choose to not switch back and forth between the two; therefore, I carry two phones.

I did not want to do that but with my excellent plan from T-Mobile why give up that service, plus I am not losing my number from back home. I have an additional T-Mobile phone from home (also unlocked) and I have my UAE SIM card in that phone.
--Note: I was reluctant to getting the UAE SIM because I felt I didn't need it. WRONG! Everything here is done by SMS (text) and you cannot open your bank account without a local number. Go ahead and get the SIM card when you arrive.
--you will need a color copy of your passport which you can obtain from the hotel front lobby and your work visa for the SIM card

I feel like the packing should really be focused on necessities. If you want it, you can 95% find it here. There are more shops and malls that you can even imagine. However, if there is something that you are die hard, gotta have it - then bring it and buy some to leave at home so people can ship it to you. You can also ship things here in a barrel of sorts. Some of the ladies in my group did that! Good for spices, toiletries, and other things. They said it was very cost effective so I would google that for your area.

As always, if you have something specific you want to know about just comment or shoot me an email!

The Christmas that wasn't

What I am going to say might shock you. You know that run for the hills, she must have bumped her head, shock. This is my first Christmas, that wasn't. 

I couldn't be more grateful.

I love Christmas. I love the hustle and bustle. I love the shopping, the gift wrapping, the cookies, the candy, the food, and family time. I have never, ever, ever wished for a Christmas that I had none of those things. I, quite frankly, have always been an eager participant of the "hallmarking" of this holiday even though I know the true meaning. I keep my shopping list, which I never stick to, and I get the ultimate high of giving someone that awesome gift that I know that they will appreciate. So how in the heck am I enjoying my day, alone in an Abu Dhabi hotel while the entire rest of the world is eagerly awaiting Santa to bring his reindeer to their homes in anticipation of culminating morning that many Americans look forward to all month. It is simple - I have experienced Christmas for what it truly is supposed to be about. Reflection, thankfulness, and love.

Now, let me not sugar coat the fact that the last three days this girl has been driving the hot mess express because I wasn't sure how to cope with no gifts, no tree, no family, nothing that pertains to the holidays as usual. I have cried, been down in the dumps, and even said I want to go home. It has been torture of another level watching my Facebook feed stream endless Christmas memories that I encounter each year. However, with no lights to look at and no presents to wrap it made me dig deep and figure out how I was going to make it through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day without being a heaping mess.

I decided to be grateful.

While I miss my family, I now know how much I love and cherish them. Each text is answered promptly, important questions are asked.. not just the type you ask to create small talk. It is so much more meaningful now. I can't even express how much I miss my husband - but I know that the empty feeling is temporary. I know how a complete understanding of those who don't have their perfect match to spend time with, how empty, and sometimes painfully lonely, that feeling is. I have a new found love for my husband, one that I wouldn't have discovered sitting at home around a Christmas tree with twinkling lights. I am so thankful for my friends. How often we take for granted the ease of picking up a phone, texting or just dropping by. Now all calls are methodically planned and each minute is savored. How much richer my friendships are now, than if I was still back home.

I tried to go to midnight mass last night (I'm not Catholic) just to have a taste of home, the holidays, something. However, Abu Dhabi had other plans. With limited street signs, my phone deciding maps was not going to work I, instead, took a driving tour of Abu Dhabi and its neighborhoods. I finally stumbled upon the church which every other expat had. The road was closed off, people were parked in the streets an there was no getting to the church. Plus it was a little after midnight. As I sat in the car, I looked around and noticed that most of these people were Westerners like me. It was at that moment, and after a conversation with my good friend, that the message was clear. I am not alone here, as I have been grappling with the last few days. The perfect message for me - it renewed my spirit tremendously. It is about so much more than what I originally thought.

So you see, this Christmas that wasn't, was.


Merry Christmas!

Expat Journey: So you wanna teach overseas v.1

If all sentiments could ever be captured in a graphics about making the move to teach overseas, I am pretty sure that the above says just about everything - you'd just need to multiple it like 32 times for accuracy.

I figured that since I have gotten several messages since coming to Abu Dhabi, it might just be easiest if I do a few post about the prep work that brought me over here to the sandbox. Please keep in mind that this is my journey and everyones experience is at least a little different.

I began this journey with a recruiting agency called TeachAway. I had a great experience with this company and would highly recommend them to anyone who is thinking of venturing outside of the U.S. to teach. You don't have to pay for their service, it is pretty straightforward and I thought the recruiting ladies were awesome. They always answered questions and kept us informed which is critical when your life is hanging in the balance going through this process.

This is my timeline:

July 29th was my first pre-screening call for a teaching position - was told I would be sent to the next round of interview in either New York or Chicago sometime in October for a December 2014 start date

August 6th - the Academic Vice Principal position re-opened so I applied, which had an October 2014 start date!

August 8th - was sent to second round of interviews since I already pre-screened that were TBD

*At this point I started collecting documents like a crazy woman, more on that later.

August 12th - due to extremely short turn around, I was scheduled for a video interview with ADEC personnel @ 5am my time (nothing like a whole lot of pressure!)

September 9th - Received my offer letter for an ASAP start date projected in October 2014

September 12th - sent all documents through Pro-Ex to get authenticated

September 29th - The first window of possible leave date was given as October 16-18 via email. Talk about nerve-rattling.

October 3rd - received documents back from Pro-Ex fully authenticated

October 6th - sent finalized documents to TeachAway with all authenticated docs to begin the visa process

No one left between October 16-18 from my leadership group..... still waiting..

October 22nd - some in my group received an email stating that immigration was experiencing some delays which could further delay our departure

October 23rd - still in Visa processing.. I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

November 6th - my group receives an email saying we might have updated information about our departures next week. And that was the entire email...

November 10th - received my school placement *which NEVER happens before you go, this normally happens after you arrive in Abu Dhabi, so never anticipate this

November 14th - I have cleared Security and my Visa is processing!!! YES!

November 20th - several members of my group receive their golden tickets... me, not so much :-/

November 23rd - I received my golden ticket about 2:45am my time

November 27th - Depart for Abu Dhabi

So as you can see, while it seemed like it took forever my process was actually quite swift. I am so thankful because there were several in my group that started the process in January or February. I don't think I would have had enough patience for that. The roller coaster ride of this is something else. The highs are very high and the lows are very low. Remember that patience or flexibility question in your interview? Yep, this is what they were talking about. The waiting phase between the time you get your offer letter and your departure will test every fiber of your being. Not only are you packing, selling, etc. the things in your life at home but you are trying to prepare for the completely unexpected at the same time. It can be very physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. My husband was completely supportive of this and he really kept me grounded. You will need a support system to get through this process with your sanity. You will have people ask you 5 million times, "When are you leaving?" and you will want to scream because all you want to do is check your email and have that ticket waiting there. I will tell you I was starting to lose my grip and then that ticket came.

Nothing can prepare you for opening your email box and it actually being there. Nothing. I remember saying some pretty words and then I got excited and then immediately overwhelmed and a bit scared. Not scared because I was afraid, but the scared of packing my bags, getting on a place and leaving every single thing I knew behind. What was I thinking? However, the excited was still there and it still is. In my next post - I'll talk about the document authentication process and why it was just so much easier to let Pro-Ex handle that.

Feel free to comment with questions. Don't forget to check back for more post to include document authentication process, what you should (and sometimes should not) bring with you, and some other things I found that helped out along the way.

Cheers!

'Merica {shudder}

I purposefully named this post something I completely despise. More on that later...

As I sit here on this Sunday afternoon listening to the call to prayer, I am reminded that I am so extremely fortunate to be experiencing this part of the world that many only experience through the travel channel or national geographic. I have received many messages expressing concern over my being here and that I definitely thinks should be address by someone who actually lives here.

A little over a week ago an American teacher was randomly attacked by a local woman and killed in the bathroom of a public restroom. To say that it shook the emirate of Abu Dhabi is an understatement. Aside from the fact that a human being was randomly targeted and killed is what should have shaken me, no matter what the nationality. What was more frightening for me was my reaction to this news. It didn't phase me. It didn't really bother me or shake me into fear where I didn't want to go to a mall alone or to the local convenience stores. People in American die all the time; they are killed by someone over a lovers quarrel, gunned down in their homes, stabbed in bar fights, or even randomly attacked. Being this de-sensitized to such a horrendous act, when you really analyze the depth of what happened, is quite disturbing.

I was almost ashamed to admit that this was how I felt. However, this is the the world that I grew up in. Not saying that I came from the streets or I lived a rough upbringing, no. Yet I have witness this news story I can't even count how many times. Now I am living in a world where the locals apologized to the expats here for the behavior of one of their own. They are ashamed and embarrassed that their country now has a smudge on its otherwise welcoming and warm nature. This was an act that I never witnessed in America. There is no apology. There is no remorse. Are Americans that removed and de-sensitized to such acts? What was more striking about this was the apprehension of the suspect which was all video-taped. The arrest of this woman was caught on camera and unlike in America were suspected criminals are permitted to hide their face and save whatever dignity that they may have left, here that is not something that if afforded to criminals. They showed her face on T.V., they showed her home, and they were extremely forthcoming with any information that they could provide the public. For that, I applaud the police force here in Abu Dhabi because within 36 hours of the crime, the suspect was in custody. That beats the first 48 for sure. I could go for a few episodes of that now that I mention it. I digress.

My main reason for this post was to inform everyone that while yes, an instance of a horrific crime occurring is terribly sad, I do not plan to come home early. I also want people to know that I do feel safe here. I have never felt safe in the U.S. like I do here. The Arab culture is one that is mesmerizing; I want to know everything about it because it is so intriguing. I know that I still have plenty to learn and I am sure that my feelings could and may change. I really think that before rash decisions or judgements are made by people, you should really ensure that you have the experiences of more than one to make a sound judgement.

I have witnessed many things that I believe the U.S. could benefit from, for example the video taping and public broadcast of apprehension of suspected criminals. Maybe if people understood the severity of the consequences of their actions they would knock off the BS that they pull. I also believe that the U.S. needs to stop coddling people who do wrong. Some Americans have become to entitled to what they perceived as deserved that they are ruining themselves. I see Americans here in Abu Dhabi, dressed in shorts with their butts hanging out. Um, eww. While I am not muslim, nor a huge conservative, it is a sign of respect {even to yourself} to at the very least dress appropriately {plus it makes me not think in my head "Damn she doesn't love herself, she looks trashy"}. It makes me look bad as an American when I have ol' girl in her hootchie shorts standing next to me in line at the mall. Don't you know, I move away from them as I don't want to fall into that category with her because we share the same nationality. While I know some will call it conforming, which to a degree it is, I like to think about it as being respectful. You don't curse at your grandma's house, but you do at your friends house. Again, its about showing respect. Don't even get me started on this 'Merica business. When is it going to die? Just crawl into a hole somewhere and don't come back out. Ever. I absolutely hate that. I think it is one of the most disrespectful, uneducated bandwagons that people have jumped on. Since when did sounding dumb or uneducated become cool? I was told this was the "redneck" way of saying it because apparently that makes it so much better. #NO

So now that this train has completely derailed I will ...nope, never mind this train has jumped the track and there is really no way to tie this all together. Bottom line, I am safe and I am loving Abu Dhabi. Police forces back home, start videoing take downs of the big perps and broadcast it. Make sure we can all see their ugly mug, it is great T.V. and makes me want to hug the police for doing a bang up job. Lastly, American girls that visit Abu Dhabi - bring some capris. That is all.

You don't know what you have until it is gone.

 
If there was ever a YouTube video that summed up my life this is definitely it. If you didn't watch it yet, turn on your volume and hit play. 
I can relate on every level. 
Moving to Abu Dhabi I knew that there would be things I would miss like crazy. I am not talking about my husband, family or friends. I am being materialistic, snobby, and just downright needy. The level of missing things is not even really describable for these:
1. My Electrolux Front Load Washer & Dryer - I never thought I would say it, but I cannot even put into words how I miss being able to do a load of "Ahhh shit I need that" laundry in 36 minutes. This washer/dryer combo I am listening to clang around has been going for 4 hours. And no, the clothes (which are only unmentionables) are STILL not dry. Thank god for the drying rack in the bathroom.
2. My Car...dear god, my car. I have had to give every cabbie directions when I get in the cab since I have gotten here with the exception of today's gentleman who has been here for 6 years and those who are just taking me the 1.1 mile up the street to the mall. Go ahead and judge me for taking a cab 1.1 mile. I double dog dare you to want to cross the roads by foot. 
3. High Speed internet -This is like low-speed a notch above dial up. I mean it works, but dang it is slow. 
4. Real breakfast food - I miss bacon, and biscuits, and turkey sausage, and just food you should eat for breakfast. I mean they have a free breakfast here consisting of chicken wings, penne pasta, lo-mein noodles, chickpeas, pizza, and usually lots of desserts. Oh yes, and lets not forget the onion rings or egg rolls. What does a girl have to do to get some grits? A waffle? 
5. Addresses - Abu Dhabi is an up and coming big city. Some streets are very New York looking and the everything is giant and over the top. How difficult is it to put some damn numbers on the buildings?! I mean they are just instituting street names. Apparently it was a grid system before, now we have super long names for streets but no numbers. Here is how directions are given:
I am staying at the _______ hotel, it is by the hospital and next to the pizza hut but before the popeyes right after the walkway that goes over the road. 
or
If you look across the street diagonally at the mall, it is the store with the blue sign in the window with the green mat outside and there is a large cat outside. Seriously? You can build a building in the shape of a circle but we've come to this for giving directions?
6. Splenda - no artificial sweeteners here. NONE.
7. Target - I can't even speak about this one, it just hurts too much.

8. Publix - Another one that is almost too painful. I miss going and knowing where everything is. Knowing all the brands and which ones were my favorites. Here, while there is some familiar food - it is hard to pick things because I have issues with venturing to brands I know nothing about. I hope that changes in time. Publix I miss you! 

9. Wawa - ughhhh... I want a Turkey Gobbler :(

10. My professional camera. Although, this one is coming with my husband so that makes me happy!

All eyes on me

You know that odd feeling you get when you can feel someone staring at you? Like the little hairs stand up on the back of your neck and you don't want to look up too quickly to let on to whomever is, indeed, staring you down that you have this crazy sixth sense? You try to nonchalantly gaze up with just your eyes, looking side to side to determine where this hole is being stared into you from. Sometimes you are just being completely paranoid. Sometimes you really are the center of attention and while the stares are not harmful, you are definitely more acutely aware of everything that is going on around you.

Welcome to my first day of work here in Abu Dhabi.

Enter my alarm clock at 4:50am... I definitely snoozed until about 5:20am because I had plenty of time but with my habit of just hitting snooze, I figured I might as well set 14 alarms to ensure that I don't oversleep on my first day of work. I had to catch a taxi to the local Holiday Inn here on the Island to meet my manager who was taking me to the school. Wouldn't you know that I was lucky enough to find the ONLY taxi driver in Abu Dhabi that didn't know where the Holiday Inn was. Are you kidding me? We went in circles and roundabouts and all sorts of fun. Did you know that taxi cab drivers do not like to look at maps, particularly ones on my iPhone that say right where we need to go? I digress.  I made to to the Holiday Inn ten minutes late to meet my manager but then again, she arrived 15 minutes late so no harm, no foul and whats his face finally got me there. #getamap

So we drive and drive and I arrive at my school. It is huge. There are huge walls around it, which I don't know if I will ever get used too, and there are several security guards outside as the parents drop off making sure that the girls get into the building and there are no accidents in the parking lot. Walking in, I was a little nervous but ready to get this part over with. The reception area of the school is massive. Huge vaulted ceilings, large ornamental couches and chairs with velvet coverings. It looked like something out of a movie.

I met with the other Vice Principals and they both seem like really great ladies. One is well established within the school and one is newer. I also met the principal later on after she arrived and she was very kind and pleasant as well. They kept telling me that this is my home now and that we will get along just fine. It will take me forever to remember names because they are not the usual Jennifer, Mary, etc. My position is a newer position that not all schools have had so they are absolutely adjusting to my presence as I am adjusting to theirs. I have to share what my job description is and I hope that we can talk as an admin. team to determine if how the job is written will best suit the needs of the students. That is my main priority. I will say it is very odd to not understand anything that is going on around you. All of the conversations, both professional and just conversation, were in Arabic. Not that I expect things to change at all for me, but I definitely reverted back to some of my communication undergrad classes to try to get a grasp on what was going on. Did you hear that Meredith... we did go to class for a reason! #noiwillnotgoshoppingwithyou

The office they put me in today which may be mine, I am not sure, is definitely destined for me. It is Pink! Two walls are one shade of pink and the other two walls a lighter shade. #TheyKnewIWasComing I will be so happy when I have all the tools I need to work and get started on things so today was a down day. I met with the EMT's (English Medium Teachers) mostly from the U.S. and some from the U.K. They seemed like a great bunch and I definitely look forward to working with them. Especially since many of them were in my shoes at one point in time and some of the ladies have only been here a few months so they can definitely empathize with the struggles. Let me tell you this car struggle is real. Really real. I went to inquire today about a long term rental/lease. However, I also had to rent a car for a few days because I cannot take not being able to get around on my own anymore. I need my independence back. I also need to keep my dirhams in my pocket. Tomorrow I will head to the main ADEC building to get the rest of my stuff done (hopefully) and move forward with housing and being able to sign into school. They use your finger print (very cool) so I need to get that straightened out.

I will say that I had to stop myself from getting frustrated today because, like every American, I want it done now, Now, NOW! News flash... not America! Everything is so laid back and take your time. That is definitely the adjustment for me. That is an adjustment as well as having coffee & tea service in the school. There are two ladies who are there to bring us, the teachers, and the parents fresh coffee and tea all day.

Mind-completely-blown.

The Adventure to Abu Dhabi aka #therodriguezabudhabiadventure

Why hello friends! So my last post was a bit ago, but hot damn if I am now checking in from my new home, Abu Dhabi. So I'll run back the last week or so just to catch everyone up. So if you are not into a long read, just go ahead and check the pics ;)


So rewind back to the morning of November 23. You know, I was waiting for the ticket. Let's be serious, I was freaking out that I wasn't going to get mine and I would be following my groups journey from home. However, I woke up about 2:30am in the morning and I knew that my ticket was waiting in my email box. Yet, I refused to check my email because I was tired of stressing and stalking my email. It was literally making me sick. So I went back to sleep but woke up at 8am and went ahead and picked up my phone.

I immediately felt sick. I checked the email probably 15 times - I couldn't believe that this was really happening. Then I looked at the fly date - Thanksgiving. Sonofa... I knew it was a possibility but I was really hoping for Friday. Either way, I was stoked after the initial sick feeling. Then I realized I had to break the news to everyone. Well, we all know how that went.

So the next few days were a whirlwind of saying goodbyes, packing, repacking, more goodbyes, more packing. I tried to spend all of my time with everyone I could, especially my husband and family. There was not a lot of time to really take into account that I was getting ready to leave the country, to make a big move, and to leave everything. That time was so quick, yet so precious at the same time. 

So the big day arrived and I was lucky to have my little entourage come with my to the airport that was of course my husband, my sisters, my brother-in-laws, and my sister from another mister, Allie. The drive to the airport was very hard but I tried to keep it all together because I knew that it was hard to for everyone else.  Little did I know, the fiascos for this trip were only just beginning. Upon arrival and checking in, I was told that I couldn't bring one of my suitcases. Um, what?! So of course on zero sleep, being up for over 24 hours, a complete meltdown ensued. How can anyone expect me, or any one else, to move around the world with two suitcases. Child please... So we had to flip my suitcases, repack things, take things out, rearrange, show everyone in TIA my undies (you're welcome if you were in line) and then the lady comes back and says, "I spoke to a manager and you can bring the bag but you have to pay." Well no kidding that was the plan the entire time. Getting all the bags under 50 pounds was another challenge. So we got all the bags checked in and then it was time to go because it took a lot of expected time. Saying goodbye was hard. Really hard. That is not something that I look forward to ever having to do again, even though I know that it will come in time. Leaving my husband was heartbreaking. We have never been apart for more than a week or two. So I did my last wave, went through security and RAN to my gate. I was the last one on the plane.  We flew into JFK and that was another fiasco as I am sure it is the worst airport ever. Huge, unmarked, and very disorganized. JFK - as much as I love NY and all things NY - get your shit together. Seriously. 

So upon arrival at the Etihad gate to check in, I am told I cannot bring my carry on bag. The lady said, just leave it here. Um, no. I immediately went to hysterics again. Needless to say, that bag also made it on the plane. Leave my bag behind.. cray. So as I am boarding my plane I get this meme from my brother-in-law, Alex 

Needless to say that made me smile before embarking on the long journey. It definitely reminded me that I need to keep a positive outlook and just try to roll with the punches the best I knew how. Lord, it was a good thing that I had that outlook before getting on this plane. I have never been on an international flight so I had no idea what I was in for. All I can say is whoa...

My Chariot 

Um, what is this?!

I would quickly get used to Arabic everything.

These in-flight monitors were really neat for the first few hours and then I was pretty sure that they never moved. I would check and they would only say it had been about 15-20 minutes. I am not sure what was worse knowing that I had 10 hours left or feeling like it had been ten hours since I checked the screen last. 

The sunrise over Saudi Arabia. It was beautiful 

Flying into Abu Dhabi. The water is amazing.

Once we finally landed and I was walking through the plane, I see this. This is the business section of the plane. See also: where I will make this trip every.single.time from this point forward. No more coach for this girl. Even with an empty seat next to me - it was cramped and so uncomfortable. I am assuming that any flight that is 13 hours is uncomfortable though. 

Once off the plane, we went to the eye scan station (weird). I guess it is like your fingerprint, only more high tech. Then through the passport station so we could get our stamps then through security again to leave the airport. I thought that was really odd but whatever. I found my baggage at the luggage carousel pretty easily then myself and another lady I few on the same flight with found our driver. After some creative stuffing of the suitcases in the car, we were on our way. It felt very familiar and a lot like Florida. Palm trees, sunshine, green grass and a little hashtag sign right outside the airport :) Love it.  We got to our hotel and I completely crashed. I was so tired. 

I wandered to the pizza hut next door and picked up a small pizza since I was pretty hungry. It was definitely the best thing I've ever eaten (or I was starving). Then I just looked out the window of my hotel room for a long time. Drinking in the view... I was really here. All of the tears, stress, frustration, anticipation.. it was all over and I was really here. It felt so odd to not know where I was, where to go for things, or what I was going to do next. For this Type A, control freak that is very hard. Yet, I managed. 

So today marks a week that I have been here in Abu Dhabi. I've had a few rough days - I miss my husband, my family, and my dogs more than I ever through would be possible. I have cried a few times because I just miss home and the familiarity of everything. I've cried because I don't want to sleep alone at night. I've cried because I can't get Hulu to work. As you can see we run a long range of emotions on this roller coaster. I don't have a car here and that piece of independence is a hard adjustment right now. I know I will get a car soon but in the interim I am utilizing the public transportation of buses and taxis. I am thankful it is easy to maneuver and it definitely is giving me a more authentic experience. It is also helping me find things because I sit on the bus and just look around like a child in a toy store.  I am beginning to adjust and understand the culture. I am also a lot happier than I was a few days ago. Sunday and Monday were hard days for me - really hard. I am not sure why, but different things trigger different emotions. I was walking home from the Corniche the other night from National Day celebrations (more on that venture later) and I saw a women walking a dog. My heart ached, as in I was holding back the ugly cry because she was being a real bitch to her dog (see what I did there) and it made me mad.  I would do anything to have one of my babies here with me. So I promptly wished that her dog would pee in her shoe when they got home. The dog winked at me as we stood waiting to cross the road; He knew what I was thinking. {note: of course I winked back at the dog, hello...that is a secret code, didn't you know?}

That of course is just a sampling of what I've done since I've been here. The Malls are plentiful and abundant. There is more shopping to be done here than anyone could ever wish for in a lifetime. There are beautiful buildings, Mosques, and attractions to see. Since I am a little more comfortable now (and not sleep deprived) I think that I will definitely try to begin to experience a little more. I have work starting up soon and my main goals are locate and secure housing, get a car, and get my husband here. I am hoping for a resident visa in the next week or two so i can secure his flight and get him here. I think that with him being here I will have more of a solid foundation. The ladies and men that I have met in my group have been great. I am sad to think that many of them that are placed in other areas will be leaving the hotel on Tuesday to go to their respective locations. While they are still in the area, and when I say area I am speaking within the Abu Dhabi area, it is still about an hour drive. Yeah, see that no car issue really is an issue! But I will adjust and acclimate...because after all that is what this whole experience is about for me. Adjust, acclimate, learn to accept change, and continue to roll with those punches.

Viva Abu Dhabi!  

Oh yes, this move to Abu Dhabi totally allows me to step up my link up game seeing as I am posting this on Saturday at 12:50am and it is only 3:50pm back in the states.  I always remember to blog late at night or miss link ups by a few hours so this is definitely going to work for me. #timechangeforthewin