Egypt-Alexandria

We ended our adventures back in Alexandria, but getting there was a bit of an adventure itself.

We left in fog. Fog like we have here in Liwa. Though it was a little better on the actual roads. Apparently not great though. We saw nine accidents along the way. I was sleeping for a while, but when I woke up and saw the accidents, there was no going back to sleep. As I write this, I cannot help but think of those killed in an accident on that same road. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those victims.

Thank God, we arrived in Alexandria safe and sound. The fog cleared and we were able to tour the city. The tour places in Alexandria were much shorter stops than the ones in Cairo so it still took all day, but we saw a little bit more.

One of our stops was the ruins of the Roman Theater. It was really interesting to see these ruins that are right in the center of the city. They city has grown up around them. The catacombs were the same way. These were our first stops. The catacombs, is a burial area that has a mix of Greek/Roman and Egyptian influences. You walk down 90 steps and find the burial chamber of a king and queen. The interesting thing about the catacombs discovery was it was done by a donkey. Yes, you read correctly, a donkey. He fell into the catacombs, therefore discovering the area below. It is dark and wet down in the catacombs. The elements have washed away any evidence of human burial having occurring in the tombs. It was interesting to view, but when you are down there you are on wooden boards. I was happy to get up and back onto solid ground.

We were able to drive up to the Citadel. The building was interesting, but I was more excited to be close to the sea. There was an area of vendors, so we walked and explored what wares they were selling. It was very similar to the bazars in Cairo, but the background was more scenic. I was not able to climb down and put my feet in the Mediterranean, so I will have to do that from another shore on another visit.

Another one of our stops was the Alexandria Library. It is the largest library in the world. The design is the most unique that I have every seen. It has a stone semicircle that is decorated with language characters from over 120 languages. The architecture alone is interesting, but then you enter it and its has various areas of art and, of course, books. I was not able to go into the actual area with the books, but I still enjoyed the various exhibitions set up throughout the building.

After the library, we headed for Montazah Gardens, unfortunately it was dark by then so we were unable to see that much. We were able to drive up to the palace and take pictures though. It was a gorgeous structure architecturally. At this point I was fairly tired, so I would love to say that I have more exciting things to share, but I was ready for bed and wanting to get to the hotel.

Our hotel was conveniently located around a shopping area. As if we hadn't spent enough money in Cairo already. Our last day in Egypt was a free day. After sleeping in and having a relaxing breakfast, we set off to explore a little. I found a suitcase to put my souvenirs in a "dress" to wear to more formal occasions. Others explored and shopped longer, but I choose to take the afternoon to relax before we went out for Christmas dinner. I chose to wear my new outfit to Christmas dinner. Our hotel was having a dinner, but on their explorations earlier they found a place with a better menu for a better price. It was a lot of food and really delicious too! The first course was Cream of Mushroom Soup, Second was Chicken Pot Pie--it was in a pastry and that is not what it was called, but that is what it reminded us of, Turkey, rice, and potatoes, and then desert. I was stuffed. By the third course I was not able to eat a lot. If we weren't leaving the next day I would have taken it to go, but unfortunately I had enough to drag to the airport already. It was not the same as being home, but it was really nice to be with good friends and have a nice meal on Christmas. Though it may not have felt that way.

The next morning we headed back to the tiny airport. Navigated our way through the hoards of people and after some fog delays, managed to get on our flight home.

The experience was one that I will never forget. I do have to give a shout out to Mrs. Reagen Dinelli here because she helped prepare me for the trip in a lot of ways. I was never without money for the bathroom thanks to her advice. ; )

I am not sure if I will get the chance to go back, but if the opportunity arises, there is plenty more to see.

Egypt- Cairo

Oh Cairo, how do I explain your charm, your traffic, your excitement?

On cue, I woke as we entered the city of Cairo. Whether it was the anticipation of being close, or the blaring horns from the the cars, I can't be sure. I thought I had been in some crazy traffic situations before, I was wrong. As you drive through Cairo you are not sure how many lanes of traffic there are. Sometimes it is three, sometimes four or five. It all depends on what time it is, how many vehicles are on the road, and how big those vehicles are. It was crazy. Definitely not somewhere I would ever drive. Crossing the street as a pedestrian is not much better. There are little to no crosswalks. You just start walking and hope that they stop because there are not stoplights to help you cross. We figured out that if you follow children then you are safe. They at least slow down for the children.

Another thing that I noted about the traffic was the type of cars on the road. I think that Cairo is where all cars go to die. I saw types of cars that I did not think even ran in this decade. Yet, there they were in Cairo, beat up and putting their way down the road.

Cairo has a lot of similarities to New York. Both have areas you don't want to be caught in at night, they are dirty, as cities tend to be, crowded, and definite areas of upper class and lower class living. These were all my first impressions of Cairo, but once I had been there for a few hours and adjusted to the hectic weaving of traffic, I start to see the unique charm of the city.

There are few places in the world that you are able to wake up in an apartment and look out at the pyramids. They stand tall and majestically in the middle of this bustling metropolis. Though the people are many, they are diverse. Though many are out to get your money, overall they are very friendly and happy to welcome visitors to their country.

Our first night in Cairo we went to the Giza platform to see the Light and Sound show. To be honest, it was dated and a little cheesy, but it was my first glimpse of the pyramids and sphinx so I didn't care much. Nestled under a blanket because it was quite cold at night, I listened to the history of the pyramids and sphinx as different colored lights lit the ancient structures. I left thinking to myself, "Did I really just sit in front of the sphinx?" I don't think it truly sank in until I was there in the daylight the next day. I am jumping ahead though, so let me go back to the beginning of our full day of touring.

Leaving early in the morning, our first stop was the Cairo Museum. Not really a museum person personally, I knew it would be interesting, but not the highlight of my day. I think I may have enjoyed the museum a little more if it was not so crowded. However, on Wednesday it closes early so everyone goes early. I could barely move without running into other tour groups, and they would rush past you, pushing you into a monument to make sure they did not lose their group. Our group was a little more low key. We knew where we were to meet so we wandered somewhat together, but without worries. The museum is packed with more than you take in at one time. Statues, tablets, sarcophaguses, are stuffed in every corner possible. It is a twisted maze between monuments and artifacts of every imaginable shape and size. I think what sticks with me the most is the detail of the artifacts. From the jewelry to the paintings and carvings-- they were done with what we would consider "simple tools". They are some of the most beautiful an artfully crafted pieces done with so much skill.

We left the museum and made a short stop at a papyrus museum. It was more a store, but they did a demonstration of how they make the paper before you were able to shop. I say that it was a short stop, but in reality we ended up shopping for  quite a while. It was the first place that I spent money and I spent quiet a bit. The pieces were so beautifully done it was hard to not want to take one of everything, so I think I did well with the ones that I chose. After spending our money, it was off to the Pyramids and Sphinx.

As I mentioned earlier, this was the highlight of Cairo for me. In my head was a running mantra of "I'm really here, I made it to see the Pyramids!" As with most things, they are bigger in person. Driving up to them they did not seem all that, but once you got under them. Wow! Now, I am not one who believes in the alien theories, but I do have to wonder how in the world they managed to build these magnificent structures. The Sphinx was carved out of stone so I can understand that a little easier. The pyramids . . . the stones are massive! I know that they were a brilliant culture so I am sure they found a way, but looking at it now and knowing what they had, it is hard to fathom. The best part of the pyramids was my camel ride! I had been on a camel sure, for a minute at most, but I wanted to really ride a camel. I thought what better place than the pyramids.

If you follow the road up, you reach an area where you get a panoramic view of the three pyramids. There are vendors and then tons of horses and camels you can ride. I got to ride 007. Yes, that really was his name and it was fitting. He didn't like being at the back of the group and constantly tried to get ahead to be the leader. It didn't work, but I give him credit for trying. Getting up and down was a little scary, but it was so much fun. You are really high up on a camel. We headed off the hill and then came around the corner and could see the pyramids. A chill went all the way up my spine when I realized that this is how they would have travelled then. I got to see views of the pyramids that you only got if you went on a ride. It was amazing to see the pyramids and Cairo stretched out own below them. I felt a sense of peace and harmony with everything at that moment. I know that sounds weird, but I don't know how else to explain fulfilling a dream that you have had, that you never really thought would happen. I can't stop smiling as I sit and write about the experience.

The thrill continued as we heading back down the hill to visit the Sphinx up close and personal. I thought it was amazing seeing her the night before, but seeing her as the sun set with the pyramids in the background was breathtaking. It is sadden that Napoleon had to use her for target practice-- though he did have a small man complex, so I am sure that had something to do with it. The Sphinx is the size of a pyramid. It does seem like it is guarding the pyramids. This theory sinks in even more when you think it was what got shot at and attacked and the pyramids remain unharmed, for the most part. Though I could not deny that I was a tourist, I did at least refuse one tourist habit. I didn't get a picture of me "kissing" the Sphinx. I just stood in front, giving her the respect I feel she deserves. I wish we had more time to take in the scene, but the sun was setting so the guards kicked us out. They don't want any tourist falling off one of the cliff sides, it would be bad publicity.

After so much you would think, what else is left. SHOPPING! The Khan El Khalili Bazers have everything you could want. The first visit that night we only got to see a taste of the stores. From clothes and trinkets to food and spices, they really have everything. Even a husband if you are so inclined. ; ) They were a little overwhelming at first and it was annoying being called at left and right, but once you learned how to work it, things went more smoothly. Plus, it helped that we had a security guard who was packing some heavy duty heat. If anyone got too annoying, he would pull back his jacket and we moved alone with ease. It was nice, I felt protected, and it made the experience easier. Though I think trying to wrangle a bunch of women around a crowded shopping area took its toll on him. A few times you could read the stress on his face, almost as if it said, "I don't get paid enough for this." He loved it though. We had fun for a few hours, but knew we would definitely return tomorrow.

The next day was a free day. We decide to sleep in a little and head out to the bazars again. The tour company was kind enough to get us transportation so that helped a lot. We spent four hours shopping. Yes, I said four. It was crazy. A lot of money was spent. Deals were made. Julie is a fantastic bargainer. With her you are not paying more than you have to. Though I have to say I did a good job bargaining myself. I found presents for myself, and family as well. They will have to wait until summer to get them, but I am happy that I found something. It was really interesting navigating the streets. Sometimes they would get so narrow that you had to walk single file, because even doing that it was one way. No one would be able to come up the other way. Then other areas were wide open and you could walk five across. A lot of the shops sold the same items, so it was easy to pit them against each other to get the best deal. Being blonde and American I got plenty of marriage offers as well. The previous night we heard some of the "best" pick up lines ever. Some were even new to me, it was quite amusing. Overall, a very unique shopping experience, but I would take the bazars over a mall any day. They were alive with culture and life, something you cannot get at a mall.

After shopping we were ready to head home, but we had arranged to eat lunch on the Nile. It was a nice lunch and with a wonderful view. Though I have to admit that the Nile is not that impressive in Cairo. It seems like just another river. I am sure if I took a cruise there might be areas more captivating, but I am still glad to have gotten to see it.

That night some of us went to the Cairo Ballet. We got to see the swanky side of Cairo and enjoy a performance of The Nutcracker. I had never seen it live, at least not that I can remember, so it was a very nice treat for me. It was a really nice way to end our last day in Cairo.

Egypt- The Beginning

Where to start?

I went to Egypt Dec. 21-Dec. 26th. The purpose was to have something to distract me during the holidays, but it was also a trip I have been wanting to take regardless. To get a good deal, we left from Sharjah instead of Abu Dhabi. Our flight was early in the morning and none of us wanted to get up to drive to the airport that morning. In retrospect that probably would have been the more sane thing to do, but not nearly as fun. Before I get any farther I should probably qualify the we. It was a group of eight. Gayle, Julie, Carmela, Samaya, Lucy, her son, Alan, Bayyinah, and myself.

Bayyinah and myself drove together. We slept in and left around 1 o'clock on December 20th. The trip to Sharjah only takes about 3 hours and we were not going to sit in the airport for hours on end so we made a few stops along the way. First, Abu Dhabi for a quick stop at Emirates Palace. As you may have heard, the UAE put up an 11 million dollar Christmas tree at their largest and most expensive hotel. It is decorated in jewels ranging from pearls to emeralds and sapphires. Yes, you could say it  is a display of wealth, but everything was on loan. They just wanted to do something no one else had done before. They are into setting new records, and doing something no one else would think of doing. I am not sure what I was expecting when getting there, but it was just a tree. Sure, it was beautiful and the jewelry unbelievable, but still just a Christmas tree. I'm glad I went because I can say that I saw the multi-million dollar tree, but had we not been wasting time--I'm not sure I would have made the  trip. By the time we left Abu Dhabi it was late afternoon, we had timed it perfectly and missed most of the traffic in and out of Abu Dhabi. Next stop on the trek, Dubai.

The problem with stopping in Dubai . . . I spent too much money. Now, before you say tisk tisk--- they were good buys, and not all for me. I bought Hannah a birthday present and me some much needed items, like my watch. I was hoping to find a light coat for Egypt, but nothing was priced low enough for me. I didn't love any of the ones that I found enough to get them. Dubai is where we managed to kill most of our time. After a bit of shopping and then dinner, we saw the new Narnia movie. By that time it was 1AM and time to head to the airport.

Even in Dubai, there is not that much traffic on a weekday at 1AM. We arrived at the airport a half hour later and dragged our luggage into the departure terminal. We almost had to stay in the lobby area for two hours, but we played the woman card and were aloud the go through to the gate. The rest of our travel group, minus Lucy and her son, had arrived much early that evening and were half asleep at the gate when we arrived. At this point all of us tried to sleep and it worked somewhat. We got pretty silly towards the early hours of the morning and were happy to be able to pass out on the plane. Considering all the running around that I did, I was proud that I managed to only lose my sunglasses. The only bad part was there were no cheap ones to replace them, so I am now the proud owner of Armani Sunglasses. I won't be losing these.

I'm sure at this point you are wondering when I am actually going to talk about Egypt. Now!

We arrived at Alexandria late morning of the 21st. The airport was very small. I was surprised. With all the people in the airport it was extremely hard to move through immigration. If you did not like being around a lot of people I suggest that you fly into a different airport. There is a newer and larger one that you can fly into. I know that is where I am flying into if I ever return.

Considering we did not know where or who to meet at the airport, we found our guide fairly easily. Our stuff was loaded onto the bus and after being joined by a few others, we were off to Cairo. Since it was a three our trip, we decided to have lunch in Alexandria before heading out. We were all tired, but more importantly hungry at that point. Our guide took us to a local restaurant that looked out over the Mediterranean Sea. It was called Athineos and had a decent buffet. After being feed, we all fell asleep on the ride to Cairo.

Adapting to the Culture

When you move to another country inevitably you are going to pick up certain traits and habits from that culture. They can be good or bad, and a lot of it depends on how you look at it. For example, if I were to say that I don't care as much. Someone could see that as a bad thing, but in reality it is that I don't fret the things that I have no control over anymore. I have learned to live life and let things fall as they may and if necessary deal with it then. That I would have to say is probably the leading cause of why I am happier here. Other small changes include thinking about the temperature in terms of centigrade, learning some Arabic, starting to kind of like dresses and skirts, and being able to get away with sandals year-round without strange looks. I'm sure there are others, but those are the ones that come to mind.

One habit that I recently "examined" and "tested" was their sleeping habits. Mainly due to weather in the spring, fall, and summer many people are forced indoors to escape the grueling heat. However, as you would guess, sitting around the house all day can make a person go mad. Their solution-- sleep. You won't care if you are stuck indoors all day if you sleep through it. Considering the climate it is a perfectly reasonable and logical way to function, but what does that mean when you have to work in the morning. How do you get around sleeping during the day and staying up late at night?

Naps! You see, in the Arab culture they still get their eight hours of sleep a day, it just isn't in one continuos stretch at night. You get up early, go to work, come home and nap for a few hours, wake up and eat dinner, do any work that needs to be done, and it is back to bed. Everything gets done and you get your rest. I admit that at first I was not sure how in the world they could function. My students would tell me about how they nap after school and then end up not going to bed until 1 or 2AM in the morning. When you have to get up to pray at 5AM, that all seemed crazy to me. Now whether it was on purpose or by accident I do not know, but somehow I started adopting this habit as well. I come home and take naps after school, which started out short, but have seemed to lengthen. This has lead to very late nights and early mornings. When I realized that it had been a while since I had gone to bed before midnight, I blamed the naps and initially tried to remedy the situation. It didn't work. Eight hours is eight hours right?

That is the question that I have come to figure out holds the key to why I am still so tired that I had to start writing this blog to keep myself awake and alert. Eight hours broken into pieces, does not help your body the way that eight continuous hours at night can. I am not saying that this culture is wrong for their habits, I just don't think it works for me. Who knows, maybe if I pushed through and keep this up for a while, I would become just as energized and functional as the rest of them. Getting there is the problem, because I love me sleep and would rather not struggle.

In the end, what I have come to realize is that I cannot completely hand yourself over to a new way of life. As much as I would like to, there are certain things that will remain the same about the way I live. I can still become a part of a culture and learn to understand a culture without changing who I am completely. I know that it seems weird that such a deep idea was brought on by something as simple as sleep, but what can I say, inspiration sometimes comes from the most unlikely places.

Fog- Like You Have Never Seen

Today I woke up for school and it was the first day that it seemed it was not foggy. The bus came to get the teachers and students from the building, which meant I needed to leave on time. Since it was pretty clear from what we could see, I was not concerned. However, isn’t there a saying about what you can’t see?

We hit a patch of fog that was really bad. I could barely see the lines on the road to follow them. I pulled over and creeped along to see if it was just a patch. It was. I sped up a bit and then another patch cropped up. It was worse than the first one. I couldn’t believe it! With the help of some other travelers, we were able to get off the road to safety. It was only then that we found out that it was actually fog and smoke. I can still smell the burning debris on me as I sit and write. The farmers here burn things on foggy days that they are not allowed to burn normally. Not smart at all. The fog mixes with the smoke and you cannot see your hand in front of your face. I was very thankful to have found other drivers and gotten to the side of road safely.

As we stood on the side of the road, toes getting cold from the damp morning. The screech of rubber, crumpling of metal, and shattering of glass rang out from within the fog. The fog is so bad we cannot even tell where the accident has occurred. The wind shifts a bit and you can barely make out the outline of a bus and truck on the other side of the road, or what was left of the truck. Within seconds the screech of tires rang out again, as another larger truck slams into the accident. Despite the sturdiness of the truck, the front end is crunched pinning the driver in the cab. I recount this horrible incident to reflect on the grace of God and the strength of human effort. 

Still barely able to see, workers from a range of cultures dashed across the road to the median. They ran down the road hailing to the cars still driving to avoid more victims being added. Even with a lack of visibility they risked their lives to stop it from becoming an even bigger disaster. Of course the police were called, but with the weather, it would be a while until they were able to reach to scene. The men banded together to help get the people out of the car. Pinned in the car and blocked by the truck you could hear the people cry out in pain. I watched as the men lifted and moved the smaller truck in order to get to the people in the larger. Using whatever materials they had on hand, they worked together to pry free the driver. By the grace of God, they only had broken bones, but were alive and breathing. It could have been much worse. It was a terrible thing to watch unfold, but as I saw all of these people from different cultures coming together to help a stranger, I couldn’t help but feel some sense of pride in the humanity and strength shown by the people there. 

Though the accident was on the other side of the road and I was clearly safely tucked off the road, I still looked to sky to thank God. There are many things that could have transpired today that didn’t. I feel gracious to be alive, unhurt, and able to tell this story. Each day in the country I find myself in a new adventure, but that is one adventure that I am not anxious to experience again. Alhumdilallah!

National Day-2010

On December 2nd 1971 the UAE was formed. Each year the country celebrates what they call National Day. This year marked year 39. I thought America was young, and it is, but this country is a baby. The major difference is the richness of the culture here.

The celebration and show of pride puts our Fourth of July to shame. Two weeks before the week of National Day each city starts placing flags and lights around the city. Each light post proudly holds a flag, each tree a set of lights. The week of National Day the lights are lit. They decorate the streets in sparkles of color. They have fireworks all week long and decorate their cars with shades of black, red, and green. Like I said, the amount of pride shown during the week prior and days after are amazing. Even the Arab expats living in this country seem to have a sense of pride for what the UAE has been able to accomplish in so few years.

The schools hold celebrations as well. It is a little unfair to compare this to the American holiday since we are not in school, but I think it is worth mentioning. The celebration honors not only their prosperous future, but the past. They honor the people and traditions that brought them to where they are today. I think that many cultures today forget what it took to get where we are now.

I am going to get off the soapbox and get back to the real purpose of this entry. My days off were uneventful for the most part. I had fun though. Thursday was a BBQ at Julie's. It was nice to catch up with all the people from MZ. I am always happy to have good food and not have to cook as well. Friday Hannah and I hung out. It was one of the easiest babysitting jobs I have had. Saturday was the best part for me. We went up to Al Mirfa and went to the beach!

I still find it hard to believe that I was at the beach in December. More so than just being there was the fact that I actually got in and went swimming. I could really get used to that. The water is extremely salty in the gulf and I think it helped to clear my sinuses as well. A trip to the beach was what I needed. It came just at the right time. With all the National Day decorations and celebrations, I was starting to feel a little homesick. This is the first time that I am away for the holidays, and with all the celebration happening, it was hard to forget the approaching holidays. Homesickness is a part of culture shock, so I was expecting it at some point, but it didn't make it any easier to ignore or deal with. Thankfully, I had one more day to relax and get back to the real world. Cleaning, laundry, that sort of thing. Though I would not have said no to another day or two of rest and relaxation.

Overall, National Day was nice. I am not sure what I expected, but a nice, calm, long weekend was just fine with me. Maybe next year I will be brave enough to head into Abu Dhabi for the big celebrations.

Thanksgiving Abroad

The holiday season has officially started and I have to say that it is a little sad being away from home. I am used to being with family during Thanksgiving and Christmas and that isn't going to happen this year. I am having fun and I have new friends that are like a family to me over here . . . but it isn't the same. Plus, I almost feel guilty for not missing them more. I know that sounds weird, but sometimes things are so good and I am content that guilt creeps in. Comes with the being raised Catholic thing I guess.

Anyway, we decided that we needed to have a Thanksgiving celebration among the western teachers out here in Liwa. You see being out of the city at times like this can cause problems. Nothing big, but it still requires some advance planning. Luckily, we had three loving people who were willing to do the hard part of shopping in Abu Dhabi for necessary supplies. Funny thing is, the none of the three are Americans. They did really good though. They got everything we needed and what we couldn't find, we improvised.

I was in charge of the sweet potatoes. I thought it is my mom's speciality ever year so maybe I wouldn't screw it up. At the least I could channel her and hopefully come up with something good. Well, it worked. The only weird part was the color of the potatoes. We all know yams. They are bright orange and taste delicious. Well,  sweet potatoes here--at least the only ones that we could find--are white inside. It was a little strange. In the end, they tasted really good and there was nothing left for the next day so that is really good sign. I am happy things turned out well. I do have to thank Mom for the directions and good vibes that she sent this way.

I have to say that the Liwa crew can cook. Forget going to the hotels for buffets and fancy dinners. We are setting up potlucks from now on. Everything we had was good from the dinner to the dessert. We had all the traditional fixings of course. Even my chocolate mousse. Overall, it was a great day to spend with some new friends. Life can never stay the same forever and I think that is something that I am trying to remember when adjusting to holidays away from home. Though we all love to be with our families during the holidays, sometimes a Skype call is all you can manage and you look forward to the day when you will get to spend time together and enjoy that time when it comes.

Before I get too sappy and cliche (too late really) I am going to cut this blog short. Until my next adventure . . .

Vacation Fun-The Last Days

I have never been a huge fan of fishing nor was I any good at it, but when Abdula offered to take us out on the Arabian Gulf, I was more than happy to go.

When we got home from Dubai on Thursday, he wanted us to come that night for barbecue and drinking. Tired from the trip we told him we would see him in the morning. Originally the group of us (Ryan, Eric, Yang, Jen, Zizi, and myself) were going to leave at 6 in the morning. Thankfully, that got pushed back. We left about 8:45. We were worried about being late, or at least I was, but in reality . . . we woke them up.

It is about an hour and half drive to Al Mirfa. That is the town in the western region that sits on the coast. It isn't very big, but like the rest of the western region there are plans for growth. Since we weren't sure where Abdula's house was, we planned to meet at the Mirfa Hotel. We were traveling in two groups and the group I was driving got to the hotel with plenty of time to spare. We tried to get in contact with Mahmoud and Abdula, but no answer. Since we had some time we explored the grounds of the hotel. I had to stick my feet in the water to see what it was like. It was a little colder than I expected, but still very comfortable. I collected some shells that I am going to find a place for as decoration in my apartment. They aren't really that different from shells that I collected over the years except for a few of the colors. A few also seemed bleached, they were very white. After that, we still had not gotten in touch with Abdula or Mahmoud, so we wandered some more. We ended up finding a large chess set with plastic playing pieces. The board was big enough that you could walk on it to play. Ryan and I decided to play a game. Despite the fact that I was teaching him, he managed to beat me. Sad, I know. At that point we were hoping that we had wasted enough time and would be able to get ahold of someone. Our plan worked and we met up with the other car to head out to the house.

When giving directions, typically you give them in pieces, but you give the whole trip at once. Mahmoud has a different method. Partly because I think we still woke him up, but who knows. He told us drive here, take a left and call me when you have gotten that far. It was a bit strange, but it got us where we needed to go.

When pulling into Abdula's place, I knew it was going to beautiful, but I didn't quite expect the ostrich pen to the side. Though in reality he has so many animals that I should not have been surprised. He is actually planning to build a zoo in Madinat Zayed, I don't know if I have mentioned that before. That is another time and another place, back to the beach. He has a beautiful house that is right on the beach. You have a walk a little bit to get to water that is deep enough to swim in, but the view is amazing. I think I am a little bias because I love the beach so much, but it is a really nice area. You can look out and see all the different shades of the Arabian Gulf. Since we had woken them up, we sat outside enjoying the sea breeze and relaxed for a while before heading out to the boat.

It was perfect weather for fishing, though a little windy. Abdula keeps his boat docked at a friends house nearby. His friend built a channel to take boats in and out and is now in a bit of trouble because of it. It made it nice for us though. We easily were able to board and head out.  As soon as we were out of the channel I could feel my soul smile. I know that sounds cheesy, but I just knew that time on the water was exactly what I needed. I had been feeling  a bit blue about the holidays coming up and being away from home. The boat and fishing were good therapy. I am still going to miss my family, but I am not as down and out as I was before.

After a quick stop for gas, we headed out to sea. He has a fish finder and an area on his GPS that he knows is good for fishing. He was right. The minute we started fishing we were catching them left and right. Well, I should say that Ryan and Mahmoud were catching them quickly. The rest of us took a little while. Now, when I say fishing most people think of the pole and you toss it out. Not here. It was a roll of fishing line that had a couple of hooks on it and weight at the bottom. You dropped the line in the water and let it sink to the bottom. After that, you pulled on it every so often to attract the fish. Sounds simple right. Well, it must have been because even I caught three good sized fish. My luck ran out shortly after that, but I was surprised and pleased to even have caught one. I do have to thank Ryan for showing me the trick to get in done though. I wasn't getting much of anything until he helped me out.

Since nothing was biting, I handed my reigns over to someone else and decided to go for a swim. Not many people brought a bathing suit, strangely, but I found one other person willing to jump in with me. Off the side of the boat we went. It was only after we were in the water we realized that there was not ladder to get back in. I wanted to stay in the water longer, but with a strong current and no ladder . . . I knew getting back in I would need all my strength. With a little help from people on the boat and some contorting of my legs, I was able to get up into the boat. Needless to say, I knew that I would be checking on things like that before jumping in, in the future.

No one was having any luck getting the fish to bite, so we decided to pack it up and head back in. The sun was on its way down at that point and it would have gotten cold anyway. Once getting back to the house, we all cleaned up and just hung out for a while. Abdula has a pool table and so some of us played a few rounds of pool, others watched Arabic Soap Opera- like shows with Iesha, and the rest tried to relax. We ate lunch, fish of course, just not the fish we just caught and then later on snacked while drinking and talking some more. It was just like the night at the farm with different scenery.

In the end, I had to drive back. I didn't have change of clothes and really wanted to be in my own bed. Looking back on the whole thing, I am glad to have made this connection with local people. It gives me a chance to be a part of the culture and go and do things that I am not sure I would have the opportunity to do otherwise. At least not as easily. I feel very blessed to be able to have had all the experiences that I have thus far since being here in the UAE.

Unfortunately, it is back to work tomorrow. Work isn't bad, but it is always tough to go back after a nice break. I can always look forward to national day in about a week, that should keep my motivated. ; )

Vacation Fun-Part Two

No road trip is complete unless the roads are crowded, there are people who cannot drive, and you have a do a few u-turns before you start heading in the right direction. Considering what could have happened, I was happy that getting lost was our only trouble getting to Dubai. Eric, Yang, Ryan, Judy, of course Hannah, and myself were looking to not spend too much money this Eid holiday, but we needed to get out. Our solution was staying in Dubai for a few days.

We stayed at the the Hotel California--enter short song refrain here-- and boy was it a unique hotel, but I will come back to that later. The best part of Dubai is that you can walk around and explore the city. There are so many interesting buildings and shops to see. Because of Eid Al Adha most of the stores were closed the first night we got there. That led the girls to go to the salon while the men went of to explore more.

Thank God Yang was with us, because I am not sure what would have happened if she was not there. We found a good salon where the people were really nice and not that expensive. She communicated with them in Chinese and then translated for Judy and I. Yang and I got a haircut, but Judy decided to wait. Mine is really cute, but it was stressful to get it. Allowing someone in a foreign country to cut my hair, who I know nothing about, have no reference to judge them from . . . I was tense up until that first cut. After that I figured I couldn't go back now so might as well just wait and see what happens. It isn't anything drastic, but just enough change to make me feel fresh again. We also got pedicures and learned a valuable lesson. When you get a good pedicure--wait until the end of the trip. Our feet were fresh and baby soft . . . for half a day. The next day we walked around the city and ended up with blisters and rough spots. Overall, my feet are better than they were, but it was a lesson learned and I will be getting the pedicure at the end of the trip not the beginning next time.

Enough on that, back to the hotel. It has six floors. Only three have rooms. The other floors have restaurants and most intriguing-- nightclubs. Not western style nightclubs, but almost any eastern nationality that you can think of. There was a Filipino, Indian, Pakistani, etc. All of them you are able to drink, smoke, and listen to loud music while "women" dance. That is where the similarities to a western nightclub end. In these clubs are men and the dancers. Yang, Judy, and I were the only females in the place that were not working. Given those details I will let you fill in most of the blanks, but I do want to give you a few reminders. As liberal as Dubai is, it is still in the United Arab Emirates and therefore a predominately Muslim culture. Though the Filipino girls were a little scantily dressed, this was not the case in most of the other clubs including the Pakistani. They were in full sarees and shalwars. They would dance on a small stage with a table bordering it. The men would sit and watch and that was all. No emotion, not grabbing, occasional present giving, but otherwise they drank, smoked, and watched. Not what I was expecting, but I guess they are a private culture so it makes sense. Needless to say, it took us a little while to really understand what was happening and once we finished our drinks, we were happy to leave. I was glad to not be able to understand the language because it gave me the ability to observe from an outsider's perspective. I'm not sure it would have been very comfortable had I been able to truly understand everything that was going on. I was more than happy just observing.

The next day was really nice. It wasn't too hot, unless you stayed in the sun too long. We got up early or at least that was the plan. It turns out the one person who wanted to sleep in was the first one up and ready. Who was that? Me. I know shocking, but they said seven so I was ready. Seven thirty rolls around and I am waking them up. Breakfast was good, nothing grand, but we are not staying at hotels on ADEC's dime anymore so the five stars are out. We went walking with the intention of finding the gold souk, but ended up getting side tracked along the way. After seeing the girls dance, we had commented on how pretty and comfortable the outfits seemed. With long sleeves they would be good for work as well. About a block from the hotel, we found a shop where would could get them. He had some ready made available, but my broad shoulders were not fitting these shirts. Instead, I ordered two to be made and we picked them up the next morning. It is weird having two custom things now. My couch and shalwars. I haven't had custom before. Not that I didn't have nice things at home, I did. I was very blessed in being able to have all that I had growing up and now. I was just thinking that it is hard to figure out what tense to write in when talking about home and here. Yes, I currently live in Abu Dhabi, but I am not foreseeing it being something permanent. Then again, I never saw it happening in the first place so who knows. That said, what I have now I will not necessarily have later, and at the same time what I had at home I still have, sort of. Now that I have gone completely off topic, back to the shalwars.

I would have made my father proud had he seen my in that shop. Coming to this country I knew that a lot of the stores I would be able to negotiate to get cheaper prices. However, that did not mean that I was that skilled or comfortable with trying to haggle. In the shop I was a whole new person. I brought my total down 70 dirhams. I know it doesn't really sound like all that much, but it was a big deal for me. After finally getting done with the fabric choices and measurement, we left to continue on to the souk.

What we didn't realize when starting out was how long the walk was going to be. We had to stop to make sure we were heading in the right direction, but we finally made it. I'm not sure what I was expecting to find when we got there, but for some odd reason it was different. Not sure how, but just not what was in my head. There was more gold than I have ever seen in one place. It almost made me want some yellow gold of my own, almost. It was good that it was late in the year. It would not have been so pleasant to wander if it was not winter. The only bad part was all the people trying to sell us things. I got asked if I wanted a handbag, t-shirt, drink so many times. Other than that I found myself wishing I had more money because I found a few items that I think my family would have loved, but unfortunately, I am not rolling in the dough. At least not yet. After the souk we were hungry for lunch, but had no idea where to go. Solution--wander until we found something.

That is one of the nice things about Dubai. If you wander long enough you will find what you want. We lucked out and ate at this Iranian place. I had some really good chicken and, of course, rice. One thing I have noticed about the "local" restaurants here is though they may called it Iranian, Egyptian, etc. in the end the basic flavors are the same. It is all really good, but the same brand under a different name. I sometimes wish I could truly try new things more often, oh well, I will settle for good food for now.

I will now skip ahead past boring details of us walking some more and such and skip to the boat tour. We had ordered the shalwars to be made, but at 2 we needed to check the fit. This almost ended up becoming a problem for us. We arrived and only some were ready to try on. We waited and tried them on, fixed fitting issues . . . then it got to be 3:15. The boat tour was at 3:30. Not a big issue if we were nearby, but we needed to go across the creek. The sweet shop owner helped us by calling a taxi. Well, at least we thought he was calling a taxi. Turns out he called a friend who had a SUV. We were nice a comfy in the backseat with four people, but we got there and on-time. The boat did not leave until after 4 in true arabic fashion and one particular lady on the boat was not happy about that. I had to start laughing because it was obvious to me that she had not been in this country very long. The majority of people did not seem phased by the late start of the tour, but this one woman apparently had a schedule to keep. The ride up and down the creek was beautiful. The sun got in our eyes every once in a while, but overall it was good weather and pretty views. We all agreed that next time we should try and do a dinner ride up the creek. I got a lot of pretty pictures, even some that were less touristy and more artistic. Not that there is anything wrong with the tourist picture, but I like to get more artistic with my pictures every once in a while. It was nice to be by water. That is the only problem with Liwa. I am always happier on the water or near the water and it is impossible to do that where I live. Though I am not complaining because where I live is beautiful in its own way and the people are fantastic.

It was a bit difficult to get a taxi after the boat tour, but we managed to figure something out and head to mall for dinner and maybe a bit of shopping. We were also hoping to see a fountain show that was supposed to be really nice, but things didn't work out that way. Dubai Mall, what do I say . . . HOLY COW. I really started feeling like I wanted to be back in Liwa after spending sometime in the mall. I thought that Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi was bad . . . it has nothing on this place. It is twice as big and way too many people. I am sure it didn't help that it was Eid so more  people were probably out and about, but I was all to happy to get out of there when the time came. However, that took a little while. The taxi queue was ridiculous. It went out the door and wrapped around in circles. I think it took at least a half an hour to finally get through the taxi line. The good thing was they seemed to be used to that sort of thing. It was very efficient the way that they managed the large lines, but it was just so many people.

Our last day in Dubai was spent picking up our shalwars. It took longer than expected, but when we finally got on the road. I was happy and sad at the same time. As much fun as Dubai was and there were still plenty more places to go . . . I was ready to come home. I needed a nice rest in my own bed before a day of fishing on Friday.

Vacation Fun- Part One

This past Thursday was the start of ten whole days off from school. A much needed vacation. Things are going well at school, but everyone needs a break from the daily routine every once in a while.

Thursday night was quiet, along with most of Friday. Friday at sunset, the fun began. Some friends and I learned that cardboard does not work so well for sand surfing. We did improvise with supplies from the car, but we are still trying to form a truly workable idea. It was not that easy to carry two things of cardboard, the mat from the trunk, and sun shade, up the hill each time. Setting it up so that it worked was not much fun either. Though the brief ride down the hill, did make me want to find something that worked even better.

Later that night, we head out to Abdula's farm. Abdula and Mahmoud are two locals that some of the teachers met while we were staying at the Tilal Liwa. I did not go to the farm the first time, but after hearing about their adventure, I knew I could not miss out the second time.

Abdula is an Emirati who owns a farm here in Liwa. He lives in Abu Dhabi, but comes out to the farm to escape from the city. His close friend Mahmoud comes with him when he comes to Liwa. They travel a lot of places together. They are not your typical Muslims. They have a less rigid view of their religion, but they are still very religious people. They pray as they should five times a day, and keep to the other Muslim traditions as well. We got to experience Muslim hospitality first hand.

Drinks, food, tobacco . . . whatever we might have wanted, they would provide. It was a feast for at least ten people. Lamb, humus, quail, and fresh vegetables from his farm. Every time it seemed like there couldn't possibly be more food, more was brought out, or taken off the grill. We stayed up talking and drinking until 5AM. I am not sure I stayed up that late in college. We built a fire and laid back to watch the stars in early morning hours. It was one of those nights that I will never forget. We talked politics, religion, and a myriad of other random topics. The desert is strangely peaceful in the early hours, but I was happy to go home and get in bed.

We returned the next day and had a chance to go out to his camel farm. It is on the way to the Moreeb dune. He has camels from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and the UAE. Along with camels, he has sheep and goats. One lonely pony is kept there as well. It is solely for children to ride, he does have twelve of his own after all. While we were there, we had the chance to try camel milk. It is supposed to be really good for you. It was sweet and fresh from the camel. I am betting that it would have been extra delicious cold. He once again fed us on Sunday. This time it was fresh cooked fish. It was delicious. He had a variety of types. Fried, steamed, stewed--the only one I didn't have was the fried. The rest were very good. As with all things we had rice and vegetables as well.

I think that I ate more food in the those two days than I have in a long time. All of it was good food though, so I guess the consequences can be worked off with careful eating and good exercise. The whole experience was my first true glimpse into the culture I call home for now and I cannot be more thrilled. Experiencing the culture is one of the key reasons that I came. I just hope that their will be more opportunities like these. I know I have at least one more when we go fishing this weekend. Seems like I am doing a lot of new things I wouldn't normally do  since being here. It is all just part of the bigger adventure.

Holidays

I cannot lie. I miss the holiday spirit that will be starting to infect the students, shops, radio, etc. in the states. Though it typically drives me nuts that Christmas memorabilia is out in stores by Halloween. . . not seeing any is a little sad. All that aside though, I am enjoying my time here in the UAE. It is a new experience for me each an everyday. It is actually "holiday" season here now as well. Sort of.

The upcoming holiday is Eid Al Adha-- "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid". It is celebrated on the 10th day of the 12th month in the Islamic calendar. During this month the Hajj-- the pilgrimage to Mecca-- also occurs. The whole month is spent in honoring this holiday and Ibrihims' sacrifice to Allah. It becomes a very important time to spend with friends and family. Although presents are given, the focus becomes more about charity work and sacrifice to Allah. All this does not mean somberness, but rather religious celebration. I personally am looking forward to watching the Hajj on TV to see what it is all about.

They don't have the same energy and spirit that holidays back home can get. Sure the students get excited about traveling to other parts of the emirate, but when you live in the desert, getting out of Liwa is a big deal, holiday or not. Teachers and student alike are happy about not having to work for a full week, but the pizzaz that accompanies the holiday season is missing. Rather it is not missing, but I think that I am not feeling as connected and therefore in touch with the spirit of the holiday. It could also possibly be due to the fact that their holidays here have not become completely overrun by the commercial industry. Though I am given warm wishes from students and colleagues and a sign may be posted around the city, it is not thrown in your face at every turn. It is national and yet very intimate at the same time.

I am using this time to travel with some of my new friends. We aren't going very far, but I am still excited. We are heading to Dubai. I am interested to see what the differences and similarities are between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I would love to swim with the dolphins in Dolphin Bay, but I am trying to save up for my winter trip to Egypt. There is plenty else to do, so I know that I will not get bored. Other than the few days in Dubai I plan to relax. Catch up on sleep, my workouts, and just enjoying being able to sit around a little. Maybe I will go dune bashing and do a safari, but we will wait and see. Whatever happens, happens. I am happy to get a break and time to explore. Anything else, just adds more to the mix.

Weather Stories

As the saying goes, " expect the unexpected." This morning I woke to a light rain. It would not have been so interesting if I were anywhere else, but in a climate that gets rain maybe once a year or every two year if they are lucky . . . I was surprised. Later at work, I come to find out that it wasn't just a light rain, but overnight there was a large storm--lightening and all. I, of course, slept right through the whole thing. As I contemplate this incident of weird weather, I am reminded of my sophomore year in high school.

I took a trip with my band to London that year. We were traveling there to perform in their New Year's Day parade. Kind of cool when you are 15, but not relevant to the topic at hand. You see, London gets rain . . . a lot of rain. In the winter that rain turns to ice, but not often snow. At least that is what we were told. However, we were circling for quite sometime in order to allow the airport to clear the falling snow from the runway. Hence, the strange coincidence.

I cannot help but find it strange that I have traveled to two different places and had unique weather experiences. Maybe I have some channel to mother earth that kicks in when the weather is getting too boring . . . I am probably seeing more in this day of rain than there really is---it's not like it is snowing or anything. Now that would be a truly extraordinary day.

Things I Miss and Things I Don't

As I pass the two month mark here is Abu Dhabi, I am realizing that there are things that I miss. The given is family and friends, but sadly other than that it is food. Sure I have access to anything I want and I can eat foods that I have never eaten before---I ate octopus, raw---but that still doesn't mean it is easy to to get bacon. REAL bacon. If you want that you have to make trip into the heart of Abu Dhabi, and in my case, that is not that simple. Luckily, I found sliced turkey. That was another thing I was missing. I know weird, but you all know I have always been a little weird. I think it is not so much the food that I miss though. We all know I love to eat, but I really miss the fact that it was easily there. I have come to realize that there are a lot of things in life that we take for granted. We expect them to be there, and so we don't appreciate them. Yes, I am talking about appreciating food, as shallow as that may be. I think there are some people in America who don't realize how lucky we are. Of course, I am also extending this to the larger idea of being thankful for what you have, but hopefully you caught on to that already. Being in a new culture really puts things in perspective. It makes you appreciate what you have and what you don't. Some times lacking something is better than having it, like TV and skimpy clothes. I love the fact that I don't have to see boobs or butt when the girls walk around here. Modesty, it is another virtue that I think we have forgotten in America and need to remember.

Okay, I think I will get off the soapbox now. I am starting to sound like a middle aged prude, but those of you who know me, know how to read between the lines and get at the heart of what I am trying to say.

School is going well. The students need me less and less each day or at least are getting more comfortable with the idea of not being perfect all the time. I am actually glad that I do not have access to a lot of resources and technology. It has broadened my teaching abilities and forced me to come up with new and creative ways to approach teaching. I am not saying that given the opportunity to use the technology and get more books I wouldn't jump at it, but it is nice to get back to the basics sometimes.

The joke here is that if you survive this job, you can teach anywhere. Now, I know that makes it sound like a horror story and for some it may be, however, that has not been my experience. Things are not perfect, but I do not feel like I am struggling each day to survive the next. I am very thankful for that. Though the language barrier can be frustrating and lonely at times, when I see and hear my students getting better in English, none of it seems to matter. I have been forced to let go, to relinquish a lot of control over things that in reality I never had control over in the first place. I am not completely there yet, but I will get there. In this quick to change society, flexibility is a must.

To end, I want to talk a little bit more about the things that I miss. It is November. To me this means the leaves changing, jackets being pulled out of storage, and days getting shorter. However, the only one that applies here . . . shorter days. I find myself forgetting that it is November, that Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. It is still in the eighties here with sunny and cloudless or nearly cloudless days. The sun often makes it seem much warmer and it is hard to put this together in my mind with the month November. I do not miss fall per say, but it is definitely one of those times that I realize how far away from home I really am.

Nothing is ever perfect and you have to take the good with the bad. I cannot wait to see what happens next as I continue on this journey of growth, learning, and adventure.

Moving In . . . Settling In

It feels real! I have a UAE Driver's License, Emirati ID card is in progress, and I have my very own apartment. Getting there was long and sometimes stressful, but I am finally settled--for the most part--and ready to explore my new home.

I had to take a day off to get the driver's license because it is a multiple step process. First, you must apply for your Emirati ID card. I am not entirely sure why I have to have one, but I was told I need it for everything. I guess we shall see. Once you get the application typed and then get fingerprinted you get a receipt. The card takes a month. The receipt is what allows you continue the process of getting the license. Step Two, get your license translated into Arabic. This step would be less difficult if there were places to get this done other than Abu Dhabi. You go into the heart of the city and wander around a few blocks of shops and find a translator. This part was actually very smooth for me. It was the ID that was rough. Afterwards, you head back out of the city to turn in everything and pay for your license. Within about five minutes, you leave with your UAE license. As I sit a write this process it sounds so simple and straight forward. It was a long day though, not to mention expensive! (570 dirhams!!) I'm glad that it is a process that has to be completed only once.

Thankfully, I have not had to take a day off for the moving process--- at least not a full day. Here is the trouble with moving. You, of course, need water and electricity accounts set up. Simple enough to go the office and get that done. Well, it is when you have hours of work that you can go. The office opens at 8 and closes by 3. As a teacher, I am at work all day! NOTHING ever seems to be open when you need it. Solution, go in late or leave early. The principals are very understanding about this---most have been through it themselves.

Then, there is furniture. Cannot really move in until you have a bed, but you need to clean and organize and such. It was some late nights last week and I am glad to say that I can sleep in some tomorrow morning. It will be nice not having to travel an hour to and from work. Though I am not sure what I am going to do with all my free time. Maybe I will get really skinny. ; ) The furniture process is almost done. My wardrobe didn't have the hardware to be installed,  but otherwise everything else is clean and shiny!

I have more space than one person needs, but I am not complaining. I still sometimes cannot believe the experience that I have been lucky enough to be a part of. Though to be honest, I have hit phase two of culture shock. The culture here is so different that a lot of the time I feel like I am living on another planet. I ask myself, why is this so difficult? Why can't I do this? Why aren't they open later? I vent and steam for a little while, then find something to do and all is well. My school and the people here help keep me sane. There are times that I don't know what I would do without good friends around. I know I wouldn't have a working washer or stove---that is for sure.

Slowly, things will fall into place. Schway, schway---words to live by.

Being a Woman

I do not claim to be an expert or know what life is like in every middle east country. However, I can speak of my personal observations and experiences since arriving in the UAE. I hope it will shed some light and help educate those who think they know what it is like for a woman in this culture.

For starters, as a non-Muslim I am not required to wear a burka or sheila. Of course, there are a few exceptions where I need to wear a head scarf, but for the most part I am free to wear what I choose. When I went to the mosque and the boy's high school I had to cover my head, but those are the only two places that I have ever had to do that.

As a side notes of sorts, being blonde tends to attract more attention. Strawberry blonde with freckles makes it that much more interesting. You would think that I might want to cover my hair to avoid the attention, however, I have never felt truly skin crawl uncomfortable. Sure I get stares and the men will follow me with their eyes, but I find it no different than the creeps you encounter in any major city around the world.

I have a car, which I drive. I can ride with many women and I do not have to have a male escort. Yes, in some situations having a man with you makes it that much easier, but I can get around and function just fine as a single female. I know that not all middle east countries allow this freedom, but I wanted to make it clear that stereotypes do not fit the bill one hundred percent of the time.

I am not trying to pretend that women are considered equal here, but you cannot always say that is the case in America. I know we all want to believe our country is perfect, but it isn't and neither is theirs. I have found that there are benefits to being a woman no matter where you go. Here lines are shorter. When you are the minority sex, you tend to be able to get things done a lot faster. No lines for the bathroom and shorter lines everywhere else. It helps that most public areas are divided into men and women sections as well. One particular instance that comes to mind is the night I stopped at the bank. When I arrived there were at least 10 to 15 men in line for the ATM, within seconds a group of about 30 or more filled in behind me. I wasn't happy about the wait, but I thought I had no other choice. Less than a minute later a man gestured me to the front. He said something in Arabic to the men ahead of him and before I know it, I am at the head of the line and done in 5 minutes. Now, I know it might have had something to do with their discomfort of being around a woman, but I choose to see it as a kind gesture. We may not have as many rights as men, but we are treated with respect and class a large majority of the time. To find people willing to open doors or carry bags for no other reason than they can, is something you don't find very often in other societies around the world.

Because of the language barrier I am sure there are deeper things at work I do not understand, but as a whole I have had a very welcoming experience in the UAE. I have never been rug shopping and treated so well before. I was offered a seat and then a drink. He sent an employee to buy us sodas from a store a few doors down. Then all we had to do is point and each rug was rolled out. I was allowed to take off my shoes and walk around and test it out. Once I chose to buy, he was ready to fold it and bring it to the car. I could get used to this type of treatment. They are a very hospitable society and I find myself learning something new everyday. I am thankful that I am able to be here and be a part of this culture for a time.

Work, Training, Bed, Repeat

Life is pretty hectic right now. When you are living in a hotel, working, and trying to get settled it is difficult when things are only open for certain hours, you only have so much room to store your stuff, and half the people cannot really understand what I am saying.

I am not saying that I regret my choice to come. I have grown so much in the past month and a half that sometimes I do not even recognize myself sometimes. Sure things are crazy right now and fighting off a cold while trying to get settled is not fun, but despite being tiring, life is good. The title to this post implies that I do the same thing everyday,  but in a lot of ways that is not true. There are elements that remain the same day to day, but each day is new. Whether it is when I learn a new Arabic word, or learning that one more thing that needs to be taken care of with my "paperwork", or I find a new restaurant to eat at . . . I am slowly exploring this new world that is home for a while.

Desert Lessons

Since arriving in the desert I have learned a few, sometimes humorous, lessons.

Lesson One: When you think you have drunk enough water, drink another bottle. You don't feel the thirst all the time, but your body goes through so much water out here. I drink at least 5 or 6 bottles a day and I still feel like I am not drinking enough. I guess it is something you get used to after a while because it seems like the native teachers never drink anything, except tea. I will have to get back to you on this one.

Lesson Two: Roundabouts are confusing if you are not paying attention. Too many exits can lead to getting lost. Luckily, you can just get back on the roundabout and go around again.

Lesson Three: No traffic way out here and if there is . . . just drive on the side of the road or in the sand. People still drive crazy high speeds, but there are not as many on the road in this area. The only time traffic is stopped is when the camels are coming or going from the track.

Lesson Four: Animals in the desert have strange eating habits. I will leave the rest up to your imagination and save you the details.

Lesson Five: It can get humid in the desert. Fog and humidity do exist. How and why? I will have to get back to you. Though still not as bad as the city. Driving in it can be interesting, but is possible. Slow and steady isn't that how the phrase goes.

Lesson Six: Sometimes the people you meet half a world away remind you of those you left behind. My new group of friends makes me feel at home. One person who I became fast friends with is Juli . . . weird coincidence or just wierd? Sometimes I wonder if these things are planned in advance for entertainment. Yes, I am talking about God having a sense of humor.

Lesson Seven: You can get past a language barrier and hold a conversation with someone, you just have to put forth the effort.

Lesson Eight: When reading a menu, you have to remember where you are. Chili here means the actual chili pepper and thinking otherwise can lead to an interesting experience. I didn't know that you lips could burn from eat something too hot.

Lesson Nine: There is no point in washing the car very often. As long as the windows are clean that is all you need. The sand is going to cover it within in day anyway.

That is all that I have for now. I am sure there will be more to come, but that is the beauty of an experience like this, you never know what you are going to learn next.

Revelations . . . they are really just observations

The topic for this post came to me as I was sitting in a chase lounge in the courtyard of the hotel. It was approaching evening, and I was trying to read some, but I kept getting distracted. I would watch the people swimming in the pool. Watch the staff of the hotel run back and forth, completing various tasks. I even stared out at the dunes for a little while. Somewhere in the midst of all that, the gears kicked in a I thought about some of the most random things.

First off, I must note that as I was sitting in the chase I was wearing jeans, a long sleeve cotton shirt, and a scarf. Now, the outfit in and of itself is not the extraordinary part. It was the fact that though it was not the peek of the day with the heat, I am in the DESERT. This time of year we are lucky if it gets below 100. At this point in the day it might have been high nineties. Regardless, the weird fact---I was comfortable. I could have taken a nap or just kept sitting there for a while. I was actually comfortable and it was a bit strange to realize this.

The relaxing solitude that I was attempting to achieve did not last for long. A few people stopped on their way back from the pool to chat. This of course led to discussion on work, which for me are never fun. My work environment is not perfect, but I have no complaints. I am taking it one day at a time and just trying to work through the problems when and if they arise. However, that is not the case for some of the people here. They are in the toughest teaching job they have had and not handling it well. Now I am not saying I could do better given their situation, but I do think we could all adjust better than we are at times. I have already gotten of subject . . . the chat with friends was not unique in any way except that I came to realize I am no longer just a vocal optimist.

I have always been the type of person to say what people need to hear, or tell them the optimist view of the situation. I am a people pleaser, sometimes to a fault. I do not like it when other people are not happy. In the past, when I said these things there was always a nagging voice in the back of my mind that said---you know that is totally bullshit. When "confronted" with so much pessimism here, I would fight back with my optimistic phrases and pick-me-ups. Except now, I believe what I am saying. The voice in my head is gone and I really feel like things will work out. Of course my sarcasm and bitting tongue, at times, are still there. I have not lost that part of me, but I have a sense of peace. It is nice to look at the world half full and see the potential and possibility ahead. It has been a while since I could truly look at things in this way. I am gaining a lot of my confidence back, something that has been lacking for a while now. I really feel like I can lose the weight, and see the world, and really make an impact in these children's lives. I know I just listed a whole sleuth of cliches, but they work. They state simply exactly how I am feeling. Maybe when I have time to sit and edit my thoughts on this whole experience, my creative juices will be flowing, but for now I am just trying to take everything in and get whatever I can from this adventure. There is a strange "power" out here in the desert and I am going to soak up as much as I can.

Tilal Liwa Living

Being out in the desert was not anything like I expected it to be. Though entertainment is limited, the people here with me are fantastic. Some are from the old Rotana Crew, more are new.

We have our struggles, but we are helping each other get through it. I have found a good group of people who try to stay far from the negativity and drama and just take it a day at a time. Whether hanging by the pool, playing Bananagrams, or just eating dinner it feels like we have known each other for a while. My only fear is that they will run after a while, unable to take the situation, and I will lose good friends. I guess all I can do is hope that they stick it out and we can remain friends for the next year or two. I will enjoy things while I can. That is all I can do.

The biggest struggle left is the hotel. I do not know when I will stop living out a hotel and where we are it can get pretty expensive. Dinner is not cheap. We luckily get breakfast free, but that is it. Seclusion has it privileges and its disadvantages. Either way I am just going to try and make the best of it. I can't move out if there is no where to move to. I am not about to camp in the desert during this time of year. : )

Overall, I am hoping for many more adventures to come.

School Days

I survived the first week of school. Though I do have to say that I think I had it easier than others.  The people at my school are so nice and helpful. They are willing to show me where to go, what to do, and get me the resources that I need. Most importantly, they are willing to translate when I do not understand. That is the one real downfall. When they talk amongst themselves I have no idea what they are talking about. I am not paranoid about whether they are talking about me, but it definitely reminds me where I am. It can get a bit lonely being with people that you do not understand all the time, but they are willing to work with me and translate when necessary. It is a different work environment, but a welcoming one.

One of the things that stands out is the respect for teachers. When entering the classroom the students stand. They remain standing until the teacher tells them to have a seat. It is very different from the American classroom where the students don't even bother to try and make it to class on time. I know that is not all American students, but it was my experience. the structure in general in much more relaxed. They care about being on time, but they do not feel the need to run around stressing that things are or are not getting done. The schedule for the first few weeks of school the class schedule is never the same from day to day. The teachers and students alike found out what classes to go to when they arrived on Sunday.

The culture is more traditional in the desert so I must be mostly covered at work. This isn't a problem since the head covering is not required. Plus, I have all those abayas to wear. I cannot tell if they appreciate me wearing them or not. I have had some comments on them being very nice, but not from the students or Arab teachers. They have come from the CfBT staff. I just hope that I am not insulting them by wearing one. However, I am not sure that I feel comfortable asking them if they find it insulting. Maybe one day I will be able to get up the nerve to ask, because one thing is for sure, they will never tell me. It is not in the nature of the culture to tell me that I am insulting or disrespecting them. There are others things to be concerned about though. For the first two days I did not have air conditioning in my classroom. One hundred plus heat and teaching do not go well together. You don't want to do much and the students are so hot they cannot focus. The actually went home early the first day because of the heat, but the second day we stayed the full day. By day three I had air so all was resolved. I even got my classroom by the end of the week. It needs a lot of work before I will actually want to go and teach in that room, but I am hoping that I can get at least some of it done over the next few days and start teaching in there later this week.

The curve ball thrown at me at the end of the week was the addition of another class. Since there are only six students in the 12th grade, they are giving my the 11th grade as well. Luckily, there are only 9 students in that grade. I knew that giving me six students was going to be too easy. I am glad to have more students, but I am afraid that they will feel like I was taking away their teacher. They had a teacher they knew and loved for the first week. This week it will be me . . . I am just not sure how they are going to respond. If they are anything like my 12th graders, they will be kind a welcoming, but you can never know. I am going to try and not worry about it, because it is something that I cannot control. I will just take it a day at a time and do my best. That is all I can manage. Though saying it and doing it are two different things--- we will see how things go.

It is No Longer a Vacation

When I got here, I was relaxing by the pool, going to a meeting or two, sleeping in, and otherwise doing vacation like things. In the back of my mind I knew that I was delusional and the world of laziness would end, but it was fun while it lasted.

On Sunday September 19th. I met my new students for the first time. According to the calendar the school year had start on the 15th, but it was only teachers there for those two days. It was right after the end of Ramadan and the Eid celebration so we were not really expecting any students anyway. I know it seems like a really late time to start school, but because of Ramadan we were unable to start earlier. Next year it will be roughly ten days earlier as Ramadan moves up in the year as well. Just thought I would throw that bit of information in there. My school is an all girls school called Moatah. It is Liwa, Abu Dhabi, a beautiful area of large, mountain-sized sand dunes. The school has grades KG through 12. Before Sunday, I had only made it out to the school once before. At that time, they were not prepared for us. We didn't have any answers for them and things were a bit hectic at first. Luckily, our provider swopped in and straightened the confusion out. However, that did not make them any more prepared than they had been before. By the end of the day, the primary teachers had assignments and rooms. I had my assignment, but no room. I wasn't even really sure where to go on Sunday when I came in to teach. Nevertheless, Sunday came I had to be there and ready to teach the 12th grade girls. Of course, expecting the worst, Sunday was actually a fairly pleasant day; hectic and confusing at times, but pleasant.

We were not sure exactly what time we needed to be at the school so we left early. Having not driven the route before we wanted to follow the bus most of the way as well. When the driver of the bus went the wrong way in a traffic circle, I was happy I was driving in the car. The drive is longer than I would prefer, but not so bad that it is unbearable. When you are adjusting the first week of school and getting up again, it can be tough. Thankfully, I had a co-worker who rode in with me to keep my awake and alert. Getting there was easy, but getting back is when we had confusion on the road-a-abouts. Eventually, after a few days we figured out the sequence, but we took a couple wrong turns figuring it out.

Every morning at the school there is an assembly. The first day we had the assembly outside. It wasn't very hot yet and we were under a covered area so it was not unbearable to be out in an abaya. During the assembly the students line up in lines for each of the grades. The gym teachers yells commands and the measure the space between them, stand at attention, or at ease, depending on the command given. The first time seeing it I have to admit I was intimated, but impressed as well. It was something that I did not expect and since I didn't know what was being said, upon seeing the actions I was intrigued. I don't know how else to explain it really. Let me just say that outside of military schools, I could not imagine any American children following orders so precisely the first day of school. Though I did not understand a large majority of the assembly, and still don't, I mainly observed the students. Again, I was surprised to not see a lot of fidgeting, except for some of the younger ones. Despite not knowing exactly what was happening it was a very nice assembly. The played their national anthem and a girl recited the Quran. It was very beautiful. Poems were read, and other comments made, but overall it was formal and casual at the same time. Of course, they introduced us as the new staff which I knew was coming, but was hoping I was wrong. At this point in the day I still had not learned when I was teaching or where. I was surprisingly calm considering this and I am actually quite proud of myself for keeping my wits that day. I might have been lost or blindly following directions for the most part, but in the end it all worked out.

In my school there are only six students in the 12th grade. Five of them were there on Sunday. I was not sure how much English they would know and I had know idea how long I would have them or what the curriculum for the semester was going to be. I had made a few plans, but I was told that they may not be able to complete them because of their English ability. Boy was I surprised. I wish I had trusted my instincts and done what I had planned, but I let others tell me that the students would be weaker and not able. I figured that honesty was the best policy so I sat down with the five of them and had a chat. I was upfront about coming in blind and that I thought we could use the day to get to know each other. Back in the states, that would have never worked. It would have undermined my authority and I would have been up a creek the rest of the year. Then again, having only five students wouldn't ever happen in the first place. To be honest, I just went with my instincts. I did the only thing that I could think to do. We talked, they did a bit of writing, and I got to know them. It also gave me a really good idea of their English ability. They were much better than I was told to expect. Having a conversation went very well.  Each block is 40 minutes and we had some moments of pause here and there, but overall we were talking the entire time. Looking back on it, the fact that we were holding a conversation in English was remarkable. I think the students really seemed to enjoy it as well. Considering they asked me to stay and continue to talk with them after the period ended, I think things went rather well.

All I can do it take it one day at a time and hope that things continue to go as well as they did the first day.

Adventures in the Desert

On Wednesday September 15th, we were shuttled by bus out to the Western region. A group went along the coast to Mirfa and my crew heading south to the Tilal Liwa Hotel. It is about 15 minutes  outside of Madinat Zayed. As rumor has it, the hotel was built in order to give the sheikh somewhere to stay when he came to see the camel races in the winter. I do have to say that it is nice enough to be a sheikh's hotel, but I am going on speculation and the fact that there is a nine room suite at the end of my hall. Either way, it is located in the desert! It takes twenty minutes just to get down the road to reach the hotel. When we first saw the hotel out on the sand dunes we thought it was an illusion. It didn't help that we had spent a half hour driving in circles because the bus driver was lost, but it was also the architeture and beauty that made it seem like a dream.

As much as the Park Rotana was modern, this place is decorated in a more traditional way. It still has the modern conveniences of television, cell service, internet, and a western toilet . . . but the decor is arabic style tea pots, camel saddles, and intricately designed lamps. Most of the doors have arch ways, that can take your breath away. Especially the one out at the pool. The pool sits in the back of the hotel. You can look out from a balcony and see this beautiful courtyard with trees and a fountain. Then there is the pool. At the far end of the pool is an archway that looks out on the desert. In the morning the sun rises right through the arch, casting beautiful shades or orange, red, and yellow across the courtyard. The pool is also designed so that you don't know when the water ends. When looking at it, it looks like it runs right out into the desert. It is a nice place to swim laps, or just cool off and enjoy the serene, yet ever changing, landscape of the desert. With all the beautiful design and decor of the building, I can see why it could be the sheikh's getaway.

Temperature wise it is hotter out in the desert, but I think that it is much more comfortable than in the city. I can go out at night and walk around without starting to sweat, at least for a little while. I hope to walk out in the desert one of these nights, but I get home and all I want to do is sleep. The locals tell us that we will absolutely love Mid-October to February, so I cannot wait for then. In the mean time, I am enjoying the air-conditioned hotel and the gorgeous pool.

Being out in the desert gives you a lot of time to think and enjoy the outdoors, but with it being so hot still, it has limited my opportunities to get out and enjoy the area. To be honest, I only know how to get to work and back to the hotel. I have a car now, but I haven't had the time to go out and explore. However, I did have a little adventure in getting the car back from Abu Dhabi.

Being in the middle of nowhere you must travel to get certain necessary items, like a car. I was not going to be out here and not have a way to escape. As beautiful as it is sometimes you just need to get out of dodge and experience something different for a while. I am getting off track . . . getting the car was actually the really easy part. I went to Hertz, asked for a car, and got one--that came straight from the showroom I might add, so I was the first one to drive it. Once leaving there, I even made it into the city without a problem. Went to the mall, and got back out of the city. After that, things did not go as smooth as I thought they would. It is a relatively easy route to get from Abu Dhabi out to the Madinat Zayed area. Until you don't recognize the city name and there is construction and you end up heading in the complete opposite direction. Let me give you a little bit of geography. From Abu Dhabi there are two places you can go. Al Ain to the east and Al Gahrbia to the west. The route there is the the same road. Fine right, one would say "E" the other "W". WRONG! Apparently every road as "E" and the number. Don't worry I did not travel all the way to Al Ain before realizing my mistake, though it was still a good twenty minutes. When I kept seeing signs for Al Ain and the sun wasn't blinding me as I was heading "west" to go home . . . I realized that something might be off. So I whipped my little Yaris around and headed the other direction. All in all, it ended up working out and now I can say that I got lost and was able to find my way back. I even had to navigate a roundabout around construction. Needless to say I was no longer worried about driving in a foreign country. I do not particularly like roundabouts, though I am learning to navigate them and can get to and from school without a problem.

As a mentioned, I have not had a lot of time to explore the region, but I hope to get out and do so this weekend or sometime soon. For now I will just remember that I can still enjoy time by the pool while back home most of my friends and family are waking up to to chilly weather-- or at least will be soon. ; )

The Park Rotana Crew

When embarking on this trip I was concerned about finding people that I could connect with and become friends with for the duration of this trip. I don't know why I ever had this irrational fear, but it was there. However, before even making it out of the US, this fear began to dissipate as friends were made in the airport and on the plane --- mostly while we all waited in line for the bathroom. ; )

After being here for a little over two weeks, I now have a collection of friends scattered across Abu Dhabi. Stuck in a hotel with no transportation of our own and no clue how to get anywhere if we did, people made connections to stave off cabin fever, and save a little money on the taxis.

Sadly, many of my adventures were to the various malls around town. Some more western than others. For connivence the malls were the best place to shop. We didn't know any of he good local places to go, so left to our devices we went with the safe bet. It is a little sad that I spent more time in Carrefour (a foreign version of Walmart) than exploring the culture around me. I have been to the mall more times since arriving in Abu Dhabi than I have in the past living in the US. However, I did get out to a few places that were not malls.

One adventure that I did not have to travel very far for was camel riding. Behind our hotel was a Bedouin campsite with three camels. Habebee was the one that I road, briefly. She went in a circle that was all of ten steps, but it was a start. At least now I know to be prepared when they get back down that I will fall forward. I plan to take a real camel ride at some point while I am here, maybe as part of Safari tour.

Our hotel may have been secluded from the city, but we were right next to Khalifa Park. It is a large park that has numerous water fountains, a small aquarium, and an amphitheater like area. A group of us walked around there one night as part of a small birthday celebration. It was a very beautiful park, but the humidity was thick. By the time we left the park, our clothes were stuck to us with sweat. I was glad to have gone and seen it though. I am not sure I would have gone if they had not suggested it.

Eventually our stay at the Park Rotana had to end. We all couldn't stay in Abu Dhabi to teach and needed to move to our permanent locations. Tony, Amy, and a few others did stay in Abu Dhabi City. Plans to visit in the future are in the works. A large number of people went to Al Ain, Brenda, Alison, Amanda, Larry, and others. I hope to get a chance to visit them at their homes as well. Of course, not everyone was left behind or sent off somewhere else. I do have some friends here with me and as we adjust to life in the desert we continue to laugh and have fun just as we did at the Park Rotana.