First Weekend Home

What a great weekend!  It's so good to be home and to spend time with family.  I have missed them!

Friday 7/29

Oh my gosh!  What a long long long day!  My flight left Dublin at 10:00 am.  I left the hotel at 7:00.  The weird thing about leaving Dublin and heading to the States is that I went through immigration and customs in Dublin.  I was very confused.  I even had to ask in Chicago to make sure I really didn't have to go through immigration.  It was a long process in Dublin, but I'm glad it was done in Dublin instead of in Chicago.  It was weird hearing the immigration lady say "Welcome Home" when I was in Dublin. I wasn't quite sure how to answer that, since I wasn't home.  I couldn't say it's good to be back, because I wasn't back.  Oh well.  I got the hardest part of the trip done at the beginning.  The flight was long, but no problems at all.  I was able to get bulkhead seating; it wasn't as good as exit row seating but it had more room than regular seating.  I didn't have to pay any excess baggage fees this time around, so that's good.  The 8 hour flight lasted FOREVER!  I think I may have slept for 1/2 an hour.  I arrived in Chicago at 12:40 pm (6:40 pm Dublin time), and headed to my gate since I didn't have to go through immigration.  I got bulkhead seating again for the little commuter flight to Detroit.  The flight left at 2:30 Chicago time (3:30 Detroit time) and I arrived in Detroit early, a little before 4:30. 

Lugging my carryon duffel bag and my laptop I made my way to baggage claim.  My checked baggage was supposed to be checked directly to Detroit from Dublin.  I get to the baggage claim area and I see my Mom.  It was soooooo good to see her!  She was reading and I just watched her.  I couldn't believe she was there.  I mean I knew she was coming to get me, but still seeing her was unbelieveable.  It's been a long time since I've seen her and it was a great site!  She looked up and I said "right in front of you" and she looked around and saw me.  She started crying.  I was surprised that I didn't cry.  It was great to be enveloped in her hug.  Just comforting and welcoming.  We hugged and talked for a while and then I went to collect my luggage.  Unfortuantely it wasn't there.  I had to go the AA office and find out where my luggage was.  My luggage was put on the later flight to Detroit; the flight was scheduled to arrive at 5:40.  I could either wait for the luggage or they would deliver it my parents' house between 9 and midnight.  I didn't want to wait so I told them to deliver it.  My mom and I grabbed my carryon luggage and headed outside to meet my Dad and get in the car.  When I saw my Dad I grabbed him and hugged him, with my bag in hand.  It was great to see my Dad smiling and waiting for me.  We loaded the car and headed to Wendy's so I could get a Frosty (one of the things on my list that I have to have when I'm home).  After Wendy's we went to Mark and Nancy's for dinner.

When we got to Mark and Nancy's I saw Mason-man in the window.  Man is he getting big!  I walked up the porch and saw Alexa and Mark.  Alexa very politely said HI to me, but she didn't know who I was.  It was a little depressing.  It didn't take her that long to figure it out though.  Mason, on the other hand, truly has no idea who I am.  Although he will loudly talk to me on the computer, but seeing me in person was just totally different.  As soon as Alexa figured out who I was, she gave me a hug and told me that she loved me and missed me.  I began feeling better.  She just warmed my heart.  When I walked in the house I saw that Nancy had made a sign for me in Arabic.  She wrote some pretty good Arabic, the only thing is I had no idea what it said!!  She wrote "we missed you" but I couldn't read that.  It didn't look like what I know as "missed."  I'm glad she was able to translate for me.  Now that Alexa knew who I was, she couldn't stay away.  I had to sit by her for dinner (pizza with real ham; a real Hawaiian pizza, fruit salad, and a green salad).  Amy arrived part way through dinner.  It was great to see her and celebrate her birthday with her!  The first family dinner and birthday celebration I have been part of for almost a year.  It was great!  After dinner Alexa and I played for a bit in her room.  She kept telling me that she loved me and that she missed me!  What a sweetheart.   I was able to break away for a bit and give out souveniors and then we looked at pictures of my trip to Dublin.

Sign Nancy made for me

 After pictures I was exhausted so we headed home so I could sleep.  We got home around 8:30 and I saw my cats!  They remembered me!  Chloe greeted me at the door and didn't run away.  She's the shy one.  She sniffed my hand and then let me pick her up.  Tigger figured it out quickly and kept rubbing on me.  She stayed near me all night prior to my early bedtime.  Mom and Amy volunteered to stay up for the luggage, so I could go to bed at 9:00.  Tigger slept with me all night.  She has never done that before.  I guess she missed me.

Saturday 7/30

I was up at 5:00 am (10:00 am Dublin time).  Way too early, but I was still adjusting to the different time zone.  Although I was up at 5:00 I didn't really get up until 7:00.  I kept trying to go back to sleep.  When I finally made it upstairs I was surprised to see that I didn't have any luggage.  My luggage didn't end up arriving until 11:00 am.  Very frustrating, I needed my luggage so I could shower and put on clean clothes.  Dad made breakfast this morning; blueberry pancakes and BACON!  Breakfast was delicious!  The bacon was amazingly crisp and real pork.  Dad did a great job making breakfast.

My plans for the day included going to see Harry Potter, out to dinner with the entire family to celebrate Amy's birthday, and then back to my parents' house for cake.  Amy and Mom went to Harry Potter with me and Dad went to see Cowboy's and Aliens.  Harry Potter was great.  Kinda sad that it's over.

Family dinner; What a great bunch of people

Dinner was at On the Border, a Mexican restaurant in Novi.  It was delicious Mexican food; ok not Burrito Brothers, but good nonetheless.  It was spicy and the melty cheese was wonderful, but the best part of the dinner was being with my family.  Everyone was there: Mom, Dad, Amy, Mark, Nancy, Alexa, Mason, Ann, and Harry.  My whole family!  I have missed this.  Alexa spent a good portion of the night on my lap and I loved it.  I've missed too much.  We cleaned our plates and paid the bills.  I read the bill wrong, forgot about the tax that they have here and didn't read that part so I underpaid.  Quite embarrassing.  Once the bill was straightened out we headed back to Mom and Dad's for cake.  It was a wonderful chaotic time, although I was exhausted.  I really wasn't into the visiting.  As soon as everyone left, 8:30pm, I went to bed.

Sunday 7/31

I slept a bit longer this morning, I didn't wake up until 6:00.  I hope to get back on EST soon.  Breakfast was coffee, cereal with cold milk, and a blueberry muffin.  Another good breakfast.  I know cereal doesn't sound that good, but when you haven't had cereal or milk in 11 1/2 months it's a good breakfast! 

Plans for today included going over to Ann's so we could go shopping at Long Tall Sally, and then back to Mom and Dad's as Mark, Nancy, and the kids were coming over to go swimming. 

Driving to Ann's was different.  Lights and left turns.  No honking, no swerving, no flashing of lights; it was quite a pleasant drive!  Although, I must admit I was a bit nervous.   Driving for 6 months in a country that doesn't have a lot of lights and only allows left turns at lights, it was a bit nerve wracking.  I made it safely though, and I had a very successful shopping trip.  I bought few long skirts and a couple of tops to go with them.  Everything was on clearance as well, so that's good.  I also got to take a nice walk with Ann through the woods at a park near her house.  It was nice to be outside walking with my sister! 

The evening was fun.  Swimming and playing with Alexa is always fun.  Amy and Nancy came too.  I am loving the family time!!

The little fish jumping in the pool

Reading with Alexa after swimming

79 degrees at 9:54 pm.  What a difference!  And I'm lovin' it!!

Mason-Man is a goofball!

دبلن - Dublin

Tuesday 7/26

 My trip to Dublin began at 5:30am.  I had a taxi come and pick me up at Hili and take me to the Abu Dhabi airport.  I arrived at the airport at 7:00 and began the check in process.  This was a bit more difficult than usual.  I had booked my ticket with American Airlines since Etihad doesn’t fly from Dublin to the States.  American Airlines and Etihad are now partners, but I’m not really sure that means anything since all American Airlines rules applied.  American only allows 1 checked bag (Etihad 2), and you’re only allowed 23kg vs. 27 on Etihad.  I had planned on checking both of my bags since I was taking my laptop and purse on the plane and that’s all that’s allowed (1 bag and one personal item either a laptop or purse, for a total of 2 carry on items).  I had to do some creative re-packing and I still had to pay for 2kg over the limit.  The one good point was that I was able to get an exit row seat!  Hopefully I will be able to pack better on Thursday so I don’t have to pay an excess baggage fee.  The flight was long and boring, but uneventful and smooth.  8 hours is just a long time to do nothing. 

I arrived in Dublin at 2:30pm and had an easy exit through customs.  Susan had booked business class and had a car waiting to pick her up at the airport and I was able to join her for the ride to the hotel.  The walk to the car was incredible; just nice to be outside and walking and not sweating; very cool and refreshing.  We got to the hotel, which is really a bed and breakfast, around 4:00.  We got refreshed and headed out to do some exploring and find something to eat.  We walked up and down Grafton Street before we had dinner.  Grafton Street was very crowded and busy.  There were street performers all over.  Some playing instruments, some drawing, some just dressed in costumes, and some doing acrobatic stuff.  Dinner was at a nice little local pub and I had fish and chips and they were delicious!  Nice and crispy batter, fresh, clean tasting.  Good dinner.  Susan had a Guinness, but I didn’t.  I wanted my first taste of Guinness to be at the Guinness Factory where it is free.  After dinner we headed back to the hotel and I was in bed by 9:00.  It was a long day and I was finally getting tired.  I will say that it was quite weird to be going to bed when it was still quite light out.  I’m not used to that; it gets dark around 8:00 in the UAE.

Grafton Street

Wednesday 7/27

I had a great night’s sleep!  It helps to be extremely exhausted.  It was nice to be able to sleep with the windows open as well.  Today started with breakfast at the hotel and then we headed out.  Our plan was to go to Guinness and then see what happens.  We decided to walk to Guinness since it was so nice outside (22 instead of the 45ish that we’re used to).  Our walk to Guinness took us past Christchurch Cathedral.  The church was huge and beautiful. My favorite part was the area where an artist had painted personal aspects of Christ’s life and the people in His life.  The pictures were moving.   It was ancient and I would have loved to go to a service there, but I’m not going to be here on Sunday. 

Christchurch Cathedral

It is nice to be in a country where there are churches on just about every corner instead of mosques.  Churches and pubs.  It’s weird.  One on side of the street there may be a church and then directly across from it there is a pub lined with kegs.  A common site while we were walking was trucks filled with kegs, not camels like in the UAE.  Weird. 

After the Cathedral we made it to Guinness.  The factory had been turned into a storehouse and it was made in the shape of pint; the largest pint in the world.  I am not a beer drinker at all, but I decided to go anyway.  It is a huge part of Dublin so I just had to go.  The tour was pretty interesting, for a tour of beer making.  It showed the ingredients and gave a lot of facts about Guinness.  At the end of the tour we went to the Gravity Bar on the 7^th floor.  The Gravity Bar had awesome views of the city.  The Gravity Bar is also where I was able to get my free pint.  Like I mentioned, I’m not a beer drinker, but I tried.  I think I had 1/3 of it.  I just couldn’t drink anymore, (Ann wasn’t there to make me drink the entire thing).  Sorry to all the Guinness fans who are reading this, but it’s not good at all.  Very pretty looking, but not good tasting.  We got our souvenirs and then had lunch.  I had a very good beef and Guinness stew.  I guess I can handle the Guinness when you cook with it instead of just drink it.  The gravy was awesome.

 

After Guinness we headed to the other side of the Liffey River to see the crypt at St. Michan’s Church.  It was creepy, yet fascinating.  To get to the crypt you had to go under the church through a very old entrance that looked like the storm door in The Wizard of Oz.  The only thing is that only ½ of it opened and it was quite difficult to get down there, the ceiling was very low making it quite a difficult descent for someone of my height.  But it was worth it.  There were 3 uncovered mummies and plenty of graves.  The guy giving the tour was quite funny and animated.  He even acted out how a couple of the rebels died (hung but not to the death, their insides removed and burned in front of them, beheaded, and then cut into 1/4s).  Quite disgusting.  I guess the whole point was to make sure no one else rebelled against England.  Seeing the mummies was not the creepiest part though.  I actually touched one!  Some sort of legend about it bringing good luck.  It was disgusting!  It felt very leathery and you could see the skin.   

Organ at St. Michan's Church

 We left the crypt and headed back to the hotel for some rest; I was feeling queasy and needed to go to the bathroom.  I took some Panadol (UAE Tylenol) and a short nap and then we went out for dinner.  We went to this nice little restaurant and I had a chicken ceaser salad with BACON and gelato for dessert.  YummyJ 

There is quite a difference in temperature during the day and at night.  It was quite nice this afternoon when we were walking.  The sun was out and I even thought it would be weird if I got sunburn in Ireland and not the UAE.  I was not cold at all; that is until we left for dinner.  I brought my sweater just in case and I am glad that I did.  Although with the rain and the sun being gone it was quite chilly.  Yes, it rained but nothing much at all.  Nothing more than what we get in the UAE.  Even though it was chilly it was nice walking in the rain.

Thursday 7/28

Today’s sites included Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and St. Stephen’s Green.  It was quite cold, damp, and windy this morning.  I guess typical Ireland weather, but I wasn’t really prepared for it.  I had to buy a sweatshirt!

We just can’t seem to truly figure out the layout of this city.  We walked down Grafton Street and headed towards Trinity College, but we couldn’t find it so we stopped at the tourism office and asked.  The kind lady told me to look across the street, and guess what it was there!  No sign or anything so I guess you could understand why we didn’t know where it was, but we had literally walked past it 3 times in our attempt to find it.  We walked across the street and entered Trinity College.  Trinity College was a Protestant college; Catholics were not allowed to go there, until 1956.  Today it is fully integrated.  The main reason for the visit to the college was to see the Book of Kells and the library.  The Book of Kells is an artistically decorated copy of the four gospels in Latin.  It dates back to the early 9^th century.  The writing and the pictures are very intricate and detailed.  It was pretty amazing to see something that old.  The long room of the library contains over 200,000 old books and it is still in use today!  There were tons of old medical books dating back to the 1850s.  There were books in the center that were open for display and the walls were lined with books.  You can actually use the books today and you don’t even have to be a researcher or historian or something special.  You just have to have a reason for needing to use the books.  I think it would be pretty neat to open a book that is 150 years old.

Trinity College

From Trinity College we headed to Dublin Castle.  We really only walked the perimeter of the castle since we couldn’t quite figure out how to enter it.  We did see the grounds; which were amazing!  The grass looked beautiful; I wanted to take my shoes off and walk barefoot in it.  The castle is quite weird because part of it is still the castle and yet there are some relatively new parts attached to it.  Parts of the castle are still being used today.

Dublin Castle

St. Stephen’s Green is a park in the center of Dublin.  It is beautiful; lots of trees, and flowers and even a couple of ponds.  It was very nice and relaxing to walk through and see the greenery and then to sit and relax on a bench overlooking the pond.  The son of the founder of Guinness donated the money for the park. 

St. Stephen's Green

In between our visit to Dublin Castle and St. Stephen’s Green we had lunch at another local Irish pub.  I had bangers and mash!  Oh my gosh, it was delicious!  Funny thing is I don’t like mashed potatoes, but these were so smooth and creamy and the gravy was amazing.  It was wonderful to have real sausage as well!  The best meal I’ve had so far!

My vacation ends tonight.  Dublin is a great city and if I had more time I would love to venture out of the city and see the typical Irish scene of green rolling hills and sheep.  But alas I do not have enough time as tomorrow I head HOME!  My henna is fading; I do not like thatL

الطبيب اسنان و الحناء - The Dentist and Henna (a'tabeeb ahsahn walhenna)

This week has been a week filled with errands and working on getting ready for my return home.  Not much has been going on, but I will fill you in about my trip to the dentist (literally doctor of teeth) and getting henna. 

My dentist appointment was scheduled for Thursday, July 20 I went to Ideal Dental mainly because a many of the LTs went there and they liked it and it was free.  They took my insurance!  I guess that's the real reason I went to this dentist.  The appointment was quick and painless.  Yes, painless.  I know that doesn't sound right, but he used some kind of new dental technology and there was no scraping involved!  That was the best part.  He used some high powered laser that cleans the teeth and gets under the gums.  Sounds painful, right.  Well, before he used the laser he put some pain relieving gel on my gums.  Worked wonders!  The laser thing emitted a cool stream of water so it was actually quite pleasant.  I spent more time waiting for the dentist to show up than I actually did getting my cleaning.  See many places close around here from 1-4 and silly me I made my appointment for 4.  The dentist didn't show up until 4:30; 1/2 an hour waiting and about 20-25 minutes for the actual cleaning, that's just wrong.  Other than that it was a good trip to the dentist and I will go back.  Oh, this is the first dentist to actually tell me that flossing isn't necessary it's just an added bonus!  I like that!!

I went and got henna on Sunday, July 24.  Henna is this dye that they put on your hands and feet in very artistic patterns.  They use something that looks like a frosting tube filled with something that looks like mud and squeeze it onto your skin.  After it dries the stuff that looks like mud is brushed/scraped off and you are left with a reddish, orangish, brownish deisgn on your hands and/or feet.  I wasn't going to get my feet done, but I decided against it.  Now I just have to make sure I don't wash!  Yeah right, how is that possible?!  The more you wash the quicker it will fade and I want it to be there when I get home on Friday.  No showers for me I guess:)!  Just kidding!

My second trip to Dubai last week was successful!  I was able to exchange the picture; no questions asked! 

In other news, I got my hair cut and colored, my apartment cleaned, and laundry done.  I am going to go and take my car back today and then start packing.  I am just about ready to head to Dublin and then home!

109 at 3:00





مول الامارات - Mall of the Emirates

Today's trip to Dubai didn't take me to the Dubai Mall, as usual, I ventured to a different mall; Mall of the Emirates.  This is the one with Ski Dubai; the winter park.  This mall was not as easy to get to as the Dubai Mall, mostly due to construction.  Freida, my Garmin, kept telling me to get off the highway, but I couldn't.  I got sick of her saying "recalculating," it reminded me of my trip to Jordan.    We (I went with Susan and Phyllis) eventually found it and I didn't have to really drive through Dubai (something that I am dreading and don't really ever want to do). 

We walked around the mall for a little bit and then decided that we would head to Ski Dubai.  We thought we would have lunch at the chalet.  Well, that wasn't going to happen.  It costs 120dhs to get in the park.  So we just walked around and watched.  There were people skiing, sledding, tubing, and just playing in the snow.  It was weird to see snow in a mall in the middle of the desert:)  I liked it even though it made me miss home.  Maybe when my parents and sister come in March we'll go in and I may even play in the snow.  120 dhs is a lot, but it would be an experience:)

Snow and a snowman:)  How fun!

We watched the winter sports for a while and then headed to lunch and to do some shopping.  I got some souveniors for the Seavey kids (I hope they like them:) and a picture.  I had been looking for a picture of a camel caravan in the desert with the sun setting behind them (this was at the Intercontinetal in Al Ain and ever since I saw it I wanted one like it) and I hadn't been able to find one.  I even tried getting one made, but no luck.  Well, I found one today!  There was one out on the shelf with a lot boxed behind it.  I took one and paid for it.  I should have had them open it to make sure because when I got home it wasn't the one I wanted:(  I was very upset.  So I'll be going back to Dubai tomorrow.  I have to try to exchange it, and they don't do that in this country. 

That was my day!  How was your day?:)

111 at 6:40pm

عامي الاول - My First Year

Now that my first year teaching abroad is complete I can write about it.

It's been quite a year.  Filled with many ups and downs.  It's been challenging, frustrating, stressful, exciting, emotional, and memorable.  I learned many things about myself as a teacher and many things about the students that I taught, and will teach in the future. 

My first year teaching began Sept. 15, 2010.  I walked into Ammoryiah Primary School knowing only 3 people (Amy, Alice, and Andrea).  I walked in not knowing what grade I was going to teach, where I was going to teach, who the principal was, or how to communicate with the staff and the girls that I was going to teach.  It was scary.  I made it through that day and the many many scary days that would follow.  I survived not knowing how to manage my class, EMSA, being told that I'm not teaching, parent meetings, staff meetings in Arabic, being told that I'm not allowed to impose any consequences on my students' misbehavior, National Day and countless other assemblies that lasted forever, feeling isolated and left out among the Arabic staff, super high expectations placed on me as an LT and the students, endless PDs, moving classrooms 3 times before being told that I was going to have to have 2 classrooms and I would move instead of the students, not being able to use the bathroom at school due to not having water, wearing long skirts and long sleeve sweaters in 120 degree heat, air conditioning not working correctly, Esis and changing grades, and countless other obstacles.

But in amongst all those challenging and frustrating obstacles there were many many positives.  Having girls that wouldn't say anything to me in English, at the beginning of the year, tell me about their weekend!  Seeing the girls' writing improve from simple sentences such as "I like the cat." to compound sentences and 3-4 sentences on topic!  Helping girls learn to read in English!  Learning how to manage my classroom of students that didn't know what I was saying to them!  Meeting new Arabic friends!  Having good observations and a final evaluation, putting together a portfolio on the spot that was actually quite good, helping the students and parents know that learning is not always a worksheet or a page from the book, smiles, laughter, kisses, nose bumps, hugs, and notes from the students. 

All in all it was a good year!  And dare I say it?  Maybe just maybe I am excited about coming back next year?!

115 at 4:55pm.

النهاية - Al Neehiyah - The End (of year one)!

I survived!  I survived one year teaching in Abu Dhabi.  I survived one year working for ADEC.  July 13, 2011 marked the last day of my first year (10 months) teaching abroad, and almost 11 months since my arrival in the country (Aug. 15, 2010).

Today was a celebration day.  I guess.  We were told on Sunday that we wouldn't have to stay at work on July 13, just sign in and then leave.  Well, modeera took that back yesterday and actually made us stay.  We didn't do anything though, wej ust sat in the teachers lounge talking, or listening as the case may be, dancing, or watching, and pretty much just hanging out.  It was nice.  Nice to be together, even though I didn't  understand what they were saying, but nice to be able to sit and socialize.  At 11:30 modeera changed her mind and let us go home.  So after many مع السلامة - ma'asalma; goodbye/with peace, اشوفك في سيبتيمبر - a shoofik fee seebteembir; see you in September, and cheek kisses, with حبيبتي و صديقتي - habeebtee wa saudeeqatee; my sweetheart (term of affection) and my friend it was time to go.  I swear I got so many cheek kisses today!  It's very touching, but hard to know when to stop.  They just keep going; 6 on one cheek and maybe a few on the other, 3 on each cheek, just one on one cheek.  Who knows?  I had to leave it up to them since they initiated.  Everyone seemed genuinely sincere when they were saying good bye.  Moza even asked me to take her picture!  This is totally unheard of.   When they get their pictures taken they cover their face with their shaylah, but she was willing to be photographed uncovered so my family and friends would be able to see my friend from Al Ain!  What a nice thought and very touching, but of course I forgot my camera.  I told her next year, inshallah.  She then stood up on the table and we all got a laugh out of that!  I was finally able to leave that teachers lounge and head next door to the other one.  I said a general ma'asalma there and then headed to the office to say ma'asalma to modeera.  I finally made it out of the school around noon.  One year down and hopefully only one more to go!

Susan and I went to Leisure to celebrate our survival.  We had heard wonderful things about this restaurant, but we weren't all that impressed.  It was just a lunch buffet and the food was ok, but not that great.  We figured that the comments we had been hearing were regarding their dinner menu and coffee shop, so we'll have to go back for dinner.  But probably not until it's cooler because they have a very nice outdoor area which we would like to experience.

I have 13 more days until I leave Abu Dhabi for Dublin and 16 until I arrive in MI.  I have a few things to do while I'm here, but not much.  I have to see what I have to do about my car (not sure if I'm going to return it for the summer or just keep it), get my hair done, get henna, clean, and have Safeer come and clean, do laundry, and take my sheets and towels to be cleaned, read, study Arabic, go up the mountain, and relax.  I'll try to stay busy!

109 at 4:55pm.

العباءة - Abaya

"Do you want an abaya?"  Lara came into the LT room this afternoon asking me this exact question.  I hadn't really planned on getting one, but since the Emirati teachers were going abaya shopping I decided to go as well.  It would be a nice opportunity to get out of school and spend time with the Emirati teachers.  So, Ashley and I got into Lara's car and went to Al Yahar (about 20 minutes from school towards Abu Dhabi). 

Abaya shopping with Emirati's is a process.  First of all there were 8 of us in one tiny little abaya shop with 2 Arabic speaking men.  It's a good thing 6 out of the 8 of us are able to speak Arabic.  Ashley and I couldn't do much.  We filled the tiny store and browsed the selection of abayas.  They are beautiful!  Really.  Not just black.  Most of the abays are black in the front with color on the sleeves and down the arms.  There were a few with color on the front.  They are quite embellished as well.  Lots of sparkles!  They seem to like that here.  There is a huge selection and they can pretty much make whatever you want.

After you find the abaya that you want you try it on.  Most likely it won't fit, but you could be lucky.  Of course mine didn't fit, but that's no problem as they will make it fit.  The abaya that I picked out had purple flowers with gems on the sleeves and it was originally priced 600dhs.  I didn't want the gems so the price went down to 550.  I also wanted blue not purple flowers.  That wasn't a problem.  The problem was the price.  Moza did a great job of haggling with the owner and got the price down to 350dhs.  I couldn't really understand what they were saying other than the price.  After we agreed on the price I had to get measured.  Moza (not the same one that did the haggling) measured my height/length and the length of my arm.  Turns out I am proportionate!  66 (I am assuming inches here) from my shoulder to ankle and 33 from my shoulder to wrist.   Exactly as it's supposed to be!  Anyway back to the abaya.  There was a debate over who was going to measure the width of my shoulders and Khowla tried, but she couldn't do it right.  I eventually said it wasn't a problem for the man to do it.  They don't like men touching them so that's why Khowla tried.  I thanked her, but I think we would have been there forever if I didn't let the man measure.  It should be ready for pickup in 2 weeks.  I will wear this abaya to school since it was bought for me by Moza.  What a nice gift!  Not sure what I'll do with it when I come home, but it'll be a nice souvenior!!

School has been going ok.  I have been printing a lot of stuff to laminate; center activities, file folder games, and books that I scanned last year.  It's been boring, but I've had stuff to do at least for a few hours each day.  Today I found out that I will be teaching a grade 3 class and a grade 4 class (not a combination 3/4 class).  It will be challenging have 2 grade levels, but I know the 3rd grade curriculum and I like the age of 3rd graders so that will be nice.  I wanted 4th grade because for the most part I liked my 3rd grade students and I wanted to move up with them.  I know them, their strengths, and their weaknesses and they know me and what to expect from me so it should be easy.  I just hope I don't get a lot of students from 3/1!!!!  I will also have my own classroom!  I am so super excited about that!  It will make teaching a whole lot easier.  I won't have to worry about taking my supplies from one classroom to another, changing desks everyday, things being taken off the wall, markers and erasers going missing, the carpet being moved, sharing wall space... it will be so nice!  So, now I can get excited about coming back and teaching in Aug. 

Tomorrow we're going to Dubai.  I don't think I'll be buying anything, but it will just be nice to not have to go to school.  We don't even have to go and sign in; we can leave right from Hili whenever we want to.  That's nice because Hili is on the way to Dubai and the school is on the way to Abu Dhabi (totally opposite directions) and it would have been quite silly to drive to the school and then to Dubai.

Just 3 more weeks until I leave for Dublin and 24 more days until I arrive in MI!! 

100 degrees at 7:30

مسقط - Muscat

An absolutely lovely weekend!  The hotel was beautiful, the views amazing, the pool cool, and the beach, well hot but still nice.

Pool where I spent most of my time

It was so nice to sit by the pool and read and then go swimming when I got hot.  It was just a very relaxing weekend.  No plans.  No stress.  No worries (other than the fact that I lost my phone).  No schedule.  Just the beach and the pool and some amazing views. 

The Shangrila (5 star resort and spa) is located on the Bay of Oman.  I spent a little bit of time in the water, but really it was just a bit too hot.  More like bath water.  I did enjoy floating and riding the waves though.  It was also nice to be able to hear the waves at night.  I spent most of my time in the pool, or at the pool if it wasn't too hot.   

Bay of Oman

While I was there I couldn't help but think how fortunate I am to be able to travel like this. There is no way I would have ever been able to afford a trip like this while working at a public school in NC. All the stress, challenges, and hard work of the year with ADEC are (I don't want to say worth it) allowing me to have the time and money to be able to travel to places I never would have been able to see before. It definitely is a perk of the job and location. I am very thankful that I am allowed to see world and that I can afford to do so!

My next trip will take me to Dublin for 3 days.

104 degrees at 6:45