First Impressions......a week into a lifetime

So today officially marks my first full week here in Abu Dhabi and it has flown by! I have seen many blogs that start and stop and I see why. It is hard to stop and find the time  to fully explain(write) everything but I want to stay committed to this to 1) document my experiences 2) to help others navigate the waters and 3) encourage someone to follow their dreams when folk around them are calling them crazy! There are SO many topics that I want to discuss so let me preface this post by saying two things....it will be long and these are "MY" experiences, thoughts, and perspectives.

The Goodbyes

A picture is worth a 1000 words....Missing my Maddy Poo!

Sherrica and Maddy

My mom and Maddy

The Plane Ride

Whew!!! 13 hours in a tight space. But all I can say is that Etihad Airways is the truth. From the goodie bags with headphones (they collect them before landing), to the food, to the free alcohol, to the customer service, they were absolutely wonderful. For me this was my first up close exposure and realization that I was heading to a new land. It was interesting to see all the different cultures on the plane and to also see those  of the Islamic faith get up every so often with their prayer rugs to go and pray. A lot could be learned from them and one of the things that I hope strengthens my family is their faithfulness to their religion. Being here a week, I have begun to understand that their faith is not something that they do (like some of us on Sunday:), but who they are. It is the foundation for EVERYTHING in this society and it is beautiful to watch in amazement. 

We were met like movie stars right of the jet way with our names on an ipad and whisked through customs. We had our vision checked and bags retrieved in record time. Not sure how they do it, and if you have ever flown into Atlanta's airport you certainly know what I mean, but by the time we made it to baggage claim, our bags were arriving. 

ADVICE: You will here conflicting things on FB but get your Sim card at the airport!!!! You will not have your passport beyond this point and it is darn near impossible to get a sim card anywhere else without your ACTUAL passport. NO, they do not accept copies of passports. Yes, ADEC "may" give you one but it comes with restrictions such as no data and it only has about 10 minutes on it. You need a local number and it helps to already have that secured ASAP! Myself and another AVP were the only 2 of about 30 or so AVPs and teachers to get it at the airport and each one will tell you that they probably wished they had!

ADVICE: Exchange some money at the airport! It is quick, painless, and the exchange rate is really good. It also makes you feel really rich walking around with 500 dollar (dirham) bills #bigballer

Emirati Appearance, People, and Culture

From the airline attendants, to the hotel clerks, to the normal citizenry, their is a pride in how they present themselves. No doo rags, no sagging pants, no hair bonnets, no pajamas in public.....This culture is a very prideful culture and they make it a point to not do anything or allow anyone to do anything that would bring shame to them in any way. Another aspect of their culture is that is strikingly opposite to my American culture are the use of cellphones. Yes, everybody has them but when they are with their family, you rarely see them....EVER. I have yet to see anyone on their cellphone while in a family setting and family is hugely important here. Again, another aspect of this culture that I hope to learn a great deal from. 

One of my favorite activities thus far has been to talk with the service staff. THEY ARE AMAZING and ALL have wonderful stories. I have met a young man who was a teacher in Uganda. Another who recently graduated from a University. He and I spoke for nearly an hour one night as he was curious as to why cops were killing black people. Yes, THE WORLD IS WATCHING US! He told me that because of his University major this epidemic was really interesting to him. He made sure to speak quietly as he did not want anyone to hear our subject matter. He told me that America needed more Marcus Garvey's to stand up and say enough! I make it a point to visit with my favorites everyday at some point. It seems the list keeps growing because each day they introduce me to someone else. We laugh at the fact that our dreams are opposite. They dream to come to America and my dream was to leave America and live abroad. They all are supporting families back home and it is quite normal to see them working in one position in the morning and then another at night. Steve Harvey says that the Dream is free, but the hustle is sold separately. They give a whole new meaning to the word hustle and grind and whether they know it or not, they inspire me. I admire them for trying to carry the weight of their entire families. Many have left children and wives to come here and make roughly 500-800 US dollars a month and they send most of that back home. So to my new friends...I salute each of you and your courage, will, and hustle!

Hotel Life

View from my hotel room

I mean, who could get tired of a 5 star hotel, with daily cleanings, free breakfast, huge pool, with a private beach! If you are waiting on a however or but......it ain't coming!! I have no complaints about the accommodations and I am truly grateful. If ADEC had placed us in a Holiday Inn, no one would have complained, but they didn't! Everything has been amazing and the staff go to no ends to make you feel welcomed and secure. 

Education..."Without a Vision, People will Perish"

Abu Dhabi and the Royal Family values education and are serious about strengthening their society through education. There is a joke the locals tell...My grandfather rode a camel, my father drove a Mercedes, my son will drive a Maserati, my grandson will drive a Lamborghini, but my great grandson will ride a camel. They understand that eventually a society that was built on oil will have to transition and education is the means that will allow this transition. Yes, it will be hard work but you have to remember...The US educational system is over 100 years old. They just started practically 10 years ago and already have made huge leaps. They have researched the best systems and practices in the world from Finland to the U.K. and have/are creating a system/curriculum that will leap frog them into the future. Beginning this year, every 10th and 11th grader will be exposed to a S.T.E.M. curriculum with expansion coming each year after that. 

Malls

I am not going to waste my time typing this or your time reading it talking about shopping. Let me say this, there are malls everywhere. There are upscale malls, decent malls (like the ones back home, and not so good malls. You will have to venture out and find the 1, 2, or 3 that fit your need and budget.

Security

I am sure that many of you have family members who were concerned about your safety. Never take anything for granted, but let me say that everywhere you go, there is security. This country goes to great lengths to make sure that everyone is safe. Crime and violence is something that brings shame to them and they are swift in punishing those who commit crime. For instance, the American teacher who was killed in December 2014. Her murderer was captured, tried, and executed July 2015. SWIFT! Other than getting to know the cultural norms and behaviors in public, I always feel extremely safe and comfortable.

Housing and Placement

This subject is what brings out the U.G.L.Y. in people. Both show who was truly prepared for this experience and who was "hoping" that everything would work in their favor. It shows who can roll with the punches and who still has yet to realize that they are not in Kansas anymore. As I type this, there have been some who have been sent home for an inability to accept that which was always an option. 

Now, there are two types or placements/housing when it comes to administrators and teachers. As administrators, we know months ahead of time, which region we will be placed. The only aspect of our assignment that we do not know is our school and what type of school it will be; elementary (cycle 1) middle (cycle 2) or high (cycle 3) or a combination. We also know that our region can and/or school can change at a moments notice (I was originally placed in Al Ain and then reassigned to Abu Dhabi). We (admin aka AVPs) have the responsibility of finding our own housing based on the budget prescribed by ADEC according to the region and our marital status. For example in Abu Dhabi our housing allowance is 210K (dirhams) if we are married compared to 131K dirhams for single. In Al Ain, the housing allowance for married is 112k (dirhams) and 67k for single. If AVPs are places out west in Al Gharbia then our housing is chosen for us as there is not as much housing to choose from. Regardless of where we are placed, we are given 20k (dirhams) or about $5,500 usd to purchase furniture. Unlike in the states, most places do not have appliances or furniture. The downside to this is that unlike teachers, who are placed in housing (I will get to this), AVPs must pay realtor fees (5%) and security deposits (5%), which come from the furniture allowance. If you are a quick study in math, you will realize that much, if not all of your furniture allowance is gone after those "hidden costs" so any appliances and furniture must come out of your own pocket...SAVE YOUR MONEY AVPs!!!

Teachers...Teachers...Teachers...GET YOUR MIND RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET HERE! Teachers enter into this new opportunity completely, or mostly blind. They know their salary and they know that there housing will be taken care of, but they don't know their region or school. The school placement is not that big of a deal, unless a teacher has taught high school and has now been given a kindergarten class.....Hey, it happens but not so much as they really try to match the skill sets that you bring so that their students are successful. The PLACEMENT is the BIG ISSUE. Even though teachers are told from the outset that they could go to any region, many come with their mind set on one or two places....and let's be honest, very few want to go out west (Al Gharbia) where it is thought to be rural and desolate. Let me say this....there are many teachers that have gone out west and love it! However, some teachers come wanting the "bright lights" of Abu Dhabi and when they don't get it...how should I say this.....ACT A COMPLETE DAMN FOOL! As if they knew this wasn't a possibility. I think you do yourself a huge disservice if you come close-minded. Some might say, it is easy for me to speak since I am in Abu Dhabi but let me say that when I was TOLD that I was going to Al Ain, I was preparing to go and make the most of it! Sherrica and I both wanted Abu Dhabi because it gave her the greatest opportunity to work, but had it not occurred, we were prepared to move on with plan B. 

You have to prepare yourself mentally for anything and anywhere. If you wanted ABSOLUTE control, then you have to stay in the US where you can control the school you work in and the neighborhood you live. You give ALL that up when you sign up for this opportunity. Understand that. Yes, there are times that you can dispute housing arrangements due to certain things, as some teachers have successfully changed housing, but placement for the most part is an absolute and without a HUGE reason to change, you are where they place you.

Let me repeat. TEACHERS GIVE UP ALL CONTROL OVER YOUR LIVING ARRANGEMENTS AND PLACEMENT WHEN YOU GET ON THAT PLANE!!!

Family

I know that they encourage you to leave your family at home until you get settled but I would have to disagree. If you have the opportunity, BRING THEM. I could not due to a family event that is occurring at the end of the month, but I wish they were here with me. The hotel is wonderful and there is plenty to do to keep from getting cabin fever. And as many have stated before, your spouse can do some of the leg work or be there for deliveries when you cannot. This is a wonderful experience so you might has well enjoy the ups, downs, and bewilderment of it all together!

New Haircut

The jury is still out but right now officially the vote is as follows:

• My mom hates it
• My wife is on the fence
• I like it....

If you are keeping total that is one Hell No, one Hell Yeah, and one I'm not so sure, which maybe code for Hell No, but I don't want to hurt your feeling honey! LOL

Until next time....Shukran (Thank you) for reading and Inshallah (if Allah (God) wills it)