New Lessons.....New Experiences!!!

Yes, it has been about three weeks since I have had the opportunity to share my new reality. Even though times are less stressful for the most part, the days seem to pass by pretty quickly. Before I start, an online experience last week left a really bad taste in my mouth and I want to share my thoughts before I move on to the events of the past week or so.

For ANYONE that is thinking about taking this leap of faith and seeking advice or insight from those of us inside the “bubble”, please understand that each of us have or are having our own experience and much of our perceptions and attitudes are shaped by our individual experiences. Even I understand that because my experience is wonderful, does not mean that each person here is having the same thoughts or feels the same way. So much of this experience depends on these factors:

1  First and foremost, your school placement.  I am so lucky that I was placed where I was. YES, I have heard about other placements and the experiences that go with being certain places. This country is no different than the U.S. in some regards. Some schools and neighborhoods are better than others.

2 Your ability to let go.  “Stuff” happens for no rhyme or reason and you HAVE to roll with the punches. There are some that have been transferred 3-4 times. Others have had different issues with a number of things from plumbing, deliveries, to not so up front business dealings. This is not America and you have to understand when to “push” softly and when to “push” more assertively.

3 You will see things done in schools that make you scratch your head. Again, this is a different world and they do things differently. You must keep things in context. This is not your HOUSE. You may let your dogs lie on the furniture or get in the bed with you (on a personal level, that’s gross), but when you bring your dogs (attitudes and perceptions) to someone else’s house, you may in fact have to leave them in the car or outside on the porch…Their house, their rules!

4 Have an open mind. Most of us are 20 hours from home and multiple time zones and in that change, the world becomes completely different. Yes, there are so many amenities that remind us of home, but there are many things that do not and your ability to accept, adapt, and then appreciate those differences will have a significant impact on how you few your experience in the U.A.E.

   Be Sociable! Being far from home you need to make some friends! LOL Most are quite good at this bonding during the interview phase, or the waiting phase, and/or the orientation phase. There are many groups on Facebook and many other events. The quicker one has others to share this experience with, the better.

This job IS NOT for the faint of heart. I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. Yes, the American Public Education System and probably some countries are broken and some might argue irotrevably. But there are systems, mindsets, procedures, but mostly importantly CONSEQUENCES if jobs, schools, teachers, and organizations do not perform at acceptable levels. Notice, I used the word acceptable and not exceptional. From my short time here I have experienced, as well as other collegues, a certain amount of frustration and that varies from place to place. To give you some context, I am at a good school, in a good neighborhood and there are still daily frustrations. So I can only imagine what others might have to experience or endure at other schools that are not so good or are not in great neighborhoods. This is a huge job and a herculean climb with EMTs doing a great deal of the heavy lifting by design. Which means, a great deal of the issues and problems must be solved by the people doing most of the living.

I can only give you my experience through my lens. I have been accepted and welcomed by all. Ironically, the only negative experiences that I have had, that were not self-inflicted (more about those later), have been with ex-pats who were not of this country. To see the Muslim faith up close is humbling and truly an eye opening experience. The reverence that Emiratis have for their God and their leader is truly inspiring.  Again, others will give you a different opinion, but I am here to tell you this is as close to heaven on earth....for me. If you can deal with the heat, the laissez faire culture, and camels riding in the back of trucks down the rode, then this is an opportunity I would recommend. Now off my soap-box and on to the last few weeks.

How did I go from a Ford Explorer to a candy-apple red Hyundai Elantra?

So this story actually begins before "we" even left the states. Part of the reason for this move was to provide us with more financial freedom. To be honest, I do not know what "I" got in such a rush to get a car. Long story short, as I mentioned in my last post, we went to purchase a car with some friends. They began the process before we did and during the process, there were a few surprises that came up with regard to the bank assessing fees. The fees weren't necessarily high, it was just the fact that the banker was not transparent. It is so important to find a banker that you are comfortable with and who is HONEST. Even though people have an account at a particular bank, different bankers from the same bank, but different branches will call you and tell you not to deal with any of the other bankers. It is truly a crab in the bucket mentality. When I arrived, I was introduced to a great banker, but he was not the one that was handling the financing at this particular dealership. After thinking about it more, examining our "true" needs, and reflecting on our initial goals, we decided that this was not the best time to purchase......which brings us to our new red cadillac:) I was driving a different rental but it had absolutely no power so I took it back and got a better car and guess what.....IT WAS CHEAPER!!! That was confirmation for me that we had made, not the best decision, but the right decision. 

Church in Dubai!!!

We had an amazing time last Friday at church in Dubai. We drove up with our friends the Carters (Shout out to Renee, Bobby, and Carter). It was amazing to see so many different nationalities worshiping together. The pastor was from India. Praise and worship was different as the band played mostly contemporary Christian music. The people were extremely welcoming and we will definitely be attending again. After church we decided to "visit" the Dubai Mall. LAWD HAVE MERCY! It was big and nice! I'm not really a mall person, but this one was really nice. We had a great time walking and talking with the Carters:) Check out just a few of our pics:

Huge waterfall

Indoor Aquarium

Aquarium view from the second view

An Octopus holding nothing but credit cards!!! LOL

Ice Skating Ring

So the only thing left for us to do in Abu Dhabi was to finally get the rest of our furniture. On tehe scheduled delivery day, Sherrica and I waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. My mind kept telling me to call during the delivery window but I didn't. So after the window had passed, I called only to find out that they had been calling the wrong number. What further made me mad was that they never even attempted to deliver the furniture. When I talked to the driver, he kept repeating the same thing over and over and then he refused to come back and re-deliver. Of course I was furious so Sherrica and I decided to take the 30 minute drive back to the store. Before we arrived, she asked me to allow her to "handle the situation."

I must say that she did just that, even though I interjected a few times:) I have to admit that it was ALL my fault. I had given the wrong phone number and they had been trying to contact me but couldn't. I could only be so mad:) Oddly enough as we were trying to reschedule a new delivery date, the delivery men, called and said they were waiting...HUH??? After all that arguing back and forth, they came back and delivered the furniture anyway. In the end, it all worked out!!!

Lesson: MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR PHONE NUMBER!!!!!

“Today’s Disappointment, Is Tomorrow’s Purpose”

Last night as my husband, daughter, and I sat out by the pool overlooking the skyline; the thought of Purpose was in the forefront of my mind. I discussed with my husband that I pray God will reveal to me “My Purpose” within this opportunity.

The decision to move my life was a process and was not made overnight. When I was 3 months pregnant, I knew my company would release me of my duties. My intuition came from a discussion I had with the CEO of my company about expectations three years prior. His opinion was that a woman could either be two things; a successful businesswoman or a great mom, but not both. After working in finance in NYC this way of thought was not foreign to me. At that moment Marshall and I began to prepare by taking a Dave Ramsey finance course, saving, and living minimally to organize our lives based on one salary.  Long story short, I was right and my company released me of my duties two months after I gave birth. Although it was a blow to my ego (who wants to be fired), I really do not have anything negative to say about the process. My CEO was very supportive of me during my pregnancy (I had a few complications) and after I gave birth. But at the end of the day I know Business is just Business.

When the possibility for our family to have this opportunity presented itself, deep down inside I had fears. The fear of moving with an infant with no family support, the fear of losing myself inside this new role as a wife and mother, and the fear of my professional goals diminishing. I never expressed these thoughts to my husband because I trusted he would make the right decisions for our children and myself. 

My husband has truly redefined my definition of partnership and what it means to trust. Anyone who decides to take this path needs to ensure they have a pact to remain supportive and encouraging to not only the person with the opportunity, but the other spouse who is sacrificing a piece of themselves as well.

It wasn’t until I read John 13:17 that I had my Aha moment. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” If I am not aware of anything else in this world, I know that my God is Loving, Reliable, and Faithful. He has orchestrated each minute detail of my life for my good, even when I thought those things were negative or made me uncomfortable.

I came to the conclusion that my Purpose is to Hunt For My Greatness in my marriage, as a parent and in my professional aspirations; and to release all expectations to God and allow Him to accomplish his will in my life. In the meantime I plan to enjoy my beautiful view as I arise each morning, have a mocktail (a cocktail without the liquor) with my family at the pool, and embrace this new culture.

Our First Two Weeks

I can not believe two weeks have come and gone. I feel like we were in Alabama just yesterday. I have to admit time is not a factor here. The environment is very calming and relaxing that I often forget what day it is. In the short amount of time, we have made progress. We found furniture, purchased a car, painted the apartment, and made new friends in the process.

Here is my assessment so far.

Out of the 4 malls we’ve visited, there is something about each of them that I like. Yas Mall has the cutest clothing boutiques where I would shop for clothes. It's also attached to IKEA and Ferrari World. Marina Mall is very beautiful because it's near the beach and it has all of the high-end designer shops. Dalma mall was good for furniture shopping and it houses the best meal I’ve had thus far. Finally Mushirf mall was very practical and good for children because of the large fish tank elevator and an amusement center inside. This mall is also connected to a meat (if you have weak tummy this is not for you. You will see whole animal legs and other limbs displayed), seafood, and vegetable market. FYI do not take any photos outside of the meat and seafood market, a police officer stopped me as I was taking a photo.

The best coffee shop thus far is La Brioche. They have the best caramel frappuccino and apple turnover. It is chain coffee shop and can be found around the city. It is also a great meeting location.

 The best meal I have had was from this Italian restaurant in Dalma Mall called Buca di Beppo. The hospitality and service was amazing. They take you on a tour of the kitchen and you can even dine in the kitchen on your birthday. They have a wall dedicated to celebrities who have dined there. I had the shrimp Florentine, rosemary potatoes, and cheese garlic bread. My husband ordered the Buca Trio Platter with fried calamari, fried mozzarella & stuffed mushrooms. We both were very pleased with everything.

 We also experienced a touch of home by going to Marrybrown in Mushrif Mall for some friend chicken. It was pretty tasty and comparable to the fried chicken back home in Alabama. This is a great spot if you are seeking a quick meal. 

 We ventured out and dined with our friends Renee and Bobby at Bonna Annee, an Ethiopian restaurant. I ordered the Doro Wet (chicken stew with onions, tomatoes, garlic, and Ethiopian chili powder) and Marshall ordered the Bonnanne special (mix of key wet, minchet, abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs, fir fir, and shiro). The food was different but good. FYI: It is a cash only establishment. 

 All in all the first two weeks have been great. We anticipate some normalcy once our furniture arrives and we are settled.

Happy EID Mubarak...what a week!

Let me begin this post by offering condolences to all the families impacted by the deaths and injuries that occurred at Hajj on last Thursday morning. I know several teachers at my school that had loved ones attending so my hope and prayer is that they are not impacted by this unfortunate event.  This week was a short week as EID was celebrated. EID is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Isma'il) as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead. During this time, Muslims travel to Mecca to become closer to God. Each Muslim is expected to take this trip at least once during their lifetime.

The EID break could not have come at a better time! I feel like I have been going non-stop since I got here. There is so much to do just to get settled and once you complete one task then you have to start the next. When I landed it was all about becoming acclimated and learning my school duties. Then I had to worry about finding housing, which is fun at times, but still very stressful. Once you have housing, then you have to go to a million different places to get services turned on. That is the huge dichotomy in this county. One one hand they are able to build leaning buildings and other beautiful structures and on the other hand, you have to physically go to places to get things done....no online services!!!

Once I got my housing, I had to secure a bed...not furniture...a bed! Those new to administration here understand my plight:) I'm sure there are a few teachers who feel my pain as well. It is sooooo costly initially that all you end up getting are bare essentials. So again it is actually amusing (now) because many of us are living in beautiful accommodations with ZERO furniture. All I had was a bed, a microwave, and cooktop! Moving on up (Jeffersons) with a whole lot of Evans Family (Good Times)!

The next tasks that followed was getting my family here. Again fun, by stressful knowing that Sherrica had to travel by herself. Once they arrived, making sure that we all had enough essentials that we could SURVIVE until payday:)  Again, you have to be here to understand! Then you have to have all of these documents translated and stamped in order to get certain things like a visa for my family and a drivers license. The cost depending on the document can be anywhere from 60 to 215 dirhams. Yes, the international drivers license that you can purchase from Triple A for $15 means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING here. You will need to have your Emirates ID (which is a "waiting" task) and your translated US driver's license and then you have to go to the "DMV" here which is pretty efficient when the computers are working. The day I went I had to come back hours later because of this issue. However, the process is only about 15-20 minutes depending on how busy they are. Oh and your ID must be picked up from the post office, which again is pretty efficient. Remember: THERE IS NO MAIL SYSTEM HERE SO EVERYTHING EITHER NEEDS TO BE PICKED UP OR DELIVERED BY COURIER SERVICE. 

My current task is getting my wife and daughter sponsored. There are a bunch of things that I need to do and I will begin on Monday working through this process. Also, I need to schedule a boarder run in about 2 weeks. I have heard the fines are crazy if you are found to be in the country illegally. Oh and speaking of fines, when we we car shopping a ford, we were forced to illegally park. Why? Well, unlike in the states where car dealerships will be on lots, here in the UAE some are in the middle of downtown with simply a showroom floor, which means there is hardly any parking available. So needless to say, we received a 300 dirham parking ticket. The good thing is that if you pay it in 15 days, it drops to 225 dirhams. The bad thing is that there is no online payment system so you have to go into one of the offices:(

More specifically, this past week has been filled with JOY and shopping! We received our pay on Sunday, which was eight days earlier than we had expected. You should have seen my eyes when I looked down at my phone and saw that I had an SMS from the bank detailing my deposit! I was RICH! Not really, but I wasn't broke anymore. Let me just say that I wanted to explore some different options during this time to get so more money so Sherrica and I would be more comfortable before my pay arrived but she insisted that we would be okay. #RIDEORDIE So the FIRST thing I did was to rent a car. I paid about 1600 dirhams (aed) for a Peugeot 301. It's a little car with absolutely no power, but it gets me from point A to point B and no more daily taxi fares! Even though we rented a car, we began the process of looking for a car to buy in a few months. Sherrica and I, along with some of our friends, visited nearly every dealership here in Abu Dhabi. We went to Ford, Lincoln, Kia, Hyundai, Nissan, Mitsubishi, GMC, and finally back to Ford. We had been told that it would take three months of verified wages in order to purchase a vehicle. However, this was not the case. Because we work for ADEC (membership has its privileges), FORD was able to sell us a vehicle at a pretty decent rate. I won't say how much cause I don't want you all all up in my business like that:) I will say that depending on the model you had to put down either one or five thousand dirhams.  We ended up purchasing a 2015 Ford Limited Edition Explorer.

Without the rims:)

Due to the process here, it takes about a week to 10 days to actually get the car. Our good friends "The Carters" (Renee and Bobby) also purchased the same vehicle. We both got the same color too:) I think we are spending too much time with them!

Next on the agenda was furniture shopping. We bought the majority of our furniture through Home Centre. They have a partnership with ADEC where you get 25% off of every purchase. Again, membership has its privileges. Had we gotten paid a little sooner, we could have gotten 35% due to the EID holiday sell. You will be able to find great deals leading up to EID. We were able to find a number of things that we liked and it was really easy shopping with Sherrica. We seemed to like the same things, except for a bed. I compromised and let her get the bed that she wanted although it was not my favorite...but I can live with it. Again, due to the EID holiday, which is a religious holiday, many people do not or cannot work and the huge pre-EID sale our furniture will not be delivered and assembled until October 1st. Since we had some time to wait, I decided to paint our apartment.....that is until I realized:
1) how much time it would take and
2) how much I really didn't want to.

So we found a wonderful American man who is living here with his wife and kids. His wife is a teacher for ADEC. If you want his email, you can leave me your email and I will send it to you. He came over and gave us a wonderful price to paint our living room. He stated that he could tell we were just starting out...I guess because we had no furniture! LOL He was a deeply honest, gentle, and religious man and I learned a great deal about what I could expect while living here. He extended a worship opportunity to Sherrica and I and stated that he would invite us over for dinner at some point. His work was AMAZING! He had been a painter in the US for 10 years before the economy went bad. Check out his work although you have to be up close to appreciate it. Oh and the green tape is my doing before I realized I did not want to paint. He did EVERYTHING free hand!!!

This past week was a huge week for me at school as my principal gave me a number of new duties. Some I wanted and others....well..I guess they will be growth opportunities:) Due to the EID break we had a lot of teachers absent or leaving early (that is a whole other post) and I found myself covering classes. Because most of the classed that I was covering were Arabic I ended up taking the students outside. When I took the boys outside, I always heard "Mr. Mr. Can we go play?" When I responded "yes", this is what happens

For some strange reason, the boys always want to play with their shoes off! And look closely. NIKE is making a killing here!

I was also treated this week to Machboos. Machboos is a dish of rice And meat, popular in many Gulf countries and across Saudi Arabia. During a conversation with some of the Arabic teachers, I mentioned that I was expecting more food. One of the ladies immediately stood up and made a call to her housemaid to make me a chicken Machboos dish. Her driver delivered it to the school before dismissal. Yes, both a housemaid and a driver....life is good for most here:)

Chicken Machboos!!!

On another day, a few ladies ordered a variety of things from a restaurant and offered me a plate. Again, it is not well received to say no thank you even if you REALLY don't want what is being offered. I am also learning to smile a lot even when what I have in my mouth is not very appealing:) On this day, I was treated to a variety of items:

There is a cheese dish, a chicken salad dish, a pizza dish, a hotdog dish, and some other dish that I don;t know quite what I was eating:)

On a side note: My wife said I was getting "coffee breath", so now I am brushing after I eat and drink. I will not go into detail here but you will find that dental hygiene is not a priority here for all. 

In celebration of EID, the students also made me a sheep to place on my desk.

Finally, to bring a little normalcy to my life and to celebrate having working appliances, I cooked one of my favorite meals...SHRIMP AND GRITS! IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD!!!

Until we meet again.....Be Blessed!!!

Where to Breastfeed in Abu Dhabi

After breastfeeding for the past 7 months, I have come to realization that mothers who breastfeed have an unspoken bond with each other. I have spoken to individuals who think the act is disturbing and others find it to be the most rewarding feeling in the world. Although it is time-consuming, I would not change the experience for anything in the world.

Initially I was a little shy about the entire process and would only feed my daughter in private areas such as in the home or in the car. However as time went on, all the shyness went away. I was feeding her in the food courts, graduations, and restaurants. If I had my nursing cover from Udder Cover and a chair I was good to go.

Unfortunately that was in the United States, so honestly I am a little apprehensive to be so free in a traditionally conservative Country. Below are a few places (courtesy of Arabian Notes) that are breastfeeding friendly in Abu Dhabi. Because I am a newbie here, I have only experienced one facility. As I experience them I will update the post. This is only only a guideline for those breastfeeding moms new to the area.

1) Ikea near Yas Mall

I've actually used this facility and it was really cute. Nice padded changing table, a comfy chair, and it was clean. The only issue I ran into was space, it was a little tight for my jogging stroller. 

2) Yas Mall

They have a private women's seating area outside the restroom which can be great to use. 

3) Babyshop (Inside of Yas Mall)

 Comfy chairs, footrests, and a changing area. You have to ask an associate about the room.

4) Galleria Mall

Large changing and feeding rooms with TV's. 

5) Mothercare (Abu Dhabi Mall)

Changing rooms can be used to breastfeed. 

6) Al Wahda Mall

There is a chair located in the restroom stall and a separate changing area. 

7) Mushrif Mall

Space to change and feed inside a disabled restroom stall.
 
In any retail space I find it convenient to utilize the fitting rooms in large department stores, if you find the restrooms to be uncomfortable.

Momma We Made It!

On September 10th, Madisyn and I began our journal to Abu Dhabi to join the hubby. Initially my anxieties about making the trip were traveling alone with a 7-month-old baby diva and packing our lives into 4 duffle bags. However, all in all everything worked our perfectly and was well worth the hassle because, now it feels like Madisyn and I are living on a luxurious resort overlooking a beautiful skyline every single day. 

I am going to walk you through my process of this magical journey with Miss Madisyn Renee. My mom, aunt and a family friend drove us to New Orleans to see us off early that morning. I knew my emotions would eventually get the best of me, I just didn’t know when. It wasn’t until I approached the ticket counter for our boarding passes that I looked at my mom and just started to cry. At that moment all the preparations became a reality. 

The check-in process was smooth, however they asked me a bunch of questions in regards to obtaining a VISA. Even after I told them my husband is working there and his company is sponsoring us, they still continued to interrogate me.  But after that  process we were all set to go.   

I was excited to learn I would have get my stroller back in NYC (after being told I would get in Abu Dhabi) and thank God, because I needed it. The flight from New Orleans to New York City was great, no complaints. Upon arriving in NYC, I received my stroller and Madisyn and I were off to catch our next flight. My husband warned me that it would be a slight hassle getting to the international side of the airport. I should listen to him more often, because it felt like we walked a solid 2 miles to the international security checkpoint. Once there we only had 30min before the flight began to board. The line was long, Madisyn was going into Maddy Meltdown Mode, and I was starving. The line was moving pretty steadily until it was our turn. TSA informed me my stroller had to be inspected by someone else and I had to wait. I waited….waited….and waited until it was 30min before the flight departed. I became impatient and vented my frustration only to be told they were short staffed and to pretty much just wait. Ten minutes later someone finally checked the stroller and I still had a ways to go to my gate. I really began to panic when I heard last call for Abu Dhabi. I was determined to make this flight! Finally…we get to the gate only to be informed we needed another boarding pass and to see the ticket agent. Could anything else slow us down?  As were one of the last ones to be seated on the flight, Madisyn decides she had to use the #2. That meant getting up and passing over someone to take her into the restroom. At this point I used the honor system and left my bags, because the space was extremely tight and I was already hot and bothered. When we settled in I realized my cellular phone did not have a signal, so I couldn’t inform my husband or mother we made the flight. 

Off we go on a 13-hour adventure. I figured Madisyn would sleep a good 7-8 hours on the flight. Man was I wrong. She only slept 2 hours the entire trip. She was up playing, talking and knocking everything over. Initially when a young lady next to me with a son one day older than Madisyn offered to hold her, I was apprehensive. But after 5 hours of non-stop bouncing around in a tight space I took the offer. Her mother traveled with her so she was able to get a break from her son and understood the struggle of traveling with an active infant. This break allowed me to get my laptop and Facebook Marshall and my family to inform them we were okay. 

All in all the flight was wonderful, the food was fulfilling and no turbulence. The flight attendants were superb. One attendant even sat with me to hold Madisyn for about 20 minutes to give me a break.  

After we landed, all I could say was Thank You God!!! We Made It! Upon arrival my husband purchased me a VIP concierge service to transport us through the Passport check-in and to baggage claim. It was easy to get transported around but the individual assigned to me was little lazy. She would not help with my bags, told me I didn’t have time to use the restroom after a 13-hour flight, and stopped to chat with everyone she knew. At baggage claim the first 3 bags and Madisyn’s stroller came pretty fast, but it was too good to be true. We waited for 45min and still no bag. So off to the lost baggage station we go to file a claim. The process was easy and they were very efficient. My bag arrived the next day. 

After it was all said and done walking to the transportation area and seeing my husband made it all worth it. Needless to say Madisyn was knocked out in the cab ride home.

Traveling from the known to the unknown can be frightening, but knowing God promises that he will never leave nor forsake us will always be my guide for anything I approach in  life.

“God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” 1 Cor. 1:9 AMP

THE BIG ARRIVAL

The past week has been sort of a blur. I now see how people end up starting blogs and stopping. The days fly by and you just forget either to do it and/or all that has happened. I normally jot things down on my phone as a reminder, but honestly I have been on the move….literally. Last week was my first full week out of the hotel, and other than the free breakfast in the morning, I really didn’t miss it. The week was really about getting ready for Sherrica and Maddy’s arrival.

TIP: If you have visitors, family, and/or friends coming, you can hire a service at the airport to meet them and take them through the different stations such as visa stamping, customs, and the eye screen. It beats them having to wait in line. While Sherrica didn’t think much of it, I think I would rather have the service than not. You can even pre-pay for porter service. For more information, look on line at the Abu Dhabi Airport website and search for Meet & Greet.

Still waiting to get paid seems to be the theme by many here. Some have been here since July. I cannot stress enough to save as much as you can before you get here…especially future ADMIN! ADEC moves at their own speed and today, I found out why from a local. He saw the grey in my beard and asked me why? Before I could answer her told me, “grey, you think to much!” I was a little bewildered and then he explained that thinking/worrying cause grey and early death. He said that there is no reason to be in any hurry (Inshallah). “Life, take time..no rush”. I laughed but you had to be here. He was so cool and calm and he had not a care in the world. There is some truth to this. I met a man that looked like he was 35 (at best) who actually was 53!

KANDORA!!!

So, I finally mustered enough courage to ask my principal about me wearing a kandora. I had asked several other Emiratis about their feelings of westerners wearing them as I had heard conflicting reports. What I found was that, I would be well received if I wore one and that it would mean a great deal to the students, staff, parents, and community. BUT, I still needed to ask my principal. Much to my surprise, he smiled wide and told me YES! YES! YES! One of the office assistants even offered to take me to a local tailor to have one made. I cannot tell you how good they look up close and much to my surprise, you can wear different colors. However, white and cream seem to be the favored colors of most men. I think I will stick to the basics!!!

I GOT MY FIRST NOSE RUB!

"Mr." "Mr." "Mr." was what I heard. The kids and staff often call me this. Rarely do I hear the rest...Marshall. Yes, everyone goes by their first name here (Mr.Marshall). I turned and there was a little kid extending his hand. At first, I thought he was looking for my customary "xploding fist bump", but then he grabbed my hand and pulled me close to his face. Before I realized what was happening, we were rubbing noses. Now, I have seen this done by many Emirati men, but had yet to experience it for myself. While this may seem weird to many, and to me at first, it is a sign of friendship and respect. In the Muslim culture, nose-rubbing has been passed down from generation to generation. It is a unique way of greeting, showing friendship and deep respect. The old custom of rubbing noses is not an Arab invention but the code of indigenous peoples in many parts of the world. The Inuit and the Scandinavians also do it. It varies from rubbing to kissing, but they all require the noses to touch.This custom is linked with pride and dignity. As people who worship God, we tend to bow and prostrate by touching our forehead and nose to the ground as a sign of respect. It also translates into greeting others, especially among Emiratis and people from the region. Like with most kids, if one sees something, others will often copy, so now I find myself rubbing noses and giving "xploding fist bumps" all day!

HOME SWEET HOME

So the Queen and Princess arrived last Friday. For the most part they had a good flight.....only one bag was lost:) Thankfully, the airline delivered it the next day. Sky Tower is where we will call home for at least the next two years! We are still in the process of buying furniture and selecting paint colors. We want to make it really feel like our home and oasis in the middle of this huge oasis:) 

In front of Ferrari World in YAS Mall

Sherrica and Maddy

There is still SO much to do before we are settled. I just received my National ID and now I have to begin the process of sponsoring Sherrica and Maddy. It is a somewhat complicated task with a number of steps and expense along the way. Of course, I will chronicle this journey for you so that hopefully the steps are made simpler for those that follow me. Maybe by the end of October, we will finally be settled and ready for visitors! Who's coming first?