Catching Up - Part 1

Friday, August 31:

Today, we went to Madinat Zayed Shopping Center to shop for abayas.  I shopped around and bought three to start with.  I will probably have to wear one since I will be teaching the boys.  I'm not complaining though because it's an easy decision on what to wear in the morning and they are cool!  You can wear nothing underneath, yoga pants or a skirt...the decision is up to me and it's an easy one!  I had one made for $400 AED that is beautiful with gold lace and stones - Beautiful!  Another was a plain black one for $100 AED and the other is an open front abaya that snaps up the front and is trimmed in black lace - probably my favorite for $250 AED.  It was fun bargaining with them and seeing all the fancy designs!  After abaya shopping, we went back to Abu Dhabi Mall to go to the store The One.  I bought my mattress, mattress topper, lamp and some decorative stuff here.  It is a unique shop that I have loved since I first saw it.  It is similar to my style.  We went to Starbucks and then went to look for Fadaah's shop to have make an abaya.  We looked and looked and looked for it and got totally lost!  We had dinner plans to celebrate Justine's birthday so we just gave up and headed for Lebanese Flower with the girls.  This restaurant never disappoints!  I had humus and tabbouleh and it was yummy!

Saturday, September 1:

Today, we went to Mushrif Mall to get our bank account settled and had lunch in the food court there.  Wendy's it was - very similar to US.  Before leaving we stopped at Bloomsbury Cupcakes and had a cupcake.  People had been talking about these cupcakes and they were quite impressive!   

Laughing at taking this picture at Bloomsbury Cupcake 

Cupcake before we leave!

After, we stopped at Shadows to check the progress of our furniture and paid on it.  When we got back to the hotel, we got our notice that it was time to move out!!!  :(  The bus would move us to the West on Monday morning.

A little late posting but this was the first newspaper I received in the hotel.  I wanted to keep it to know the headlines of the day I moved across the world!

First newspaper in Abu Dhabi

Gulf News

Sunday, September 2:

Today, we went to the Bedaya Forum for all of the Abu Dhabi teachers and staff at the ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center).  There were about a thousand people there with us separated into zones of the auditorium so we could get it translated into English on our headphones.  There was a bit of technical difficulties so we had a little time to just sit and wait.  His Excellency talked about the New School Model and where we hope to go from here.  He did give a quote from Sheikh Zayed that kind of struck me as to why they were spending millions of dollars to educate the future of Abu Dhabi.  "We must not rely on oil alone as the main source of our national income. We have to diversify the sources of our revenue and construct economic projects that will ensure a free, stable and dignified life for the people.”  They are smart to think ahead because the oil won't last forever.  They need to invest in the future of the country, the children.  After the speech, we were dismissed to a banquet style lunch that was impressive but it was different as the Arabic teachers totally cut in front of you.  You could be elbow to elbow in line and they totally push you aside and get in front of you.  From what I understand, they think it's ok to cut in line and don't know the "q"ing system.  

Me, Martha and Symunek at the Bedaya

The hallway in front of the auditorium.  It was filled with vendors.  

Hallway with vendors

Another hallway picture

Banquet lunch

After the Bedaya, we shopped for last minute things to move and had our last dinner in the hotel at Rodeo Grill.  It was fabulous and the chef was so friendly and sent out things to try.  It was nice to sit down to a great meal, fabulous company and an amazing glass of wine!  This restaurant is definitely one to try again!

Menu from Rodeo Grill - I opted for Filet with mushroom sauce

The variety of fresh bread sent out

The butter inside the individual dishes-Not only was it pretty, but tasty too!

The caesar salad that was made at the station beside us

Cheers!

Chocolate Souffle for dessert - We indulged a little too much for this dinner!

Martha, Symunek, Cheri and I at dinner

Cheers with our chocolate covered lemon sorbet at the end of dinner

Monday, September 3:

Today is my last day at Beach Rotana:(  This hotel has by far exceeded my expectations.  The staff was so generous and helpful and felt like family by the end.  My room was always spotless (at least three times a day, he cleaned)!  The wait staff at breakfast always knew my usual, cappuccino, and always had a smile on their face.  Every time I entered the door of the hotel, there was always at least five staff members there to greet me, offer me a hot towel or a crisp, red apple.  They made the transition so easy for me and I felt extremely fortunate that I was housed here for almost an entire month.  Thank you Beach Rotana!

I woke up and finished packing up and headed down for my last breakfast.  It was still tasty 27 days later!  I finished saying goodbye to my friends that were placed in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and other areas of Al Gharbia.  We were told to be in the lobby by 10am for the bus.  LaRue, Martha and I were placed at a different hotel than Symunek and Cheri.  We were headed out to the “Wild West”!  Now, in Abu Dhabi time, 10am is never 10am…more like 12pm.  A little behind, but patience is key here.  We left on the bus at 11:30.  An open truck followed behind us with all of our luggage and bags from the things we purchased while in Abu Dhabi.  I prayed for a little luck that all of my things would arrive in one piece…what I should have prayed for was for us to arrive in one piece.  About an hour into the drive to Madinat Zayed, I felt a bump right beneath me and then heard the rubber bouncing off of the tire.  I was sitting on the tire (see picture below).  The bus driver quickly pulled off the road and two minutes later, got back on and drove off.  We were all a little surprised by this and asked, “What are you doing?”.  The bus is equipped with four tires on each side.  Thank goodness for this, otherwise, we’d have been in the middle of the desert waiting, waiting, waiting.  We drove on and I listened to the rubber break off for about the next hour.  Alarming me when it got louder at some points.  The bus driver pulled over at a tiny tire shop on the side of the road.  While we all stayed in the bus, the tire man quickly replaced the tire in about 5 minutes and we were back on the road.  The entire ride to Madinat Zayed took about three hours for a two hour drive.  

Moving out to the Wild West!

Martha ready to get there

LaRue is all smiles while waiting

Changing the tire while we all waited on the bus

Another pic of changing the tire

Bus driver supervising

The wheel hump where I was sitting

We drove off the main road to the middle of the desert to our new “home” hotel – Tilal Liwa Hotel.  There was a speed bump every minute so it took forever…guess they wanted me to appreciate the beauty!  On the road to the hotel, there was a camel farm right next to the camel race track.  The locals say these camels are like our race horses – worth a ton of money.  We didn’t get to stop to see them as they are very protective of them.  The race track is much larger than a horse track and race longer distances.  The camels wear a collar around their neck.  There are no jockeys, the SUV’s race around the outside of the fence with a remote control to control the camel as he races.  The races start when it gets “cooler”.  I can’t wait!!!

The Camel Race Track Tent

The Race Track, which is very long (nothing compared to the length of a horse track)

Another shot of the Camel Race Track

My first sight of a camel!

These are the racing camels.  They are right by the race track and the people treat them like "royalty" because they are worth a ton of money.  Looks like they could give them a little better housing:)

Hi Babies!  I think I am in LOVE with these guys!  They are just precious and I want one in my backyard as a pet...what do you think Dad??????

Camel

Another shot of the camel farm

We got to the hotel and changed into swimsuits and headed for the pool.  My room opened out right onto the pool, which had a infinity pool that looked out onto the desert.  It was so peaceful and we indulged in a few pool cocktails and tandoori chicken pizza. 

The Tilal Liwa Hotel view from the restaurant...in the middle of the desert, there can be beauty

Another shot of the hotel

The pool area (check out the red sand in the background...absolutely beautiful

The hotel lobby

The restaurant

Teapot in lobby

Hallway to rooms

Main meeting area in hotel where they served us drinks and passed out our keys

Cheers to a new hotel!

My room by the pool

The bathroom

Another view of the bathroom

The two toilets

Again, I was blessed with two beds so I got to take my pick each night:)

The doors leading to my patio and pool

Me with the beautiful desert background

Tandoori Chicken Pizza

View at night looking into my room

View of pool at night

Another view of hotel area at night

Beautiful!

That night, Mahmood came to the hotel to talk to us about housing and stuff.  I got my VILLA!  Villa 8 – R2!!!  No keys yet but he told me tomorrow…Inshallah!

Tuesday, September 2:

This morning, I woke up and went to meet everyone at breakfast.  Breakfast buffet was included but nothing like Beach Rotana - they spoiled us.  Mahmood picked LaRue and I up from the hotel and took us to connect our electricity.  We had to pay a $1,000 AED deposit but within the hour, we had electricity due to a friend Mahmood had in the back of the Electric Company.  Pays to have friends in the right places - YEAH!  We tried to go to Estilat to get cable and internet but could not because we are still without our permanent visa and passport.  We got the application and inshallah!  We went back to the hotel and hung out by the pool and relaxed for the rest of the day.  At night, the desert feels “cooler”.  It’s nice to sit out on my patio and read as it feels peaceful.  
Kara, our EMT Support for Madinat Zayed, came by the hotel to introduce herself and talk about what will happen in the next few days - transportation to schools, moving out, orientation and visiting schools.  She put me in touch with my Head of Faculty at my school, Christine.  Christine will come pick me up in the morning to go see my school and meet the principal.

Wednesday, September 3:

Today, my Head of Faculty, Christine, picked me up at the hotel and took me to my new school, Zayed Al Khair for Boys.  She gave me a tour and we met up with two other EMT’s, Patricia and Nellie.  We met in her office and she gave us the low-down of the school.  VERY TOUGH - no returning EMT's.  There were quite a few stories from last year that she told us about.  She used to teach at the girl's school so this was new for her too.  New principal, new HOF, new teachers - this should be an interesting year.  Here, boys are treated like royalty and rarely disciplined.  The boys get away with anything and everything so you can imagine the stories as I won't get into detail about what she told us.  I opted to take Grade 1 as I felt the older kids would "tear me up".  I got to see my classroom and it was very clean and organized.  The old EMT left me lesson plans and activity books to use.  I appreciate that!

My Classroom at Zayed Al Khair School for Boys

Front of my new classroom and teacher's desk

While, I was at school, The One came to deliver my lamps and mattress.  Christine's husband went to take the delivery as we were in a staff meeting with the principal Samaya.  She is strict and to the point.  She means business and I hope she knows how to lead this school to better times.  
After school, Christine's husband took us for a tour of Madinat Zayed and showed us some new places.  I got dropped off at Martha's Villa to wait for Shadows to arrive with our furniture.  They told us it would be about 5pm first, then it was 7pm and finally they arrived at almost 9pm…Again, Abu Dhabi time.  They had all of our furniture on one truck so it was extremely difficult to tell whose furniture was whose.  No labels.  We all had this furniture specifically made with material we chose and they were all very similar in colors.  So, this round, I received my base for my bed, the wrong curtains, couch, rug, quilt, and two pillows for my bed.  They said maybe next week we would get more.  Note: We were told we would have everything 10 days.  They finished up around 11pm and Mahmood drove us back to the hotel.  We found out it was his birthday!  However, they don’t celebrate but we told him we would celebrate for him!  Symunek came back with us to the hotel and stayed with me since I had an extra bed.

Hanging out in Martha's villa while we waited on the furniture to be delivered.  We were all laid out in the kitchen laughing and excited to start this next part of our adventure.

The bus in MZ - Mercedes

Thursday, September 6:

Orientation for Western Region.  We took a bus to Mirfa, which is about an hour away to attend an orientation for Al Gharbia region.  There were current teachers who shared their experiences and it was nice to hear some positive things about the area instead of negative.  Yes, we are in the middle of the desert but we do have wonderful things in this area and the people are welcoming and have a lot to share with us.  Lunch was provided and then a question/scenario session with groups.  They talked to us about situations that might come up and how to handle them.  One was bribery.  This is a HUGE deal in Abu Dhabi-parents give you nice gifts or money to change grades – SAY NO!  This could lead to jail and deportation if you accept!  This happened to one teacher so that is why they had this scenario.  No gifts, money or tutoring!  We took the bus back to MZ and waited at Martha’s villa for our appliances to be delivered from Carrefour.  They finally get delivered and we head back to the hotel and hang out by the pool, have dinner and a few glass of wine:)

Friday, September 7:
We took a taxi to the Villas because I lost one of my IPhones!  I was sure I had used it in the car and found it sitting on my couch.  I think I lost my mind in all of the chaos.  I simply can't do two things at once in the UAE!!!  Mahmood came and met us at the Villas and brought us Shwarma's for dinner.  We laughed and laughed with him as he is SO different than us and it's someone we never expected to have a conversation with in our lives but so welcome!  He gives us a new perspective on life.  He dropped us back off at the hotel and we started to pack up for the move to the VILLAS.  

Part 2 to be continued:  Moving to Villa, First Day of School, BOYS, trip back to Abu Dhabi, CAR