Al Fanar and Home Centre

Yesterday I had one of the best meals I have ever had!  This is the Le Royal Meridien Hotel, and that round disc at the top is the Al Fanar Restaurant.  This restaurant has a champagne lunch on Friday's....and it revolves! The restaurant doesn't revolve, the floor does.  It is on the 23rd floor and it has the most spectacular views of Abu Dhabi and the Persian Gulf!  This is what Luxos says about it:

"This is by far one of Abu Dhabi’s most sought after locations. Al Fanar is the rooftop restaurant at Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi, and it is a revolving restaurant, famous for its unashamedly romantic atmosphere, with unforgettable views of the entire city and the sea beyond. The Bubbly Brunch on Friday is very popular, with unlimited champagne and a superb and varied menu, including wonderful desserts. The European-inspired restaurant menu features seafood, grills and salad specialties. All amidst subtle lighting and background jazz."

And the jazz was performed by a lady on the piano and a guy on the violin.  It was great!

                                                      Lobster cut in half, and prawns!

 And the desserts!!!  I can't eat sugar for a loooooooooooong time!  They even had roast beef and yorkshire pudding!  I had never had yorkshire pudding, and was surprised to see that it looked more like rolls, not pudding.  They were wonderful!  Gonna have to work on learning to make them. Everything was fabulous, and the champagne kept flowing!  It is from 12:30-4:00, and whenever any of you come to visit, this is where I'm taking you.  It's not cheap, but then as with everything, you get what you pay for.  I was so wiped out when I got back to the hotel room, I tried not to lay down and profess that I had "itis," but I could only stay awake until about 8:30 PM.  Well, great food and lots of champagne will do that to you.

I was there with a group of "seasoned" young ladies.  One of them, Brenda, had made a comment on Facebook a few months ago about being older than a lot of the others that were being hired, and she wanted to know if there were others of us.  Another Brenda who has been here for a while agreed to set up a luncheon "meet and greet" so that we could meet each other. I believe 13 or 14 came.  I won a prize for being the oldest one there ( which I figured I would be).  It was supposed to be for age  50 and over, but most were in their 40's.  This is the prize I got:

                                                 Cute little elephant key chain from India.
We are about to be spread out all over, so the first Brenda has agreed to set up something so that we could meet about once a month and do things we like to do together.  Suggestions are to see some of the museums, things like that.

Today I went to Home Centre to see what they had in the way of furniture and stuff for my apartment.  They are offering a 20% discount on all merchandise other than those on sale, so I figured I might as well take a look.  Besides, it is next to the Marina Mall which is a HUGE mall that I hadn't been to yet.  Gave me somewhere to walk around and look as I try to walk off the calories I ate yesterday.  I found a bedroom set I can live with.  My apartment doesn't have closets (there are cabinets in the kitchen) so I have to get a wardrobe and a shoe closet also. I found a nice kitchen table with inlaid tile that I really liked.  Found a floor lamp and matching regular lamps for the living room.  Could not find a living room set that I liked.  My non-negotiable for the living room is a chaise.  I have always wanted one.  I found one, and it is okay.  I saw the wrap around couch sets with the lounge, but they were all made of leather, or leather like material.  I don't think that is a good idea in the heat of the desert even if there is air conditioning. I have another store to go to.  There are several places around, but this other place I can also get appliances.  None of these apartments have appliances so I need a stove, refrigerator, and they have these contraptions that are a washer and dryer all in one unit.  Have never seen anything like this before! 

While I was out I saw someone from the Abu Dhabi Education Council go into Home Centre, and when I came back to the hotel I saw someone from the travel agency.  They hadn't been around lately because Group 2 of the teachers came in and are staying at a different hotel.  So far we are taking up 3 hotels.  The teachers at the Intercontinental Hotel are all going to live in Al Ain, Those here at Beach Rotana are either staying in Abu Dhabi or are going to Al Garbia like I am.  The travel agency people have been giving the Business Center things to run off and deliver to our rooms.  We need to know where our orientations will be on Monday and Tuesday, and we need to have our money to start buying things since they will be shipping us off next week.  Things are looking up!

 

Support is a Wonderful Feeling!

It is interesting to me the levels of support that are here.  There are many couples here...men and families that have followed the wife/mother on her new adventure.  Some couples are both teachers.  Some men are working their jobs by Internet.  Some are house husbands, some are enablers:  enabling those of us that don't have menfolk to make repairs, give wonderful advice on technology, stuff like that.  There are men that are the teachers and the wives have come as support.  There are the teacher wives that left husbands at home to take care of the families. What a level of support!  Then there are those of us that are single/divorced who have the support of their families and friends back home.  We have each other's backs here, especially those teachers that have already been here.

Yesterday I was fortunate to attend an informal meet and greet here at the hotel with four teachers that have been here to let us ask questions so we know what to expect.  One lady put it very graphic for me:  it is as if we have just gone through Brown vs. the Board of Education and we are the Little Rock Nine.  Wow!  Remember how long and hard that fight was!  Abu Dhabi is a growing country.  The New School Model is only about five years old and this is about the third year that they have been hiring and importing teachers.  We have been told all along that we need to "go with the flow" because we aren't in Kansas anymore.  Literally!  Throw out the "Western" way of thinking!  Their education system is nothing like ours.  Students aren't disciplined here like they are at "home."  Trust me, I witnessed something in a store yesterday that  Child Protective Services couldn't have prevented me from having that "Come to Jesus Meeting" with my boys!   Things are different, and those that have been here before us are helping us to get acclimated to this.

I have been on a two week glorified vacation in this wonderful hotel.  I have been taking advantage of lazying around because I know that next week things will start to pop.  We have two days of orientation, then they put us out of this wonderful five star hotel and we go to a hotel in our respective cities.  So next week I will make that 3-4 hour trek out into the desert....

People watching and observing

Interesting how I figured this one out, even though in most places everything is in English and in Arabic.

Did some people watching.  Been doing it every day, but I really paid attention today.  Had to get a new cell phone.  I was just going to get a new SIM card to go with my iphone, but someone posted that when they did this, they would lose minutes whenever they accessed the Internet on their phone.  So, went to the mall to buy a cell phone.  Underneath the Abu Dhabi Mall (which is connected to my hotel) is the Abu Dhabi Hypermart Co-op.  Interesting place.  Has a little bit of everything!  Bought a Nokia phone for 89 AED ($24.23) and a SIM card for 40 AED ($10.89).  Still have to have it activated, but it is just for people to contact me here.

Back to the people watching.  People wear what they want to wear here.  That in itself is interesting!  You may see men wearing long white robes (I think they are called a "thobe") with or without the head scarf (ghutra in white, or red and white) talking to a man in jeans and a t-shirt.  Women may wear the black abaya (in different beautiful fabrics) with or without the black head scarf (hijah) and sometimes with the veil in front.  Sometimes the abaya is not fastened in front, most times it is.  There are a lot of people from India here as well.  Most people speak English in some form.  So far I haven't had much of a problem being understood.  Oh yes, in case you wanted to know.  The men's white attire does have pockets.  Most people look like you or I walking down the street.  I had been told that there is no public displays of affection, but in the mall I have noticed a lot of hand holding.  Maybe that is as far as it goes.

My apartment building.  Notice the construction.  The construction is in the front of the building.  Has nothing to do with the building itself.  Talked to a young lady this morning who wants to go home.  She is to live in the apartments that I am going to, and she doesn't like it.  If they aren't going to move her to other apartments, if they aren't going to be flexible,  she is going home.


The teachers here are trying to get things moving on their time, not waiting for things to happen.  Not willing to sit and wait.  We are getting to the end of Ramadan, and things are moving slowly because of that.  They want their money NOW, and want to clean and move into their apartments NOW.  The American mentality.  They have stormed the bank to get their debit cards.  For what reason?  There is no money associated with them.  We got a notice not to have furniture sent to our apartments yet.  Again, why would you do that? Some of these apartments need to be cleaned and painted first. There are messages flying around about mattress toppers and other things.  People want to start renting cars.  Can't do that without our residency visa which we don't have yet.  I may be behind the eight ball at the end, but I'm doing as I am told, not making any plans to go above and beyond what they tell me to do.  Trying to go with the flow.  Besides, they are going to have to drag me kicking and screaming out of this hotel!

Unfortunately I'm becoming addicted to the frozen yogurt at Pinkberry.  Have to stay out of that mall.  I'm getting tired of spending money anyway.  But we only have breakfast paid for here and have to go out for dinner.  Tonight I got smart (or smarter).  Went to Subway and got a foot long.  Ate half, put the other half in the mini fridge for tomorrow.  Ahhhhhhhh......(can stay away from Pinkberry's mango frozen yogurt with mangoes, dried cranberries, and pistachios!)

Ponderings....

It is interesting to me to see people react.  I know that I am a people watcher, and I know that my background in psychology kicks in from time to time.  I watched people react to their placements and their living arrangements.  I listened during breakfast to some people how they discussed with others their views on life out here in the UAE.  Most (mostly the "younguns") are happy if they have been placed in the bigger cities and have the brand new apartments.  Those that were placed in the Western region and didn't want to be there in the first place aren't happy about anything. I hear how people are going to complain and ask to be placed other places. People are complaining that they have been placed in this school and they wanted to be in that school.   Maybe I'm just older or maybe it's just the way that I am, but... we were hired for a job.  If we were in the states, we go to the school that we are assigned.  Here it's the same.  We go to the school where we were assigned.  Maybe there wasn't a place in the school that you wanted to go to (there are boy's schools and girl's school, unless they are in kindergarten.  The boy's schools are a little challenging).  If you are in the bigger cities (Abu Dhabi City for instance), the experience is more like what you are used to.  I, on the other hand, have been placed on the other side of the world, and I asked for it.  I am in the middle of the desert by Saudi Arabia.  If I go to a new country, I want to experience the new country.  The apartment does not look like anything that I would have in the states unless it is in a run down section of a big city.  But that is okay.  It is what they have, and I will make the most of it.  The living room is large, the kitchen is small, but I'm not paying for it so I will be grateful!  I have talked to people that live out there and they have given me ideas and information.  It will be okay.  I can't and won't complain.

Busy two days!

Finally figured out how to view everything in English. Notice the orientation of the last post. The Arabs write and read from right to left, which is why the edges are lined up on the right instead of the left.
Okay...the news!  I am going to the Western Region which is the largest region of the country of Abu Dhabi (and the most untamed).  I am teaching Kindergarten with another teacher from Louisiana.  Of course there are other teachers there, we are just the newest ones.  Although this is literally out in the middle of no where (they call it the Wild Wild West), I've been told that those of us going out there have been handpicked.  There are 50 (out of 650) going out there and 9 going out to where I will be...a little place called Ghayathi, which is in Al Garbia, Abu Dhabi, UAE.  From what I understand this is where the oil workers live, and the people with some of this money.  My school only has kindergarten. There are about 196 students and about 25 teachers.  If your math is as good as mine        ( probably better) that is about 8 students per teacher.  I think I can handle that!  Another good thing: the lady that interviewed me back in February came up to me and said "I remember you!". So we turned in our stuff to get our residency visa, and got the keys to our humble abodes.

Got on the van/bus at 8:00AM to make the three and a half hour trek to our apartments today.  Nothing but sand, barbed wire to keep you out of the sand, the occasional camel, and a few oil trucks.  There is some greenery in the desert but not a lot.  We finally get there!  There is a lot of construction going on including in Ghayathi.  Other teachers reported getting brand new apartments with marble counter tops if they are living in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain.   Not me.  There is a film of sand EVERYWHERE and mold between the tiles in the kitchen.  There is a crack in the living room and in my room.  The good parts are I have a 2bedroom one and a half bathrooms.  The living room is big!  I can work with it. Have to buy appliances and furniture but I refuse to complain.  To busy making silver linings!

I am here in Abu Dhabi!!!  Interesting thing....I logged on and everything ins in Arabic.  Have to figure that out.  Anyway, largely uneventful trip.  As hard as I tried by weighing my bags at the bus station, they still were overweight.  Enter the greatest Skycap in the world!  Like he said, you look out for me, I'll look out for you!  I had to pay $300 for my bags anyway, extra for overage was not happening!  So, checked my bags and sat down to wait on the plane.  Mom, Ethel, and Larry brought me to Norfolk, but they had left.  Here comes TJ, who waited with me until I went to catch my flight.  Fly to Chicago, and they tell me that the money that I had paid for my bags just had a receipt to Chicago!  I told the man that I wasn't paying any more money!  He said no, but I would have to go back to Terminal 1 to get United to fix it.  I was in International Terminal 5. Told him that that wasn't happening either.  So they fixed it!  On to Royal Jordanian.  Nice flight, pretty decent food....all the way to Amman, Jordan.  Got off, changed planes. Each time I got off the plane I had to do the TSA thing and get searched.  Nice plane ride with meal to Abu Dhabi.  They picked us up at the airport, had to do an eye scan, went through customs so fast that I didn't realize that we went to customs, picked up our bags, put us on a small bus, and brought us to the hotel.  Gorgeous hotel.  I am in the Beach Rotana, look it up!  Am supposed to be here until the 19th at least. Gonna be busy the next couple of days.  Tomorrow (Sunday) we will have our first orientation and I find out where I am living.  Monday and Tuesday we go to see it and start planning how we are furnishing it.  Well, gonna go out and see if I can find some adapters.  I bought some, but for some reason the laptop plug won't fit into the converter and I need a USB adapter for my phone.  The things I didn't think about!  And so the adventure begins......

Scared!!

I went to check my reservation on Thursday, and I noticed that the flight from Norfolk to Chicago had mysteriously disappeared.  Oh well, I figured that it would show back up.  After all this is technology, it's hot, and things happen.  Then, last night my entire TICKET disappeared!   Oh my goodness I STARTED STRESSING!!!!! I emailed my person at Nirvana Travel in Abu Dhabi to find out what happened.  This morning I get two emails from him.  First one: confirm your previous itinerary (which I had already done).  Second email: ignore my first email, here is your ticket and visa.  Breathe!  Woosah!  Woosah!  Okay, slight change of plan. Not leaving on Wednesday August 8th as previously planned.  Leaving on Thursday August 9th.  Same basic itinerary except not as long a layover in Chicago:

Norfolk 5:30 PM to Chicago 6:45 PM
Chicago 9:30 PM to Amman, Jordan 5:30 PM Friday
Amman 8:05 PM Friday to Abu Dhabi 23:15 AM Friday

Okay, back to re-packing!

I just realized that it would probably be a good idea to explain what I'm up to.  Many people know already, but for those that I never got around to telling about it, here it goes:

I have always wanted to teach overseas.  I am a military brat, having graduated high school at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, West Germany (H.H. Arnold High School for those of us that don't want to give up the name).  I got my teaching certification after graduating with a double degree in psychology/sociology at Virginia Intermont College.  Didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, but I figured it would work itself out eventually.  My father wanted me to get my license to teach while I was in college, but I had no intention of teaching anybody anything.  So what happened?  I kept getting jobs where I was teaching somebody something.  I did the all American thing, got married and had two kids (boys).

When I got divorced I figured I needed a job where I was on my children's schedule...hence teaching!  Still, I loved traveling and the urge was always there.  When my youngest turned 21, I started investigating teaching jobs overseas, which brings me to my newest adventure.

Last summer I was working my part time job one Saturday at a Teacher and Parents Store.  A customer that I always enjoyed came in and I asked her what was going on with her.  She told me that she was going to Abu Dhabi!  I asked how she managed that, and she told me the website.  I made a mental note of that and kept on about my day.  Later on that same day I went to Starbucks to get a coffee.  While there I got a call from my sister-in-law Tracy (in Atlanta).  She called to tell me that her cousin and a church member just got sent to Abu Dhabi and used that same company!  To me, this was God talking to me!  So I went home, got on my computer, and I had already bookmarked this website during all of my research.  Scary, huh?  They were hiring for January, and I wasn't ready for that yet. So, in January I put in my application.  The website was really pushing Abu Dhabi (although they also provide teachers to other countries) so they sent me an application to the Abu Dhabi Education Council.  A few days later I had a phone interview.  Towards the end of February I had a face-to-face interview in Atlanta, and in April I (along with about 649 others) were hired!  It is a wonderful opportunity with amazing benefits! Plus, this is a real growing experience for me.  I finally have the time to take just for me and to grow as an individual.  I am SO looking forward to this!

I got my ticket today!!!  Okay, didn't really get my ticket, but got my itinerary.  I confirmed it, and now am awaiting the ticket.  It's a positive step in the right direction!  Now it seems sooooooo real!  Now the traveling part.  OMG!  I leave on Wednesday, August 8th from Norfolk, VA to Chicago.  There I have a five and a half hour layover (good thing I love to read), then hop on a Royal Jordanian flight to Ammon, Jordan.  Stick around there for two and a half hours, then on to Abu Dhabi.  Will arrive there about fifteen minutes past midnight on Friday.  It's not as bad as it seems:  They are eight hours ahead of us so it is about an eighteen hour flight.  Just checked how much baggage will cost.  Thinking that I am going to have to downsize.  They want $300 for three bags!!!!

All this because I wanted to teach overseas.  I am a military brat, so going overseas is not a big deal to me.  Moving is something that I enjoy, so changing classrooms or grade levels was just a new challenge to me.  Oh well, better start looking in my suitcases to see what I absolutely positively cannot do without for at least a year until I get back home.......