New Appreciation

I have just spent the week with 2 of the most well-behaved kids I have ever seen. I had the wonderful opportunity of keeping my cousin Jill's twins for the week. The twins were incredible!!!! Everything was please, thank you, yes ma'am, no ma'am. They were cooperative, caring and played well together. We had a busy week with many activities, Monkey Joe's, movies, pool, lunch with mom, more pool time, and they "helped" my dad work on the building in the back. This has given me a new appreciation for parents and single parents. It was a constant busy week. I'm exhausted!!!

Now it is time to get back to reality and continue to prepare for this move in August. The pre-departure webinar was last Friday and we were told to be prepared to leave between August 8-12. We may only have a days notice to be at the airport. Many things were discussed such as culture shock and how to cope, the New School Model we will be using to teach, etiquette for the UAE, work/business dynamics and many others. I took 3 pages of notes and 6 screen shots of information I didn't want to forget.

Now time to try to get my iPhone unlocked with AT&T and begin to sort through clothes and teaching supplies that need to be taken.

How does one pack their life in two 50 pound suitcases??? I'm guessing I will be paying for a third bag. We shall see!!!

First time in 20 years

Well, I sold my truck today!! Woo Hoo!!! Another thing off the "To Do" list. While I am excited that it is sold and that I can save the money for my trip, this is the first time in 20 years I have been without a vehicle. Dad and I are sharing his truck for the rest of the summer. I must write on the calendar if I need the truck for any reason so that he will know. Kinda like asking permission at 36 years old. LOL!!!!

It's Over! All Moved Out!!

Today was my last day at school in Clayton County. It was quite uneventful. I watched a movie and played games with colleagues.

I finished packing and cleaning out my room on Monday and Tuesday so it was a relaxing day.

I thought I would be more emotional than I was. But the day just went by. There was a meeting at 2pm where Dr. Cloud, the principal, went over bus schedules for next year and accolades for those who had done a great job this year. She wished me well and told everyone that she would go too but there is an age limit and she is over the limit. Everyone got a great chuckle out of that! She has been a great administrator and extremely supportive of my desire to teach abroad. I have been blessed to work for her this year.

Oh, and by the way, there is NO room left in the storage unit!!!

The Packing of My Classroom Room – 14 years of collecting

Nope! No time to relax!

Now it is time to clean out my classroom.

My Mom says it would take 3 large moving vans to move from their home (they have been in the same house for 26 years) – that’s the way I felt when I looked around my classroom but I soon realized that I could definitely part with some of the “stuff”.  I started gradually sorting, tossing, giving away and packing.


My colleagues have had a blast going through my stuff and taking what they want. There have been many questions about where I am going and what will I be doing and teaching. I have welcomed each of these questions.


Each afternoon, I load my truck with as many boxes as I can (or that have been packed) and take them to my storage unit. Each box is carefully loaded into the storage room so that if I need it, mom will be able to locate what I need and can send it.


And so the cleaning, packing, sorting and storing continues.

The Race is ON...to get documents authenticated!

So, with the job offer signed and returned, it is now time to begin gathering documents and authenticating them so that my visa can be issued.

This process can be daunting in the beginning. But once I started and took each step at a time, it wasn't so bad.

I began with taking my teaching certificate and my diploma to the bank to be notarized. Simple. Easy.
Then I go to the Cobb County Superior Court to have the notary attested. However, the woman there is NOT nice and tells me that it is done wrong and she won't do it. So, I leave mad and frustrated at her RUDENESS!! It was not necessary.
I go back to the bank and explain the issue according to the mean girl. Julie says not to worry. So rather than going back to Cobb County Superior Court, we use a notary that lives in Cherokee County. That way I can go to Cherokee County Superior County. Which worked and the girls there were SUPER nice and accommodating.

Now for my trip downtown to the Secretary of State. Not quite as easy to find as the Cherokee County Superior Court but nonetheless, I find it and the ladies there were awesome! I'm now back on my way home with documents ready to be sent to ProEx.

ProEx is a courier service that works with Teach Away to get documents authenticated by the US Secretary of State and the UAE Embassy. So with a call to Cindy at ProEx, she sends me the form to be completed along with a FedEx label to ship my documents. It was exactly one week from the time I mailed my documents to ProEx until they were back at my door.

The next day mom scans all the documents and I upload them to Ariane and Teach Away so that the visa process can start.

Ahh, now I can just sit back and relax! Right?

I Get The Call!!!!!!!!!!!!

6 weeks and 2 days after my interview;
9:52am on Monday, April 9^th – I got the call.  I’m going to UAE to teach!!!
     While working with a student at my desk, my cell phone rings. I see that the call is coming from Ontario, Canada. I jump up, run out of the room (cell service is not great in my room). A colleague watches my class. It is Ariane congratulating me on a job offer from ADEC. She explains that she has sent me an email with the offer letter and to look it over and email it back if I accept. Of course, I accept!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9:53am – I call Mom – lots of laughing and a few tears!!!

9:54am – I call Dad – calm but excited and NO tears!

At this point, I am running up and down the hall letting my colleagues know that my dream is coming true. When I tell my principal, she is so excited, she is jumping up and down and dancing with me. It was truly a magical experience!!!!

Calls Start Going Out

On Wednesday, April 4, the Facebook group starts buzzing with people who have gotten the call that they had a job offer with ADEC. This goes on for a couple of hours and I hear nothing.

Finally, after waiting and waiting, I call Ariane at Teach Away. She tells me that my interview notes are all positive but she does not have an offer for me. I feel my heart plummet to my toes. She assures me she will call on Thursday to let me know one way or the other. Depression sets in, I can feel it closing in on me. I have put all my "eggs" in this basket. I am also frustrated wondering why "they" have kept me waiting all this time and still no offer. Thinking I would rather have gotten the "no thank you" email.

At this point, I have to turn it all over to God. I know He is in control of my life. He has proved it over and over again. He has NEVER let me down. After spending lots of time in prayer, I feel this sense of PEACE. The peace that only God can give.

Spring Break is over and it is time to head back to school. Still no information.