Uneventful yet Exciting!!!

Today was reletively uneventful. Half of the group here went to Al Ain to visit their new apartments and the other half will go tomorrow. I happen to be in the group going tomorrow so I stayed here at the hotel with baby Ethan while his mom, Nicole went to see the new place. We will live in the same city but not the same complex. Apparently, it was quite the experience that I hope I do NOT have. The busses were extremely hot with little to know air. Then that group had to wait for keys and people were not being gracious or professional. I hope tomorrow is better.

However, tonight we went to Kalidiyah Mall to get dinner and roam around. I ate at KFC and have to say it is much better than at home in the states. We also found my much LOVED Dr. Pepper in LuLu's. I am very excited about that since I haven't had one since I left the states. I had to be quite observant though because there was a sticker in Arabic that read something I don't know but in English above it some said Cherry Coke. These stickers were on Dr. Pepper cans. So I moved the cans around to find 6 that were labeled Dr. Pepper. I paid 3.75aed or $1.02 for each 12oz. can of Dr. Pepper and I am perfectly HAPPY about that. (Mom, that's better than $4 you paid in Paris...hehehe). To some this may not sound necessary but we have been told that just because the package looks like what we think it is it my not be. We have been told to look for these stickers. Apparently, the stickers tell the Emiratis that this item is not for Muslim consumption and that it is made with or near places that use pork products.

Now for the exciting part of the night!!! Nicole, baby Ethan, Christine and I get a taxi back to the hotel as we have done for almost a week now. We get in and tell him where to go. He nods and we are off. About 15 minutes later and 13.75aed, he pulls over on the side of the road (6+ lanes) and we see the mall again, where we started from. He tells us he does not know where the InterContinental is. So he gets out on this busy road and flags us down another taxi who knows where we need to be and it costs 8.75aed. He brings us safely home :-D

Now to get ready for my adventure to Al Ain tomorrow to see my new place.

It's a small world after all!!!

Things have been going well! Met some new people. I have to travel half way around the world to meet people who grew up near my grandmother and where mom and dad were raised. I have been spending time with a lady named Christine from Cordele, Ga. Today before Orientation started, we were talking about where her mom lives in Fort Gaines. Then we discussed that she graduated from high school at Randolph-Clay and worked at the Hardee's in Cuthbert. She also has family in Bluffton and remembers the tragedy with my great-aunt at the service station. Wow!! It's a small world after all.

Orientation was scheduled from 9:00 to 4:00 in the Grand Ballroom.  And Oh was it grand. It was the most ornate I have seen here yet. Absolutely gorgeous!!!  I was finished with everything by 11:00. Such a change from where I came when they would fill the rest of the day with fluff just to keep us there...Thank you, ADEC!!!

The entrance to the Grand Ballroom

Door leading into the Grand Ballroom

The Grand Ballroom. All chairs had seat covers. Very elegant.

The chandelier in the Grand Ballroom

There was a brief overview about what is covered for teachers and then we were given directions on completing the paperwork for NBAD (National Bank of Abu Dhabi). Basically, just to sign the papers and they will complete the rest for us. We will pick up our debit cards in 3 days and the account will be ready. Our first deposit will be the housing allowance followed by our first salary payment at the end of the month. The plans are that I will stay here at the hotel for the next 15 days.

Next was a line to turn in my passport and visa so that my permanent residence visa can be processed. Both will be returned to me here at the hotel "in 2 days." I love the accents. They pronunciate every letter in every word. Just like last night at the mexican restaurant, we had queso cheese dip made from "belbetta". They do not pronounce the letter V.

And finally to collect the keys to my new apartment. I will be living in Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Complex in Al Ain. So, I am told.

So far, so good.

First Full Day

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Says it all!! The flight was good. There was a little girl behind us who I thought would talk or cry the entire time but after screaming for an hour, she went to sleep and slept the rest of the flight. The flight wasn't full so some people laid across several seats to sleep. I wasn't so lucky. I sat with Nicole and Ethan. The flight crew loved him and brouhgt a basinnette that hooked to the wall. This girl was behind me an she talked or screamed for the first 3.5 hours. Finally she went to sleep and slept the rest of the flight. When we landed, the crew got Nicole's stuff down and let the 2 of us off with the first class people.

Stepping of the plane was HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Walking in, there were 3 girls in red coats with a sign that said "ADEC teachers." Once all of us were there (about 14) we were escorted to customs where they stamped our passport, visa and did a retinal scan. We walked through another security scanner and got our luggage. Omar from Nirvana came to me and asked my name and told me I would be at the InterContinental (with Nicole....God is AWESOME!!!). He then took all my luggage off the carousel and went to get someone else with a cart to load it up for me. We stood around until they told us to go and we followed them out to a van where they loaded the luggage and told us to get in the van. At this point it was dark and during the 8:00 hour. I just remember seeing that on the van.

When we arrived at the hotel, they ushered us inside where we were given ICE cold cloths and fruit juice. Mine was unsweetened watermelon something. A man gave us an envelope with our room and wi-fi code and asked for our visa and passport. He said he would be scanning them and returning them. And sure enough, they were delivered to my room later. Inside our envelope were stickers with our room number. We placed the stickers on the luggage and it was delivered too :-)

I showered and it was the best shower ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I slept from 10:30 to 3 and then was awake playing games with dad. I finally went back to sleep sometime before 6 and woke at 10. I scrambled to get dressed to get to breakfast. It was almost over so I just had a muffin and fruit. I brought back an apple and some cereal.

Nicole and I ventured to Carrefour and it looks like a Wal-Mart in a rural area. Some things look cheap and others don't. Lots of fresh vegetables and even fresh fish laying on a table on ice!!! We bought a few things, hair dryer, straightener, chips and a small rotisseree chicken, less than 1/2 of what we usually get. It was ok, but not so tasty. It works when you are hungry though.

We went to the Italian restaurant here in the hotel for dinner. It was ok. The best part was the guy with the pepper grinder. It was the largest pepper grinder we have ever seen.

Nicole is going to go back out tonight and get a microwave to heat Ethan's bottles while I stay here with him. It was too much to try to do that and carry him and wonder about getting a taxi back. We at least know how to do that now.

The internet is so slow that my MagicJack won't connect. I don't want to pay for the upgrade because it seems pretty expensive. When Nicole goes out tonight she is going to try to get us both Du sim cards so then I can use MJ on my cell phone.

We are in for a little bit but will have to go back out for dinner. We do have some perks here at the hotel: 50% off massages and laundry, 35% off food except room service and some free drinks I think.

I am at the InterContinental Hotel on the 6th floor. The view from my room is gorgeous! I posted it on FB.

The Long Awaited Ticket

The long awaited "Golden Ticket" has arrived. When I awoke this morning, I had the official ticket. Yesterday, I received the itinerary stating I would be leaving Atlanta on August 7 at 1:45pm and flying to Chicago. I will then be flying to Abu Dhabi leaving Chicago at 8:30pm arriving in Abu Dhabi at 7:25pm on August 8. Later in the afternoon, I learned that I will connect with Nicole and baby Ethan (3 months old) in Chicago. I am going to see if we can be seated near each other so that I can assist her with baby Ethan.  

I am more than excited!!!! I have yet to get nervous and wonder when that will happen until then I guess I will pack since there are piles of stuff in my room.

Notes from ADEC and Nirvana

So, last week, I got an email with reference to being in Group 1 and the Orientation schedule. I am super excited about being in Group 1. This will allow me to arrive in Abu Dhabi between August 8-11 and settle in the hotel before official Orientation begins, apartment keys distributed, police and medical checks, and school assignments. While I understand there is no guarantee that the orientation schedule is set in stone, I am thankful that there is a "schedule" to follow. Information that I have been getting from teachers already in Abu Dhabi is that schedules are merely a suggestion and there is no "rat race" to compete in. Things get done when they get done. I am quite ready for this type of lifestyle.

In the meantime, I have been doing final shopping which included toiletries, shoes and swimsuits. I have spent time with mom, Nancy, Jill, Hannah, Ashley and Terry. I have tried to stay busy and not anticipate or guess when I will receive the itinerary and eticket.

And now for today, emails have begun to go out with itineraries for teachers and families headed to Abu Dhabi. And I wait! And wait! And wait! Then an email comes that says confirm the date and airport of departure and the information on the work visa. I get excited! After all this time, almost 2 years, I will now know when I will leave. The work visa is correct. My name, birthdate and passport number is correct. BUT, there is no itinerary with a departure date or airport. So the waiting continues. I email Nirvana confirming the work visa but explain there is not information regarding the departure. Maybe I will learn tomorrow when I will be leaving.

Once again, the Lord is teaching me patience. I thought I had learned this throughout this process but I guess He is just double checking to make sure I got the lesson. I got it!!!!! My patience is much more prevalent now than when I stareted this process.

Notes from Nirvana

This morning, I took Dad out to the Fountain's house so that he can begin his journey to Montana with Stanley. Jenny was coming over to swim so I decided I would lay down on the couch and go back to sleep. Well, the email notification on my iPhone went off and I checked it. It was the first of three emails I recieved from Nirvana, the travel company that is handling the flights and itinerary for traveling to Abu Dhabi, UAE. At this point, I could not go back to sleep. The excitement began along with thinking of all the things I needed to do, buy and pack for this adventure. So, how did I spend the day???? Sitting by the pool and soaking up the sun. I will handle the rest later!!!!

Going Away Reception at Church

Wow!!! What an amazing day! My mother is incredible. She decorated the church fellowship hall in, of course, my favorite color, purple. She arranged all the flowers that were used and is my favorite "Wonder Woman!" She can do anything.

It was great talking with all those that came to share in my joy. Thanks for all the encouraging words left by all those that came by. I will be reading them as I travel and when I begin my life in the UAE.

The other incredible part of the reception at the church was the opportunity for Aunt Nancy, Uncle Thomas, Jill, Hannah, Ashley and Terry to spend the weekend with us. We had the best time from playing with the kids, shoe shopping, playing Farkle, icing brownies, fixing cheesecake stuffed strawberries, sleeping in the RV or eating icing out of the piping bag!!! We had a blast.

Yep, that's Jill! Loving that cream cheese icing!!!

My parents, Clara and Randy, are the BEST!!!!!

Nancy and Stanley Fountain, my other parents!!

Jeff Carrier, my youth minister during middle and high school.

We went on a mission trip 22 years ago to Haiti! Talk about life changing!

Fred and Carol Skinner

Uncle Thomas and Aunt Nancy

Jill, Ashley, Hannah, Terry

The whole gang! We had a blast this weekend!!