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!!

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!!!!