Sorry for not writing lately. We have been pretty low for the last two weeks. We got sent to a tiny village (Al Mirfa)  in the western region(Al Gharbia). It has been tough. Bradley is the only spouse out here, and has been super bored hanging out in the creepy hotel they put us in. Thanks goodness there is a fishing dock to keep him occupied, that and looking for a job in AbuDhabi.

My school is nice....it is not a new building like the primary and high school. The teachers are very welcoming and gracious. I have a great co-teacher, Amani, who is from Sudan. The children are getting use to me and are learning greetings and weather.  I have about 18 students and no materials to work with, or a curriculum. But we are making it work. Actuallly I have not been to school in the last couple of days...I got a bug that has been going around. So I have seen the Al Mirfa hospital..it was underconstruction like everything else in this country. I am feeling better today. There are 11 western teachers here in Al Mirfa. Most are really nice and well misery loves company.

So ADEC is our employeer. They have had meetings and gotten all the teachers in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi into there beautiful apts and villas. But no one has been talking to the Al Gharbia teachers. They dropped us out in the middle of nowhere, I mean camels and sand, with no info or support.  So last week someone came to take our concerns back to ADEC but never emailed us back the answers. So on Monday Bradley, Mary, and I drove into Abu Dhabi armed with contracts, to talk to the head of the Western teachers department. After talking with three seperate people we didn't get much answers, .........however after much begging and alittle crying(unintentional) Bradley and I will be moved to Al Ain in two weeks. We are so happy, but I will believe when I see it. So we are going to be in the hotel here for two more weeks...then another hotel in Al Ain for a week until we get a place to stay.

Anyway we have rented a car with another couple who are both teachers here in Motel morbid. It is a Lancer, basicly a lawn mower with AC, but it was cheap for a month. So we go to Abu Dhabi on the weekends...two hours one way...to go shopping and buy good food. The arabic food is great but there is way more western food here then in Korea. Anyway back to driving....people here are crazy drivers. They don't drink, or party but they get their kicks from speed. So next month I want to get a huge SUV. The highways are crazy scary, but I drive in Al Mirfa because well.... there are four streets. Oh and they love round-a-bouts.....Big Ben....Parliment.....Big Ben.

Being out in the sticks, in a town with lots of construction there are loads of workers from India.  I now understand why women cover up head to toe. The stares are intense, my friend Tori is blonde and she never leaves the hotel without a head scarf. The emiraties don't stare to much, and in the big cities it is no big deal.  You can wear capris and t-shirts, but out here.. no way. Although Emiraties would never say anything to you, because in this culture you never want to cause anyone embarressment. It is all about keeping or saving face. So I have been wearing my Abaya and sheila(head cover) to work, it is actually kind of nice to wear pj's to work under the Abaya.

Abu Dhabi girls

Al Mirfa

My classroom

First week!

So it has been an interesting week. I had a couple of orientation sessions here in the hotel. And we received a tour of the Great Mosque which was wonderful and absolutely beautiful. It is the third largest mosque in the world, and houses the largest carpet and second largest chandelier in the world. We had to wear the Abaya in the mosque, so that was an experience. I actually brought one today to wear to school. It is not required but they are very comfortable and I can wear my PJs under it.

I have found out the I have been placed in the middle of no where, I am not too happy about it. I wanted to be in Al Ain but am teaching at a school in Al Marfa on the coast. I might be living on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, but nothing in set in stone and I am trying to see if I can be reassigned. We are disappointed but going to see what it is like. We will start teaching on Weds. and move hopefully on Tues. But who knows. They have a saying here Inshallah.....If Allah wills it.....it's in his hands.

We have been shopping for school materials and clothes. The malls here are outrageous. They are three times the size of the Tucson mall. We tried the go to the Souks...which are more of a market, where you haggle. They were OK, not to authentic. So far we have been eating in the hotel and buying food at the supermarket. So we are looking forward to eating at an arabic restaurant. Here are a few photos of us and some new friends.

First days

Hi all!


Well we made it and have been put up in a wonder hotel. The first day we meet many teachers and their families. We went swimming and went to the biggest mall in town. We did a little shopping in Carrefour (a french walmart). They have all the american brands. The taxi ride was a little crazy but we made it there. That night I had an orientation. Today I had another meeting...then went to the pool to relax. Now we are off to a night market for some food. Ramadan is happening and we have only been eating breakfast and dinner. The food is great but looking forward to authentic arabic food tonight and not hotel food. Tomorrow I have a medical check and later this week a cultural meeting where they will take us to the big mosque. Here are a few pictures.

I got my ticket!

Well I am off on Sept. 2nd, from Tucson to Chicago and them on the Abu Dhabi. I am so excited and looking forward to finally getting there. I will post my first update at the beginning of the weekend. Cheers

Still Waiting

I am becoming a expert in waiting. Hopefully anyday now we will get our tickets. But for now we are at the Walsh's. I have been painting up a storm. Thought I would post my lastest work. It is of the desert sands outside of Abu Dhabi. I will post again when I have my ticket in hand.

Greetings all,

This is the first blog I have ever written. I am off on another adventure soon. For those of you who don't know me, I have been working and traveling in Asia as an English teacher since 2005. But in the next few days I will hopefully find my golden ticket in my inbox and be heading out to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. It is so funny that most people have no idea where that is until I tell them it is near Dubai. And if they are a woman they say, "Oh that is where they go in the Sex and the city 2 movie." Well yeah I guess, but it is also where the tallest building in the world is and man made islands in the shape of a palm tree, and some of the richest people in the world live. But that is just what puts them on the world stage, I can't wait the experience the culture.Stay tuned.....