40th Year Celebrations!
The UAE celebrated 40 years...an amazing time to be here.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Wow, time flies!!!
Hello again! My, how time flies. I can't believe it's already May and school will be out soon! That means the kids and I will be heading to the good ol' USA soon! The kids are beyond excited and I'm not far behind, however we will miss Joe...of course! The kids' last day of school is June 8 and we will fly out on June 12...not looking forward to the flight, but I guess it's just one day out of our lives, right??? We can handle it.
The children and I recently had an exciting experience. We were invited to lunch at an Emirati home, which we are told is fairly unusual. We gratefully accepted and went. I was nervous about going, simply because our cultures are so very different...didn't want to offend anyone! Joe of course, wise one that he is, said be yourself and you'll be fine. It's difficult to explain, but there are so many stigmas and so many "dos" and "don'ts" that you hear, right, wrong, or indifferent, that it makes one paranoid to even make eye contact with a local, or Emirati for fear of doing something offensive. That being said, we had a wonderful time. The kids were whisked away to play and the women were treated to Arabic coffee and dates to start. The women, mother and six daughters, were all beautifully dressed in bright colors and lovely jewelry. In their homes, with no men around (other than the father) the women do not cover themselves with an abaya or shayla. After visiting for a while we moved from the common area into to "dining room", which consisted of lots of large cushions on the floor. We ate a wonderful meal of couscous, chicken with prunes, pumpkin, and other veggies, along with stuffed grape leaves (my favorite), fatoush, falafel, salad, hummus, etc. I have never been served so much food. It was delicious! The mother made all of the food and expected us to eat a lot! I think we ate for a couple of hours and talked about the usual "girl" stuff...college, babies, schools, work, etc. It was extremely interesting and educational...for me! The women were all so kind and very easy to talk to. Several have graduated from college, in architecture and engineering, and a couple were still in college or high school, studying architecture, design, and engineering. Women here far outweigh men in college graduation rates and from what I understand, are very driven. This could be interesting for the future of Abu Dhabi. After finishing our yummy meal, we had more traditional tea and coffee (which I promptly spilled on myself, not once, but twice) then chatted more. We were then served MORE food. For dessert we had baklava, traditional date cake (yummy), and handmade "doughnut holes" with date syrup. They weren't actually doughnuts, but I can't remember what they were called and they were fried dough... Needless to say, we all left there "stuffed to the gils". Even Everett commented, on our drive home, that "they just kept bringing us more food"! It was a wonderful experience all around. The kids had a great time playing there and enjoyed meeting the kids. I am so glad we had that experience and hope to get together with them again. It was lovely!
Speaking of lovely, the women in our compound get together regularly. Twelve of us recently went to High Tea at the Emirates Palace Hotel. It is a beautiful place, which was built to house guests of the royal family, but was then turned into a hotel. We had about 50 teas to choose from and then typical "tea food" (scones, cakes, sandwiches, etc). It was a fun experience as well. On a separate trip to the Palace, with Joe and the kids, the boys got to ride a camel along the beach! They had a ball! We were just exploring the place and saw the camels. The kids wanted to take a closer look and were then asked if they wanted a ride...well what kid wouldn't? Oh, that's right, Lila wouldn't! She wasn't getting anywhere near that camel! She was too interested in feeding the mommy and baby camel some dates. I think the boys will be bugging us for another camel ride soon.
I recently joined a women's bible study and am enjoying it. One of my wonderful neighbors and friend, a beautiful lady from South Africa, organized it. We meet once a week. It's nice to have this fellowship. This same friend and I, along with another neighbor and friend, are going to Athens, Greece in just over a week! We are going for a long weekend, sans kids. Need I say how excited I am??? We are visiting another neighbor, who is from there and has gone home for the summer. It will be great to have a local tour guide. I'll post pics after the trip.
Joe continues to enjoy his work. It is crazy busy and chaotic at times, but he enjoys the challenge. He will visit the US as well over the summer. We're just not sure when. It will be a long couple of months without him but we'll all survive. I don't know what we'd do here over the summer in the heat. It was 104 here yesterday and the temp is climbing! Yikes! Apparently during the heat of the summer, there is no reprieve at night either, as the humidity rises once the temps fall a little. People say it is suffocating...sounds enjoyable, huh? Pools are usually cooled here in the summer, or they are too hot to even enjoy and the ocean water is like sitting in a warm bath!
We had a very nice Easter. Our Easter service was on Friday, but we are thankful to have a service to go to here, even if it is on Fridays. The kids had a fun Easter Egg hunt on Saturday with their friends, followed by a pot luck lunch. We are thankful for our nice group of friends here. They have made settling here much easier. I was talking to two girlfriends yesterday and we decided that friendships are accelerated here. You get to know someone here in three days, where it would normally take three months. Since we're all in the same boat, away from home, it makes it easier.
Well, I'll stop rambling. Thanks for reading and for the support! We miss you all so much and look forward to seeing lots of family and friends over the summer in TX and FL! Love and hugs to all!
God Bless! Bloom where you're planted!
The children and I recently had an exciting experience. We were invited to lunch at an Emirati home, which we are told is fairly unusual. We gratefully accepted and went. I was nervous about going, simply because our cultures are so very different...didn't want to offend anyone! Joe of course, wise one that he is, said be yourself and you'll be fine. It's difficult to explain, but there are so many stigmas and so many "dos" and "don'ts" that you hear, right, wrong, or indifferent, that it makes one paranoid to even make eye contact with a local, or Emirati for fear of doing something offensive. That being said, we had a wonderful time. The kids were whisked away to play and the women were treated to Arabic coffee and dates to start. The women, mother and six daughters, were all beautifully dressed in bright colors and lovely jewelry. In their homes, with no men around (other than the father) the women do not cover themselves with an abaya or shayla. After visiting for a while we moved from the common area into to "dining room", which consisted of lots of large cushions on the floor. We ate a wonderful meal of couscous, chicken with prunes, pumpkin, and other veggies, along with stuffed grape leaves (my favorite), fatoush, falafel, salad, hummus, etc. I have never been served so much food. It was delicious! The mother made all of the food and expected us to eat a lot! I think we ate for a couple of hours and talked about the usual "girl" stuff...college, babies, schools, work, etc. It was extremely interesting and educational...for me! The women were all so kind and very easy to talk to. Several have graduated from college, in architecture and engineering, and a couple were still in college or high school, studying architecture, design, and engineering. Women here far outweigh men in college graduation rates and from what I understand, are very driven. This could be interesting for the future of Abu Dhabi. After finishing our yummy meal, we had more traditional tea and coffee (which I promptly spilled on myself, not once, but twice) then chatted more. We were then served MORE food. For dessert we had baklava, traditional date cake (yummy), and handmade "doughnut holes" with date syrup. They weren't actually doughnuts, but I can't remember what they were called and they were fried dough... Needless to say, we all left there "stuffed to the gils". Even Everett commented, on our drive home, that "they just kept bringing us more food"! It was a wonderful experience all around. The kids had a great time playing there and enjoyed meeting the kids. I am so glad we had that experience and hope to get together with them again. It was lovely!
Speaking of lovely, the women in our compound get together regularly. Twelve of us recently went to High Tea at the Emirates Palace Hotel. It is a beautiful place, which was built to house guests of the royal family, but was then turned into a hotel. We had about 50 teas to choose from and then typical "tea food" (scones, cakes, sandwiches, etc). It was a fun experience as well. On a separate trip to the Palace, with Joe and the kids, the boys got to ride a camel along the beach! They had a ball! We were just exploring the place and saw the camels. The kids wanted to take a closer look and were then asked if they wanted a ride...well what kid wouldn't? Oh, that's right, Lila wouldn't! She wasn't getting anywhere near that camel! She was too interested in feeding the mommy and baby camel some dates. I think the boys will be bugging us for another camel ride soon.
I recently joined a women's bible study and am enjoying it. One of my wonderful neighbors and friend, a beautiful lady from South Africa, organized it. We meet once a week. It's nice to have this fellowship. This same friend and I, along with another neighbor and friend, are going to Athens, Greece in just over a week! We are going for a long weekend, sans kids. Need I say how excited I am??? We are visiting another neighbor, who is from there and has gone home for the summer. It will be great to have a local tour guide. I'll post pics after the trip.
Joe continues to enjoy his work. It is crazy busy and chaotic at times, but he enjoys the challenge. He will visit the US as well over the summer. We're just not sure when. It will be a long couple of months without him but we'll all survive. I don't know what we'd do here over the summer in the heat. It was 104 here yesterday and the temp is climbing! Yikes! Apparently during the heat of the summer, there is no reprieve at night either, as the humidity rises once the temps fall a little. People say it is suffocating...sounds enjoyable, huh? Pools are usually cooled here in the summer, or they are too hot to even enjoy and the ocean water is like sitting in a warm bath!
We had a very nice Easter. Our Easter service was on Friday, but we are thankful to have a service to go to here, even if it is on Fridays. The kids had a fun Easter Egg hunt on Saturday with their friends, followed by a pot luck lunch. We are thankful for our nice group of friends here. They have made settling here much easier. I was talking to two girlfriends yesterday and we decided that friendships are accelerated here. You get to know someone here in three days, where it would normally take three months. Since we're all in the same boat, away from home, it makes it easier.
Well, I'll stop rambling. Thanks for reading and for the support! We miss you all so much and look forward to seeing lots of family and friends over the summer in TX and FL! Love and hugs to all!
God Bless! Bloom where you're planted!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Day by Day
Well, slowly but surely we're adjusting...just taking it day by day! The kids seem to be getting into the swing of things. Everett commented that he was ready to travel to a different country. We often hear the boys telling each other different Arabic words. They can all sing "Happy Birthday" in Arabic and Lila has learned a few words as well! Lila and her friend were playing "travel" the other day and they visited Dubai, neighboring Oman, and other places. It's great that they are excited about visiting other places. Both boys have started "money from other countries" collections. So far, they have coins from UAE, of course, Germany, and Singapore. They are anxious to add to those collections!
A couple of months back, I told you about overpaying a cabbie and getting the money back. Well Joe had a similar situation after he left his iphone in a cab. He wasn't sure where he lost it, and didn't have the cab ID number. He locked the phone via the internet and hoped for the best. Two days later, I received a text saying that the cab driver had found Joe's phone and that he would bring it to us. He was apologetic that he had looked at the contact info and was hesitant to take the tip that I offered for the return. Considering the popularity of iphones, especially here, we were shocked to get it back!
Women Only! That's a sign you see here quite frequently. Because of religious and cultural beliefs here, many women are not comfortable associating with men who are not in their family. Therefore, grocery stores, banks, public services, etc all have lines and designated areas for women only. Parks, beaches, etc also have hours in which only women and children to a certain age are allowed. There are also Taxi's which have female drivers and are marked with a pink light on on top that says "Women". I thought that was pretty interesting.
I learned how to make Korean Sushi rolls last night thanks to my friend Jessica. Now let's see if I'm brave enough to try it on my own! Actually, they weren't that difficult and were very tasty. The kids devoured them, which was great. And no one tried to pick out the carrots or spinach! When I attempt them again, I'll post a picture and share the recipe! Oh, speaking of food...we found a good Mexican food restaraunt last weekend, Cantina Laredo. The food was very tasty and very much like Tex-Mex. I have a feeling we'll be back there soon. We've also found a very good Lebanese restaraunt by our house. Our friend Mac introduced us to Lebanese food. The kids love it, especially the chicken shwarma sandwiches. It's shaved chicken, with french fries, garlic paste, and veggies all wrapped in Arabic bread. Yummy! Their hummous with meat is one of Joe's and my favorites. Funny, french fries are served with everything here...even Chinese food. Oh, and Arabid bread is pita bread.
The kids are on Spring break this week, so we're trying to stay busy. So far, we've added to our family in the form of fish. We have Lazy Larry, Boring Bob, Speedy, Samaka (fish in Arabic), Izzy, and Morris. Lizzy only lasted a day...Anyway, the kids are having fun with them. We'll see how they feel when it's time to clean the tank! We visited a park nearby which is having a festival. The kids jumped in the bounce houses and loved getting in the plastic "hampster balls" that float on water. I know, some of you are chuckling! We stayed around the compound yesterday and went swimming. We're trying to enjoy the nice weather while we have it. I fear that in the next few weeks we won't be able to spend too much time outside! The heat is coming... We'll head to Dubai tomorrow to see our friends Danny and Trisha. The kids and I will probably head over early and visit the Wild Wadi Waterpark. I'm afraid I won't hear the end of it if we don't. I've also promised more ice skating. The kids all seem to enjoy it. I however, will not be trying it!
I went out with some ladies from the compound last week and had a really nice time. We went to the top of the Aloft hotel, which has amazing views of the city. I wish I had a photo to share. There is an outdoor restaraunt/bar that is open air and has glass walls. It feels as if you are standing on the edge of the building. Our nationalities were Australian, British, South African, and American. It makes for some lively and interesting conversations! We feel blessed to be living among such nice people.
Well, as I mentioned, it's Spring break! The kids are yelling to go to the pool. Have a wonderful day and bloom where you're planted! What's possible today???
A couple of months back, I told you about overpaying a cabbie and getting the money back. Well Joe had a similar situation after he left his iphone in a cab. He wasn't sure where he lost it, and didn't have the cab ID number. He locked the phone via the internet and hoped for the best. Two days later, I received a text saying that the cab driver had found Joe's phone and that he would bring it to us. He was apologetic that he had looked at the contact info and was hesitant to take the tip that I offered for the return. Considering the popularity of iphones, especially here, we were shocked to get it back!
Women Only! That's a sign you see here quite frequently. Because of religious and cultural beliefs here, many women are not comfortable associating with men who are not in their family. Therefore, grocery stores, banks, public services, etc all have lines and designated areas for women only. Parks, beaches, etc also have hours in which only women and children to a certain age are allowed. There are also Taxi's which have female drivers and are marked with a pink light on on top that says "Women". I thought that was pretty interesting.
I learned how to make Korean Sushi rolls last night thanks to my friend Jessica. Now let's see if I'm brave enough to try it on my own! Actually, they weren't that difficult and were very tasty. The kids devoured them, which was great. And no one tried to pick out the carrots or spinach! When I attempt them again, I'll post a picture and share the recipe! Oh, speaking of food...we found a good Mexican food restaraunt last weekend, Cantina Laredo. The food was very tasty and very much like Tex-Mex. I have a feeling we'll be back there soon. We've also found a very good Lebanese restaraunt by our house. Our friend Mac introduced us to Lebanese food. The kids love it, especially the chicken shwarma sandwiches. It's shaved chicken, with french fries, garlic paste, and veggies all wrapped in Arabic bread. Yummy! Their hummous with meat is one of Joe's and my favorites. Funny, french fries are served with everything here...even Chinese food. Oh, and Arabid bread is pita bread.
I went out with some ladies from the compound last week and had a really nice time. We went to the top of the Aloft hotel, which has amazing views of the city. I wish I had a photo to share. There is an outdoor restaraunt/bar that is open air and has glass walls. It feels as if you are standing on the edge of the building. Our nationalities were Australian, British, South African, and American. It makes for some lively and interesting conversations! We feel blessed to be living among such nice people.
Well, as I mentioned, it's Spring break! The kids are yelling to go to the pool. Have a wonderful day and bloom where you're planted! What's possible today???
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Random Observations and Other Unimportant Information
Well, I haven't blogged in quite some time, but am afraid that my mom will disown me if I don't soon! So here goes...
As you all know there is great unrest here in the Middle East. Some of you have expressed concern. Thank you! Not to worry. On the whole, people in the UAE seem to be relatively happy. We don't have any protests or unrest here...thank goodness! I know money doesn't buy happiness, but in the UAE, it does seem to help! The government here does take care of it's people.
Lila had her assessment at school for next year, and just as I thought, she's brilliant! Of course! She was accepted and will start KG1 in the Fall. We sure have missed you Mrs. Phyllis! I'm not quite sure what I will do with myself next year when all three are in school full time.
The boys are doing well. Everett is slowly adjusting. He was invited to an ice skating birthday party and had a blast. He loved it so much that we went back yesterday and took Lila and Jonathan as well. They all had a great time. Everett was flying across the ice and didn't fall much at all. We may have an ice hockey star on our hands! Both boys had their first golf lessons yesterday. They both really enjoyed it. The classes will last eight weeks. They just might be able to take on their cousins, Tanner and Trent this summer! School is going well for both boys. Jonathan still gets in trouble for calling out answers. Even Everett has cut up a bit in class. Both have Arabic class every day and I'm amazed at how much they know. I need to be learning more myself.
Summer...it's just around the corner! We are really excited to be heading home in a few short months. Jonathan is going to summer camp at Prude Ranch, where I went as a child. I think I'm more excited about it than he is! Everett's not so convinced that it's such a great idea...but I'll keep working on him! We're also really looking forward to our trip to the beach to see PSJ friends. Can't wait!
Joe's work is crazy busy. He works very long and unpredictable hours. He's been on two, week long trips recently, one to Singapore and the other Germany. He enjoyed seeing both places and says we definitely want to return to Singapore. I'm game! We haven't been able to travel yet, as Joe doesn't have vacation until he's been here six months. There are many places we'd love to see and plan on taking advantage of travel opportunities while we're here.
We have some friends visiting next week and are very excited! Danny and Trisha Rey, from Houston have a work trip to Dubai and we'll get to see them while they are here. Daddy and LeeAnn are visiting in April, and my sister and her sister-in-law, Diana, are visiting at Christmas. Mom will come sometime in the Fall. We will be thrilled to have visitors! Our door is open and we are ready!
I guess that's it for now. I promise to post more often. I will post new pictures as well. If you have questions, fire away! I'll be happy to answer them the best I can. In the meantime, bloom where you're planted!
As you all know there is great unrest here in the Middle East. Some of you have expressed concern. Thank you! Not to worry. On the whole, people in the UAE seem to be relatively happy. We don't have any protests or unrest here...thank goodness! I know money doesn't buy happiness, but in the UAE, it does seem to help! The government here does take care of it's people.
Lila had her assessment at school for next year, and just as I thought, she's brilliant! Of course! She was accepted and will start KG1 in the Fall. We sure have missed you Mrs. Phyllis! I'm not quite sure what I will do with myself next year when all three are in school full time.
The boys are doing well. Everett is slowly adjusting. He was invited to an ice skating birthday party and had a blast. He loved it so much that we went back yesterday and took Lila and Jonathan as well. They all had a great time. Everett was flying across the ice and didn't fall much at all. We may have an ice hockey star on our hands! Both boys had their first golf lessons yesterday. They both really enjoyed it. The classes will last eight weeks. They just might be able to take on their cousins, Tanner and Trent this summer! School is going well for both boys. Jonathan still gets in trouble for calling out answers. Even Everett has cut up a bit in class. Both have Arabic class every day and I'm amazed at how much they know. I need to be learning more myself.
Summer...it's just around the corner! We are really excited to be heading home in a few short months. Jonathan is going to summer camp at Prude Ranch, where I went as a child. I think I'm more excited about it than he is! Everett's not so convinced that it's such a great idea...but I'll keep working on him! We're also really looking forward to our trip to the beach to see PSJ friends. Can't wait!
Joe's work is crazy busy. He works very long and unpredictable hours. He's been on two, week long trips recently, one to Singapore and the other Germany. He enjoyed seeing both places and says we definitely want to return to Singapore. I'm game! We haven't been able to travel yet, as Joe doesn't have vacation until he's been here six months. There are many places we'd love to see and plan on taking advantage of travel opportunities while we're here.
We have some friends visiting next week and are very excited! Danny and Trisha Rey, from Houston have a work trip to Dubai and we'll get to see them while they are here. Daddy and LeeAnn are visiting in April, and my sister and her sister-in-law, Diana, are visiting at Christmas. Mom will come sometime in the Fall. We will be thrilled to have visitors! Our door is open and we are ready!
I guess that's it for now. I promise to post more often. I will post new pictures as well. If you have questions, fire away! I'll be happy to answer them the best I can. In the meantime, bloom where you're planted!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Dubai and other things
Dubai, what a place! Really, the pictures don't do it justice. I can't even begin to explain all the crazy buildings. As in Abu Dhabi, Dubai has new construction everywhere. I can't believe that it was busier before they got into their finacial trouble. Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, stands at a whopping 2,717 ft.
1. Burj Khalifa is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
2. It’s 828 metres tall (2,717 feet).
3. The exact height was not revealed until final stages of the construction.
4. It was officially opened on Jan 4, 2010.
5. It was previously known as Burj Dubai.
6. Burj means Tower in Arabic language.
7. It’s renamed after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi.
When Abu Dhabi bailed out Dubai, they changed the name of the building.
We also visited the Dubai Mall, which is the largest in the world. It houses a large aguarium, which the kids were excited to see. In the three hours we were there, we didn't cover a very large portion of the mall. Our next stop was the indoor souq. A souq is a shopping quarter in an Arab city. They were typically outdoor markets. This one, however is indoors, made to look outdoors. I bought some black tomatoes. They were the color of a dark plum, but were bright green inside and tasted delicious! I should have taken a picture! We made a little detour to the beach and let the kids run a bit. Jonathan frequently lets us know that the thing he doesn't like about living in the city is he has no place to run! From the beach we could see the Burj Al Arabi, which looks like a large sail. Our final stop of the day was to Palm Jumeirah Island. It was incredible. The Atlantis Hotel is in the center and has a huge water park. We'll visit that once it warms up a bit...that won't be long. For pics of Palm Jumeirah check out this link http://www.palmjumeirah.ae/ It's pretty amazing! All in all, it was a fun day with lots of new sights. We'll look forward to going back.
The kids are doing well for the most part. Everett still complains about school each morning and had a bit of a meltdown on the way in this morning. His teacher, however, says he does just fine during the day and says he seems perfectly happy. I think he's playing me! Lila is keeping me busy during the day and is always a great "helper" at the grocery store! One of Everett's classmates told his mom that Everett is really good at Arabic and Jonathan is one of the math helpers in his class. They are both enjoying their after school programs. Everett has Arabic games, songs and conversation and Jonathan has field games and floor hockey. I think Lila will be more than ready to join the boys in the school fun next year!
More observations and useless information:
After driving for a couple of weeks, I still say, drivers here are crazy.
Forget thinking you have the "right of way"...you don't!
Lila and I were almost run over by a cab...slight overstatement.
Kitchens and bathrooms have covered drains in the middle for easy cleaning.
The grocery store no longer stresses me...it's like shopping at a world market every day and it's actually quite nice!
You can buy quail eggs by the dozen. Who knew?
I've never seen or heard of some of the produce here.
Off brand plastic sandwich bags smell like petroleum here...won't buy those again!
Well, that's about it for today...
Oh, Joe is doing fine at work. He's super busy, but that's great after being laid off! He heads to Singapore for a few days next week...poor thing! I wish I could go. Maybe next time. In the meantime, the kids and I are deciding where we will visit over spring break!
Love to all! Bloom where you're planted!
1. Burj Khalifa is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
2. It’s 828 metres tall (2,717 feet).
3. The exact height was not revealed until final stages of the construction.
4. It was officially opened on Jan 4, 2010.
5. It was previously known as Burj Dubai.
6. Burj means Tower in Arabic language.
7. It’s renamed after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi.
When Abu Dhabi bailed out Dubai, they changed the name of the building.
We also visited the Dubai Mall, which is the largest in the world. It houses a large aguarium, which the kids were excited to see. In the three hours we were there, we didn't cover a very large portion of the mall. Our next stop was the indoor souq. A souq is a shopping quarter in an Arab city. They were typically outdoor markets. This one, however is indoors, made to look outdoors. I bought some black tomatoes. They were the color of a dark plum, but were bright green inside and tasted delicious! I should have taken a picture! We made a little detour to the beach and let the kids run a bit. Jonathan frequently lets us know that the thing he doesn't like about living in the city is he has no place to run! From the beach we could see the Burj Al Arabi, which looks like a large sail. Our final stop of the day was to Palm Jumeirah Island. It was incredible. The Atlantis Hotel is in the center and has a huge water park. We'll visit that once it warms up a bit...that won't be long. For pics of Palm Jumeirah check out this link http://www.palmjumeirah.ae/ It's pretty amazing! All in all, it was a fun day with lots of new sights. We'll look forward to going back.
The kids are doing well for the most part. Everett still complains about school each morning and had a bit of a meltdown on the way in this morning. His teacher, however, says he does just fine during the day and says he seems perfectly happy. I think he's playing me! Lila is keeping me busy during the day and is always a great "helper" at the grocery store! One of Everett's classmates told his mom that Everett is really good at Arabic and Jonathan is one of the math helpers in his class. They are both enjoying their after school programs. Everett has Arabic games, songs and conversation and Jonathan has field games and floor hockey. I think Lila will be more than ready to join the boys in the school fun next year!
More observations and useless information:
After driving for a couple of weeks, I still say, drivers here are crazy.
Forget thinking you have the "right of way"...you don't!
Lila and I were almost run over by a cab...slight overstatement.
Kitchens and bathrooms have covered drains in the middle for easy cleaning.
The grocery store no longer stresses me...it's like shopping at a world market every day and it's actually quite nice!
You can buy quail eggs by the dozen. Who knew?
I've never seen or heard of some of the produce here.
Off brand plastic sandwich bags smell like petroleum here...won't buy those again!
Well, that's about it for today...
Oh, Joe is doing fine at work. He's super busy, but that's great after being laid off! He heads to Singapore for a few days next week...poor thing! I wish I could go. Maybe next time. In the meantime, the kids and I are deciding where we will visit over spring break!
Love to all! Bloom where you're planted!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
I'm suffering from a severe case of "blogger's block", not to be confused with "writer's block"! One must acutally be a "writer" to have "writer's block"!
I guess I'll start by complaining...the weather, ugh! I thought I knew dust storms, as I grew up in West Texas. Let me tell you, West Texas dust storms have nothing on Abu Dhabi dust storms. There is a haze all over the city, and at times you can hardly see the skyline. Everything is coated in a silty dust that seems to stick to every surface. This was day two of blowing dust, sand, dirt. Apparently it will last a few more days. Joy!
On a great note, our friend Mac, from the U.S. will be arriving shortly from Egypt. He was fortunate to get out of there today and will be staying with us for a while. I know his mom and dad are thrilled he is safe and sound. It will be interesting to see how things unfurl there.
Well I think I "kind of" know my way around now, with the help of my new best friend, my Garmin Nuvi. It gets me where I need to go and I wouldn't have survived without it! I have all the important places programmed in, and we're getting along just fine. Driving here isn't as bad as I had anticipated, but it's still pretty crazy. As long as you don't ever think you have the right-of-way, or a clear lane to change to, you'll be ok. Always expect the unexpected while driving or walking!
Our cargo container is scheduled to arrive in the next few days. It will then take a few more days for it to clear customs and then we'll be able to move into our new unit. We've purchased appliances, tv, etc. and are waiting on our internet/phone installation. It will be nice to have a few things from "home". I know the kids will be glad to have their beds.
That's it for now. Have a great day! Bloom where you're planted!
I guess I'll start by complaining...the weather, ugh! I thought I knew dust storms, as I grew up in West Texas. Let me tell you, West Texas dust storms have nothing on Abu Dhabi dust storms. There is a haze all over the city, and at times you can hardly see the skyline. Everything is coated in a silty dust that seems to stick to every surface. This was day two of blowing dust, sand, dirt. Apparently it will last a few more days. Joy!
On a great note, our friend Mac, from the U.S. will be arriving shortly from Egypt. He was fortunate to get out of there today and will be staying with us for a while. I know his mom and dad are thrilled he is safe and sound. It will be interesting to see how things unfurl there.
Well I think I "kind of" know my way around now, with the help of my new best friend, my Garmin Nuvi. It gets me where I need to go and I wouldn't have survived without it! I have all the important places programmed in, and we're getting along just fine. Driving here isn't as bad as I had anticipated, but it's still pretty crazy. As long as you don't ever think you have the right-of-way, or a clear lane to change to, you'll be ok. Always expect the unexpected while driving or walking!
Our cargo container is scheduled to arrive in the next few days. It will then take a few more days for it to clear customs and then we'll be able to move into our new unit. We've purchased appliances, tv, etc. and are waiting on our internet/phone installation. It will be nice to have a few things from "home". I know the kids will be glad to have their beds.
That's it for now. Have a great day! Bloom where you're planted!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Lunch with the Crown Prince
Well, we decided to try church yesterday...yes, church on Friday is a bit different. Anyway, we got ready, grabbed our directions and off we went. We drove and drove and drove, until finally we found the church. We were, at that point, 45 minutes late, so we didn't go inside! We'll try again next week! After looking for the church we decided to have brunch at a great little Australian place called Jones the grocer http://www.jonesthegrocer.com/. They have yummy food and lots of gourmet foods. The kids were especially impressed with their selection of mini desserts. We were also rather surprised to dine with, well almost dine with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, HH General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Vice President, HH The Emir Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ! Apparently, their offices are above Jones the grocer, and they eat/drink coffee there almost daily. The kids thought it was pretty cool to see royalty!
Have I mentioned that there are no physical street addresses here??? A city of 1.5 million and growing, and not an address to be found...makes for interesting driving. If you are giving directions to a cabbie, you must use land marks. If you buy appliances, as we did today, you must draw a hand written map! Crazy!
Speaking of crazy, I went for my first drive today. It was fine, no issues. I was a bit nervous going around the roundabouts, but there wasn't too much traffic today. Tomorrow on the way to school will be another story. Oh, and if anyone has a wreck with an Emirati, a local, it is the fault of the non-Emirati person...no matter what!!! If that won't make you pay attention, I don't know what will!
That's all for now! I will post more pictures soon. Love to all! Bloom where you're planted!!!!
Have I mentioned that there are no physical street addresses here??? A city of 1.5 million and growing, and not an address to be found...makes for interesting driving. If you are giving directions to a cabbie, you must use land marks. If you buy appliances, as we did today, you must draw a hand written map! Crazy!
Speaking of crazy, I went for my first drive today. It was fine, no issues. I was a bit nervous going around the roundabouts, but there wasn't too much traffic today. Tomorrow on the way to school will be another story. Oh, and if anyone has a wreck with an Emirati, a local, it is the fault of the non-Emirati person...no matter what!!! If that won't make you pay attention, I don't know what will!
That's all for now! I will post more pictures soon. Love to all! Bloom where you're planted!!!!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Paperwork and Other Things
Well, I guess I'm official. I have applied and paid for my Emirates I.D., and have gotten my driver's license. No more excuses...it's time to drive! Have I mentioned the drivers here??? Frightening! There are roundabouts all over the city and seemingly, you must close your eyes and put the pedal to the metal to survive one! I may try my first outing today, after Joe gets home from work...we'll see. We only have one car here, but it seems to be working out so far. So, as I was riding home yesterday in a cab with the kids after school, my phone rang. It was the cabbie who had taken me to school. He asked if my money was ok. I accidentally paid him 500 Durhams, instead of 50 Durhams. I wouldn't have realized it for days, I'm sure. He then told me he would bring the money to my house, which he did! Thank goodness for an honest cab driver! I tipped him well and thanked him profusely! I guess I need to pay a little more attention to my money. Can I still blame it on jet lag???
The boys are settling into their new routine. Neither will really admit to liking it though. Jonathan pointed out that he actually goes to school for another full day here, as their day is an hour and 10 minutes longer than it was in Port Saint Joe. We went to the school last weekend for Family climb. The boys loved climbing the rock wall, and I have a feeling we'll be doing that regularly. Third quarter after school programs start next week. Jonathan is signed up for Fun Field Games once a week and Everett is signed up for Arabic Conversation, Games and Songs...we didn't sign up in time to get him into the Lego Club. Darn! In a few weeks, their PE time will be swimming. I think they will enjoy that. I couldn't convince them to sign up for the swim team though. I'm also excited about a program the school offers called "Author in Residence". This year's author is Naomi Shihab Nye. She will be visiting the school from Jan. 23-27, and will be working directly with the elementary and middle school students. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Shihab_Nye
You can read more about her by clicking on the link above. What a neat opportunity for the boys!
I don't have any grand revelations to share today, but wanted to let you know we're doing fine. I'll post details of my first driving experience. I pray that it will be a good one! Love to all! Have a great day, or night!
The boys are settling into their new routine. Neither will really admit to liking it though. Jonathan pointed out that he actually goes to school for another full day here, as their day is an hour and 10 minutes longer than it was in Port Saint Joe. We went to the school last weekend for Family climb. The boys loved climbing the rock wall, and I have a feeling we'll be doing that regularly. Third quarter after school programs start next week. Jonathan is signed up for Fun Field Games once a week and Everett is signed up for Arabic Conversation, Games and Songs...we didn't sign up in time to get him into the Lego Club. Darn! In a few weeks, their PE time will be swimming. I think they will enjoy that. I couldn't convince them to sign up for the swim team though. I'm also excited about a program the school offers called "Author in Residence". This year's author is Naomi Shihab Nye. She will be visiting the school from Jan. 23-27, and will be working directly with the elementary and middle school students. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Shihab_Nye
You can read more about her by clicking on the link above. What a neat opportunity for the boys!
I don't have any grand revelations to share today, but wanted to let you know we're doing fine. I'll post details of my first driving experience. I pray that it will be a good one! Love to all! Have a great day, or night!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A Few More Observations
We've made more friends in the neighborhood, or compound, and Lila and I have had a couple of play/coffee dates! This is good. We have a neighborhood coffee gathering tomorrow.
A few things I have noticed:
The culture here is extremely family oriented. There are numerous parks throughout the city, which seem to stay very busy with lots of family activity. On Friday afternoons the parks fill with families, who take grills, blankets, etc. and picnic all afternoon and well into the evening. The only downfall to that, is that they seem to leave their garbage. I guess it's all about change and awareness. I remember as a child, seeing lots of people throw their garbage out the window while driving. You don't see that in the U.S. much anymore...thankfully! Hopefully that will change here as well over the years. Back to the family...everywhere you go here, families are together, from the Dr. office, to the park, to the grocery store, etc. That's nice to see.
The kids and I went for a drive with Joe yesterday afternoon to look at a job sight called Saadiyat Island (I've spoken of it before). As we looked across the Arabian Gulf (aka Persian Gulf), we talked about the fact that Iran is just about 50 miles across the water. Many Expats here have traveled to Iran, obviously not the Americans, and say that it is a very nice place to visit. Not to worry, we won't be going there. It's just interesting to think about. I think overall, their people want freedom just as we do, they just can't have it without being willing to die, and even still, may not be able to obtain it. We are so fortunate. When Joe first mentioned moving to The Middle East, I said "Are you kidding? Is it safe?" After living here, and exploring for just under two weeks, I feel that we are every bit as safe here as we are at home. The many people we have come across thus far, have been very friendly and helpful. I think one of the most amazing benefits of this adventure will be the "eye-opening" for the children, as well as for Joe and me.
That's all for now. Lila and I are heading to the store, via cab, as I still can't drive. Oh, and one more thing...To all of our dear PSJ friends:
Thank you all so much for the kind words that you wrote in our going away book. I made a point not to read it until we got here. I can't tell you all how much we miss you and our PSJ family. You all made PSJ really feel like home for us and we feel blessed to have called it home for six years. Maybe some day we'll call it home again! Love to all!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
We Survived Our First Week!!!
All in all, we had a great first week! We've finally adjusted to the time change and are feeling a little more energetic, so we decided to explore the desert. W e drove about two hours South into the desert called the Empty Quarter. What an amazing experience. It was definitely like nothing we'd ever seen before, and couldn't have imagined such a place. The pictures won't do it justice. When I'm a little more tech savy, I'll post more pictures! We drove to a resort called Qasr Al Sarab. It is another development by TDIC. It is literally a beautiful oasis set smack dab in the middle of mountainous sand dunes. It was very sureal. We had a fantastic meal overlooking the dunes, then headed out for a little desert hike. The kids loved running up and down the dunes. The weather was beautiful, but I can't imagine how hot it will be in a few months! We saw lots of camels along the drive...pretty cool. The kids would yell periodically, Camel! I can't really even try to describe this place, it was so incredible. 
Apparently the hotel has a whole separate villa reserved strictly for Emirate royalty. What a life! Oh, and we saw who we think was Naomi Campbell at lunch, but we're not 100% sure!
Today, we took Lila to the doctor for a rash. Here, appointments are made mostly at hospitals. I was very pleased with our service as well as the facility. The pediatrician was very pleasant and we will probably use her again. After the appointment, Lila and I walked next door to a park to play and wait for Joe and the boys. She had a great time running around. We walked to KFC for lunch, to find that the floor inside is marble and tables are flanked by leather sofas, stools and chairs. Too funny! I wish I had taken a picture.
The boys start school tomorrow. They are sound asleep. I hope their day will go well. I think they are both a little bit excited and ready to get day one over with. All three had their first play date on Thurs. so we're making progress!
Love to all!
Today, we took Lila to the doctor for a rash. Here, appointments are made mostly at hospitals. I was very pleased with our service as well as the facility. The pediatrician was very pleasant and we will probably use her again. After the appointment, Lila and I walked next door to a park to play and wait for Joe and the boys. She had a great time running around. We walked to KFC for lunch, to find that the floor inside is marble and tables are flanked by leather sofas, stools and chairs. Too funny! I wish I had taken a picture.
The boys start school tomorrow. They are sound asleep. I hope their day will go well. I think they are both a little bit excited and ready to get day one over with. All three had their first play date on Thurs. so we're making progress!
Love to all!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Hurray!
This just in...we met some really nice moms and lots of kids in the neighborhood last night. Apparently all the kids and moms meet outside at about 5PM every evening. The kids ride bikes, scooters, play ball, etc. When a car comes through the neighborhood, you hear a string of yells, CAR! CAR! CAR! I think the kids felt better after meeting some new friends...I know I do! There's a neighborhood coffee a week from tomorrow. Lila and I will look forward to that. Today's agenda involves looking at and selecting our new unit. Our shipment should arrive in a couple of weeks. That means getting busy buying a washer, dryer, fridge, etc. Love to all!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Adjusting to Abu Dhabi time!
Well, we're going on day 5 now, and the kids and I had one good night's sleep night before last, but Lila and I were up again last night...this time change is rough. I feel like I have a newborn again! Anyway, enough complaining!
The kids and I ventured out yesterday for several hours. We took a cab into downtown and went to a big city park, which reminded me a bit of Piedmont Park in Atlanta, in the sense that it is surrounded by tall buildings. We had lunch at a good ole American favorite, Subway. Except of course, here there is turkey ham, instead of regular ham. Oh, and Lay's potato chips come in flavors such as French Cheese and Ketchup. We tried them both and they're pretty tasty! The kids enjoyed getting out and about. I was a bit nervous heading out with the kids solo, but got over that quickly. Everyone we have encountered so far has been very pleasant. Our neighborhood seems pretty quiet so far, but Joe assures me that there are other children here.
Speaking of other children, the boys start school on Sunday. Yep, Sunday. Our weeks here go Sunday to Thurs, with church on Friday. The boys say they are not at all excited about starting school. I know they are nervous and I'm nervous for them! Getting the first week of school behind us will be good. For those who don't know, the boys will go to an American School, called ACS, American Community School http://www.acs.sch.ae/ . I think it will be pretty great, offering lots of after school activities, such as a climbing wall, pool, chess club, Lego club, etc! BTW, we sure loved our St. Joe teachers and will miss them terribly! Lila will start school at ACS as well in the Fall.
Here are just a few observations:
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes are called Frosties here. They don't use fitted sheets here, or a top sheet, just a flat sheet over the mattress with a duvet and cover. Eggs yolks are literally orange. Waking up to the call to prayer at 5:30AM and hearing it several times throughout the day (5), is a good reminder for us to say our prayers. We have daily cleaning service while we live in temp. housing...nice. All gas stations are full service, and gas costs about 70 cents/liter.
That's it for today...nothing too enlightening. Hopefully I'll have more soon! Have a wonderful day!
The kids and I ventured out yesterday for several hours. We took a cab into downtown and went to a big city park, which reminded me a bit of Piedmont Park in Atlanta, in the sense that it is surrounded by tall buildings. We had lunch at a good ole American favorite, Subway. Except of course, here there is turkey ham, instead of regular ham. Oh, and Lay's potato chips come in flavors such as French Cheese and Ketchup. We tried them both and they're pretty tasty! The kids enjoyed getting out and about. I was a bit nervous heading out with the kids solo, but got over that quickly. Everyone we have encountered so far has been very pleasant. Our neighborhood seems pretty quiet so far, but Joe assures me that there are other children here.
Speaking of other children, the boys start school on Sunday. Yep, Sunday. Our weeks here go Sunday to Thurs, with church on Friday. The boys say they are not at all excited about starting school. I know they are nervous and I'm nervous for them! Getting the first week of school behind us will be good. For those who don't know, the boys will go to an American School, called ACS, American Community School http://www.acs.sch.ae/ . I think it will be pretty great, offering lots of after school activities, such as a climbing wall, pool, chess club, Lego club, etc! BTW, we sure loved our St. Joe teachers and will miss them terribly! Lila will start school at ACS as well in the Fall.
Here are just a few observations:
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes are called Frosties here. They don't use fitted sheets here, or a top sheet, just a flat sheet over the mattress with a duvet and cover. Eggs yolks are literally orange. Waking up to the call to prayer at 5:30AM and hearing it several times throughout the day (5), is a good reminder for us to say our prayers. We have daily cleaning service while we live in temp. housing...nice. All gas stations are full service, and gas costs about 70 cents/liter.
That's it for today...nothing too enlightening. Hopefully I'll have more soon! Have a wonderful day!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Our journey to Abu Dhabi
Well, where to begin...I'm no writer, but several of my friends and family members have urged me to write about our journey, so here we go!
In October of 2010, Joe took a new job in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with a development company called TDIC www.tdic.ae . After a quick visit here, Joe and I decided that this was an opportunity that we would be crazy to pass up. We began sorting and purging...Wow, I didn't realize how much junk I had accumulated! Joe left for Abu Dhabi on November 18. The kids and I stayed to finalize things in Port Saint Joe, said our very sad goodbyes to dear friends, and headed to Texas, Beverly Hillbilly style! We spent a few days in Belton with Grammie (Joe's mom) and then headed to Fort Davis where we spent Christmas with my family. The kids had a great time in Texas, as always! The boys each shot their first dear and were thrilled! Thanks Tio! We spent lots of time with Gran, Tio and Tia, Tanner and Trent, Poppi and LeeAnn, and the Whitesell clan. It was a great Christmas! Finally, on the 29th of December, after two more days of packing, we headed out. Our day began with a three hour drive from Fort Davis to El Paso, where we got on our first flight, which was three hours to Chicago. From there, we had a two and a half hour layover, and then a 14 hour flight from Chicago to Abu Dhabi. Needless to say, we were all rather exhausted upon arrival! The kids were excellent travelers and didn't complain...they must have sensed that I NEEDED them to be on their best behavior! After lots of hugs and kisses for Joe, we headed to our new home in Al Maqta Village. On Friday, Dec. 31st, my birthday, Joe surprised me with a three hour spa service at Chi Spa at the Shangri-La Hotel. What a great treat! We also have tickets in Feb. to see one of my favorite bands, TRAIN, at the Dubai Jazzfest! We didn't go out New Years Eve, but did visit our new grocery store, which stressed me out a bit. I think I was just tired and overwhelmed...next time will be better! On New Years Day, we lazed around until mid afternoon, then headed out to see some sights. We drove all over town...I don't know if I'll ever find my way around! We had a nice dinner at the Saadiyat Island Golf Club, a TDIC development, then headed home. That's about it, so far. The kids and I still haven't adjusted to the ten hour time change. Today, Jan 2, has been a very lazy day. Joe is at work and the kids and I haven't left the house. The boys, at 4:30PM are still in their p.js. Tomorrow, we plan on venturing out to Marina Mall for a movie. I'll let you know how that goes! We'll go by cab, as I don't have my driver's license yet. Joe tells me this will probably take about two weeks! Well, I could ramble on, but don't want to bore everyone! We miss you all so much. Please come visit!!! I'll post pictures very soon! Oh, and the weather is very nice right now. It's in the mid 70's during the day and cools off nicely at night.
In October of 2010, Joe took a new job in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with a development company called TDIC www.tdic.ae . After a quick visit here, Joe and I decided that this was an opportunity that we would be crazy to pass up. We began sorting and purging...Wow, I didn't realize how much junk I had accumulated! Joe left for Abu Dhabi on November 18. The kids and I stayed to finalize things in Port Saint Joe, said our very sad goodbyes to dear friends, and headed to Texas, Beverly Hillbilly style! We spent a few days in Belton with Grammie (Joe's mom) and then headed to Fort Davis where we spent Christmas with my family. The kids had a great time in Texas, as always! The boys each shot their first dear and were thrilled! Thanks Tio! We spent lots of time with Gran, Tio and Tia, Tanner and Trent, Poppi and LeeAnn, and the Whitesell clan. It was a great Christmas! Finally, on the 29th of December, after two more days of packing, we headed out. Our day began with a three hour drive from Fort Davis to El Paso, where we got on our first flight, which was three hours to Chicago. From there, we had a two and a half hour layover, and then a 14 hour flight from Chicago to Abu Dhabi. Needless to say, we were all rather exhausted upon arrival! The kids were excellent travelers and didn't complain...they must have sensed that I NEEDED them to be on their best behavior! After lots of hugs and kisses for Joe, we headed to our new home in Al Maqta Village. On Friday, Dec. 31st, my birthday, Joe surprised me with a three hour spa service at Chi Spa at the Shangri-La Hotel. What a great treat! We also have tickets in Feb. to see one of my favorite bands, TRAIN, at the Dubai Jazzfest! We didn't go out New Years Eve, but did visit our new grocery store, which stressed me out a bit. I think I was just tired and overwhelmed...next time will be better! On New Years Day, we lazed around until mid afternoon, then headed out to see some sights. We drove all over town...I don't know if I'll ever find my way around! We had a nice dinner at the Saadiyat Island Golf Club, a TDIC development, then headed home. That's about it, so far. The kids and I still haven't adjusted to the ten hour time change. Today, Jan 2, has been a very lazy day. Joe is at work and the kids and I haven't left the house. The boys, at 4:30PM are still in their p.js. Tomorrow, we plan on venturing out to Marina Mall for a movie. I'll let you know how that goes! We'll go by cab, as I don't have my driver's license yet. Joe tells me this will probably take about two weeks! Well, I could ramble on, but don't want to bore everyone! We miss you all so much. Please come visit!!! I'll post pictures very soon! Oh, and the weather is very nice right now. It's in the mid 70's during the day and cools off nicely at night.
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