Moving on to Al Ain

All ADEC employees attended the Bedaya  (Begining Forum) this Sunday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. (This was the former location for Formula 1 racing before it was moved to Yas Island. We all wondered why there were bleachers facing the freeway.)  

We said goodbye to the Intercontinental  Hotel in Abu Dhabi ...our home for 3 weeks!

E's last night sleeping on his cushions.

The mint lemonade at the Columbiano Restaurant will be missed.

You can find the yummiest non-alcoholic drinks in Abu Dhabi.

Off to Al Ain we go!

We rented a car a couple days prior to the move, so instead of taking the bus, we drove. It was a good thing, because the bus ended up leaving at 11am instead of at 8am. Our sofa was being delivered  to our flat, and the delivery men were to call 30 minutes prior to the delivery...insh'Allah. They called just as we were entering the city.

At this point in the week, I thought I was probably starting school the next day, E 's school orientation was definitely the next day, we still needed several kitchen appliances, and I was beginning to feel a bit stressed. While Fadi took care of the delivery, I  went out to run errands ( my first driving experience). I was feeling very confident in my driving and maneuvering in the city, and in getting the  internet/cable/phone set up along with purchasing some appliances. After exiting the Lu Lu Hypermarket, I ended up turning into the line for the border crossing to Oman. Once I got out of line, I found myself lost for about an hour before miraculously finding my way to our compound. Finding your way around is not very easy when the GPS does not always work, and you're by yourself trying to read a map. But, I'll tell you more about  the driving and finding your way around in a future blog. Fortunately, we found our way to the the Hilton Hotel later that evening.

The flat is almost ready for us to move in. However, until the curtains are installed, we will be staying in the hotel. .By the way, no more pictures of the flat till it is done. Really and truly, the camera battery die on me, and I didn't know where the charger was yesterday.

We have discovered some good places to shop close to our place.

A farmers market we happened upon at the back of a new souk.

Yes, you can go to a supermarket, but why not buy your eggs from the poulrty shop in the souk. The gentlemen cut the cartoon down to 15  eggs, since 30 eggs would have been too much for us and our little frig.

Off to school we go!

Here is E in his Al Ain International School uniform (the last picture taken yesterday before the camera died). He attended orientation on Wednesday and met his teacher. Today was his first full day, and it seems all went well. He will be taking French, and he is one of two students that seems to have a good foundation in French. However, he said in his Arabic class (this is a required subject in all schools in the UAE, but it will not be graded) he is one of two students in his class that is new to Arabic. There are 19 students in his Year 4 class (the school is based on the British system). Another fact he shared, which seemed to excite him, was about the potential opportunity for some of the classes to go camping  in the desert for 2 nights sometime in March. Is E becoming adventuresome like his Mom?

It was my first day at school, too! I am at a grade 1-5 girls school less than 10 minutes from E"s school. It seems I am blessed in many other ways. I understand I have a knowledgeable principal, and I have a Head of Faculty (or "HOF," as they are called) who is not only very helpful, but knows English and Arabic (I believe this is rare).  The HOF is who I directly report to about any academic questions, needs, or issues with students. Also, I found out I am teaching grade 3! I am very pleased that I will not be split between two grades which almost happened. Hopefully, none of  this will not change...insh'Allah.

Students start at my school on Sunday. You may know, tomorrow, Thursday, is the last day of the work week here. Well, today---Wednesday, I just arrived at my school mid morning, after my bus got lost going to the meeting at the ADEC office to meet my HOF, and then everyone at my school left for the day at 1pm. Okay....so, if you are a teacher reading this blog, you know the state I have been in the last 2 days knowing that school is starting and I am completely unprepared. Therefore, I am trying to remain calm and just take care of what I have control over. I was quick to ask, "Can I come in over the weekend?" Thank God, there is a security guard that will be able to let me in the building! It may be a while before my next blog.