Shopping

One of Many Mosques

Today began in church.  It was not as big as the one I went to in Abu Dhabi, but it was still several hundred folks there at the second service.  Thankfully, it is located next to a hospital, so it was easy to find.

Both of these churches were filled with expats from around the globe.  One of my most respected teachers is a member there.  She is from South Africa.  I met her husband, daughter and nephew.  The pastor was down to earth and funny.  It's a place of worship that would work for me, but I think I'll take this time that I have off to visit others, and then make a decision.

From there, I went back home, gave my neighbors a lift to the store, and went to my new apartment to meet the cable guys.  They didn't come with a wireless modem, so I sent them packing.  Having wireless internet that works consistently is a must. The spotty service in the hotel has been aggravating.  Below is a picture of one of the companies that provide Internet services.  The blue fence in front is one the median and goes on for a while.  It is very pretty.

Etisalat Building
(Cable, Phone & Internet Provider)

I'm still waiting on my housing allowance, but it was confirmed that we all got paid yesterday, so I went shopping for a refrigerator, stove, washer/dryer combo, and everything else you need to set up a home.  I surprised myself by buying the kitchen stuff first.  Dishes, glasses, flatware, pots and pans.  If I ever decide to cook, I'll be ready.

Side note - There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of middle ground relative to the ages of folks who work for ADEC.  They're either brand new teachers between 25-30 and more seasoned folks my age.  One of the young ones is a friend who is very homesick.  I believe she's in my world for a reason, but she's looking at the glass half empty and I choose not to.  It's a personal choice that everyone has to make. There is something I could be complaining about every day - the country with no addresses, the bureaucracy, etc.  Come to think about it, I have gripped and complained about these things, but I choose to live my life dwelling on all of the wonderful things that are happening instead.  I hope I can encourage her to do the same.  Don't get me wrong, I miss you guys, but I'm not homesick.  I believe I'm where I'm supposed to be, doing what I'm supposed to do.  And so there's a peace in me that I'm thankful for.

Side note 2 - Christopher Hitchens died today.  He was a columnist at Vanity Fair and he had a brilliant mind.  I rarely agreed with him, but I loved hearing him defend his position.  He was British, so all of his arguments came with that biting, sharp, British wit.  I was introduced to him when I saw him on Real Time with Bill Maher several years ago.  RIP Mr. Hitchens.

Below you will see one of my favorite landmarks in the city - this clock.  It keeps the correct time and the hands on it light up at night.  It's located on the corner of a busy intersection, and today was the first day I had a red traffic light, giving me time to take the photo.

Clock

Side note 3 - My new GPS has been a lifesaver!  I did get lost again trying to find my apartment, so that I could save it.  After about 45 minutes of running around, I flagged a Taxi and asked the driver to lead the way there.  He had to make a call to confirm where it was, but then we were on our way.  Once there, I saved the location, but didn't trust it, so I left, drove a few blocks and set it to find HOME! Thankfully it did, with no problem.

Let me leave you with this - No matter where you are in life, choose to be thankful.