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.

Lost and Found

Today, on the way to work, I saw a herd of camels, all saddled and ready to roll. This amazing sight came about when I was lost.  Yep.  Really lost.  It took me two hours to get to school.  It should have taken 45 minutes.  But, I would have missed seeing the camels if I had been on time, so I was OK with being lost.

Actually, just about the time I figured out where I was, I was about to go back and try and find my hotel to retrace my steps and start the trek all over again. Gratefully, that didn't have to happen.

The Hilton Hotel Al Ain is a prominent landmark.  Most folk use it when giving directions in the southern part of the city.  You're suppose to make a turn near it, and that's what I kept goofing up.  I must have seen the Hilton 17 different times, from every possible angle.

I stopped by a store yesterday to buy a navigational system, but the prices were three times what I paid for one in the US.  I decided to use the navigational system on my phone, but it was picky.  It wanted street signs and addresses, so it was no good.  It froze up when I put in GPS coordinates.  The automated guy on my phone GPS said "I don't recognize your position."  I said, "Me either."

So, you know what I did on the way home from work, right?  Headed straight for the store.  Yes, indeed.  I purchased a Garmin and STILL GOT LOST!  It couldn't help me today because it didn't know where I was going either.  Hopefully, next time I turn it on, it will be able to find HOME.

While I was lost on my way home, I stumbled into a neighborhood and couldn't believe the size and extravagance of the homes.  Like I mentioned before, folks here live in compounds of several houses, and they're behind high, elaborate, decorative fences that resemble forts.  Today was the first time I passed by so many with their gates open.  The homes were all at least three stories tall.  Lots of glass.  Lots of marble. Lots of brilliant light fixtures.  I came real close to driving in to one of the compounds to ask for directions, but it was getting dark, and I wasn't sure if I would be welcomed.

After spending about a half hour rubber necking through the neighborhood, I found the "fort roundabout." Thankfully, most of the roundabouts have a theme of some kind.  Even with distinguishing features, they all start to look alike after a while.

Remember when I mentioned how cutting edge this country is in so many ways? The Emirati are brilliant people on so many levels.  That's why it's hard to understand the lack of street signs and addresses.  Seems to me, when building a city, you would start with that, right?

I know I've spent a long time talking about this, but after being lost for almost three hours today, it's heavy on my mind.

Now to school and an interesting observation.

We had an inservice today, the last day before a holiday.  Not the best timing, for sure.  Although the native folks were kind and gracious, it was a divided auditorium. They were on one side and the Western teachers on the other.  From the stage, I could see I have my work cut out for me to somehow bridge the gap, so that we're all speaking the same language, so to speak.  The language absolutely presents a barrier, but so do the customs and rituals we're not used to.

I know what it feels like to be the minority in a room, class, auditorium, etc., but I think some of our Western teachers are experiencing that feeling for the first time and it's uncomfortable for them.  My challenge is to get everyone on the same page, moving in the same direction.

I heard some more today about the boys' behavior.  Primarily, the children in the UAE are being raised by nannies, who are afraid to disciplined the kids.  I was told some nannies have been whipped and beat for trying to correct bad behavior.  They most certainly would be fired.  So, many of the kids grow up spoiled, and running the show, if you will.

At our school, this is the first year that this group of boys have been taught by women teachers.  Before they were at a boys' school with an all-male staff.  The boys do not come to school with the same respect for female teachers that they had for the men teachers.  Culturally, men play a more prominent role in this society, and the consequence of that attitude, is played out in the school.  It is very interesting.

Below please find a picture of six of ten young women who represent the custodial staff at school.  There are four others, but I didn't meet them.  These ladies passed by my office, saw me there, and came by to see if I would take a picture with them. They were so warm and friendly, I had a great time chatting with them.

Custodial staff at my school

They arrive at school via bus at 6:00am and work until 5:30pm, when the bus picks them up and returns them to their housing area about 45 minutes away.  At most US schools, there is some custodial staff in the day time, but there is also someone who cleans at night.  Not so here.  They are cleaning the building all day long, everyday.  They are also sometimes treated as servants when the native folks need or want something done that they don't want to do.  For example, the natives have them carrying their things and fetching things for them.  Servant work.  Too often, that's how they are perceived.  The young ladies told me that they make 600 dirhams a month.  That's $163, for twelve hour days, six days a week. They will be working every day except Fridays, all during our winter break.

They paid an agency in the Philippines to get them the job.  They also had to pay for their travel to the UAE.  If they decide they don't won't the job, or can't do it, they have to pay their own way to return home.

The time that they have been in the UAE ranges from one year four months to two years.  It was interesting how they responded when I asked them how long they'd been here.  They each gave the exact time, like they were counting the days.

Finally, the way the native folks greet each other is a sight to see.  I mentioned how some men rub noses, well the ladies blow at least three air kisses on the side of the face of the person they're greeting.  If they're really close, the kisses mount up to five or six.  Other women do the "European" double kiss on either cheek.  Suffice it to say, it takes a minute to say hello.

I was lost, but thankfully, now I'm found, hopefully never to be lost again.

Sheikh Zayed's Quotes

I have been struggling for almost two hours trying to get online.  Yes.  Called for help.  Twice.  OK.  Guy just arrived and it's working perfectly.  Don't you just hate that?!?

Today was Day 3 on the job.  No kids showed up for school . . . again.  We're not expecting any tomorrow either.  Minimum days take on a whole new meaning here.

My school - Library from the outside

There was a meeting with the Vanderbilt University Coach, as decisions were made in reference to assignment of duties for the vice principals.  Thankfully, the meeting was efficiently run.  It still took a while, but we got a lot accomplished.

That was followed by an exchange of gifts by staff in the library.  There was supposed to be a limit on how much to spend, but most of the Emirati Women came in with bags from exclusive jewelry and accessory stores.  So my little gift from Bath & Body Works was truly a token.  Thankfully, one of the Western teachers received it.

I was told earlier this year, one of the bus monitors, an Emirati, gave a Western teacher a bracelet from Tiffany's "just cause."

My school - Side view

Speaking of gifts, it is customary for new staff members to give a gift to the principal.  Yes.  Bath & Body Works for her, too.  The principal, in turn, purchased a going away gift for a staff member (money was collected from everyone) that was spectacular!  I'm sure what was collected didn't begin to pay for the gift, a fabulous watch.

The ladies may all be in black abayas, but if you check out their shoes and handbags, you will see just how lavish some of them are.  On Dec. 2nd, Founder's Day, the Sheikh gave all of the Emirati Nationals a 100% raise.  

No, I'm not ashamed to say I continue my search for an Emirati to marry.  Doesn't matter if he has other wives.  I'm OK with that.  

After the exchange of gifts, everyone went into one of the courtyards to play games. Not my cup of tea, so I escaped to my office to complete some paperwork so I wouldn't have to do it tonight.  The games were followed by a Bar-B-Q, which was fascinating to see.  

The Bar-B-Q grill was a low, square, heavy, cast iron gizzy.  There was charcoal on it, and next to this was another open fire in a trough-looking bucket.  The ladies squatted as they fanned the flames from the bucket onto the grill, helping the chicken to cook.  It was delicious!

I wanted to take a picture of all of this, but the women do not allow their pictures to be taken.  When the Western folks took pictures of themselves, the women likely to be in the frame covered themselves with their head scarves.  By the way, those scarves are miles long.  They're wrapped and wrapped and wrapped some more around their heads.

Me with the Head of Faculty X 2

Side note - You have to wonder how the native folks meet someone to get married. The women are covered up and they are always separated from the men.  When do they have the opportunity to meet, and date?  My principal's sons are getting married later this month.  I should ask her.  OK.  Maybe not yet.  

Side note 2 - The native men rub noses when they greet a close friend.  I saw this once in Abu Dhabi, but have seen it here several times.  It's interesting.  I have to be careful not to stare them down when I do witness it.

Side note 3 - There is a prayer room in the school.  Staff and students accompanied by adults are welcomed to use it during the day.

Beautiful Park in Downtown Area

Side note 4 - The following are two quotes by Sheikh Zayed, the first ruler of the UAE, that were framed in an office in the ADEC Building here in Al Ain.

"A country is not measured by the size of it's area on the map.  A country is truly measured by it's heritage and culture."  

"A woman constitutes half the society and keeps the house.  A country aspiring to build itself should not keep a woman in the darkness of illiteracy and a prisoner to the shackles of oppression."

Amazing, right?

Side note 5 - The current ruler of the country has a summer home here that I pass every day. It's so big, I thought it was a park.  It's a compound that takes up blocks and blocks.  There is a sign out front forbidding photographs to be taken. 

Side note 6 - Most of the families live on compounds.  When the kids grow up and marry, they all live on the same property together with their parents and grandparents.  They'd be serious drama for some of us if we lived like that.

Side note 7 - Went by my apartment today to check that the lights were on and that it was cleaned of the saw dust.  One of the Head of Faculty that I work with, also lives there, and I stopped by her place for a minute to get some decorating ideas.  

Beginning on Friday the 16th, I'll be on break for three weeks.  I look forward to exploring the area.  Having the car certainly helps.  

Speaking of car, I was so proud that I didn't get lost going to work or getting to my new place after work.  I did, however, get lost about two miles from home.  It's hard to make a correction when you goof up.  Finding a place to turn around can take a while.  By the time you get back on track, you have to remember where to get off on the roundabouts again.  I went round and round several of the roundabouts.  If anyone was watching, I sure they chuckled at the sight of me and my hooptie.  I stumbled on the border of Oman, that is literally just a couple of miles from this hotel.  I realized it was the border because the traffic was backed up at the checkpoint, and there was a sign reminding folks to have their passports ready to be checked.  

I'm thankful to have a car, for sure, and the car I have rented is colorful.  It's got character, and miles galore.  There are dents and scrapes, and it reeks of cigarettes.  Gratefully, the air condition works.  I needed it to keep cool during my long, lost trek home today.  Yep, it was the cheapest one on the lot.  I just needed something to get me from point A to B until I decide what to do about getting a car - you know, buy or lease.  Leasing would be the easiest, and I'm leaning in that direction.  Any suggestions/comments about the pro's and con's of buying vs. leasing would be greatly appreciated.  Remember, my email is fayesharpe@gmail.com.  Thanks!

New Home

I was so excited to start work, I forgot to mention I have a new home.  Not sure when I'll be moving in (waiting on a furniture allowance), but it's nice to know where it is and what it looks like, relative to shopping for it.

I had the option of being assigned a place or go out looking for one myself.  I opted for the assigned apartment.  It just saves me a ton of headaches.  Once I know the city better, then I'll consider a move closer to my school, if that's possible.

The apartment is in a new complex that opened in October, so I'll be the first tenant. It houses other folks from this program, which I think might be helpful.  It will be about 30 minutes from work, as opposed to 45 minutes now.  (More about today's adventure on the road in a minute).  It is completely empty - no refrigerator, stove, microwave - nothing.  So, I'll be shopping for everything.

Now for my day at work.

It began early.  I left home at 6:00, allowing myself an hour to get there.  Thank God for the presence of mind to do that because I was lost for at least 15 minutes.

The plan to follow the mountain didn't work because it was foggy.  I couldn't see it.  I kept loosing count of the roundabouts, so counting them didn't work either.

I was given another landmark though.  Look out for the camel crossing, then you know you're on the right track.  Did I mention I saw camels crossing the first day?

Side note - Camels are very graceful animals.  They remind of a woman in stilettos who is comfortable wearing heels and walks with style and ease.

Speaking of camels, there was one that was lying down in the back of a pick-up truck that passed me today, and every now and then, he would lift his head.  I wanted so much to take a picture, but I dared not take my hands off the wheel.

Side note 2 - The roundabouts typically have three lanes of traffic going around them.  The folks on the right yield, and you race in quick when there's a lull.

Once I got to school, things went well.

I headed straight over to the boys' section to see for myself what all the fuss was about in reference to their behavior.  There were less than 10 students in the only class with kids.  We're on minimum days, and I'm told the kids usually don't bother coming.  The class that I observed had some shout outs, but nothing crazy was going on.

Did I mention that the two faculty heads are African-American women?  One is from Texas, not sure about the other, although she has been in the Middle East for 10 years and she speaks and reads Arabic.  Good feeling about both of them.  They, too, seem to be well-respected by the staff.

Side note 3 - I signed up for an Arabic Class with one of them, beginning in January.

Side note 4 - One of the ladies pulled me aside and told me it's customary to buy a gift for the principal when you arrive.  There's also Bar-B-Q tomorrow, and a gift exchange.

I arrive home at 6:30, after getting lost again, and after going by the mall to purchase these presents and to get my lights and Internet turned on.  I love the way you are able to take care all of your business in the malls here.  The bank in this mall is open until 10:00pm.  It's one stop shopping, for sure.

Once I arrived home, I had homework.  I needed to memorialize the meeting we had today, and publish an agenda for one that is forthcoming.

For those of you who know me from a work setting, you know I'm a stickler for starting and ending meetings on time, and I won't call a meeting just to chew the fat. If there's nothing to share or discuss, we won't meet.  Today's meeting began on time, but it went on and on and on, for almost two hours!  All that we accomplished could have been done in 30 minutes . . . max, and that's with time for discussion. Much of the reason it took so long was culturally based.  No one was in a hurry, even at the end of the day.

Note to self - take deep breaths and smile a lot.

Side note 5 - Speaking of smiling, I was told to smile and greet everyone (ladies only) with a handshake.

Faux pas 2 - I extended my hand to the school security guard and shouldn't have. When he didn't reach for mine, I knew I'd blown it.  Women do not shake hands with men in this country.

Side note 6 - Most of the Arab women at work cover their faces when men are around, and some keep themselves covered all the time.  It's not easy identifying folks by the eyes, or by the foot ware.  Hopefully I'll recognize their walks soon.

I have to go to bed to be ready for tomorrow.

I can't complain at all about the long days.  I've had plenty of fun times since I've been here, waiting to be processed.  We're paid from the time we enter the country, so now I'm earning it.

For those of you who have commented on the blog or via email, thanks a bunch. It's great hearing from you.

First Day at Work

Yes.  Today was the day.  My first day on the job.  My cluster manager picked me up at the hotel, so that I could get a grasp of where I was going.  Remember, there was no address to put in a GPS unit.  Actually, I was told that a mountain range that runs through the city is a great landmark.  Duly noted.  Also, count the roundabouts. Also noted.  Tomorrow will be the test.  I drive myself.  Wish me luck.

I need to be at school at 7:00, so that I'm there and settled for when the boys arrive at 7:30.  The school is co-ed, very unusual for this area, but the boys and girls never interact.  Girls start at 8:00.  Interesting set up, for sure.

The school reminds me of A Tale of Two Cities.  Here's why:

The building is brand new, and state of the art in many ways.  The architecture and landscaping is beautifully done.  All of the classrooms are completely made of glass, so that you can see in the classrooms from inside and outside.    The girls are on one side of the building, the boys the other.

The school is wired for the internet, but it just got connected yesterday.  Really.  All of the classrooms have smart boards, but they're still covered in plastic.  There are no phones in the classrooms.  Not sure how they communicate with each other.  By cell phones, actually, but the reception is not very good in the building, so it may be hours before the text messages are relayed.  

School climate:

I heard repeatedly how naughty the boys are.  I wondered, how bad could their behavior really be?  The last time I asked that question was when I was making the decision to take over Jed Smith, and we know how that turned out.  So, I'm going in hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst.

The principal is well-respected in this organization and she seems to have a good team supporting her.  I'm the second of three VP's that will be in place when they're fully staffed.  The enrollment is just shy of 1100, but the way the building is designed, it has a small school feel to it.

The staff dress is very formal.  There are 60 teachers and they were all wearing abayas, except for three or four and they were in dresses to the floor.  I was in a dressy black pantsuit, but it was clear, slacks are not allowed.  First faux pas.  Note to self - buy more abayas.

I was expecting to be at school only a couple of hours, but the plans changed and I was there all day.  Of course, I didn't bring a lunch, and by the time I asked about purchasing one, lunchtime was over.  Note to self - keep snacks in your office. (Already purchased them after work today).  I hate getting a hungry headache.

Well, it was a good, long day and now it's bedtime.

Goodnight.

Addresses Anyone?

Thankfully, today was a very productive one.

However, I know for sure now that bureaucracy is alive and well all over the world.

I had to see someone in Customer Service at the ADEC Office.  You picked up a number before you walked in the room.  There were eight people available to help and no one else was in the room.  I went to one of them seeking assistance.  I was told to have a seat until my number was called, even though all eight folks were all available.

I'm growing in patience every day.

To be fair, that was in contrast to someone else who went out of her way to get things done for me.  I owe her chocolate.

In spite of the red tape, I left the ADEC Building with all of the documents I needed, and had the chance to speak with my Cluster Manager.    Thankfully, he's level-headed and frank.  My kind of guy.  He will take me to my school tomorrow.

He shared with me that it has an enrollment of 1200 students, and will have three VP's.  I'm number two.  It is co-ed, but the boys and girls never interact.  They are on different schedules entirely.

When I told him I couldn't find the address of the school online, he shared that this country doesn't have addresses!  All directions are given by landmarks.  I thought they were just doing that for the benefit of us new folks.  It also explains why someone suggested that I get a post office box.  That makes so much sense now.

After a ton of running around, I got my UAE driving license and rented a car today. Most impressive was finding my way back home, by the grace of God alone.

I was on a mission to get things done today, and didn't take the time to take pictures.  That will happen soon.

Until then, be well, and enjoy life.

Al Ain - The Garden City

We arrived in Al Ain last night.  There were six of us in the van, but only four were teachers being moved from Abu Dhabi here.  The other two ladies were friends of one of the teachers, and just tagged along.  Canada, England, New Zealand and the United States were represented.  We got here about 7:00pm, got a bite to eat, and then one of the ladies came over and we got online trying to figure out how to make Skype and gmail video chat work for me.  I think we got it.  I'm planning a test call tomorrow.

We're living in huge two bedroom hotel/apartments.  The size rivals my house in Sacramento or maybe it just seems so big because I've been living in one room for so long.  Whatever the case, it's big and I'm loving it. Four of us are neighbors in a four unit building.  There is a living room/dining room with a sofa, TV/DVD Player/cable box, two large chairs and a formal dining room set.  There is a large full kitchen and full laundry room.  The bathroom is so wide it could easily qualify for ADA compliance.  We can't get too comfortable though because this too, is temporary housing until we get our permanent places.

After breakfast we decided to go to the mall and do some furniture shopping. Dionne, my friend from England with the two girls, has already found a phenomenal home.  As it turns out, teachers are placed in housing, but administrators get to choose to live wherever we like, as long as it is covered by the allowance.   So first I need to house hunt, then shop for the furniture.

Note to self:  In the future, shop alone.  We were in the mall FOREVER!

After getting home from that excursion, I needed a nap, but couldn't sleep.  My next order of business was renting a car.  The businesses are open from 8:00-12:00, then they're closed until 5:00, and then reopen until 7:30.  Unlike Abu Dhabi, that had traditional times, this schedule will take some getting use to with that long break in the middle of the day.

At the appointed time, I headed to the car rental place, with the shaky assurance I could rent a car with my documentation.  As it turns out, I couldn't, but spent the next three hours taking care of the paperwork - getting my US license legally translated, applying for an ID Card, and running from shop to shop trying to find someone to copy my drivers license in color.  What was interesting is the man who legally translated my license, went to college in Washington State and did his graduate and post-graduate work in Michigan.  He has a son that lives in Folsom, CA, a suburb of Sacramento, and he visits him annually.  Very small world, isn't it?

This man was typing on an archaic typewriter, a relic really.  And it moved from right to left, just as they hand write from right to left in writing Arabic.

I was then sent to a "typist", sort of like our notary public, who handled the paperwork from my UAE ID.  As long as it took her, I expected to be leaving that office with an epistle, instead it was two sheets of paper where she filled in the blank on a few lines.  I wonder, if the natives moved out of this country, how difficult would it be for them to pick up the pace if they lived in the faster moving countries of the world?

As I was waiting, it was fascinating seeing so many Emirati boys, teenagers and young adults, just hanging out on the curb, chewing the fat.  There was also a parade of cars passing by that reminded me of low riders.  They were driving by slowly to see and be seen.  Kids will be kids wherever they are.

Side note - Huge Toyota model vehicles are everywhere here.  Land Cruisers,
are hot.  For every five cars I see, at least two of them are these large Toyotas. Gas is really cheap, so the cars tend to be big and bigger.

The city of Al Ain is very pretty.  In an earlier post, I described Abu Dhabi as the big brother, and Dubai as the flashy little sister, well Al Ain is like the prissy sister with beautiful greenery, flowers, and colorful, picturesque roundabouts that dot the landscape throughout the area.  There's definitely a homey feel here.  I was reading that there aren't any buildings over four stories high, in complete contrast to Adu Dhabi and Dubai, who have scores and scores of high rises and pride themselves on them.  I wanted to take pictures, but this is not a touristy city at all, so I wasn't sure if folks would appreciate my random shots.  I'll ask before I snap and offend.

Our hotel is on the outer limits on the northwest end of town.  My school is on outer limits on the southeast end.  I'll literally be going from one end of the city to the other everyday.  All the more reason to get my own transportation.

I was supposed to report to school tomorrow, but I'll be meeting with my cluster manager (this position is like a director, or maybe an associate superintendent) to get the lowdown on the school, and I'll go in on Monday.


More later.

On the Move

Battery Pack

Random thoughts:

Before I forget, I have to plug a battery pack that I purchased from Amazon.  I ran out of juice on the flight over to New York before I left Sacramento, and while I was on the road, I looked at battery packs in the airport.  They were at least $100.  The one I got cost $40 and works great.  It's about the size of my phone, and yesterday when I was out and about, my phone was plugged in and recharging in my purse. The brand is New Trent, and no, I'm not getting a commission for this recommendation, but I should.

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I saw all of these stores that sold cloth for sewing, or so I thought.  I visited one yesterday and the cloth is actually pieces of sari(s), the outfit that Indian women wear.  I wondered why there were mannequins modeling the sari in each of the store windows.  It's amazing that I didn't make the connection.

I haven't figured out the system for phone numbers.  My number is ten digits, not counting the country code.  It's 050-917-4857.  The country code is 971, but it's my understanding when you add the country code, you eliminate part of the 050 prefix and add the zeros in front of the country code(???).  I'm just not sure which part. Also, some businesses have only six numbers, others seven.  I've asked for clarification, but so far, the answers only raises more questions.  I'm thankful for gmail chat which allows you to call computer-to-computer at no charge.

There are two cab companies in Abu Dhabi.  The main one has grey cars - Toyotas and Nissans - with a yellow taxi sign on top.  All of these cars have meters.  The other company's cars are white with green doors.  Their fleet is definitely older, more worn.  They don't have meters.  The driver just "feels" the amount owed.  These drivers are a little shady, but colorful.  


I wondered why the cab drivers don't talk to the patrons.  I just read that women sit in the back and there is no talking, less the driver misinterpret the 'friendliness'.


Here is a picture of housing for expats who work in the city.  It is the building in the middle.  This one is decent looking.  Right after taking this picture I passed another one that was awful, but I was skittish about photographing it.

Housing for workers

The cricket players are out in force again today in the large four-block prayer lot. They make a kind of cackling noise when the game gets exciting.  Interestingly, these are men, not boys.  


ATM's are open 24 hours, but they are all located inside the bank, that is sectioned off so that you have access to the ATM's, but not the rest of the bank.  You access it from an outside door that is locked.  You have to slide your ATM Card through a slot to open it.  Once inside, you're locked in and have to push a button to exit. Definitely a safe system.  The only free standing ATM's I've seen are located in the malls, with security guards always close by. Although crime rarely occurs, you see a lot of security guards.  


Below is a picture of the little market or souq that I shop in that is next door to the hotel.  This is where I bought the SIM Card for my phone.

Souq or Supermarket where I shop

Great news:

I received word yesterday that I'm moving today to Al Ain.  It's about two hours from here, close to the country of Oman.  I'll be moving to another hotel, but will be looking into permanent housing soon thereafter.  My first day at work will be Sunday. Remember this is Friday, the day of worship.  I'll work for a week, then the school will be on winter break for three weeks.  The timing is great, as this time off will help me to get acclimated in the new area.




Just googled Al Ain.  It is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.  So, the city of Abu Dhabi is in the Emirate (or state) of Abu Dhabi.  Al Ain is called the Garden City due to it's greenery. The highways between the cities form a triangle with Abu Dhabi and Dubai, making each about 80 miles apart. The climate is dryer, with low humidity, and it is the cultural destination for the nationals (natives) of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.  Can't wait to get there to explore this area, too.

Reflections

Today was a day of reflection.

I continue to pinch myself and thank God when the reality sits in and I confirm, yes, all of these wonderful things are really happening.  When I celebrated my 55th birthday the first week of August, I had no idea that just over three months later, my life would be totally changed.

Who knew that growing up in an isolated environment would help me be comfortable with being alone.

That the major move when I went to college from Texas to Florida, again was helping me grow in independence.

That my 20 year marriage provided opportunities to move often and experience new things, living in seven different states, and being comfortable in new environments.  (Although it came to a flaming end, I've recently grown to appreciate the good in it.  It only took me a dozen years to get there.  Better late than never, right?).

That my love of teaching would help me grow in patience and understanding, especially in trying to reach kids who came from homes with limited English and those English speaking kids who came with a blank slate.  That experience was critical to my getting my current job.

That the responsibility of being site administrator and realizing that you must be a coach, cheerleader, mentor and teacher to the staff was critical to understanding what to do to bring out the best in others.  That experience at both my schools,  although extremely difficult at the last one, was life changing and helped me to grow.

That the seed that was planted by a teacher at Lincoln over ten years ago, that traveling the world alone as a woman was not only conceivable, but also safe, was just what I needed to feel I could do this.

I'm thankful for all of you who, in some way, played a part in my life thus far.  I believe every relationship and friendship helped to get me where I am today - in a great country, doing what I love, traveling and teaching.

My hope for you is that you, too, will see your greatest dreams come true.

In Love!

I'm well-rested and ready to roll.  

I'm also back on track with beginning this post at breakfast.  Yes, the view continues to be nice.  Not only the view of the city waking up, but the one in here as well.  The contractors are still here.  I'm guessing they're on a long term job.

More random thoughts:


Crime is virtually nonexistent because the punishment is swift and harsh.  Although the treatment of the workforce is not very good, it must be better than home.  They don't risk prison or deportation.


Women are very safe, but men get propositioned often according to a guy who is in my program and was here last year.  That was fascinating to me because homosexuality is punishable by prison.  According to my friend, it's not that the guys are gay necessarily, it's just that are so few women compared to the men in the workforce.  Some of them have been here for years, and they are least likely to be reported if they deal with a guy.  Very interesting.


Living with someone of the opposite sex is prohibited.  If discovered, as an expat, you would be immediately deported.  Locals know better, but if they indulged, they would go to jail.


Public display of affection is frowned upon.  You rarely see it and when you do, it stands out.  It's expats who didn't get the memo, I suppose.


I know.  I know.  All of that sounds like a lot of rules and regulations and maybe even pretty harsh, but when you consider all of the things to do, and the phenomenal opportunity to be here, the good far outweighs the bad.  My philosophy = Their country.  Their rules.  Period.  I can live with that.


That's why I think it is particularly offensive to see visitors violate the dress code.  You should be respectful of the country and it's mores.


Side note - I have a favor to ask.  A couple of days ago, I included two video clips, and have included two more today, but I'm new to this and I'm not sure they worked. Would you post a comment or forward an email letting me know if you could access them?  My email address is fayesharpe@gmail.com.  Thanks a bunch!

Side note 2 - Traffic lights blink before they change color.

Side note 3 - The mosques are stunning at night.  They are lit up with green lights and you can see them from miles away.

Side note 4 - Today I rode in a ladies only cab.  The driver was a female.  First I've seen.  She wasn't nearly as proficient as the men drivers though.  That is, she wasn't aggressive enough.  You can't be a timid driver here.  You'll get run off the road.

Side note 5 - One more comment about the safari.  All of the drivers were about 30 years old, and you could tell they were absolutely loving the daredevil driving. They could easily be stunt drivers in Hollywood, with all of the outrageous maneuvers they pulled off.

Ferrari Logo

And now . . . I have to confess.  I fell in love today . . . with the Ferrari!  What a car! What a car!  What a car!  Ferrari World is advertised as an amusement park, so you immediately think kids.  What was striking was how few kids there were. Mostly, it was young guys and couples.  This is a playground for the young at heart.  Not necessarily young in age.

Candy Apple Red Ferrari

The building is spectacular.  There was no way I could get a photo of it because it has such a sprawling design.  I found one online and it's below.  

Ferrari World - Aerial View

There is a huge structure next to the Ferrari Building, that I think is a real competition race track.  

The first thing you notice when you walk in is how incredibly big the space is.  There are some of the most beautiful cars on the planet on display like diamonds, under sophisticated lighting that is so dramatic.  It's easy to imagine yourself driving one. 

Me and the Ferrari

G Force Ride

G Force Ride

I enjoyed going into a simulation auditorium where was buckle up in what looks like regular theater seats.  There is a large screen and a movie begins by telling the story of the young Enzo Ferrari who, as a baby, wouldn't sleep until the mobile in his crib was going at top speed.  Then you see him as a young child, tinkering with his bike to make it faster.  Teenage years, same thing.  This time it's cars instead of bikes.  Then you see him as a young adult, dreaming of a beautiful, fast car.  The next shot is a car designer on his first day at the Ferrari Headquarters.  He comes with an armful of drafting sketches, but those are taken away.  The old man, his guide, tells him that in order to make a great car, you have to feel it first.  He, and we, are then taken for a ride.  A very fast ride, winding ride.  The seats start to move, the faster the driver goes, the farther back you're pushed in your seat.  They totally move, leaning into every curve.  You feel every shift of the gears.  Everything that's happening on the screen, you feel in your seats.  It was fast and crazy, but I loved it!

Ferrari Race Car

Then I rode in a toy Ferrari that was on an automatic track.  Even the toy car was amazing.  I'd settle for that one if it had pedals.

There was a high energy light show featuring some really talented young folks doing some incredible acrobatics, all related to the Ferrari.  The stage was designed as a pit stop.  They're featured in the videos below.

So, I've decided my two year plan in this country is this:

1)  Meet an Emirati

2)  Marry him

3)  Buy a Ferrari

You know all of those rules and regulations I mentioned earlier, you could multiply them by 100 and they totally wouldn't matter one bit if they came with a Ferrari.  I'd even wear a burka for a Ferrari!

Me and the Ferrari 2

I'm not even sure I'd even recognize a Ferrari on the streets if I saw one, but the way they have them displayed here, makes them irresistible.

Side note 6 - I hope some of you are planning to visit.  This country is too fabulous not to share.

Too Tired!

More random thoughts:

Today was an extremely slow one.  I was in a fog, trying to wake up most of the day.  Too many late nights.  Gotta get enough sleep.

In my earlier post in reference to late night blogging, I needed to include not being on the internet either.  I think I clicked the wrong thing and sent out a Linked In message.  If you got one, sorry!

In spite of my tired body, I went to the mall looking for a specific map.  It's amazing it just occurred to me that a map might help in navigating the city.  While there, I also figured out how to get the internet on my phone.  They really do have a great prepaid system with no monthly bills.

Yesterday I noticed the Bentley car dealership right down the street from the Lamborghini show room.  Note to self - visit them both just to get a close up view.

Speaking of cars, Ferrari has something here called Ferrari World, that's listed as the world's largest indoor amusement park.  I'm not into amusement parks, but this might be worth seeing.

For one of the smallest countries in the world, my Arab brothers think on a grand scale - everything here is bigger and better and grander than any place else.  I suppose it helps to have a seemingly endless supply of cash.

Well, that's it for today.  My body is screaming for some rest.  I was too tired to nap, so it's early to bed for me.  

Corrections

My apologies for the many errors in yesterday's post.  I thought I made the corrections, but apparently not.  Note to self:  no posting after midnight!

More after a nap.

Multitasking & Belly Dancing

Random thoughts:


It's amazing to me how pristine the robes are that the Emirati men wear.  If I had on a white robe, it would be filthy by the end of the day.  For these guys, that's not the case.

When I stopped by the little restaurant at the bus station yesterday, all of the guys were eating with their hands, breaking a flat bread and scooping their food up with that.  Somehow that made it look more appetizing.  I was a chicken though and requested a fork.

The cost to travel to Dubai was just over $4 for a two hour bus ride.  To return it would have cost just over $5.  Not sure why, but the cost coming from Dubai is more.  I opted for a taxi instead and that was just over $17.  In the cab, the trip was reduced to just over one hour.  Like I said yesterday, I'm looking forward to having my own wheels.


Side note - Abu Dhabi is like a strong big brother.  He's the seat of the ruling power for the country and he has the largest land mass and population, but Dubai is like his glamourous little sister.  Flashy, extreme and ready to party at the drop of a hat.


Side note 2 - Forgot to include pictures of the indoor ski slope and school bus, so here you go.

Dubai Mall Ski Slope

Abu Dhabi School Bus

Front end of Abu Dhabi School Bus

I'm returning to the ADEC office this morning to see what's happening.  


Good news!  My papers were ready and I was sent off to get my fingerprints.  I tried to hail a cab, but couldn't get the guys to understand where I needed to go.  No problem, it was just three blocks as I understood the directions.  Well . . . the blocks must be measured by camel steps.  They're more than twice the length of our longest country blocks.  So I got my exercise in for the day.  Thankfully, things were easy once I got there.  Again, getting preferential treatment for being a woman.  The papers were then returned to the original guy, who will send them off to immigration for my permanent visa to be processed.

It's fascinating to observe the way things get done here.  Someone I met said that multitasking is not a part of the culture.  So, even though I dropped off my paperwork well before the end of day, nothing more will happen until tomorrow. That's OK though.  It just leaves time for more adventures.

One more piece of business before the fun begins - figuring out how to mail something from here.  (Contrary to the natives, I can and do multitask).  I was dropped off at the Main Post Office.  What a busy place that was!  Again, it was wonderful being a woman.  The line for the guys was out the door.  I walked right in with a ticket to wait for my number to appear on a screen.  I noticed though that folks were not honoring the ticket system, but were just bum rushing the counter.  No problem. This is where going to a black school came in handy.  I know how to bum rush with the best of them, learning it 35 years ago as a freshmen at FAMU. Who knew how helpful that skill would be later in life.

It cost 3 dirhams (82 cents) to send a post card and 100 dirhams ($27) to send a package to my granddaughter Zadie.  It's scheduled to arrive in three days.  It's my test package.  I also mailed a test postcard to see how long that takes to arrive.  I was limited in weight to how much I could send, but I saw folks mailing huge packages.  I'll have to inquire as to how that is done.

Business is over, now it's off to a desert safari!  


I was picked up at about 3:00pm from the hotel.  The driver and I got acquainted before he picked up three more passengers from a hotel on the way to the desert.  I think they were related - Mom, Dad and an adult daughter.  They were from India and so was the driver, so they quickly got acquainted.


This attraction was advertised as an exciting time of dune bashing, camel riding, sand skiing, BBQ dinner, belly dancing and shisha smoking.  It didn't disappoint. There were 10 carloads of folks headed to the camp where the main festivities would be held.  We met up at a rest stop and everyone got out and stretched their legs. This is about 45 minutes from Abu Dhabi proper.  

Me on the Desert Safari

Once we started again, the ride was exhilarating!  When we got in the desert, all of the drivers let air out of the tires (17lbs each) so that the tires would have more traction. We were driving through literally mountains of sand; gunning the car to get up the huge hills, and slowing down because you're going down a mountain . . . straight down!  

Car going downhill

After my first up and down, I had had enough, but we did this for at least another hour.  Imagine, a caravan of ten white Toyota Land Cruisers, going up and down the dunes.  Some of the down hill runs had to be taken sideways so as not to flip the car.  Some of the hills had really sharp turns when you got to the top, but you couldn't prepare for it because you couldn't see it coming.  Our car got stuck at the top of a hill.  The other passengers and I held our breath as the drivers tethered our car to another and pulled us to safety.  WHEW!  


Every 15-20 minutes of so we would stop to make sure all the cars were still together.  Honestly, it felt like we were making figure eights in the sand.  I thought we were going in circles.  At each stop the drivers lifted the hoods of the cars to cool them off.  Those babies were working overtime. 

Guys in red shirts are the drivers

The sand was very, very fine.  When you walked in it was ankle deep, at least, making walking in it difficult at best.  I understand the term "quicksand" so much better now.

The caravan of cars

On one of the stops, someone lost their lunch, so their trip through the dunes was cut short.  They went directly to the camp.  When the rest of us arrived, there were folks sand skiing, which consisted of brave souls taking snowboard-looking ramps, going to the top of the hill closest to camp, and skiing down.  There were also three-wheeled off-road motor bikes for rent, but thankfully no one was foolish enough to attempt riding under these conditions.  


My favorite part was the camel riding.  What fun that was!  There were two camels tethered together and they each had a two-person saddle, so four rode at a time. Once the line was way down, I hopped on for a ride.  The camels were in a sitting position for you to get on and they got on their knees first, then they got up all the way.  Same thing going down - they kneeled and then sat for you to get off.  I could have rode my guy all day!  

Me on a camel ride!

Camels are tethered

The camp was enclosed in a u-shape and was right on the other side of the wall from the camel rides.  There was a large stage/dance floor in the middle, with rows of tables all around the stage.  We sat on pillows.  Most of the guys was playing some silly game in the sand that looked like a variation of tug-of-war.  The ladies took turns getting henna tattoos.  Yes, I said I'd never get a tattoo.  That's why you should never say never.  I agreed because this kind washes off in a week or so.  It's on the inside of my arm, so it's harmless.  No one will see it because of the long sleeves I'll be wearing.

Henna tattoo

This was followed by a great meal.  I was invited to sit with three nursing professors - one was from Santa Monica, CA, the other Pittsburgh, PA and the third was from Oman.  They had been presenting at a conference in Oman and decided to add a few days of fun to their plans.  It was these ladies who introduced me to shisha smoking, from the tall decorative vase looking thing with a quilted pipe coming out of it.  I don't smoke, so it was an interesting experience.  I'm not worried about having the need to break open one of those packs of cigarettes that are in my room any time soon.

New friends

As folks were smoking the pipes, (I have pictures of me partaking but they're not internet ready, and quite frankly, never will be), the belly dancer was doing her thing. She was really good.  She invited guys to join her and she gave lessons to a group of brave women.

Belly dancer

Then the stage was a free-for-all.  Traditional music was mixed with stuff you'd hear on the radio in the US.  There were traditional dancers that was really fun to see. I've included two videos.  The picture is not great in either, but I hope you can hear the music. The next one is guys dancing to funky music.  The stage lights will go out in the second one, but I wanted you to hear the music.

By this time it's dark, and they turn out the lights for us to look at the stars. Absolutely beautiful! It all ended with another thrilling ride though the dunes as we made our way to paved roads.  I have never appreciated paved roads more in my life!

Sunset on the desert

And that was my desert safari adventure!