Dunes at Dusk

Starting on this journey to the Middle East, I have created another "bucket list." A list that I hope to accomplish all, but it is a far fetched idea. A list that has the top places I want to see...things I want to do....and places I want to travel.

Among the things on that list, and something that has taken me SO long to complete, being that I live in a desert....OFF-ROADING! Yup, I want to hop into a 4X4 car, and blitz through the sand dunes of the desert, in the middle of NO WHERE!

So, Friday October 22nd, there was an off-roading event raising money for a well known charity, Race for the Cure: Breast Cancer Awareness. It was an all-day event, including a day trip, a bar-b-que, and then a night trip (how we were getting home).

Being that Race for the Cure is primarily pink, Barbara and I were going to dress the part. We had found matching pajama sets that had pink, hearts, and were comfortable. Comfort would be key on this trip!

We attended the event, and rode with a good friend of Barbara's, a local Emirati by the name of Nasser. He is one of the nicest, giving, and extremely accommodating individuals that I have met (although they have all been very pleasant). He is a Marshall, so he was leading the afternoon group.

There was a time when I thought I was completely nuts for jumping out of an airplane, but knowing my personality, it is fitting. Now, I have to question my sanity again, by asking why someone would get in a car, in the middle of no where, and fly through sand....hoping you don't get stuck! HA, because it is FUN!!!

The amount of speed that you are able to use, as you literally glide through the sand dunes, in the middle of no where, is absolutely amazing. The skills that it takes to navigate through the desert and the dunes, it is something else.

During the day trip, it is so neat at how much you see in the desert...yes, a little bit of nothing, but you also see camels, creatures squirreling around, some neat plants, and a clear blue sky! It was very pretty, actually reminded me of being in the middle of the hill country somewhere in Texas (ironic enough).

The bar-b-que was yummy. Just as any good ol' Texas BBQ, it was pool-side.....steaks, chicken, and sausage. Sides galore, consisted of salads, pastas, and of course, dessert in the desert. :) It was nice....I was able to meet some of the other off-roading club members, chat a little, and rest before our big journey.

Getting home to Abu Dhabi is normally an easy route....a straight shot on a perfectly paved road. With caution of a few speed trap cameras, there isn't a lot that could get in your way. BUT, not this group!! Our journey back home to Abu Dhabi was going to be done 100% by desert. We wouldn't touch a foot of highway until the end. We were going to travel through the desert, as if we were in the olden days, but instead of camels...it would be by Cadillac (or Nissan Patrol, Toyota FJs, etc.). The really scary part to this ride, opposite of the day trip, you can't really see! So I could see when a big dune was coming, or how my driver was going to handle getting us over, but at night...things are different. Granted, the guys that were driving this trip had been doing this for a while and were rather good at off-roading....but at the same time, you are depending on a leader with a GPS, the car, and the lights on the car. Hmmm....well, here we go....

I hopped into a Nissan Patrol, orange of all colors, with one of the marshals Khaled. He is a friend of Barbara's, which I have come to know. He is a nice guy....very well traveled (travels to the States every year for work), very smart, and just a very like-able guy.

Off-roading at night has got to be by far, one of the coolest things ever! The unknown and the unexpected all by the glare of the moon...WAY COOL! Up and down, through the sand we go, all the way to Abu Dhabi. There were about 20 cars on this trip, which I now understand is WAY too many for a night trip. I think we were stopping every 10 minutes because someone got stuck, someone popped their tire off the rim, or we lost someone; the stopping got rather old, but what do you do?

* Putting the tire back on the rim, in the desert....let me just say, I don't ever want to do it. You think changing a tire on the road is hard or tiring, well, you ain't seen nothing yet! This is pure skill....balancing the jack atop sand (which sinks) by weight of 2-3 guys on the other side of the car...pure genius!

* Getting stuck in sand... it is just bound to happen, period...end of story! Every driver does it at some point, experience or not, but you know, they ALWAYS get out! (I don't know how, it just always works out!)

* Bathrooms in the desert- Well, you have one of two choices....you either hold it or you find something to go squat behind. There are no portable potties, and there darn sure isn't any running water! You are really roughing it out here!

It was mid point through the trip that was my Oprah "ah-ha" moment in the desert. We had reached the biggest sand dune, Negro Dune. It was HUGE! It was as if we had reached Mt. Everest and were prepping for the climb of our life! The boys had all raced each other to see who could get to the farthest point up the side of the dune. It was so steep, cars were sliding back down the dune...just crazy. The rest of us took a soda break, relaxed and "chatted."

When taking a night trip, warnings should always be remembered. As it was reaching past midnight, the marshals were worried about fog starting to settle. Being that I was not familiar with the desert, I couldn't imagine what they were so worried about! Yeah, right....fog in the desert, and it is going to obstruct our way home. Well, low and behold, I got my spoon full of fog alright. Not thinking, it only makes since that with the temperature of the sand being so hot, and the night time so cool in the desert (yes, it really does get kind of chilly at night) that the drastic temp changes would create an abundance of fog. It was starting to get so foggy, views were being blocked...windshields wouldn't clear (even with the defrost on), you couldn't see but 5-10 feet in front of you, etc. The guys were having to maneuver through the dunes blindly...guessing when to use speed and when not.

Toward the later part of the night, with the fog settling, the sand started to get wet, turning into a mud type. Getting up the dunes was becoming even more difficult. We passengers were having to hang out of the windows, being a watchman for the drivers. Barbara was so far out the window, she has stains to prove it. She looked like a freshly bathed puppy dog....wet hair matted to her face. I didn't look any better....curly hair and humid fog...not a good mix.

With all complications aside, the trip finally came to an end. There is a gate, which lets you on to the highway that takes you the rest of the way home. At this point, 3:30 am, I was never so happy to see the road. The fog had become to much, and I knew it just wasn't safe. In fact, as memory has it, Nasser got lost. He didn't see the rest of the crew turn off, so he kept going. He had missed the turn by a long shot. We were waiting for about 45 minutes before he had found his way back and picked us up. Another 30 minutes and we were home, showered, and in bed. I had never been so happy to see a shower too! One thing about sand...it gets EVERYWHERE...in your shoes, hair, bags, etc. Aghhh, a warm shower....

It was a total blast and a complete success, something that I would love to do again. Being that I still have plenty of time here, I am sure I will!

Birthday Bonaza

October 8, 1981

The day I was born, in Humble Texas. Twenty nine years later, and here I am....in a foreign country that I now call home, not sure where life is taking me, and so much to look forward to.

This birthday was different from all others...it was spent in a VERY different place, with friends (wonderful friends at that), but 7,000 miles away from family and close friends back home. It started out a bit strange, because it was so out of the ordinary. But, just like everything else, it turned out alright.

It started out just like any regular day. We had planned to go to a little Italian place for dinner. Barb and I had just found the place a week before, and ultimately became a favorite. You have to know, Italian food and Erin, we are good friends! Chantal was coming down from Al Ain to join us for dinner. It was to be small, quiet, just as any day. Another mistake I had made, this dinner night fell on the same night that there was a dragon boating competition, everyone had already made plans, and it was the end of a work week and people were tired. Again, no worries, it is just another day! I am come to the reality, as you grow older, birthdays aren't as much fun. Once you hit the main markers, 16....18....21, there isn't too much more to look forward to but getting older. :)

So, carrying on through a normal Friday afternoon, hanging out, running around town, shopping, etc....it was just like old times. We had decided to attend the Abu Dhabi car show. Barbara had heard about it, heard that the drifting team would be in town and out on a show, and it would be great fun.

We had returned to the hotel, everyone was to take a shower and get ready. So, within an hour, I was ready, but had not heard from the other two. Minutes later, with a ring of my doorbell, in walks Chantal and Barbara....rolling a tray in with a BASKIN ROBBINS ice cream cake, candles, balloons, and gifts. Pink bunny ears atop my head and my wishes were made. We gorged ourselves on decadent chocolate cake, giggled at the surprise of it all, and opened gifts. The girls went above and beyond!! I got:
1. a little shisha smoker....really cute
2. my favorite perfume, Samsara
3. a keychain, which marks so true..."Lost in Abu Dhabi"

So, the rest of the deal was, starting from this moment, the balloons were to go wherever I went. Yup, that is right....I walked around the car show, where the manly of the manliest men go....cars and motorcycles roared, and music blared...here I was with a trail of balloons attached to my purse. I must say, it was quite a scene, as there were many people who asked to take a picture, especially photographers from the local newspapers (I am yet to see the paper that published the pictures). There was no losing me...I could be spotted a mile away.

Next was dinner....off to Palazio Italian Rest. we went, balloons included. This has become one of my favorite rest. in the Abu Dhabi area! Not only do they have good food, Italian food at that, but the atmosphere of the rest. is absolutely divine. It is like you stepped off a plane and landed in Venice. The murals, the paintings, the decor, and even the chefs...it all reminds you of those quiet nights within the Venetian City...gondola rides, Italian music, and the smell of sweet Italian wines. Took me back to a place I didn't stay as long as I wanted, but enjoyed every moment of the experience.

We had stuffed ourselves to the brim....enjoying a divine feast of Italian favorites. We were so full, that by 10:00 PM, our beds were calling our names.

It was a great birthday..another year older, another year wiser, and another year spent with great friends, having a great time.

You wouldn't expect anything less....

Back home in the States, anyone could tell you, the day to live for was FRIDAY! Friday was the last day of the work week and therefore, started your two day mental health days (weekend). What a person would do without those, I just couldn't tell you.

Here, in the United Arab Emirates, our weekend starts on Thursday. Thursday marks the last day of the work week, Friday is the Holy Day (nothing is open and there isn't much to do), and Saturday is our "Sunday" in the States, but acts like a Saturday (everything is open and there is plenty to do).

I used to say I LOVE weekends, and I looked very much forward to weekends. Now, I can say I LOVE weekends, I CAN'T WAIT for weekends, weekends couldn't come FAST enough, I WORK for weekends, weekends are NOT long enough here, etc. Yes, that is right....I wake up Sunday morning (1st day of work) dreaming about my next weekend....I get through the week, counting down the hours until the weekend starts. I have never LOVED weekends as much as I do now, until I became a teacher in the UAE!

Not that my weekends are special, or I do anything over the top. Just the mere fact that I am run down to complete exhaustion and beat to a bloody pulp, the two days of not seeing bratty little 3rd graders, listening to them speak Arabic/call me names in Arabic, being able to talk without screaming and yelling, and just plain enjoy myself is well, like smelling roses! It is as enjoyable as that first bite into a chilled Gala apple, the smell and taste of my Starbucks caramel machiatto, and the feeling you get after the best nights sleep. I can seriously say, these two days are what I LIVE for in this country!

This past weekend, I would say is one of my over the top days, I had the pleasure of experiencing for the first time.....an Abu Dhabi hospital.

Last Wednesday (October 13th) I had decided to wear a brand new pair of shoes that I bought from the mall. A good brand....purchased from Aldos, all leather, slip on flats. I had received several compliments on them throughout the day. Until about mid-way through the afternoon, as they started rubbing blisters on my feet. :( Stuck, as I didn't have another pair of shoes to switch to, I continued about my day. As soon as I got home, I switched to another pair of shoes, and went about the rest of my day.

Thursday (October 14th), last day of the work week, I wear my trusty reef flip flops to school. Happy as usual, for my weekend is just hours away, I am walking up and down the isles of the classroom, checking the work of my students. I turn my head, making a step forward and I have an unfortunate run in with the bottom of a rolly backpack. Yup, I have just jammed my two small toes, also where the blister is located, into the bottom of one of my kiddos backpack. Not just any backpack, but one built of metal, heavy duty, 4 wheels, and heavy. As if this kid were leaving on the next jet plane, and going backpacking through the Alps! Oh my, the pain was like no other! Of course, my toes start bleeding, so I ask my student teacher to watch the class as I go over to the nurse.

Finally through the day and back at home, my foot is sore. It felt as though I had a broken toe or two (not an unusual experience for me) and a blister the size of Mount Everest. I thought it would heal just fine, just keep it clean. But, as the weekend went on, the pain worsened. I couldn't put a shoe on my foot, and the swelling just kept growing. So, with a "little help from my friends", Barbara had talked my into going to the doctor.

Fear of the unknown set in....I am still in a "new" place, which I call home now. But, I had not been to a doctor here, and things just aren't the same as they are in the States. The uneasy feeling set in, and I just lost it....cried like a baby, for fear that I was to navigate my way through this city, find parking for my car, walk into a hospital that I didn't know, and everything was going to be okay? hmmm. Thank the lord above, Barbara offered to go with me!

The hospital was crowded, a lot of people there for misc. reasons, none of which I cared to ask. The lady at the front desk, probably only understanding half of what I told her, sent me to orthopedics. Why?? I told her that I just needed a general practitioner, not a specialist, but she insisted. Only to find out that the wait time was 1.5 hours....I DON'T THINK SO! I was later taken to the ER, wait time ZERO! I was taken care of within minutes! Because of all the dirt, sand, and grime here, the blister had become infected. So, between the pain of bashing my toes into what felt like cement and an infected wound, I felt like I was about to lose my foot. Tender to the touch, cleaning and bandaging my foot was like driving a knife through my leg. The doctor was lucky I didn't kick him in the face with my other foot.

Bandage on, three prescriptions, and a note to stay off my foot for two days....WE WERE OFF!

I have enjoyed the past two days....relaxing, sleeping...watching TV....etc. Back to reality, as I will go hobbling into work again tomorrow. Thank goodness for the short week!

Thanks to my wonderful friend Barbara, who without her, I probably wouldn't have gone to see a doctor.

Overall experience, things were pleasant. Although I hope I don't every have to make another trip, it isn't as horrible as I had imagined. Things were taken care of and I feel better.

Until then, I hobble around, bandage intact and medications to kill....

To be or not to be.....

At the risk of sounding about 40 years older than I really am, WHAT HAS THE WORLD COME TO?? I am starting to sound like my Papa, who at the great age of 90 passed away, bewildered at what the world was like. My father, constantly amazed at the stupidity of people. And alike, I wonder the same thing!

I left the United States in August 2010, after a serious mind game of whether or not teaching was the right route for me. After beating myself up, teaching won, but I was going to take a different approach....I was going to teach abroad! Better yet, I was going to teach in an Arab country, where Muslims are known for obedient children and intelligence. So, I packed my bags and left, with a new hope, a new dream, and an open mind. I figured, by taking this trip, I was going to renew my love for teaching, and what I do so well. In theory, I love the idea of being a teacher, what a teacher can do/offer, and all the creativity a teacher can have (not to mention the SEVEN years of college it took to get me that degree!). But, is it the right pathway?

I am based in Shahama, a small town on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi; it is the halfway point between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Every morning, I wake up at 5:00, leave by 6:00, pick up three other co-workers, and off we go on our 25 minute ride.

The 25 minute car ride is quite comical...it is actually my saving grace for my own sanity. I don't know what I would do without my co-workers and all of our laughs.

Saundra- probably one of the funniest people on Earth. She has a good attitude about everything, even when she is down. She has a quick wit to her, and can turn ANYTHING into something funny. I must say, she gets me through the day.

Leafy- she is small, meek, and quite. She gets a good laugh from Saundra too....a small giggle. Doesn't have too much to say, just enough....sits back and enjoys the ride.

Elaine- I sometimes think she is from a different planet. Funny, but where she gets some of her thoughts, I just don't know.

But, between Saundra and Elaine, we have four tickets straight to "Funny-Ville."

During my interview, I had specifically asked to be put in a boys school. Back home, in the United States, I had always related better to boys. I figure it is the nurturing part of my personality, so I thought it would be the same.


MISTAKE #1: Being put in a boys school!

In this country, no female should be in a boy's school, only males. From an early age, they [boys] are taught that they are MEN....they can do no wrong. They are the chosen ones, for they will carry the family name, carry the family money, etc.

MISTAKE #2: Not asking to be in a private or international school.

Ibn Sina (my school) is a government school, affiliated with a British provider. They are being re-structured based on the guidelines used in Britain, Australia, and the US. Therefore, since this program is new, so are the concepts of school. (FACT OF THE DAY: as of 30 years ago, the UAE didn't have schools. They would sit under trees and read the Qur'an, their holy book).

So, here we are, three weeks into the new school year. I feel like a new teacher, all over again, multiplied by 150. I feel like the worst teacher on the face of this earth, as if I can't do anything right, yet am working until 2:00 am. I work until the wee hours of the night, for what? The kids don't appreciate my lesson plans, so why should I?

What I thought I had mastered, classroom management, it has gone down the drain here.

The kids are OUT OF CONTROL! They have no respect for classrooms, books, supplies, teachers, their school, etc. They spit (anywhere and everywhere, even on teachers), they fight (NON-STOP....this is the most violent group of children I have ever seen), they are rude, don't follow directions, don't EVER SHUT UP, are illiterate (in both/all languages), are lazy, have lack of discipline multiplied by 250 (in fact, I don't think the word discipline is in the Arab dictionary), systems and processes don't exist here....to sum it up, NOTHING goes right! I have lost all morals as a teacher, turning my back to problems that I would NEVER not fix...just because here, they are normal. The fact that I have to scream and yell, most of my day, because that is the only way to get these kids to shut up. I feel like I am working in a zoo!

For the lack of better phrases, I HATE my life here between the hours of 7:00 am to 1:30 pm, Sunday through Thursday. Any time out of that range, I LOVE it here! I can't think of a better place to be.

Moral of this story, all of the problems that I used to gripe about back home and how lazy I thought American kids were, I would trade all of that in a heartbeat! I would take ANY problem or child from the last 4 years of my teaching, instead of what I am faced with now. I am sorry for all of the bad things I said about teaching in America, all of my complaints toward administration, and all of the students I griped about. (And to my fellow teacher friends, count your blessings, because it COULD be worse!)

So, through all of this, I have decided...

I AM a good teacher! I do the job well and love kids, but teaching is not the pathway I am meant to be on. I don't know what my pathway is supposed to be, but I am really working toward the nursing/hospital administration field. It is going to be a struggle, and I don't know how I am going to get there, but where there is a WILL, there is a WAY.