Just living

We've been in Abu Dhabi for almost 3 months and we have several experiences under our belt. We are experts at Shop and Ship. Shop and Ship is a way for us to order whatever we want and it's delivered right to our door. Shop and Ship gives you addresses all over the world. We saw these anti theft backpacks online and Mike just had to get us 2. If you are planning to come to Abu Dhabi, I would highly suggest getting a Shop and Ship account. They have promo codes for free memberships all the time. You can go the Shop & Ship site by clicking here.

They are supposed to be awesome for travel which is what we plan to do in the very near future. We saw that they are sometimes made in Dubai so we decided to use our Dubai Shop and Ship address when we ordered these. We thought they would come right to our door like the other packages have but nope, we were wrong. Our backpacks were sent to Dubai. So, a trip to Dubai is what we embarked on. We've been to Dubai a few times but the sights are still something to see! The very tall building is the Burj Khalifa. I did a whole post on visiting Dubai. Feel free to click here to go to that post.

We had to go to the Central Dubai Emirates Post. I know you're thinking why are you telling us about going to the Post Office. I'm telling you because it's not like going to the Post Office in America.

1. We walked in and there was a Ladies only line at the reception desk. I walked up and told them why we were there. He told me to go to Counter 17 which is the Information Desk.
2. We get in line at the Information Desk and tell him why we are there. He types the tracking number into his computer, prints something out and sends us back, with that paper, to the Reception Desk.
3. The Security Guard at the Reception desk hits a few buttons on the kiosk screen and gives us a ticket and tells us to sit and wait.
4. I sit in the Ladies ONLY section and Mike sits in the section next to me.
5. Our number is called and we go to the corresponding counter. We give him the paper, my Emirates ID, and Mike shows his Entry Permit. He writes down Mike's mobile number and we have to pay 5 dirhams. He gives us a receipt with a number at the top and he says to sit back down and wait for our number to be called.
6. I go back to the Ladies ONLY section and wait.
7. They call our number, give us our package and we are on our way.

All of that just to pick up 1 package. Dorothy, we aren't in Kansas anymore. As a treat to ourselves we stopped at the Last Exit which is literally the last exit before you go to Abu Dhabi. The Last Exit has several food trucks that have drive throughs. The food is said to be amazing and it is very interesting to see. We went to the Burger Pit and the food was actually good. I told Mike I'd like to experience all of the options. 😁

We went to a Lip Sync War which was fun. Mike was trying to get me on stage but my shy side (Yes, that does exist) wouldn't let me. It was so interesting to see how music transcends across all ethnicities and countries. We saw a Sudanese girl rap Snoop Dogg, we saw an Emirati and Sudanese man lip sync R. Kelly and Usher, we even saw a black guy lip sync Will Smith's "Get Jiggy With It" and when he announced his song choice the crowd went WILD. "Get Jiggy With It" came out in 1999. Let that sink in! 😳😏

We've celebrated birthdays of our new framily. I got dressed and Mike decided he wanted to wear the shirt that I made him that looks like mine. He always tries to compliment me in that way. I need to recognize that more. So, Mike if you're reading this, THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU. Anywho,
We went to the Challenge Chambers, which is like the Escape Room. It was very fun.

 






















Mike has been an AMAZING husband. I come home to a super clean house, clean clothes, frozen drinks, and some days Mimosas in bed! He is supportive when I talk about school and when I have to bring work home which is very seldom. On top of all of that he allows me to be the big kid that I am. He talks about me but he still allows me to be me. I couldn't ask for anything else.

 














School is still going ok. The sunrises I see on my way to school are gorgeous and makes me feel hopeful about my day!

 

I was given a new schedule last week but I was told this week that I'd be getting a new one very soon.

They actually closed one of my classes and split my smallest class up between the other classes. This happened in the middle of the day. FLEXIBILITY! I'm still having to be creative with my classroom management techniques and classroom set up because in this culture it isn't seen as rude to talk when someone's talking. This happens all the time. I've been in meetings where someone is talking and there are several other conversations happening AND someone might even be on the phone carrying on a full blown conversation. So, them talking while I'm trying to give instructions is not seen as rude or as a problem.

Last week, DURING CLASS, another teacher came in my room and made an announcement in Arabic. I had no idea what he was saying but what I noticed was while he was speaking Arabic, the boys' first language, many of them began shouting out questions and having conversations about what he was saying or about whatever. At that moment I didn't feel so bad. After he left they told me that he told them they were going on a field trip. This was my face 😲😳😮😯😃. My first question to them was, "Do I have to go?" Some said no, some said they weren't sure. Come to find out, I don't have to go. So, while they are on the field trip I'll be at school planning some awesome lessons! 😂😏

We have booked our plane tickets home for the Winter Break which is giving me something to look forward to. We are also going to begin planning what we're going to do during the National Day Break. We are supposed to have a Thursday and Monday off. It has been said that once National Day comes the students will stop coming to school so I need to teach everything on my pacing chart for this first trimester before December 2nd. No problem! I can be FLEXIBLE...OBVIOUSLY!