Hi everyone - I am totally new to blogging and will be very proud of myself if it works! I am hoping to keep my family and friends updated with our adventures whilst we are away in the UAE for two years, however if you do not fall into the before-mentioned categories and still want to read, please do.
For those of you who are a bit shady on details, I will fill in the details - I imagine however, that you have probably heard it so many times over the last few weeks that you could write this blog for me...anyway here goes:
It started in early July, innocently looking for jobs online, when I came across an Abu Dhabi job postion (interview held four days later). Now, for those of you who know me well, you will know that my geographical sense of the world is a little shaky to say the least. Intrigued however, I diligently looked up Abu Dhabi and found it (like most other people I'm sure are aware) to be in a country called the United Arab Emirates (UAE). I am proud to say that I can locate it instantly on a world map now - it is above Oman and right of Saudi Arabia.
After a discussion with Tony (hubby), I applied for the job and to my suprise had the job four days later. Details were forwarded on in the next week and a half and by the 15th of July a contract was signed.
We will be initially flown into Abu Dhabi for a number of nights to have health checks, police checks and more visa stuff organised, then will be coached to Al Ain, where we will hopefully move into furnished accommodation. If it is unfurnished, we will have a little shopping to do...
Al Ain for those of you have not heard of it, forms a triangle with Dubai and Abu Dhabi and is inland. This means the temperature tends to be hotter, but less humid. It is the fourth largest city and is where people with families tend to get sent as it is a more relaxed lifestyle. A fantastic place for visiting as well, hint, hint...
I will be teaching Kindergarten there. The children are local Emirates and come to school with little or no English...I am pretty excited! They are a mix of boys and girls and are 4-5years old. I will be team teaching with an Arabic-speaking teacher. The education model for years 1-6 segregates boys and girls and involves teaching Maths, English, Science and Integrated Technology to two classes a day.
The last eight weeks has been filled with informing friends and family, lots of paperwork, packing, moving and hoping for the mysterious e-ticket to appear.
I am starting to get a lot of "Oh...you're still here," as I go into teach casually at school. I'm suprised we're still here too! By 'we' I mean my husband and three children aged 2, 4 and 6 years of age, not to mention myself of course!
The latest news is that most of the remaining 500 or so teachers will be hearing in the next fews days whether they will be travelling next week (Sept 1st-4th). I am getting really excited and have nervous, excitable butterflies in my tummy.
I have tried hard not to obsess over leaving dates, however have to admit I have enjoyed looking at my email and reading on facebook the experiences of other teachers, some of whom are already in the UAE and others, like me, who are still waiting, patiently...
It is lovely to still be around friends and mum is coming up to visit on Sunday, which will be great. Not to mention the weather is definately preferable here at the moment. On the flip side, it will be interesting settling into accommodation, having our orientation and starting school within days of each other. Still patience and flexibility are virtues that I possess (stop chuckling friends and family) - I have to entertain you somehow...
I will keep you posted as our exciting adventure unfolds.
