Another post to make up for the lack of them for the last few weeks! So much has happened that it's been difficult finding the time to make videos and post updates. Alas, Spring Break is upon us and I finally have the hours and minutes on my side. So I shall indulge you all with less words and more videos. Hopefully, the pictures and clips speak for themselves the experience I have had here in Abu Dhabi. There has been some bumps along the journey but it's been mostly great if not awesome! Being placed at a school where you feel comfortable, welcomed, and supported does make all the difference in the world. The kids have been manageable and I must admit I'm beginning to adore them, more on some days than others, but I do enjoy working with them overall thus far! I pray that things continue to go smoothly into & throughout the next and final trimester.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Major Update and Tips Galore
I remember the time when I went cliff jumping in Jamaica. I was so scared that I kept tiptoeing to the edge of the cliff, looked down, and then backed up to the wall about 15 to 20 times. I couldn't get over my fear. But as my friends were getting packed up to return to the hotel, threatening to leave without me, I finally convinced myself that it was now or never and my motto "live life with no regrets" came to mind...so I jumped. It was one of the most exhilarating experiences I've ever had in my life.
The entire Abu Dhabi experience has been like that for me thus far. Every time I feel afraid, doubtful, or anxious...every time I face a challenge or obstacle...I tell myself that "this, too, shall pass" and "I will survive and live to tell the tale". Despite all the ups and downs I've gone through since leaving Chicago, I wouldn't trade it for the world. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Before I came here, I read and followed many, many blogs, soaking up as much knowledge as I could, and I've often wondered why people wrote frequently at the beginning, then went on a month-long hiatus, came back, and finally dwindled to little or no updates. I, of course, understood that it was the novelty of everything when the journey first started and gradually & sometimes suddenly the writers got busy, especially when work and life caught up with them, but still I was determined to break the vicious cycle. Well, it does pain me to admit that I became one of those bloggers - I did go on a month-long hiatus because I did get swamped with work-related matters the moment that I received my school placement and was told to report to work. After several weeks of running around like a headless chicken, the dust is finally beginning to settle. Hopefully, I'll be better at updating in the weeks, months, and years ahead here in the UAE!
Tips at Random:
- Clothing: You may have read that it is highly advised to dress conservatively in a Muslim nation. In reality, though, expats/tourists dress in a wide variety of ways, from short-shorts to long skirts, and nobody seem to mind (or at least have not said anything). Now I wouldn't recommend dressing too liberally at government-related, religious, or official, business-type establishments (unless you don't mind drawing some attention), but most people have been fine wearing what they usually wear in their home country at malls, restaurants, and other casual public places. I, personally, enjoy wearing long dresses and shirts and lean more on the conservative side but you must decide for yourself what you're most comfortable with once you get here; whatever you choose you're more than likely going to be fine. However, I do want to leave you with "DON'T OVER PACK YOUR SUITCASES". You can find basically everything here at Lulu's, Carrefour, and malls, malls, malls.
- If you're from the US, your NBAD branch is NBAD Direct. It's no big deal. You just fill out an extra form regarding taxes. Everyone else is another branch because their country's tax laws aren't as complicated.
- Copies of documents: I would bring maybe 5-10 colored copies of the passport and only 2-3 colored copies of the work (entry) visa that the travel agency (Nirvana) sends to you with your travel itinerary. Why only 2-3 for the work (entry) visa? Because it's the STAMPED work (entry) visa that vendors, companies, and agencies accept here. The only way to get the stamp is to arrive at the Abu Dhabi Airport and get it from the immigration officer right before you collect your luggage. This means you will have to politely ask the front desk to make copies of the stamped work (entry) visa when you check in at the hotel. Oh, do have your authenticated docs, originals of docs, a couple copies of those docs, and maybe 5-10 passport-type photos. Honestly, I've only been asked to provide 2 so far but having some extra lying around wouldn't hurt, especially if they give you a peace of mind.
- DO bring 2 passport-type photos in a BLUE background. They're for your school I.D.
- Desert safari: It should only cost you around 120 dirhams per adult (less for kids) if you've gathered a small group of 4-8 people to go and the company picks you all up in Abu Dhabi. The safari should cost less per person if the company picks you up in Dubai (around 80-100 dirhams per adult) because the camps are closer to Dubai. ** Please make sure the company KNOWS you're in Abu Dhabi if that's where you're being picked up. Our first attempt failed because they thought we were in Dubai, which led to confusion, delay, frustration, and cancellation. **
- Places to buy essentials: (1) grocery and everyday products at Lulu's, Carrefour, or Spinney's >> (2) electronics and appliances at eMax [there's one at Dalma Mall] or DG Sharif [there's one at Mushrif Mall] >> (3) furniture at IKEA [Yas Island], Home Centre [one at Marina Mall and another at Dalma Mall], Danube Build Mart [big one at Dalma Mall and small one at Mushrif Mall], Pan Emirates [Madinat Zayed or MZ], and The Living Room [MZ] >> (4) abayas at Blue Diamond near [MZ or Abu Dhabi Mall] >> (5) carpets & rugs at the carpet souk near [Al Mina Port] >> (6) School supplies at The Book Shop near [Al Wahda Mall] or huge bookstores [one at Al Mina Port and one out in Mussafah] >> ** The aforementioned places are only some of the establishments to purchase things at. There are probably many others that offer better quality products and/or lower prices but I didn't have the time or patience to investigate. If you keep your eyes peeled, explore, and do your research, you'll discover some great deals, different places for different things. **
- Cars: Buying is the most economical way to go in the long run but most of us don't have this type of funds when we first arrive. The next is leasing but beware of having debts in this country. Then there's renting - it should run you around 1600 dirhams (more or less) per month for the smallest & least powerful cars but full insurance is included in that amount. Make sure to mention that you're with ADEC. Again, shop around - Hertz, Fast, United, etc. ** Most car rental companies require a credit card to place a security deposit (~1050 dirhams) "hold" on in order to hire one of their vehicles ON TOP OF forking up the amount (1650 dirhams) for the rental, which can be paid with cash, debit card, or another credit card. The security deposit of around 1050 dirhams will NOT be charged or taken out of your credit card at the time of rental but a "hold" of that amount will be on it - this is just in case you damage their car, get a traffic violation while using their car, or run off with their car. Btw, people have said great things about Capital One credit cards that do not charge international or foreign transaction fees. Again, please do your homework before enrolling. :)
- About a week or two after you've gotten your medical check and Emirate ID fingerprinting, email your EMT support or visit the ADEC office in person to inquire about your passport, resident visa, health insurance card, getting school attendance fingerprinting done, getting school ID done, ERP number (which should also be on your health insurance card), and ADEC email since you may or may not get emails about their status of being ready.
- Call the toll-free number (800 number) on your Emirate ID receipt to see if your Emirate ID is ready for pick up. If it is ready, you will pick it up at a post office - the main one in the Madinat Zayed area of the city if you're placed in Abu Dhabi (city).
- Driving License: I'm not sure how it works for other countries but for those of you coming from the US you will need to get your driving license (from home) translated, bring the driving license original, bring your passport original (which should also have your Emirate residency visa inside), bring your Emirate ID (may not be necessary), and then apply for the Emirate driving license. The cost of translation should run you ~100 dirhams (less if you have a hook up aka a translator named Suhail [sp?] that people know from Facebook >> he charges around 60 dirhams) and the cost of the Emirate driving license itself is 200 dirhams.
- If you're placed in Abu Dhabi, do not be surprised if you have to put down 5000 dirhams for a security deposit for housing and another 1000 dirhams for utilities. They are refundable when you close out the accounts but until then you're short up to 6000 dirhams out of your 20,000 dirhams furniture allowance right out of the gate.
- Starting money (US Dollars): Bring $2000-$4000 as a single and $3000-$6000 as a couple/family when you first come over to the UAE. Your furniture allowance and first pay check may or may not arrive after 3-4 or more weeks after arrival in the country. Some people waited longer when they landed at an awkward time in between pay periods.
- Housing: You will be shown and assigned to housing only after you get your furniture allowance. Once you see and get keys to your apartment, you're expected to be out of the hotel within 5 days of receiving those keys.
- School placement: Everyone's experience has been vastly different from one another. Mostly positive and some negative - it didn't matter which region, which cycle, and whether it's at an all-boys or all-girls school. It's the luck of the draw and it comes down to your school's culture, support from administration and colleagues, your attitude, and resources. Ultimately, it's what you make of your situation, good or bad. Just don't make assumptions and psych yourself out just because you get placed at an all-boys school, wrong cycle, and/or wrong subject area (expertise). You may be pleasantly surprised.
I hope you find my mega update helpful. I do apologize, though, if you find this post less picturesque but maybe the video below makes up for the dryness. Enjoy!
The entire Abu Dhabi experience has been like that for me thus far. Every time I feel afraid, doubtful, or anxious...every time I face a challenge or obstacle...I tell myself that "this, too, shall pass" and "I will survive and live to tell the tale". Despite all the ups and downs I've gone through since leaving Chicago, I wouldn't trade it for the world. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Before I came here, I read and followed many, many blogs, soaking up as much knowledge as I could, and I've often wondered why people wrote frequently at the beginning, then went on a month-long hiatus, came back, and finally dwindled to little or no updates. I, of course, understood that it was the novelty of everything when the journey first started and gradually & sometimes suddenly the writers got busy, especially when work and life caught up with them, but still I was determined to break the vicious cycle. Well, it does pain me to admit that I became one of those bloggers - I did go on a month-long hiatus because I did get swamped with work-related matters the moment that I received my school placement and was told to report to work. After several weeks of running around like a headless chicken, the dust is finally beginning to settle. Hopefully, I'll be better at updating in the weeks, months, and years ahead here in the UAE!
Tips at Random:
- Clothing: You may have read that it is highly advised to dress conservatively in a Muslim nation. In reality, though, expats/tourists dress in a wide variety of ways, from short-shorts to long skirts, and nobody seem to mind (or at least have not said anything). Now I wouldn't recommend dressing too liberally at government-related, religious, or official, business-type establishments (unless you don't mind drawing some attention), but most people have been fine wearing what they usually wear in their home country at malls, restaurants, and other casual public places. I, personally, enjoy wearing long dresses and shirts and lean more on the conservative side but you must decide for yourself what you're most comfortable with once you get here; whatever you choose you're more than likely going to be fine. However, I do want to leave you with "DON'T OVER PACK YOUR SUITCASES". You can find basically everything here at Lulu's, Carrefour, and malls, malls, malls.
- If you're from the US, your NBAD branch is NBAD Direct. It's no big deal. You just fill out an extra form regarding taxes. Everyone else is another branch because their country's tax laws aren't as complicated.
- Copies of documents: I would bring maybe 5-10 colored copies of the passport and only 2-3 colored copies of the work (entry) visa that the travel agency (Nirvana) sends to you with your travel itinerary. Why only 2-3 for the work (entry) visa? Because it's the STAMPED work (entry) visa that vendors, companies, and agencies accept here. The only way to get the stamp is to arrive at the Abu Dhabi Airport and get it from the immigration officer right before you collect your luggage. This means you will have to politely ask the front desk to make copies of the stamped work (entry) visa when you check in at the hotel. Oh, do have your authenticated docs, originals of docs, a couple copies of those docs, and maybe 5-10 passport-type photos. Honestly, I've only been asked to provide 2 so far but having some extra lying around wouldn't hurt, especially if they give you a peace of mind.
- DO bring 2 passport-type photos in a BLUE background. They're for your school I.D.
- Desert safari: It should only cost you around 120 dirhams per adult (less for kids) if you've gathered a small group of 4-8 people to go and the company picks you all up in Abu Dhabi. The safari should cost less per person if the company picks you up in Dubai (around 80-100 dirhams per adult) because the camps are closer to Dubai. ** Please make sure the company KNOWS you're in Abu Dhabi if that's where you're being picked up. Our first attempt failed because they thought we were in Dubai, which led to confusion, delay, frustration, and cancellation. **
- Places to buy essentials: (1) grocery and everyday products at Lulu's, Carrefour, or Spinney's >> (2) electronics and appliances at eMax [there's one at Dalma Mall] or DG Sharif [there's one at Mushrif Mall] >> (3) furniture at IKEA [Yas Island], Home Centre [one at Marina Mall and another at Dalma Mall], Danube Build Mart [big one at Dalma Mall and small one at Mushrif Mall], Pan Emirates [Madinat Zayed or MZ], and The Living Room [MZ] >> (4) abayas at Blue Diamond near [MZ or Abu Dhabi Mall] >> (5) carpets & rugs at the carpet souk near [Al Mina Port] >> (6) School supplies at The Book Shop near [Al Wahda Mall] or huge bookstores [one at Al Mina Port and one out in Mussafah] >> ** The aforementioned places are only some of the establishments to purchase things at. There are probably many others that offer better quality products and/or lower prices but I didn't have the time or patience to investigate. If you keep your eyes peeled, explore, and do your research, you'll discover some great deals, different places for different things. **
- Cars: Buying is the most economical way to go in the long run but most of us don't have this type of funds when we first arrive. The next is leasing but beware of having debts in this country. Then there's renting - it should run you around 1600 dirhams (more or less) per month for the smallest & least powerful cars but full insurance is included in that amount. Make sure to mention that you're with ADEC. Again, shop around - Hertz, Fast, United, etc. ** Most car rental companies require a credit card to place a security deposit (~1050 dirhams) "hold" on in order to hire one of their vehicles ON TOP OF forking up the amount (1650 dirhams) for the rental, which can be paid with cash, debit card, or another credit card. The security deposit of around 1050 dirhams will NOT be charged or taken out of your credit card at the time of rental but a "hold" of that amount will be on it - this is just in case you damage their car, get a traffic violation while using their car, or run off with their car. Btw, people have said great things about Capital One credit cards that do not charge international or foreign transaction fees. Again, please do your homework before enrolling. :)
- About a week or two after you've gotten your medical check and Emirate ID fingerprinting, email your EMT support or visit the ADEC office in person to inquire about your passport, resident visa, health insurance card, getting school attendance fingerprinting done, getting school ID done, ERP number (which should also be on your health insurance card), and ADEC email since you may or may not get emails about their status of being ready.
- Call the toll-free number (800 number) on your Emirate ID receipt to see if your Emirate ID is ready for pick up. If it is ready, you will pick it up at a post office - the main one in the Madinat Zayed area of the city if you're placed in Abu Dhabi (city).
- Driving License: I'm not sure how it works for other countries but for those of you coming from the US you will need to get your driving license (from home) translated, bring the driving license original, bring your passport original (which should also have your Emirate residency visa inside), bring your Emirate ID (may not be necessary), and then apply for the Emirate driving license. The cost of translation should run you ~100 dirhams (less if you have a hook up aka a translator named Suhail [sp?] that people know from Facebook >> he charges around 60 dirhams) and the cost of the Emirate driving license itself is 200 dirhams.
- If you're placed in Abu Dhabi, do not be surprised if you have to put down 5000 dirhams for a security deposit for housing and another 1000 dirhams for utilities. They are refundable when you close out the accounts but until then you're short up to 6000 dirhams out of your 20,000 dirhams furniture allowance right out of the gate.
- Starting money (US Dollars): Bring $2000-$4000 as a single and $3000-$6000 as a couple/family when you first come over to the UAE. Your furniture allowance and first pay check may or may not arrive after 3-4 or more weeks after arrival in the country. Some people waited longer when they landed at an awkward time in between pay periods.
- Housing: You will be shown and assigned to housing only after you get your furniture allowance. Once you see and get keys to your apartment, you're expected to be out of the hotel within 5 days of receiving those keys.
- School placement: Everyone's experience has been vastly different from one another. Mostly positive and some negative - it didn't matter which region, which cycle, and whether it's at an all-boys or all-girls school. It's the luck of the draw and it comes down to your school's culture, support from administration and colleagues, your attitude, and resources. Ultimately, it's what you make of your situation, good or bad. Just don't make assumptions and psych yourself out just because you get placed at an all-boys school, wrong cycle, and/or wrong subject area (expertise). You may be pleasantly surprised.
I hope you find my mega update helpful. I do apologize, though, if you find this post less picturesque but maybe the video below makes up for the dryness. Enjoy!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Welcome to Abu Dhabi - The Land of Contradictions
Some people call it the Land of Contradictions while others might say the Land of Hurry Up and Wait. Good or bad, Abu Dhabi is definitely a place unlike any other. It's both progressive and traditional, fast-paced and leisurely, rich and humble...the list goes on and on. Some inhabitants rush about, pushing and shoving, as they go through their day while others move in a slow and graceful way as if floating on clouds. I've been here two and a half weeks and I'm constantly, and I mean constantly, discovering habits, interactions, and practices that both peak my interest and boggle my mind. I've even dedicated one of my Facebook albums to such findings called "Only in Abu Dhabi".
I mean seriously, where else in the world would you find a stunning, white Lamborghini in the middle of a mall next to a Bath & Body Works? Only Abu Dhabi can make such a luxury item seem mundane. In another instance...
No biggie. I would like to order a children's play area with a side of roller coaster plus a bunch of arcade games, jumping gyms, and carnival rides inside a mall. (And yes there is a gazillion malls here.) This country is every kid's dream - clothing stores after clothing stores, toy shops after toy shops, sweets stands after sweets stands, play areas after play areas - Abu Dhabi has dedicated itself to catering to its next generation. It's family-oriented to the extreme.
Before I continue to ramble on and on about the various intrigues of this exciting nation, let me take you back in time to where it all began:
Week 1:
After a 6-week delay that almost ended my life from the waiting, anxiety, and boredom, I finally received an email containing my travel itinerary on a Thursday morning around noon. I almost burst into tears from relief and shock. My mind was going all over the place, lacking focus. I somehow managed to confirm my travel details, call my love ones, and announce the good news to my friends and second family (members of a group that I joined that kept me sane) on Facebook without losing my head. The whirlwind was followed by two days of packing, going-away meals, and hugs and goodbyes.
Thirteen hours after I boarded Etihad 150, I arrived in Abu Dhabi, UAE with another ADEC English Medium Teacher (EMT) named Laura whom I have gotten to know over the past couple of weeks and am happy to call a friend. A lovely Nirvana agent, equipped with an iPad and our names on it, met us at the gate and guided us through the entire security process - eye scan, passport and entry visa stamps, and luggage pick-up. At the airport exit, another Nirvana agent drove us to our temporary home, the Ibis-Novotel Abu Dhabi Gate Hotel. It was not the most glamorous of hotels but wonderful nonetheless. The check-in was easy as long as you don't panic over the fact that the front desk WILL, I repeat WILL, take away your passport and original, stamped entry visa and make copies of them for you instead. (Advice: Take these copies with you everywhere you go. You will need them to apply for, buy, and register for various things. Ensure that whichever company or agency needs them make copies of these copies. They keep a set and you keep a set.) The front desk is tasked with the collection of these items to hand over to Nirvana, whom will then pass them on to ADEC and other government agencies to process our residency visas plus other relevant materials. Upon entering my room, I immediately connected my Sony Vaio and iPhone to wifi (thank heavens everything worked), figured out that there was a switch for everything electric, Skyped with family, and posted pics on Facebook once again. I also exchanged about $30 dollars into dirhams at the hotel despite the poor exchange rate and chatted with a few EMTs at the bar of an Italian restaurant onsite. After a shower that took a while for hot water to come on but don't worry it will come on eventually, I slept a restful five or so hours. Darn you jetlag!
Breakfast time was always an excellent opportunity to meet people and figure out things to do for the day together. Upon discovering that the hotel provided a free shuttle to Mushrif Mall, a bunch of us decided to go there to get some essential to-do's done: {1} exchange currency (right now it's 1 USD to 3.66 AED - rate is actually negotiable especially if you're exchanging a relatively large amount of money like $500 or more), {2} buy SIM card for cellphone at either Etisalat or Du, {3} purchase prepaid data and minutes + SMS/text messaging (at Etisalat it is 100 AED for 1G of data a month, 40 AED for the SIM card, and whatever amount you want to pay for minutes [30 cents per min.] + SMS [18 cents per text] - I later found out that Du might be a better company to go with since it lets you roll over your unused data while Etisalat does not AND has wider, more reliable coverage but don't quote me on this; I heard this from other people), and {4} buy some grocery at Lulu's since lunch and dinner are not provided. We met more EMTs in the evening and had a delicious yet pricey meal at the Italian restaurant Gabbiano.
The next day some of us decided to visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It is a place of worship and as thus one should dress conservatively, meaning women should have long sleeves down to their wrists and skirts/pants down to their ankles along with a scarf to cover their head. Don't worry if you forget to do so. The venue offers complimentary abayas with hoodies to wear in a changing area down the escalator. The Grand Mosque was immaculate, majestic, and breathtaking. Every detail was well thought out and no expense was spared - absolutely a place that one should visit in his or her lifetime.
On Wednesday evening, basically everyone was informed that we would get our medical check done the next morning, early next morning, like 6am for some and 8am for others next morning. Naturally, I got the 6am slot with half of the group and off on a shuttle we went. Our experience at the medical center would be best described as an organized chaos - the staff knew what needed to be done and we had an idea what needed to be done but it was the manner in which these tasks would be accomplished that came into question. My word of advice is be patient - don't act so eager and think that getting to the front of the line automatically means you're served first. Keep your cool or risk looking foolish and desperate like a little boy waiting for his first facial hair to show up. It's a "lottery" system so it's anybody's game. Just hang on to your ticket, look up at the tv screen that flashes the "lottery" numbers, and go only when it's your turn. Remember this is the Land of Hurry Up and Wait. Wait is inevitable. You either wait before or after so deal with it like nobody can touch you. Bring a snack, drink some water, listen to music. Be cool. Slowly and surely the medical staff will register your info (passport and stamped visa copies), weigh you, take your blood pressure, give you a general look over/consultation, draw your blood, collect your urine sample, and x-ray your chest. When the medical check is done, Nirvana will transport you to the fingerprinting and ID center, that is if they arranged for this to be completed on the same day as the medical. At this building, you will get digital fingerprinted and picture taken.
The rest of Week 1 consisted of visiting more mega-malls and hypermarkets, exploring the heart of Abu Dhabi City, eating at Lebanese Flower (a local favorite), enjoying some strawberry shisha, checking out the hotel's rooftop pool area, and going to Souk Qaryat Al Beri. The videos below capture more of my experience. That's all for now. Serving up Week 2 summary in my next post.
I mean seriously, where else in the world would you find a stunning, white Lamborghini in the middle of a mall next to a Bath & Body Works? Only Abu Dhabi can make such a luxury item seem mundane. In another instance...
No biggie. I would like to order a children's play area with a side of roller coaster plus a bunch of arcade games, jumping gyms, and carnival rides inside a mall. (And yes there is a gazillion malls here.) This country is every kid's dream - clothing stores after clothing stores, toy shops after toy shops, sweets stands after sweets stands, play areas after play areas - Abu Dhabi has dedicated itself to catering to its next generation. It's family-oriented to the extreme.
Before I continue to ramble on and on about the various intrigues of this exciting nation, let me take you back in time to where it all began:
Week 1:
After a 6-week delay that almost ended my life from the waiting, anxiety, and boredom, I finally received an email containing my travel itinerary on a Thursday morning around noon. I almost burst into tears from relief and shock. My mind was going all over the place, lacking focus. I somehow managed to confirm my travel details, call my love ones, and announce the good news to my friends and second family (members of a group that I joined that kept me sane) on Facebook without losing my head. The whirlwind was followed by two days of packing, going-away meals, and hugs and goodbyes.
Thirteen hours after I boarded Etihad 150, I arrived in Abu Dhabi, UAE with another ADEC English Medium Teacher (EMT) named Laura whom I have gotten to know over the past couple of weeks and am happy to call a friend. A lovely Nirvana agent, equipped with an iPad and our names on it, met us at the gate and guided us through the entire security process - eye scan, passport and entry visa stamps, and luggage pick-up. At the airport exit, another Nirvana agent drove us to our temporary home, the Ibis-Novotel Abu Dhabi Gate Hotel. It was not the most glamorous of hotels but wonderful nonetheless. The check-in was easy as long as you don't panic over the fact that the front desk WILL, I repeat WILL, take away your passport and original, stamped entry visa and make copies of them for you instead. (Advice: Take these copies with you everywhere you go. You will need them to apply for, buy, and register for various things. Ensure that whichever company or agency needs them make copies of these copies. They keep a set and you keep a set.) The front desk is tasked with the collection of these items to hand over to Nirvana, whom will then pass them on to ADEC and other government agencies to process our residency visas plus other relevant materials. Upon entering my room, I immediately connected my Sony Vaio and iPhone to wifi (thank heavens everything worked), figured out that there was a switch for everything electric, Skyped with family, and posted pics on Facebook once again. I also exchanged about $30 dollars into dirhams at the hotel despite the poor exchange rate and chatted with a few EMTs at the bar of an Italian restaurant onsite. After a shower that took a while for hot water to come on but don't worry it will come on eventually, I slept a restful five or so hours. Darn you jetlag!
Breakfast time was always an excellent opportunity to meet people and figure out things to do for the day together. Upon discovering that the hotel provided a free shuttle to Mushrif Mall, a bunch of us decided to go there to get some essential to-do's done: {1} exchange currency (right now it's 1 USD to 3.66 AED - rate is actually negotiable especially if you're exchanging a relatively large amount of money like $500 or more), {2} buy SIM card for cellphone at either Etisalat or Du, {3} purchase prepaid data and minutes + SMS/text messaging (at Etisalat it is 100 AED for 1G of data a month, 40 AED for the SIM card, and whatever amount you want to pay for minutes [30 cents per min.] + SMS [18 cents per text] - I later found out that Du might be a better company to go with since it lets you roll over your unused data while Etisalat does not AND has wider, more reliable coverage but don't quote me on this; I heard this from other people), and {4} buy some grocery at Lulu's since lunch and dinner are not provided. We met more EMTs in the evening and had a delicious yet pricey meal at the Italian restaurant Gabbiano.
The next day some of us decided to visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It is a place of worship and as thus one should dress conservatively, meaning women should have long sleeves down to their wrists and skirts/pants down to their ankles along with a scarf to cover their head. Don't worry if you forget to do so. The venue offers complimentary abayas with hoodies to wear in a changing area down the escalator. The Grand Mosque was immaculate, majestic, and breathtaking. Every detail was well thought out and no expense was spared - absolutely a place that one should visit in his or her lifetime.
On Wednesday evening, basically everyone was informed that we would get our medical check done the next morning, early next morning, like 6am for some and 8am for others next morning. Naturally, I got the 6am slot with half of the group and off on a shuttle we went. Our experience at the medical center would be best described as an organized chaos - the staff knew what needed to be done and we had an idea what needed to be done but it was the manner in which these tasks would be accomplished that came into question. My word of advice is be patient - don't act so eager and think that getting to the front of the line automatically means you're served first. Keep your cool or risk looking foolish and desperate like a little boy waiting for his first facial hair to show up. It's a "lottery" system so it's anybody's game. Just hang on to your ticket, look up at the tv screen that flashes the "lottery" numbers, and go only when it's your turn. Remember this is the Land of Hurry Up and Wait. Wait is inevitable. You either wait before or after so deal with it like nobody can touch you. Bring a snack, drink some water, listen to music. Be cool. Slowly and surely the medical staff will register your info (passport and stamped visa copies), weigh you, take your blood pressure, give you a general look over/consultation, draw your blood, collect your urine sample, and x-ray your chest. When the medical check is done, Nirvana will transport you to the fingerprinting and ID center, that is if they arranged for this to be completed on the same day as the medical. At this building, you will get digital fingerprinted and picture taken.
The rest of Week 1 consisted of visiting more mega-malls and hypermarkets, exploring the heart of Abu Dhabi City, eating at Lebanese Flower (a local favorite), enjoying some strawberry shisha, checking out the hotel's rooftop pool area, and going to Souk Qaryat Al Beri. The videos below capture more of my experience. That's all for now. Serving up Week 2 summary in my next post.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Still Here, Haunting Chicago
Christmas. Check. New Year. Check. Mid-January. Check. So why am I still here? I'm praying hard, really hard, hands clasped and eyes closed tightly hard, that I can keep Chinese New Year, Super Bowl XLVIII, and Valentine's Day unchecked.
I understand that the pace of life is different in the UAE than it is here in the US of A but I'm not there yet. Why am I already feeling the effects of their leisurely lifestyle? For future ADEC teachers who are reading this, yes, the waiting is real! I was originally told that the anticipated departure would be 12/26 - 12/28. Less than a week before that, an email informed me that there was an unexpected delay in visa processing so now the time to leave could be sometime in mid-January. Well, it's over a week past mid-January and I am still obsessively checking my inbox for the golden ticket as are about 100 teachers from different parts of the world. It's not the waiting that's killing everyone, it's the not knowing. Most have already rented out their homes, sold their cars, quit their jobs, and taken their children out of school. With daily spending and funds running low, people are beginning to be desperate. At this time a lot of positive self-talk and deep breathes are essential to survival. As much as I would like to refrain from Facebook and checking my email morning til night, my recruiting company tells me that I need to do just that, encouraging such compulsive behavior. Teach Away says that it's important that I check because the e-ticket could come any minute and I need to confirm my passport information promptly for the travel agency to issue it. So the roller coaster of emotions continues, hopeful, disappointed, hopeful, disappointed.
To my family and friends who are reading this, I really don't mean to be Becky the Friendly Ghost, hanging around and not letting go. I'm wondering why I'm still here as much as you are. One thing we do need to get straight, though, this gig is not a hoax - a handful of teachers have already landed in Abu Dhabi, meeting each other and exploring the city. I cannot wait to be one of them, soon, very soon I hope. Until then don't be shocked to see me around!
A random thought (because I simply cannot leave this post on such a depressing note) - I am excited about Chicago's Restaurant (Two) Week! Already made plans with friends to visit ZED451 for dinner. Maybe I'll get a chance to try out GT Fish & Oyster as well! Nom, nom, nom away!
Don't get me wrong. I love all those events but I have to get the next chapter of my life started.
I understand that the pace of life is different in the UAE than it is here in the US of A but I'm not there yet. Why am I already feeling the effects of their leisurely lifestyle? For future ADEC teachers who are reading this, yes, the waiting is real! I was originally told that the anticipated departure would be 12/26 - 12/28. Less than a week before that, an email informed me that there was an unexpected delay in visa processing so now the time to leave could be sometime in mid-January. Well, it's over a week past mid-January and I am still obsessively checking my inbox for the golden ticket as are about 100 teachers from different parts of the world. It's not the waiting that's killing everyone, it's the not knowing. Most have already rented out their homes, sold their cars, quit their jobs, and taken their children out of school. With daily spending and funds running low, people are beginning to be desperate. At this time a lot of positive self-talk and deep breathes are essential to survival. As much as I would like to refrain from Facebook and checking my email morning til night, my recruiting company tells me that I need to do just that, encouraging such compulsive behavior. Teach Away says that it's important that I check because the e-ticket could come any minute and I need to confirm my passport information promptly for the travel agency to issue it. So the roller coaster of emotions continues, hopeful, disappointed, hopeful, disappointed.
To my family and friends who are reading this, I really don't mean to be Becky the Friendly Ghost, hanging around and not letting go. I'm wondering why I'm still here as much as you are. One thing we do need to get straight, though, this gig is not a hoax - a handful of teachers have already landed in Abu Dhabi, meeting each other and exploring the city. I cannot wait to be one of them, soon, very soon I hope. Until then don't be shocked to see me around!
A random thought (because I simply cannot leave this post on such a depressing note) - I am excited about Chicago's Restaurant (Two) Week! Already made plans with friends to visit ZED451 for dinner. Maybe I'll get a chance to try out GT Fish & Oyster as well! Nom, nom, nom away!
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Funemployment and Karma
Though some individuals like to call unemployment "funemployment," not having a job simply sucks no matter what you call it. Just because you don't have money coming in doesn't mean bills stop arriving at your doorsteps, that is unless you admit yourself to a monastery and commit to fasting aka starvation until you get yourself on your feet once more.
Okay, yes, for the first few days, it's "fun", it's liberating. In fact, you may find yourself making snide comments about how your friends are stuck in the 9 to 5 grind, slaving their lives away, while you're in your pjs at noon, snacking on Cheetos and watching Ellen DeGeneres on t.v. You may even go as far as having grand delusions about creating the Next Big Thing, becoming your own boss, and living the fast life of the rich & famous - sticking your middle fingers up to all the haters in the world who thought you wouldn't make it.
At this very moment, I am unemployed, not funemployed, because of my own foolish will and doing (I quit my job of six years in June of 2013) and waiting for my golden ticket to arrive in the form of an email, announcing that I will be off to Abu Dhabi to teach English for two and a half years. Every day that I wait I go through a roller coaster of emotions, from anxiety to excitement, from optimism to depression. Seriously, waiting is the worst. It gives you too much time to think - think about the good, think about the bad, think about miracles, think about the impossible. As I positive self-talk and try to motivate myself to be productive, refraining from checking my emails every other minute and driving myself off the wall, I realize something. I realize how blessed that I actually am. At a low point in my life, I find myself surrounded by supportive family and friends, even friends whom I haven't met yet via a couple of groups that I joined on Facebook. Yes, it does get a bit frustrating and embarrassing when you're constantly being asked "when are you leaving?" but I am alive and well with a roof over my head. My family takes my car off of my hands, relieving me of debts that I cannot afford to pay at the moment; a friend gives me a place to stay so I have somewhere warm to sleep until I leave; my boyfriend drives 3+ hours every weekend to see me and spend time with me, showing commitment toward our relationship; other love ones lend me their ears when I need someone to talk to and offer words of encouragement, laughter, and friendship. I cannot ask for more. Sometimes I don't think I deserve their kindness, but if I do maybe it's because I have been a good person, a good friend, that I have been there for them in their times of need. As one proverb says, "What goes around comes around." Maybe, just maybe, I have built up enough good karma that all these blessings and generosity are showered on me.
Everything happens for a reason, I truly believe that, and God has a path for me to walk through. I will follow Him willingly, patiently, and faithfully on this new journey that He has planned for me. When this next chapter begins, I have no doubt in my mind that it will challenge me and change me for the better. Ladies and gentlemen, friends and no foes, this one will be...
Okay, yes, for the first few days, it's "fun", it's liberating. In fact, you may find yourself making snide comments about how your friends are stuck in the 9 to 5 grind, slaving their lives away, while you're in your pjs at noon, snacking on Cheetos and watching Ellen DeGeneres on t.v. You may even go as far as having grand delusions about creating the Next Big Thing, becoming your own boss, and living the fast life of the rich & famous - sticking your middle fingers up to all the haters in the world who thought you wouldn't make it.
But after a week or two, all these delusions begin to fade away and you come face to face with the harsh reality that you're going to go...
Everything happens for a reason, I truly believe that, and God has a path for me to walk through. I will follow Him willingly, patiently, and faithfully on this new journey that He has planned for me. When this next chapter begins, I have no doubt in my mind that it will challenge me and change me for the better. Ladies and gentlemen, friends and no foes, this one will be...
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Hard to Let Go
I am addicted to technology and spoiled by my car. So naturally I'm having a hard time adjusting to parting ways with my baby, my gorgeous Audi Q5, last week when I visited family in Michigan. Luckily, I sold it to my sister so it's sitting comfortably in my parents' garage. I know that they will take care of it and I'll be able to see it whenever I go home. I swear, though, hanging its keys on the wall holder and leaving them behind was one of the hardest things to do! It's the first time I'm without a vehicle since I got my license. Oh, the sacrifices that one has to make to strive for greater and better things.
I love you, Q5!
Meanwhile, time has been messing with my brain. It's driving me crazy. I like to think that I'm a carefree, spontaneous, and patient person who's ready for anything but in all honesty I'm not. This waiting game, this not knowing when I'll be departing for the UAE is killing me. I feel like a sea otter floating in the ocean, not knowing what danger lurks beneath me or what treasure awaits my discovery. Sometimes I feel there is so much to do but so little time to do it. At other times the urgency to pack and get ready is missing. Time seems to be moving slowly but passing quickly all at once. If the limbo in the Inception was real, I'm in it.
Reading others' blogs, watching YouTube videos, and researching information on forums have proved to be extremely useful. I learned that getting an international driver's license is pointless when you arrive with a visa in the UAE so save your $15 or $20. It's probably best to just utilize the cheap cab fares to get around Abu Dhabi in your first month or so there until you get your resident visa and local driving license. Other things to consider and accomplish in your home country before leaving it include:
1. Purchasing VPN service to couple with your local internet connection in the UAE if you want to watch your home country's television shows and movies via Netflix, Hulu, etc. I've heard that Witopia, Astrill, and StrongVPN are decent providers with relatively reliable connections while PureVPN and others are not.
2. What electronics to bring with you and what adaptors, converters, transformers, or power strips you'll need in order to utilize your items in the right voltages - thus not frying your precious straightener, curling iron, or computer!
3. Downloading Skype in your home country and setting up an account before you leave. From what I understand, Skype is no longer banned but Apple's FaceTime and other VoIPs continue to be restricted.
4. Make a plan for your money. Yes, a plan for your money. How much money in the form of cash or Visa gift card will you bring with you to the UAE? Where do you plan on exchanging your home country's currency into AED (UAE's dirham)? At a currency exchange or a bank? (Either way don't use the ones at the airport.) Do you plan on using your debit card to punch out dirhams at an ATM? If yes, do you know the various fees for such transactions? With TCF Bank (available mainly in the Midwestern states of the US), there is a $5 international ATM fee + the local ATM's fee + "3% on the amount you withdraw" fee. Plus TCF has a $520 withdrawal cap per day. Assuming that I take out the max, $520, in one transaction, the fees will total to about $25. Sad but necessary, unfortunately.
5. Then there is the wiring of your money to ponder. Your employer will likely have you set up a local bank account and pay you in dirham. Let's say you didn't squander all your money on fancy trips and things and actually put away 50% of what you earn each month. By the end of the year, you have a nice hunk of money in dirham in your local piggy bank. But then your little piggy in the US needs some lovin' too so now you need to wire some money into it by having your local bank converting the moolah from dirhams to dollars and then depositing it. This will once again cost you in fees. There will be a fee from your UAE bank, I'm assuming equivalent to $15, AND a fee from your home country's bank, also around $15. My plan is to wire the max once or twice a year to cut down on fees.
As you can see ladies and gentlemen, doing your homework, having a plan, and managing your finances are crucial to fattening your wallet. So make sure you communicate with your bank and ask, ask, ask away!
Finally, if you haven't thought of it already, make sure your mail is going to the right places, bills have been arranged to be paid, and certain accounts and services that you will no longer be using in your home country have been closed out. All logistics and technicalities aside, don't forget to spend some quality time with your love ones and give out plenty of x's and o's!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
"Wasta" & Da Struggle
When people have money, power tends to get into their heads. In many Arab nations, this is called having "wasta" - I'll cry if I want to and get away with anything card. Having wasta is equivalent to having unlimited privilege, influence, and power. Supposedly, the smaller the number or license plate on a car in Abu Dhabi, the more power or wasta that person has, meaning "I am #1 so don't mess with me". (Don't worry, I won't. I'm not that stupid.)
One of my biggest concerns with living in Abu Dhabi is my race and gender and how I will be treated there because of who I am. Questions that I have asked myself include: Am I prepared to deal with being treated like a second-class citizen or a "lesser" of sorts if it happens? Am I ready to bite my tongue and hold back my American tendencies if injustices occur? Am I going to let people with wasta waste me or will I dust things off my shoulders? Can I roll with the punches?
Don't get me wrong, I am determined to keep an open-mind so I can enjoy my experience exploring and learning about a new culture while providing a valuable service to an exciting, young country; the UAE is literally only 42 years old! However, I don't think it is wrong of me to be cautious. After all I am an unmarried, female traveling alone and working in a relatively conservative, male-dominate society, no matter how progressive it is trying to be. Many have said that men are shamelessly flirtatious over there, especially toward unmarried women. As a result I do not want to stand out or attract attention in any way, shape, or form if I can help it. I will blend in (ninja style) as much as possible - dress conservatively and be inconspicuous in order to respect their culture on the one hand and protect myself on the other.
(Btw the #1 plate went for $14.3 million in an auction.)
Don't get me wrong, I am determined to keep an open-mind so I can enjoy my experience exploring and learning about a new culture while providing a valuable service to an exciting, young country; the UAE is literally only 42 years old! However, I don't think it is wrong of me to be cautious. After all I am an unmarried, female traveling alone and working in a relatively conservative, male-dominate society, no matter how progressive it is trying to be. Many have said that men are shamelessly flirtatious over there, especially toward unmarried women. As a result I do not want to stand out or attract attention in any way, shape, or form if I can help it. I will blend in (ninja style) as much as possible - dress conservatively and be inconspicuous in order to respect their culture on the one hand and protect myself on the other.
I was struggling to find loose-fitting, shoulder-to-toe type clothes that still manage to be breathable for Abu Dhabi's sweltering weather. No, I don't plan on buying a department store worth of clothing to bring with me to AD, especially since there's a two, 50 lbs. luggage limit I can check in w/o extra charge, but I do need at least a few outfits that can hold me over when I first arrive so I can assess my environment and then buy some more appropriate dresses, pants, and shirts at one of its fine malls. People say that 100% cotton is best to fend off the killer heat while having enough coverage & looking respectable. After some research and wandering through malls, I bought some button up shirts from GAP to pair with jeans, khakis, or capris. Then I scored some long, black, maxi dresses that go all the way down to my ankles! Could not be happier when I found them because now I can mix and match different tops and scarves (if necessary) to go over them and wear for a variety of occasions. Yes, I know, I'm a genius.
Left: Casual - For "western" establishments like hotels & at the beach
Right: Professional - For work & other more conservative environments
Other ways to cover up!
Button up shirts from GAP
These clothes will have to make do until I look like...
...which isn't so bad! In fact it's quite beautiful.
I swear I'm not neurotic or paranoid, though, I know I can have these tendencies at times. I am simply trying to be a respectful, well-informed expat who's done her research. I will find out just how right or wrong I am and how accurate or inaccurate my assumptions and information are when I get there, and actually that's kind of exciting! The unknown and the mystery of it all both frighten and intrigue me.
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