We've arrived!

I've been living in Abu Dhabi for approximately 21 hours now, and I'm completely shocked...it feels like I've barely left home!

Last night we stepped off the plane and the first restaurant we saw was Starbucks.  On the drive to our apartment I saw KFC, Chili's, Dunkin' Donuts, and Pizza Hut, and on our block there are McDonald's, Starbucks, and Baskin Robbins.  All dangerous places to live near.  After Sarah J and I settled into our apartment we met up with the other teachers at a British tavern at the Sheraton, where we drank Coronas and ate pizza.  

We went to the Marina Mall today and I was pretty sure I was in the Natick Collection (definitely a few steps up from Sangertown Square).  The Gap was on one side of us, Aldo was on the other, and we stopped at Starbucks which was in between the two, though when I went to the pick-up spot I was asked to present my receipt (as if someone might walk by and attempt to steal one's coffee).  On the other hand, when we had a shopping cart full of our bags from Ikea and we went to Carrefour, we were asked to leave our cart outside the store where a store employee was somewhat nearby to keep an eye out.  Next to our cart was a TV that someone had left to be "watched" as well.  Carrefour is basically a Wal-Mart superstore, except I didn't have to feel guilty for shopping there since I am unsure of their employment practices.  As promised, they truly had most of the typical brands of toiletries I use in the U.S.

I've heard at least seven or eight languages spoken so far, and I'm trying to pick up the Arabic numbers based on license plates and durhams (the currency, which is of course 10 times more interesting than American dollars).  I wish I spoke Arabic, because I hate being presumptuous and assuming that everyone speaks English, but so far everyone I've encountered does speak English.  I suppose it's a bit different from when I was living in Spain specifically to learn the language, to the extent that I didn't want to encounter English-speakers.

Tomorrow we'll see the school for the first time and begin preparing our classrooms, but our students don't start until September 15 so we have plenty of time.  Our classrooms and the supplies will all be brand new, as will the students!  I'm very excited to begin from scratch.  I know it'll be tough, but I like creating my own systems.

So far I haven't found a real chat program that works, only the Facebook chat application.  I'll keep working on it; I can't afford a ridiculous cell phone bill!

More soon.  Bring on the  hummus and shisha, I'm ready for a cultural experience!

I'm Shipping Up To Boston

It's 12:13am right now.  At 8am my parents are driving me to Boston, where we'll first stop at my Brookline apartment to load up the belongings I left behind last weekend, then off to the airport.  Hopefully we'll have time for a sit down lunch as our final 3/4 Marcus Hurrah before I fly out (my sister Madison is already back at school--Binghamton University--so she can't come with us).  My two suitcases-to-be-checked are somewhere between 70 and 72 pounds each, so we'll see if British Airways decides to be nice or nasty.  My adorable pink rolling carry-on suitcase is stuffed to the brim, though I refuse to use the zip out extendable portion of any of my suitcases.  My carry-on "purse" is also packed full of novels, puzzle books, magazines, iPods, and other travel necessities, and hopefully my Mac will fit in there in the morning.

I spoke to Sarah J. for awhile tonight and it reminded me of all the last-minute things I'm going to end up leaving unfinished, not to mention the fact that my bedroom at home is a disaster and I'm exhausted.

It's really happening.  At least, I think it is.  Pinch me?  Is this a dream?

My next post will be coming from Abu Dhabi, or perhaps Heathrow Airport if I can find some free wireless during my layover.  Lailah tov.   

WTF, mate?

You may be wondering how I dare title my iJournal (we'll get to my wording later) in such a self-congratulatory manner.  Believe me, never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be living a life less ordinary than any other typical young North American woman with a B.A. in psychology and not much else to her name.  In my mind's eye I've had an interesting and entertaining life, though I dare say that I primarily share that opinion with my family, and to a lesser extent with a few good friends.

This all changed when...

I signed a contract to spend the next two years living, studying, and working in Abu Dhabi.  

Which is where this comes in--WTF, MATE?!  (I hope someone caught my reference to The End of the World.)  This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime.  An unbelievable opportunity.  A once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Etc etc etc.  I'll admit, I have to remind myself of these truths every time I talk to my parents, my sister, or friends I'm leaving behind.  I just spent an entire year adjusting to my job as a teacher at a residential school for students with autism, the slowest year of my life (which still flashed by in an instant).  In 10 days I'll be leaving for nearly 24 hours of traveling to finally arrive in the United Arab Emirates, my new home...not a semester of college, not a study abroad experience, but a new life.  

I'm not sure yet if this iJournal (yes, yes, I'll explain soon) is primarily for me or for my friends and family who perhaps want to keep track of me in the coming years.  To anyone who is reading this though, welcome.  

Maybe this is presumptuous of me, but I'm fairly certain that I'm about to live a life less ordinary....