Photo captions1. Self-portrait on the beach 22 August
2. The Etihad towers, going up just as quick as they can build 'em
3. Marina Mall's viewing tower, 100 meters high and reminding me of Seattle
4. Clean, tranquil, salty, and hot (not necessarily in that order): Abu Dhabi public beach
5. Taken from a moving cab, it reads, "Butt Sweet House" ...erm, what?
6. La La! No, I didn't try them.
7 & 8. The etisalat building (phone & internet). I live in the golf ball on top.
9. If you like to shop for clothes and be insulted at the same time, then "Fat Face" is for you!
10 & 11. Lovely ceiling and fountain in mall whose name escapes me...
12. The Grand Mosque. I live here.
13 & 14. Back- and frontside (respectively) of apartment building where I really do live.
20 August ‘09
The flight here was fairly uneventful, just how I like it. In the Amsterdam airport my new coworker, Jessica (1st grade teacher) found me. We originally met at the job fair in Bethesda and proceeded to spend the 4 hour layover together.
Once in Abu Dhabi, some concern was raised over the fact that I do not have my work visa yet (due to the late hire), but many other teachers are in the same situation and security let us through by issuing visitor’s visas. This will require a trip across the border to Oman, later, for a different passport stamp. I’m keen on getting all the stamps I can, so that’s cool with me! Seventeen new teachers arrived together that night and we began to share our stories as we walked to the AISA (American International School in Abu Dhabi) buses. The new staff seems to be comprised mostly of Americans, Canadians, English, Irish, Australians, and New Zealanders. Some people have extensive overseas teaching experience and some are first-timers, like me.
As I walked outside, I was struck by the thickness of the atmosphere. Even though it was past 7pm and dark, I had the sensation of walking through soup. Not gazpacho, either. A warm, thick soup. It feels very much like a sauna here and that night it was also a bit foggy. I also noticed immediately the coating of dust on most of the cars parked at the airport. My assumption that those cars must have been parked for a while to build up such a thorough coating was dispelled just as soon as we reached the city proper. Three quarters of the cars look as though they overdid it in the powder room. On the subject of cars, the unexpected growth of the city (planned for about 600,000 and now at about 900,00) is evident in the intense parking situation. Drivers here simply park down the center of streets and jockeying for a pathway and squeezing through incredibly narrow passages is the norm. The chaos of the roads reminds me of Italy. I don’t think I’ll be driving here!
My new apartment is quite spacious with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms (3 bidets is 3 bidets too many!), a commodious living/ dining room, and very high ceilings. It’s in ok shape but has a funky smell –think Florida cabinet smell- and then there are all those bidets! But since my roommate doesn’t arrive for another week, I went ahead and helped myself to the room with the attached bath and small balcony. The apartment is growing on me, especially now that my cats are here. Feels ~sorta~ like home. I live across the street from a mosque and the daily calls to prayer are both a thing of beauty and a bit of a shock to the system. Some of the singers have entrancing voices. The sound of it is like a gift being broadcast out to all within earshot. I am not usually awakened by the 4:20am call to prayer, as I am known for my rock-like sleeping habits. However, when I was napping yesterday (still working out the jet-lag), I incorporated the high-decible singing into the dream I was having, to a startling end.
The prolonged lack of communication with friends and family from home is wearing on me. I put in my request for wi-fi 2 days ago, was promised 5 to 7 days connection time. But the advent of Ramadan is purported to delay things. The school has internet available most days, but we have so much to learn about working there that the window of time from when we get dropped off to when we depart is mostly booked.
As I walked outside, I was struck by the thickness of the atmosphere. Even though it was past 7pm and dark, I had the sensation of walking through soup. Not gazpacho, either. A warm, thick soup. It feels very much like a sauna here and that night it was also a bit foggy. I also noticed immediately the coating of dust on most of the cars parked at the airport. My assumption that those cars must have been parked for a while to build up such a thorough coating was dispelled just as soon as we reached the city proper. Three quarters of the cars look as though they overdid it in the powder room. On the subject of cars, the unexpected growth of the city (planned for about 600,000 and now at about 900,00) is evident in the intense parking situation. Drivers here simply park down the center of streets and jockeying for a pathway and squeezing through incredibly narrow passages is the norm. The chaos of the roads reminds me of Italy. I don’t think I’ll be driving here!
My new apartment is quite spacious with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms (3 bidets is 3 bidets too many!), a commodious living/ dining room, and very high ceilings. It’s in ok shape but has a funky smell –think Florida cabinet smell- and then there are all those bidets! But since my roommate doesn’t arrive for another week, I went ahead and helped myself to the room with the attached bath and small balcony. The apartment is growing on me, especially now that my cats are here. Feels ~sorta~ like home. I live across the street from a mosque and the daily calls to prayer are both a thing of beauty and a bit of a shock to the system. Some of the singers have entrancing voices. The sound of it is like a gift being broadcast out to all within earshot. I am not usually awakened by the 4:20am call to prayer, as I am known for my rock-like sleeping habits. However, when I was napping yesterday (still working out the jet-lag), I incorporated the high-decible singing into the dream I was having, to a startling end.
The prolonged lack of communication with friends and family from home is wearing on me. I put in my request for wi-fi 2 days ago, was promised 5 to 7 days connection time. But the advent of Ramadan is purported to delay things. The school has internet available most days, but we have so much to learn about working there that the window of time from when we get dropped off to when we depart is mostly booked.
22 August ‘09
I finally made it to the beach today! 2 other teachers and I ignored the warnings about it possibly being closed for the first day of Ramadan and the threat of it being overrun with ogling workers. In fact, the beach was quiet, clean and wonderful! The gulf waters were no more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the air, quite salty, and captivatingly calm –only slightly more frenetic than a large lake. They are a very clear blue-green color and the saltiness makes it easy to float. As far as I could tell, there was not a great deal of marine life. I saw dead jellyfish and (live) small, minnow-like fish, but there is a distinct lack of smell to the waters’ edge that makes me think that the high temp of the water, the seclusion of the gulf, or the various sea-bottom reclamation projects restrict the growth of life (at the beach I visited, anyway).
23 August ‘09
I’m writing this at 4am local time, testament to the difficulty I’m having with the time change. New Mexico is 10 hours behind. Out of the 17 new teachers, I came from the farthest western point. I don’t go around feeling exhausted, but when I have a bit of downtime, I tend to drop off for the better part of the afternoon/ evening. At least I won’t be awakened by the early morning call to prayer today! Another time-keeping difference to which I need to adjust is that the work week runs from Sunday to Thursday. I spent all day today thinking it was Monday simply because we returned to work.
The washing machine is also the drying machine. A space-saving convenience, I’m sure, if only I could figure out how to use it…
Ramadan started yesterday. Although it is a time of fasting for many here, it is also a joyful time; you can sense it in the air. Non-Muslims are also expected to refrain from eating, drinking, chewing gum, and smoking in public from sunup to sundown. The staff lounge is a safe zone, but I imagine the first week of school will be difficult without my trusty water bottle on hand. School hours are shortened by an hour in the morning and the afternoon, which is a nice way to start the year regardless, I think. The city really comes alive at night during Ramadan, as many eateries offer special fast-breaking buffets after dark and businesses stay open extra late. The internet and phone company, etisalat, stays open until 3am! I will be attending one of these feasts the day after tomorrow.
The washing machine is also the drying machine. A space-saving convenience, I’m sure, if only I could figure out how to use it…
Ramadan started yesterday. Although it is a time of fasting for many here, it is also a joyful time; you can sense it in the air. Non-Muslims are also expected to refrain from eating, drinking, chewing gum, and smoking in public from sunup to sundown. The staff lounge is a safe zone, but I imagine the first week of school will be difficult without my trusty water bottle on hand. School hours are shortened by an hour in the morning and the afternoon, which is a nice way to start the year regardless, I think. The city really comes alive at night during Ramadan, as many eateries offer special fast-breaking buffets after dark and businesses stay open extra late. The internet and phone company, etisalat, stays open until 3am! I will be attending one of these feasts the day after tomorrow.
25 August ’09
My kitties seem to be fine with being indoors only. They definitely will not be going outside unless on leashes or something (hahaha…funny mental picture!) because this is a real, live city here, folks. With real, live, sad, homeless cats all over. I’ve been feeding the homeless ones after I saw them dumpster diving across the way. I have ideas about catching-cleaning up
-neutering-and releasing these poor creatures, but we’ll see if the dream comes to fruition. I may put birdseed out on the sill, too, to provide entertainment for my little inmates –for WATCHING purposes only, of course.
-neutering-and releasing these poor creatures, but we’ll see if the dream comes to fruition. I may put birdseed out on the sill, too, to provide entertainment for my little inmates –for WATCHING purposes only, of course.
So glad to here the kids are adjusting to life in the big city. Also glad to here you got the rockin' bedroom in your flat. Miss you! G
ReplyDeletegood to have first choice! what a cool way to keep up with your comings and goings! yay! veronica! miss you!
ReplyDeletewhat a fantastic ride!!! i'm so happy to live vicariously through you! miss you lots... so sorry we didn't get to hang out before you left...
ReplyDelete