The past few days have been the hottest since our arrival. 120 degrees with 85% humidity is well....HOT. The humidity is what gets you. Glasses fog up the minute you walk outside and there is an oppressive wave of heat that almost knocks you down. I break into a sweat just waiting on the taxi. Been trying to stay cool the last few days and drinking lots of water. Shon Rand, my friend from Andrew College who is currently here, asked Andrea Brown and I to take a picture for the newspaper (not sure if Cuthbert Times or Albany Herald), but we might be in the paper today! Just proof I'm still alive and well in Abu Dhabi! Please note it was really hot and we walked a really long time to take this beautiful picture...so if bad hair day...you understand!
Nicole Cruz (Ethan's Mom), Andrea Brown, and I ate lunch with Rachel, a friend of Nicole's. She's been a teacher in Abu Dhabi for several years and really helped us understand the inside track. Rachel's been through everything we're experiencing now, so we listened to every word. I so enjoyed meeting her and talking to someone who has taught here. Boys and girls have different schools, so I will have all boys or all girls. Everyone hopes to get the girls, but I'm prepared for all boys. We talked about evaluations. Most principals here speak only Arabic and I will be teaching in English. Very curious to see how they will evaluate what they don't understand. As in America, good classroom management and planning will be a must.
August 27 and 28th we will have meetings and learn the names of our schools and more information about curriculum and the expectations. Waiting eagerly to hear this information. The good news is after the meeting on the 28th, we will probably be moved to a new hotel in Al Ain, which will be closer to apartments. Finally be able to get power, utilities, cable, telephone, and internet set up and have furniture delivered. I have decided to wait and order furniture when we get to Al Ain. Found something I really like at IKEA, which is in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We will be about an hour from Dubai and hour and half from Abu Dhabi. Al Ain has about 300,000 population, so there will be lots there too. I will feel better being closer to where I'll live!
Yesterday, Andrea and I went on a tour of the Emirates Palace. Will post pictures as soon as download from camera.....All I can say is WOW!!!! This palace costs $3 billion dollars and 3 years to build using 20,000 workers. It's HUGE! When driving up to it, you can feel the decadence from the moment your feet touch the marble. All employees are dressed in outfits-black and gold (pictures to come) and are literally at your service. Upon entering the palace, the first thing I saw was as a large ROLEX clock on the wall (picture coming). The floor is made of marble that was imported from 13 countries, including Italy, and is ornately decorated (picture coming). The palace is a very controlled environment in the fact that immediately upon entering, you are asked why you are here and there are rules stated about code of conduct for entering. The most notable is no pictures can be taken of Arabic people and dress code requirements stated...for those who want to come here you must dress respectably. I wore a full length dress with a wrap to cover my shoulders...don't have to cover my head. The only place required to cover head for now...is a mosque(church).
Upon checking in at the tour desk, we were offered Arabic tea (rosewater and cumin) and Arabic sweets while we waited. All ladies are given roses before beginning the tour! The number of people allowed on this paid tour were small so we could ask questions. There were about 8 people in our tour and all different nationalities. Tour was given in English! Our guide was BEAUTIFUL! Ladies here really take care of themselves and have beautiful skin.(The employees come from 60 different nationalities and no locals are allowed to work here.) There are 114 domes (rotundas) in the palace with 1002 chandeliers with the largest weighing 2.5 tons. GOLD, GOLD, GOLD everywhere along with lots of crystal. I've never seen such elegance before. Caught my mouth wide open several times and had to push my jaw back up! Took lots of pictures!
There were parts of the palace where pictures were not allow due to Arabic people being present and for security reasons. The first stop of our trip was a beautiful auditorium which holds 1,100 people and concerts are held here year round. It is presently under construction, but guide told us that Justin Timberlake would be singing here later this year. My favorite thing on the entire trip was the Gold ATM. There are two in Abu Dhabi and one is here. Instead of making a withdrawal in cash, the withdrawl is in gold! (no, I didn't not make any withdrawals!) Next to the ATM is a cafe which serves pastry with edible gold. A slice of cake with edible gold costs 480 dirhams, which is a little over $130. Edible gold can be sprinkled on your coffee or tea too. Sorry, no pictures of that...I'm just the hired help! There were two beautiful tapestries weighing 1 ton each which show the palace during the day and night. These beautiful rugs were woven in Thailand and are huge. The day rug is on one wall and the night rug is on the other wall. Think of how long it took to be woven!
My favorite part of the trip was when we went in the elevator to go an see the Presidential Suite. Tour guide told us about all the different floors. When entering the palace, you on the 4th floor. The first and mezzanine floor are reserved for dignitaries visiting the country and the mezzanine floor is where the conference rooms and meeting areas are located. No one is permitted in these areas. Floors 6 and 7 are suites. Floor 8 is reserved only for royalty. Our guide said she's been here for 5 years and has never even seen it! Security would sweep you up if even stepped foot on this floor. We went to the 7th floor to view the Presidential suites. Anyone who can afford the price can stay here...ready....55,000 dirhams a night! $13,600 dollars a night! 3 massive bedrooms, dining room with crystal. One goblet costs 750 dirhams ($200) and plate costs 1500 dirhams (over $400) (pictures coming). Fresh flowers everywhere, a jacuzzi tub, limosine picks you up and takes you to airport, Arabic tea, huge fruit tray, Arabic pastry tray, and other goodies are included! Can't afford this??? You can have a one bedroom suite for only $25,000 ($6,800) a night....that's more than I made in a month! It was the most beautiful room I've EVER seen. Won't be spending any nights here!
As the tour ended, I couldn't help but notice how many people work in the palace. I have noticed this everywhere we go in Abu Dhabi. They want to make you feel special and have a positive experience. I have been most impressed with the way I've been treated here! Going to be so hard to wake up and experience the real world of work. School starts Sept. 2nd and kids come on the 9th. So ready to meet my babies!
Nicole Cruz (Ethan's Mom), Andrea Brown, and I ate lunch with Rachel, a friend of Nicole's. She's been a teacher in Abu Dhabi for several years and really helped us understand the inside track. Rachel's been through everything we're experiencing now, so we listened to every word. I so enjoyed meeting her and talking to someone who has taught here. Boys and girls have different schools, so I will have all boys or all girls. Everyone hopes to get the girls, but I'm prepared for all boys. We talked about evaluations. Most principals here speak only Arabic and I will be teaching in English. Very curious to see how they will evaluate what they don't understand. As in America, good classroom management and planning will be a must.
August 27 and 28th we will have meetings and learn the names of our schools and more information about curriculum and the expectations. Waiting eagerly to hear this information. The good news is after the meeting on the 28th, we will probably be moved to a new hotel in Al Ain, which will be closer to apartments. Finally be able to get power, utilities, cable, telephone, and internet set up and have furniture delivered. I have decided to wait and order furniture when we get to Al Ain. Found something I really like at IKEA, which is in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We will be about an hour from Dubai and hour and half from Abu Dhabi. Al Ain has about 300,000 population, so there will be lots there too. I will feel better being closer to where I'll live!
Yesterday, Andrea and I went on a tour of the Emirates Palace. Will post pictures as soon as download from camera.....All I can say is WOW!!!! This palace costs $3 billion dollars and 3 years to build using 20,000 workers. It's HUGE! When driving up to it, you can feel the decadence from the moment your feet touch the marble. All employees are dressed in outfits-black and gold (pictures to come) and are literally at your service. Upon entering the palace, the first thing I saw was as a large ROLEX clock on the wall (picture coming). The floor is made of marble that was imported from 13 countries, including Italy, and is ornately decorated (picture coming). The palace is a very controlled environment in the fact that immediately upon entering, you are asked why you are here and there are rules stated about code of conduct for entering. The most notable is no pictures can be taken of Arabic people and dress code requirements stated...for those who want to come here you must dress respectably. I wore a full length dress with a wrap to cover my shoulders...don't have to cover my head. The only place required to cover head for now...is a mosque(church).
Upon checking in at the tour desk, we were offered Arabic tea (rosewater and cumin) and Arabic sweets while we waited. All ladies are given roses before beginning the tour! The number of people allowed on this paid tour were small so we could ask questions. There were about 8 people in our tour and all different nationalities. Tour was given in English! Our guide was BEAUTIFUL! Ladies here really take care of themselves and have beautiful skin.(The employees come from 60 different nationalities and no locals are allowed to work here.) There are 114 domes (rotundas) in the palace with 1002 chandeliers with the largest weighing 2.5 tons. GOLD, GOLD, GOLD everywhere along with lots of crystal. I've never seen such elegance before. Caught my mouth wide open several times and had to push my jaw back up! Took lots of pictures!
There were parts of the palace where pictures were not allow due to Arabic people being present and for security reasons. The first stop of our trip was a beautiful auditorium which holds 1,100 people and concerts are held here year round. It is presently under construction, but guide told us that Justin Timberlake would be singing here later this year. My favorite thing on the entire trip was the Gold ATM. There are two in Abu Dhabi and one is here. Instead of making a withdrawal in cash, the withdrawl is in gold! (no, I didn't not make any withdrawals!) Next to the ATM is a cafe which serves pastry with edible gold. A slice of cake with edible gold costs 480 dirhams, which is a little over $130. Edible gold can be sprinkled on your coffee or tea too. Sorry, no pictures of that...I'm just the hired help! There were two beautiful tapestries weighing 1 ton each which show the palace during the day and night. These beautiful rugs were woven in Thailand and are huge. The day rug is on one wall and the night rug is on the other wall. Think of how long it took to be woven!
My favorite part of the trip was when we went in the elevator to go an see the Presidential Suite. Tour guide told us about all the different floors. When entering the palace, you on the 4th floor. The first and mezzanine floor are reserved for dignitaries visiting the country and the mezzanine floor is where the conference rooms and meeting areas are located. No one is permitted in these areas. Floors 6 and 7 are suites. Floor 8 is reserved only for royalty. Our guide said she's been here for 5 years and has never even seen it! Security would sweep you up if even stepped foot on this floor. We went to the 7th floor to view the Presidential suites. Anyone who can afford the price can stay here...ready....55,000 dirhams a night! $13,600 dollars a night! 3 massive bedrooms, dining room with crystal. One goblet costs 750 dirhams ($200) and plate costs 1500 dirhams (over $400) (pictures coming). Fresh flowers everywhere, a jacuzzi tub, limosine picks you up and takes you to airport, Arabic tea, huge fruit tray, Arabic pastry tray, and other goodies are included! Can't afford this??? You can have a one bedroom suite for only $25,000 ($6,800) a night....that's more than I made in a month! It was the most beautiful room I've EVER seen. Won't be spending any nights here!
As the tour ended, I couldn't help but notice how many people work in the palace. I have noticed this everywhere we go in Abu Dhabi. They want to make you feel special and have a positive experience. I have been most impressed with the way I've been treated here! Going to be so hard to wake up and experience the real world of work. School starts Sept. 2nd and kids come on the 9th. So ready to meet my babies!
WOW! Sounds amazing...and HOT!
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