Taking the Narrow Path

Three long years I've lived and worked in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.  Each day has proven to be a learning experience and won't be forgotten any time soon.  I've met people from almost every nation in the world and experienced cuisine I would've never tried had I stayed safe and never embarked on this adventure. I don't have a single regret for coming on my big adventure. It has helped me be more adventurous, more open minded, and more positive that God is working miracles all over the world.   Living alone almost 8,000 miles away from everyone you know and love can be very daunting at first.  Many days I had to lean hard on God to help me make it through. He has blessed me with good friends who have been there for me on the tough days and the celebratory days. He has shown me that I'm way stronger than I ever thought I could be.

I'm excited and nervous at the same time about coming home.  There is a long "to do" list for here and home and only 52 days and I'll be in the air.....yikes.  I'm going to remember what a very smart lady, Dr. Gail K. Nesbitt, told me once, ."How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time. Don't let daunting tasks overwhelm you.  Just take it one small step at a time."

I have a two bedroom apartment with everything needed to make a home here.  All of this has to be sold, given away, or discarded of before I can receive a clearance form from my landlord.  I haven't even started yet, so between now and the weekend going to get myself together and start pricing items and try to begin the process.  There's a flow chart the size of a page and a half for the exit process to be able to leave this country the correct way.  I won't bore you with the details, but I'm going to ask for prayers for patience.  It's a long process and the way things are here, will have to make more than one visit to most of these to accomplish my tasks.

Only one month and the religious holiday of Ramadan begins.  This will mean that the business hours will change because Muslims fast from sun up to sun down and businesses open after sun goes down. They remain open until 3-4 in the morning when the Muslims say their last prayer before going to sleep.  Remember that long flow chart I discussed.  I will be completing it during this time so therefore, I ask for patience.

The weather is getting hotter and already hovering around 110 during the hottest part of the day.  Will be 120 before long.  Yes, it's a dry heat, but today the humidity made it feel like 114.  No matter where you are....that's hot!!!!  As the temperature rises, so does the naughty behavior at school.  A wise principal once told me that children are like sausages on a griddle when it starts getting hot.  The hotter it gets, the more they wiggle and squirm.  Like everywhere in the world, teachers and students are all ready for school to be over.  Know we love our students, but we are all like kids in the back seat of a car after a long trip....ready for a little apart time.

This morning it hit me that I only have 52 more days to see the sunrise over the sand dunes.  I see camels on the way to work and even had three visit our school during bus dismissal last week.  Not many people where I live can say they've seen this. I've experienced learning a new language and teaching EFL (English as a Foreign Language). Lived in a different culture and actually had conversations with people from all over the world.

What have I learned....People love their families and just want them to be happy and take care of them. People love their God, whatever they call him. People have different skin colors, but their hearts are the same. If a person is from a different religion, I don't have to agree with them, but I do have to respect them as a person.  Here, I have always felt my religious beliefs were respected and I did the same. I have never been asked to convert and I'm still a Southern Baptist.. Lastly, I have learned that no matter where I go, I need to open my eyes and find the good in this world.  Too many times, people get caught up in negativity.  I took these three years as a time to discover new things about the world, about people, and mostly about myself.  God has taught me so much.  I look forward to what he has in store for me during my last days here and when I return home.  I'm keeping my heart open!  Until we meet again :)