La Isla Bonita

Appropriately titled for Jeffrey Stephen Clarke

(whom absolutely idolized Madonna)

~In Loving Memory~

 

 

Islands & Friendships

 

Ever since I got back from my life-changing trip to the Philippines, it was immediately back to the grind at work with a side case of the sniffles and an upset stomach :-(  A weekend of rest began to follow up nicely until I heard the devastating news about a friend passing away. I met Jeff through my best friend, Kendi. Jeff and Kendi worked together and became the closest of friends when she left me for California at the beginning of 2012. That was a tough year, but I knew she had found Jeff, and he was her rock. So much so, that when she moved back to Texas a year later, she packed Jeff up into her lil suitcase and brought him too! He actually used to live in Austin many years ago and had attended UT (hook 'em \m/ ), but was ready to come back (because Austin is the best, of course). The funny story about when I first met him involves dogs and him being naked...get your mind out of the gutter people! I was headed out of town with my family, and Kendi agreed to watch our dog while we were away. She had to go to work, but told me Jeff should be at her apartment to let me in, but to go ahead and get the key from the office, just in case he wasn't. When I got there, boy, did I surprise the heck out of him?! He was asleep on her couch, and I knocked and knocked with no answer. Finally, I used the key to let myself in. So, he wasn't naked after all (sorry to disappoint), but he was in his itty bitty underwear and awoke to frantically barking dogs (his, Kendi's and mine!) His reflexes weren't the best, but eventually he found the blanket to cover up with while I introduced myself, laughed hysterically, and showed myself out! That quick 3 minute meeting was phenomenal. I was only lucky enough to hang out with Jeff a handful more times throughout the past year, but that was more than enough times to get to know what a special person he was. My heart aches for his family, friends, and especially Kendi. What she feels, I feel <3

The last photo of us all together...Jeff is in the front <3

Good friends; true friends can often be hard to come by. Those that love you unconditionally and vice versa. Those that will stand by you when you make stupid mistakes (pretty much anything having to do with boys) or make them with you. Those that help you through life's shitty times, usually with a hug or a wine night. Those that will laugh with you until your cheeks hurt as well as at you when you say or do something completely naïve. Those that will follow you half way across the country, or world for that matter. Those that will do anything to make sure you have a smile on your face. Those that will tell you how they really feel about your baby seals (code for flabby arms) or how that dress really looks on you. Those that will make you feel beautiful when your insecurities are showing. Those that know the perfect picture pose that will be the keeper. Those that just know what you need right there in that moment. Those that will take care of you without hesitation or complaint (like holding your hair back when needed). Those that will love your children as their own (most important). Those that will defend you no matter what because they understand your perspective. Those that are selfless when it comes to each other. And those that will talk you down when your inner Kenzilla comes out! I sound like a sappy card right now, but it is all so true. I think all of us can attest to this and can think back on friendships we've had that we thought were deep and true, but turned out poorly, usually over something ridiculous.  

I have two best friends, the closest people I have ever had in my life (maybe one day I will have a third - a significant other to be exact, Insha'Allah). The two that know me inside and out. Ashley is my Amarillo best friend. She's been that friend since we were 12 years old in 6th grade. She makes my heart warm and fuzzy, and even though we haven't lived in the same city in 8.5 years, every time I see her, it's like no time has passed at all. We just pick right up where we left off so naturally. I love her so. When I lost my dad at 16, Ashley was there hugging me. She knows my pain. She is my light when I think of that time of my life. We were inseparable during our middle school and high school years. Many jokes were made about that to our expense, but I couldn't imagine going through those years again without her! I wish I could see her more often...I wish our kids could grow up together, but I kind of started a lot earlier in that department than her! Lol! In fact, she saw me through the births of my babies when we were babies ourselves; she was the only one standing by my side at my wedding; and she was my strength throughout my scary divorce. Ashley has been there for the worst parts of my life, and I truly believe I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for her <3

 

Kendi is obviously my Austin best friend, even though she's from Amarillo too (we didn't know each other then - except through a family connection where, unbeknownst to us, I ended up getting her chow dogs when I was in 3rd grade?!) She's been an integral part of my life as an adult as we officially came into each other's lives at the perfect moment. Life changes were upon both of us! We've bonded for so many reasons and our friendship knows no distance either! We travel the world just to see each other! One of the most admirable traits about Kendi is her heart. She loves soooo much! I like to think we have that in common! There are many times I wish I could be more like her because it's quite funny how opposite we are in some ways. We definitely balance each other out! She's the papa to my razzi. She's the T to my A (haha, our joke, but I'm sure you get it ;-)  Now that I think about it, both Ashley and Kendi are Scorpios. Coincidence? I think not?! Ashley and I are most definitely yin and yang as well! So there you have it! Aries and Scorpios make the best of friends <3

 

Even though I have an extreme amount of room in my heart for close friends (enormous shout out to Cortney, Hanna, Darcy, my sister Shanna, and now, the Tribe), these two ladies take the cake (and eat it too; Mmm...get in our bellies!) and can never ever be replaced. So thank you ALL for being who you are and positively affecting my life!

So why was the Philippines life-changing? Gosh, where to start?!

First of all, that island is muy bonita (which is really an understatement!) I don't have much to compare it to, but what a fabulous beginning for my blog of travels! Besides our move to the UAE, this was my first actual vacation outside of the US of A. Now how am I going to find anything that lives up to Boracay?! Really!

Second, I met the most amazing tribe of people there. Honestly. The best people. Again, these are hard to come by. They embraced me and my children immediately!!! That says a lot! No, it says EVERYTHING! Who wants to spend an island vacation with a single mom and her 3 teenagers (well, Parker's 12, eh, close enough?) Seriously. Most people would be rolling their eyes, griping, or trying their best to do their own thing and stay away. This tribe held their hands. This tribe ate with them. This tribe swam with them. This tribe talked AND listened to them. This tribe looked out for them. This tribe, without hesitation or resentment, helped me look for them when we got separated...twice! This tribe let them play with their hair. This tribe danced with them. This tribe helped others with them. This tribe ate Balut with them. This tribe jumped waves with them. This tribe played games with them. The tribe taught them how friends and adults should be. This tribe accepted them. This tribe loved them...and in return, I love them. So rare. I become speechless when even writing this because I cannot adequately express how awesome Emily, John, and P.J. are. (Clint and Kendi, a.k.a. Clendi, are part of the tribe, but they already knew my kids and treat them as their own.) So this is my public address to proclaim my thanks to the Boracay Tribe!!! It's unreal to think about how quickly people connect when their mindsets are all alike. Thank you for letting us become a part of you, and we honestly can't wait to hug you all again! XOXO

Third, hopefully we impacted some lives while we were there because the local people of Boracay greatly impacted us. When you walk the beach there, you will see many young children appearing to be playing in the sand. However, as you take a closer look, these children are building sand castles with personalized messages in order to make money to eat. They are earning a living at 5, 6, 7, 10 years old. They will write whatever you want in their castles and will charge you to take a picture with it. It just so happens that they are amazing at this skill!

They also run around selling you I <3 Boracay bracelets, and how can you say no?! Their faces; their little hands; their little hearts just exude cuteness and also a sad pity for them emerges. We wanted to take them home with us so badly! The kids have always begged me to adopt another baby ;-P

We befriended 2 boys, Mohammed and Hakeem, and 2 girls, both named Hessa, our first night there. We took them to McDonald's for their first time EVER! They didn't have to ask their parents to go with us, as they were off walking the beach and bars selling other tourist trap gifts. The feeling we all had when we told them to order what they wanted filled us with joy. The smiles on their faces was pure gold. They ate and ate and ate! We all talked to them and got to know them. What precious little people they are! After that night, we were all on a first name basis with them, except me or any other adult woman, as we were all called, "mom." I loved it. I miss that sound now. Every day and night thereafter, they would spot us and come running up, "Mom! Canyon! Parker! Autumn!" We played with them several nights and even took them out to eat again, but this time to an actual restaurant. Unfortunately, the staff tried to kick them out when they first walked in, until they said they were with Clint. That broke my heart. Local kids are shunned from establishments because of their solicitation, that they are innately taught to do. They are opportunists, but I can't help but wonder how many tourists actually take a moment to talk to them instead of just simply saying yes or no to whatever they are selling? How many tourists actually just give them money without taking the picture or the bracelet? How many tourists can tell you their names and ages? How many tourists can tell you which ones go to school and which ones don't? How many tourists take glamorous photos with them? How many tourists have picked them up and given them piggy-back rides and shoulder rides through the streets? How many tourists have let them test their strength by letting them punch their arm as many times as they physically can? How many tourists know what it's like to build the messages in the sand alongside them instead of just watching? We know. We know.

 

Fourth, my kids are forever touched now (which was my hope with my entire journey of getting them away from everything they have ever known - we've been destined for something far greater than ourselves and this is just the tip of the iceberg). The island opened up new horizons for them. They have always been helpers. They have always loved younger children. They have always wanted to do more for those less fortunate than ourselves, and here, they got that chance. I'm a fire-starter! Now, all 3 want to move there. All 3 were hoping for the typhoon to hit so that we could stay and help people afterwards. All 3 saw how a 3rd world country lives and fell in love with it. All 3 felt the impact the locals can make on you. All 3 saw the beauty of island life as well. All 3 came home more appreciative than ever. All 4 of us are still on an island high...

How proud am I?! I cry just thinking about how glorious my babies are turning out to be. They have had many moments where I am in awe of them, but this experience turned a new page for us. They have matured in a new way. They have a wisdom they didn't before. They have a new passion. They long for more. Wow...

"Without Courage Your Life Will Never Change" ~Me

A Kiwi, an Armenian, and Two Americans Walk Into a Festival...

Cultural diversity at its finest! This country brings more people from around the world together than you could ever imagine! I have met and made friends with people, literally, from all around the globe now! South Africans, New Zealanders (Kiwis), British, Armenian, Egyptian, Irish, Arab, Emirati, Pakistani, Thai, Canadians, eh? The list goes on and on...

Language is a beautiful thing to me. Listening to accents, the pace as to which words leave the tongue, and really struggling to understand not only the English language itself, but how people across regions can actually communicate with each other is so captivating! I've been thinking a lot about how the languages have evolved; how various words have various meanings to different people. I am actually jealous of a linguist's job right now! Fascinating stuff is happening here. So many expats are bi- or tri-lingual. I feel as if I am lacking in that regard. I need some Rosetta Stone in my life! I find the workers to be the most intriguing. The cashiers at the stores are probably the ones I admire the most. They are quick thinkers. They are talented accountants (since there are no pennies or other small amounts of change here, you either get back more or less than an exact amount of what the total actually is. The cashiers are so fast with these calculations! It puts me to shame!) They are incredibly friendly. They have learned how to communicate with any nationality that passes through their line. That is impressive for sure!

Side Note: Speaking of cultures, it was recently Flag Day here. What a joyous event! Multiple assemblies were held at school. Flags that covered entire sides of houses were draped. At some schools, kids were decorated from head to toe in green, black, red and white. The cultural pride here is unmatched! My girls are very insistent that I am a part of everything, so of course, I was given lots of garb to wear! Not to mention, our Vice Principal, gave me my first gift of beautiful material so I can have an Abaya made! I'm super excited about that :-)
FYI: Sheikh is pronounced like, "Shake." We've been getting it wrong all this time!

With the mix of cultures and languages, of course there will be barriers. These language barriers can make or break your day! I have decided to start compiling a list of words I have not previously been accustomed to using, but now are a part of my everyday vocabulary. This list is the way of the UAE, if you want to be understood :-)

Canteen = Lunchroom/Cafeteria
I know what you are thinking...a typical school cafeteria. Chairs, long tables, trays, food lines, etc...Nope! Not here! There is a single small building in our outdoor assembly area that serves food. One window for ALL of the girls to order from. A line? Ha! No way! It's survival of the fittest around here. Chairs? Tables? Nope! Girls walk around this outdoor arena or sit on the few benches we have around the outer edge. Meal options? Not quite. There are about 10 items on the list each day. They do not change, ever. It is not a hot/cold tray of food as it is in America. Basic food groups? What, there are food groups?! You have the choice of a carbohydrate, a carbohydrate, or a carbohydrate! Lol, seriously! Basically, you purchase everything a la carte. However, water bottles are the most inexpensive thing to buy, which is a positive. There are water vending machines, and they are 1 dirham, which is about 25 cents USD. Otherwise, the girls buy juice boxes, which are fresh as there are no preservatives here.
This is our canteen below. This is also where we gather as a school to have morning assembly, every single day for 20 minutes. It is 100% in Arabic. The girls sing, play instruments, have presentations/skits, their culture and religion is also deeply honored at this time. It is magical, at times.

 

Break = Lunch
When it is time for break at school, that means it is time to eat! We also call our off periods breaks. This word is multifunctional dependent upon the situation. If a teacher is absent, there are no substitutes here, so the kids get another "break" or free period (lucky kids, huh?!) For this reason, we are strongly discouraged from ever being absent! Just within the last couple of weeks have we been required (after 5 years of bringing expats over to teach) to have an emergency sub plan. However, how is a non-English speaking teacher (an AMT - Arabic Medium Teacher) supposed to follow a sub plan for an English speaking teacher (an EMT - English Medium Teacher)??? We'll see how that goes when I get sick (cough, cough ;-)

Lift = Elevator
When I used the word, "elevator," for the first time, my girls looked at me like I was crazy. They had no idea what that was! Shocking to me, well, at first it was...nothing is shocking anymore! All buildings have a basement level, a ground level, and then level 1 and so on. That is a tad different than the states as well, as most buildings in the states count the ground level as level 1. I am always double checking what floor the doors open up to because I have gotten off on the wrong floor too many times to count!

Petrol = Gas
"Do you need petrol?" I love the gas stations here. I never get out of my car. I never even turn it off. Someone washes my windows every time. The gas pump lines are long enough and swivel so that it doesn't matter what side of the car your gas tank it is on, it will reach (genius idea!) And of course, petrol is unbelievably cheap ;-) I do feel badly for the workers as it is quite hot outside, but as I mentioned in my last post, I am grateful they have jobs. I am grateful they are willing to do the work they do in order to feed their families back home. They are amazing people! And they love Americans because they tip!

Taxi = Cab
Ok, of course we use both terms in the states, but here, only taxi is used. There is no comprehension of the word, "cab." The drivers are the most lively and talkative characters I have ever met! They will ask you a million and four questions...you might understand 2 questions! They all tell me they love Americans the most as well, because of the tipping. I think that's their ploy to get you to tip! After they say that, you feel obligated to tip a lot! I don't mind :-)

A4 = Computer Paper
Yep. Paper is referred to by the label on the package. All types, A3, A5, etc...I had no idea what my girls were talking about when they asked me for a piece of A4. What?! "White paper, Miss." Ohhhhh! Then I looked at the package and saw A4 clear as day. I had never once seen this paper classification system before, or never had to actually pay attention to it.

SMS = Text Message
Everyone says, "I'll send you a SMS," or "send me a SMS" It is nice not to have to say the word, "text" all the time now, in a way. It was getting old ;-)

Mobile = Cell Phone
Using the phrase, "call me on my cell," is highly overrated anyway! "What's App me on my mobile" or "I'll send a SMS to your mobile" are acceptable phrases. What's App is what all the cool kids (like myself) use around here to communicate. Mainly because the phone plans here are soooooo different and piecemeal to say the least! Download the app, and soon after, you're ready to make groups and send messages easily!

Data Show = Projector
This one had me quite confused for a couple of days! The girls were writing, "data show" when I was teaching my unit over electricity, and they had to name things in the room that used electricity. Finally, I had to ask one what it was. They pointed to the mounted ceiling projector we teachers all use on a daily basis. Ohhhh! That kind of makes sense now ;-) Data does appear as a show...

Flash = Any other word you may ever think of using for your thumb drive, USB, etc...
They only recognize the single word, "flash." That is all. End of story.

Corrector = White-Out
I had the rolling tape white-out dispenser one day, and my girls had the deer in the headlights look about them when I used it. They were also quite amazed! They all buy the liquid pen types, and "that is corrector, Ms. Raina," I was told so as-matter-of-factly. Never again will I utter the words, "white-out."

Manager = Landlord
Not sure why they don't use the term, "landlord," but they don't! There are lots and lots of managers of varying degrees here. Managers of buildings, managers of maintenance, managers of schools, etc...

Supervisor = Hall Monitor
What a great term for a hall monitor instead of the term, "hall monitor." I'm sure it gives them a sense of superiority. I dig it.

Cooker = Stove
When I arrived, I was told to use our housing allowance money to buy a cooker. Say what?! Ohhhh! A stove.

Washer = Washing Machine
Yes, add that to the list when I arrived. Go buy a cooker and a washer. A washer of what (dishes or clothes?! Hmmm...), I was pondering? Luckily, the local grocery store (like the Wal-Marts back home), will work deals with customers, and I got a killer deal on a cooker, washer and fridge (not refrigerator - that word doesn't exist either) trio!

Take Away = To-Go Box
The first time I asked for a to-go box at a restaurant, the waiter cocked his head to the side and wrinkled his forehead. I asked a second time. After another 5 second or so pause, he asked, "take away???" Why, yes, I want to take my food away...in a to-go box. Nope, leave that part off and just say, "take away, please." I have not boxed up my own food here. They do it for you no matter what, so don't even offer to help out. You'll get rejected a lot around here if you do!

So, that's it for now. I'm sure there are plenty more I have forgotten, but I will keep my list going and will update soon! Living here is learning here! The most delicious thing (had to borrow this line) about it all is enjoying not knowing what 80% of the people around are saying, and this can be quite amusing!

Final Side Note: besides parking on the sidewalks, if you can't find a spot in a lot, simply create your own line of cars down the middle! Why not?!

"Without Courage Your Life Will Never Change" ~Me

From Novice To Master in 6 Weeks

~Let The Light In~

Salam! As-salām 'alaykum!

I am 6 weeks into this journey of discovery, and I feel as if I have had my head cut open and new knowledge has just poured in! It has been fast and furious. It has been exciting and scary (not in a safety scary way). It has been black and white (literally - there are Abayas and Dishdashas everywhere) to what I am accustomed to. Seeing a new way of life, a new way of living, a new lens on how society works has completely changed me already! I find myself constantly comparing the US to the UAE. I feel like I need to make a huge Venn Diagram on my wall just to document everything! There are many things that I miss from home...the ease of processes being one of the top issues. Even though we complain about jumping through hoops in America in order to get things done; that is NOTHING compared to getting something done around here! I definitely took that for granted. However, on the other hand, over here, people are much more accepting of other cultures and differences. Even though the Emirati people ask for respect for their way of life, they still have open arms and acceptance for all of us expats. I could go on and on with my list of similarities and differences, but I'll save that for another post! As for now...

TOP 10 THINGS I AM NOW A MASTER OF

1. Navigating a city with few street names and absolutely no addresses. We live in districts and use landmarks as reference points as to where the buildings are actually located – I’m in a brand new complex called Nail Saif opposite the big mosque in the construction area next to Al Muwaiji Village complex in Al Muwaiji District. Map skills have come in handy more than ever, too! Thank goodness for social studies in my formative years!

 Signs, signs, everywhere signs…

It is amazing how much I have become dependent upon visual literacy around here. They are quite interesting and make for a nice chuckle every now and again (I even have an exit sign inside my flat above my front door – it makes for a good nightlight, oh and guidance in case I can’t find my way out ;-)

This one for the bathroom is my favorite!

  

 2. Following the rules of roundabout traffic. Wait, what's a roundabout you might ask?! Basically, a great way to keep traffic flowing without the use of lights! Whoo hoo! But who knew the inside left lane had the right of way?! At first, this is a scary encounter. Cars do not stop. People honk nonstop if you do not know your place. You might go around and around a couple of times before you know how to exit properly (or have a chance to exit!) My best advice is to just "gun it!" Now, I actually prefer roundabouts, unless people are randomly stopped on the turn to meet up with another car – which does happen!

 

3. Simulating race-car-like driving. If you’re not speeding, centimeters from somebody’s bumper, hopping and parking on curbs and sidewalks, or driving through stop signs, you’re going to get honked at or lights flashed at like YOU ARE THE CRAZY ONE! Haha! There are seemingly no rules to driving, except for the fact that you can go 20 km/hr over the posted limit without getting a ticket, unless there is a sign saying there is a maximum speed (only on the major highways!) The maximum is 120 km/hr and cars have sensors in them that beep incessantly if you go over 120 even by 1. And you thought the seatbelt dinging was annoying…
 

Roads are monitored by camera and radar technology. There are no speed traps or cops just cruising the area waiting to give tickets. If you are speeding (more than 20 km/hr above the posted limit) or are on your phone while driving on the streets with cameras, you automatically get a ticket via sensor. You won’t know it though until you try and go set up or pay for a service somewhere! Who knows what my fines look like at this point! What an awesome advancement though! I’ll go ahead and mention here how I am now a master with the metric system! Ok, maybe not a master, but all those years of teaching science has definitely paid off in most instances when asked to apply metric knowledge! 

Wait, is there an app for that?! 

 

4. Learning how to differentiate students’ names that are very similar and constantly spelled differently. People here have anywhere from 3 to 5 family (a.k.a. last) names. Well, many of their first names are the same, so my girls are referred to by their first name and their first family name. However, some girls I have to go two last names deep with! I am always checking my official roster with my seating chart against the way they write their names on their papers, as they never match (they like to add in letters or go with their very last family name at times!) Also, they do not alphabetize the way we do...which can drive some teachers a little crazy ;-)

5. Reading from the right to left. I have now adjusted to writing the date "incorrectly" by American terms, and when I see a bell schedule or list of hotel rooms listed backwards, it actually makes sense to me! I also have to constantly flip books over because my girls have the tendency to want to write from the back to the front as they do in Arabic.

 

 

I am also amazed at how fluid non-English natives can switch back and forth when writing. I was at the bank yesterday, and the woman helping me was Emirati, and just watching her hand movements as she would write left to right in English for my W-9 form and then ever so smoothly switch to writing right to left in Arabic without hesitation just astounds me! I wish I had that ability! Soon, inshallah!

6. Choosing which toilet option is best for the occasion…pick one, any one!

As well as how to work the electrical outlets, heaters, and lights, oh my!


 

And I am slowly adjusting to the fact that having a dryer here is practically unheard of (but I will get one soon, inshallah!)

Also, all of the appliances here are much smaller than in the U.S., therefore, I do less laundry more frequently, and we can stock the fridge for just a few hundred dirhams, but it’s emptied pretty quickly with the kids around and the fact that there are no preservatives in the food, so spoilage happens at a faster rate.

Laundry, laundry, laundry all the time :-/

 Also, no hook-ups for dishwashers in most homes (including mine). It's old school style hand-washing all the way! I am marveled by the how advanced this culture is in some regards, but how primitive in other areas.

7. Reading body language and listening to tone of voice. When you are the minority in the crowd, watching and listening are the most important skills. I now know which girls are friends and which have issues without even knowing a word they are ever saying to each other! I also have come to appreciate this language in general because it really is so beautiful. I am in awe of my girls that sing the national anthem every morning at assembly. I feel so boring when I speak! There are so many different nationalities here that have interesting accents that are so much fun to listen to! I don’t even mind some of the Arabic radio stations as there is only 1 static prone English speaking station. I cannot post any pictures of my students, but here is my school. (Al Foaa, or sometimes spelled, Al Foah - depending on the sign and person!)

8. The absolute fundamental breakdown of both the English and Arabic languages. Wow! No two could ever be more different. I admire my students for how hard they try to write and spell English words. That task is probably incredibly daunting as I still can’t memorize how to write my name in Arabic! Oh, yes, we go by first names here! That took some getting used to for sure!

Every day the girls have difficulty naming simple objects due to the language barrier. We had a good laugh over the word "baggie" one day when I asked for them to bring some in. They had no idea what I was talking about! The word "paperclip" is another they couldn't comprehend without seeing it.
Each girl is on a different level of reading, writing, speaking, and listening to English; just as our Spanish speaking students in Texas. The sections (classes) are grouped by these abilities for differentiation purposes.

Sample from a higher student:

 Sample from a lower student:

9. Lying about having a husband back in the states that will soon be joining me. Apparently, being single here is a magnet for unwanted male attention, as well as women probing as to why you are not married. I even was told by an old camel trainer that I was a bad person for divorcing my husband :-/ Family and marriage is of utmost importance. Although many marriages are arranged; many are to family members (cousins); and men are allowed up to four wives?! So I can see why it might be looked down upon, or why I might be questioned about not having a husband, especially since I have children. I was forewarned about the men being quite abrasive, in which they are. It could be that they can actually see our (Westerners) faces and bodies! However, I do have to be firm (by using the phrase, "Haram" - an Arabic term meaning sinful or forbidden by Islamic law) and telling a little white lie about having a husband doesn’t hurt either!

P.S. I am now accepting applications for anyone interested in being my pseudo-husband for the month of October! I can photoshop your face where the guy in white is ;-)

10. Taking all of my struggles in stride and remembering that no matter how difficult this may be at the moment, when I look out my bedroom window, I am reminded that my life could be much worse. My heart goes out to all of the workers in this country. I live on a construction site and there are probably 50+ workers bussed here every day. However, some live on the construction site. They use a tank outside to shower with, wash their outfit and drink from. I am thankful this country employs so many workers, even though they do not earn hardly anything. It seems to be an unbalanced symbiotic relationship, but without the UAE willing to employ them, who knows what their lives or their families' lives back home would be like. There are workers absolutely everywhere! This country is spotless. I never pump gas; I never carry out groceries; I am not allowed to throw away my own trash in the food court at the mall; I am served water bottles on an actual silver platter at school and in the majority of establishments; I can have my house cleaned for next to nothing; there are security guards at the gates of every school and every building, not really for safety concerns, but rather for employment opportunities. I look around and see a country of extremes. You are either Emirati or you are not. You are either extremely rich or you are not. Your family name determines everything. When looking at cultural anthropology, this is a culture of honor and shame, not guilt and innocence like America. Everything is viewed through that lens. It changes the dynamics of everything known to a Westerner. It is so important to have cultural awareness and understanding in order to lead a fulfilling life embedded within that society.

   

And one to grow on…
 

Patience…with everything! I always thought of myself as a patient person, but this is a true test. I have my moments of utter breakdown. I have my moments of frustration and tears. I have my moments of anger. I have my moments of wanting to come back home. I have my moments of loneliness. BUT we made it here, and I have experienced moments of joy, happiness, gratefulness, and peace of mind. Taking it one day at a time is key. I am fascinated by how the Emirati culture functions. Processes are long and messy (this is where patience comes in). Napping and praying are of necessity for the people - they even close businesses in the middle of the day to honor these acts. Everything is ‘Inshallah’/'Insha'Allah' – "God willing" or "if Allah wills," and I mean absolutely everything! So, I must choose to embrace my decision to become a resident, with faith that we will come out in the end more wise, more aware, more sensitive, and more changed...inshallah ;-)

Aa'a as-salāmah!

"Without Courage Your Life Will Never Change" ~Me