The First Week

I have started to write this post many times, but the jet lag makes me fall asleep when I stare at the computer for too long. 


The flight was long but easy.  I met some other teachers in JFK and we chatted while we waited for the plane.  They never weighed my luggage even though I spent FOREVER trying to get it to the right weight and left many things behind.  It was about a 13 hour flight, and I don't know that I've ever eaten so well before.  Ice cream at 2 a.m.?  Okay!

Once we landed, the travel agency met us right at the plane and handed out our employment visas.  They walked us to the retina scan, passport control, and customs, which were very easy.  Then we collected our bags and waited for the buses to arrive.  When we were pushing our luggage to the buses, we were handed roses.  Then we were greeted with a blast of steamy air as we stepped outside for the first time.  It was interesting to say the least.  Our luggage went on a truck, we went on a bus, and off to the Rotana Beach Hotel. 

At the hotel, we had to hand in our passports to get our room keys.  They gave us cold cloths that were scented with something that smelled good and we were all checked in very fast.  Then our luggage was lined up and we had to just point to it- it was all delivered right to our rooms for us!  So easy!

Because I was on the Thursday flight arriving Friday night, we had Saturday free.  There was another couple of flights coming in on Saturday.  Friday and Saturday are the weekend here.  It is Ramadan, now, too though, and everything basically shuts down in the middle of the day.  This is not helping with fixing jet lag, because you have no choice but to take a nap in the middle of the day.  1- you can't eat in public so you have to go to your room to eat, drink, chew gum/hard candy, etc... and 2- the stores and everything else is closed!

On Sunday we had orientation.  They talked to us a little, mostly things I already knew but it was good to hear it straight from them.  About housing, when we would do some things, etc...  They answered questions.. it is amazing some of the questions people ask- I think they don't listen...  We filled out papers for bank accounts and handed in our passports again and employment visas so they can be switched to residence visas, too.

Monday was a free day for people not going to Abu Dhabi city.  I am going to be in Al Ain which I think I will like better.  It is a smaller city, less humid, more green, but I haven't seen it yet.  Abu Dhabi is a big city and the drivers are crazy like you've never seen.  Anyway, Monday they took the Abu Dhabi teachers to see the hotel apartments.  It sounds like a great option, you don't have to pay any utilities and it comes furnished, but I guess they are far away from a lot of their schools so it would take them a long time to get to them so a lot of them are looking at taking the 100,000AED to find their own housing.  That is another thing- when I go to stores, I stand their forever trying to figure out how much I am spending.  1 dollar= 3.66 AED= I have no idea how much anything really costs!!!!  Also, I can't read arabic, so I know what the 1 dirham coin is, but no idea what the other ones are.

Tuesday we had medical checks.  I thought it would be a long process, but it was quick and easy.  They gave us a number and when it was called they filled out some paperwork and sent us down the hall.  Asked if we had medical problems, if you are pregnant (they do an x-ray) and then on your way to blood collection.  They are doing something wrong in the U.S. because this lady got my blood in about .05 seconds.  Make a fist and before I could even look the other way I was out of that chair.  No strappy band or anything.  People who said they usually have to use really skinny needles for them said the same thing.  I think she should come give some lessons.  Then they did an x-ray of the chest to check for TB.

Wednesday we waited around to find out when we would have police checks.  Turns out we would meet at 8 p.m.  Iftar- the end of fasting, is around 7, so I went to the mall food court.  The mall (one of them) is connected to the hotel.  I had Hardee's.  Never heard of it but for fast food it was pretty good.  Ate it and went back downstairs to the lobby waiting for the busses.  We got to the police station at about 8:25 but turns out it didn't open until 9 so we sat in the steamy weather for a while.  When they let us in they told us we couldn't talk because it was a police station, not a cafe.  So I sat in the corner very quiet with the 50 others, and many people continued to talk.  This is what I mean about some people not being respectful.  Somehow, I still managed to get called 3rd to last.  He kept picking and choosing who he would call based on who was 'being good' or something.  The last two people were one who would not stop talking and one who had broken the machine.  I don't know what I did wrong but I guess being good does not pay off.  Anyway, I was in the first group that got there and started printing at 9... we didn't leave until 11:30!!!  There were two more groups of 50 after us!  I felt bad for them, but things operate on a different schedule here.  It was long and boring but there is a lot of waiting around.

Today they are taking Al Ain teachers out there to see our housing.  It is in a complex that is new and I have seen pictures.  It looks nice but I can't wait to see it in person.  I also can't wait to see the city/ town/ whatever they call it, not too sure.

Tomorrow starts the weekend again, so things will be shut down.  Next week is school orientation here at the hotel.  I think they said they will give us a tour of the city.  I did see Emirates Palace at night.  It was beautiful, but my camera was dead and I needed another converter- just charged it up.

My school is in Al Wagan.  It is pretty far from Al Ain, but there are a lot of us out there.  There are some teachers even further out then that.  I hear they are going to provide a bus for us, which will be nice because I don't really want to have to get a car, especially to drive that far in the desert everyday.  I'd much rather ride a bus.

I will try to figure out how to post pictures later.. but not it is almost 7 a.m. here and I should get ready for the day.  Sometimes they forget to stick things under my door telling me when to be places.