A WORDS!

Hey!

So...according to the scale, I GAINED weight (I was 125lbs when I left America and now I'm 138). I ate oatmeal and other carbs the day before I weighed myself so I'm hoping its bloat since I run everyday and walk everywhere! Inshallah, it's fluctuating or water weight (even though I don't drink nearly enough) because I AM NOT TRYING TO LOOK SLACK. I joined the gym at the Hilton since its gorgeous, COED, and has weights (which helped me to lose weight in the first place). I will probably weigh myself in 1-2 weeks because I don't want to be obsessed with that number (but it MATTERS).

Anyways, I have learned many profound truths since I have been here:
1. I am valued more here as an AMERICAN than I am in American. My passport is apparently some sort of GOLDEN ticket to travel anywhere (I assumed this was the same for everyone...equality? equity?)
2. Most people think I'm from Ghana, I guess due to my brown skin, but when I say America, they get super excited. It's like I'm some type of exotic animal or something. For example, I was speaking with a co-worker that is not Emirati. I asked her where she was from (another country) and then I said, 'Oh, you remind me of my American friends (because of her appearance, dress).' BIG MISTAKE. This young lady started cheesin' so hard. She said 'Really?! Thank you!' as if my assumption was the highest compliment. Western culture is reflected heavily here from the restaurants, to the stores, to the music. My students DAB everyday and they're fourth graders. LOL
3. Taxi drivers don't know locations! A driver had the nerve to ask us if we knew the way! Bruh, no, I don't. Super frustrating!
4. Allergies have followed me from America. My nose runs everyday in this heat! I have finished my prescription from the US, and now I will be on local meds. Pray for me!

**Since the election, all conversations from non-Americans are about the President-elect. They are worried and sad too. Students are worried about their futures because they are well aware of what is going on...sometimes more aware than me.

~Stay in PEACE, not pieces! :)

Do The Hard Thing!

Hey Friends!

Since we last spoke, things were kinda rough but they have gotten better! HUMDULLAH (thank God in Arabic). This weekend, I moved into my new accommodations with two other teachers and we are on the Corniche (basically, the water) and essentially, one side of the road is Sharjah and the other side is Dubai which is weird because Sharjah is super conservative whereas, Dubai is not. For example, I will get the side eye if I'm wearing anything above the knee and if my arms are out, but in Dubai, anything goes!

I have gone on a Desert Safari in Dubai which was really fun and I went to the top (not really, just floor 125) of the Burj Khalifa which was beautiful! Myself and other teachers find deals on Groupon and go together. I also went to a BBQ in Dubai. My roommate and I made potato salad, but we cooked the potatoes too long so they were mushy but people still ate it! I also attended a sorority meeting in Abu Dhabi and had yoga afterwards. It was the pick-me-up that I needed!

I have met so many cool people from Ireland, Egypt, South Africa, etc. I enjoy hearing people's perspectives on teaching and life in general. The big topic now is politics in America...SMH. I think that people see my pictures and think that I'm living the life. Not so much. There are hard days, just like in America. Days that I don't want to go to work and teach. Days that I don't feel good. Days that I don't understand this country. But I keep pushing because I know that I am growing. I read something one day: 'Do the hard thing.' That was so profound to me! Do what scares you. Do what makes you uncomfortable. Do 'that thing' in fear. You and I will grow through it!

Randoms:
I'm going to Egypt next month! I'm buying a scale to weigh myself and be accountable for my decisions. I actually stick to my meal plan during the week, but the weekend is a mess! Although I run everyday, I still feel fat...but all my clothes still fit. Maybe its mental. I miss the fair and my Funnel Cake and Hocus Pocus! I miss Whole Foods and Trader Joes and Life Time and leaves blowing off of trees and crunching when I step on them.

Thanks for reading!
:)

Greetings from the UAE!

Okay, so I'm going to hit y'all with a little synopsis of my journey to the Middle East. Last summer, my friend, Mr. Hughes, hit me up saying that he was moving to the UAE to teach. I was so happy for him, but disappointed in myself because this has always been a seed in the back of my mind. He sent me the website that he applied through (Teachaway.com). I applied in July and he left in August. Each day that I went to work at my school, I felt that it was a day closer to teaching abroad. I was contacted for a phone interview in October and invited to an in person interview in Charlotte in November. I was hired on November 22 and signed the 3.5 year contract then. I applied to be a January start, but during the interview, the admin team noticed that my teaching license would expire and said that I should stay in America until it is renewed (basically, I had to finish the school year so my license would be valid for 5 more years). As a result, my recruiter was able to have my offer letter amended to August 2016. I had been saving money all year for the transition. I started running races. I even ran my first 10K for St. Patty's Day. I had so many plans because I was going to be making more than twice the amount that I was making to teach in the US. The agency told me that I would be teaching girls from grades 6-8. That's all that I would know until I landed. I would not know my living situation or which school that I would be at. Luckily, I connected with other Americans that were going to be teaching in the UAE through Google+ and I couldn't wait to meet them!

Slowly, the school year went by. I read The Four Agreements and The Alchemist to pass the time. These books strengthened my desire for change. I just felt stagnant in America and hearing Mr. Hughes' stories of teaching and traveling were no help! I wanted to be in another country!

HEART BREAK

The school year ended on June 3 and I visited family in Savannah on June 4th. During a Publix run, I received a phone call from Canada. 'Oh, snap! It's the recruiter with my flight details,' I thought. Oh, no. My recruiter was calling to tell me that my offer from ADEC (Abu Dhabi Education Council) was RESCINDED due to over hire. What. The. Hell. I had bags of groceries in my hands and could not process this. How could this happen? I signed a contract. I no longer have a contract/job in the US. I was broken.

REDEMPTION

I took my worries to church. I allowed myself to cry about it and then I had to move on or I was going to make myself sick. My church fam would offer comfort by saying that 'God is protecting you from something' or 'You don't know what God is doing, but he knows.' This just made me more sad because I didn't understand why God would allow me to go through the entire interview process to be REJECTED. Should I give up or apply to private schools? I decided to keep going since this was the desire of my heart. I applied to different agencies and had interviews for the UAE and Kuwait. I was offered the job in Kuwait on the spot via Skype, but I declined because that wasn't where my heart was. I couldn't settle. My recruiter was able to get me an interview with an American International School in the UAE and I was offered the job! The pay is lower than what I would have made with ADEC but it is still more than my American salary. I am teaching grade 4 students when I'm only certified for Middle Level in America. No worries. Another challenge that I can tackle.

           

EXPECTATIONS

Do not Google locations because only the pretty pictures will show up LOL. I have learned that I can't compare my journey or blessings to that of others. This is how to quickly hurt your own feelings. Ha! For example, Mr. Hughes lives in an awesome bachelor pad in Abu Dhabi. Its new, clean, and near cement. My school provides teacher accommodations that are studio or one bedroom apartments. You can not choose where you are placed. My apartment building was/is infested with roaches and mice and it is surrounded by sand. Luckily, myself and another teachers took our concerns to the principal and are moving to the downtown area. Holla!!! I live 10-15 minutes from Dubai (which is expensive by the way) but nice!

SCHOOL

I will leave you with this: I took the educational system in my state for granted. I lived a very privileged life in America and for me to come to such a rich country that lacks libraries and up-to-date technology, that is just WEIRD and UNFORTUNATE to me. My mind is blown everyday. I miss the consistency and order that my school system contained. I also miss the community aspect. Teachers smile at each other at my old school and we hung out in public. NOT HERE. It's every man/woman for him/herself. 

I know that it seems like I'm complaing (because I'm venting) but, God has allowed me to be in this uncomfortable position (it is what I prayed for) so that I can grow. I am already so pleased with my growth spiritually, mentally, and physically. I came here running 9 miles and now I'm up to 10! GET IT GURL! I talk to God so much more, its comforting.

Thanks for reading! (I'll try to stop writing essays, but its the English major in me.)

:)