I MADE IT!

So I know that I have not yet blogged since I have been here but what a couple of weeks I have had!  I will start from the beginning...

The flight…

On Sept 5th my family dropped me off at the airport at 12:30ish- we had a really fun game of weighing my bags and moving luggage around to make sure that everything could fit!  I was able to bring 3 bags- a 50 pound bag and two 70 pound bags.  My bags weighed 69.5, 69.5 and 50 pounds.  I was most certainly cutting it close!  Then my carry on was only supposed to be 14 pounds and veryyyy small (has to fit in a box for the Etihad airlines).  My poor brother was taking my bags back and forth from the scale to weigh my bags.  Thankfully it all worked and I was able to bring all the things I had packed.  So after my bags were checked I headed through security.  Of courseeee- I get stopped to be searched and then they had to go through both of my carry ons.  I made it to my gate with a couple of minutes to spare and as I am sitting there I am wondering why my flight is not boarding.  My flight was supposed to leave Charlotte at 1:55 and land in Chicago at 2:55 (an hour behind NC) and then I would have a direct flight to Abu Dhabi leaving at 8:30pm.  So I was not really stressing that my flight was not boarding yet seeing I was going to have 5 hours to kill in the Chicago airport.  I am just sitting at my gate texting away enjoying my last few hours of my USA number!  However, the next thing I know I look up and it says my flight is delayed until 8pm!  I go literally running up to the gate to try and beat the rush- clearly I would not be able to leave Charlotte at 8 and then be on my flight to Abu Dhabi at 8:30.  So as I go up to the counter the poor people working there had not even been informed yet that the flight was changed.  I was probably the 5^th person in line hoping they could get me to Chicago ASAP!  However, they tell me they are going to send me on a Delta flight (I was supposed to be on American) to JFK and then I would have a direct flight from JFK to Abu Dhabi- however now I have 5 hours to kill in Charlotte and an hour and 45 minute layover in JFK.  At this point I asked if that would be enough time for me to get to an international flight and if I needed to do anything else with my luggage since I was no longer flying American.  The response I get is of course it’s enough time and no we will handle your bags.  So now I am all sorts of stressed out seeing I just wanted to be able to be on the flight and to begin this insanely long journey.  I then thought I would find the currency counter and change some money so I would have dirhams to use when I landed- granted I had no idea what was what or how much it was worth- but I had dirhams! After that I decided I needed to try and eat dinner there since I would no longer have my time in Chicago to eat.   So I sat and ate dinner and wasted time until my JFK flight.  I then had to be on a tinnyyyyy plane to JFK which I was not thrilled about.  But I made it to JFK safely- they then tell me I have to ride a shuttle to get to my gate.  So I am fine with all of this- ride the shuttle and get to my gate and have about an hour and a half to spare at this point.  I go up to the gate and explain I need a new ticket since I was sent on a Delta flight rather than an American and my flight to Abu Dhabi is now from here and not Chicago.  Here comes the start of my awful flight- I was told I had to go completely out of the secured TSA area and go through the Etihad line to get my ticket.  When I get to the line- the line is SO LONG- the stress begins.  I am just looking at my watch and watching the time go by that I have to make my flight.  I am in tears now that I am going to miss my flight.  I finally get to the counter and show them my tickets from the Charlotte airport and my baggage confirmation.  They then tell me I have NO bags and they cannot locate them (realize I have packed 80% of all my things/clothes).  At this point I am at about 30 minutes to get back to my gate and on the plane.  Let’s talk about the waterworks beginning.  I am completely exhausted as well seeing the nerves of it all I couldn’t sleep the night before and got up at 6am to finish packing and its now 10pm.  I am calling home saying I am not going- telling my mom I am getting on a plane back to Charlotte- calling Jackie in tears- needless to say- I was a MESS!  Well I run over to Delta and ask them if they have my bags and they were totallllyyyyy unhelpful and had no clue what I was talking about- telling me I could go down to baggage claim to look for them- with 30 minutes to make an international flight- how would that work?!  I am just looking at the security line now and really getting stressed!  So my mom then tells me she is going to start calling the airlines to figure it out.  At this point I feel I could bet my life that all of my bags are lost and I am going to have nothing when I reach Abu Dhabi.  But there I was running through the airport to get on the plane- I was literally one of the last 5 people on the plane.  I then lost my aisle seat due to the fact that I was thrown onto a new flight and now I am stuck in the middle of people- and all of you that know me well- that’s not a great place for me to be!  I move way too much to be stuck in between people! The people around me were probably wondering- what is wrong with this crazy girl?! Why is she crying and saying she is not going anymore?! However I was on the flight and decided to start flipping through movies.  Throughout this whole flight they gave us 2 full meals, popcorn, ice cream, pretzels, and drinks like every hour.  They certainly do treat you well on the plane.  I could not sleep at all now because I was so past the level of exhaustion and I was just stressed.  About 8 hours into the flight I decided to buy the internet package for an hour- I then texted home and asked if they had heard anything about my luggage- my mom texted me back saying that they said all of my bags were on the flight- however I was not so hopeful seeing they told me the opposite.  But that was probably the fastest hour of my flight and well worth the 12 dollars- next time I will for sure be paying the 24 dollars for 24 hours.  So I finally land in Abu Dhabi after 23 hours of being dropped off at the airport.  My first thought off the plane- holy humidity- were people not kidding when that’s what they write online! I had to go through an eye scan and then through customs & get my visa stamped and off I walked towards baggage claim.  I am waiting for the bags to start coming around- fingers crossed the whole time that I am going to see two lovely blue bags and one purple bag come around.  During this time I am pulling up my wifi to let my family know I have arrived and to be in touch with them!  However, after about 20 minutes I come to the realization that I need to head over to claims and file a report for my bags.  So I walk up to claims and I am trying my hardest to hold it together- they ask me to describe my bags and what not- no big deal.  Then the questions start- what’s your PO box? What’s your UAE number? The water works are back.  Literally I have been in this whole new country for the FIRST time ever for 45 minutes and they are asking me all sorts of questions I do not know the answers to.  I then think to go through my emails to find the principals number and tell them that’s all the information I have and also the name of my school and tower I will be living in but no PO box numbers.  I then am super stressed and upset as they are telling me it may be 3-4 to 5-7 days for my bags to get.  So literally a brand new country and the only things I have are my electronics and a small bag of toiletries.  At this point I realize there is nothing else I can do today about it and I know my principal is waiting for me outside the baggage area and I have to go find her.  What a FABULOUS first impression to make with someone- face completely red and trying to hold back the tears! Well I went out to try and figure out where my principal would be standing and luckily I spotted the head of the school and head of elementary holding signs with our schools name on them right away.  So that was a relief!  When I introduced myself to them they asked where my bags were and such and it took almost everything I had in me but I only got teary eyed. 

To the apartment we went…

So then we were off to the apartments.  Let me tell you something about Abu Dhabi driving that I learned real quick- there are no rules.  People squeeze in the tiniest of spaces, cut people off, make 3 lane wide u-turns, CRAZY!  Also there are cameras everywhereeee to catch people speeding.  The head of my school explained to me that if you drive in the UAE you will most likely get fined.  However, unlike the states you only have to pay all your fees once a year when you go to get your new registration.  So as we are driving from the airport I was able to see the Grand Mosque all lit up since it was night time and so many neat looking buildings that fill the skyline of Abu Dhabi.  My principal shared very interesting facts with me about Abu Dhabi- places to see, things to do, and just basic general knowledge- but that’s to come with my own stories to tell about what I learn!  So we finally make it to my apartment about 2 hours or more after my flight landed.  I had been in touch with another teacher and told her about my bags- she came down when I was dropped off and gave me a couple of things to help me survive until I could get to the mall and such.  Luckily, our apartments are completely furnished and even the bed was made so that was a huge relief- because lets be real- if the bed wasn’t made with how tired I was I do not know if it would have been made that night (sorry mom and dad but that’s the sad truth!). 

The first day…

Anyhow, I made it through the night and the next day went to tour the school and work in my classroom to get to know everything and meet my team.  My team is wonderful!  There are two ladies from Canada and 1 teacher from Charleston!  They were all at the school last year so it was super great to have people to go to with questions and just to gain basic knowledge of the school and the culture.  The school is also across the street from the palace!  How crazy is that to hear?! I work across the street from the palace!  Anyhow- I am teaching Grade 5 at the school and have an all girls class.  The girls and boys separate around grade 4 and 5 into different classes.  It has also been a huge adjustment for me to say grade 5 students and not fifth graders.  But I got a lot done that needed to be done at school that day!  I then got VERY specific instructions from a fellow teacher on how to get to the mall.  I had two priorities that day then- CLOTHES/ETC. & A SIM CARD! I know, I know- why would a SIM card be needed right away- well being so far from home in a foreign country I did not want to get stuck somewhere and have no idea where I am and then on top of that not have a phone!  So I luckily was able to find my way around the mall and get a phone- so I was able to get in touch with another teacher and we decided to grab dinner in the food court.  And this food court consists of: McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Fudruckers, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, TGI Fridays, KFC, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Coldstone, and Tim Horton- just to name a few!  So for all of you worried I wouldn’t find anything to eat for the next two years- American-ish food is everywhere & I hope to get brave enough here soon to try some new foods!  Anyhow- we ate dinner and then shared a taxi home.  When you walk out of the mall there are huge lines of taxis and people standing in lines to get into the taxis.  It is actually a fairly organized process!  I was sooooo happy just to get home that night and lay down!

The apartment…

So I live in a tower that is on an island that is up and coming.  There are about 25 teachers that live in this tower just from our school.  There are also tons of other teachers that work in other schools as well.  I have a one bedroom-1.5 bath apartment as I have wrote about before.  The apartments are super nice and HUGE!  I had to move some furniture around to make it feel a bit smaller!  And thank goodness- in the bedroom there are blackout curtains because the sun is up super early here!  Jackie- if we would have had to try to hang these curtains we would have had more holes in the walls than ever before.  The apartment has 24 hour security and if you have any guests you have to sign them in and out.  It’s really nice to feel so safe!  We also have a nice pool, gym, and spa area.  The island really is still being built up so we are constantly having to explain to drivers how to get there but it’s getting easier!  There is also a British grocery store within a 10 minute walk of the apartment that we can get mainly everything we need- it’s just a tad more expensive but it is convenient.   The girls that live in the apartment with me are great and I have made some really great friends already!  We all joke and say that this is college but with money and the chance to travel the world!

How we get around…

CABS, CABS, AND MORE CABS!  The taxis here are all over the place and fairly inexpensive when you are sharing it will a couple other girls.  It is a rare occasion that you go somewhere by yourself.  We have a shuttle that takes us to school every morning but we have to find our own way home.  To get home from our school it is about 25 dirhams for a 20ish minute ride which is about 7 US dollars.  If only they were that cheap in Charlotte!  They also don’t peg us with the fee for each person over 2 that is oh so lovely at home!  So the fact that we are usually sharing taxis makes it not so bad to look at the overall cost!

Interesting Phrases/Things…

-As I said earlier- Grade 5 now- no more 5^th graders.

-Take Away= To go

-Lemon in diet cokes- and sometimes they pile the ice on top of it! I need to remember to ask for no lemon! (Mom and Jackie would you like this!?)

-Inshallah= God willing- if things don’t happen or don’t happen on time- inshallah- no big deal it’s the UAE

Other…

The number of expats over here is crazy!  I have already met two people from Charlotte!  So funny!  I have had the chance to meet people from all over the world and I cannot wait to continue this!  It is so cool to hear about parts of the world I know very little about!  It is still super hot and humid here so we really have not gotten out to explore too much and with school starting that’s been hard to do but we have had lots of nights with the girls and explored the malls and stores a bit so we know where to find things.  But this weekend we have plans to go to Dubai!  I cannot wait!  My principal told me in the car that a phrase that is used around here is “Dubai has the flash but Abu Dhabi has the cash”.  SO excited to see the flash of the UAE!  Greece is also in the plans for a week in October!  Then to the desert for a weekend of camel riding (SALLY THE CAMEL! Jack & Nic!!) & dune bashing!  Also, Rihanna in October!  Can’t at all complain about my life over here yet!  Everything has been wonderful and I cannot wait to see what this adventure has in store for me!

Well- that’s all for now and I will be very impressed to anyone who made it through this whole post- and you will also know I wrote this exactly how I would tell you about this in person! :)

More to come after Dubai with pictures included!

OHHHH!and my bags came!!! one bag came after my 4th full day here and the other two after my 6th.  What a pain!!! But at least they are here!

<3 A