National Day.. So Awesome!!

This weekend, the UAE celebrated being 39 years old. And when this country throws a party..they know how to throw a party.
The celebration began at school. One of the students' moms gave me and the other western teachers a dress to wear this day.
Then, the next day the party continued at the beach. Where crazy young men spray silly string and shaving cream on unsuspecting people..like my friend, Bonnie, who got blasted.

Kickin' It at the Corniche

Yesterday Bonnie and I went swimming in the Gulf. The coastline is called the Corniche here. After swimming I called my Palestinian brother, Tamer to meet us at a cafe. He said my Arabic is getting good.

Yom Moomtaaz! (Excellent Day!)


Our favorite Beachfront spot

Me and Tamer

Me Bonnie and Tamer

Road Trip to Oman

Myself, along with fellow teachers; Nancy, Irma and Bonnie took a 5 hour drive from Abu Dhabi to the City of Muscat in the country of Oman. We were off from school for the Muslim holiday, Eid. Enjoy the pics.

At the beach with Nancy

Got beef?

Nice landmark

having fun at the souq (market place)

Tarik.. he worked at the hotel

A guy and his goats

another nice landmark

A place to shop

the port

A real Mexican chef in the middle east

I danced..she sang

Dining out.

My favorite laundry detergent

This stuff smells so good!

First Visit To Dubai

I really enjoyed Dubai.. I wish I had gotten better pics but we were on a bus tour. I can't wait to go back!

You can see the Burj al Arab in the background.. my favorite landmark!







The Atlantis Resort

New Bulletin Board

Our supervisor said that she wanted more attractive bulletin boards so.. what can I say.. I give the people what they want! This is an interactive bb.. the fruit is velcro-ed on.. the kids put the fruit in mom's basket depending on what's on the grocery list.

Dalia's Birthday Party

I don't know how old Dalia turned as this is a closely guarded secret, but I do know that her birthday party was a blast.
In attendance were people from ALL OVER the world. Dalia had "Happy Birthday" sung to her in 5 different languages; English, Arabic, Hindi, Spanish and French!

Kickin' It At the Corniche

This is my new friend, Nasser.
He and I went out for Shisha and spent 7 hours talking. His English is excellent.

I'm wearing an abaya and shayla (head scarf) just to match Nasser in his local dress. His white kandoora and matching ghutra looks nice, don't you think?
What he's wearing is equivalent to a business suit in the U.S.

Trip to the Fish Market

Today I saw varieties of fish I had never seen before.. Caught from the Gulf this morning.




That's Tamer, my crazy Palestinian brother.

Hanging Out With Dalia

So, one of my new partners in crime is Dalia.
She's from Chicago.
When I hang out with her, I know we're going to meet some new people.
She and I both like to chat people up if they approach us.
The Arab guys are very flirty. I believe they not only think we're cute, but
they always want us to help them with their English too.




On this particular evening we rode a bus to Dalia's school..and it's FAR, VERY FAR.
It was a 2 hour bus ride from downtown Abu Dhabi!
That's the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa on my shirt.



We stopped at this market.

Tales From Kindergarten

A side view of my school.


My co-teacher, Fatima and I are are going over the alphabet with the students. She is teaching the Arabic alphabet, I teach the English (obviously).
Here is a picture of the board. You will see the letter 'b' alongside its Arabic equivalent 'baa.'
It's great to listen like a kindergartener and learn the Arabic alphabet right along with them.
Fatima's English isn't great and neither is my Arabic. So basically it goes like this.. Fatima introduces the 'baa' and several things that start with a 'baa' then the students write the 'baa'..when she's done she looks at me and says, "teacher go," My cue to do the same in English.


This month's unit is ALL ABOUT ME. We are learning the names of body parts in English and Arabic.
We made these..This is a potato person made with kebab skewers, caramel feet and a date head.


Does your vice principal ever ask her driver to take you home.. ours does! When she saw us waiting on a cab the woman (can't remember her name) insisted we ride with her. We dropped her off at her mega mansion and the driver continued on to our temporary digs, the Fairmont Hotel.

A look at my classroom

This is the classroom I share with my co-teacher, Fatima.
It looked like this when I showed up..I added nothing but a few books in English.

Ana Beheb (I like) Lebanese Food

Something healthy in a mall food court!



This is Tabbouleh salad (I think) Under the pita bread is some chicken shwarma and the fried things on the right have lamb inside.

Of course I wear my Buckeye Jeans here!




Bilal..my first Lebanese friend
And..
I went out to a club again..
This time, Etoise at the Emirates Palace.
I went with Rudy from South Africa, Amanda from St. Louis and a couple of guys I think are from Syria. But who knows..they have a car.