Sand Storm! and Golf

I experienced my first sandstorm here in Dubai on Thursday evening. To be honest, I didn't even know that it was really happening, I just thought it was rather windy out. I have heard about the sand storms here, and seen the one in Mission Impossible 4, but in actuality, they are not even remotely like that. I have been told maybe once every few years a major one happens where you better get your car inside so you don't have to get it repainted. Basically everything becomes very hazy and you can't see the big buildings. I feel like it is kind of similar to following a car down a dirt road. Just chalk it up to another first time experience!

This weekend we went out to my friend Deb's place on the Palm. It was nice and the views were amazing (I forgot my camera). It was amazing to think about these giant hotels and apartments and houses being built on this 'fake' foundation. It kind of freaks me out a little, so I try not to think about it too much.

Other than that, school is one month in and things are rolling. I met with a few head golf professionals in the area, including Chris Villander at Emirates Golf Club. Christ, myself and ASD's Recreational Director are trying to start a golf club amongst ASD and about 10 other area schools. Emirates Faldo course is a lit course and so this makes it possible to play into the evening hours. We are also trying to see what the chances of Meydan (The famous horse race track) and the course there could offer. It turns out the Meydan golf course has been out of commission for the last few years, but Troon Golf Course Organization just took it over and are planning on making it a fantastic and world renowned course. It also turns out the new director and CEO of Troon Middle East division, is a parent at ASD!

We booked our Eid trip and are going to Jordan. I know some of you may be weary about this, but it is totally safe to go there. We are going to go to Petra for one night and then up to the Dead Sea for a few nights to relax and enjoy the amazing views of the famous body of water. I cannot wait. I might have to buy an Indiana Jones style hat and go search for the Holy Grail myself! 

Events in the Area

I'm not too much of a CNN follower, nor am I really up on the news very much in general. That has changed drastically over the last week and a half. Due to events recently surrounding Libya and at our sister school in Tunis, as well as everything happening in Syria right now, the news has become a new hobby for me. The feeling towards American's in the region is overshadowed by these events. It is scary to think that people would take such extreme actions due to such feelings of hate. Everything in the UAE is still fine. It is almost like a bubble in the Middle East. The American Embassy and the Canadian Embassy (both Ambassadors are parents at ASD), have assured us that the level of security has increased, but that the best thing for us to do as a school and as a community is to continue to be respectful while in public towards our host country. 

The devastation caused at our sister school in Tunis (tunisia), is heartbreaking. The fact that people would destroy an educational facility is disturbing and causes me to lose a little faith in the human race. Our Superintendant read us that story at our all faculty assembly yesterday. Many of my colleagues have friends in the international community that teach at that school. We were stunned into silence. Please read the above articles. 

Onto some much lighter stories in the world of Megan! I have successfully made it through the third week of teaching without too many headaches. We had Back to School night where I made a short ten minute presentation to the parents for each of my five blocks of students. I felt great about the whole evening in general. The most entertaining part of the evening for me was seeing the outfits on the parents. Hellooooo MONEY! It was Housewives of Dubai at it's finest. It was fun to just try to do some mental math about how much an outfit cost. I tried not to drool over the diamonds that many of these women were wearing as well. Absolutely stunning. But, for the most part, it was so great to look out on the parents and see both mother and father there and have them be so enthused about the school year. The atmosphere at the school has done a 180 with the new administration. Teachers and Parents are all just so jazzed up about the school. One parent emailed our Super after her Middle School Back to School night (I have her daughter). She said that this was supposed to be their last year in Dubai, but that ASD and it's rejuvenated teaching staff and administration is making that a very hard decision. That is so cool to hear. 

I also decided that the Yaris was not going to cut it anymore, and was able to secure a dealership lease for a car. I now officially have a Honda Civic. It is a nice new car and fun little whip to drive. The only downside to this is that I can't drive it in the desert and I can't drive onto the beach. I will just have to find someone who does have that Jeep Wrangler that I so wanted and convince them to let me borrow it. When it cools down a little more, a desert camping trip is in the works! I'm so excited for that...

I also am trying to figure out where I am going for Eid break, which is at the end of October. It is only a couple of days long, similar to the MEA break in Minnesota. I was researching, along with a few of my friends, someplace we could go that will have the fall colors, and that is within a few hour plane jaunt from here. Armenian mountains and Istanbul (Turkey) are up there on the list. Jordan is also another idea that has been tossed around, and I have wanted to visit Petra for a while. We will see. The airline Fly Dubai is super cheap (similar to Ryan Air in Europe), and goes pretty much anywhere in a 8 hour radiai. 

That seems enough for now. 

One week in...

Well, one week into the school year and I am still in love with my profession. The kids are beyond awesome! The 6th graders are so fun because they believe anything and everything you tell them, because they don't know any better. The 7th graders are just hilarious because they are so sarcastic. And they laugh at my jokes. But, in all honesty, the school environment is amazing. I can't honestly believe I work in such an amazing school and in such a beautiful country.

I feel as if I have a lot to tell,  but don't really know where to start, and don't want to ramble on and on about how wonderful my job is. Because that would be rather boring for any non-teaching folk, really.

I must apologize for still not putting up any pictures of my awesome apartment. It is still fairly bare bones and I am not really planning on filling it up too much. I am trying to not spend a lot of money, and in Dubai that can be very challenging. I want to get some sort of couch so it isn't entirely embarrassing when having some people over. But I think my next purchase will have to be my car, and possibly a hammock for my balcony (excellent idea).

Thanks for all your support thus far. I do miss everyone and the comfort of being able to walk around Lake of the Isles and grab some excellent tacos at the Tin Fish. The food here is great and I am challenging myself to try to improve my cooking skills and not purchase a microwave. Yikes. :)

I will write a bunch more later and try to upload pictures! Ciao for now. 

Photos and Links

These two pictures are from right outside my apartment. Those are other apartments you see. Generally the whole Uptown area of Motor City looks this way. 

This is the Dubai AutoDrome. It is a Formula One race track. There are a few races here per year, and on certain days they open the track to the public for coming and driving your car, and other days it is open to the public for biking or walking. There is also a serious go-carting track. 

This is an authentic dressed Thai woman.
We were eating and she came out and
danced a traditional Thai dance.

This is Spinney's. My grocery store. It is within walking distance,
but when it is so hot, it isn't too fun to lug home groceries.
Once, we took a cart! Apparently people do it all the time.

 

The Burj Al Arab at night. 

Marina waterfront at night. Just a small snapshot. There are many more buildings.