More Pictures of the Tilal Liwa Hotel

The First Big Move

Well the notice came last night, I am moving out at noon. So with a hard night of sleep, mainly I didn’t get any. I woke up to the idea I have to pack. So I went to breakfast early and then headed to the Co-op to get a few things that I don’t know if I can get out where I am going. Then I headed back to my room to pack and packing I did. I was lucky enough to get everything I brought back into my three suitcase and then ended up with my purse, computer bag, ADEC bag (mainly papers), and two shopping bags. So now I am just sitting here waiting for them to come and get them and then I am off to Al Gharbia. So I guess I am going to play some games until they come in an hour.

Well I have made it to Al Gharbia and I have the internet. Yeah, the hotel is amazing here I have pictures of my amazing room and the way drive out here. Well let me start with the drive out here. Oh what a fun drive down here, I was able to get a ride down here to with another teacher. We laughed and joked the whole way down, then once we got closer to the hotel there where camels walking on the side of the road, yes ride on the shoulder. Well once we got to the hotel we were able to check into the hotel and it is an almost brand new hotel only 10 months old. I have a beautiful view of the hotel pool with my own little porch to go out on. I am excited to going to my school tomorrow.

So after we got here and checked out the hotel we head to Madinet Zayed. We headed to the mall for dinner and then a little walking around. After the mall we head to the Co-Op here were I got some bread and jelly. I also found out that they do have my peanut butter so I am really excited. Well I guess I am off until tomorrow after school.

Sitting Patiently

Let see I don’t even remember when the last day I work was. I guess I am not trying to bore people with the same stories over and over. I am still waiting in the hotel, which the more I am here the happier I am that it is this hotel. I have heard rumors that they are getting ready to move us to hotels closer to your schools, but only rumors. Okay well let’s see since it has been three days since I last wrote I guess I should look back on what all I have done. I guess I will start with two days go since on the 12^th of Sept. I didn’t really do anything.

Okay so yesterday was our big regional meeting, it was a great day with lots of new information for us. We heard from four different speakers that talked to us about the new school model that we will be using this year and what the next ten year plan is.

Today we were broken into smaller school groups and started to go through the new school model. It was a great way to share idea and find out how other teacher work in their classrooms. After the meetings we head back to the hotel and then out to lunch at a Lebanese restaurant, yes another food I can check off trying. Now I just need to try Egyptian and Arabic food and I will be doing great. Although I have learned that I like India food since I am still craving it. Oh well now I am just sitting in my room watching cartoons and waiting to hear something. So until next time.

Back on My Feet

Well after a long day of being sad and depressed yesterday, things are finally getting back to normal. I started today a lot better day with a great chat at breakfast with a new teacher. Then I headed to the pool area and was able to get on and talk with my aunt and my mother. We were able to have about an hour conversation. I then head back to my room to see if I could get internet up stairs and I can, Yeah.

I was then able to head to the teacher store and was able to get quite a few things for my classroom. I have gotten my be good marble jar and my discipline chart. I was also able to get some boarders and a few other items that most elementary classroom need. I was also able to get everything for under $72.00. So then we headed back to the hotel to drop off our bags and then headed to the mall for food. We then headed out to try to find Lee a purse. We walked the mall for some time then headed to the Abu Dhabi Co-Op Mall, where I found my deal for a purse. I found a purple Coach purse and a brown and purple wallet. We did finally find Lee a purse at the Abu Dhabi Mall. So then we head home and I am now going to work on punching out my teaching materials.

Bus Trip

Well now that I got everything figured out with my debt card I was good to go this morning with my advance in my bank account and my card working. So a group of us decide to head out on the Big Bus Tour. It was a great trip I got to learn so much more about Abu Dhabi then just by riding in taxis. Our first round we stayed on the bus for the whole tour. Once we got back to the mall we decided that we would hope off and take a break. We knew that there were two more trips so we opted for the 3:20 bus to take us back out to Marina Mall.

Once we were back on the bus it was off to start our night at Marina Mall. I figured I would pick up a few things that I knew I was going to want that would be hard to get out in Madinet Zayed, a Multi-region DVD player and IPod speaker. After getting a DVD player I hoped would work in the for my DVDs (they said in the store it would) and finding a nice IPod speaker and alarm clock all in one, YAH two more things I can check off my list (maybe three if the DVD player works). Well after that we went to dinner at Biella, which was amazing. We then headed back to the Hotel to drop off our bags and head out for dessert.

The cab ride home was one of the best I have been on since Lee and the drive had a great conversation about his life. It is so great to listen to someone who wants to tell you their story and is trying as hard as they can through the language barrier. He was also the best since another car tried to cut us off and he was able to stop us from getting in a car accident. After we got back to the Hotel we dropped off our bags and headed to Abu Dhabi Mall. We started with a great dessert that hit all the sweet spots I had. We shared a Chocolate strawberry cake, yeah it tasted like it sounds too. I had so okay hot chocolate, I like the hotel’s better and Lee had a cappuccino (that burned her tongue). We then on a slight sugar high headed to walk the mall to see if she could find a purse. It was the funniest and best time. We were trying to find a nice purse, but man, are they still expensive here. We decided that tomorrow we will be cheap and go check the mall across the way to see if they have any Coach or Prada bag on sale.

After all of this it was back to my room for the moment of truth to find out if my DVD player works. It to the tech guys to come and help me and after about thirty minutes of them messing with their cords, come to find out it works, so one more thing to check off the list. So now it is off to bed to watch a movie and then start another day tomorrow.

Here are the photo from my Bus Trip & Emirates Palace.

Madinat Zayed Where I Am Going to Live and Work

today was the big trip day, which was of great fun and suggest. I was up by 6:30 this morning to breakfast and ready to meet with the other teachers that where going with me. We head out on the hour and a half car ride, which I ended up falling asleep on about a third into it. Well after I woke up I found out we were in Madinat Zayed.

I then was able to get into my school, Al Hamdaniya, which was great. I was so excited to get inside and meet my CfBT head in my school. She was able to sit down and go over so of the question I had about the school and what I need to wear, and know. I was then able to walk around the school get an idea of the lay out and where my classroom might be. After that I was able to see what they think my schedule will be. About half way through the day another CfBT head from another school came by to meet with one of her LTs.

With her help we were able to take a tour of the town. This was of great help to me and the other teacher that was with me. I was so excited since she took us places I never would have thought of going into. She showed us a fruit and vegetable market, so little restaurants that we could eat ate, a spa we could us, and stores that we can find appliances at. We were then taken to see where the park which is a great big park. The day was a great and I got to see so much and learn some much about my soon to be home.

Oh I also got to see the Apartments I am hopefully living in.

India Food

Oh what a fun day, it started off as any normal day, went to breakfast to a sadly much quieter time. It was amazing how many empty the room was with the people in Al Ain. So after the quiet breakfast I headed to co-op with another teacher. I decided that I wanted to get some basic things I need and need to get some laundry soap. So then I headed back to the room and I made myself a pizza sandwich (yeah sandwich maker). Then I did half my laundry, yes bathtub laundry, but all my shirts are hanging and drying. Tomorrow I will do the other half. After that I played around on the computer to see if I could make DVDs on this computer, didn’t figure it out but hopefully soon.

Then while they kicked me out of my room to clean it I again rain into another teacher. We then decided to head to the lobby to watch the people that where coming in. However it was a pretty dead afternoon in the lobby. Yet we didn’t need to worry soon we where meet by a few other teachers got into have a great chat and conversation. They then decided that they wanted to go get dinner and know where every wanted to go. Yes they wanted India food, so I decided that you know I need to try more things so I went. It was great fun and great food, I ended up eating Chicken Butter, Chicken noodles, Nana Bread, and some fried rice (yes I ate rice and liked it). I will say that I couldn’t go to spicy but I did really like it. I think that as long as I am here I will have to keep my mind open to eating whatever I can. We then went for a walk to fine gelato, which we couldn’t find. So we ended up heading to Madinat Zayed Mall and I found a great pair of shoes to replace my other sandals that broke and I learned to haggle. So over all it was a great day and now I am just going to finish my night and watch the Princess Frog.