I just received my departure date a couple days ago. I am going to preface telling you the date by telling of an email I received near the beginning of the summer. The email had a list of dates that people interviewed for jobs and corresponding times that people would be flying out. Because of the day I interviewed, I was supposed to be leaving mid to late August. Therefore, with about a month to go before I left, my mom started planning a going away/birthday party for my dad's 50th. We figured we should play it safe and have the party the first weekend of August, so we decided to have the party on Saturday, August 6th. I spent days creating an amazing e-invite and preparing a list of people/email addresses that my dad and I were hoping to come to join us for a evening of fun and excitement in the great town of Dover, MN. (Note: for those of you not from south-east Minnesota, Dover has just over 500 people, two bars, a post office, a hair studio, and our very own fire station.) So, we got the e-mail addresses and sent out the invites. Thus I went up to visit friends in the Twin Cities this past Wednesday, fully confident in the fact that I had more then enough time to enjoy the company of friends and family before my departure. Thursday morning dawned bright and cheery, I looked forward to a night of theatre and good company. It was then, biting into my wonderfully delicious bagel at Bruegger's Bagels, that I put their glorious gift of free wi-fy to great use. I was sitting with my friend's cousin and his two friends, all of whom I had met the day before, as I began looking at my emails. Chatter ceased as I, dumbfounded, exclaimed, "No way, no no no!" as well as some other choice phrases that I will not repeat in this public forum. My three new buddies sat quietly waiting for me to explain. As I explained that I had received my departure date, they understood my excitement, but not my duel expression of dismay. It was then that I explained that my departure date was not mid-late August, as I expected, but August 4th, two weeks from that very day and two days before my dad's and mine much anticipated party! I felt as if my heart had stopped as the enormity of my situation crashed in on me. This weekend was the last that my family would all be home before I left, yet I wanted to make sure I saw all my friends before I left. Therefore, I decided to go home early, while still being able to see all my friends. I called my mom first, knowing the response I would get and hoping that I could make her feel somewhat better. My mom being my mom, got on re-emailing the invites to our invite list, getting together my paperwork, and making a list of things I still needed to get/do before departure. Needless to say it has been an interesting few days. Tomorrow I begin packing and putting my stuff into storage that I am not taking with me. We are also going to be cleaning to prepare for the party. With this sudden change in my plans of when I was leaving, and the amount of time I "lost" with friends and family, overwhelmed and stressed me. However, it was also a reminder of the new life I would be entering in which Insh'Allah (Allah willing) and shway shway (slowly/wait) would be my two new phrases to live by. I think I will learn to let things happen more at their own pace, which can't be a bad thing. I will keep you updated as the days get closer as to packing processes and actual leave time. If you want to have an idea of what my flight will be like you can follow the link to Etihad, UAE's Airline (http://www.etihadairways.com/sites/etihad/ae/en/experienceetihad/Pages/ourguestzones.aspx). The Economy class is as nice or nicer then most first class seats in U.S. flights, I am psyched! Until next time!
Kelby
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Baggage and Such... the stressful beginning
Hello again,
A couple new updates to awe and inspire you...okay maybe not inspire as much as confound and frustrate you, like they have me, but its okay. So, I got some nice emails detailing what I needed to fill out in order to get tickets for my move, what I need to have authenticated in order to move, and other information. Can I just say that, at my age, the emails were daunting and word filled. It was obvious to me that the person writing them was probably a businessperson or politician type and not a writer. The language was, as I said before, confounding and frustrating. I am lucky that I have my Mother Teresa, reader of difficult documents and explainer of complicated writing, to go over all the emails with me to write a list of things I needed to do in order to be able to go on my marvelous adventure. The list is four pages long...on note paper, which on normal paper is about two pages. The list includes authenticating my degree and teaching license (which is a pain and a half) as well as my power of attorney and possibly my will (we aren't quite sure on the last one yet). It also includes having a medical check, complete with physical, blood work, and any vaccines that I need updated. I also have to look into adding my parents onto my account and figuring out how to send money from my account in Abu Dhabi, when I get one, to my account in the U.S. in order to pay my numerous student loans and to avoid the most costs. I am also getting an international driver's license, through AAA, so I can drive poorly in another country. I have to register with the U.S. state department and the U.S. embassy in the UAE. It is a lengthy process that I suggest you get on right away. It hasn't been the easiest thing to stay on top of right now, what with the end of the school year and such, but I am doing my best. I also made a will, health care directive, and power of attorney. I downloaded the Quicken WillMaker, which is a much cheaper and easier way of making these three documents then going to a lawyer. Anyway, I am paying a company to authenticate the necessary documents, which saves me a butt load of time and stress, for an small, worthy price. This way I can continue to do the other things I need without having to worry about when documents are getting sent to which places and how quickly those documents can get back to me so that I can send them to the next place and....well you get the idea. Anyone who is reading this to get some idea of what to expect for your own adventure...I hope this helps. Now on to WAY more interesting information...
MY PARENTS GOT ME NEW LUGGAGE!!!! It is beautiful, I call it Sherlock chic. I cannot explain how beautious it is without showing a picture, so look at that. They are the London Fog Chelsea Lites luggage and I got the 29" and 25" suitcases, like the big one in the photo, and the 20" Rolling Club Bag, also in the photo. I am pretty positive that my little sister could fit comfortably in the big suitcase. They expand wider and the suitcases have 360 degree rolling capabilities and they are super easy to maneuver. I think I am in love with my luggage.
I have already started to alter my wardrobe with clothing that won't kill me in the 100+ weather I expect to encounter when I get to Abu Dhabi in August. I went to my favorite store, New York and Company, to buy three shirts and a pair of pants, all of which were light weight cotton or linen and loose fitting. I have already worn one shirt to work and my students approved, so I must have some fashion sense yet. I also bought four new pairs of shoes, which would have made my total shoe count 26 pairs, but then I got rid of six pair that I don't wear anymore, thus making my total a solid 20 (for those of you who have trouble in the math department). It is not surprising to me that it has been somewhat difficult to find this lightweight clothing in Minnesota, the land of frigid winters, but I thought I would have a bit more luck in the pants department then I have. I may have to make some pants and skirts this summer to make up for the lack of suitable/cheap linen pants in the area.
Something to note: when leaving ones family completely for two years for the first time ever, really, you are likely to become nostalgic and/or saddened. Everything makes you tear up: talking to your brother about him being a senior next year, seeing your sister looking beautiful in her choir concert, reading to your littlest brother and overall realizing how much all three will change by the time you return in the summer next year. My siblings and I are extremely close and I will miss them dearly, thank the heavens for Skype and Magic Jack so I can see and talk to my family on a regular basis while in Abu Dhabi.
Sitting here typing this, I wonder if people are able to own pet in the Abu Dhabi appartments....
Until next time,
Kelby
A couple new updates to awe and inspire you...okay maybe not inspire as much as confound and frustrate you, like they have me, but its okay. So, I got some nice emails detailing what I needed to fill out in order to get tickets for my move, what I need to have authenticated in order to move, and other information. Can I just say that, at my age, the emails were daunting and word filled. It was obvious to me that the person writing them was probably a businessperson or politician type and not a writer. The language was, as I said before, confounding and frustrating. I am lucky that I have my Mother Teresa, reader of difficult documents and explainer of complicated writing, to go over all the emails with me to write a list of things I needed to do in order to be able to go on my marvelous adventure. The list is four pages long...on note paper, which on normal paper is about two pages. The list includes authenticating my degree and teaching license (which is a pain and a half) as well as my power of attorney and possibly my will (we aren't quite sure on the last one yet). It also includes having a medical check, complete with physical, blood work, and any vaccines that I need updated. I also have to look into adding my parents onto my account and figuring out how to send money from my account in Abu Dhabi, when I get one, to my account in the U.S. in order to pay my numerous student loans and to avoid the most costs. I am also getting an international driver's license, through AAA, so I can drive poorly in another country. I have to register with the U.S. state department and the U.S. embassy in the UAE. It is a lengthy process that I suggest you get on right away. It hasn't been the easiest thing to stay on top of right now, what with the end of the school year and such, but I am doing my best. I also made a will, health care directive, and power of attorney. I downloaded the Quicken WillMaker, which is a much cheaper and easier way of making these three documents then going to a lawyer. Anyway, I am paying a company to authenticate the necessary documents, which saves me a butt load of time and stress, for an small, worthy price. This way I can continue to do the other things I need without having to worry about when documents are getting sent to which places and how quickly those documents can get back to me so that I can send them to the next place and....well you get the idea. Anyone who is reading this to get some idea of what to expect for your own adventure...I hope this helps. Now on to WAY more interesting information...
MY PARENTS GOT ME NEW LUGGAGE!!!! It is beautiful, I call it Sherlock chic. I cannot explain how beautious it is without showing a picture, so look at that. They are the London Fog Chelsea Lites luggage and I got the 29" and 25" suitcases, like the big one in the photo, and the 20" Rolling Club Bag, also in the photo. I am pretty positive that my little sister could fit comfortably in the big suitcase. They expand wider and the suitcases have 360 degree rolling capabilities and they are super easy to maneuver. I think I am in love with my luggage.I have already started to alter my wardrobe with clothing that won't kill me in the 100+ weather I expect to encounter when I get to Abu Dhabi in August. I went to my favorite store, New York and Company, to buy three shirts and a pair of pants, all of which were light weight cotton or linen and loose fitting. I have already worn one shirt to work and my students approved, so I must have some fashion sense yet. I also bought four new pairs of shoes, which would have made my total shoe count 26 pairs, but then I got rid of six pair that I don't wear anymore, thus making my total a solid 20 (for those of you who have trouble in the math department). It is not surprising to me that it has been somewhat difficult to find this lightweight clothing in Minnesota, the land of frigid winters, but I thought I would have a bit more luck in the pants department then I have. I may have to make some pants and skirts this summer to make up for the lack of suitable/cheap linen pants in the area.
Something to note: when leaving ones family completely for two years for the first time ever, really, you are likely to become nostalgic and/or saddened. Everything makes you tear up: talking to your brother about him being a senior next year, seeing your sister looking beautiful in her choir concert, reading to your littlest brother and overall realizing how much all three will change by the time you return in the summer next year. My siblings and I are extremely close and I will miss them dearly, thank the heavens for Skype and Magic Jack so I can see and talk to my family on a regular basis while in Abu Dhabi.
Sitting here typing this, I wonder if people are able to own pet in the Abu Dhabi appartments....
Until next time,
Kelby
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Signed On and Moving Forward
I am starting my blog with the signing of my contract. It may not seem like an interesting step in my adventure beyond the ocean, but I can tell you it was one of the most crucial and stress inducing aspects of this whole thing. For all those who have decided to follow my sometimes interesting and at other times rambling blog, I suspect that this will be like many relationships. I may forget to write some days, or stretches of days at a time. However, just know that I will return with ample stories and excuses for why I abandoned you for the short, or possibly long, stint. I also want to take this time to say that, although I am A English teacher (that one was for you mom, te he), I do not plan to edit every post and will probably have grammar and/or punctuation issues at times, and you will just have to deal with that sad, but irreversible, fact. (For those of you who do care...if you try to tell me of any corrections I should make I will probably stop speaking to you for a bit...you have been warned.) Now back to the signing of my contract...stressful. Upon learning I was going to receive the job I had dreamed about, the biggest thought in my mind was "OH MY LADY GAGA! HOLY HANNAH!" or something of the like. Something you have to understand about me is that I have wanted to travel since I can remember. Therefore, getting a job doing what I love, in an amazing part of the world, was literally a dream come true. At twenty-three years old, I was living out my dream. Now while all those thoughts were going through my mind, the thoughts of what I was going to have to do to prepare for signing the contract did not. Anyone who gets a job in another country do two things: 1) get most the check-listed items done, before the interview, to their specifications and 2) make sure you have someone that can explain everything on the contract to you, including the stuff written in the other language. Other then that, enjoy the happy feelings. I may not write for a while, there are things that I am waiting to hear such as when I'm flying out, what I can take, etc. As soon as those other things are learned I will talk more about my dealings in the whole situation, so until then, chao.
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