Flew into San Antonio for the weekend to play with some friends.  Of course we had a wonderful time.  Bummer I won’t be able to go next year, but Joe is going and will raise a margarita or two for me.  We flew home late last night, and I’m exhausted.  Too tired to work or write really, but I’m at work and writing in here to, hopefully, perk/wake me up.  I’ve too much to do!  And, it’s not working, so I’ll just post a link to my latest blog entry at Teach UAE magazine — it’s all about how much fun I’m having shopping this year (and, yes, I am wearing one of my new maxi dresses today):

http://teachuae.com/?p=592

I just finished cleaning up and getting the house ready for Easter.  Because I’m not going to be here next year I asked the family what they’d like for dinner this year.  So, instead of ham we’re having crab legs and steak — they obviously haven’t considered the fact that I’m still on my American salary!  It’s beautiful outside, so I can’t wait for Kaylene and Kelly to get here, so that we can begin the egg coloring and feasting.  I would complain about having to work tomorrow, but next year I’ll be working on Easter, so I’ll shush on that.  I have nothing much to add for this week’s news other than I truly am cherishing every minute I have.  Knowing that I will be far away from my loved ones is a gift because it’s making my time with them that much more special.  On the flip side of it all when I’m ticked at the lazy buggers for not picking up after themselves I cling to the fact that in a few months it’ll be just me and my pristine apartment. I’m not a religious person, but I surely am grateful for the blessed life I’ve been given.  If anyone is reading this it’s my hope that you too are enjoying the joys and love in your life.  I think any god in any religion would agree that’s a pretty damned good way to celebrate any holiday.  So Happy Whatever You Worship day!

One of the things you read about, and that we should all worry about, is running.  Some people end up in schools/communities they cannot adapt to.  Not everyone wants you there, and we all know how much any of us hates to be alienated.  Some folk run.  They leave everything there and just go home without notice.  This is not what any of us wants to do, but some of us end up doing it.  I wrote a blog about it for Teach UAE magazine.  I’ll post the link in just a second, but I do want to stress first that my intent was not to bastardize runners.  It’s just my thoughts on it and my big move.   I don’t intend on breaking my contract because it does hurt more than just myself, but I’m not in the situation any runner has been in, so I am not speaking for or about them, just about how I process and prepare based on what I know of the whole thing.  make sense?

Here’s the link:  http://teachuae.com/?p=552

I’m only posting because, for some reason, when I created this blog I set a weekly posting goal for myself.  I guess I was hoping this would force me to keep on blogging once I’m an Abu Dhabian (well residence wise), but it’s kind of a pain while I’m still here in the U.S. But, you see, I hate not meeting my goals, so here we go.

I’m going to call this the limbo phase because there is nothing else (on my end) that needs to be done.  Now, we wait until July or August when we attend a webinar and receive our tickets and visas.  And, it’s not entirely true that I don’t need to do anything else.  I have plenty.  I have to take the English for Arabic speakers online course (a freebie thanks to TeachAway & Toronto University), get my financials in order (close some accounts, get the money transfer codes, let them know I’ll be overseas, etc.), finish up dental/medical checkups (before U.S. insurance runs out), buy supplies and pack.

Packing is a big topic of discussion amongst we newbies.  I plan on bringing just the two check-in bags and two carryons.  I’m packing a duffel with my hiking boots and some winter clothes (for traveling to cooler climates) for Joe to bring over when he visits in November.  WHAT I’m actually putting in the two bags I’m bringing remains the big question.  I’m not freaking out over school supplies because I can’t worry about what I can’t control.  I’m loading up a thumb drive with as much as I can, and then figuring it out as I go along over there.  I am debating whether or not to buy a portable projector, but I think I’ll just have to wait and see.  If I need one badly enough I’ll have Joe bring one over too — poor guy doesn’t yet realize he’s gonna be my pack camel.

I should be planning my east-coast road trip right now, but my heart isn’t in it as much as it should be.  I am just ready to end this school year and move already.  I type this knowing full and well that I also want to spend plenty of time with my family, but it’s hard to do when I am so excited about where I’ll be in a few months.  August isn’t that far off, but it feels like forever from now.

okay, so most of the views on my little blog come from the U.S., but whalla I hit the magical number today.  I also got an email from TeachAway telling me that my immigration documents have been sent to Abu Dhabi.  How exciting is that?  Thinking about that makes my heart pitter patter a bit faster, but it’s all good, I was brought back down to life.  Minutes later I got another email from them reminding me to actually apply for a job if I wanted to work overseas.  Huh?  Apparently, that’s just a robo email, but I had a mini oh-shit moment.

Spring break is over, and I’m pooped — and it’s only my lunch break right now.

I’m too busy to stalk blogs and online articles right now, but wow I have just two months left of teaching here, and then a few more months until I’m in Abu Dhabbi.  It’s sort of blowing me away.  This is really real…

It’s already Thursday!  My spring break is going by way too quickly.  I’ve slowed down to enjoy living my current life, and yet that is flying by.  I’ve hiked, I’ve cleaned house, I’ve had new carpeting put down in the bedrooms (looks like a brand-new house), and I’ve met up with old friends and new (met some Phoenix Abu Dhabi peeps — we’re all excited and overwhelmed at the same time).

The worst of work is pretty much finished — yearbook and IB assessments are completed.  So, when I go back next week it’s all about the down slope.  I think the best thing for me to do right now is just take it all in.  Enjoy everything I’m doing now, which is stuff I’ve been doing for years, and see it for the goodness that it is.  It’s a gift to have what you thought was mundane brought to a magical level.

I didn’t get to do the Sedona hike — my sons have other plans (if only they’d spend a little more time enjoying what time they have left with me, but they’re young and at that point where it’s alllll about their friends) — but that’s okay because I’ve truly been appreciating my own backyard and the hike I’ve taken soooo many times.  I’m posting some pics of my now for when I get homesick tomorrow.

Click here for what I see today — and, yes, I’m so incredibly grateful 

My big news this week is that we’ve decided not to sell the house, which eliminates some of the stress.  Joe, my man friend, and Aaron will continue to live here, which they prefer doing versus a move as well.  I like knowing that when I come back to visit I’ll be sleeping in the home the kids and I have known for more than a decade.  The only reason I wanted to sell is because I didn’t want to worry about it financially, but we’re good.  If I sell now I barely break even, so I build more equity and everyone is happy with where they’re living.   The house is now crossed off of my to-do list (easy enough).  Plus, I get to swim and nap in my pool until the day I leave!  And, hike MY mountains … all very comforting.  Another plus, I can fantasize about doing these things again when I’m homesick.

I’m also continuing to get to know the folk I’ll move over there with.  A big surprise is there’s a another teacher who not only lives 5 minutes away from me, but she also works for the same district.  We met after work earlier this week, and we’re both so excited.  We’re getting together during spring break, so I’m sure a fun friendship is just a brewing away.  I feel so lucky that I’m able to begin friendships here before making the big move.

Facebook is a great lifeline as well.  There’s all sorts of file and experience sharing going on.  It’s scary when you read some of the bad stuff that could happen, but I think it’s also vital to read it.  I’d rather be prepared for the worst than surprised by it.  Of course, like everyone else, I’m hoping that mine won’t be a bad story.  That said I’m still really excited about it all (and love reading the posts about the good things too).  I’ll make whatever comes my way work, and I’ll cherish every ounce of good I get.  I type this knowing that the folk who got the short end of the stick also thought this.

I think when you sign up for something so foreign, you have to ask yourself some tough questions first.  A big one is can I survive if it doesn’t work out?  If I get sent back my first 6 months (like every other job I’ve had the first 6 months are probationary) will I be devastated? Do I have a plan B?

In my case the answer is yes.  I don’t think I’d do this if I’d be totally screwed if I got booted.  I think another tough question is can I fulfill my contract even if I totally hate what I’m doing?  My honest answer is I think I can.  I’ve never just quit without notice, even when I couldn’t stand the people I was working for.  I take my contracts seriously, but I’ve also not been in an overseas situation yet either.  I feel badly for those who felt they had to leave without officially quitting, and I feel badly for those who have to pick up the extra load they left behind.

I’m going off on one of my tangents, but I think my reasoning is that you have to be fully prepared, and you have to go into this knowing that your decisions will affect more than just you.  I know we all know this, but we have to make sure we’re not just caught up in the wonderful aspects of taking this job.  All adventures include risk.  It’s how you prepare for it that makes the difference, or so has been my experience so far in life.  I hesitate sharing this because I don’t want to offend or sound like I’m assuming others didn’t do their homework.

This is all just my little pea-brain’s way of preparing for my new life — because it’s not just a new job I’m taking; it’s a new everything.

I’ve signed and returned my contract (after looking it over several times to make sure there were no misplaced comas or decimals in those numbers), and I’ve submitted my official resignation letter.  It was much harder than I thought it would be.  I’ve been with my district for 10 years, my current school for five.  While, I’ve had many a vent session with teacherly friends about the things I didn’t like, overall it has been a wonderful experience.  Seriously, I’m typing this from the bottom of my heart. I am so incredibly grateful for all I’ve been able to experience.  I could bore you with the list of super-cool things I got to do because of where I work, but I”ll be good and just say thank you to each and every soul who opened doors for me that I didn’t even know existed — and wow am I ever a better person and teacher because of it.  So, yes, my heart pitter pattered a bit when I sent that good-bye letter.  I’m leaving a good thing.

Of course I’m also incredibly excited about where I’m going.  I’ll stay in touch with the friends I’ve made along the way — all wonderful people who will continue to teach and support me (and I, hopefully, them) wherever in the world I plop my pillow.  If you’re reading this blog, I totally expect you to come visit!  There’s always room at my place for you, and I’ll make a great tour guide.

I’ve been making new friends too.  I’ve joined several Facebook groups where I’m meeting people like me (in this first stage) and those who are already there and working.  I can tell I will not be alone, and I have a lot of adventures to look forward to — and those much-needed vent sessions.

Because my students have a lot on their plate right now (thanks to my — and, well, state/IB expectations — cooking it up) I’m back into full swing with them.  Whew!  I was worried they lost me, but I’m back to focusing on them.  I have a few more weeks of major work, and then after that it’s all (for me) fun stuff and getting things ready for next year.  Whoever gets my job will be in good shape.  I’m leaving him/her everything, including copies of my lessons, contacts, and a how-to cheat sheet.

So, right now I’m calm about the big change, and I’m here typing because I don’t really want to finish painting my bathroom — the house is getting all spruced up, so that I can put her on the market.  I guess I better get as in charge of my personal things as I am the job front…