The Grand Mosque

Abu Dhabi is home to the 3rd largest Mosque in the world. We did get up early enough one morning to make it to the 10am tour. Since this is a holy place, I was required to wear an abaya and a sheila. The size of the Mosque was overwhelming. It is almost completely marble, the white marble floors being made of a marble that does not retain heat. The colored marble used in the designs does get hot. I guess it can only compare to visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The pictures tell more than I can.

Mary and Louisa on the "cool" tiles.

The size can only be appreciated in person

The walls are all marble

Sporting my new look.

Many people have gotten their apartment assignments, but my address will continue to be The Yas Hotel until at least 9/6 as all government offices are closed next week for Eid. Nothing happens that week...at all. I have gotten used to doing some of my laundry in the bathtub and sending some out to the hotel laundry. The hotel laundry is expensive even with our discount BUT I have to admit, they do a better job than I do!!
There were changes to the original school calendar, or there were errors, not sure which. Either way, I have to report to the Regional Office of ADEC along with every other teacher (including the Arabic teachers) on 9/4 to get my actual school assignment. At that point it becomes a free for all of obtaining taxis to get to our schools to introduce ourselves to our principals. I plan to rent a car BUT we keep getting mixed messages, one minute we can rent cars if we have an International Driving Permit and the next we cannot. I hope to have a car rented before the cluster funk begins!! I did spend the whopping $15 to get an International Driving Permit from AAA before I left the states.

Yes! We have Starbucks. Check out the signs. Like everything here, in both English and Arabic.

Mickey Hess, Kermit sporting a sag picture just for you!!!

Other than the trip to the Mosque, things have been a boring cycle of shopping for furniture, finding someplace to eat that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get to by taxi, and relaxing to be sure we are ready for the craziness to come. Oh, and the major broken toe drama at Ikea!! Mary and Louisa had just been informed that they have been assigned to Al Gharbia, a remote area several hours from the city. Leave it to me to break the tension and become the center of attention. We went to Ikea last night and the area in which I got injured is pretty much blocked off now. They must have seen me coming. I have picked out all of my furniture but have not ordered yet as I cannot give a delivery date. We receive a furniture allowance of 20000 dirhams, approximately $5400. So far on the bedroom, living room, and dining room I will have spent less than a third of it and that includes the ginormous wardrobe that is a necessity as apartments do not have closets here. Apartments don't come with appliances so I have to budget for a refrigerator, range, and washer/dryer. Not sure that I need a dishwasher. I was even considering skipping the range and just getting a convection microwave but...what to do with the empty hole in the kitchen??? I am hoping to have money left over when I am done. The largest expense is the bed, life is too short to sleep in a small bed with a crappy mattress!!!

The "first aid lady" at Ikea performing toe surgery!!

Nasty

Dunes and Camels and Hookahs...Oh My!!

OK NJ people...forget Sandy Beach, forget The Sand Pits, forget Hidden Lakes even. You have not been four wheeling until you've done it on the dunes. For 129 dirhams ($35 US) we got four wheeling, a trip to a camel farm, camel rides photo op, Iftar dinner, and hookahs. If it wasn't Ramadan, there would have been belly dancing also. For an extra 50 dirhams ($14 US) I also went out on my own on an ATV.

We were picked up at the hotel in Land Cruisers and we ended up getting "Medel" Andretti as our driver!! He drove at 140+ km/h (90+ mph) for most of the 45 minute drive. At one point there was a car going to slow in the left lane....and he pulled a Beverly and passed in the shoulder. Everyone else winced while I clapped!! Oh yes, it was a good night.

After we got there, the drivers let air out of the tires. Damn I never knew valve stem pullers were meant for anything but revenge! After the shoulder incident, I ended up moved from the 3rd row to the front seat. Flying over sand dunes and sliding down them sideways is better than any roller coaster I have ever been on. As I was screaming, "Oh Sheeeeet", the driver (who claims not to speak English) was laughing hysterically.My video and pictures of the event are minimal though I was the videographer. I, of course, forgot to bring extra batteries for my camera and it died after a couple of minutes of video. I am highjacking Julie's video and posting. One group even wimped out and started going the easy way around the dunes.

BEFORE Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Michele and Mary

Riding a camel is not as easy as it looks. Getting on and riding is easy, getting off is another story. The camel's front knees go down first so you have to lean backward. Apparently I didn't do that well enough and the camel ended up with my boobs in the back of his head. Since I was not at all ready to stop, I paid the extra to go out on an ATV  by myself.

Getting ON the camel

50 dirhams...no problem!

Riding the camel

Getting ready to go down! This is the HARD part.

I don't care that the regular price is 290 dirhams, I am going again when Lauren is here over winter break. Definitely something everyone should do at least once in their life!

Ramadan Festival

Went to the Ramadan Festival last night. It is being held at the Abu Dhabi Exhibition Center (ADNEC). We went mainly for the 35 dirham Iftar buffet but got there too late. The exhibitions reminded me of what Columbus Market would look like if you moved it to Moorestown or King of Prussia!! We did end up getting food for 10 dirhams (about $3.67 US) and I was full. It was a combination of pasta, rice, and lentils....yeah protein!!

I came 7000 miles to end up hanging with someone from Cherry Hill!

I did absolutely fall in love with a pair of sandals that was, surprisingly, purple and pink!! But the negotiations started at 450 dirhams. For a pair of sandals? NOT.

Tonight is the Desert Safari complete with camels and 4 wheeling. Then for the next 3 days we actually have to work. We have orientation scheduled, or quasi scheduled. The times have not been released yet. Because of Ramadan fasting, we do not expect it to be the whole day but either morning or evening hours. It is being held at the Sorbonne....yes they actually have a satellite campus of the prestigious Paris University.We want it to be in the morning so we can hit Ladies Night at the Aloft Hotel. Free drinks!

Poster at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center

ADNEC

First Whole Week and Financial Aid Drama

I have now been here for 8 days. Getting used to not being able to eat in public during the day and not being able to have dinner until 7pm. 78 teachers got their housing assignments here in Abu Dhabi City and about 100 got their housing in Al Ain. I am still homeless. The only disadvantages I have found thus far is the "Bathtub Laundromat" and the "Balcony Dryer". Other than that I am good with living in a hotel: free breakfast, someone makes my bed and cleans my bathroom. I even have my National Bank of Abu Dhabi Debit Visa...I have arrived!!

We are scheduled for orientation Tuesday-Thursday...we think!! Information filters through via "whisper down the lane". What fun!! For the most part, this has been a paid vacation. Many people are sightseeing but I'd rather wait until fall when the weather is cooler. One group went to the beach and discovered that the water was 90 degrees. I think I'll stick with the pool since the hotel set up a secluded area with snacks and water. Another group went on the Desert Safari today. Not doing that in 116 degree heat.

Drama started last night when I got an email informing me that my son's Student Loan was being held up because the tax return I had submitted was not signed. I posted the dilemma to 400 some odd teachers and Voila! it was sent, signed, to Rutgers an hour ago. This was completely and totally without the assistance of the Business Office at the hotel since it was closed and the Concierge had no clue how to use the scanner...and neither did I.

Roller Coaster at Ferrari World

Yes EVERYTHING is in English and Arabic

Yes this is a 1000 dirhams ($367)

Me with Julie and Louisa at Rush

I have arrived-my own National Bank of Abu Dhabi debit card! Yeah Me!

The rooftop pool

These are the only birds I have seen so far

Ferrari World from the rooftop

Ahmad's tour of Marina Mall...haven't even been here 24 hours yet

My going away party at Marci's 8/1/11

Hotel Lobby

Before breakfast and coffee...need I say more?

Me, Julie, Louisa, and Kelly at Rush

Hotel Fountain

Group 2 started landing last night but is at a different hotel. Some type of Meet & Greet has been set up for the first week in September after Group 3 arrives. I am very thankful to be in Group 1. I have not really missed being at home, but I am sure it will hit me when Lauren moves into her Freshman Dorm and I am 7000 miles away.

The First (Almost) Week

After losing an entire day between 13 hours in the air and the 8 hour time difference, finding out that we were being placed at The Yas Hotel was awesome. This place is beautiful and huge. Ferrari World Amusement park is right next door and the Formula One track runs around the hotel. If the race was now instead of November, I would have a perfect view from my balcony.

We got to rest from Friday 1am when we arrived until Sunday evening when the "disorganized chaos" began. We were told to report for registration at 5pm and then told 4:30pm. After sitting for a half hour, we learned via "whisper down the lane" that we were supposed to be using this time to make 2 copies of our passport and work Visa. The mad rush for the 2 copiers then began. We were told to report back for orientation at 6:30-7. We (me, Julie, and Louisa) decided to have dinner first and that was a good choice. When we arrived back it was to mass confusion. There were several tables set up for us to open our accounts with The National Bank of Abu Dhabi BUT the only way to find out which table you were assigned to was to walk behind the tables and look st the lists. After standing in line for 2 hours, we were ordered out of line into the orientation which was a Power Point and Q & A session. I walked out and got back in the bank line. After proceeding to the line to drop off my copies for ADEC (The Abu Dhabi Education Council) the "whisper down the lane" began again as word got around that we needed a copy of our passport and Visa for our Medical Check the next morning. I decided to make a half dozen copies. We did finally get out of there around 11pm BUT I had to get up at 4am Monday morning for my exam!!! Being in the first group was an advantage, as we were in and out in 2 hours while the later groups took upwards of 5 hours!! Tuesday night was our group's assigned fingerprinting. We arrived at the Abu Dhabi Police Station at 8:45pm and sat there for more than an hour doing nothing while the personnel took cigarettes breaks and told us to "Silencio!" Our group got back to the hotel a little after midnight. Once again, I was glad I had opted for an early dinner. The last group of the night got back at 4:30am. There are more groups going tonight.

Over the weekend before the chaos began, I went to Marina Mall twice and AL Raha Mall once. I joinded Ahmed, the car salesman, on a 5 hour tour of Abu Dhabi that culminated at a Cafe from which the Hookah picture came. We have also had an opportunity to meet and bond with 400 some odd other teachers. The roof top pool is absolutely gorgeous and must be refrigerated. The pool is cool while the temperature has averaged around 116. Up until Sunday there had been relatively low humidity but the last few days...ugh.

View of Marina from my balcony

This "shell" surrounds most of the hotel including my balcony

Cruising through Abu Dhabi

Jumeirah Abu Dhabi open Fall 2011

Requisite hookah picture

Yes there is American food here

....and American magazines

Marina from my balcony

Kelly, Joanna, and Louisa at the "Restaurant with No Name"

My "night owl" body has adjusted to this time zone very well. I am one of the few not walking around like a zombie and taking naps. Instead of sleeping until noon like in the US, I have been up early with no problem. Apparently this is the time zone for me. If you will notice from the grocery shopping pictures, magazines and food items are in English. We are not going to be on our sightseeing tour until...we think...Sunday. Tentative plans are for hitting the Souks tomorrow and one busload is going to Dubai. I haven't decided if I want to deal with the trip to Dubai yet or just hit the Souks here. Off to the pool, yes I will take pictures.