In November I was given notice by my school that my position
was being cut. They gave a whole boatload of reasons that didn’t work for me.
Delving a little deeper, as is my habit, I discovered that the school and the
corporation that owns it are in financial trouble. I am still considering what
to do about the shoulder injury that occurred there…….but that’s another story.
The timing worked well since I was able to focus on PT for a
month while looking for another job after winter break. On January 28th
I moved in with a friend in Al Ain. Thanks again, Jasmine and family! Less than
two weeks after moving in, I interviewed for a job in Dubai and got it. For two
weeks I commuted the 93 miles between Al Ain and Dubai. Then another friend let
me stay with her in Sharjah while I looked for a flat (it’s not an apartment
here). Her flat was only five miles from my school but it took an hour to drive
it. Same amount of time in the car as the trip from Al Ain, but less gas.
I looked at flats and pretty much had a choice between 1. rat
feces and mangarillos 2. the Dubai Power Station and cancer or 3. a nice two
bedroom flat less than a mile from my school. After spending an hour waiting
for the manager to return from “break” I was told that I could not rent the
flat because I am single. Welcome to Sharjah, the dry and pork-less Emirate.
Wallah! No beer and no bacon.
I finally found a flat that I liked in the same general area
but almost lost it because the school, which does not employ many westerners,
had not YET processed my work Visa more than a month after I started. Many
tears flowed while showing up in the management office daily and I got the
flat. I should have been an actress.
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| To the right of the building on the right is Dubai. The rest is Sharjah. When I say I am on the border, I mean ON the border. |
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| Love the living room window, though a balcony would be better. |
Unfortunately then I entered the “moving furniture from two
different locations while physically in a third” zone. Here the shout out goes
to Rob and Nic for coordinating the movers. When I moved from Abu Dhabi to Al
Ain in September, I moved into a fully furnished flat. I didn’t like the cooker
(range) or the washer so I had mine moved from Abu Dhabi. I sold Lauren’s
bedroom furniture along with my futons and baby fridge. My bedroom set and
dining room set remained in Abu Dhabi at a friend’s flat and that is where I
stayed most weekends. Thanks Melany and Nic!
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| The bedroom is a LITTLE small for a king size bed and a wardrobe but..... |
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| As a western female, I rate a primo assigned spot. That is Smurfette on the left. No dings for me! |
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| BATHTUB. After the shower in Al Ain, I don't care that this isn't as huge as the one in Abu Dhabi. |
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| I also bought a real sized refrigerator. |
One truck arrived at 6:40pm and the other at 8:00pm. My bed
was finally together at 10:00pm. The refrigerator was not scheduled to arrive
until the next day. Now, I live on the border of Sharjah and Dubai, only
because it is cheaper. My view from one side of the living room window is Dubai
while the other side is Sharjah. The fridge was accidentally loaded onto a
Dubai-bound truck and for some retarded reason; delivery trucks aren’t allowed
to cross Emirate lines. WTF? The fridge got off loaded and then disappeared.
That was Monday. I finally got my refrigerator on Wednesday night.
It is now beginning to feel like I live here. I have located the pork store right across
the border but the beverage stores in Dubai will be a problem as they require a
license to purchase……..which requires a letter from my landlord and my employer.
Since liquor is not allowed in Sharjah, bringing it to my flat requires yet
another license. Then again, the stores in Abu Dhabi don’t check for the
license so………
