This week has been a roller coaster.
It began last Thursday night with an ANZAC sunset service. I bought myself a new dress covered with poppies for the occasion so dressed up and met my kiwi friends downstairs to get a taxi out to the Traders Hotel. For 180 AED we got 3 drinks (beer, wine or softdrinks) and a BBQ dinner.
My friend was representing NZ as the ambassador was unable to attend so she was doing a reading. When she ascended the podium she invited three of us kiwi gals up to be with her so I ended up being an important person for a while.
The evening was organised by Aussies Abroad which I'm considering joining as they have many get togethers and are a very social bunch.
Our BBQ food was amazing. As we reached the end of the line we found squid, prawns, mussels and fish so our plates were piled high by the time we returned to our own wee tent on the beach. We felt like a harem hiding out in a Sheikhs tent as we were slightly away from the other tables.
The next day my friend came in from out west to stay the night so we had a relaxing day and evening together, getting out to IKEA on Yas Island to buy some kitchen essentials. Shopping is the number one pastime here and it was so busy. We had a meal out there then headed back into town.
I've got a student teacher at work so that is keeping me busy. Then I was lucky enough to get an interview for a HOF position.
Having to teach the first two periods I rush off for the interview, hoping to arrive relaxed and ready to go. A panel of three interviewed me, one male HOF, one female VP and another female consultant. It was a very thorough interview of around 50 minutes and the questions just kept coming. Just when I thought I'd answered one satisfactorily they threw another at me. So I have no idea how it went and I'll have to wait a while to find out. The wheels of progress move slowly here.
Apparently 200 applied for the positions, 80 got shortlisted and interviewed and there are 20 jobs available at the moment. So even getting shortlisted was a great start.
Talking of roller coasters, we had a trip to the mall with our 4th grade students. With not even 24 hours notice we head off in the bus with the girls in a high state of excitement. The day was spent in the kids playground riding the roller coaster, bumper cars, 4D movies and other entertainment options. I managed to get my annual ice-skating in and enjoyed it as usual.
Then to keep the roller coaster theme going I received word that my only Uncle wasn't likely to last the night so had several days of high level stress culminating in his passing away on Thursday morning.
The blessing was that his family were with him at the end, including Mum. My thoughts and aroha are flowing back home to New Zealand as I can't be there in person.
I'm fortunate to have such a close family and feel the distance between us terribly. Home seems very far away...
It began last Thursday night with an ANZAC sunset service. I bought myself a new dress covered with poppies for the occasion so dressed up and met my kiwi friends downstairs to get a taxi out to the Traders Hotel. For 180 AED we got 3 drinks (beer, wine or softdrinks) and a BBQ dinner.
The evening was organised by Aussies Abroad which I'm considering joining as they have many get togethers and are a very social bunch.
Our BBQ food was amazing. As we reached the end of the line we found squid, prawns, mussels and fish so our plates were piled high by the time we returned to our own wee tent on the beach. We felt like a harem hiding out in a Sheikhs tent as we were slightly away from the other tables.
The next day my friend came in from out west to stay the night so we had a relaxing day and evening together, getting out to IKEA on Yas Island to buy some kitchen essentials. Shopping is the number one pastime here and it was so busy. We had a meal out there then headed back into town.
I've got a student teacher at work so that is keeping me busy. Then I was lucky enough to get an interview for a HOF position.
Having to teach the first two periods I rush off for the interview, hoping to arrive relaxed and ready to go. A panel of three interviewed me, one male HOF, one female VP and another female consultant. It was a very thorough interview of around 50 minutes and the questions just kept coming. Just when I thought I'd answered one satisfactorily they threw another at me. So I have no idea how it went and I'll have to wait a while to find out. The wheels of progress move slowly here.
Apparently 200 applied for the positions, 80 got shortlisted and interviewed and there are 20 jobs available at the moment. So even getting shortlisted was a great start.
Talking of roller coasters, we had a trip to the mall with our 4th grade students. With not even 24 hours notice we head off in the bus with the girls in a high state of excitement. The day was spent in the kids playground riding the roller coaster, bumper cars, 4D movies and other entertainment options. I managed to get my annual ice-skating in and enjoyed it as usual.
Then to keep the roller coaster theme going I received word that my only Uncle wasn't likely to last the night so had several days of high level stress culminating in his passing away on Thursday morning.
The blessing was that his family were with him at the end, including Mum. My thoughts and aroha are flowing back home to New Zealand as I can't be there in person.
I'm fortunate to have such a close family and feel the distance between us terribly. Home seems very far away...
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