A Fun Adventure!!!

So I (Amy), am sitting here on my nearly new RED couch watching 6 men work furiously putting together all of our new furniture!  I really have nothing to do except to watch.....sooooo I decided it would be a GREAT time to blog! :)  Seeing how we had an exciting adventure yesterday in Dubai, it really is perfect timing! 

In the midst of a crazy move-in weekend, Greg's school owners invited all of the teachers and their families to join them in Dubai for a fun bonding experience.  Once again, I am struggling with a bit of jealousy---b/c ME---being the warm-fuzzy-social-butterfly-type am missing this environment at my school.  HOWEVER------------ I am blessed to be totally accepted and embraced as one of the Manor Hall team already!!!!!!!  Being there and being around these people FILL MY CUP each day (even if it takes a 12dirham taxi ride for me one way.  IT IS WELL WORTH IT!!!!!! :)

After our first very "chill" day at the new crib, we got up early with lists in tow and smiling faces ready for some fun!  We rode a bus to Dubai and enjoyed seeing hundreds of camels along the way walking on the sand dunes.  Once we arrived at the World's Largest Mall (Dubai Mall), the Davidsons caught a taxi to the World's Largest IKEA!!!!!!!!!  This is where we were bound and determined to buy EVERYTHING we needed for survival.  We even prepared everyone that we were purchasing many, many packages and there might not be room for some of us on the bus!  :)  Welllllllllllll.............that did not happen. :( In fact, we decided we might have needed some marriage counseling after such a fiasco!  lol  With a very short time frame, a VERY LARGE, VERY SPREAD OUT store and a BAAAzillion people that don't follow "shopping etiquette"...... we walked out of the store with a shower curtain (that I'm not quite sure we even liked) and cheapo shower rings.  Oh...and at the cash register, Amy threw in a box of plate sets (who knows what they really look like---------she just knew it was a priority purchase and was Sooooooooooooooooo OVER this shopping frenzy that it didn't matter anymore!!!)  THUS reminding me of my thoughts that overwhelmed me and put me in the fetal position more times than once at our humble abode on Wagnon Court-------oh how we miss our little home!!!  The thoughts I could NOT wrap my brain around was this:  "I have EVERYTHING I NEED for living and teaching here..........and I'm NOT taking a darn thing?!?!??!?!!?"  And it made me quite sad today as I'm purchasing towel sets that I still have brand new sets in tubs given to me as wedding presents 15 years ago!!!!!!!! I was thankful again today for wedding showers and wishing someone was throwing me a housewarming party right about now!!! lol  Though I must admit, buying new and different colored towels and sheets and comforters is kind of exciting b/c we all know we get bored after about 2 years of the other, right? ;)

ANYHOW....... we survived the shopping and then got snookered by yet another taxi driver who, b/c of him, we "ran-out" our own leg of the Amazing Race to the Burj Khalifa, the World's Tallest Building, just in time for the tour to begin.  The elevator to the top was super fast and incredibly smooth---all 124 floors.  (We aren't real sure why they called the tour At the Top b/c they don't allow you to actually go to the top, only the 124 floor.)  It was pretty amazing!!!!  HG and Greg searched and searched for that ONE baseball field by the camel track.  Found the camel track.........still looking for baseball.............

We enjoyed a favorite meal at PF Changs!!!  Greg was happiest of all! :)  We couldn't figure out how to fit in Texas Roadhouse, The Cheesecake Factory, Red Lobster and Ruby Tuesday into 4 hours.  I guess that means we have to go back next weekend-------seeing how we had epic failure at IKEA and still need curtains, cups, rugs, a dresser, containers, tupperware....etc...etc.   hahaha

Amy did NOT do a good job "blending in" as she walked around with a friend who has more money than she could ever dream of and shops at Fashion Circle on a weekly basis.  Yes, I have now been in Louie Vouton (no clue how to spell it) Coach, and several other famous fashion designer's stores that I have NO IDEA how to spell or say!  

We have yet to figure out who is wearing these type clothes in a culture that dresses in abyas, shaylas, and veils and has signs flashing on the screens in the malls to PLEASE DRESS CONSERVATIVELY.  Our other Rome friends, Ansley and Megan all said "who would have thought it would feel so weird to see someone's knees today"!!!  We all saw more skin today than we have seen in a month!!!  (and really, all we saw were elbows and knees)

We had a blast gazing at the beauty of the Largest Aquarium in the world and salivating in the largest Candy store in the world! We ended the day sipping coffee and people watching with our new friend and riding back to Al Ain in the most expensive car we will ever sit in.  We spent the hour on the road learning more about the culture we are now living in and trying to understand the people we are living among and serving.  As we gain understanding, we will be able to see their hearts and not just judge a people group based on media, opinions of others or different clothing.  One of the fears of our kids before moving was "they look weird/dress weird".  At that moment, I knew we were doing the best thing for them........exposing them to "every tribe and every nation" and prayerfully their hearts and minds will be opened to loving all the children of the world as Jesus does. 

Our lives have already been forever changed by watching and building relationships with the "workers".  The poorest of the poor coming to this country to serve the richest of the rich.  Their servant's hearts and constant smiles have challenged us in more ways than one.  For us, this adventure hasn't been all about the wealth that surrounds us or the "world's largest" whatevers.  It has been the little Phillipino lady that walks behind the rich that throws down his Starbucks cup and picks it up for him all while singing one of my favorite praise songs. 

I could keep going with more stories like that one, but that's for another day seeing how this post just became a novel.  :) 
 

It's the Little Things..............

Holy Moly ---Crazy, Crazy!!!!  It has been one T-totally Crazy month! 

However, I can JOYFULLY report that I am writing this blog from our very own new house!!  HIP HIP HOORAY TO NO MORE HOTEL STAY!!!!   lol

Though it has been chaotic, exhausting, strenuous and requires a line-backer's stamina to brave the malls, LuLu's and the Carrefour's....the DAVIDSONS have pushed through and are IN THE ZONE!!!! 

We are "camping" on the floor due to furniture not being delivered for 10 days AFTER the "5 day deadline to GET ON OUTTA HERE" of the hotel. 

Nevertheless, our faces are smiling because IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS that make life in the UAE good right now! :)

Here's just a few of our Little Things that are causing our hearts to be happy:

1.  We got internet hookup earlier than expected! 

2.  WE ARE WATCHING BASEBALL!!!! (can't believe the boys survived a MONTH without it!)

3.  We have a washing machine!!!!  and have already done 7 loads.  Washers here are SO SMALL a load can consist of about 3 pairs of jeans only!  Shirts---oh, lets say, about 10.  You might get a few pairs of socksin there too.  I'm really NOT believing that I am JOYFULLY reporting that I have done laundry---but after a month of sink washing and paying for cleaners WE ARE ECSTATIC!!!!!!!! 

(Please note that the drying rack on the left is blocking a door!!!  This is a hallway and we have to zig-zag our way through the maze... ha! Just adding more fun to the adventure right??!!)

 

4.  We will have a DRYER soon!  "Inshallhah"  (beginning to despise that word--but this is a happy post so I will not go there). :)  Side note for those of you who have no clue why this is a big deal:  people don't buy dryers here!  SHOCKING!   Drying racks outside are the way to go.  And yes, clothes really do dry in about 10 minutes.  However, this family of 4 are (A.) tired of crunchy undies and (B.)  tired of walking in a maze trying to dodge all of the drying racks!  Though it cost us a small fortune (dryers cost $450 US  where our washer was much less AND came with a FREE microwave)  WE ARE HAPPY!!!! 

5.  Today was our 1st "chill" day!!!  We sat around and relaxed.  3 of  us even had a NAP!!!!  This is a REALLY BIG DEAL!!!  lol We haven't had a day like this since we've arrived.  In fact, no one has had a nap since the first week due to jet lag.  It is now 1 am Saturday morning and we just got in from the mall about an hour ago from dinner and searching for household items.  As we were going through the mall we said "it's amazing what a chill day and sleep will do to your perspective and your tolerance level for people in the mall".   (That thought worked until Greg was holding a cell phone and discussing phones with the service guy and a kid pushed up in between Greg and the sales man and  jerked THE PHONE out of Greg's hand and started playing with it.  Greg's jaw was on the ground.  No one else was shocked by this behavior (other than the Davidsons).  But again, we will not go there and discuss THAT part of life here b/c this is still a HAPPY post!!! :)

6.  We have GREEN BEANS AND CORN!!!  We have laughed b/c we haven't seen a green bean here yet!!!  (in restaurants that is).  These people LOVE  their  breads, carbs and "American" fast food.  Though we don't have a can opener yet, it is on the IKEA list for tomorrow. yipee!!!  We DO have pots and pans though!!!!! :)

7.  We have a printer!!! This is a very big deal, especially for Amy!  I no longer have to find the business center and pay for copies of my lesson plans (which, by the way, are 15 pages long!) And no, for the brainiacks who are reading this and probably going to post the question "why don't you do it at school" I don't have computers or printers or internet at my school!

8.  We have a fun colored shower curtain that keeps water in the tub.  I don't know if you remember Greg's fb post a week or so ago, but he mentioned that the showers in our 2 hotels have been quite disfunctional.  The last one being the "favorite"----a piece of glass only shielding HALF of the tub.  And I do believe I had some good practice for the next time I decide to become an Olympic Hurdle track star!!! My knee hit my nose as I tried to climb INTO the shower.   And climbing out.....well, that wasn't very pretty....much less graceful.  

9. We have a COUCH  to sit on!!!!  and HG's room feels "homiest" of all!  His room has the most furniture in it so far and is almost complete!

10.  We have dangly keys signifying we have a REAL house!  We are done with the hotel keys that kept getting shut off every 4 days.    :)

These are just a few of our LITTLE HAPPYS that are allowing our life to feel more normal and like we can really begin to enjoy our adventure.  Tomorrow will bring new excitement as we go on a fun, full-day field trip with the leadership/administration of Greg's school, as well as a few busloads of other co-workers and their families.  We are headed to Dubai for all day shopping, eating AMERICAN food and climbing Burj Khalifa---the tallest building in the world!!!!!

Oh----another HUGE HAPPY that cannot go without mentioning is Greg's school (and Hayden and Riley's).  We couldn't have asked for anything better! And to think, this is what we were most concerned about before getting here!! haha  The atmosphere is encouraging and the fellowship is refreshing to the soul.  There is laughter and smiling faces.  When we walk into that school, Amy feels the warm fuzzies that she needs by teacher people.  The love of children is evident.  The love for PEOPLE is obvious.  The community and togetherness provides a place of belonging.  There is love and laughter and people who love what they do!  Each day, Amy flags down a taxi to take her to the school after a day at her own school just to be in "her happy place"!!!!  We are so thankful for the opportunity to be at Manor Hall.  We are grateful for the relationships that are being built with teachers, leadership and families at this school.  Though Amy isn't a "real" part of this school..... it's truly a home for all 4 of us!  It's funny, I've been involved in more "impromptu" parent-teacher "conferences" at the mall with Greg Davidson and his students in the past 2 weeks---at the mall!!  It's a fun blessing to watch my hubby be a teacher and even do all those awkward moments (like I used to have in Walmart with student's mama's).  More importantly, it's fun watching him minister to the lives of kids and their families and watch him do what he does best!  The kids LOVE Mr. D and so do their parents.  :)  I'm just forever grateful that I get to be a part of all of this!  :)  They couldn't have picked anyone better for the job!  He may not think he's got the hang of teaching English yet (he will breeze through it once he actually gets his textbooks) but I can surely testify that he has the touching lives part down pat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright, it's 2 am and I better get some sleep before our exciting adventure in a few hours!!!  Thank you so much for lifting us up so faithfully in prayer.  Thank you for helping us through the chaos and the tough days.  We couldn't have done it without you!  We love you all!!!!
 
 
 
 
 

Our Cups Getting Refilled

It's been a while, we know.  Please accept our apologies.  We have decided that we just need to buy one of those helmet cameras like they use when caving when we exit the safety of our hotel rooms just so you, at home, can encounter life as we know it.  There's just no other way you would ever believe us.

We haven't really been in a place that we could talk.  By time we get home, our brains are fried, we are in shell-shock and cannot find words. Period.  However, we cannot come home and relax.  We have school work to do, give the kids attention they deserve AND figure out the nightly stressful task of figuring out where to eat (preferably NOT in a mall------which makes the task THAT MUCH HARDER) and then figure out how to find the place.  Nothing is easy. Yet!??!?  (I'm trying to be hopeful).  Almost in tears the other morning over not being able to find a proper plug/convertor/whatever thingy only to discover that there are NO plugs in the bathrooms----b/c that would make TOO MUCH SENSE, right?!?!?!?  I told Greg "it's not the BIG stuff that's going to send me over the edge, it's the "simple" things like plugging in my straightner!!!!" 

Washing clothes in a sink and not being able to dry ANYTHING is getting old.  Little things like Greg having to walk around the entire hotel building instead of entering at the door closest to our elevators b/c there's a Ladies Wedding going on (please note there are already shields around the entire foyer b/c men are not allowed).  OR  us not being able to all swim together in the pool b/c it's "Women only" or "Men only" hours.  These are just a few of the things that are wearing us down............

HOWEVER,  we found a church today.  Most of the people Greg works with go there as well, which makes it feel homey-ish.  At the first stroke of the guitar of a familiar worship song, the tears began to pour down my face.  After 3 songs, my perspective had already changed as well as my heart.  My cup was refilled.  I was refreshed.

 I honestly can't even remember the songs, eventhough I tried so hard to remember b/c I wanted to write them down in my own journal.  But I do remember one phrase "Your Presence is heaven to me".  Oh and it is!  It's heaven to me when I'm alone with Jesus and it's heaven when I've been away from a large group of Believers for what feels like a year (did you know it's only been 3 weeks?!) It feels like an eternity to us since we've been home. 

As I looked around, I saw every tribe and nation represented (it seemed), every color, different cultures all gathered together in room of Oasis Hospital.  For a split second, I felt like I was on a mission trip experiencing one of those "mission trip highs" and thinking it's all cool and everything to have church in a "not church building" with a put together praise team singing into mics with bright orange extension chords falling over the entire stage.  With everyone all scrunched in real tight just so excited to be there.  Then I realized...........I'm living my dream.  Then I realized............or asked..........."what the crud was I dreaming of doing this for? What was I thinking?" 

Another part of the song hit me in that moment, the parts about being willing to go to the ends of the Earth for Him.  You know, the doing whatever You want me to do Lord prayers.  Did we REALLY mean that prayer?  It sure sounds good EVERY single time you pray it, doesn't it.  This song even mentioned the desert.  Funny how He does that, huh? So, needless to say, I had another "Come to Jesus" moment in which I asked the Lord to forgive me for not loving it at the moment and asked Him once again to give me a heart for these people.  The song talked about shining His light in a dark place.  That scripture and phrases like that take on a whole new meaning now.  I DO want to be a light in the darkness.  I guess as an excited little missionary wanna-be teenage girl I thought it would be all lovey-dovey and sweet and.........did I REALLY think it would be easy?   oh my.....how naive I was.............

I will leave you with this though.  The Pastor today brought us this challenge:  "I hope this week that your faith was the kind of faith that was strong enough, deep enough and authentic enough that you were able to ENDURE this week."  Whatever challenges, mountains/giants that stood in your way, evil, persecutions, discouragments, temptations, etc.... whatever you faced this week.  Now take this spin............. is it STRONG enough, DEEP enough and AUTHENTIC enough for you to ENDURE whatever may come your way THIS week?  ENDURE is a good word.  Endure and still smile and still Praise Him!:)

We love you guys and are praying for you as well.  We would love to pray specifically for you if you would like to share with us.  We still consider ourselves to be Doing Life with you despite the oceans between us.  We want to pray for you and encourage you in any way we can!  Thank you for loving us and for praying for us! 

Week 2

Greg and I have been discussing that it is so hard to describe life here in print.  Of course, Amy always does MUCH better with facial expressions and hand gestures to get the point across.  Typing it so you can get the FULL affect....is very difficult and a tad frustrating for us ANIMATED folks!  :) But we are trying..........

We began our second week here.  Funny how things work out.  Amy's job is the one who brought us here but in my first week I worked a total of maybe 9 hours which consisted of paperwork, bank cards, Medical exams that took 3 hours, and traveling 2 hours to SEE our new home and 2 hours back  "Work" a day....OFF a day....etc. 

Yesterday began with Greg reporting to his new job as a 6th grade teacher (WOOHOO!!!!!)  and Amy going to Bedaya 2012. Amy's day included rushing to arrive at a forum that began 2 hours LATER, pastries and juices, mingling at booths.  Now let me stop here for a moment.  Normally, us teacher folk would be ECSTATIC about "teacher booths".  Let me tell you something.....when it's all in Arabic and every woman's face is slightly or completely covered so you can NOT see a friendly smile or a welcoming.......not quite as exciting.  We were then ushered into a forum being given nifty little translator radios.  My group found a seat close to the front so as to not miss the VIP's getting to sit on the "royal chairs" in the front.  Much to our dismay, we were politely asked by the ushers to kindly remove our non-Arab selves and move to another section....far, far, FAR away.  Humph....His Excellency stood up and began his presentation.......... in Arabic. Good times.  I learned lots! :) Just kidding, I got bits and pieces and learned a little about just how far this country has come and what this educational reform has done for it's country.  However, when my nifty radio was not working.....I re-wrote (in my head, of course) the presentation if I was in charge.  :)

It really is funny how the Lord works.  He knows exactly what we need, where we need to be and how to get us to the place HE wants us.  Let's be reminded....His thoughts and His ways are different than ours.  For example, the Lord has taken a very Type A speed-demon personality and placed her in the middle of .......what would be the COMPLETE opposite of Type A??  Type B ?  Nope, the Type B--laid back sort is still too close to Type A .  Let's try a TYPE ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ country!!!  Did you catch that? I think the entire country is Type ZZZZZZZZZZ  ----- I haven't seen evidence of one single Type A hop-hop personality except for a few new teachers that are wondering what in the world is going on here?!?!?!? 

Okay.  Enough of that.  Greg has now informed me that I am going to have to help him "decorate" his classroom.  WHAAAAATTT????  lol I'm really dying on the inside laughing b/c this is all just beyond funny!!!!!!!!!!!  Ummmm..... I don't DO middle school!  They scare me!  I'm thinkin'...."good luck with that Babe!"   Naaaahhh.....I will introduce him to the TEACHER STORE (squeal!!!) Somehow, I don't think he will be as delighted as me at this part of the adventure.  hur-rumph....

Ironically, Greg has already been to his school, sat through meetings, seen his curriculum, and began getting ready for the school year that starts in 5 days.  Me, on the other hand, doesn't even know where my school is, never seen it, have not even heard the word curriculum mentioned once, orrrrrrrr know what grade I am teaching!!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday, I caught wind that the lower grade teacher positions are filled.....only 3rd-5th is available. 
                     OH. DEAR. HEAVENS. 
                                 OH. DEAR. HEAVENS. 
That's about all I could say for the remainder of  yesterday.  Typing it out just now made my stomach hurt once again.

However, we are determined to be and do all that He has called us to do here.  We are asking the Lord to help us be content and to learn how to do life in this country.  We have both requested prayer requests on facebook several times.  We appreciate them more than you know.  Nothing is familiar, nor easy. 

When we tell you HOW different it is......we can't express to you enough just HOW different it really is!!!!!  To find a place to eat takes hours of thinking, searching and driving.  Shopping is complicated and overwhelming.  To purchase an electronic item last night, the purchase was finally complete after walking across the store to 3 different stations.  Getting a 3 page carbon copy "receipt" with 6 stamps.  Being told to go to another floor of the mall, to a security something or other, for 6 more stamps and 3 signatures.  This is how we purchase things in the UAE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!!!!

We are so thankful for the provisions the Lord has granted already. He has already shown favor on Greg with some very important people/owners of his school. He has also provided a much cheaper form of transportation for us while we are still waiting to be able to get a car. 

I would love to share more funny stories, but I have too many and they aren't as funny in print.  We have to laugh to keep from crying.  If anyone has a few extra amount of big bucks and wants to send us a care package......we have a list!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) However, we still do not have an address for you to send it to!  ha!!! 

Hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day weekend!  We don't have that here.  Amy and the kids are about to brave the taxi and IKEA!  We have a house to furnish at a moment's notice.