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. :)
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. :)
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