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Published: September 11th 2010
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First off, I want to thank ya'll for taking the time to care enough about me to read this blog and for your encouraging and kind comments...xo
Now ((sigghhhhhhhhhh))....what a day!
Thought I would venture out on my own today....u know...get used to being on my own more. Well, the idea started out well but kinda/sorta went downhill from there.
First off I went to the hotel restaurant for a quick breakfast then, straight out to the pool before it got too hot (ONLY +45C prior to noon).
Funny thing, I never recalled seeing or hearing if there were any birds in the UAE. I know that sounds a bit ignorant (or just plain stupid) of me but I had yet to see or hear one after 7 days here. As you can see, I found one 'tweeting' away in a palm tree above my head (I am convinced it was a 'he' and 'he' was hitting on me. Either that or he was telling me how disgusting it was to see a 50 yr old in a bikini. Probably my first thought..lol). Anyhow, I took some pics from the pool just to rub the Five Star
treatment we have been receiving (remember that may be all down hill from here also...lol).
After a couple hours at the pool, I decided to brave it and take a cab ride to the mall that is in the direction of the school I will be teaching at, you know, a dry run in order to see how long it will take and perhaps if not too much $$, help me to decide if I need to rent a car or not. I'd say that was a pretty good idea and let me tell you, I am very pleased that I did. Why you may be asking?
After 1.5 hours to go approx. 20km from the hotel and 77dhms ($25.) later I had the cabbie take me straight to the mall...he had NO IDEA where it was. We were in the boonies and one thing I have learned fast here is that you CAN get boonier than the boonies in Abu Dhabi (that almost sounds poetic...lol).
I will not bore you with the details but the cabbie (I refer to him as cabbie #1 in the photo - could've referred to him as something else but I
am trying very hard to stay impartial to racial slurs in this blog).
Once at the mall I went straight to the women's clothing section of the Lulu Market for a little "shopping therapy". It worked! I found a really nice blouse and long skirt for work for only 100dhms ($35.00 for BOTH). Needless to say, I felt much better. I then headed to an internet cafe in mall and looked up the street names of the school and surrounding area so that I could give it one more try.....I had to complete my mission, especially after spending 3 hours and $35. on cab fare already...for what?
That is where my hero...cabbie #2 comes in and saves the day. He spoke great english and followed my lead from the map I had printed at the cafe. There were no signs on the streets..no Rd. names, so we had to figure out the turns (left/right) from the map and assume from there....no sign on the school either (as you can see), just a banner saying something in Arabic 'jibberish' then FINALLY I spotted the ADEC Education Council logo and figured it must be it! A kind man putting out
his trash across the street confirmed it to me thru sign language as I chanted to him 'L- i -t- t- l- e C- h- i- l-d-r-e-n' with my hand close to the ground..."yes,yes!" he replied...whewwwwwwww, FOUND IT!
The school looks beautiful but a bit like a fortress with the concrete walls and gate all around it. (see pic). Much better ride home...only 34dhms ($12.). almost a $50 cab day. Maybe I should rent a car at that rate!!
Moral of this story.....not sure yet, I will let you know if I can find one....any suggestions?LOL
Gonna have some drinks now!!!!! xo
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