Nerves and Excitement

Hello! I would like to dedicate this post to my nerves and excitement about my upcoming move. I'm extremely excited about the teaching job that is awaiting me but teaching is what I'm used to. Living in Abu Dhabi is something else entirely...

I'm excited about...

...meeting new people from all over the world
...learning about a new culture
...having new experiences - boy, there will be a lot of them!
...the food. I wonder what the "local favorites" are.
...traveling!!! I'll be so close to places I've always dreamed of visiting!

I'm nervous about...

...the heat. Average temperatures of 110 degrees Fahrenheit?!

...the food. Unfortunately, I'm a picky eater (but I'm getting much better!) I'm anxious to grocery shop in Abu Dhabi to see what "familiar" foods they carry.

...missing my family (and dogs!)

...finding my way around a new international city 

I love reading other blogs to learn about other people's adventures in Abu Dhabi! It's amazing how much it helps to read about someone else's experiences. Even though I don't leave for 6 months, I feel like I kind of know what to expect. Kind of. I already have an idea of places I want to see and things I want to do when I get there. But that will come in another post. Its also nice to know that hundreds of other teachers are going to embark on this same adventure with me! 

Even through the nerves, I don't know if I've ever been this excited for something in my life. 

Love, 

RLD

And So It Begins...

Welcome!! Big changes are on the horizon and I am loving every minute of it! In August, I will be packing up my life and moving somewhere completely unexpected: Abu Dhabi, UAE. To start at the beginning - living abroad has always been something I've wanted to pursue but it just never ended up working out. When I first started looking for teaching jobs (over a year ago... goodness how time flies!), I applied through a program called Teach Away, which helps teachers pursue their dreams of teaching abroad. One thing lead to another and I ended up pursuing a teaching career in my hometown. Luckily, I got a job here and have spent my first year teaching in the second grade - my dream!

A few weeks ago, I received a call from Teach Away about a job they wanted me to interview for - in Abu Dhabi. I had heard of Abu Dhabi but I wouldn't have been able to locate it on a map at this point! In case you are like me, here is a map to help you locate the UAE:

I did some research with my parents and decided that I should interview and just see what happened! Little did I know... this possibility was becoming more and more of a reality every day. I began to picture my life in Abu Dhabi - looking up landmarks I wanted to visit, researching the language and the culture, and spending hours on the school's website reading everything I could! As my interview approached, this "possibility" was something I couldn't imagine not being able to do.

Long story short - I got the job and feel beyond blessed and thankful to have this once in a lifetime opportunity!! I can't believe I will be moving to this beautiful place in 6 months!!

In this blog, I will keep you updated on the preparations and process of moving to the Middle East, my experiences teaching and living in Abu Dhabi, and my travels/adventures in the UAE! Check back soon for my next post - the lovely "To-Do List"!

Love,

RLD