Winter vs Winter: Let it snow, Let it snow!

A wonderful weekend in Mifflintown, PA.  OK, OK, I'm still here in the USA!  More on that later.

7" of beautiful light, puffy snow fell Friday night.  Laying on the trees like a bleach white blanket.  Then after my morning cup of Joe is was time to gently move the blanket off the sidewalk, driveway and the cars.  Thank goodness for charitable neighbors with snow blowers.  Then a fabulous day of old movies and dinner out with my brother, sister-in-law and parents.  A great evening of lively conversation and tons of laughs.  That is what I will miss the most.

Quite a contrast of winters don't you think? My current winter reality!

My next winter reality!

Quite a change to get use to.  Hopefully I will start to get use to it sometime in the next week.  I still have not recieved my travel date for Abu Dhabi.  It is just a waiting game at this point.  A colleague posted  a fabulous picture on facebook to give you an idea of how we all feel at the moment about the delay. (Thanks Tammie L H for sharing).

No really.  I am just hoping that it is soon time to head over to the UAE and this adventure can continue.  Inshallah (God willing)!

Today is all about football playoffs.  Yes, New England will win!  GO PATS!!!!! 

Oh no, out of coffee.  Well, I have to get up and start another pot.  So I will wish all of you a wonderful Sunday and keep you up to date as my saga continues.

Maybe my last snow for awhile!

Yes, it is finally snowing with an accumulation in Central Pennsylvania.  Yeah!!!!!!!    And yes for those of you keeping track,  I'm still here.  Another weekend has begun in the UAE and still no definite date to travel.  As for the latest information we should be traveling in the next 11 days but at least not before Monday.  The delay is torturing some of my colleagues. Me, I am staying busy subbing, visiting friends and family and just trying to stay out of Mom and Dad's way. 

The snow has brightened my evening and I understand that there will be additional accumulation on Saturday.  So maybe there are some winter sports in my future.  Now don't get excited  nothing extreme.  You know, snowman construction, snow angel formations and possibly a snow ball ambush.

Heading to Carlisle to tomorrow before the big snow to share kafa i razgovor (coffee and conversation) with my lovely Bosnian friends. 

Here is a little current weather data from Abu Dhabi International Airport for those of you not so excited about the East Coast snow;

Conditions at	Jan 19, 2012 - 08:00 PM ESTJan 19, 2012 - 07:00 PM CSTJan 19, 2012 - 06:00 PM MSTJan 19, 2012 - 05:00 PM PSTJan 19, 2012 - 04:00 PM ASTJan 19, 2012 - 03:00 PM HST 2012.01.20 0100 UTC
Wind	from the SSW (200 degrees) at 7 MPH (6 KT)
Visibility	greater than 7 mile(s)
Sky conditions	mostly clear
Temperature	57 F (14 C)
Dew Point	51 F (11 C)
Relative Humidity	82%

Have a great night! 

FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL!

What a great weekend of football!  Well almost.  Ravens and Pats won, YEAH!  But the Saints and Packers lost.  Still waiting to go to Abu Dhabi!  But while I am waiting, I'm spending MLK day with my nephew, Lane!  He is the smartest 10 year old I know!  I'm definitely gonna miss hanging with him!

Last night I was able to share a fabulous video about the United Arab Emirates with my family.  One of the best I have seen.  Here is is if you want to see it: Explore the Explore

Thanks to my colleague, Tammie LaBarge Holt, for sharing this with me.  It really got me more excited to start our adventure in the UAE. Some really exciting places and events I can't wait to see and do.

Taking the Day off

Still having a hard time adjusting to living the parents again.  After being on my own for 35 years, it is weird to have to worry about making your bed and tell someone whether you'll be home for dinner.  I love them dearly but it's tricky and I hope there's only two weeks left of this. 

Decided that since it's the weekend and the parents don't have a to do list for me today, I'm staying in the PJ's and declaring it a Lazy Day!  No checking the email today. A little reading, alot of NFL football and maybe a nap.  Taking a real risk!  Have a great one.   GO PATS!

Getting Started

After months of decisions and discussions, I made the decision to apply for a teaching position in Abu Dhabi, United Arabs Emirates. 

I successfully won a contract to work for the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) on December 2, 2011.  After all of the intital excitement and my family getting over the shock that after Christmas I would be gone (I don't think they really thought this adventure would happen), I got started moving my life 7000 miles around the world. 

Oh the packing, selling, giving away, storing and running around were a fabulous rush that I hadn't expected.  And yes, in only 2 weeks I successfuly emptied my apartment of 10 years and packed myself into 3 suitcase and 2 carry ons waiting for the orders to come through to get on the plane to head over.

I temporarily moved into my Mom and Dad's.  Christmas was a wonderful time spending with my family knowing that next Christmas I will be working and living a life I never thought I would get to experience.  And then the waiting started.  New Year's came and went, still no departure date.  But I continued to read about my new home and my teaching, practicing flexibility and patience as was recommended by our recruiters, American International Development Council (AIDC).