As July began, my time in Abu Dhabi was coming to an end. I spent the last month hanging out with my fellow expat coworkers wishing we had gotten to know each other better much sooner in the year. Luckily we didn't have students for the last month so it allowed us to have a lot of quality time. One thing I really appreciated from teaching abroad was working with teachers from other parts of the world. During my last month at school, I got to know Chantelle and Shaazia better. They taught us Americans a little about South Africa and Shaazia taught us more about the Muslim culture and Ramadan. During Ramadan a few of us decided to fast for a day and Shaazia prepared a proper South African Iftar (the meal eaten after sun down).
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| In Abu Dhabi, you break your fast with dates. |
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| This was my favorite part of the meal, samosas! |
Click here to hear more about our Iftar menu.
Before I headed home I had to fit one more trip. With Cidney and Laura we headed to London and Manchester to not only see Big Ben and The London Bridge but to also see The Queen Bey! Our first stop was in London where I had little expectations but was surprised how much I enjoyed the city. We hit up all the major tourist attractions and stumbled upon some great summer festivals with good food and drinks. Next we headed to Manchester by train of course. I never even thought of Manchester until I heard Beyonce was performing there. It ended up being a really great town with lots of nice boutiques with a variety fun restaurants and bars. Take a quick look at our trip to the UK below.
After my trip, I returned one last time to Abu Dhabi to collect all of my belongings and head back home. It was quite a challenge to try to get all of my clothes to fit in just three bags. I had to ask a coworker to bring a bag for me because I just couldn't do it. As I spent my last few moments with a the few friends who were still in town I thought about some of the things I would miss about living in Abu Dhabi:
Things I will miss:
-The "inshallah" attitude: God willing, it will work out. In Abu Dhabi you heard this after every sentence. When I first moved there we didn't get paid when they originally told us we would. People kept asking and they would get the same answer every time, "Soon, inshallah." Okay, sometimes it was a bit annoying but it was better than the demanding attitude we have at home.
-How much family is valued: Family was the most important thing to the local Emirati people. At work, there were nurseries so moms could bring their young children to work.
-Work is NOT your life: At the end of the school day everybody left. No one was working overtime, not even the principals. When the kids left the building, the parking lot cleared out because our work was done or it would be there when we got back the next day. People went home to relax and be with their families. Who wouldn't miss that?!
-The food: When people came to visit they would always ask where they could get authentic Emirati food. Well to be honest, I wasn't always a fan of Emirati food. I was a fan of the Mediterranean, Lebanese, and Indian food which was all authentic due to the large expat population.
-Great customer service: Going out to eat, I never came across bad customer service. There were no attitudes when you requested service from the server! At the grocery store I rarely brought my grocery cart to my car. At the gas station, you never pump your gas. I got a little spoiled with this lovely treatment that the States has done away with.
-The beautiful sunsets
Pictures don't do it justice.
-Having the opportunity to meet others from around the world and learn about their culture: It was awesome working with others from different parts of the world and having the opportunity to learn more about their way of life. While Americans gasp at the thought of living in the Middle East, many of the women I worked with were frightened to visit the United States due to all of the violence they constantly hear about. Which leads me to the last thing I will miss...
-Feeling safe: While living in Abu Dhabi I felt very safe and comfortable by myself. People leave their doors unlocked, children play outside unsupervised even after the street lights come on, cars are left running without anyone sitting in them, and people don't have to constantly worry about someone possibly trying to attack them as they walk from one place to another.
With all of this being said, if you are considering moving overseas or just traveling outside of the country...do it! Moving abroad was an amazing experience. (I'm already considering where I can move to next.) It wasn't always easy and I definitely was homesick on several occasions but I survived. If you decide to take the leap that I have taken, just know that you will not come back home the same person you once where. You will be stronger because will have done something you once thought you couldn't do. You will see things and think differently because your perspective will have changed. You will make new friends from different backgrounds and religions. Your eyes will be opened and your spirit will grow....Oh the places you'll go!
Check out my London video!
Check out my London video!
