Happy 2013!!!

Well, the Mayans were wrong (of course) and I am so glad to see the beginning of a new year! A new year causes us to reflect a bit about the previous year; our mistakes, our challenges, our accomplishments, our experiences, our attitudes, our relationships and all that filled the past 365 days of our life. And now, we are to ponder about the coming year... what the next 365 will look like for us... what the future holds for us and our friends/families... what changes will come... what surprises will take place that we don't even know about... the curiosity can be a bit overwhelming if we let our minds go there... but as anxious as I can get at times, I don't get "too" caught up in the future. Sure I think about many things on a daily basis, such as: are we staying in Dubai for 2 more years? are we coming home? is home still in C'ville, or do we make a new home somewhere else? like the beach? if we stay, will we be content here? will Grant be able to handle the super challenging curriculum at our current school? will coming home be hard/easy for us? what will his junior/senior year of high school be like? what jobs will we have if we come home? what does the future hold??????????
Well, I cannot answer any of those questions today, but I do pray about them and trust that God will give the answers when it's time! Only He knows the plan and has already written our stories. Only He knows what we can handle, what we can adjust to and how we will deal with whatever it may be. Only He knows what's best for us, we just "think" we know what's best!?!
So, time will tell and plans will change along the way, and it's all OKAY! I trust the Lord in all His decisions for me and my family!
2012 was definitely a year of experiences! Ten years ago, I would never have told you that I would be living and working overseas, in the Middle East, traveling to other countries, meeting new people everywhere I go, living in a 2 bedroom apartment, not driving a car, watching my son be himself and make friends so easily, thriving at sports, a husband teaching elementary students after 22 years of secondary in the states, experiencing hair loss from the water here, purchasing basic-second hand goods to furnish our apartment, shopping at the largest mall in the world and standing at 124 floors high in the tallest building in the world, teaching with teachers from all over the world, teaching students from all over the world, wearing flip flops every single day and the list goes on and on.........
But those changes were necessary for me to see life from a different perspective. To see that I don't have to fit the cookie cutter mold, that I lived for so many years. To see that flying for hours across land and sea is really not so bad. To see that meeting new people can be so refreshing. To see a vast amount of needy people every single day of my life, and decide how I will respond. To be open-minded to other beliefs, cultures and opinions. To see that living in a smaller place does have advantages. To see that living without "stuff" is so freeing. To see that spending quality time with my husband and son is the best way I can spend my time.
I am looking forward to this new year. I am ready for whatever it brings. I look forward to the time where I can reflect again and realize just how blessed I have been! Kim

Merry Merry Christmas

A Merry Merry Christmas to each of you! I cannot believe that it is December 11, 2012, and tomorrow is 12/12/12 you know! The only time most of us will ever be able to write that date. And of course the Mayans think that 12/21/12 will be the end of us altogether, so if this is my last post, well so be it. But I'm pretty sure we'll all be around a little longer, at least. I believe God's word, where he tells us that no one knows the time or day, not even the angels! So Happy 2013 to you as well!

Things are going well here. Grant is playing Varsity Basketball now. They are 2-0 so far and are hopefully in for a winning season. He is working hard at academics (most of the time), athletics (practice is 5 days per week) and social life (ha). He sees his friends usually once on the weekends, either at the malls or a nearby park. It's the "thing" to do here in Dubai. He is on Student Council and also helping out with the elementary mini-olympics next week at school. Some Saturdays, he is volunteering to help Blair with a Scorpian Academy, teaching little kids basic basketball skills. Sports here do not have the drive and competitiveness as they do back home. We three are used to working hard to get better at the game, and giving it your all. The climate here is much more laid back, but I do think it's getting stronger, even this past year. So, the Beams are leaving their mark a little bit in the world of sports here in the ME!

A couple of weeks ago, there were about 35 teachers that volunteered their time and finances to help support a picnic in the park for our support staff from school. We had about 80 workers to come out to the park and spend the day playing games, eating, singing, talking, and winning door prizes!!! So much fun and for such a delightful and happy group of people to work with! It's amazing what taking a little of your time will do to bless others, and more importantly receive a blessing in return!
School is always a busy place with the day to day teaching, but also supervising after school activities and helping with things like musicals, special rewards/lunches, tutoring, spirit days, staff meetings, and whatever else is requested of us. At times it may get a little hairy, but I like being busy!!! Of course when I come home in the evening I am worn out... so a quick load of laundry, something simple for dinner, an hour or so checking in with everyone on FB and emails, then off to bed I go!!! If I can get there by 8:30, I am very happy!!!

So, this time next week, I'll be getting us packed for a week in Thailand. We are traveling with friends and their children to Ko Samui and Bangkok... very excited! I am planning to just lay on the beach most of the time (if the weather permits) and sip on this or that, do some local shopping and dining and sightsee as much as we can. We'll be back in Dubai for New Year's and are planning to spend with friends at their house. Getting into the "city" on New Year's Eve is INSANE, they tell me. So we'll roast some hotdogs and marshmallows, light a few sparklers and enjoy the night sky!!! Nothing fancy 'bout us folks!

Guess that's a good update for now. I will also tell you that although the rest of the world struggles with what to call CHRISTMAS... that is not a problem here in Dubai, of all places! It's in every department store and grocery, music is playing in the malls and restaurants, Christmas trees are called Christmas trees, I've even seen the manger scene here and there, and would you believe the Star of David printed on some plates and napkins, the phrase Merry Christmas is printed with no fear or apologies!!! So this girl likes that very much... to each their own... be "open-minded" we teach our kids and respectful of all cultures, traditions and beliefs!
May you and your family have a blessed holiday season... Jesus is the reason for the season (in my opinion!)

Kim

Let the Busy Season Begin!!!

As if things weren't so busy already, I just know that by looking at the calendar, things are going to get busier before they slow down again! But then again, I think that's true most anywhere in the world during the months of November and December. But I don't say that to complain, just merely an observation. 

The past few weeks have been pretty eventful for us. We spent the weekend in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, a few weekends ago. We got to see the 3rd largest mosque in the world, Sheikh Zayed Mosque and it is indeed an architectural wonder. I had seen photos from friends FB accounts, but seeing in person, was really something else. (the photo above is taken outside the mosque). So as a woman, you have to cover your head, arms and legs, while inside the mosque. Men's only restrictions are to cover their knees and shoulders! We were there at sunset and it was amazing! If you get a chance to visit, it's a must see! While in Abu Dhabi we also spent the afternoon at Ferrari World. The largest indoor amusement park and the world's fastest roller coaster, at 150mph at takeoff!!! I passed on that offer of course, but Blair and Grant said it took their breath away... you are required to wear goggles so your eyeballs don't fly out!!! Blair, Grant and a couple of his buddies were able to go see the Harlem Globetrotters play here in Dubai too! So, fun times together for sure.

We've been to dinner with friends a few times, watched many volleyball games with Grant playing so well and winning a tournament this past weekend! He'll be trying out for basketball this week, and here we go again! Blair is coaching a basketball team this year too, so guess I'll be hanging out in the gym a good bit! The first quarter of the school year just ended, so many reports to complete this week. We have this Thursday off for Islamic New Year, then parent conferences next week. Along with American Thanksgiving gatherings here and there, and a fun day at the park/beach with our support staff from school! I told you this was a busy time AND I have to get my Christmas tree put out soon.

Then, before you know it, the winter break and Christmas will be here! We are planning to visit Thailand over the holidays with some teacher friends and their kids from our school. Very excited about this beautiful, relaxing and refreshing vacation... can't wait to put my camera into action! 

So, that's about it for the past few weeks. Will update again sometime mid December I guess, unless of course I'm so busy that I don't know my own name... Kim

6 Weeks Already???

So, for those of you who said "I'll check your blog when you get back to Dubai", I am so sorry! I have not posted one time until now, so I'll try to share some updates on how things have been going, since we returned the end of August!

First of all, our summer back home in NC/SC was awesome!  The beach, the mountains, the small/simple life of Cherryville... it was all so nice. The fondest memories are those of Sweet Tea, Sundrop, Shake Shop cheeseburgers, Aunt Judi's home cooked meals, me DRIVING again, Grant Driver's Permit, Green Grass, the BLUEST sky I've ever seen in my life (I know it wasn't that blue before?) and time spent with family and friends... it was basically perfect.

The worst memories from summer are those of my pants not buttoning because of the mass amounts of good food we ate all summer, my mom crying when we pulled out of her driveway, not having enough time to see everyone we thought we would see and losing a precious friend, Tina West, to her years of battling cancer.

So, we've been back here for 6 weeks and we haven't stopped yet. I am teaching kindergarten again for the first time in about 15 years, and man am I zapped at the end of my day (plus I still have grade 1 and 2). They are the highlight of my day (everyday) but my age is showing a bit I think! Last week, Ara, a KG2 student told me I was one beautiful lady... bless his heart, he made my year! I have just over 300 students this year and Blair has about 350 or more... so we don't stop too much during the school day. Grant has an incredibly challenging Grade 10 schedule, but he's working at it. He is playing volleyball for the first time ever, and is doing really well. They have a 3-1 record so far and he will be in a couple of tournaments soon.
We both serve on a couple of committees and advise after school activities, and Blair will be coaching a basketball team soon!

One of the best things is that the administration gave me their approval to coordinate a special Celebration of Thanks/Picnic in the Park, for the Saturday following Thanksgiving, for our support staff. We have many Filipono, Pakistani, Indian and other nationalities that are our cleaners, bus drivers, bus nannies, helpers, assistants, etc. etc. We are looking forward to this fun today together of games, music, good food and fellowship. A little funny for ya... I was hanging the posters and signup sheets last week, when one of the filipino ladies said, "Excuse me Miss, but are you Christian?" I said, "well yes I am". She said, "I thought so, because you put the word fellowship on the poster!"... I just laughed and said, "yes, that does give me away"! Good stuff all the time!

So, our apartment is settled, we still have our Toyota Camry we bought last year, we are still attending the Redeemer Church and loving it, and life is pretty good overall. I am able to get Grant some imported goods like Eggo Waffles, PopTarts and Oreo cookies, and he is very happy. I found a magnolia plant a couple of weeks ago and have in on the dining table (along with some other house plants here and there), so green is good.

That's about it for now... need to go put a little hair color on this gray... one thing you don't see a lot of people with over here... not because they don't have gray, but because they are on top of their image and would never let it show! Me on the other hand, wait until I can't take it anymore! Until next time... Kim

Wrapping Up Year ONE in Dubai

I cannot believe that I'm sitting here in my den on a Thursday evening, it's the end of May, and in about 3 weeks we'll be back home for the summer! Unreal! God has been so good to us this past year and we publicly thank Him for getting us through this major transition in our lives. Although, when I reflect back over these past 10 months, it has been pretty easy! I have shared before that teaching is very similar wherever you go... People are mostly the same wherever you go... and life begins to have a new kind of normal, wherever it takes you at a particular time.
We have prayed specifically about a particular apartment here in our complex for us to be able to move into before we leave, and we got the official word this week, that it's ours. We'll move in the weekend before we come home (a REAL BLESSING, as it's in our same building and just down the hallway)!!! We have been purchasing furniture and other necessities and will be all set for the move. It will be nice to return in August and be ready to start a new year, with our things settled.
The past month has been quite busy for all three of us... Blair's ARTS ALIVE show with over 300 pieces of art work on display... we both were mentors for a group of 6th grade students who spent one month preparing an elementary culmination project that was full of research and real life application to making a difference to a certain cause... Grant ended his golf lessons and we attended a nice awards reception together... our students have performed talent shows and other special concerts and plays... we have several friends leaving and moving on to other schools, so good bye parties have started... we attended a special baptism for 15 new believers... we had lunch with a group of believers, to pray up our kids for the remainder of the school year and future... and the list goes on.
In the coming weeks we'll have our end of year staff party at Atlantis... Grant's Athletic Awards Banquet/Dinner... a farewell dinner for our good friend and assistant principal... Grant's week of final exams... report cards due... a gathering for Grant's 15th birthday with some friends... packing and moving apartments... packing for our trip home... and I'm sure they'll be some more things that I don't even know about yet!!!
So this may be my last post for a while... thanks again for those of you who have tracked us this past year... we love you, appreciate you and look forward to seeing you this summer... until next time...

Istanbul!!!

ISTANBUL...you stole my heart, you broke my wallet!!! (I actually borrowed that line from a good friend, but it's true)

We spent 5 days in Istanbul, Turkey and believe me that was only long enough to scratch the surface... too much to see and do and not enough time or money to cover it all. But, all jokes aside, I am so happy that we were able to visit, even if only for a short time! An absolutely amazing city... so many of our friends here said they have been and we would love it. Many of them have been more than
once, so that's usually a pretty good indicator that a place must be so special, and it is!

The colors, the culture, the people, the architecture, the history, the sea, the shops and the list goes on...
Just as nice as Florence, and similar in so many ways, yet different as well. We were able to see all the main attractions in Istanbul, but didn't have time to get out into the other cities (maybe next time-ha)! The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, the Biscilica Cistern, the Hippodrome, Taksim Square, Topkapi Palace and many other sites were all amazing! It was a bit crowded due to the Easter holiday, but not unbearable. The people were great... Blair chatted with many folks about their life in Turkey, traveling, studying abroad, the art works, etc. We did a full day walking tour one day and had lunch with about 20 folks that were in the tour. That was really cool to chat with folks from all over (Europe, Asia, Middle East, Australia, USA) at one table, to hear about their experiences and what brought them to Turkey? Good stuff for sure! I have some pics on FB, but I'll add some here as well!

So, we are back in Dubai, enjoying our last few days of vacation. We'll start back to school on Sunday, and have about 8 weeks left of the school year. It's going to fly by, I'm sure. We are planning to switch apartments, but stay in this same complex, so that will take some time and energy. There are many things planned for the end of the year at school, so the pages on the calendar are going to pass quickly.

We'll be back home in mid-June and hope to see many of you, if only for a quick chat. Fortunately, we'll have a long summer break and not have to return to Dubai, until later in August!
So, until we see you again, or hopefully I'll get a couple more posts in... take care, we love and miss you and we'll see you soon!

Hippity, Hoppity, Easter's on it's way!

Did somebody play a trick on me and give me the wrong calendar? No joking, again I'm asking "where is this year going?" Today is the last day of March, so I thought I better post a couple of things to keep everyone up to date. Since my last post, here's what's been happening with the Beams.

We celebrated International Day at school. It was a day filled with costumes, music, food, displays, dances, songs, cultural skits, etc, etc, etc. Blair and the assistant principal for secondary, sang "Going to Carolina/California" by James Taylor. It was quite lovely and there are some pics in my Pics Around School folder. Great to see a diverse community come together and present who they are to all of us to share in!

We were back at school after that for the unveiling of a painted mural that has just been completed by students, parents, teachers and the community. Another nice symbol of open-mindedness and the appreciation of others around us. I was lucky enough to be asked to dance with these lovely folks you see in the picture above. These are some of our wonderful Filipino workers at school and they dance when they have the opportunity... it was an honor and a joy to dance with them on this special night!

Grant spent about 5 days in Amman, Jordan at a basketball tournament. His first flight without mom, dad or Aunt Hope, his first flight without us to another country, his first flight with 19 other teenagers!!! He had a great time, and they brought back the Sportsmanship Award!!! He also played in a 3 on 3 local tournament and they took 2nd place!!! The boy loves to play ball!!!!!!!!

We've been busy at school of course. We had report cards a couple of weeks ago and it takes us about 10 hours or more to get all of the comments posted to each of our student's reports. Just one more time for the year, so we can do it!!! Lots of things going on at school... art shows, talent shows, student exhibitions, teachers preparing to move on to other places, new teachers emailing with questions about their new position here next year, planning for the end of the year, and the list goes on! The end of the year is busy at any school, but a bit magnified here, as we will be losing so many teachers and then a new crop comes in August!

We'll be back in Cherryville the middle of June and hope to see many of you over the summer. We get to stay about 8-9 weeks, so we're blessed to have a long break! Can't wait to have Shake Shop and an ice cold Sun-Drop!
Grant's plans for his first day back... lunch at Five Guys, then Chic-Fil-A for an afternoon snack, then Shake Shop for dinner... did someone say, this child is a junky!!! Oh well, we only live once right!

So, we're packing for our next adventure... We're going to Turkey for Easter break! Can't wait... everyone here says is a must. We'll be in Istanbul for about 5 days and I have a brand new camera, so can't wait to post the pics when we return.

Take care and Happy Easter... Kim

Spring Already???

Once again, I look at the calendar and stand in awe of how quickly time passes. I realize that several of my posts have said the same thing, but it's so true. Here we are with February ending in a couple of days, March is here and we are planning our spring break for April. I have also started looking at our airline tickets to fly back home mid-June! It's unbelievable!!!

We are still a fairly busy family living abroad. Grant is still taking golf lessons and starting to enjoy it more. He has been playing basketball since November and their regular season games are finished now, but he will leave for Amman, Jordan March 7-11 for a regional tournament!!! I can't say that they are getting to go because of their winning record, but sports are a bit different here, and traveling to other nearby countries is just part of the experience! He has been an amazing player this year and we are very proud of his skills and the example he has shown to the rest of the team! We are excited for him and we ask for prayer for safe travels!

We have after school activities each week, that we help sponsor and Grant participates in some of those as well. Blair is still playing pickup basketball with other teachers/parents twice a week and loving that! He also is doing some art projects here and there. The two of us attend a small group bible study once a week and have gotten to know many fellow brothers and sisters, and what a blessing it has been! I am able to spend some girl time every now and again with great friends I've made at school too! We are able to worship together each weekend with a host of believers from every corner of the world... then off to lunch together to spend some quality time and catch up on the past week, as we prepare for the next one!

Most recently, Blair and Grant played in an Ultimate Frisbee tournament this past weekend in Abu Dhabi (the capital of UAE). There was a team in need of some players and the two of them, along with two teacher friends, played 6 games this past Friday!!! An all day event for sure, but wow, how fun!!! I think if I can lose some weight, I might be up for it too... I'll share some pics on here from the tournament. Last week was also the Dubai Jazz Festival... a pretty big deal here. Blair and a teacher friend, were able to take four of the security guards and treat them to a night of music and fun! (letting that little light shine)

So, all is still going really well. Our days fly by because we are teaching, teaching, teaching. Grant is having to study a good bit more, but still holding on to that Honor Roll status, so we are very pleased with him and hope we all continue in the right direction. I'm sure there's other things I could share, but those are the highlights for now... hope all is well back in Cherryville (and wherever you may be) for those of you reading this... until next time!

A New Year Begins...

Although I started this post on January 16, I just realized I never finished it... so it's a little late, but here's a few things to share...
2012 started off with a bang, literally, here in Dubai! We were told by lots of friends that although the Burj Khalifa was magnificent to go see on New Year's Eve, the traffic and crowds may be more than we want to bargain for. So, taking their advice, we celebrated with a nice dinner with friends here in our apartment building. THEN, just before midnight, we walked outside and waited for the amazement of fire in the sky to begin and boy did it ever. We live about 15-20 miles from the Burj Khalifa, but when it 's the tallest building in the world, an you live in a desert, then you can still see if fairly well! So fireworks were shot from the actual building in every color and with every design imaginable... absolutely amazing, but that's what we've come to know about Dubai... the bigger, the more expensive, the more elaborate, the more, MORE, MORE the Better!!! We were thinking that perhaps next year we could get more up close and personal, but after we heard that there were more than 600,000 people downtown, this small-town family decided that the view we had was probably enough for us! But what an experience... if you want to see if for yourself, simply Google Burj Khalifa New Year's Eve, and you'll see what I mean!!!

Italy for Christmas

Where do I begin? Words can never put into perspective the amazing beauty of Italy, unless you've been there yourselves to experience it. Pictures do a nice job of telling a story, but even the best ones don't describe the pure awe of it. So, I'll try to describe for you what was the most wonderful place I've ever visited...
We flew into Florence via Amsterdam, on December 20. It was a small, quaint little airport with taxis lined up all around, waiting to take us to our hotel. The hotel was all that I imagined, life size paintings, dark wood trim, bright green walls, marbled bathroom and the restaurant served the most wonderful food! Walking the narrow, cobbled stone streets we found cozy cafes, tasty pastas and pizza, beautiful plazas with people performing music and street artists creating mini masterpieces. Lots of motorbikes, bicycles and tiny smart cars too! The streets were lined with strings of Christmas lights and decorations... most streets were all different from each other... some with white lights, some with lanterns, some with blue and silver and some in traditional garlands and candles. Each one was amazing! We took tours of the Academia and Uffizi Galleries, where we found the original David, many other Michelangelo sculptures, and thousands of paintings, that overwhelmed us to say the least. The Birth of Venus, being one of the most famous, but again, we were overwhelmed with so much information and time does not allow for you to really embrace it all in a couple of hours. (so another trip should do it, I'm sure)
We took the train into Rome for a couple of days... very similar to Florence with more people, more streets, more places to visit and the Christmas spirit rising. There was Tiffany's, Gucci, Versace and every other high end shop imaginable. We stayed at a lovely hotel next to the famous Spanish Steps, toured the Vatican area seeing St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon (which were all breathtaking) and of course the Colosseum topped it all off! Again, words cannot describe it, you just need to see it for yourself!
So we finished with a few days back in Florence... the Baptistry, cathedrals, plazas, fountains, more sculptures and a nice walk up to the Michelangelo Piazzale, so we could look down over the entire city and just gaze!
We spent Christmas eve at the Opera House with a performance by the Sue Conway Victory Singers with full orchestra. This was a spectacular night of gospel/spiritual/Christmas music and we were blessed to have been able to be a part of it.
So we are back in Dubai now, relaxing, doing laundry, getting back to some sort of normal. We plan to celebrate New Years Eve tomorrow evening with dinner at a waterfront restaurant, fireworks on the water, then hopefully a nice view of the fireworks from the Burj Khalifa... from what we can tell from year's past, it's unbelievable! Google New Years at Burj Khalifa and you'll see what I mean.
We want to take a minute to wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year... may 2012 be a year full of blessings in every way... Love you all- Blair, Kim and Grant

Celebrations

The past week has been filled with Celebrations, of all sorts. Last Thursday on Thanksgiving Day, we had 1/2 day of school for parent conferences. Blair and I were pleasantly surprised to have so many students and parents stop by to see us! All were very complimentary and we were thrilled to meet so many nice people. That evening we celebrated a traditional American meal with some great folks from the south... yes, Georgia and Tennessee (the only real southerners we've met so far). He is a pilot for Emirates and she is a business woman. I have their son in my class and they are hosting our student teacher from school. Great food and fun!

We were thrilled to get to celebrate with turkey and all the trimmings, again on Friday evening with some American families and friends. That was the first time I can truly say that the food taste like HOME! Sweet potato souffle, pumpkin pie... you name it... it was all fantastic!

This week at school we celebrated United Arab Emirates National Day. The UAE is only 40 years young and they are so proud of their nation! Flags on every other house, down the streets, over the bridges, colored lights on every downtown highrise, and even cars with new paint jobs to celebrate the occasion. So, at school we were all encouraged to dress traditionally or in the colors. Blair and I chose to dress with an abaya (black dress) and shayla (black scarf) for me and a dish dash (white gown) and kufiya (mens headscarf). We had so much fun! Some students and teachers did not recognize us and thought we were locals. You will find parents in and out of the school on any given day dressed like this, so it is not uncommon at all. We have a new appreciation for the dedicated folks who dress this way each day!

On Wednesday night, we celebrated finally getting our new car. We purchased a Toyota Camry and it took a few days longer that we had expected, but nevertheless, we have our own transportation now and feel so free. We don't know the roads at all, but just knowing we can get out and GO is a nice feeling.

So with only 2 more weeks of school, we are quickly approaching the Christmas holidays. We were given a tree by some wonderful American friends from church. So we'll get it all set up tomorrow hopefully. We have lights around the apartment and a poinsettia. A wreath for the door, some decorations for the tree and we're all set!!! We leave for Italy on Dec 20, so we are preparing for that adventure too.

We hope all is well with each of you back home and from wherever you may be reading this from. We love you all and appreciate you taking the time to read this rambling post. There are new pics as well, with lots to laugh about... so take a look and email when you can. A couple of folks asked about our mailing address... you can send to our attention....
Universal American School
Dubai Festival City
PO Box 79133
Al Rashidya
Dubai, UAE

Until next time... stay warm, get that holiday shopping done and spend time with each other... Kim

Wild Wadi and Dubai Motor Show

The week of vacation from school ended up with a couple more fun days here in Dubai. The three of us spent the day with some teaching buddies at Wild Wadi Water Park. WOW... we've been to a few water parks over the years, but this one is HUGE! It has over 30 water rides and they are fully automated, meaning the really tall ones, let you sit back and relax in your tube, while you're pulled up a conveyor belt to the top... talk about being spoiled!!! Plus, the best part is it's in the shadow of the beautiful Burj Al Arab (the sailboat shaped) Hotel on the beach. The particular day that we went was perfect. Carolina blue skies, with white puffy cumulus clouds (not common in Dubai) and nice comfortable temperatures. It's funny how your body gets acclimated to the weather here. That day was about 87degrees, and when we got out of the water, we were shivering! Now that's a little different than back home at Wild Water in Surfside, SC. But then again, we wouldn't have been at the water park in November, back at home either!

The Dubai Motor Show is the biggest and best of it's kind in the Middle East (imagine). So while it was here last weekend, we had to check it out. Maserati, Bugatti, Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin and the list goes on, to names I've never heard before. They were amazing (which by the way is a word that everyone uses here... AMAZING!) So Grant, one of his buddies, Blair and I spent the afternoon walking, oohing and aahing and of course taking pics of these beauties. Take a look at the pics here on the blog under Photos of Dubai Shows. Most of them you could get up close and see, even get inside a few. Of course like everywhere else in Dubai, there were guys with their cleaning supplies, wiping off fingerprints, dusting the cars, and sweeping up the tiniest speck of trash around them. Then there were other cars that were roped off and some with lovely models to add to the display!

So this week has come and gone already and our schedule over the next few weeks will fly by. Next week we have 3 and 1/2 days with kids, 1 1/2 days of parent conferences. The following week we are out 2 days for UAE National Day and Islamic New Year, then we go 2 full weeks, then we're out for Christmas from Dec. 16-Jan 3!!! That is unbelievable to me... Christmas is really that close! For the Thanksgiving holiday next Thursday, we'll spend 1/2 the day at school for conferences, then Grant has his first basketball game that afternoon. So we have been invited to share an American Thanksgiving with several families on Friday! We are looking forward to turkey, pumpkin pies and all the trimmings!!! Yummy!!! Although Thanksgiving will look a little different for us this year, we are still most happy and thankful to be spending it together, and in a country that allows us to celebrate holidays and traditions, just as we would in the good ole' USA!!! So Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one who's taking the time to read this blog of ours... it means a great deal to us that you have taken an interest in our lives abroad... until next time... Don't eat too much turkey!!!

Beaches, Parks and some R&R

This week the UAE is celebrating Eid Mubarek, a Muslim holiday celebrating family and giving to the needy. So we have the week out of school and it's been so nice to sleep in a little and get out and see and do some things we haven't had time to do. We visited a park in uptown Dubai, called Safa Park. So very nice to see GREEN... playing fields, lounging fields, shade trees, playgrounds, sculptured gardens with mazes, water fountains and the city skyline as the backdrop! It's over 150 acres of absolute beauty. We casually strolled through and spent a little time in a market area where folks gather once a month for a type of flea market atmosphere. We didn't make any purchases, but this will be an option to go and sell things when we move in a couple years. We also happened upon an advertising/marketing campaign for the new Puma FAAS shoes. They were having races for anyone who wanted to wear "their new shoes" and run a short sprint. Of course they had the official timer with cameras, announcer, etc. So, Grant entered and took 2nd place in his heat. He got his picture made and received a medal with discounts to purchase the new shoe. Pretty fun to just be spontaneous and enjoy the day together.

We also visited Mamzar Park and Beach. WOW... this place was fantastic! It's over 25o acres of park and five beaches to choose from. There were the quiet more adult beach areas, family areas, volleyball areas, plenty of beach to lay out, picnic and grilling areas, and the list goes on. We went on a holiday, so it was pretty crowded, but rumor has it, it's a great place to go during the week or even a Saturday and it's only about a 20 minute drive from our apartment... can't beat that huh?
So working on a tan in November seems a bit odd, but I'm hooked and can't wait to go back.

We've spent time with some great friends this week. Today Grant and Blair are playing a little golf with another friend and his dad. Nolan, his friend, and he actually are in some of the same classes, take golf lessons together, have both made the JV basketball team and attend youth together. Grant has made lots of neat friends and he is making wonderful memories everyday. We all are of course, but it' such a blessing to have the peace that we do, knowing he has transitioned well and seems really happy. He wasn't able to buy the new Modern Warfare 3, that came out today however, but he's trying to figure out a way to buy online and have it shipped to Dubai!!!

Blair has his license now and we will probably get a car in the next week or so. That will certainly free us up and we can be a little more independent. I have a new camera, so be sure to look at our photo pages if you get a chance.

I'm blogging while listening to Christmas music... that seems completely crazy for Three reasons. One- I'm in a tshirt and flipflops ...Two- it's 82 degrees outside (cool spell) ... Three- is Christmas only a little over 6 weeks away??? Oh my, we'll be home before we know it... Until then...

Time Passes Quickly

So, it's been 11 weeks since we first arrived in Dubai, and at times it feels like we've been here forever, but for the most part, it seems like we were just picked up from DXB airport and shuttled to our new apartment. Nevertheless, it's been a great journey these past few months, and now that it's beginning to cool down to 90 degrees, we're planning to get out and explore a bit soon.
We will be on a one week vacation from school the second week of November for the Eid Al Adha holiday and we are looking forward to the time off. Grant has complained a bit though because he is enjoying school so much-ha! He truly is enjoying it, but like all of us, ready for a break. We'll plan to stay in Dubai and perhaps wonder out to a couple other emirates (there are 7 total) to see what neat things we can find and do. Honestly, there is plenty to do here in Dubai for the week, so we'll see what the future holds.

The school day passes so quickly... we're teaching, teaching, teaching and Grant is studying, studying, studying... a few after school activities here and there for all three of us, then it's the weekend. The weekend consists of sleeping in a little, going to church, grocery shopping, dining with friends on occasion, skyping with friends and family, some facebooking, then preparing for the next week again! Blair and I will be dressing up for Halloween this week, and Grant is just happy that he can pay 15 dirhams (about $5) to be able to dress down and not wear a uniform! We're anxious to see what Halloween looks like in Dubai. We actually have a pumpkin in our apartment and I found Halloween and fall napkins too! For those of you who know me well, I'm happiest when I have some seasonal decor and some pretty napkins to go along with it! Not my usual "stuff" by any means, but just a little something.

I've also noticed some retailers in the mall decorating for Christmas. The American stores, like Pottery Barn have stockings and other novelty things out, while others are starting to put up lights. I hear it's quite beautiful around here during the holidays, but again it is Dubai, and they expect no less than extraordinary.

Blair is now singing with the Dubai Chamber Choir and enjoying it very much. Singing is his passion... so glad he's taking advantage of this opportunity. They will have a couple of Christmas performances. There are some recordings from previous years on YouTube if you want to search. We will be traveling to Italy for Christmas and I'm working on the details of that trip. We are so close to so many wonderful places, we decided it would be crazy not to travel some while we're here. Will definitely blog about it after Christmas.

I hope each of you at home in North Carolina are enjoying my favorite time of the year... October and November are my favorite months! So enjoy the cooler weather, the smell of pumpkin bread and the aroma of apple cider for me!

Three Busy Beams

Just when I thought things couldn't get much busier, I was reminded that YES THEY CAN! This past week, was a complete blur. Three late nights at school: A parent meeting about a class trip in the spring for Grant, a PYP (curriculum/parent night) and Dance for Somalia (a fundraiser for the school community). All were really great, but it takes lots of planning, preparation and time of course. The Dance for Somalia was a great turnout, with several hundred people attending. I was able to do a little line dancing with the music teacher and 1st and 2nd graders... Boot, Scoot, Boogie... with jeans, plaid shirt and cowboy hat no less!!! Lots of fun to see students, teachers and parents present traditional dances from around the world... very nice!!! Folks here are very supportive of charity work and the needs around the world and 23,900 AED was raised that night, which is equal to about $8,000.00!

So, a busy week indeed, but all is still really good. On top of that, Grant started Soccer Intramurals, Golf lessons and a little extra practice with Arabic and Spanish. He is only one of a "few" who have not had any foreign language before (except for a little in middle school). Arabic is required by the Ministry of Education for ALL schools here in the UAE, beginning in Kindergarten, so most of these kids have had a number of years of it. His teachers are super understanding and working with him to get what he needs. Progress reports came out this week, and we are proud of how well Grant has settled into the academics and the social aspect of a new school in a foreign land!!!

Although we are over 7,000 miles away, it really doesn't feel like it most of the time. There are still challenges, like not having a car yet, but we have been so busy, there hasn't been much time to go look. Hopefully, we'll have some time soon to go out looking. Folks are so helpful and we are making lots of great memories wherever we go!!!

I lost my camera a couple of weeks ago (my fault), but will be getting something new soon... so more pics coming soon, I promise!!! Guess I'll have to use one of Grant's many electronic devices for now.

Until next time... enjoy the FALL weather at home... one thing I am definitely missing... Kim