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...