Thanksgiving is Almost Here!

Yes, it's about time I give thanks for all the great things happening in my life in this far away place.  So many things to be grateful for in no particular order:

1. I've been here three months already and the adventure continues to unfold!
2. The girls at school seem to be getting used to me and we have established somewhat of a truce regarding behavior, etc. (they are so cute I try not to stay mad at them for long!)  I try to remember how hard it must be to have someone talking to them in a foreign language all day long... remember the teacher in Charlie Brown?  Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!
3. My friend Karen is sponsoring a potluck thanksgiving dinner this Friday (we have to work Thursday) so I'll get to meet some of the other teachers I haven't met yet and have some traditional American food!
4. Only 17 more work days until the winter holiday and I am leaving for the states on December 19th!
5. National Day for the UAE is December 2nd.  This country will be 40 years young and the celebrations are already way over the top!  Each day the girls dress up in gorgeous red, green, white and black gowns for our school assembly and recite skits and sing patriotic songs that I can't understand but find incredibly moving and beautiful.  School is disrupted in every possible way but it eases my workload which helps with the exhaustion factor... a HUGE factor and my only excuse for not being in better communication with everyone!
6. Sobriety in the Sands - Dubai, November 17-19th...one word to describe it: awesome!
7. Skyped with my sister and my dog this week and everybody seemed really happy!
8. Weather here is gorgeous now...
9. Bought a new car... the one I REALLY wanted, so I feel very lucky, even though I'm broke after making the down payment... it's a Fiat 500C and it's red! 
10. Singing children's songs in the kitchen in my apartment that is by no means perfect but which is all being paid for by the Abu Dhabi government.

In other words, life is good here.  Not easy, but I have to remember, I didn't sign up for easy...

Wishing everyone a really Happy Thanksgiving!  Can't wait to be back in the U.S. in December!

UAE Flag is Everywhere!

 

Dealer's pics of Fiat 500c: