Beauteefull of Gifts

My expression everyday I enter the classroom...You ever question your sanity, your competency as a good teacher? You ever think you're doing everything all wrong, and you're the problem? Yea...me either... On a lighter note: We've received our passports back last week! They were delivered to us at the school, so no running around required! Our Emirates IDs are in Abu Dhabi for pick up, but we'll have them transferred to the Western Region for easier access.  Eid is coming up but there's debate on what day it starts... well more so on what days we will be off. Our original calendar says the 22nd-26th, but since the holiday doesn't start until the 23rd, there's a possibility we will have to report to work on Tuesday. *le sigh* The last two weeks have been full of ups and downs:   Ups:   Riding the quad over the sand dunes of the hotel Receiving my passport Having the tile fixed in my flat Purchasing a stove for 100 dirhams (like $27 USD, hope ...

I am considering myself a city southern girl....I'm definitely a New Yorker to the core (you know fast-talking, always in a rush, blunt), but my young adult years in the South has taught me the little sweet spin can get you the world if you smile, and bat your lashes. The UAE has sent me for a spin and left me on my arse! Sometimes the sugar can get you where you need to be (like when I was lost in the small town trying to make it to my hotel in the next town over and discovered I was at the wrong bus stop, but the bus driver got me closer to where I needed to be and wouldn't let me pay the fare), but other times you get taken advantage of (like in the shopping malls: miss, don't you see this line here?! Your purchase is NOT more important than mine! OR while waiting for your taxi in 111 degree heat on the main road and being yelled at in Arabic, cars slowing down whistling or "offering a ride", headlights flashing.....yea you get the picture). I've been doi...