Day 1 (What A Day W-H-A-T A D-A-Y!)

I sit here in my hotel room at 4:10 a.m. awake, watching television, but find myself not really paying attention to what is being said on TV. I cannot help but think and fear what I am doing here. I got off a 14 hour plane ride straight from Chicago and have been in a emotional mess since I got off. Etihad Airways was a great airlines and very comfortable flight full of a wide selection of new release movies, t.v. shows, music and much more.

I got 4 hours into my flight and began to become overwhelmed with what I was really doing and who I had left behind. I took one for the team and paid the 7 dollars a minute for a 2minute airline call to the love of my life (Cassie Bishop) just to be able to hear her voice and tell her I love her. It was quick but much needed to put my heart to ease for a small period of time. I sat in a cabin full of native children to the area who as soon as that seat belt sign was turned off, ran around that plane like chicken with their heads cut off. These children we so incredibly loud with screams, cries and laughs. Does any one of their parents even attempt to calm them down you ask? No, not a chance and I didn’t understand it. I tried to sleep and tried to get rest but was only able to for a small period.

After finally reaching my destination, Abu Dhabi, UAE. I got off the plane with a large fear on my heart and in my mind. I waited for my luggage and made my way through customs. After getting through the gate, I found myself looking at thirty different people holding signs with different peoples names on it and searching for the one with my name. I found myself alone and without a soul. I was scared, I was lost, I was terrified. I began to panic with what I should do. I walked around aimlessly until I decided to go look for my name on that sign again. Finally, for a moment I am relieved for I have found my name on a sign. As we meet up with one other teacher from Virginia Beach, we exit the airport into a absolute sauna. It was approximately 9p.m. and was a sauna outside.

As we sat in the car driving to the hotel, I was able to wrap my mind around the rumors of how crazy drivers are here, WOW! I made my way to my hotel room at The Hilton, Abu Dhabi and felt lost and in a great deal of loneliness. I was without Internet to contact family through Skype like I thought I would be able to. The apparently feel the need to charge a great deal of money at the hotel if you want Internet. I hope to find an internet café’ or something in the morning. I made a collect call to my mom at work and once again, like a baby, broke down in regret of coming. I am a person who likes to know what the plan is and what it is I am supposed to be doing. Here, I am unaware of what is next until orientation starts on Sunday.

I was able to talk to Mom, Dad, Cass, Nick and Kel. This was a very emotional time for me, but full of encouraging and supportive words from them. This 26 hour day on planes and in airports gave me a lot of time to think about my life and my future. I have the most amazing family in the world and the most spectacular girlfriend in the world. God has really opened my eyes to what my heart has been holding deep within for a while now. This is information that I have been scared to share out loud, only fearing to be hurt. He is making sure I know I can say all I need to say and feel all I am feeling for I am safe and blessed to be in the relationship I am in for it is truly as good as it seems. I am madly in love with the woman of my dreams. As badly is I want to run away from here and go home, I know there are no jobs at home and need to begin my career and prepare a place/foundation for my own family someday.

I made my way downstairs to try and get food for it had been a long time since I had eaten and was told because of Ramadan, I was not going to find anywhere to eat until 11am when the mall opened. I went upstairs with 5 hours to spare, changed and went across the street to the health club and beach portion of the resort (as pictured above). I got a small workout in and spent a little time in the pool. Made my way back to my room and found myself passing out on my bed. Woke up a little bit later to a phone call telling me I was going to need to switch my room haha. Are you kidding me? Just add it to the list of things to go wrong! I needed food first though. I walked downstairs to try and take a cab to the mall only to hear it was closed again because of Ramadan until 8pm. I could not believe it, I was going to have to go approx. 30 hours without food, UNREAL! I opened my computer and decided to just pay the fee for Internet and try to make visual contact with my Cassie. Although it was very early on the west coast, this was a success :). I was able to finally see her face and hear her voice. This was huge for me and will need this on a regular basis to get through this. After talking with her and a little with my parents I was then asked to move rooms.

After moving next door, it was time for me to finally go get some food. I met my colleague, April, downstairs to take the shuttle to the Marina Mall (pictured above) for food and the attempt to get a pre-paid phone. Made my way into the enormous mall with 4 floors of stores and up to the food court. After selecting some chicken and being very disappointed with the taste, we moved toward the pre-paid phone service. Once we got there, we were informed we would have to buy a smart phone of some sort then return to purchase a sim card from them with minutes, etc. Well just another frustrating surprise without guidance or answers from the school. After missing the shuttle back, we grabbed a cab and 5dirhams later ($1.33) we were back at the hotel and wondering how we were going to eat tomorrow with Friday being the day of worship here and all shops being shut down till approx. 3 or 4 p.m.

After a quick but amazing skype date with Cass before she headed to Idaho for volleyball and a couple random check in’ on skype with mom, I made my way to the 24hour market across the street hoping for some food and liquids to bring back for food until shops/restaurants open up. However, the market only carried junk food and sodas. I am only going to get more sick if I stuff my face with that. This is beginning to get irritating for the fact that I don’t understand why I was brought here so soon if there was nothing planned for me until Sunday and I was expected to survive on my own until then.

I am truly hoping that Sunday gets here quicker than I think it will so I can have questions answered and routines created with reason to stick it out here. I plan on hitting the gym again tomorrow and maybe working on the tan until the shops open up. There is a possibility a friend from Dubai will make his way down to pick me up and get me familiar with the area and give me some company. If that works out then great! For now though, it is goodbye and I will talk to you all later. Thank you for all the prayers and support. I am trying to break through this struggle, I really am. A&F