DAY 2

It is day two in Abu Dhabi. This day I try to go to sleep at 2:30 a.m. after taking an ambien that my mom gave me for my flight but could never find at the time. This was first experience with such a pill. A pill that made me feel very groggy and dizzy. Thinking I was going to finally get a full nights rest and get back on the right sleeping track, I hit the hay only to wake up 3 and a half hours later at 6a.m. I wake up in a state of mind and panic that I have never experienced before. I toss and I turn in my bed with a lot on my mind. At this point it is quite obvious that the enemy has gotten complete control of my thoughts and put me into a state of negativity.

I can’t help but begin to cry. At this point I just want to come home. I miss my family and Cassie way too much to want to stick it out. I get out of bed and begin to try and reach someone on facebook or skype. After finally getting a hold of my brother, he takes the initiative to try to talk me through it and inform my mom of what is going on. Soon enough, my grandpa calls full of advice and words of wisdom. I am so grateful for all the amazing family members and friends I have and there continuous support. My mom appears on skype, I take advantage of having family in front of me to express my feelings and thoughts. We go through scenarios and try to straighten my mindset up with questions and answers. We come to the conclusion that my body is going through a great deal of shock, exhaustion and hunger. I haven’t eaten in long time again and have gone from the most extreme intake of protein back home, to literally none in a quick period of time.

My mom convinces me to order room service and try to get some food in my system. I order some scrambled eggs and sausage. After 20 mins, the food arrives. I attempt to start eating while still talking to moms. I try to eat slowly only to realize there is no way for me to keep this down. Soon enough the food works its way up and I make a run for the bathroom (I will let you fill in the rest). After talking with family and being calmed down, it is time to shower up and try to maybe to get some rest.

After I get out of the shower, I finally get the opportunity to see a very important and beautiful face on my computer screen. Cassie pops up on skype after getting to her hotel for volleyball and has some time to say a few words before she has to hit the hay. After a great skype date with my lady and after joking around with her and getting to see that amazing smile she informs me she needs to get some sleep. We say our goodbyes and she says one last thing…go sleep for 6 hours! We say our I Love You’ and I hit the hay. I sleep straight for 6 hours with the exception of one phone call from my curriculum director checking in because of an email I sent her with concerns I had with the way things have been handled. We talk and I get some questions answered but there are still a lot of worries and question marks. I get out of bed at about 6:45p.m. and head to the Marina Mall to check out the “Carfourre” store at the bottom of the mall. This is the Wal Mart of Abu Dhabi and has just about everything for quite cheap.

I get some7-up, turkey, crackers and orange juice to try and slowly get food in my system. I head back and snack on it for a while before a few of us new teachers meet for a little gathering to meet each other for the first time. Once meeting up at the mall we sit down and get to know each other and hear each other’s stories. It is a good group of people from different parts of the world, but I am definitely the young one of the group and the only one to have not traveled like this before. I start to think again when I am not talking about if this is truly for me. I may have jumped into this way to quick.

I take the time to go downstairs and set up my phone service that is all pre-paid here. It is the cheapest route I can take for local and long distance calls. It is nothing but a tiny Nokia, but it does the job and is easy to keep track of billing. After making a quick trip to the Abu Dhabi off brand Wal Mart to take care of this purchase, we decided to try and get a feel for the bus system and take it back to the hotel. It costs one dirham to ride the bus (27 cents) wherever you want. The buses are air-conditioned and quite high tech. I will try to get a picture soon. After getting back to the hotel I go up to my room and give a quick surprise call to mom and the lady friend CJB on the new phone so they have my number.

After that it is time to try and hit the hay. Once again because of the jetlag and the full mid day 6 hour nap the day before, I can not fall asleep. I lay in bed for 5 hours without sleeping. I hop out of bed and skype some more with mom and dad. Mom gives me some amazing verses to read aloud and I do so. She is the best when it comes to knowing verses to attack head on! Psalms 40, 41, 42 were the verses of choice for the evening to read aloud. These were very helpful and put my heart to ease but my mind was still not tired enough to sleep. Before I knew it the sun was up in Abu Dhabi at 6a.m. and I was still awake. Cassie made it back to the hotel from her games and I was going to take full advantage of talking to her during these random hours before I am unable to and will be on a strict skype date schedule.

Thank you all the support and random reaches out for help and words of wisdom. Those of you who know people in the area or who have been and have put me in touch with them…THANK YOU! I am going to try and get a little catnap in during the day but not long because I do not want to pull another all nighter here, especially with orientation starting tomorrow. Hopefully some food, a workout, the beach is in store for me today. I will keep everyone posted with the next blog. A&F

PSALM 40:

¹ I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.

² He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.

³ He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.

⁴ Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods. ^[a]

⁵ Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.

⁶ Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced ^[b] , ^[c] ;
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.

⁷ Then I said, "Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll. ^[d]

⁸ I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."

⁹ I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.

¹⁰ I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.

¹¹ Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.

¹² For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.

¹³ Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;
O LORD, come quickly to help me.

¹⁴ May all who seek to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.

¹⁵ May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"
be appalled at their own shame.

¹⁶ But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
"The LORD be exalted!"

¹⁷ Yet I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, do not delay.

Pictures = 1. Buildings being built next door to the hotel which construction workers still work on all day long, even during ramadan with no food or water until 8pm. 2. The food court in the Marina Mall