Goin On A Desert Safari

My friends have convinced me to go camping with them tomorrow evening. In the desert. We're supposed to be doing it Bedouin (i.e. nomad)style...like the Emiratis did before they came into all this money. I must admit. I'm not big on camping. I mean, I like having the luxuries a home would provide: bathrooms, a bed, tv...you know stuff like that. Yeah, I'm prissy...ain't no shame in my game, ya feel me? I'm not too keen on sleeping on the ground. In tents. I went camping in the woods several times when I was in the girl scouts. Had fun cos I was with friends, but could care less about the camping part. Besides, being surrounded by too much greenery set off my allergies (so I'm a prissy nerd). For whatever reason, I didn't think sand would affect my allergies as bad as greenage does, but boy was I wrong! So yeah, I'm definitely gonna have to bring allergy meds. Just in case.

And now, my brother has me paranoid about the camel spiders. THIS is the pic seen all over the world...

Of course, when you research "camel spiders" it tells you pics like this are an exaggeration. They don't get that big. BUT, it does say they can get to 12 inches long. TWELVE INCHES. I don't know about you, but seeing a foot long spider is just as bad in my book. I'm praying HARD that we don't come across any creepy crawlers...or snakes...or rodents...or scorpions...or any of the like.

My Abu Dhabi experience is all about me trying new things...stepping out of the comfort zone that I've been in for more than 30 years. This desert safari will definitely get me out of that zone. So this time tomorrow night, I'll be camping. In the desert. Me in all my prissy-ness.

I'm not gonna back out cos I said I'd go, but I can't help but to think: WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO???

More on this later...

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Friday Fragments: Episode #4

To learn more about Friday Fragments, visit Mrs. 4444's blog.

Abu Dhabi Sandstorms

For the past few days, we've been experiencing sandstorms. Nothing like the sandstorm in Mission Impossible 4, mind you, but still crazy. Visibility was practically nonexistent in some places. I've been sleeping with my windows opened with the weather being nice & cool. I had to close them this week cos (a) sand kept blowing in my room, and (b) the wind was blowing so hard, it had my door rattling. Hard. And even with the craziness that is a sandstorm, there were still idiotas who decided it's ok to rev their engines & speed down the street.



I can usually see beyond the ADNEC bldg, but not with the sandstorm.

Wind + Sand = Allergies

Earlier this week, I went running (I know, hard to believe). Lucky me, it was very windy. So, I had to deal with sand constantly blowing in my face. I forgot that sand triggers my allergies just as much as greenery does. It started out slow. A cough here & there. Slight congestion. Itchy eyes. Then, Thursday, my voice chose to slowly go away. And Thursday night, I was at my worst. So, needless to say, I've been sick this weekend...the whole nine: sore throat, no voice, coughing my insides out, sneezing, congestion.

My original plans for the weekend: clean my house, wash/fold/put away laundry, go salsa dancing, have fun. What I actually did: sleep, drink tea, wash laundry, dump said laundry on bed & leave it there, sleep, watch my tv shows, drink tea, sleep, etc. Didn't get much done. Man, I hate being sick! And I'm certain I've reached my tea consumption limit, tho I love tea. It's all I've been drinking.

Teaching With No Voice

Teaching 20-something 3 & 4 year olds who don't understand your language is hard enough. Teaching them ALONE, with a sore throat and NO voice is darn near impossible. Such was my day Thursday. But I survived, thank God. When they got too rowdy, I'd sit down on the carpet and cross my arms...wouldn't say a thing. They caught on that Ms. Raenice isn't happy. So one by one, they'd sit on the carpet and close their mouths. I didn't think it would work, but it did! A wonderful alternative to raising your voice, something I don't like to do.

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Today Is My 6-Month Anniversary!

Yep, that's right! Six months ago, I set foot on Middle Eastern soil for the first time in my life. I felt so many emotions at that time: fear, excitement, disbelief, and homesickness were most prevalent. I had absolutely no idea what God had in store for me. I just knew He led me here and I had to follow.

I've experienced many ups and downs in my first six months, but I must say, I do not regret following God. Honestly, my ups outweigh my downs. Or maybe it's just the outlook I chose to take. I'd decided to focus on the positives and not dwell on the negatives. I won't whine or stress when I experience rough patches cos I know it's the patches that will mold me into a powerfully victorious woman of God.

God has truly brought me a looooong way since this time last year. I'm so grateful He chose me to go on this journey. I've swam in the gorgeous waters, stayed in 5-star hotels, gone to awesome concerts, moved to a high-rise apartment (rent-free), bought things I'd originally couldn't afford, gone to Dubai several times, visited the tallest building in the world, rode on a camel, made some wonderful new friends, learned a little Arabic...and that's only in my first six months! There's no telling what God has in store for me the next six months. Whatever it is, I'm right there with Him, letting Him guide me, going wherever He tells me to go!

Here's to six more months (and more) full of awesomeness!

 

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