We are back in Abu Dhabi, the city of Al Ain for year THREE! I can't believe I/we made it through the first week over two years ago and here we are.....for the third year. Our experience here has been pretty positive and we are happy to report we are starting another year in the UAE. ITs hot, its dry and its part of our new life. Although the weather is turning cooler and the fun will soon begin, sand duning, camel rides, four wheeling and bbqs outside!!! YAY!! The boys seem to be settling back into our old routine. We try to keep it fun on the weekends and pretty relaxed during the week. This weekend we went to the pool and took a trip to Dubai to eat at the one, the only.....IHOP! It was AMAZING. We drove 1.5 hours and waited 1 hour in line to eat at IHOP. Crazy? NO....it was worth the wait! Rydge had a playdate with a friend as well and Rylan needed to stay in and relax a bit, he had a throat and ear infection last week, so he needed his rest while Rydge had his playdate and mommy and daddy went grocery shopping.That was a FUN weekend!
Rylan and Rydge started a new private school this year. Its called Manor Hall International School. Its an all american curriculum, with many new american children to hang with. They miss doing things from back home, such as PE and going to the library during school hours. Each of the children have PE twice a week, which consists of things like, kickball, basketball, kung Foo(so Rydge reports)....not just calestenics like the last school for the past two years. This school believes that exercise IS important! YAY...we are SO happy about this. The kids will each be getting their own IPAD(they should for what we pay!) I can't believe what we pay for private education here, its insane, but its that or homeschool and I AM NOT A TEACH AT HOME MOM! So, we have to roll with this.
Andy is busy with his job in Dubai. He commutes each day about 1.5 hours. He seems to enjoy what he is doing. He is a project manager for a construction company that does ground compaction. The work has been slow lately, but its about to get super busy. He has a job coming up in the RURAL area in the western region of Abu Dhabi and then will spend about 14 days in Saudi Arabia. He is getting to see others parts of the UAE and also will be away from us, but we will survive. We are here to work and we both have excellent jobs, so we need to remember that. They have been bidding some really high dollar jobs lately, so this is wonderful for his company. One is here in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the other is in Saudi Arabia. They are trying to build the business in Saudi and Qatar, there is a lot of growth happening there and a LOT of wealth as well.
And then there is me......another school year has begun! I have 20 kids in my class so far...its gonna be a great year. I think the kids are all pretty good ones, with the exception of one "special" little guy. He will be a challenge for my arabic teacher and I. We hope for the best for all of us! I have the best arabic teacher anyone could ask for. When I returned this year, I brought her and her family back IL t-shirts/hats and a special treat of JD tractors for the kids and a Isabel bloom called "friends" for her as well. They all loved it and she hopes to visit America one day. She doesnt ever want me to go and I cant imagine the sadness when I do have to leave her. It's been an amazing experience to get to know her and her family, they are so sweet, kind and smart!
Well, its Saturday night and most of you back home still have another day to enjoy, and its back to work for me. We work Sunday-Thursday here....so its off to bed for me!
We are all well and back to our routine. We are very blessed for our life here in the UAE and look forward to our return home someday, whenever that may be. It could be next July or the July after....what ever works best for our kids and for my family. As long as the kids are okay, then we will stay and continue to prepare for our future, a bigger and brighter one! We have made great strides so far and look forward to this year of seeing more goals come true. We also look forward to some cool new travels as well. We hope to visit Thailand this year and maybe Egypt and Ethiopia! We shall see. Check back for more updates!
Boys and their new sandbox.
♥Abby and family♥
Rylan and Rydge started a new private school this year. Its called Manor Hall International School. Its an all american curriculum, with many new american children to hang with. They miss doing things from back home, such as PE and going to the library during school hours. Each of the children have PE twice a week, which consists of things like, kickball, basketball, kung Foo(so Rydge reports)....not just calestenics like the last school for the past two years. This school believes that exercise IS important! YAY...we are SO happy about this. The kids will each be getting their own IPAD(they should for what we pay!) I can't believe what we pay for private education here, its insane, but its that or homeschool and I AM NOT A TEACH AT HOME MOM! So, we have to roll with this.
Andy is busy with his job in Dubai. He commutes each day about 1.5 hours. He seems to enjoy what he is doing. He is a project manager for a construction company that does ground compaction. The work has been slow lately, but its about to get super busy. He has a job coming up in the RURAL area in the western region of Abu Dhabi and then will spend about 14 days in Saudi Arabia. He is getting to see others parts of the UAE and also will be away from us, but we will survive. We are here to work and we both have excellent jobs, so we need to remember that. They have been bidding some really high dollar jobs lately, so this is wonderful for his company. One is here in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the other is in Saudi Arabia. They are trying to build the business in Saudi and Qatar, there is a lot of growth happening there and a LOT of wealth as well.
And then there is me......another school year has begun! I have 20 kids in my class so far...its gonna be a great year. I think the kids are all pretty good ones, with the exception of one "special" little guy. He will be a challenge for my arabic teacher and I. We hope for the best for all of us! I have the best arabic teacher anyone could ask for. When I returned this year, I brought her and her family back IL t-shirts/hats and a special treat of JD tractors for the kids and a Isabel bloom called "friends" for her as well. They all loved it and she hopes to visit America one day. She doesnt ever want me to go and I cant imagine the sadness when I do have to leave her. It's been an amazing experience to get to know her and her family, they are so sweet, kind and smart!
Well, its Saturday night and most of you back home still have another day to enjoy, and its back to work for me. We work Sunday-Thursday here....so its off to bed for me!
We are all well and back to our routine. We are very blessed for our life here in the UAE and look forward to our return home someday, whenever that may be. It could be next July or the July after....what ever works best for our kids and for my family. As long as the kids are okay, then we will stay and continue to prepare for our future, a bigger and brighter one! We have made great strides so far and look forward to this year of seeing more goals come true. We also look forward to some cool new travels as well. We hope to visit Thailand this year and maybe Egypt and Ethiopia! We shall see. Check back for more updates!
Boys and their new sandbox.
Sounds like you are loving it! So glad!
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