5/29/2011

Howdy!

The last few days have been relatively uneventful.  I did go to a softball tournament that some of the instructors played in on Friday, and that was a lot of fun.  I've been asked to play several times (they don't know how uncoordinated/dangerous that would be for me, lol).

Saturday we went to Abu Dhabi and the Marina Mall and had lunch, got nails done, and shopped at Carrefour.  Thank god they had some breakfast stuff there, because I've been dying with the breakfast here at the Tulip.

Today was the same-old same-old. No update on when we will be moving on base, which is sad. I'd like to actually get the chance to meet and talk to all of the staff here for more than 5 seconds.

Anyway, I'll update later :)

Brittany

5/26/2011

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days.  We've been to the base several times, and met everyone who we will be working with.

So far, so good with that.

The reason I haven't posted is because I have been sick the past two days, which has been a real adventure.  In 24 hours, I've consumed less than 200 calories. So right now I'm just trying to stay on top of staying hydrated and resting as much as possible.

I know it isn't much of an update, but thats all that has really happened in the last few days.

5/23/2011

I'm starting to lose track of how many days I've been here. Fabulous. lol

Today we FINALLY got to go on base and see Camp Sweihan with our own eyes.  It was much better than I thought it would be.  Our office is small, but at least it's nice and cool inside. I found out what room will be mine, and got to see what I will need for it.  Tomorrow and Wednesday we go again.

We also went back to Ikea again, which was fun. Driving around here has gotten way easier!

I finally had to give in and go across the bridge to Al Rahba again to get food. Dinner at the Tulip was just not cutting it tonight. So a snickers ice cream bar, small bag of lays, and a few skittles later, I'm full enough to be able to sleep tonight!

More tomorrow!

Shukran
Brittany

Days 9 & 10

The last two days have been pretty uneventful, I haven't felt great so I've really just hung around in my room and watched movies.

We did venture towards the base and Shahama today, which was ok. I drove back from Shahama and I think I'm really starting to get the hang of driving here.  Drive too fast, cut people off, take turns too quickly, use your horn too much, and thats just your average driver. lol. There are some that are much more intense than that.

We are currently working on plans of when we want to go to Dubai to see the Burj Khalifa and the Emirates Mall.  I also am in desperate need of finding a cheap digital camera, because I'm a genius and didn't bring mine :/

More to come later!

Thanks!
Brittany

Day 8 - Dubai, The Ibn Battuta Mall, and Pirates of the Caribbean 4

So yesterday was a very lazy day.

I didn't get out of bed until 1 in the afternoon, had a light lunch, worked out with Ms. Debbie and then got ready to go to Dubai.

We hadn't driven into Dubai yet, so yet again it was another driving adventure.  Although we have discovered I can navigate us pretty well (I have suddenly discovered a good sense of direction).  So the drive in and out of Dubai was really easy.

When we got to the mall we wandered around and then had dinner at Tony Roma's (Hey, I know it's american food but if you had smelled some of the crap the other places were cooking it would have turned your stomach). 

We saw the new Pirates movie in 3D, which was good. I really enjoyed it!

Thanks for reading!
Brittany

Day 7 Abu Dhabi and the Marina Mall/3rd Avenue Pub/Bar/Whatever

So, I'm a day late writing this one but that's probably for the best.

Yesterday was a pretty tame day, and we decided to go to Abu Dhabi to the Marina Mall for dinner and possibly a movie.  We ate at this place called Cinammon City (or something similar) and the food was amazing! By far the best food I've had over here by far.

I've also noticed that almost every post includes something about food, which makes me feel like a fatty. lol.  But food is so different here, so it's a big change for me.

The mall was pretty nice, and we even ventured into Carrefour (WalMart is the closest comparison I've got). 

We took a Taxi over to 3rd Avenue Pub (I think that's the name) in one of the hotels, and that was where the entertainment got better.  I've always liked sitting back and just watching people at bars, but over here it is even more entertaining.  The bar we were in was full of a random mish-mash of people, and observing their interactions with each other cracked me up.

I definitely miss everyone at home, and last night definitely solidified that. I had a great time out, but I was definitely thinking about how things would have been if it had been a "normal" night out.

It's around 1:40ish here, and I STILL haven't gotten out of bed.  But this is the first truly lazy day I've let myself have.

I'll try to post more about today later (if we get into anything interesting!)

Thanks and Love Y'all!
Brittany

Day 6 - Dubai & The Tulip

I've been getting crap sleep lately. It's sad. Hopefully tonight I will be able to crash early.

Today was mostly just waiting around at the Tulip until Todd and Vince came to get us to go to a softball game in Dubai.  I am reallllly thankful for that, I was going stir crazy here.  There is only so much to do around here.

Although I did manage to get in a decent workout today! Which makes me ridiculously happy.

Otherwise, it's been pretty slow around here

I'm hoping to make plans to go back into Dubai and see a movie at the Ibn Battuta mall, but hopefully I won't have to drive.  I also don't know that I'm ready to drive in the big cities yet :/

Thanks for reading!
~Brittany~

The Tulip Inn/Al Rahba Days 4 & 5

Sorry for not updating yesterday, the internet was not cooperating so I gave up and went to bed!

Day 4

Yesterday we just stayed around the Tulip, and didn't really venture out.

Day 5

Today was the most interesting by far, we went to IKEA (the one here is way more awesome than the one in Houston!) and had lunch/did a little shopping.  Then after we got back we took some clothes to the cleaners across the bridge in Al Rahba, and I finally drove! Although it's pretty terrifying to drive here, they drive like maniacs! But we got there and back in one piece, and no close calls so I'd call it a good trip. :)

I finally tried some ice cream, it's definitely different but still really good.

I also had my first experience in washing stuff by hand, since there are some things you cannot take to the place that does your laundry.  That was not so fun.

Today has been, all in all, pretty chill.  Also, over the past couple of days I have gotten the chance to read for fun, which never happens anymore. So that's been nice.

Tomorrow will, hopefully, a little more exciting!

Love,
Brittany

Day 3 - Hotel & Al Rahba

Today we didn't really do much, mostly just hung out around the hotel until Mr. Mercurio came out and had lunch with us and went over a few things for work.

Later on we headed into Al Rahba, right across the bridge, to look at the grocery stores and see if we'd need to go into Shahama to get food or not.  We will definitely be driving to Shahama to get food, the stores nearby have some food (see below some things I tried) but not enough to be able to skip eating here at the hotel.

Some food that I tried today:

 You may be saying, well that wasn't very adventurous. The chips DO NOT taste the same as in the US, but they are still pretty good.

Teeny Tiny little snickers bar, this was also different but still really good.

Chocolate Milk: definitely not as good as in the U.S. Drinkable, but not even similar to real milk

Capri-Sun:  pretty good, they definitely had a different taste for fruit than I do, but these are still ok.

I think tomorrow I will be driving into Shahama, so wish me luck! People drive like mad-men around here, so I should have exciting stories tomorrow! lol

شكراً لكم و نراكم بكرة

بريتاني

Day 2 - Dubai

Today we got to venture into Dubai, since Mr. Mercurio was nice enough to take us there.

We went to the Ibn Battuta Mall and wandered around.

This is ms. Buford and I in front of the Ibn Battuta statue that they have inside the mall.  The people were very friendly, and while I've been warned that a lot of people would probably stare, etc. I've yet to have any problems while I've been in public.  I guess we'll just have to see how things go once I start working full time. 

We also went to another souk in Dubai, which was also pretty neat. I have been shockingly surprised at the fact that the shopkeepers/salesmen are not super pushy (think the complete opposite of Tunisia, Katie).

We drove around the city as well, and got to see the Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world).  I will definitely be going back to do a tour soon!!

*Random building being built

Today we just got a taste of Dubai, and I definitely plan on going back when I have a little more money $$$$.

So far my experience in the UAE has been fabulous, and I'm really looking forward to the next few months out here.  It will be really difficult to adjust to all the changes, especially being so far away from everyone I love, but I will come out of this stronger and with an experience of a lifetime.

~Brittany

Abu Dhabi -Day 1

We got to the hotel late last night, so I didn't have time to write a whole update.  We got in pretty late to the hotel last night (10:30/11 ish), so most of last night was spent meeting a few of the people who are already here working. 

The flight from Germany to Abu Dhabi was good, but I definitely am not looking forward to having to sit on planes for that long again anytime soon.

So far everyone is really friendly, even the hotel staff.  There is one night staffer who, now that he knows I know some arabic, asks me a question/phrase or teaches me a new phrase everytime I walk by. 

They absolutely do not use MSA here, at all. I've been corrected so many times from things that we are taught in class is the right way to say it, but it's all a learning experience and I'm enjoying it.

Today we went into Shahama to get cell phones and see one of the grocery stores we may be able to buy food from once we get on base.  Right now we are waiting for the phones to get activated, but in the meantime we got to get a driving tour of Abu Dhabi. The city is really nice and there are so many shops, etc. to go look at.

Tomorrow we are probably going to go into Dubai for a few hours.

That's all I've got for now!

Shukran :)  (Thanks!)
Brittany

Abu Dhabi

Well, we finally got to abu dhabi and got all checked in!  Our hotel is crazzzy nice, and tomorrow we are gonna go get phones! 

I slept like crap on the planes, somewhere around 2 hours of sleep in the past 32 hours. So it's time to crash!

At the Airport

So it's official... I refuse to ever fly economy again.  Business class is where it's at! lol

Right now I'm sitting in the lounge waiting for to board. I am so incredibly nervous/sad... but I am also really excited.

Mom and Nick dropped me off about an hour ago, and it was really hard not to cry when I had to go through security by myself.  But I did it, and I'm holding up ok.

I'll try to post again when I get to Frankfurt, but who knows if there will be a computer I can use.

~Brittany

Last Day With CCS (Until August!)

So at this time next week, I will be on a plane bound for Germany and then on to Dubai.  Which means it is my last day here at CCS until August :(


While I'm really excited to be going to Abu Dhabi, I'm definitely going to miss everyone here!  I've been here 4 years, it's going to be weird to not walk in the doors of the JBC everyday for work and to not see Mrs. Karen, Mrs. Dana, Monica, and everyone in the office.


I don't think it's really hit me yet that I only have a few days left here.  Most of those days are going to be filled with exams, last minute shopping and packing, and trying to see everyone I can before I leave.  I'm not excited about having to say bye to everyone, that's probably going to be the hardest part.

Lastly, I know going to Abu Dhabi is going to be a great adventure.  I am very much looking forward to going, but right now I'd be lying if I said I am not nervous.  It's going to be just like the first day of school all over again, and I'm going to have to adjust to life over there.

I'll try to update again a little closer to time to leave, so for now I'm going to get back to studying and packing for my trip!

                                                        بريتاني