The Verows @ UAE!: WARNING: More Positives Than Usual!

It’s hard to believe it’s already May! WOW! While most of the time it feels as though the minutes and seconds just take forever to tick by, the last few months have been super quick.

What is very odd to me, is how normal things have been lately. I am convinced that they only seem normal because we know we’re leaving in TWO MONTHS.

It’s our third week back from Spring Break and we’re counting the days until the students stop showing up. Can’t wait!

Speaking of Spring Break – we had an awesome vacation! Last year when we first got here, we saw an article on the Maldives and the pictures were amazing. We said we wanted to go there but never really thought we would. Well – we did! We spent a few days in Singapore, a few days in Kuala Lumpur, and then several days in the Maldives.

In Singapore we had the chance to go and visit Pastor Rodney and his wife Sasha. Rodney was the pastor of the church Jennifer grew up in when she moved to Alief. Rodney married us, baptized me, and dedicated our children. Even though we were in Singapore at his current church, it felt like we were at home! And it wasn’t just any Sunday – it was EASTER! It was great being there and listening to him preach. After church we headed to Universal Studios. We had a blast there! The kids rode a few roller coasters (after much coercing and bribing with money to spend at the souvineer shop!) and really enjoyed it! This was our first taste of any themepark this size! And it’s not really that big. We also went to the Night Safari and the Singapore Zoo. Their zoo is the best zoo I’ve been to. Not because of the animals they have – but the way it’s designed. There aren’t cages! Most of the habitats are surrounded by a moat like thing and so you have no fences to get in the way of pitures and it feels so natural. Our last day there we met Rodney and Sasha for lunch and to catch up on life. We got to share our struggles about living aborad and dealing with all the troubles that come along with that – including losing family members. It was great to catch up! After lunch we headed to China Town and did a little shopping and checked out the temple there. Singapore is a great country – so clean – and everyone is friendly! I could live there!

After Singapore we flew to Kuala Lumpur. KL was, overall, dirty and nothing really attracted us. We stayed in a good area of town, near the Petronas Towers. That area is very nice. We spent one day at a water park and enjoyed the cool water in such a warm and humid place! Caralyn wore me out riding all of the water slides! We went to the movies, a bird park, went up to the observation deck of the Petronas Towers, and went to the Petronas Science Center. While we weren’t fond of KL, we did enjoy our time there!

The highlight of our trip was the Maldives! You always see amazing pictures of beach resorts and they look awesome. Well – the Maldives is no different! I’ve never been in such clear water! Such great white sandy beaches. We had our own beachside villa. We walked out in the morning, after breakfast, and walked in the water. No farther than 10 feet out – there was coral and amazing fish to watch. We enjoyed snorkeling! Well – most of us! Caralyn would look for a few minutes and then just hang out on her float while we keep looking. We saw some great fish – including the trigger fish which are apparently aggressive – and the last day we even saw an eel! WOW! The weather was awesome (no rain – except our last)…well hot and humid but we knew it would be! While the food wasn’t the best food we’ve ever had, we enjoyed it. Jennifer loved the reef fish. Our last night we had the best Wagyu beef steak! There’s nothing more relaxing than a nice pool and beautiful beaches. We had too much fun! The only downside was the cost. It’s so damn expensive in the Maldives! A coke is $6USD! And not some two liter bottle – we’re talking a 20oz soda! But trip of a lifetime – and we enjoyed every dollar spent!

Coming back to reality is never easy and this time was no different. I tried to stay positive – reminding myself this is our last trimester here and we’ll be home. And there are many positives…surprising, I know!

At my school we FINALLY got our own classroom. 4 months before the end and we change all the rooms and the way our days operate! It’s been so much better. I can sit in a quiet room and read the news, do some planning, play a game on my phone, stare out the window, and whatever else I want – and it’s all in silence! Silence is golden! And I can lock my door! I was able to make a bare room that has bored me for two years something more inviting for kids. Assigned seats are my best friend – and my students HATE them! Daily I have to address it with a few. But such is life!

We’re busy making sure we get all the things done we planned to do. Swimming with the dolphins at Atlantis and Ski Dubai are our two big things we’ve always wanted to do but never have! We finally made it Ski Dubai last weekend. We had a blast playing in the snow for several hours. However, the end part of thawing out and changing was not fun for Cole! He was miserable! He didn’t even want to change into pants and a short sleeve shirt! But we all enjoyed the experience! We didn’t see but did all the tube rides and rode the ski lift to the top and back down. It’s hard to imagine this place is in the middle of the desert! And it’s huge inside! The day after Ski Dubai we went to Jonathan’s birthday party at iPilot where each kid got to do the pilot simulator. A real pilot simulator. And his cool cake! (He’s been reminding me to post this cake picture so it’ll show up when he Goggles it!)

Jonathan and his cake!

As we near the end – the dreading checkout is upon us. Leaving here is not like a normal job (nothing here has ever been “normal”). There are like 8 signatures, several clearance letters, and turning in the final paperwork and then the waiting game for the payout. And when we get the payout – we’re O-U-T!

The preparations for heading home (aside from the hoop jumping checkout) are in full swing! We have our shipping company lined up to send items home we can’t live without! And the most important part of this repatriation is a J-O-B! And thank God – we BOTH have a job lined up! We’re heading back to Alief ISD. Jennifer’s going to be teaching 5^th grade math/science at Youens Elementary. I’m going back to my old school – Miller – to teach 6^th grade reading/language arts. I can’t wait! I feel like I’m just going to pick up where I left off – back home! I hear the Chris Daughtry song, I’m Going Home, playing in my head!!!! That feeling when we walk off that plane on July 12^th will be the best feeling. And that feeling is something I can taste – yet it seems so far away some days.

Here are some photos from our Spring Break trip!!!