WOW!!! So much has happened over the last month…check it out. We will definitely keep our blog updated more regularly when we get to the UAE!
August 7th
All our family got together today to have lunch and swim. Its times like these we’ll miss in the UAE. On the bright side, we’ll be home at Christmas so that’s only about 4 ½ months from now. We can handle it, right?!?! This week we’ll be busy organizing our stuff and getting all packed into 8 suitcases. Should be interesting. Stay Tuned!!!!
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| Boo and Cole - Nice goggles Krista! |
August 4th
Met up with about 15 other LT’s (we’re called LT’s over in the UAE – Licensed Teachers) and chatted about packing, moving, leaving family, etc. It’s nice to get together and get to know several of the folks even some we’ll be traveling with! When we got home that evening we checked our email and BAM! TICKETS!!!! We’re flying out August 12th @ 8:45. Flying on Qatar Airways to Doha and then to Abu Dhabi. When we arrive in Abu Dhabi it’ll be August 13th at about 10:30 p.m. Can’t wait!!!
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| We've attended several get-togethers with various LT's from all over the Houston area. This one was held at Ragun Cajun in Sugar Land. It's awesome to meet up and get to know them and share stories, etc... |
August 3rd
Love my Miller Family!!!! Had a great dinner with several of the Milla folks. Good Mexican food and good chatting with all of them. THANKS GUYS! I’ll miss you!!! It’s interesting to see how puzzled people are when we tell them we have no idea when we’re traveling but we’re ready.
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| Shawn, Carol (Sanchita, Sanchez), Porras! I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! |
August 1st & 2nd
Received our employment visa’s today….It is getting real! I am however getting nervous that we’ve not received any travel itinerary or tickets but we know it’ll come sometime. Group 1 is traveling this week so we know we’re in group 2 which is rumored to travel August 11th – 13th.
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| Part of Shawn's employment visa |
July 30th
Since we’re still not sure when we’re traveling we decided we better have Cole and Caralyn’s 5th birthday party. We were afraid that we’d get the tickets and would not have time to get it all organized and that wouldn’t be fair to them. The party was great and I think everyone enjoyed it. Lots of gifts and we’ll to find a way to stuff it all with us when we travel!
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| Caralyn & Cole blowing out their candles! 5 already!!! |
July 28th
We’re now feeling like the Irish Travelers (Gypsy’s)! We moved from one parent’s house to the other. This time we actually rented a U-HAUL to move all our stuff. Since we’re using my mom’s two door Solara there is only so much room with 4 of us. So it was nice to get it done it all one trip. Now we’re living out in the country – where it takes twice as long to get anywhere you go! So traveling to swim lessons every day in Sharpstown isn’t exactly fun but worthwhile!
July 25th
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!! Got my test results from the English 131 Grade 8 – 12 certification test. AND PASSED!!!!! So now I have more options when I get back to the states to teach. And I’m actually certified in the area I’ll be teaching in the UAE!
July 20th
FINALLY received our docs back from Pro Ex. We were required to get all sorts of documents authenticated for the UAE. This whole authentication process is quite complicated and thanks to this courier service, Pro Ex, in D.C. it made the long distance part simple.
We had to get our degrees, marriage license, teaching certificate, and the kids’ birth certificate authenticated at each level.
Authentication steps:
1) Get documents notarized
2) Take them to Austin, TX so the state level Secretary of State’s office can authenticate them. We took a Friday and left around noon. Drove for 2 ½ hours and it took us less than 10 minutes to get the letter from the TX Secretary of State saying that the notary or the county clerk is real and was able to certify the documents. And of course – fees for every printed piece of paper!
3) Ship them to Pro Ex located in Washington D.C. They (for another fee!!!) walk them to Hillary’s office (U.S. Secretary of State) and get then authenticated. Basically saying the exact same thing Texas said. Then Pro Ex picked them up and walked them to the United Arab Emirates Embassy who stamps them and logs them (I guess!).
4) Then Pro Ex ships them back to me (of course more fees!)
Now we just have to keep up with them and turn them in to ADEC (the Abu Dhabi Education Council) when we get there so they know our credentials are legit.
July 17th
We enjoyed a few days in San Antonio to get away from the madness of waiting for information on our travels to the UAE. We shopped a little in San Marcos for some of the clothes we'll need in the UAE. We went to Sea World and the Natural Bridge Safari. Have lots of fun!!!
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