Dubai Ramblings #1 Feb. 7, 2010

Hello from Dubai!
I can't believe I am doing this because I told myself I didn't need one more technology to learn on my steep learning curve this past 1 1/2 years but here it finally is. A blog! Well hopefully I can keep this up. It is very easy now that I have done it.

The use of technology has been a steep learning curve but I climbed it head on because I had to at this school and despite it all I am loving it. I can do so many things I didn't even dream possible. I use my smart board and visualizer everyday. It is so much fun. Also in every subject I have sites and progams that I use practically everyday. I even have an I Phone. My kids are laughing, I know, because I had trouble using the remote on the tv. I am better now. Learning technology is a great way to keep the dementia at bay.

I have been living here for 1 1/2 years already. Can you believe how time flies when you are having fun. And I am definitely having fun. This is my retirement work holiday and I still love it. My age has never bothered me but it does now. Why? Because I want to be 20 years younger so I can be teaching overseas for so much longer than I am able to now. This is the best life and more teachers should do this...younger and older.

It is winter here when the weather is cooler than other months. I think the weather is changing here too cause it is warmer than last winter. Now it never gets cold but my body temp must be changing because I have actually worn a sweater to school a few times. People who know me wll know I rarely wore a coat in the winter back home.

The travels I have had and will continue to have are fantastic and you all have seen the photos. More to come.
We have had a schmall here the last few days. It is a sand storm. The winds come from the desert and bring tons of sand and warm weather. Visibility in the mornings has not been great. It is not the worst one I have seen since I have been here.

My brother has been here for a week and still has another 10 days. He has retired too. We have been busy seeing all the sites. No matter how many times I go to all the sites I still marvel at them. Yesterday we went to Atlantis. Photos are attached. We did not go inside the aquarium because he has seen it at the Atlantis in the Bahamas. I guess it is exactly the same. I marvel still at how this place is built on THE PALM, as they call it because it looks like a palm tree from the air. Rocks were poured into the sea and then they built this huge hotel and beautiful housing development. Many actors have purchased homes here. Also many speculators and I am certain some have lost money because values have decreased in the last year.

Well this is all for now. On Tuesday Rick and I are going up the highest building in the world, BURJ KHALIFA. I will post photos from there. These will be spectacular.