First Impressions of RAK

We are still really jet lagged, but I wanted to check in and say that we really miss everybody! It is a strange feeling to be so far away for such a long period of time. I told Meg in an email that I am a little homesick, but I guess that is normal. I am so glad I have Sam with me! I could not do this alone.

Okay, here is the scoop. First of all, everything we are experiencing is first class. The resort is beautiful, right on the water, and the apartment is lovely, with a big balcony and marble counters. My apartment is the envy of the single people living on the resort. Families have opted to live in RAK where the accomodations are roomier. But Sam and I have the only 1 bedroom, so our place is 3 times bigger than anyone else's. So last night Sam and I hosted the first get-together on our balcony. We served drinks and nuts and cheese and crackers, and 6 teachers came. Two (female) teachers ended up spending the night. One had a broken toilet, and the other one has a front door that won't lock (corrected today). Because we are the first occupants in these apartments, and they've only just been built, there are some kinks to fix. I gave Sam a bath a couple of days ago but couldn't get the plug out, so we had a bathtub full of water for a day and a half. Things like that...

The school will also be brand new, and they are behind on construction. There are very few children enrolled yet (two!) because of the delays. We are all assured our jobs, but it is not like coming to a school that has been established for years. Everything is for the first time, so I bet we will be open by the first week of September, and I will have several children. In the meantime, the owner of the company is buying us all phones and sim cards, and 32 inch plasma televisions. It is a bit like being on vacation in a very hot place in the middle of nowhere, with the most luxurious accomodations. We meet every day at the resort "fort" and have a big lunch, then swim in the pool! Work will start tomorrow, and there are so many things to become familiar with: technology, culture, community.

I like the other teachers, and Sam is one of the few kids, so he is receiving a ton of attention from all the female teachers. He likes how "fancy" everything is. He is mostly being a good boy. I am so, so glad to have him here with me. It is grounding. I can't think what else to tell for the moment. I will know more after work starts. I also think it will be helpful to go to Dubai a few times, as we are scheduled to do, because this place is beautiful, but totally in the sticks. There is a ton of construction, and Pakistani workers everywhere, but a lot of the places are uninhabited. It is sort of like this town is poised, waiting, ready for a big boom that hasn't quite started yet, but is coming. I will not have regular computer access for a month, at least. I will check email when I can, but for some reason, this computer internet piece of the puzzle takes longer to put in place. I don't know why, but I will write when I can.