One Month Overseas now...!

I am emailing back my regular emailers. I truly cannot stand not to have email at home, but Sam loves any excuse to come to the fort/hotel, so here we are again. Sam and I went to Oman today, with our friends Neena and Bethany. Bethany is the one I rent the car with, but by October 4, I will be renting my own. It was a very dry, dusty drive to the border, 45 minutes or so. We marvelled at the goats walking around in no man's land between the two countries. One poor befuddled goat with only one, long, curving horn, jumped up against the side of our car while we waited for the Oman border patrol to process our papers.

Basically, both countries collected a fee, we drove onto Oman tarmac, made a u turn, and came back through the UAE border. It was blistering hot, and Sam kept asking ,"Why are we getting out of the car again?" in a whining way. Three stops, two fees, and a wasted day, but as today was the day our visas would run out, I feel good about my fresh stamp. With a little luck, I will have been processed as a resident by next month. If not, I know the drill!

Things have quieted down a bit. I spent the weekend helping the departing teacher to pack her belongings. Her spirits were good, and I think she will find another job. She has a ton of experience, and apparently this short stint here goes unrecorded. While I was typing this a phone text came in. My babysitter just got a permanent job, which means she will not be working for me any more. I have plans to visit this new British school tomorrow. Please keep your fingers crossed that they will find a spot for Sammy. If he could start on Tuesday, I would be thrilled. I want him in school, and I don't want to have to miss any work to solve the babysitting issue. Well, I will keep this one short.

I am forgetting stuff, but Sam just arrived in the business office with an alarmingly large bag of candy, and I must investigate the where and the why of this. He is also extremely excited because a guest just arrived at the hotel in a helicopter surrounded by a cadre of security guards, "with real pistols!" said Sam.