Our arrival to this amazing new place has been punctuated with numerous surprises - ironically, something we expected to happen. There's the occasional delay in paperwork, inability to log in to internet banking, and that freak TV message delivered to the hotel room that had us thinking for a second that we would have to be moving out to our new home in Al Ain before we even began orientation! However (and fortunately), most of the surprises we've experienced so far have been quite pleasant. And I just bet that they will surprise our friends "back home" (though I'm not supposed to use that phrase anymore....instead I should say "stateside"), even more than they surprised us.
* First, and most importantly - the treatment we as expats receive from locals has been an incredibly welcome surprise. I have felt extremely comfortable in this country so far and have yet to experience that "fish out of water" feeling (I'm realistic - I know it's coming soon!). The reason I think our family has adjusted so well is the incredibly welcoming attitude of the inhabitants in this foreign land. They are so accustomed to seeing people of all races, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds that their home is open to almost anyone. The only reason I have to say "almost anyone" is that it is evident that they respect people who have the foresight and decency to respect their culture. Arriving here during the holy month of Ramadan has been both a challenge and an advantage for us. Basically, if you are able to be respectful and polite during this time of year, you should be all set!
* It's a desert....but there are plants!!! Yep...I'm naive. I expected to see nothing but hills of sand shifting in the wind into unrecognizable dunes the next time I pass by. But the landscape is a huge surprise when one arrives with such an expectation in mind. Jeremy and I rented a car a few days back to tackle the 90 minute drive out to Al Ain - our home for the next year or two at least. I had seen this trip once before from a bus window, so I knew what to expect. The beauty, however, is so much more striking when in the comfort of a single-family, air-conditioned car....though the date sacks were only mildly entertaining without a close friend there ( ;) Kari...). The whole highway between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain is lined with palm trees and other shrubs and trees I have yet to identify. With the alternating red and white dunes in the background, the scenery is a far cry from the shifting sands I had pictured before our trip . In short...it's simply beautiful. ...BIG surprise!
Here are some shots from the car ride back into the city:
And this is just a photo of a cool street we drove down in Abu Dhabi to find a grocery store a friend suggested to us.
In a world so different from our own where we expected a certain number of surprises, we have been so lucky to see the good mixed with the uncertain. We know there will be days when the bad surprises outweigh the good....but are relieved that we can still find a pleasant unexpected experience mixed in with more challenging moments =)
* First, and most importantly - the treatment we as expats receive from locals has been an incredibly welcome surprise. I have felt extremely comfortable in this country so far and have yet to experience that "fish out of water" feeling (I'm realistic - I know it's coming soon!). The reason I think our family has adjusted so well is the incredibly welcoming attitude of the inhabitants in this foreign land. They are so accustomed to seeing people of all races, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds that their home is open to almost anyone. The only reason I have to say "almost anyone" is that it is evident that they respect people who have the foresight and decency to respect their culture. Arriving here during the holy month of Ramadan has been both a challenge and an advantage for us. Basically, if you are able to be respectful and polite during this time of year, you should be all set!
* It's a desert....but there are plants!!! Yep...I'm naive. I expected to see nothing but hills of sand shifting in the wind into unrecognizable dunes the next time I pass by. But the landscape is a huge surprise when one arrives with such an expectation in mind. Jeremy and I rented a car a few days back to tackle the 90 minute drive out to Al Ain - our home for the next year or two at least. I had seen this trip once before from a bus window, so I knew what to expect. The beauty, however, is so much more striking when in the comfort of a single-family, air-conditioned car....though the date sacks were only mildly entertaining without a close friend there ( ;) Kari...). The whole highway between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain is lined with palm trees and other shrubs and trees I have yet to identify. With the alternating red and white dunes in the background, the scenery is a far cry from the shifting sands I had pictured before our trip . In short...it's simply beautiful. ...BIG surprise!
Here are some shots from the car ride back into the city:
And this is just a photo of a cool street we drove down in Abu Dhabi to find a grocery store a friend suggested to us.
In a world so different from our own where we expected a certain number of surprises, we have been so lucky to see the good mixed with the uncertain. We know there will be days when the bad surprises outweigh the good....but are relieved that we can still find a pleasant unexpected experience mixed in with more challenging moments =)
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