I feel like I have been completely MIA the last week and completely out of touch with what is going on in the world outside my little Dubai sphere of my apartment, Jared, and my new job at Power Tutoring. We have been in our new apartment for exactly one week, and alas, due to the long Eid weekend last week (which lasted until Tuesday night), we have not been able to have our internet or cable hooked up! It is horrible having no internet and I haven't been able to check my email in 6 days! Partially this is my own fault because I haven't gone out of my way to go to the mall and bring my computer, but also, doing that is kind of a pain in the butt (carry computer, mostly likely take taxi even though the mall is only a 20 minute walk because it's still about 95 degrees most of the time and I would sweat through everything if I walked, pay approximately $3-5 for a taxi each way, etc.). So anyway, I have not fallen off the earth, however, I have fallen into a hole that has no internet... but I'm trying to climb out.
We did have a lovely weekend in Oman though and I took a lot of pictures before my camera died (yes, sadly my trusty Canon Elph digital camera that Jared gave me for my birthday in 2004 has gone to camera heaven, RIP). I have not had time to upload my photos yet, and also, no internet, so probably my motivation to do so has been low. And no pictures of the apartment yet, because, once again, no camera. I am working on the camera thing though and will probably just bite the bullet and buy another in the next day or two.
I ended up starting my job last Wednesday, and am really excited because I am going to be tutoring kids aged 4-15 in Math and English. This past week has just been getting ready, and the tutoring actually starts tomorrow, Sunday 9/27 (the work week here is Sunday to Thursday, with the weekend being Friday and Saturday for those who didn't know). Today I actually have to go in and meet with my boss to get ready. I am one of four tutors and I will be doing the one-on-one tutoring, 6 hours a day from Sunday to Thursday. I am really excited to have the job and can't wait to meet the kids tomorrow!
Now that we're back, hopefully things can start to get a little more sorted with the cable, internet, etc, etc. Not too much else new to add, but I will definitely do a blog about my trip to Oman very soon... and also more about my apartment once I get a new camera. Maybe, just maybe, then I can re-enter the world outside of Dubai and be back in touch with updates. Stay tuned. :)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
It's Official and Off to Oman!
So, it's official! I have a job and we have a beautiful apartment!! I signed my employment contract (to be a full-time English and Math tutor) this morning, we signed our lease this afternoon, and tomorrow we'll move in. That is to say we'll move our clothes and minimal personal possessions in because the apartment is fully furnished. Then, first thing Saturday morning we are off to Muscat, Oman with our friends Melissa and Simona for the long Eid Al Fitr holiday. Then I begin my job first thing Tuesday. Exciting exciting! Everything is coming together nicely it seems, and it is late so for now I say, Ramadan Kareem (Happy Ramadan!)!
Busy Busy Busy...
Wow... I can't believe how busy I've been, even though I am unemployed. Although, I've been busy trying to get employed, so I think that's a good thing. For the last week, I have been working at getting a job, like it's my job, and on Tuesday it paid off with two interviews... and then another interview on Wednesday! I have mostly been applying to teaching positions (nursery school, primary school, and as an English tutor) because family law is pretty well non-existent here. I did meet with a legal recruiter, however, and he gave me lots of good advice for maintaining my skills even if I'm not practicing for awhile, while I'm here. So on Tuesday, I interviewed with a tutoring company owned and operated by an British man. It was for a position as a full-time English and Math tutor to children aged 3 years to 16 years. It seems like a wonderful company, great people, and very nice hours. Then on Wednesday, I interviewed with a British nursery school for a Nursery School Teacher position. That also seemed like a lovely place to work, and they offered me a position on the spot! Then, later in the afternoon, I got a call from the tutoring place, also offering me a position. I am quite excited!! I am heading to the tutoring place to review the contract, and hopefully be 'officially' employed by this afternoon!
Other than my feverish job search, we have also been apartment hunting. I've been told banking issues take a long time in Dubai, and our experience has not been different. Jared began setting up his bank account the day after we arrived, and it took his local Dubai bank 10 days to set up his account! Quite frustrating because we could not begin our apartment search without him having checks to write if we were offered an apartment on the spot. So, he finally received his checks on Tuesday, and we met with a real estate agent yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.. We had decided that we want a place near the new Burj Dubai (World's Largest Building) because the downtown area near it is quite up and coming. The realtor showed us five apartments (one furnished, four unfurnished) and we were able to negotiate a deal on the furnished apartment. It is located in a building called 8 Boulevard Walk (google it) and is on the 4th floor, which is garden level, and so we have our own private garden! It is quite lovely, and we'll be moving in tomorrow, so pictures to follow!
Soooo, all in one day yesterday, I got a job and an apartment!!! I am very excited, but trying to be reserved in my excitement until we have officially signed any contracts, which we will do both today... Finally, after almost two weeks here, it seems like my life is coming together and I can finally get settled!!
We have also been seeing a lot of really neat things, such as the new Dubai Mall with the "World's Largest Fountain" outside, and eating delicious ethnic food, but I will have to write more later and attach photos, because now, I must get ready for my contract signings!
Other than my feverish job search, we have also been apartment hunting. I've been told banking issues take a long time in Dubai, and our experience has not been different. Jared began setting up his bank account the day after we arrived, and it took his local Dubai bank 10 days to set up his account! Quite frustrating because we could not begin our apartment search without him having checks to write if we were offered an apartment on the spot. So, he finally received his checks on Tuesday, and we met with a real estate agent yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.. We had decided that we want a place near the new Burj Dubai (World's Largest Building) because the downtown area near it is quite up and coming. The realtor showed us five apartments (one furnished, four unfurnished) and we were able to negotiate a deal on the furnished apartment. It is located in a building called 8 Boulevard Walk (google it) and is on the 4th floor, which is garden level, and so we have our own private garden! It is quite lovely, and we'll be moving in tomorrow, so pictures to follow!
Soooo, all in one day yesterday, I got a job and an apartment!!! I am very excited, but trying to be reserved in my excitement until we have officially signed any contracts, which we will do both today... Finally, after almost two weeks here, it seems like my life is coming together and I can finally get settled!!
We have also been seeing a lot of really neat things, such as the new Dubai Mall with the "World's Largest Fountain" outside, and eating delicious ethnic food, but I will have to write more later and attach photos, because now, I must get ready for my contract signings!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
A Little Background...
Since I started writing this abruptly in my excitement of the Dubai Metro opening last night, I did not give any sort of explanation as to the what, when, where, or how, of me becoming an American living in Dubai. While I don't anticipate anyone that I don't know (or who isn't friends with my Mom...) reading this, given my obsessive compulsive tendencies, I did not think I could really begin any sort of online journal without at least setting the stage.
I moved to Dubai on Friday, September 4, 2009, with my lovely boyfriend of 6.5 years, Jared. We came to move here because Jared has been employed by a boutique corporate law firm based in Dubai for the last two years. Jared is a year older than me and graduated law school the year before me. When he graduated he did not have a job lined up, so one of his professors asked him if he'd be interested in doing an internship at the firm of a former colleague of his in Dubai. It started out as a 3 month internship (during my third year at the New England School of Law), but after one month they liked Jared so much that they offered him a permanent associate position, and he's been there ever since.
He lived in Dubai from August 2007 until September 2008 without me, but moved home to Boston last September after I graduated from law school and began working for the Massachusetts Juvenile Court. His firm did not want to let him go, so they offered him the opportunity to continue working for the firm remotely. So Jared worked remotely for the last year, and then we decided, given the current economic climate in the US (and particularly the Boston legal market) that we might as well give Dubai a try, together this time.
So brings me to my current position of living in Dubai. I quit my job with the court and decided to go for it, so here I am living in a hotel in Dubai for the time being, but very excited to be here.
I moved to Dubai on Friday, September 4, 2009, with my lovely boyfriend of 6.5 years, Jared. We came to move here because Jared has been employed by a boutique corporate law firm based in Dubai for the last two years. Jared is a year older than me and graduated law school the year before me. When he graduated he did not have a job lined up, so one of his professors asked him if he'd be interested in doing an internship at the firm of a former colleague of his in Dubai. It started out as a 3 month internship (during my third year at the New England School of Law), but after one month they liked Jared so much that they offered him a permanent associate position, and he's been there ever since.
He lived in Dubai from August 2007 until September 2008 without me, but moved home to Boston last September after I graduated from law school and began working for the Massachusetts Juvenile Court. His firm did not want to let him go, so they offered him the opportunity to continue working for the firm remotely. So Jared worked remotely for the last year, and then we decided, given the current economic climate in the US (and particularly the Boston legal market) that we might as well give Dubai a try, together this time.
So brings me to my current position of living in Dubai. I quit my job with the court and decided to go for it, so here I am living in a hotel in Dubai for the time being, but very excited to be here.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Dubai Metro Launched!
Tonight, at 9:00pm, GMT +4 the Dubai Metro System was launched! It's been very exciting and we've been watching the coverage on tv all night (the Metro won't open to the public until tomorrow at 6am... tonight the Metro only opened for the Sheikh and his entourage).
For the launch, the Sheikh started his ride at Nakheel and stopped at different stations along the way for "Grand Openings" and fireworks. Very exciting! We could hear the fireworks from our hotel room in Bur Dubai, so ran down to see, and actually got to see the Sheikh pass by on the elevated rail nearby. Very cool to be here for such an historic event! The "world's largest" driverless metro system. Unreal... Can't wait to see how it goes tomorrow with passengers...
For the launch, the Sheikh started his ride at Nakheel and stopped at different stations along the way for "Grand Openings" and fireworks. Very exciting! We could hear the fireworks from our hotel room in Bur Dubai, so ran down to see, and actually got to see the Sheikh pass by on the elevated rail nearby. Very cool to be here for such an historic event! The "world's largest" driverless metro system. Unreal... Can't wait to see how it goes tomorrow with passengers...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
