Happy 28th to Me!

Yesterday I rung in my 28th year, so I wanted to share my festivities...

Happy 28th to Me! When this cake was brought out to me, it actually had a sparkler on top. Unfortunately, my reflexes were a bit dulled by champagne and wine by this point in the night, so I couldn't get out my camera fast enough to catch it.

My birthday dinner with friends Polly, Beth, Bruno and Kevin at the Royal Buddha Thai Restaurant to celebrate. You will notice Jared is absent. Sadly, he missed my birthday to come home for a job interview. Polly (my very dear friend in pink) ensured that I still had an amazing day!

Since Jared was gone, I decided to schedule a massage to relax and enjoy the gift certificate that my class gave me last year as an end of the year gift. It seemed the perfect time to use it, and then after a fabulous morning at the spa, I went shopping and then rock climbing with my friend Polly. I may have been a bit over-scheduled, but that tends to be my M.O....

I probably haven't been rock-climbing since high school, but I figured why not give it a try... My arms could certainly use a good workout. Polly had found a place on Sheikh Zayed and she had a 2-for-1 voucher, so we decided to check it out. We thought it was going to be an indoor rock-climbing wall (because you know, it's like 105 degrees with 60% humidity, so who in their right mind would rock climb outside right now?), but much to our surprise it was an outdoor wall. Well, we figured we'd get an even better workout then by sweating off a couple pounds of water weight...

Getting Started.

Heading up the wall...

Getting higher. Maybe rock-climbing is like riding a bike. It just comes back to you...

Pauline's artistic shot of me almost up the wall.

Success!

What a fantastic way to begin my 28th year. With a little adrenaline rush, and some super sore arms. Rock climbing requires a lot more upper body strength than I realized. Perhaps I am failing to remember that the last time I went rock climbing was when I was a senior in high school. At that time, I was also working out heavily in my amateur attempt to become a pole vaulter. What fun though! After our successful climbs, Polly invited me to her apartment for some champagne before dinner. I love my Dubai friends!

I'm a 5th grade teacher!

Well, just as I was receiving the unpleasant news that I was not offered a job in Boston as a Children and Family Law Staff Attorney (a job I have been going through the application and interview process of for the last 6 months), a little beacon of opportunity presented itself to me.

Sometime in the second day of moping around my apartment having a pity-party over not obtaining my dream job in not only the country, but state and city I wanted to live, I received an email from Deb (the teacher I worked with last year who is one of the newly appointed Vice Principals at the American School of Dubai, where I work). In her email, Deb explained that one of the new 5th grade teachers who was supposed to be starting this week could not come due to health problems she was experiencing and would I be interested in a 5th grade teaching position for this year? I was completely floored and honored that she had thought of me and also a bit overwhelmed to think about switching from being a teacher aid to a full-blown classroom teacher. Certainly being a teacher is not outside the realm of what I am capable of (given that I am a certified NYS Elementary Education teacher, after completing the Teacher Education Program during undergrad at HWS - hey, it was a great contingency plan if I didn't get into law school), but having never been a full-time teacher before, it was a bit of a daunting prospect. After talking it over ad nauseam with both my mom and Jared's, I decided to go for it. Although disappointed that we will not be imminently moving home, I figured, what the hell, I'm up for a challenge.

So, as of today, I am 'officially' a 5th grade teacher at the American School of Dubai. A slight change from last year in kindergarten, but if I can handle 17 5-year-olds, how hard can it be to manage 20 10-year-olds? I guess we'll see. Let the fun begin!

However, as I walked into my classroom today, the first day of "New Teacher Orientation," this is the sight that greeted me. Yikes. How am I going to turn this into a functioning 5th grade classroom in 1.5 weeks??

Another 'before' shot of my classroom. You may notice that there is no furniture.... Well, it seems I will have my work cut out for me. What exactly did I just sign up for?! Eeeek!

Ramadan again (already??!)

Ramadan has once again returned to Dubai. Time for my annual food and water binge sessions in the privacy of my own home during daylight hours (since eating and drinking in public during 'the holy month of Ramadan' is strictly prohibited [read, illegal] in the UAE). Definitively not the best time of the year for people with normal eating and sleeping patterns, but perhaps perfect for individuals with disordered eating and sleeping habits (starve yourself and sleep all day and then binge eat all night long, obviously a super healthy choice). Ah well, gotta look on the bright side. I do love Iftars!

Dubai Cola! A new novelty soft drink that we discovered this year to honor Ramadan. Jared was actually quite infatuated, since it is a date-flavored soda. The American equivalent would be the Coca Cola marketed at Christmas-time with Santa on the cans...

Ramadan Kareem!

A wall of these signs covered the entry-ways into the Dubai Mall Food Court to really hammer in the point that eating and drinking is illegal during the day.

This year the Dubai Municipality seemed to really crack down on enforcing the Ramadan fasting restrictions. Last year they seemed to be easing up a bit with allowing non-Muslims a bit more flexibility during daylight hours (ie, the Dubai Mall Food Court had a cordoned off section for non-Muslims who wanted to eat at the mall during the day, however, this year that policy was strictly prohibited, by law, as indicated in the sign above). The only restaurants that could serve eat-in dining options this year were in the free-zones. Not exactly convenient. Oh well, the unpleasantness and horror of Ramadan just makes me appreciate openly eating and drinking during the day that much more the other 11 months of the year... Only another week and then I will have successfully survived my 3rd Ramadan without incident or incarceration...

My Summer in Pictures..

So, it has been almost two months since I posted. Oops. Turns out I was even more busy home for the summer than I usually am in Dubai (which is quite busy!). What an amazing five weeks home! Our summer included visits to many of our favorite places and and tons of quality time with friends and family (and getting to celebrate the wedding of our friends John and Emily in Buffalo, NY/Niagara Falls and the Bachelorette Party of my best friend Jess). It was whirlwind, but somehow extremely relaxing. I do love New England in the summer!

Seneca Lake view from Hobart & William Smith Colleges. Our Alma Mater, and just down the street from where we met at Kappa Sigma Fraternity House...

Another Seneca Lake view, with sailboats in the distance. I love Geneva!

Yet another view... I couldn't help myself. It's been over two years since we were back.

Parker's! Our favorite restaurant/bar in Geneva. We went probably almost weekly in college, and Jared's true love in life: Death Wish Wings reside there. Also notice the cheesy fries (our collective fav.) and the Ithaca Apricot Wheat Beer. We really miss microbrews in Dubai, so definitely enjoyed our fair share while we were home.

At John and Emily's wedding reception at the Park Country Club in Williamsville, NY. An absolutely beautiful venue with great indoor and outdoor spaces.

At the reception.

Jared and one of his best friends Bradford on the dancefloor.

Jared with the bride and groom, Emily and John, one of our absolute favorite couples. Jared kept saying that theirs was possibly the most fun wedding we've ever been to! (and it was)...

Me & Emily. I'm looking a little worse for the wear from dancing.

The lovely ladies: Emily, Me, Michele and Jenn, the significant others of the Duxbury Men.

The Jen(n)'s.

Steve and Christopher on the dancefloor. We (including, surprisingly, Jared) did a ton of dancing at this wedding!

Me & Jared, late in the night glistening with sweat...

Bradford.

Since the wedding was on July 3rd in Buffalo, we all decided that spending the 4th in Niagara Falls would be fun (hey, if we can't be on Duxbury Beach for the 4th, why not be in Canada?)

We all stayed at the Sheratan on the Falls, which had absolutely amazing views of the falls, and was an approximately 2 minute walk to the Maid of the Mist. A lovely, if slightly alternative, way to spend the 4th of July. Happy 235th Birthday USA!

The Canadian Side of Niagara Falls.

The American Falls.

The Duxbury Boys: Justin, Charles, Brad and Jared at the Maid of the Mist.

Me & Jared, waiting for our Maid of the Mist ride (with the American Falls behind).

In the Falls! (Jared trying to be a good sport).

On the boat in the Falls, a surprisingly good self-take.

Trying to stay dry, on the Maid of the Mist.

We had a great weekend in Western NY, before driving back to Boston. We had a couple days before Jared, unfortunately, had to head back to Dubai on July 10th. Halas, I was sad to see him go, but not so sad that I wasn't extremely excited for my extra month home (hey, I work at a school, I have to take advantage of the fringe benefits)...

I took advantage of being home so long to be able to attend at HWS Alum event in Boston. I love love love these events and haven't been able to attend one in the last two years, so I fully embraced the experience, with my friends Katie and Carla.

With my favorite [former] neighbor Josh. I love Josh! We go way back to cross country my freshman year at HWS.

The trifecta reunited. With Lauren and Joshua.

With Lauren and Brando. Two of my favs.

Me & Laur. I was excited she came out, because it was her birthday (July 13th!).

The following day, July 14th, I caught a ride with my Uncle Chris (whose house I use as my home-base when I'm home. They are the aunt and uncle I have lived with on countless occasions and whose three children are my little cousins that I love more than any other kids I know. How could I not? I have nannied for all of them for years and years and have had all three of their bodily fluids on me at one point or another) to NY so I could spend a week in Upstate with my Mom and Dad.

My mom picked me up on the Thruway and I hung out with her and Dave for a couple days, and even got to go up to the 1,000 Islands and spend a day and a half with my Great Aunt and Uncle Lou and Cregg. They have an absolutely beautiful condo on Wellesley Island, right on the St. Lawrence River. A lovely relaxing day of boating and swimming and then a nice dinner out at Bonnie Castle. Then my Mom surprised me that night with an early bday celebration. Just a wonderful day!

Me & My Mom at Lou and Cregg's.

And after spending a couple days with my mom, I headed to Fulton (aka F-town) to spend 4 days with my Dad and Step-mom and Grandma.

As we were heading into F-town, this is the sign we saw. I think it's about right. Fulton is definitely somewhere... There is no ocean and/or beach though, so there's a little bit of false advertising going on because there is no way that image could be meant to depict Lake Neahtawanta...

Oh deep-fried goodness! That pretty much sums up my four days at my dad's house... Mmm.

Wings! I'm pretty sure I just took this picture to make Jared salivate. :)

Wings and Fireworks! That's what Upstate NY does!

Oh, and monster broccoli in my dad's garden. He has quite the green thumb. He took over the reigns where my grandpa left off...

Grandma D., Me and Dad. In Grandma's front yard. I heart my fam.

Me & Mom.

After my relaxing and transfat filled week in Upstate, I headed back to MA with my mom. She wanted to visit the Schremp kiddos too, since she hadn't seen them since my bar swearing-in in Dec. '08. So I had a couple more nice days with my mom in Wellesley, before heading up to New Hampshire for the weekend of July 23rd, for my best friend Jess's Bachelorette Party.

We kicked off the weekend with a Luau Party at Jess's sister Kristen's house in Nottingham, NH. Kristen and her boyfriend Ed really went all out. I was most impressed with the hallowed out coconuts that we used to contain our yummy tropical drinks.

Jess, wearing her penis lei, holding her orange-flavored condom balloon. Jess wasn't exactly in favor of any of the above, but as the Maid of Honor I felt like it was my responsibility to make it feel a little more Bachelorette-y. Deep down I know that is what Jess wanted... :)

The following day we went to the NH coast to get some sun at the beach. Jess is posing with her new L.L. Bean bag that sports her soon-to-be initials: JLA.

The bachelorette posing on a random motor cycle.

Me & Jess, out in Portsmouth, NH for the second night.

Jess's sister Jen, living it up at the Daniel Street Tavern.

Serenading Jess a la Karaoke at the Daniel Street Tavern. We were quite passionate in our singing.

"IT'S A NICE DAY FOR A....

... WHITE WEDDING!"

I capped off my wonderful New England summer the weekend of July 30th by heading to Cape Cod with my awesome Boston-Hobart friends.

The Hobart Girls at Nauset Beach in Orleans, MA: Kat, Katie, Ellen, Me.

The Whole Group + Terrill at Nauset Beach. We could not have asked for more perfect weather. Lots of mojitos + wine + grillables = the recipe for a perfect Cape weekend.

Me at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club in Harwich, MA, following a delicious lobster roll lunch. Oh, there's nothing like New England in the summer..

After my weekend on the Cape with my friends, I spent a couple more days on the Cape with Mrs. K (Jared's Mom). We stayed with her best friend Auntie Judy and had a lovely time bopping around to Mashpee, Chatham and Harwich, MA.

Chatham Beach.

The famed Chatham Bars.

So after an absolutely wonderful summer at home, I headed back to Dubai on August 5th. I was not entirely thrilled to be heading back in the first week of Ramadan, my absolute favorite month of the year in Dubai (I hope you can read the sarcasm into my tone), but I was excited to get back into my own apartment and not feel like a nomad anymore... Ah well, it should hold me over until next time...