I just want to start this entry off by letting everyone know that I am alright, and that I had a safe trip into the United Arab Emirates. I arrived last night, as I write these words, but am not sure when I will be able to post this online. I need to purchase internet and a cell phone sometime today. Most definitely a cell phone with a GPS, because you never realize how much of a country bumpkin you are until you get thrust into a metropolis; to be honest it is overwhelming. However, please don't worry I will find my way around and I do promise to stay safe. From this point I will digress to the adventures leading to the point, where I am sitting here sipping on my morning coffee overlooking the skyscraper landscape that is the view of Abu Dhabi from my bedroom window.

On September 25th I left Peterborough Ontario with my sister and my father at 7:00pm to make my journey to the Toronto International Airport. I must admit the truck ride was quite nice, as Kristy and I largely controlled the radio and Kirk wasn't there to be controlling about it! Although, Kirk if you ever read (or more likely hear about) this please don't assume I won't miss you, you're just possessive of your truck radio… Okay let me return. Once I arrived at the airport, I must confess, I was a bit on edge - meaning I was snappy and fast going. I love you Dad, and I'm sorry for being impatient. It didn't take long for me to get my luggage checked, as I had made sure to weigh it at a UPS store in Peterborough before going to the airport. Once my luggage had been checked, it was time to go through the gate and security and wait at the loading station. While I was in the airport I had considered purchasing a hat, however they were all name brands a ridiculously priced.

It wasn't a long wait to board the plane, but while I waited I did manage to find the girl I had been corresponding with in Canada for a couple of weeks here name is Dianne. Just as a side note; Rosemary if you are reading this, yes she is the same Dianne that you had discussed. She is actually very nice, and I had hoped we would be roommates after talking to her, that wasn't the case and I still haven't met my current roommate. I was to fly out of Canada using Etihad airlines, which to be honest is a nice airline company if anyone is curious - it was comparable to my experience flying Royal Dutch airlines and was much better than the Turkish Airlines.

I just want to quickly describe some of the things I saw as I flew out of Toronto. As I flew out it was almost 11:00pm, and the city was a blaze of lights. As the airplane began to gain altitude, the city twinkled with an almost magical and mechanical beauty; I do find it hard to find the words to describe it properly. I suppose most people have seen pictures of cities from space at night, well it was like that, but closer. Also it was more significant because to me it felt as though the city was reassuring me it would always be a beacon for me when I choose to return home, that even at night our biggest city is beautiful and spectacularly Canadian. The image has ingrained itself into my mind, as we flew to the East steadily into the darkness away from my home.

The plane ride was long and uncomfortable; as anyone would know who has flown over the ocean in economy class would know. There really is no way of getting around it. I wish they would have foot stools or something though for us short people, as my legs go really numb and begin to hurt after a few hours. However, I guess on the reverse side there isn't much leg room for those who are taller than average, and at least I'm short enough I can pretty much curl up on the seat to sleep. On the flight it was nice to fly over England and to see the scattered and splashed greenery again. Although I did fall asleep for an hour while flying over Europe, so I missed out on seeing the Alps again this time. I woke up as soon as we started flying over Turkey, which was spectacular. It brought back a lot of good memories for me and my trip to Turkey, which was a very significant part of my life. I loved seeing the mountain covered landscape, the small cities and towns hugging the rivers closer in the center of the country. I really loved Turkey, a lot and do plan on returning for a visit shortly. Most significantly, I was able to fly over Iraq, which I thought was really neat. As we flew over I just looked at the desert landscape sprawled out below me, with little cities and towns built near water supplies. It was also interesting to see, little fires all over the landscape from time to time. Iraq was the first country I saw that in, but as I began to fly over Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, and the UAE I saw more and I now figure that they were most likely some sort of oil factory or refinery.

My flight arrived on-time, and maybe even a little bit earlier than expected. Once off the airplane Dianne and I were greeted by the airplane service people who were arranged to collect us and take us to our apartments. While there we both discovered another Canadian from Toronto who is starting her first year as a Chemistry teacher at the school, her name is Simone. Which again, both of them seemed very nice and I was relieved to know there were a couple of new Canadian (even more Ontario) teachers at the school with me. Once we collected out luggage we were directed outside to our bus… Then that's when it happened, the one thing I had expected to happen… but seriously didn't know it would happen like that… the heat!!! Oh my god, no one describe the heat to me properly at all!!!!! I was expecting hot, but seriously you can breathe the heat in as if it were a solid substance, and I arrived in the country at around 8:00pm at night. You know that heavy air you breathe while you are in a sauna, which is honestly the best way I can describe my first experience with the heat. I have to go outside in about an hour to meet some people, and frankly I don't want to, the sun is out and I'm just a little Canadian girl!!! I think it's supposed to be 42 degrees Celsius today, I want to cry but I'm afraid of losing the little hydration I have as I know I will shrivel up in a matter of minutes when outside…

On the bus ride I meet a number of new teachers from Ireland, and one new teacher from Florida; again everyone seemed extremely nice in so far as I can tell. Everyone had asked me a lot of questions, as I guess I was the one who managed to get the most information from the school prior to arriving; I explained I just pestered them a lot. It wasn't long before we were taken to our respective apartments. Most of the people on the bus were taking to one apartment building; Dianne, Michel (my new vice-principal, from South Africa), and I were taken to each our own different apartment buildings. I am currently staying in Sahara 6, on the 17th floor. My roommate I believe is a teacher from last year, as there is stuff in the apartment, but there was no one here when I arrived. I have mixed feelings about it. In one way I really wish I was with the other teachers that were dropped off last night, as it was night to have had that initial interaction and having proximity with people you've already made a connection with would be nice in a new country. However, it was nice to come to my own apartment, take may time to explore (inside), look around, slowly unpack and have a nice night to myself. I know I can be a bit of an introvert sometimes. On the other hand it would be nice to have people to talk to right now, but it has given me the time to write this and enjoy my coffee.

Unfortunately I will need to buy a coffee maker, as they left me a bag of small food items for the first day, they gave me instant coffee. Then after some time of searching the cupboards, I discovered the apartment lacked the presence of a coffee maker; out of everything that wanted to make me cry the most! How could they supply a teacher's apartment with no coffee maker??? I'm shocked and appalled, and clearly exaggerating.

I must say, I am happy with my apartment and my bedroom is very large. In fact I even have a table and chairs for my own private dining experience. I also have a wardrobe and dresser for clothing. Then there are a couch and two chairs, I suppose for visitors? I'm not sure how much I'll be entertaining this year but, it's cool. They look nice and are comfortable to sit in, but very uncomfortable to lie on. Two side tables by my bed (with drawers) that currently have the two beautiful paintings Dad bought me from out West!! There are also two fake mahogany end tables. Then of course there is my desk I'm currently sitting at and a nice sized mirror. The kitchen is about average apartment size; there is a washer, a dryer, a fridge and stove. Although I must say that the stove looks disgusting… that's most likely from teachers coming in and not taking the time to clean things properly. I may go buy a degreaser and see if I can get it any cleaner, not that I think it's insanitary - it just looks bad (this is my Mother coming out in me). Then we have a small front foyer and a shared bathroom. The bathroom… what to say about the bathroom… Well my experiences in both Europe and Asia have told me this is a combination of the two, and a combination of a typical bathroom of the two. There is a drain in the floor, there is barley a water basin for the shower. Though again my experience has told me, at least the whole bathroom isn't setup to be a shower with a drain in the floor, and a movable shower hose near the sink, oh Turkey how I love thee. The toilet (thank-you god, thank-you god, thank-you god!!!) is a Western toilet. All-in all, it is a typical combination of a European and Asian bathroom, but not as nice as North American bathrooms at all as far as I'm concerned. However, you don't really spend that much time in a bathroom and my bedroom is really nice so I'm not complaining.

Well I thought that I should get a lot of this down before I forget, or don't have time and I really want to make sure I keep everyone informed of what's going on or anything exciting that I see. Mostly, this travel journal isn't just for me but everyone else as well. I will be leaving shortly, for I'm not exactly sure what. However I was told at 9:00am be here, and I'm not going to say no. Really need to get a cell phone today. I love all my friends and family, and to everyone else I hope you enjoyed reading about my adventure here. Later to come, my first day! Then pictures I promise, lots of pictures!!!