So long, so long, so long...and thanks for all the fish!

So after hours of obsessing I received my eticket last week. It's all very bittersweet. On one hand I am beyond excited to start a new life half way around the world and then I start thinking about my friends, family and my boyfriend that I'm leaving behind and get sad. I saw my first bf today, talk about blast from the past. He seemed happy and we spoke for a long time. I'm very happy he's doing well and as a result of my absence in the country, we might actually establish somewhat of a friendship. I sure hope so.

My flight for AD is set for Friday the 13th. Great day, huh? I fly out of MIA at 3:45 to a connecting flight in Chicago. It's a two hour layover and then a direct flight to Abu Dhabi, UAE. The flight to AD is 13 hours and 55 minutes. Ouch. I hope I sleep through most of the flight. I'm assuming I'll probably have some major jet lag for a while. I've never experienced having to adapt my body schedule so quickly. We'll see how it goes.

On Friday I had my farewell party at Bougainvilleas, which happens to be my favorite bar in Miami. More people showed up than I expected and I really enjoyed myself. Beforehand my best friends and I had jello shots. Yum. I love jello shots. Anyways, I was very touched to see that people came out to say goodbye and hope to see everyone that came out in the future. It's interesting how life turns out. That bar alone and it's discovery is quite a tale.

The day prior to my farewell party I had dinner with the fourth grade teachers I used to teach with at Cheesecake Factory. I felt very loved. I've been truly blessed with meeting such wonderful people throughout my teaching career. Cheesecake factory was delicious as always.

I'm praying tomorrow for a beach day. Today I sent off my containers to my friends place and only have to finish packing my bags (and get the correct weights) and download a VPN. Everything is going by so fast! Before you know it I'll be half way around the world. I'm becoming an emotional mess. I'm already picturing a dramatic airport scene. I hate crying but it's going to be the inevitable.

Now I'll leave you with the image that first comes into my mind when I think of Miami. Every time I see this skyline I know I'm coming home. I'll really miss it because this after all is my hometown and where I've built the last 23 years of my life. I wonder where this new adventure will lead me...I hope amazing places.

PS. For today I used random Internet photos. I will be uploading my own photos in the future.

Life in Abu Dhabi is peachy...maybe

It's August 4th, 2010 and I'm supposedly flying out on August 10th, 2010 and still have no eticket to Abu Dhabi, UAE. This is frustrating as you can imagine. I'm trying to be relaxed about it and go with the flow. Apparently this is how things go in the UAE; they say tomorrow and mean three weeks from now. Every statement is followed by Inshallah, which translates to "God willing". I know it will be rather annoying at first but that I will get used to it. The closer it gets time to leave the more excited I am. This adventure is what I've sought out my whole life. I want to see the world and am one step closer to doing so.

I'm still packing and for the most part I think I'm ready to go. I still need to download a VPN and force my friends to download Skype. I'm trying  to figure out if there's anything else I'm missing... I'm going to be a little low on cash coming into Abu Dhabi. I plan on skipping out on too much shopping and hope I can wear an abaya to school. That will help my pockets greatly.

I've spent years hating on this city and suddenly I find myself loving it so much. I'm starting to take in so much more and everything just seems brighter and more beautiful than ever. I need to take in a beach day this week. The beach is one of the few places that I feel at peace with myself and the universe. This Friday I'm having a farewell party of sorts. I figure I better make use of my last public intoxication. haha. When I arrive in the UAE it is Ramadan and there is no eating or drinking in public. The penalty for not following this could be a month of imprisonment or fine. No thank you. I'll soak in my freedom this week as much as I can.

<3