Gearing up for our non-Vacation

The time has come the walrus said, to think of many things...  but first we must have a situation.  Myles comes home from school a couple days ago with a crazy high fever.  From there, we start our fever and  sicky pants regime.  His cold is still slightly lingering as our flights out of the UAE are set for travel.  Now, I am sick, Liam is sick and Sienna is having a bizarre dental emergency.  She has been to the Dentist already and has some very weird abscess in the back of her mouth.  Well now, she just has a crater size hole waiting for a tooth extraction or something else and we are doing a compression and salt water routine for the next couple days, per Doctor.  While at the Dentist office, he went ahead and pulled out her second bottom tooth.  So, we had an unexpected Tooth Fairy visit last night.  Luckily she got the memo and paid Sienna in American currency.  The Dentist wanted to see her in four days.  Well, we will be in the States by then.  Go figure.  Now, added to our non-Vacation will be some high maintenance dental work on our 5 year old. 

Let me just give you a run down...  I am flying across the World again with all three kidlets, alone.  Dave will be staying here for the next four weeks to finish his course.  I am working some angles here and may find a way to a mini vacation with the girls.  Dave will join us at the end of July.  I can just imagine my flight already and HIS.  Anyhow, then we will visit his Mom, his Dad, drive all the way to California to visit my Mom and Dad, then head back through Las Vegas to visit some dear friends, Mark and Tonya.  As a bonus, we will be in Las Vegas for the Vegas to Reno kick-off.   We will return the motorhome to it's lovely cubby and hop a flight back to the other side of the World.  For those of us less logistically inclined, my Husband has taken it upon himself to do the math in mileage per Garmin and Google Earth; 2400 miles of driving, 24,000 miles of flying.

 

Rotten Turd fumes

After three children, my once diaper changing "Daddy" has managed to frequently elude this task.  That's okay. 
But, once in a great while I get one over ;)
Last night, I made my way over to the store for chocolate snacks and Dave managed the fort.  When I returned I walked in the door into the kitchen to distribute snacks.  Wow.  There was a terribly well known stink int he air.  I knew immediately that there had been a situation.  It briefly crossed my mind that I usually take those "special loads" outside to the trash shoot.  But, whatever.  Who am I to complain at this point, right?

Well, lucky for me Dave is the first one awake in the morning and he is tasked with morning coffee.  As he opens the trash to dump yesterdays coffee grounds, he gets slapped in the face with the aggressive stench of last nights lazy disposal of Satin scented refuse.  Sometimes... it pays to keep my mouth shut.  Hahahahahaha.  Today was one of those days.

The OSET Trials bike

We Sexson's are at it again. 
We purchased an electric, quiet Trials bike.  I guess in desperation to hold onto our Dirtbiking,  we have had to make some accomodations.  Here we are inside the compounds of this gigantic concrete jungle with our little ones riding around on an electric miracle on two wheels.  They are in heaven and we are beaming with pride to chase them around.  The first few days were comical. I wish my darn camcorder was working.  I think it has finally decided to take a dump on me and wont take a charge,  it is a 2004 model (insert hint for Dave: Mother's Day).  Not that I could hold a camera, record level footage and frantically run on foot chasing this motorbike to prevent a catastrophe.  Although, I would try for sure.  We only have one OSET,  for now.  We have two riding capable children.  Myles went first, of course.  He is our most physically agile and willing.  He is also just now four with the attention span of a gnat at times.  The soothing hum of the motorbike and the constant distractions make it difficult for him to keep skillfully and mindfully operational.  Made for some interesting near wrecks.  Myles success made for Sienna's debut.  She hops on and with much coaxing and psuedo support (she thinks Dave is holding the back, like a Human set of training wheels), takes off all on her own like an expert.  Smooth, skillful and graceful, that is our Sienna for sure.  Now we have a competition and a constant argument over who's turn it is and who has had more time on the OSET.  Figures, doesn't it?  We will get another one eventually, sooner than later.

For those of you wondering, it has a capable throttle modulator.  Thank goodness.  Because the torque on that thing is outstanding.  I got on it in full power mode and over throttled myself up, backwards in an amazing wheely that I could never pull off on a dirtbike.  Scared myself silly.  I had to have Dave lower it for me ;)

Dave and his Truck

I’m not too sure I can tell this story and give it the justice it deserves.  I will do my best but, this will definitely be a story best told by Dave over a beer and campfire someday in the future.  I will hear it many times and laugh with tears each and every time.  My favorite part of the story relates back to another blog, “It is a Man’s world around here…” and Dave must hold the reigns on many tasks now, including this one. Teehee
It begins back in Fallon when we chose to ship our vehicles.  Dave’s truck haul was postponed and I was all moved out of the house and ready to drive away into the dark heading for Tulare.  My only option was to beg Dear ole Kenny to drive the truck and store it until the shipping yard came to get it for shipment.   Kenny held that truck for nearly four weeks, when it was disclosed to me that someone had dropped the ball and the truck was forgotten.  It finally made its way onto a freight line and into the water and the Title to it was overnighted to me the day before I left for the UAE.  That was load off of my mind for the minute.
Now in the UAE, we were awaiting the arrival of his truck scheduled for April 23.  Calls are made, things are arranged and seemingly everything is in order, ship arrived on schedule.  April 29, Dave gets a call asking for the color of his truck, they can’t seem to find it.  He says white.  No more calls until May 1. Truck is found.  Meanwhile, here in the UAE there is no mail system and an “interesting” courier delivery thing.  You must have vehicle insurance and it must be original and on a stamped and embossed sheet.  We ordered these April 27 to be Delivered on the 29.   Shipping company is now frantic in the later hours of May 1 and want to deliver the truck somewhere.  We are calling the Courier (now on the third days of calls) for the paperwork to no avail. We can not have it towed to the “DMV” as we have not received the  Insurance cards.   The truck is delivered to our parking garage but, can not be driven… it is against the law.  In this Country, against the law means,  Jail in no uncertain terms.  We must have it towed to the “DMV, someday after the Insurance cards arrive.  May 2, Courier promises (3^rd day of promises) that the cards will be here today.  The cards did arrive.  Poor courier delivery guy. In his defense, the address was written wrong and the phone number for contact was missing a digit.  Anyway, I hear Dave on the phone with the DMV making sure he has all the required letters and documents, all of which need official seals and stamps and super-shiny glitter.  Then I hear him ordering a tow truck and driver, “Yes, the truck needs to be registered and we will need to put fuel while loaded as it’s below empty from shipping.”  He thinks he has it all figured and orderly.  He tells me he will handle this and I can stay home with the kids’ as it would be fiasco at the DMV with our little circus show.  Off he goes to do “a mans job.”
I take the kids for an ice cream.  Dave calls 1.5 hours later and says, “I am home.  You aren’t going to believe this story.”
First let me state, in Dubai anything in the World can be done for a fee.  This includes registering your vehicle….just not initial registration.
My best attempt to retell Dave’s story as he told me…  
Says Exuberant Dave, “I am standing downstairs at the entrance of the Parking Garage for an hour and finally get annoyed and call the company to ask where is the truck.  The guy answers and tells me he is parked right out front on the center divider.  I look over and see a motorcycle.  I am thinking, ‘wow, these guys are really on their stuff in the densely populated area.  They sent out a Motorcycle scout to scope things out to park a big rig down here.’  I tell him I am standing right here and wave.  He scooters his way over to me and parks his motorcycle.  I ask, “Where’s the Tow truck?”  He says, ‘Me, I drive.”  Guy walks around our truck, inspects the tires and says he will see me in a while.  I said, ‘You can’t go with out me.’  So, I hop in and he takes off towards the DMV.  I am thinking, this doesn’t make sense… why can he drive my unregistered truck but I can’t.  So, I ask him as he is driving into traffic, “Why can you drive this truck with no plates but, American registration and I can’t?’  Guy starts freaking out that, ‘We are going to Jail, Jail, Jail!  No plates is ILLEGAL!’  He stops dead in traffic and I have to tell him to drive us back to the parking garage.”  He thought he was being paid to take care of my renewal.  No wonder he looked at me funny when I said I was going with. This truck is on fumes.   Thank God we didn’t run out dead in traffic.”

Poor kid.  Poor Dave.  Me, I am almost in tears laughing at Dave’s story.  By this time the Company is now calling back to send a Tow truck.  Dave is trying to explain that the DMV is closing and that it is too late.  No one can communicate at this point because they are all worked up.  Dave yells, “Don’t come!” and hangs up.  Bahahahahaaaaa!
He then calls the office and tells them to reschedule the Driver for the early morning.  Lady is upset and says that Dave just cancelled the Tow.  He does his best to explain what had happened and asks if the tow truck driver can bring a small bit of fuel, as the truck may not perform after using the last bit.  She understands, that Dave is making accusations of fuel theft by the driver.  I am laughing hysterically mainly out of nervous energy.  At this point, I thought Dave’s head was going to explode

Anyhow… to end a much longer story because I am tired of writing.  Dave was barely able to register the truck and they took an original receipt for a lot of money that we need in the future for a refund.  That will be another story later… much, much later.

My van arrives on May 13.  Wish us luck :)

I just miss my friends

I have done this whole move thing before.  I have left my Home, my Family and my Friends and done the “start-over” regime.  This time is different.  This time, I don’t have the comfort of all my friends a simple phone call away.  There is not an easy way to share all the funny stories of life and all it’s humor.  I find myself carrying on commentary in my head.  I guess that means I have simply become my own friend.  Either that or I am going nuts.  There hasn’t been a day that I don’t miss my girlfriends.  I have some really, truly, wonderful girl best friends.   I have spent years collecting them.  I know, I know, ”Make new friends and keep the old, some are Silver and the others Gold.”  But, I’m just not there right now.  I don’t feel like making friends.  Sometimes, it feels too complicated. And time consuming.  Itd is almost like dating.  There’s the size up, the dance around the money and status, where are you from, Blah.   It is so much work to make new friends.  Then, I have my sweet Sienna.  She too, is missing her friends.  I put on a big smile everyday this week and enthusiastically encouraged her to have a great day and make new friends.  She came home from School yesterday and was very sad to announce that she was the only one that doesn’t know the other kids’ names and couldn’t play along in their games.  It occurred to her that they all knew each other and she was left out as the ONLY one who didn’t have friends.  Wow.  That just broke my heart.  She later explained this same thing to Dave.  That just broke his heart.  It hadn’t occurred to us that she didn’t understand what it means to enter a school in the Third and final term for the School year.  She had her head up and said she will work hard to meet new friends and remember their names and Sienna will. I will work hard to learn from my Daughter in her plight to make new friends. But I will keep the old; to me they will always be shiny, precious GOLD.

It can be a Mans place around here

This can be frustrating at times.  But, it is also very entertaining.  Dave and I have always had very distinct roles.  After Sienna was born, we made the decision for me to stay-at-home.  After years of this, we had a really workable schedule and usually pretty functional system of responsibilities.  Basically, Dave left the home to go to work and I stayed home to keep the family functioning and in order, including the home.  I handled all things like the obvious child caring and homecare, groceries, meals and money matters.   Money matters; banking, bills, bill pay and all money budgeting and management was my responsibility.  This torch has been handed over to Dave here in Dubai.  I’m not sure this is permanent but, for now he was here first and had to set things up originally as per his Company protocol.  But, also because this is a VERY male dominated culture.  It is a new role for to him to be in charge of paperwork and phone calls and a bit nice for me to…NOT.

This week, Dave learned a valuable lesson in attention to detail when it comes to “boring” paperwork.  In the midst of his paperwork sign-in for work, there was a Bank presentation and loads of documents to sign to get things in order for Banking and direct deposit.  Dave got bored and started scribbling his signature on each page.  Ooops.

Last week, Dave had to write out several Checks for me to handout: Customs clearance, Furniture and School tuitions. This week, all four checks were sent back/ refused.  Why, we ask?  Evidently, one of the many scribbled signatures was one they used to scan in and became the “True” signature for signed checks verification through the Bank.  Each check he signed was refused based on a non-match to his scanned scribble and potential fraud alert.  We have since learned that this means; a three hour visit to the main Bank branch in Abu Dhabi  (for Dave) and many phone calls to and from each and every place those checks were refused with an explanation of the situation (for Dave) and now a follow up to make sure everything has been fixed, again all for Dave to complete.  His name and responsibility lie on the checks and accounts.    Giggle.

I’m not sure how long this will last but, for now I will take the money he hands me and spend it in the same fiscally responsible fashion to which I have perfected in our “former” life and allow him the opportunity to learn and grow from his new responsibility ;)

International education

Simply, one of the main reasons we are here. I have been asked countless times, "Why leave America?  Why Dubai?"
Why Dubai, UAE?  That is an easy answer, UAE offered the most valuable opportunity at the time.  Luck is,  opportunity meets preparedness.  We were prepared for the opportunity, what we weren't exactly prepared for we have managed to put in order and now consider our position lucky on many levels.  Here is one...

Why leave America?  Well, we are not "leaving", we are living outside of our Country.  We will always be American, we are Citizens and that will never change.

We all live in a fast-pace Global World.  It is everyone's desire to keep up, make ends meet and at the end of the day, try diligently to get ahead.  There are a billion definitions and variations of what this means.   To our Family, it means being diverse and open to knowledge.  Our children will learn and experience that the world is round.  That you can not drive from one side to other.  That the United States of America is not the entire World, logistically speaking.  We will submerse our children in the actual cultures that truly make up the USA and in doing so, they will learn the true Freedom that is, America.

The kids are both registered and ready to begin school at The Regent International School Dubai, starting April 25.  This will be the Third trimester in the 2010/2011 school year.  This was the only school that would allow our children to start in the third term and it is very necessary they get the next three months education.  I have been to the campus, met teachers and staff.  I have met happy parents of happy students.  I feel good about this decision for now.  We will have the next three months to decide if this placement is a fit for the 2011/2012 School year.  In this region, once you begin a School year, you must finish with that school.  You can not change schools mid-year.

They issue placement testing to ensure proper grade-level placement.

Myles was a perfect fit for his age group.  Age 4, FS-1.  This is the first of two years of Kindergarten. Exactly what I had anticipated.

Sienna, born on the last day of the age cut-off for classroom placement by age, could have gone either way.  That is the same for her in the States as well.  She would either be the very youngest one year or one of the older ones in another.  I did start her in Kindergarten in the US because she was ready.  She did excellent in her classroom in Nevada.  She has always done excellent, back from preschool at Discovery Learning Center to her Kindergarten prep program with Ms. Hucke (classroom size six students to one teacher)
I wasn't quite sure what to expect of this testing.  This is a whole new ball game here.  Education is very different.  It is obvious by simply walking the halls in her classroom age group.  The walls are covered in Paintings by the children replicating Monet.  There are International days, where each child comes to school to teach of their Culture and Country.  There are Global maps outside the classroom doors with a flag for each child representing their home Country.  The US Flag is on some of them.  There are paragraphs written by 5 year olds, collectively telling storybook tales and then illustrated.

Let me just say, I started feeling nervous.
Sienna's academic testing left a lot to be desired by their standards.  However, based on "potential" and the Assessment Official's observation, they feel she is best suited to finish out Y1 and start Y2 in September.   To this I say, Wow.

We will embrace our children's education and plant the seed where the Officials see fit.  We will nurture the seed and hope for the positive and healthy growth of our little flowers ... for now.

Back to the Fish

Dave has been making fun of me for the last week about that darn expensive Hammour fish.  Tonight, we had UAE locals over for a visit and of course Dave had to bring out the ole Fish story.   Hahahhaha, ya, many laughs at my expense.  "You could buy two of those dresses and a pair of shoes for the price of that fish."   ha.

But, I learned a couple fun facts.  The Hammour FIsh is the most expensive fish in Dubai.  It is pronounced Haam-moooooor (with a roll on the "r"). So expensive, that it has become a common cliche to say of big spenders or men of true wealth, "He is a Hammour."
 
Nice.  That would have been good to know a week ago.

Also, the best part of the Hammour fish, is the meat in the cheek.  Which in my case, got thrown in the trash because I thought it looked a tad repulsive.

Mind boggling and constant conversions

Let me just say, Wow. I feel like my brain is in Mathematic overhaul right now. I can’t really seem to grasp the thinking bit in a new chart. So, I am constantly working the conversions. Talk about a headache. Here are some examples:

Time Difference
UAE is 11 Hours ahead of California
UAE is 10 Hours ahead of New Mexico
I calculate this everyday for every friend I have all over the World in different time zones.


Speed: KPH to MPH
Multiply MPH by 1.6 KPH

Money: AED to USD
Multiply 3.65 by 1USD
Or in the case of prices all being in AED, Divide AED by 3.65

Temperature: C to Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit 32 = 0 C
*(very boring) No matter which direction you want to covert, Fahrenheit to Celsius or Celsius to Fahrenheit, always first add 40 to the number. Next, multiply by 5/9 or 9/5 just like the first method. Then, always subtract out the 40 you just added to yield the final result. To remember whether to use 5/9 or 9/5 when converting from Fahrenheit to Celsius or Celsius to Fahrenheit, just simply remember, F (for Fahrenheit) begins with the same letter as Fraction. 5/9 is always a Fraction; while 9/5 is also a fraction, in this form, it is Clearly a whole number plus a fraction (1 and 4/5). Thus, if you want to convert Fahrenheit (F) to Celsius (C), then use the Fraction 5/9; Celsius (C) to Fahrenheit (F), use the other, 9/5, which is Clearly not just a fraction.

So, in summary:

A very hot day in Dubai is anything over: 100 Fahrenheit or 38 Celsius


A great temp inside our home for Thermastats= 78 Fahrenheit or 26 Celsius


Electrical Outlets
I actually haven’t figured this out yet. But, it is some serious business;)
So far, I have caught a snack bag of popcorn on fire in the Microwave (Turbo speed, burned in 2.5minutes), Dave has blown up countless step-down converters for pulling too much voltage/wattage (which is another conversion)

Everything is calculated differently. No inches here for measuring furniture, it is in Centimeters… Meters and Kilometers for distance, no Miles. No more ounces for beverage, it is ml.


**I like to think of myself as pretty bright but, as of late I have been feeling kind of dense and have actually entertained the idea of sitting in on some of Sienna’s classroom.

Heartbreaking realities. I am humbled by my freedom, the freedom I inherited simply by being born into America.

We are so very fortunate.  So fortunate in fact, that it is a difficult thought to believe that our reality is not entitled.  It isn’t and it is very obvious to me now.  I think I am on stimulus overload.  On one hand there are lights, beaches, beauty, seemingly a utopia.  On the other-hand, there is much different,  other-side.

I can’t tell you how many times in the last few weeks that I have been asked,

“How old is this child…?”  Then, it is followed by a story about children being care for in another Country and loved from afar by either Parent.  I have heard this equally from the Mother and Fathers alike, currently working in Dubai, away from their children.  Their comments are heartbreaking.   “I have (number and ages of children) back home, I see once every 2 years.”  I can’t even imagine.  The thought floods me with tears and sadness.

UAE offers opportunity to make money to support a Family.  However, it is not always enough money or opportunity to migrate the whole Family.  It is a difficult conundrum to comprehend from my very spoiled perspective. 

Not everyone is born with the same rights and privileges’ as my Family and me. I feel very thankful for the rights I was issued by simply being born in the fortunate side of the globe.  God Bless America, we really are free.

Hug your children big and close tonight, because you can.