been awhile...

it may be true that "you don't know what you got 'til it's gone," but I've recently discovered that "you don't know what was gone 'til it's back" -

such as my favorite dubai past-time of cruising down beach road, windows down, music on, coffee in hand...

or the way everything about a room changes with the simple act of opening a window...

or the feeling of relaxing for more than a day or two at a time...


Not that I mind the month of Ramadan, or hot weather, or being busy.... it's just that Eid, its 5-day vacation, and cooler weather all happen to coincide, and make me go "aaaahhhh."


I've been back for two months, and they have flown by! It was really nice to get off the plane and have my life waiting for me, to connect with old and new friends and colleagues, to get back to school (in my very own classroom!), drive my car.

School's keeping me busy, with both teaching and other responsibilities I've taken on this year. Add that to spending more time in the car to avoid the brand-new, right-by-my-exit toll gate, and starting to train for a half-marathon in December, and planning some (pretty amazing) upcoming trips, and (of course) having a bit of fun, I was so ready for this little break, and am using it to both relax and take care of some of the little things I don't seem to have time for during the week.

but don't think for a second that i am complaining!

we're about to enter months of beautiful weather, I'm going to travel to Antarctica over christmas, and my friends here remind me every day why i appreciate them so much...

plus, my students are fabulous, and having my own space to teach in has made such a positive improvement in my teaching - it's also nice not to be the newbie anymore!

we had a half-day inservice about a month ago, and the first hour was scheduled with an all-staff meeting - the topic was 'collaboration' and so naturally i was expecting talk about working together, during which i would be wishing we could just take the time and actually work together... but as I walked into the room and heard the beating of African drums, I began to think I was mistaken! And indeed, a group called Dubai Drums was there, with a room full of drums, to spend an hour teaching us rhythms and how to put them together in a coherent "performance" - the British woman who leads the group, and started it a few years ago, was full of energy, and I had a great hour... it made everyone relaxed and happy - definitely the best staff meeting ever!

but other than the business of living life, there's not too much to report... over the next few months, however, that is going to change! stay tuned for some (hopefully more interesting and well-written) updates!