Time to Pack!

Today I began my packing process. I think my situation is different from most that are taking this journey.  Unlike most, I am not selling, renting or leasing my home. I am treating this whole experience like an extended vacation. My packing will be less intense as others. The only thing I need to be concerned with is clothes, documents, a few supplies and technology. I do not have to pack up my house or have a garage sale. I will be coming back to my home. 

My best friend and son will be taking care of my house while I'm away. Anytime I come home for a visit I will have a place to stay. Besides, I plan to give Abu Dhabi between 2 and 4 years. Not sure if I will extend beyond four. I do have a reason to return to the US I just would like to return being financial secure and with the ability to work stress free. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can see life after living abroad. I continue to put my plans in Gods hands praying that they match His will for my life. 

I am approximately 24 days away from my anticipated departure. I hope to see a few people before I leave. 

Resigned from position

As of 11:30 am on July 25, 2013 I have submitted ALL necessary paperwork for my resignation from my current position with the Dekalb County School System. I am know patiently awaiting their official notice of my departure. I had many positive and uplifting experiences teaching in Dekalb; however in the end it was rachet! Approximately 5 years of no pay increases, furlough days, increased work loads, and lack of support.

Today, I am headed towards another adventure. I will be packing and moving overseas to teach. I am looking forward to this opportunity and excited about learning a new culture. I believe this will be a chance for increased professional development and improvements on my resume.

It's amazing how God works!

YES! It's amazing how God works!

I have been contemplating whether or not I would continue forward with this new adventure. The reason behind my uncertainty stemmed from the diminishing health of my parents. They both have been battling cancer for several years now. They have had good day and some bad ones. This summer their health began to get progressively worst. First it was my dad then my mom. Because of this, I was not comfortable going so far away from home. I worried a lot about where I would be when God called them home. 

Well, like I said above "It's amazing how God works". On June 3, 2013, my dad was called home to be with the Lord. Then on July 10, 2013 my mom was called home as well. Be situations that left me wavering my decision to go have been solved. God worked it all out in His infinite wisdom. Prayer works and being faithful, leaning not on my own understanding and believing in His infinite power I am able to be relieved of the stress of leaving my ill parents behind. Now I can begin this journey with a clear mind and conscious. All Glory given to God!

So if I made the first "travel" cut, I have approximately 21 days before my departure. God knows I haven't packed a thing. I have so much to do in the next few days.

My 21-day count down "to do list":

1. Put a Power of Attorney in place
2. Review and check that I have all my documents
3. Get my 10 passport pictures
4. Make 20 colored copies of my passport
5. Prepare my house
6. Find a home for my plants
7. Pack
8. Make sure car is in order for son
9. Check departure information to make sure I have everything completed
10. Get son squared away at college
11. Get a backpack
12. Check all technology equipment...making sure it works
13. Download cell phones and get son set up on T-mobile
14. Do subscriptions for VPN, Netflix, Hulu+ and USTVNOW.com
15. Provide Majic Phone number to family and friends
16. Update email list with friends
17. Pack
18. Clean house & clean out refrigerator & cabinets of perishable items
19. Make sure all mommies business is in order
20. Review everything to make sure I've left nothing behind

So as you can see, I have a lot to do. I am going to work to maintain my blog so you can take this journey with me.

Til next time

The Process

Ok! So there is a lot to do before I start my new adventure in Abu Dhabi. From putting my affairs in order at home before I leave and getting things together that I must have for my travels. It is a lot when you are actually making a move and not just going on vacation.

Home:

The question is "what will I do with my house?" I don't want to sell it or let it go. I don't know if leasing it is an option because where will my son and I stay when we are not out of the country or away at school, respectively? Not a lot of options her. I wish I had a close friend or someone I knew who needed a place to stay. They could house sit while we are away and be our roommate when we are home. That would be the perfect scenario however we do not live in a perfect world. So this dilemma is tabled for now!

Bills:

I need to cancel things like cable and the garbage. Place everything else on paperless billing and then do something with my mail. Not sure if I will put in a forwarding address or simply get a safe deposit box that my son can check periodically for me. Go part is I do not get a lot of mail in the first place. My cell phone will be down graded since I will not be able to use it overseas and I recent signed up with Magic Jack Plus. I was informed that this will allow me to speak to family and friends back in the states without worrying about international rates. It is like they are calling me at the house...now how cool is that? I created myself a spreadsheet to keep me focused and on track with payoff bills and saving money. My ultimate goal is to come back home debt free and with a nice savings. Staying focused and not spending a lot of unnecessary funds is the key. I'm on a mission!!!

Travel:

I'm not sure when I will actually be leaving. My departure webinar provided me with a lot of good information and only a window of when I may be traveling. It if all goes well I will be leaving mid-August. I am excited about this opportunity however it is bitter-sweet. I will miss my mom and my boys a lot as well as my friend. We have been together for 11 months now and being away from him will be challenging but not impossible. I know God would not have laid this opportunity on my heart if it was not meant for me to pursue. He is very supportive and what is meant to be will be no mater the distance between us.  Sorry! I kind of got off track. Ok! back to travel. I have a lot of packing to do and haven't even started. There are plenty of things I will not be taking with me because out of my respect for the culture I will not wear them there. I have several long dresses and skirts that I will be taking. I need to purchase light sweaters, shawls, and shirts that cover my chest and arms. Toiletries, hair products, and any other special items I desire need to be purchased here and taken with me.

The flight is about 15 hours long and I believe that is only if I do not have a layover. I will be leaving from Atlanta. I've never flown longer than 5 hrs and that was to Seattle, Washington for a cruise to Alaska. Loved the cruise didn't care for the flight. This flight will obviously be more taxing and challenging for me. The destination is worth it though. I will be put up in a hotel upon arrival until they get my housing situated. I pray that I am placed either in Al Ain or Abu Dhabi. Don't have a desire to be in any rural area away from everything.

I plan to visit other places while there but will have to be in the budget or I will be enjoying all that Abu Dhabi has to offer. One place I will go is Dubai though since it is so close to where I will be teaching.

Til next time

The Beginning...

So this journey began for me back in October 2012. A friend of mine told me about teaching abroad. Never thought it was something I really wanted to do but with the public educational system being the way it is in the US it became an option for me. I told myself that if it was meant to be, God's will, then things would flow smoothly for me from beginning to end. So far it has.

I received an offer letter and decided to accept it after my Dad passed away and I had a conversation with a very dear friend. I was able to tell my dad about the offer before he passed so that made me happy. I am looking forward to this adventure however I will missed a lot of "special" people in my life. The good part is that I can visit home during vacations and still have open lines of communication while I'm there. This will make the transition a little easier.

This will be only my 2nd time leaving the country. Heck! I just got my passport last summer to attend a wedding in Curacao. I enjoyed it so much that the travel bug was extended to include out of the country travels. I plan to visit other countries while I'm enjoying this new adventure and learn a lot about other cultures including the Islamic culture where I will be working.

I know there will be challenges and concerns however I love an adventure. I am not the one to sit around with a lot of shoulda-woulda-coulda's missing out on life and all it has to offer. I plan to stay current with my post and hope that anyone that chooses to read about my journey will enjoy it and maybe get bit by the travel/adventure bug too.

Til next time