Shamals are the seasonal winds that blow in sandstorms lasting several days and haboobs are the big walls of sand that quickly blow through town. The past few days have been hazy and dusty, but today was all sand, grit, and wind. Whatever you call it, it’s nasty.
The color of the sky on my weather app is a perfect match to what is going on outside. And yes, the weather is indeed “dust.” I had to use a scarf to wrap my face while walking from the parking lot into the embassy and I still got grit in my eyes. All outdoor activities were cancelled at school because it’s not healthy to breathe any of that in. In Bahrain after a sandstorm everyone would get sick. I’m really hoping that’s not the case here.
Not my photo, but this is what our day looked like
I was at the embassy today signing Josh’s retirement paperwork in front of a notary. One step closer to completion! Josh also reserved the space for his retirement ceremony next month. Several people at work insisted he have one and I think he’ll be glad we celebrated the occasion when he looks back on it. Mark your calendars for June 14th!
This weekend has been jam-packed as it’s the last one before the month of Ramadan begins. It’s been predicted to start on Thursday, but we have to wait for the moon sighting to make it official.
This year, even more so than previous years, all the typical end of year parties, birthdays, farewells and who knows what else have to be fit in now because the last day of Ramadan is the last day of school and then everyone immediately disappears for summer or for good. The reason they have to happen before Ramadan is because once the month begins, no eating or drinking takes place in public during daylight hours, all restaurants are closed until evening, the school day is shortened to accommodate those who are fasting, and life in general slows down.
Yesterday afternoon was a farewell lunch for a family that is leaving our Bible study group and moving to Oman. We brought the kids and had a good time with a bunch of our church friends, but then we had to hurry home and get ready for the next event: the end of year staff party for ACS (the school where I work). It’s a formal event at a hotel ballroom and this year the theme was 007 so Josh dressed in his Daniel Craig suit and I threw on my swirl print halter dress with gold wedges and we were off. (Of course I didn’t take any photos, but there was a photographer there, so I’ll track some down.)
We had a great time and danced from the time the music started. The best part was the surprise that instead of a DJ, there was a live band made up of teachers and staff from school. They were fantastic and it was so generous of them to perform at a party that is supposed to be chance for them to relax and celebrate too.
Then today was a Texas BBQ feast with school and gym friends to say farewell to two families that are leaving Abu Dhabi. Both of these families have been here for 7-10 years. There’s a lot of that happening these days. There’s a big shift taking place as long time families head home, but I’m happy to be one of the remaining few.
So basically we ran around all weekend eating and saying goodbye to people. It’s a good thing Ramadan is coming because I’m about partied out.
We made it to the weekend, but now I’m starting to get antsy again about the physical contract, the numbers, and the actual signing, proving that Josh actually has a job. I know it will come, but I hate moving forward (and spending money) on the promise of a job rather than the sure thing. That’s one thing I learned from military life, nothing is for sure until you see the papers and even then, it can still change.
But some things around here remain the same — like my girlie’s tendency to blow up and then poetically apologize. I didn’t save the note that says, “I’ll hate you until you die” (more like ‘I hat you until you dei’), but here’s the follow-up that I received about 10 minutes later.
One blue pill and 10 minutes later and she was snoozing away the tragedy and injustice that I wouldn’t let her watch TV on her iPad before bed. She has written me more letters in her seven years than all 3 boys combined. Times four.
(And yes, Calvin. You get credit for 90% of those.)
Whatever bug Camille had 2 days ago hit both Carter and me last night. We headed out to a celebration dinner as a family and once we arrived at the restaurant Carter said his stomach was hurting and only picked at his food. I should have known that would be the first sign of the apocalypse. Carter never turns down food.
We continued to eat, he ran to the bathroom twice to throw up (what a celebration, right?) and then we came home and tucked him into bed. My stomach started feeling queasy, but I thought that might have been the power of suggestion until I got sick myself. Ugh. It wasn’t food related, but a crazy fast acting stomach virus that chewed us up and spit us out 6 hours later.
From the highest highs to the lowest lows this week. Carter and I are still moving as if our bones were made of glass and sipping on broth to help rehydrate. We feel better, just tired and fragile. Josh has been caught in-between; not fully sick, but certainly not well. Hoping it bypasses Caleb altogether and that I have interesting things to write about tomorrow rather than more tales from the sickbed.
I had plans for a post yesterday about spending a sick day with Camille and then I got distracted because Josh called midday saying he had been offered the job!!! The timing caught us by surprise since it was well after midnight in the US on a Sunday night. His boss (future) called to let him know that the delay was because of a computer system issue, but she wanted him to know that he was the guy they chose, the official offer will be headed his way in a few days, and they are all looking forward to him joining their team.
Josh is thrilled and I’m back to feeling content, since I was sure he was the guy way back when. We’ll forget about the beginning where he sent me the job description, I read it and thought he had zero qualifications for the job (Masters in Business Administration and 20 years experience?), plus it required 80% travel so I emailed him and basically said, “heck no. That’s a deal breaker” and then my email server mysteriously started acting up and never sent the email to him.
I haven’t been on Facebook much (and not posting at all) but I’ve been catching posts here and there from military friends all retiring this year and I wonder how the process has been for them: do they have a job lined up? Are they moving “home?” What are their goals for “normal life?” (as opposed to military life) It’s one of the reasons I’ve been writing about our experience. Everyone says how hard it is, practically impossible, to retire from overseas, but we’re doing it. So far so good. It helps that we want to stay where we are, that Josh has a unique skill set suited for the region where we live, and that we’ve done a lot of thinking/research about what we will need to live here post retirement. It has taken a few extra international trips for classes and medical exams and we are going back to California to finish out the process, but hey, that’s home for us.
And now the biggest obstacle, setting up future employment, is behind us. I was joking with Josh that I’ve been waiting for the job offer to come in so I can write: Great news! #RetiredJosh is now also #EmployedJosh
The original, pre-job post below:
Today was a sick day. Camille woke up at 3am, started throwing up, and suddenly my slate was wiped clean for the day. I haven’t missed a day of work all year, but a puking kid trumps all. Thankfully I work with a fantastic team at school and they said they would cover my shift, no problem.
Meels and I watched Gilmore Girls in bed on my phone, each of us with one AirPod in, for the next several hours. Nothing like a little Netflix at 4am. Just a heads up — Gilmore Girls (even season 1) is not appropriate for a 7 year old.
right before the phone call came that woke her up –but it was about THE JOB so I didn’t mind at all
Of course by 8am she was a crab, and I was wishing I could go to work, but I persisted (no iPad during school hours) and she finally fell asleep.
She’s completely better today so it was either a quick bug or something she ate that needed to clear her system. It was a nice 24 hour break from normal life.
