THE SECOND ADVENTURE BEGINS!
After much packing, repacking, shed building, stacking, and re-stacking, we finally departed Aussie shores once more, bound this time for the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi in particular. A bit of duty free shopping (camera and booze) and off we went.
Coming from Vanuatu’s 26 degree days to Sydney’s winter was a test for our constitutions. Landing in Abu Dhabi, we realised that the reverse transition to 40+ degree days and 30 degree nights was going to be an even greater challenge. And what a pleasant arrival! As we walked off the tunnel from the plane, we were greeted by a welcome escort who guided us through immigrations procedures, where Ron received his temporary employment visa, complete with eye-scan: “Open wider please….WIDER PLEASE…..”
Having collected our baggage and been ushered through the customs gate (no inspection required!) we were met outside by the cabbie who took us direct to the hotel. We were safely in bed within one and a half hours of touchdown! No complaints about the organisation here, or the efficiency!
Next day was a day of rest. We slept late, went to the Abu Dhabi Mall for a spot of coffee and shopping. Arriving at 9:30, we found that shops didn’t open until 11.
First impression? They do things BIG over here. Some of the malls and hotels are just HUGE. (see pictures). There is SO much construction going on everywhere. High rises in the cities, and whole towns being built outside the cities – hundreds of homes in each. The drivers are quite mad – suicidal in fact. Driving the freeway between here and Dubai or Al Ain you are likely to be overtaken in your sedate 120Kph by all manner of vehicles doing 150+, changing lanes, whipping across in front to catch the next exit and worse. Even driving in town – or being in a cab driving in town – sets the pulse racing.
Sunday was my first day of work, and so I was collected (along with the others of the 4 teams in the project) from the hotel and after a 30 min drive by mini-bus – (Vanuatu bus drives would be aghast at the speeds) arrived at the nearest GEMS school (Global Education Management Systems) for the first day of the induction program. Ditto Monday. On Tuesday we had a half day team leaders’ meeting and on Wednesday were taken into Dubai to GEMS HQ where we met the HR people and Chairman and visited the very ritzy GEMS premier school in the area. Boy does this school have ALL the bells and whistles – and then some, including its own observatory, pool, indoor basketball courts, auditorium, ……….
Thursday was our day to visit our schools. My team is really happy with what we saw. The school is new, with good clean buildings, very spacious, lots of furniture, and a very helpful Vice Principal. I think we have a good foundation for our work over the next 2-3 years.
Cheryl of course has been soaking up the relaxation and trying (successfully so far) not to be bored. Word is that we’ll get to move in to our apartment next Friday. Can’t wait. If it is anything like the apartment of one of my team (supplied by his wife’s company) we’ll be very happy.
Al Ain seems a lovely town. No high-rise, very green, and much more relaxed than the hustle of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
After much packing, repacking, shed building, stacking, and re-stacking, we finally departed Aussie shores once more, bound this time for the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi in particular. A bit of duty free shopping (camera and booze) and off we went.
Coming from Vanuatu’s 26 degree days to Sydney’s winter was a test for our constitutions. Landing in Abu Dhabi, we realised that the reverse transition to 40+ degree days and 30 degree nights was going to be an even greater challenge. And what a pleasant arrival! As we walked off the tunnel from the plane, we were greeted by a welcome escort who guided us through immigrations procedures, where Ron received his temporary employment visa, complete with eye-scan: “Open wider please….WIDER PLEASE…..”
Having collected our baggage and been ushered through the customs gate (no inspection required!) we were met outside by the cabbie who took us direct to the hotel. We were safely in bed within one and a half hours of touchdown! No complaints about the organisation here, or the efficiency!
Next day was a day of rest. We slept late, went to the Abu Dhabi Mall for a spot of coffee and shopping. Arriving at 9:30, we found that shops didn’t open until 11.
First impression? They do things BIG over here. Some of the malls and hotels are just HUGE. (see pictures). There is SO much construction going on everywhere. High rises in the cities, and whole towns being built outside the cities – hundreds of homes in each. The drivers are quite mad – suicidal in fact. Driving the freeway between here and Dubai or Al Ain you are likely to be overtaken in your sedate 120Kph by all manner of vehicles doing 150+, changing lanes, whipping across in front to catch the next exit and worse. Even driving in town – or being in a cab driving in town – sets the pulse racing.Sunday was my first day of work, and so I was collected (along with the others of the 4 teams in the project) from the hotel and after a 30 min drive by mini-bus – (Vanuatu bus drives would be aghast at the speeds) arrived at the nearest GEMS school (Global Education Management Systems) for the first day of the induction program. Ditto Monday. On Tuesday we had a half day team leaders’ meeting and on Wednesday were taken into Dubai to GEMS HQ where we met the HR people and Chairman and visited the very ritzy GEMS premier school in the area. Boy does this school have ALL the bells and whistles – and then some, including its own observatory, pool, indoor basketball courts, auditorium, ……….
Thursday was our day to visit our schools. My team is really happy with what we saw. The school is new, with good clean buildings, very spacious, lots of furniture, and a very helpful Vice Principal. I think we have a good foundation for our work over the next 2-3 years.
Cheryl of course has been soaking up the relaxation and trying (successfully so far) not to be bored. Word is that we’ll get to move in to our apartment next Friday. Can’t wait. If it is anything like the apartment of one of my team (supplied by his wife’s company) we’ll be very happy.
Al Ain seems a lovely town. No high-rise, very green, and much more relaxed than the hustle of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Great to see that you guys have arrived and are settled in - all the best and we are coming to see you next year and make way to Turkey and Egypt.
ReplyDeleteBruce and Deb