Election Watch Event

Hopefully enough time has passed to be able to bring up the topic of the election again. Living in the Middle East I am constantly reminded that many citizens of other countries are not able to debate, express their opinion, or vote.

We have lived overseas for two presidential elections. On both occasions, I have been impressed with how attentive and informed (not always correctly) foreigners are about our presidential candidates and our electoral system. Our democracy ranks up there with our university system, Disneyland, Napoleon Dynamite, and Smores as things we should be proud of. 

Shelley and I woke up on Wednesday morning after the election, put our kids on the school bus, and then went to an election watch event organized by the U.S. Consulate. The advantage of living half way around the world is that we did not have to stay up late to watch the election results come in. 

Shelley and I voted for different candidates (I'll let you guess who voted for which candidate), but we both agree that both candidates are talented leaders, have good family values, and have our country's interest at heart.

Halloween in Dubai

By Halloween the weather here in Dubai had finally cooled down enough to enjoy being outdoors. Andrew dressed up as Harry Potter, Gaby dressed up like Cleopatra, and Colin dressed up like . . . . well, I really don't know what he was suppose to be. He was just happy to be behind a mask and not need to smile for the pictures.  

About a week before Halloween, the American School had a Halloween event where parents and teachers set up and decorated tables around the football field and gave out candy as the kids visited each table. 

 

Gaby and her two friends who are also in 7th grade.

Colin's birthday was November 10th, yet we decided to celebrate his birthday close to Halloween and take advantage of the Halloween theme. Colin is at the age that he refused to invite girls to his party and insisted on only inviting boys from his class.

One of the games Shelley prepared was a mummy wrapping contest using toilet paper. 

Entertaining ten six and seven-year olds for two hours is not an easy task. By the end of the evening, we pulled out the hockey sticks and had a mean game of hockey with some sticks I had made with PVC, some insulation, and tape.

 

Shelley prepared a variety of Halloween-themed snacks. The boys gobbled up the snacks and paid little attention to the work that went into preparing them.

Currency Exchange Rate in Our Favor

One of the aspects of living in the UAE that we have had to adjust to is the different currency. The local currency in the UAE is called the Dirham and one dollar is equal to 3.66 Dirhams.

Shelley and I find ourselves trying to convince or dissuade each other of purchases by rounding up to 4 or down to 3 - whatever supports our case. Lucky, our tech-savvy daughter is usually standing by with her calculator app ready to give us the exact conversion.

Good parents would probably use the opportunity of living in a country with a different currency to teach their children some hands-on math skills. However, Shelley and I have intentionally not explained the differences in exchange rates to Colin.

It has been to our advantage when we go into a store and he sees something that he wants. He will pick up the item, look at the sticker and realize that it is at least 3.66 times more expensive than in the U.S. He will turn to us with a look of disgust and complain that everything in Dubai is expensive. Shamefully, we agree with him as he sets the item back on the shelf.

Another way that the currency exchange rate has played in our favor is with the allowance that the kids get for doing their chores. Shelley and I are still using the same chore chart and with the same numbers on it that we used in the U.S. The only difference is that we are now paying them in Dirhams. So far, only Gaby has realized that they are getting short changed and that the numbers on the chart need to be updated. 

Challenges of Relocating

I’ve concluded that arriving to a new overseas assignment with the State Department is much like going through the Army’s boot camp.  You are initially stripped of all your belongings (except two suitcases and a carry one).  You are only given the bare minimum needed to survive (a welcome kit).  You get the run around by all sorts of installers, repairmen, and GSO service providers who are apathetic to the struggles you are facing.  It sometimes appears that they have colluded and are enjoying putting you through the painful initiation process as they say things such as, “we need you to fill out all eight forms again,” or “the previous tenants did just fine without a door handle on their front door.”  For the first few days, adjusting is difficult and you continually ask yourself, “is this job worth all this trouble.”

Within a few days, you begin to experience small victories.  You venture outside the empty, echoing house to visit the nearby grocery store.  It takes a while to figure out the labels on the strange products, understand people’s accents, and make sense of the funny-looking money in your pocket, but in the end, your fridge is stocked.  Then, you get a cell phone that makes you feel less vulnerable and more in control.  Afterwards, you find a Wi-Fi hot spot and e-mail your family to let them know you are alive and arrived at your destination. Each day that follows brings a few more minor accomplishments such as getting a log-on at work, making a friend, and learning who is helpful and who is unhelpful at work. 

After a couple more days, you start to see more signs of normalcy.  The kids have their first play date.  Everyone’s comfort items arrive; for me, it was my guitar. The first sign that you have passed through the worst is when your son goes a day without saying, “I want to go back home.”  

Before hanging up the “Mission Accomplished” banner across your new home, you wait for the kids to get in school and for your shipment of belongings to arrive.  However, you feel a sense of progress and competence when a new arrival walks into work and asks, “How do I turn on the water heater at home?"   

10 Reasons I Love Being an American

I am grateful that my job allows me to travel to different countries and be in contact with people from other cultures.  While I am overseas, I am often placed in situations where I have to explain U.S. culture, traditions, or politics to foreigners.  Oftentimes, these people point out our shortcomings - which, granted, there are many.  However, I believe that the U.S. is a blessed country and has a bright future.  Below are a few reasons (in no particular order) that I am proud to be an American.

1 - Our presidents and representatives have given up power peacefully after loosing elections.  

2 - Americans are not guaranteed or confined to the social or economic class they are born into.    

3 - Our ancestors fought wars, made sacrifices, and built a well-organized infrastructure that we benefit from.  

4 - Americans can travel and live in any of the 50 states they choose.  

5 - When stopped by a police officer, Americans are not afraid of being robbed or extorted.

6 - The media we consume, our clothing, and our religion are not determined by our government.  

7 -  Education, talent, and hard work are rewarded.  

8 -  Americans can request a government or company service without having to pay a bribe.

9 -  Americans can question authority or express their opinions without going to jail or disappearing. 

10 - The brightest and most entrepreneurial foreigners are eager to come to America.

"The Show" by Gaby

Gaby auditioned for a solo in the middle school choir performance.  She and one other 6th grader were selected.  For her musical number, she chose to sing "The Show" by Lenka.  Despite the nerves, she did an outstanding job - we are very proud of her.

Coming Up For Air

I have not updated this blog in several weeks since I have been deep into my language training.  Every spare second I have I am flipping through flash cards, reading the news & blogs in Persian, or preparing for class.  I am feeling a lot of pressure to get the score I need for my job (before mid July).  

Several times a week and every Saturday, Shelley and I spend a good part of our day taxiing kids back and forth to practices and games.  Gaby is playing softball.  Andrew is playing baseball.  And Colin is playing soccer.  They are each making visible progress on a weekly basis.

I still bring my flash cards to practices and games, but I have to ensure I am looking up when our kids are up to bat or making a play.