Tampa, Florida~ how it all started:
So this all started back in February of this year~ I had poked around and considered trying to get work as a teacher back in the Emirates, but there never seemed to be any openings at any of the International schools.
Then one afternoon an old friend found me on Facebook, had not see her in over 30 years, and discovered she was married and still living in Abu Dhabi. It brought back how much I missed it all, and so I started looking for teaching work on a whim. Next thing I knew I came across Teach Away, and lo and behold they were advertising for teachers to work in the United Arab Emirates!! well..I said what the heck and applied.
I filled out the online application, attached a photo and hit the send button. I guess it was about three days later I got a email response from Teach Away asking me to set up a time for a phonecall interview. That took place the following week. On a Tuesday, and I was so excited, and nervous at the same time. The name of the Teach Away rep was Valen, she made me feel so comfortable over the phone. Anyway, Valen wanted me to interview in person that same week up in Atlanta. So....on a Friday my daughter drove me up to Atlanta, 7hour drive.....went into the interview.....and to my surprise.. I was hired on the spot...having lived overseas, and in the UAE was an advantage. Drove home on a cloud...7hour drive back to Tampa---but who cares.....After the interview I was checking my email every hour for a contract from ADEC.....it finally came the following week.....then the paperwork processing began...noterizations...running to police station for criminal record paper, finding someone to take care of the authentication process of all my certificates, and degrees, finding the money to do all this...oh and getting a passport....telling my principal I would not be back....packing, sorting, what to do with everything...I did it all by myself :)
Savannah, Georgia:
It is now August.....since the interview I applied for a passport, sent of paperwork to get authenticated, sold my car, helped my daughter relocate to Georgia, packed up my house, put all my personal belongings in storage, drove myself, and four cats up to Georgia.
Which is where I have been sitting for 7weeks.....waiting for my e-ticket to leave for Abu Dhabi...the latest word is my security clearance and visa are done, and just waiting on the travel agents to issue me with an airticket which will come in the form of an e-ticket in my email.....Teachers are being flown out in groups, so far 168 teachers have flown out. Another group flies out in the next few days, meanwhile I am back to checking my email every hour looking for what we are calling the "golden ticket"!! Needless to say many of us are anxious and restless, and tired of waiting...but it is coming.
My suitcases are packed, I am ready....
