Finally!

I'm finally certified! Got the word today that my teaching certification went though, so now I just need to wait for the hard copy then start the authentication process :-)

Updates

Got an update a couple days ago that around the end of June or beginning or July I will find out which town I'm in. Hooopppinnnnggg for the city! We were also told that they are expecting to send one group of teachers the first week of August and a second group the third week of August. During my interview they seemed to think that I would be in the first group, but with my paperwork taking so long I would be surprised if that's still the case. Called the MA Dept. of Ed. today to check up on my certification status because I received a letter telling me they were missing documents and I got "Oh, actually we do have those documents, but didn't notice so now your certification is going to take a couple weeks longer." grrrr!!! I think I will feel better about everything once I have my certification in hand and then have all my documents authenticated by the UAE Embassey. Unitl then....MORE waiting and some Abu Dhabi shopping

A Peak into AD life...

Hi All! These two great videos, made by a teacher currently in Abu Dhabi, gives you a little peak into what my life in AD will be like :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhTJzeK0D5k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kJ50axUgcA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvRNLweJywo&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/user/aballard331xu#p/u/4/lS0AK75iPCU

Thinking about school vacations already...

So I'm not even IN Abu Dhabi yet and I'm already thinking about school vacations! ADEC (Abu Dhabi Education Council) has released the school schedule for the next two years (http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/set-calendar-announced-for-all-schools-and-universities) now I can tentatively start looking at trips for school breaks! There are waaayyy too many places I want to visit while overseas (good thing I have two years). Obviously Italy, Greece, Spain, and other countries in Europe are at the top of my list. Thailand is suppose to be amazing, but I would also love to go somewhere tropical like the Maldives. So much planning! Can't wait for this all to begin :-)

I'm going to miss these kiddos! My nephews Raymond, Liam, and Connor and my niece Morgan <3

Waiting Game

  Waiting, waiting, waiting! That's what it seems to be about right now. I am waiting on my certificate right now so I can finish my authentication process. In July several other New England teachers and myself are getting together in Boston so we will have some people that we've met before in Abu Dhabi with us. Right now, I can't wait to start buying classroom supplies! All I can think about it classroom set up, curriculum, etc...I just want the school year to start already. We were told that we will find out our leave date anywhere from two weeks before to 24 HOURS before! But I guess I am just going to be ready for August 1st and see where it goes from there. Anyways, that's it for now!

Abu Dhabi on My Mind

      First time blogging, we will see how it goes and hopefully I will keep up with it. Right now the anticipation is killing me. I have still OVER three months until I leave and it's all I can think about. Imagine the feeling you use to have on Christmas Eve and that is how I have felt for over a month now and I still have all this time to go! Right now I am kind of at a stand still because I can not do much in terms of paperwork until some things come in around June and it's obviously to early to pack. I would like to spend this time doing some classroom planning, but I won't know what grade I will be in until I get there. Oh and I am attaching a link for the hiring agency that I got the job through just in case anyone is curious.


   I feel very lucky to have my cousin in AD who has gone through everything I am going through and can answer my 1,000,000 questions for me. The facebook discussion boards are also great, I am obviously so excited about the travels ahead of me, but also am estactic that I FINALLY have my own classroom! I know it's going to be a challenge since it is my first year teaching AND in a foreign country, but I know above all it's going to be amazing. Alright well I probably won't have much to share between now and August, but once I am there I'm sure I'll be posting much more. Hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather! <3


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