Back to Normal

I have been back in the UAE for about 1 week. The jet lag is gone, but the routine is still a bit off. But today, I collected my lovely cat, Fionka.

She seems dramatically smaller than when I left her in July. But tomorrow, we'll go to the vet to see for sure. She rode the car ride from AD nicely, among new plants from IKEA that she made a mess of. Oh well, some things never change.

School starts this Sunday for us teachers. The students will begin the following Sunday. Sad to realize that there are only these two days left of summer break, but I'm excited about the prospects of teaching this year more than I was last August. Getting a heads up about my assignment has been a huge relief. I just hope things follow through as expected. Fingers crossed constantly:)

Vacation/Holiday, week 4

It surprises me that while in the US, where I don't need a VPN to see this site in English, I haven't written anything. I guess that means I have been having a fulfilling time visiting family and friends at HOME:)

Week 1: a class by Responsive Classroom, awesome
Week 2-3.5: Montana and Nebraska for father visiting and grandma's memorial service:( Met a lot of similar named relatives:)
Week 3.5-4.6: Mom time, in Bellingham. Food, food, and more food:) Luckily my eyes are still bigger than my stomach. And there isn't a Baskin Robbins at every turn one makes;)

(Coming up)
Week 4.7-5.2: Salt Lake City:) Overdue visiting time with my UVA twin :)

8/22 (my return to the mid-east) is coming up too soon, there's only 2 weeks left, oh no! Must get to Seattle asap for some delicious veggie Pho!

I can't recall when I've ever included so many smiley faces in a post. There must really be something about home after 11-1/2 months away...