SKI DUBAI...er SNOWBOARD DUBAI

My new friend Olga, the dance teacher at ASD, set up a surprise b-day gathering for her husband Joe (both in photo on left- with our friend Adam), at Ski Dubai.  I offered to teach the group how to snow board as many were first time snow boarders!! It was soo much fun!!

                              A group of ASD teachers all went along for the celebration! Having hot cocoa at the little chalet half way up the slope...HALARIOUS.  Said to be the BEST HOT cocoa in Dubai! With whip cream, a giant marshmellow, and m&m's er... smarties (not our chalky ones... but similar to m&m's) floating on top! YUM! A great way to end the trip to Ski Dubai.

WAHOOOO feeling like I'm back at home.... missing that cold winter snow, at least I'll always have a place to go when the desert heat is getting to me and all I want are snow angels and a perhaps even a snow ball fight

My Volleyball Crew on Wednesday nights!!!!!! Loads of fun, sand, and a win is coming!!!  Friends from ASD: Nick, Lee, Adam, and then Kirsty and Tim teach at the Dubai British School. :)



SRI LANKA     August 2011 



My first Eid Break in the U.A.E. (Arabic holiday- like Christmas) I took a five day trip with my new friends, Kirsty, Nick, and Peter to Sri Lanka. (The small island off the South East coast of India).

We had a great time! I tried on a Sari and got to ride an elephant. Our new elephant friend was 35 years old and named Maricow. I was surprised to feel how rough her skin was as well as how spikey her little hairs were on top of her ginormous head!! It was a ton of fun!

             

After a small hike up through Lion's gate in Sigiriya, to get to the Palace in the Sky and wandering through the Rock Temple and Golden Temple in Dambulla,

Adam's Peak- Sri Pada

 we woke up at 2 am to begin the best trek up to Adam's Peak.It is the only mountain in the world where people of different faiths, (Christain, Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims)make the prilgimage of 4,358 vertical steep STEPS to the base of where Adam's (Adam and Eve)first footprints are on Earth from when he was kicked out of Paradise- the Garden of Eden. When we arrived at the top of the mountain, just before sun rise, we were welcomed into a tiny hut to warm ourselves by the heater and have a cup of tea. It was then in the light, I could see all the baby leeches that had attached themselves to our feet, ankles, and legs... EW! It was gross, pulling them off one by one, as they left behind small bite marks and running streams of blood.  That what I got for hikin in my chaco sandals and splashing through all the muddy puddles for the three hour vertical tramp. At the top, we each rang the bell. Clear and loud it echoed for miles, informing the villages below of the number of hikers who made the symbolic trek early that morning. Cold and barefoot, we said our prayers at the temple, and then began the equally long voyage back down. This time not in the dark with head lamps,but in the nice clearing fog and warm sun rising. 

The next day we went to the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic. When Buddah passed away and his body was creamted, his left canine tooth was retireved from the funeral and it was said that whoever possessed this tooth had devine right to rule over that land.   Monkeys! We also saw hundreds of mokeys in Sri Lanka.  We were told that there are 3 kinds, black faced, red faced, and all black,   but we never saw the all black kind.  They were soo cute, playing around, mother's pulling their young ones tails, to keep them near, some relaxing on hotel benches, and hanging out on balconies. A great trip filled with amazing wild life! 

Our last day outside of Columbo-the Capital and largest city in Sri Lanka
After a night of fresh seafood on the beach... crabs with faces and a bunch of food not for me we relaxed on the beach and I was joined by a cute little red faced monkey. Sadly he was on a chain leash, as his owner played an instrament for a dancing cobra and roaming python, all on the beach next to our hotel.  We spent out last night, at Shero's house.  He and his wife made us a wonderful dinner as we met his two beautiful children and hung out at his house before heading to the airport. 



Saying Goodbye to our Driver and Guide- Shero

 A night out in Dubai.....
A group of us went down to the beach to watch the sunset.  Just another pretty night in dessert and on the coast.  The ocean water is warmer than a bath, but hopefully it will cool down once winter is here.
It was a fairly foggy night, but we were up close to the Burj Al Arab, the Burj Khalifa was a bit too far to get a good shot. But we had a nice view out towards Atlantis and the Palm Islands.

After the beach Elena, her husband Josh, Peter, John, Adam, and I went to a curry seafood joint.... I know most of you are probably thinking... WHAT?!?! I went where.... but hey I'll try anything once.  It was a really cool little local joint. We sat on little plastic stools outside in the sand after picking out out fish (of corse!)  We picked the biggest freshest looking Dori possible followed by a kilo of shrimp (ew... all those poor little shrimp bodies). 

                                                                   It was actually quite delicious, served with heaps of flat bread, rice, and smothered everything with lemons :) I wasn't too keen on rippin out the spine... or busting it's face open... so we saved that for John and Josh to devour the cheeks and eyeballs. I wasn't THAT adeventurous... maybe another time.  Another great night out with new great friends from ASD.

Indoor Climbin at ASD

 Before school started, I thought it would be a good idea to have some fun and climb around on the amazing indoor climbing facility at ASD. Glad I packed my harness and shoes, as I was off and climbin within the first week! So fun!!  Now, I can't wait to help lead a Middle School Climbing Dream Team that will meet every Sunday night!!!! AWESOME!!!!

A few friends and I also ordered some Naked Pizza... a great organic pizza joint, (that is also in the U.S. by Liz's house in AZ), but here it's advertised as N_K_D Pizza!!! Guess they can't say the word Naked in an advertisement! :) Yum.  A great first week in Dubai!

MY NEW HOME in DUBAI!!!!

August 15, 2011    I got all settled into my new place, living in Motor City.  It's out in the middle of the desert about a 15 min drive from School, that is closer to the coast and downtown. :)  I LOVE IT OUT HERE. We have a mini strip with a grocery store, restaurants, and even a place to develope pictures! :) What more could I want?!?! Oh, we also have a ton of pools scattered throughout  Motor City, this one is right behind my building, but I have found that I like going to a different one that is like a 2 minute walk away as it is open at night.  The water is warmer than BATH water... but in the evenings it cools down and I was told that in the winter it will get better.... cooler. :)  Even the Ocean is HOT Water... just crazy. No more Lake Michigan....Chippewa River, kinda miss it already.   But life is good and I'm enjoying my new home tremendously. Who wants to come and visit!?!?!?

                         

 



My Last Supper... in the U.S. at my G-mas house.

On my last evening in Appleton, my Grandparents had all mi familia over for a fantabulous dinner!!! It was great getting to see most of my Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and friends before heading out to the Middle East, to begin the next chapter of my life teaching at the American School of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Thanks for everything Mom, Dad, and Ed, I will miss you all tons and hope you come and visit!!! :)

Farewell to Miss Leah and Carlos, Thanks for showing me what International teaching is all about in Mexico and giving me the encouragement to apply to teach abroad!!! I hope you both eventually find your way teaching in Dubai as well!! Miss ya!!!
Leah- your enthusiasm and smiles are contagious and I only hope to help spread them even more in the U.A.E.



Surprise! My EHS T & F kiddos and awesome mom's wishing me a final farewell and safe travels!

 One of my final days in Spring Valley/Ellsworth.... I went down to El Paso to sit and chat with Huggett, and my Jill mom #2 came down and Pav :)  then Huggett gives me some crazy story about a new pony being born up at her house... boy does she know me! :)  Of Course I want to see a new pony, so Jan drives me a mile down the road over to Huggett's house, and SURPRISE!!!!! There was a house and backyard filled with my T & F kiddos and Coaches I worked with this past Spring.  Alex, gave me this awesome t-shirt he made with everyone and all the kiddos had already signed the back.  I was glad it didn't say "Running Sucks..." like Alex's other t-shirt creations... the only kid I know who would wear that shirt to a huge track meet! I will certainly miss this amazing group of individuals, everyone is soo wonderful in this small town I have grown to call home, for the past 4 years.  I will miss them all tremendously.  It's not very often you have co-workers that are more than friends- they're family, and all my student athletes that will go on to become even more successful at all the things they do, as they have amazing hearts. The UAE has some big shoes to fill.....



Sioux Sister Sleepover + 1 Kickapoo Crasher

In Honor of our Orbie being married and buying a HOUSE, she hosted a FABULOUS slumber party.  The girls drove up from Milwaukee and the Twin cities and we had a wonderful time catching up, playing games, and drinking wine.  Had a great time sleeping out on the covered porch during an awesome thunderstorm and just reminiscing about good times working at Camp Nabs, crazy how the years have simply flown by!!!!! It was nice seeing Turkey, Brule, and Marty!
Love ya ladies~ Shags





I'M A TOUGH MUDDER

The TOUGH MUDDER 2011- Baraboo, Wisconsin



My AWESOME team- the Bipolar Express, made up of myself, my Friend Shannon, Dan and Amy, and Melissa's Husband: Matthew! We were a KICK Butt Team- leaving no Mudder behind!  We were unstoppable: walking up hills and running down em :) we finished the TEN MILE race with heaps of obstacles keeping smiles on our faces and recharging with star power!!!! We made it over MANY 12 foot walls, balance beams, greased monkey bars, ice tunnels, mud pits with barbed wire, a half pipe, smoke tunnels, carrying logs to the middle of a leech filled lake, water pits, ice baths, GIANT slip an slide, cargo nets, and a 20 foot jump into the lake bobing under barrels, and swimming through water hazrds, all to cross the finish line after running through 10,000 volts of live wire and experience ELECTRO SHOCK THERAPY!!! Super fun and it is a race that really makes you feel at home with other crazy fun people just like you!!! :) Can't wait for next year, or to try and qualify for the World ToughEST Mudder! 

An Awesome Finish for the Bipolar Express,
and a GREAT way to start our day!!!!!