I leave for Dubai in 2 days and I am both excited and anxious. I have always wanted to live and teach abroad and now I am getting my chance. My daughter, Bridgette, is the person who, when I wasn't offered a full-time contract at St. Gregory's for a second year, encouraged me to apply to teach abroad. I was willing to go almost anywhere in the world, although South America was my first choice, since I thought I could at least become fluent in Spanish again, but I ended up choosing the Middle East. I have been interested in the ME for a long time and have taught several courses on its history, as well as studying Islam, so it just seemed to fit me. I also really liked the headmistress and the idea of teaching at an all girls school.
Being in the Middle East will also give me a chance to witness, first hand, some of the issues facing the region today. I will try to write about what I observe as time goes on. Also, because of its location, I am hoping to do a bit of traveling: Ethiopia, Istanbul, India, Iran, Nepal, SE Asia, and China. Why not? I hope to spend this Christmas with my friend Margaret and her family in Melbourne, but I will miss seeing my family.
Dubai is hot attraction these days and Bridgette is already planning a trip to see me in February. I would love visitors so please come to visit.
I also just got back from Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon. Once I upload my photos you should be able to see them here. You can't take a bad photo in the canyon and it is so easy to get to the lower Antelope Canyon that everyone should go if you are in the Page area.
