Gilligan’s DESERT Island………..

Okay so this morning my wife and I woke up early to prepare ourselves for a trip that we both anticipated to be about three hours long, to visit or new apartment in Al Ain. After we completed our complementary hotel breakfast in the banquet hall, which was shielded by a screen because of Ramadan, we had the opportunity to meet various teachers that would be making the hour and a half move with us. As we walked up the van entrance all of the people making the trip with us began to converse about where they were from and their reason for making the journey, in most cases more then half way around the world. When we made it to Al Ain it was quickly noticed that the driver did not know where we were going; which was evident by him traveling around a round about SEVEN TIMES. After two of the ambassadors from the company my wife works for attempted to get us to the apartment complex, reality hit. We were not in Kansas any more. All of the large buildings, exotic cars, and bounty of Americans were gone.

After ten minutes of contemplating if walking in the heat was worth going to see our new home , we began to walk on the black top that could only be compared to a plastic soldier being placed on a hot cast iron stove. We walked through the maze of white buildings searching for our new home. As we opened the door and the smell of old curry piercing through the sweltering heat dispersed, we quickly realized that the one bedroom apartment that was promised to us ended up being two bedrooms. (THANK GOD)

 

As we walked back to the van we realized that no one had discussed with us how we would get our utilities turned on and how would we transfer our furniture to this area in the middle of nowhere. We quickly noticed that we had the least of worries on the trip. Two people walked into their apartments and found people still living in them, and another ladies new home was missing a five-foot window. As all of the riders addressed the representative, we came to the conclusion that he understood less then we did, so the conversation ended with him returning to his drop top Porsche and cruising back toward the city.

When the rest of us concluded we had excreted six hour of our day to riding in the desert only accomplishing being able to see three camels and the inside of funky air condition deprived apartments. We quickly noticed that an hour and a half ride in the desert was in front of us with no water, two babies, and we were riding in a van that no matter how cold the a/c was blowing the heat outside was still saturating through every possible crack it could find.

With all of this being said I would not trade the experience for the world. During this trip my wife and I developed a great foundation to our new over seas family. There’s something about being placed in a situation that you have no control and several surprise curve balls are thrown your way. You just have to be flexible, have fun, and realize that these moments make you a better person. Now it is time to go shopping!!!!