The beginning.

I’ve been repeatedly told I need to start a blog for my “adventures.” I have been too lazy to attempt to start one and who wants to read about my life? Now that I am prepping to move across the world, I finally decided to do it. The main purposes of it will be to serve as a sort of journal of the next few years, keep friends and family up to date on current adventures, and allow my former students in the ATL to realize that little people can dream big.

I am hoping to maybe do weekly? Maybe more, maybe less. We’ll see how this goes.

Journal- If you have ever seen my handwriting, you can attest to the fact that a hand written journal won’t cut it. I’d never be able to go back and read what happened…I want to hold myself accountable for some of these dreams, goals, and ideas that I have.

Keeping people in the loop- I will be living across the world. I will be eight hours ahead of the time zone most everyone I know and love is in, so keeping in contact via phone will be hard. I have social media and so do most of the people that will be keeping up with my life, but some don’t. Also, there’s the oversharing part of social media and I’m pretty sure blogs are for oversharing. Hopefully those who want to know more will be able to get that here and those who don’t care won’t. I also keep answering the same questions over and over to friends and family, so I am selfishly hoping that some of the repeated question asking will also be answered.

For my former students in the ATL- Every kid takes a part of you with them at the end of the school year. You invest your heart and soul into them becoming the best they can be and then you may never hear from them or see them again. Some of them are kind of sad that they won’t be able to see me or reach out to me once I leave. I am hoping this is a way they can still feel connected to me because I am definitely still connected to them. I also want them to see how awesome it is to branch out and try new and scary things in hopes that one day they will do big and scary things too.

So to start, who am I and what am I doing? I am currently a 27 year old fifth grade teacher in Atlanta. I am also a kayaker for Team Pyranha and work for ACE Kayaking School. It definitely feels like I live alter-ego lifestyles at times. The big adventure, moving to Al Ain, is in the teacher version of my life. Al Ain is in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Why in the world are you moving to the Middle East?! That question has a lot of unpacking to do. As Americans, we have to realize that we have a negative connotation about the Middle East. Some of it is valid, a lot of it is not. I have wanted to live out of the country since I was in high school. I had a job lined up in Nicaragua and did not plan on going to college. I ended up getting really sick right before graduation and had to spend the next year allowing my body to heal a massive stomach ulcer, so I never went. I decided I would go to college and then move out of the United States once I graduated. Then a boy got in the way of those plans. Junior year of college I met Micah and I was definitely not going anywhere because I was totally in love with him. Fast forward 7 years together; and it’s time I do what I planned to do 10 years ago with his full support.

What does Micah think about this? That question is probably asked the most. Micah has been a huge supporter of this since I sent in my resume. If you know Micah, you know he pushes everyone around him to be their best and follow their dreams. This is no different. He doesn’t want me to regret anything in life. Micah wants me to try it out. If I love it, awes0me! If I don’t, that’s fine too. At least I tried. We are planning awesome adventures together on my breaks from work to keep us excited about the next time we will see each other. Micah is also starting a new job that requires a lot of work, so it’s great timing.

How did you choose Al Ain? I got an email. That is the true and honest answer. I was definitely on the look for a job abroad and then I got an email about jobs in Asia. I sent in my application after talking to Micah about it. Then I was offered an interview. When Micah and I talked about that step he told me to go to the interview and then we can decide together later if I get offered the job. I was offered the job and we decided I should go for it! The accommodations are amazing and I am excited to be in a culture so different from the one I know. I specifically chose Al Ain because they have a whitewater park. DUH! Going to keep kayaking, training, and promoting Pyranha’s awesomeness. It’s also on the boarder of Oman, which has some sick hiking and outdoorsy stuff.

How long are you staying? I have no idea. That is also the true and honest answer. My contract is for three years and there’s a big bonus for staying that long. However, I am not going to continue to do anything I don’t love. If I don’t love it, I will come back after my year there.

What are you going to do/where are you going to live when you get back? Also, no idea. A lot of that depends on how the next few years go. Where Micah ends up with work, what my passions are at that point, etc. I have this dream of coming back, subbing, tutoring, and teaching for a few months and then hiking the Appalachian Trail the spring after I come home. Who knows?!

How does your family feel about this? Y’all. I was worried about this at the beginning. My mom and I are extremely close. We talk on the phone every day. She lives 20 minutes from me, so I can see her whenever I want. I am also very close to my brothers who live in ATL too. They both work at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, so we share similar passions in life. I was worried about how they would feel. They have been SO supportive. Obviously, there are worries and sadness about where I’m going and the lack of contact. However, they are also SO excited for me and all three plan to come visit. My mom backpacked around Europe, lived alone in the Keys, etc. She knows it’s her fault that I am as adventurous as I am. My dad is also super supportive, which I did not expect at all. He always bucked about me traveling around and harps about me camping by myself. I expected him to FREAK OUT. He didn’t. At all. He thinks it’s a great opportunity and fully supports it. In short- my family rocks.

What are you going to do with your house? Most of you know that Micah found the best house ever for us to buy 4 years ago. We own a duplex and already rent out one side. We will rent out the side I live in when I leave. He’ll move into it whenever he moves back to ATL. Until then- $$$.

Are you getting ready to leave? No. I leave mid August. I know my first day of work is August 20th, but there is not a lot of communication. I hear that is very normal. So I don’t really know when exactly I’m getting on a plane and leaving. I think I’m teaching second grade, but who knows. I will pack at the beginning of August haha biggest frustration right now is getting my degrees attested. This long and horrible process of proving you went to school and are certified to do what you say you are.