Just a Different Backdrop!

Our day to day life in Dubai is not a lot different than life back home...We just have a different backdrop here!  Even though school days are Sunday through Thursday, the timings are the same as back home: 7:50 - 3:00.  Most schools back home have a drop-off and pick-up curbside policy, but the ASD campus is open to all students and parents before and after school.  We try to leave by 7:15, because traffic on Sheik Zayed Road can get very congested.  SZR is a toll road that is home to most of Dubai's skyscrapers and has the Dubai Metro running along side it.  This is view is quite different than our drive to our school in Fairfield!

Mason likes to get to school early and play with his friends beforehand.  Kids also stay on campus after school for school activities and to play.  Mason loves to stay after school and watch the JV and Varsity baseball practice!  He's become their unofficial ball-boy and chases down balls hit over the fence!!  The American School of Dubai has grades PreK - 12th grade, but the class sizes are close to the same as back home (approximately 120 kids per grade).  One of the best things, according to Mason, is that Subway is offered for lunch to kids starting in 3rd grade!  We place the order online in the morning, and he picks up his sandwich at lunch time!!

 Elementary on the left, high school on the right, auditorium and office straight ahead

 Playtime after school

 The "big kid" covered playground 

Subway is also available after school!!

 View of buildings along SZR

Drive home along side the Dubai Metro

Sandstorm while driving in Dubai

The twins attend preschool on Monday - Thursday from 8:30 - 1:00.  This school is located in the middle of downtown Dubai, and we park in a parking garage, take the elevator up to the ground floor and walk the path to their school.  Even though the school is surrounded by buildings and apartments, it's nestled in a park-like setting with trees, chirping birds and playgrounds. The boys are loving their new school, friends, teachers, snack and lunch time, which is provided by the school!  We have been able to take advantage of the heated pool here at our hotel, and they take swim lessons twice a week!  The boys are also starting to phase out their afternoon nap, so they have been going with me to pick-up Mason after school.  They love the big-kid playground, tire swing, playing kickball with Mason and friends and going to Subway for a chocolate chip cookie!

Cash and Jake with their friend, Liam

 The boys running to their school!

View of Burj Khalifa 

The doors to the parking garage

Teeter-totter time on covered playground

 Swim time with Erin and Emily

 Haircut time at the mall 

The boys have been sporting their new Dubai "spiky" hairdo!

Just like our days back home, we spend A LOT of time at the baseball fields!  Mason practices 2-3 times a week and has games on Saturday.  There are four baseball diamonds at the complex, and a set of batting cages.  The twins love going just as much as Mason does!  

Baseball fields with Dubai skyline

 Batting practice

 Jake's turn with Coach Aaron (he's right handed but tries to bat left)

Cash smacks the ball!

Official picture of the Dubai Little League fields under the lights!

In our spare time we are able to catch up with some of our American TV shows via Apple TV.  Our hotel TV package also includes Fox News Live, BBC News, Cartoon Network and E! Entertainment, so we don't feel too far out of the loop!

TV Time :)

Park play date with our pals Shyla, Emily and Erin