"Same Same"

Dubai is truly a melting pot of cultures with over 60 nationalities living here and more than 80% of the population are expats.  Needless to say, you pick up a lot of Dinglish (Dubai English), which is a good mix of English, Arabic and Hindi.  We also find ourselves using a lot of European phrases such as jumper (hoodie), holiday (vacation), lift (elevator), toilet (bathroom), soccer pitch (soccer field), school kit (school uniform) are just to name a few. Perhaps my favorite saying though is "Same Same," which basically means "same but a little different!"  This is also the best way to sum up our lives here...Same Same!

Our day starts out the same with the boys getting ready for school and out the door by 7:15.  Our school in Dubai and our TX school are both approximately 10 miles from our respective homes, but in Dubai we take a tollway and it takes us 25 minutes without traffic (45 minutes with traffic).  In Fairfield we take side streets and it's a 15 minute drive (we don't have traffic back home!!)  The parking lot in front of our Dubai School is now metered parking, so you must pay to park after 8:00 am!  Most people can pay for their parking via SMS, but I do not have that capability with my service.  Which means I have to have just the right coins (Dirhams) otherwise the machine won't take them!  Not too shiny or too dull!!  Or you can take your chances like I did the other day, and risk getting a parking fine for 150 Dhs or $40. Oops!

School hours are the same (7:50 am - 3:00 pm), except in Dubai grades PreK - 12 are on one campus.  We have 4 campuses back home.

The kids attend school 5 days a week (Dubai: Sunday - Thursday and Fairfield: Monday - Friday).

We play a lot of baseball in both places with practices several days a week and a game on the weekend.

We drive on the same side of the road here in Dubai, but as I mentioned, with over 60 nationalities, that's a lot of different driving norms, so it can get pretty crazy out on the roads.  There are a ton of round-abouts in Dubai, which you don't see too often back home.  There is so much construction going on, so the roads are always changing and traffic gets diverted.  Google Maps is merely a suggestion and Siri does a lot of "recalculating!"  It is completely normal in Dubai to flash your brights if someone is going too slow.  People will also drive on the shoulder to pass or even put their car into reverse on the major tollroad if they missed their exit!  I take a lot of taxis and Ubers while in Dubai, especially if I'm not certain as to where I'm going.  Driving here is not for the faint of heart!!

It's technically winter in both Dubai Texas,  but Dubai winter temps are not as cold.  December through March are the cooler months with highs in the 70's and lows in the 50's.  The temps start to climb back up into the 80's and 90's in March and April!  Bye Bye Winter!  Texas winters can be all over the place though; one day it's 70 and the next it's 30 degrees!!

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS and PARTIES at ASD

Jake is in K1 Giraffes!

 Cash & Liam are in the same class - K1 Camels

Jake had Santa limbo at his party

How low can you go!!

Mason, my architect, decorated gingerbread houses at his class party

It was fun to see all the creative houses!

Mason's class with Mr. Stone

The 5th Grade Holiday Concert

The twins were beyond thrilled to be there! Ha!

 Mason had the opportunity to meet Adrian Gonzales.  A-Gon is the 1st Baseman for the LA Dodgers, and they have partnered with Emirates Airlines to sponsor the Dubai Little League!

 Mason plays in the Majors Division for the Mariners

 Playing short stop on the Subway Field

 The DLL Concession Stand menu is not "same same" as back home!  Where are the pickle pops?!?

We spend a lot of time at the pool!

It's All About the LIST!

People ask how we manage to go back and forth every year, and my best answer is "It's All About the List!"  I confess that I am a habitual list maker, and I will add things to my list even if I've already completed them just for the joy of "crossing them off!"  I start my "List of things to do before Dubai" approximately 4 weeks before our departure.  This list contains items such as passport renewals, schedule date to suspend house services, i.e. internet, cable, phones, etc, zero out any outstanding balances, find someone to check mail while we are gone, pay property taxes, make sure kids have school uniforms for Dubai, up to date immunizations, report cards, take Christmas card photos, etc.

Next comes the list of "Things to Pack!" We are allowed two 75 pound bags per person, so we've pretty much figured out how much of what items we need to bring.  For example, the kids need approximately X amount of tshirts, long-sleeve shirts, swimsuits, shorts, pants, etc.  Rod and I also have a list of what items we left in Dubai and what all we need to bring.  I make sure to pack plenty of children's liquid Benadryl (life saver and not available in Dubai), the boys' Singulair (available but very expensive in Dubai), and I be sure to bring over a bottle of vanilla extract (unable to get in Dubai because of the alcohol content is too high!)

Then there is the "Christmas" list. The kids exchange gifts with their cousins, so we purchase all of our gifts before we leave.  We try to buy a few of the "must have" presents for the boys and pack those for Christmas day.   This year we adopted two angels from church, so the boys helped picked out items from their wish and want list.  And I can't forget the Christmas cards, which are addressed, stamped and mailed before we leave!

Rod and I make lists of things we need to do around the house: put away pool furniture, kids outside toys, adjust thermostats, clean out frig and perishables, etc.  Rod has a long list of items to handle at the barn and his vet clinic, and his clients are usually lined up to see him before we leave.

But the most important item on our list is to spend as much time with family and friends before we go! This year we hosted an early Thanksgiving BBQ and had a small Thanksgiving dinner at our house.  The boys played a ton of backyard baseball, football and kickball, went hunting, shot hogs, drove around the ranch, stayed at the deer camp, rode horses, played with their cousins and friends and just enjoyed life on the ranch!

 The Sister In Laws at our 9th Annual Early Thanksgiving Dinner

 Jake & Cash's last Bible Study was how God watches over us when we're away from home!   The class made suitcases for their trip and prayed over the boys.

 Let the packing begin!  

 Rod and I both take SOUL and CORE, so we need enough to get us through 4.5 months, which means a total of 10 boxes each!  Can't leave home without it!

 One of the many lists!

 Precious Cargo!

Cash & Jake were beyond thrilled to ride with Tess and her horse Uncle Si!

 Thanksgiving Day was perfect for horseback riding in our backyard!

 Cash, Tess and Uncle Si went to greet the other horses

 We spent our last day in TX with our family and there's nothing better than a tea party with your cousins!

 Rod with Sister Carie and Demar :)

The boys got in some last minute hugs from cousin Emmie's puppy, Dakota!