Chapter 1: MIMI

It was the weekend of National Day in the Sultanate of Oman the end of November 2016. 

As she walked on the low-tided beach that morning, Mimi had her phone in hand. She was enjoying the solitude of the waves far from the shore, while walking with her bare feet on the cold, wet and soggy, but firm sand. She could see the exposed ocean floor where she could walk and search for shells, see the crabs scurry diagonally near where she stepped, watch the Sandpipers look for smaller insects, and see the long-necked cranes walk elegantly across the sand bars, while dipping into the sandy turf to find their breakfast.

The wind seemed to glide across the surface of the water. It gently blew her hair which was clipped up against the back of her head, her black sweater cascading from her soft shoulders, and as she walked she gazed at the sea to wonder when she would find the one that she had been waiting for her all her life.

That morning, for a reason unknown to her, there was very little human traffic on the beach, except for a few women and children playing in the cold waters which caressed the shore. However, one person really stuck out from the rest. This man, who was dressed like, the Omani flag approached her with a "Good Morning young lady! How are you?"

EPILOGUE

Epilogue

Mimi was not a model, she always thought of herself as someone with a clean heart, not interested in money, and not interested in being the richest person. Her build was a medium build, her hair was longer and she liked to clip it to the back of her head letting the tawny smaller hairs sweep the nape of her neck. She just wanted to live a simple life, while always trying her best to respect everyone regardless of their status.

She was a single American woman who had come to Oman to teach Kindergarten in one of the prestigious international schools in Al Khoudh. She loved her job, as a teacher. She always went out of her way to give her students the best education that they could receive-all hands on-so that learning was fun and going home was the time when they could spend time with their families.

She had been married several times and had four children all over the age of six years old. She now had lived in Oman for one year, and she truly felt that this was the place where she could start over.  Her parents lived in America, where she was born and raised, but she was always enticed by the world and cultures beyond her upbringing.

She had started her International teaching career in Al Ain, in the United Arab Emirates. She was in Abu Dhabi for about one year, Dubai for one year, Northern Kurdistan Region-in Iraq for nine months and started her life in Muscat in April 2015.  She has been single since 2013 and it had been hard for her, but she enjoys her solitude and her seaside sunrises.

SLEEVE DESCRIPTION

November 2016

Introduction

This story's character names have been changed, but it is based on true events.

It was low tide at the beach in Qurum one morning. The wind was high and cooler than a normal Muscat morning. Mimi had never been to the Qurum Beach as often as she lived in North Al Hail, but on that certain day, she fancied a walk on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

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Let me bring you up to Speed... May 2015

End of April 2015 to May 2015

So, after I had been dismissed, I had a conversation with the Director at my taxi which would take me to the airport in Erbil, which is 2.5 hours by car-give or take 30 minutes. He says to me, "I wish you could stay, but you will thank me for this later."

I said, "If you wish that I can stay, why send me away; just change your mind. You are after all the director of the school."  

He said, "It was not my decision to let you go. I did fight for you, but it was the principal's decision who said that you should go." 

"Okay, but you can like veto it and say, 'we should give her a warning'. I did not commit a crime. I did not drink alcohol on campus. I did not molest a child. I just browsed the internet and checked my email. Why are you doing this? Why won't you let me even finish the year? I started this school. Please reconsider. I love this school. I love the children. The parents are great and I love Abu Barzan's family." I said as I sat in the taxi in tears. 

He remarked, "I cannot go against my colleagues. It was an unanimous vote against me 2 to 1. Don't ever change your way. You are strong and you will get far." 

So, my best friend, Nasser, AKA Freddy, accompanied me to a street outside of the complex and knew I was very upset and said, "Suzy, don't cry. I am not happy you are going, but I will feel better with you in Oman because at least you will be safe. ISIS is only 1.5 hours away. I would kill myself if I found out that you were ever in danger and could not save you. You will be fine. Let me know when you land in Muscat." He said this as he got out of the taxi to where he was being dropped off.

I asked him, "Please Freddy come with me to Erbil. Don't let me get on the plane alone." 

"I can't Suzy. I cannot see you cry."

I watched as he disappeared in the distance, as the taxi drove forward, taking me onward to Erbil. I swear I cried the entire day. My tears never stopped coming that day. I would sleep in the plane and wake up with tears in my eyes. I had transit in Dubai and had to wear sunglasses because my eyes were red, swollen and watery. This was so hard to leave Kurdistan.

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I arrived in  Muscat at night. One of my best friends, Sulaiman was there to pick me up at the airport. He helped me with purchasing a SIM card and took me to a place where I could sleep. It had been a treacherous and tormenting day, but I had survived to start my new adventure in Oman.

 

 

 

April 30, 2015: Would you believe?

Would you believe?


I left Kurdistan early and came to Oman.

How can I say the exact reason why?  Well, I guess they can say, "The truth will set you free?"

Not because I am scared to tell the truth, just the Director blackmailed me. I was working really hard for the British International School of Zakho. I was a great worker, team player. My "Head of Early Years" position was quickly promoted to Assistant Director and then Acting Director until we were to hire and bring a new Director from the UK.

The company owner essentially promised that I would work under the Director as his Assistant Director to learn and become the Principal of the new school that they would build in Duhok, a city in northern Iraq.

Well, when they brought the British Director, he was a bit threatened by me and thought of a plan to wear me down so that either I would quit or resign. Before he arrived in January 2015, he told me through several emails that I would be his assistant, as I had earned that position under him. However, when he arrived, that quickly was changed.

First, the Technological manager, just a High School Graduate became the Director's "spy". To be honest, I do not even know why they brought him to Kurdistan. He was uneducated as never attended University and would be Head of Department? Is there anything fair about that? Oh, forgot to mention, he was British.

Then, the Director brought his best friend to take over as Principal, thus shoving me back to "Head of Early Years". Upset by this decision, I went to the owner and he said, "I'm sorry Marissa, but the "Director" told us that you cannot be Assistant Director because you are "American". I was shocked!  Everything I have done for them, and this was not an issue before. Taking me off the SLM Team was my silent breaking point. So, I started to look for a job outside of Kurdistan.

When I gave my resignation in February 2015, I thought about maybe staying there, as I wanted to be a part of the team, regardless, as I thought it would be wonderful experience still learning from the "Three Musketeers", so I asked to stay. The "Director" told me that "It is impossible. You have already been replaced!"  Me? Replaced?  Oh, I swear those are the worst words someone could ever hear after all the sacrifices that I had made that year.

Looking back..... I did have a contract in Abu Dhabi-because of the ISIS dilemma I was forced to stay as the flights had been grounded. Next, I chose to stay for less pay, even being offered a chance to go back to Abu Dhabi, but could not pass up the opportunity to stay and be a part of something wonderful. I worked long hours, as I do now. I worked sometimes from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm without a break. I went into work every Saturday off. We had only a small market across the street. The internet was okay, but there were constant interruptions. The electricity would cut for 4-6 hours in the day. I was far from home, no family, and the only American there until the Director came that January. 

Abu Barzan, the owner of the community was a kind and generous man. His sons were also great to me. They treated me like family, but blood is usually thicker, as it had always seemed to happen that way. 

Jumping back... How can I be replaceable???  These words caused me great grief. I asked Shivan if I could stay and he said, "The Director told me it is not possible." I felt betrayed. How could a "family" want to get rid of me so easily?  Was I really "replaceable?" gulp.

But I pushed harder. Then, after returning from Spring Break in Egypt, the Director told me that my "replacement" would take over my position in two days.

I said to him, "You never told me that." 

He replied, "Yes I did when I told you that I replaced you."

"Ah!" I replied. "Honestly, I did not hear you, as you said I was replaceable! You hit me hard with these words, that I did not get that you were replacing me after Spring Break!"

He said, "Well, we still need you in the school, so you will substitute for the Grade 1 Teacher who has to be called out on emergency." 

"Me? Substitute? Why do not you ask 'my replacement' to substitute and see if she is worthy to teach in our school."

He said, "This is not your choice, as you are no longer part of the managing team. You will substitute tomorrow at least for two days." So, as disheartening as I was being treated, I thought, I will show him. He cannot get rid of me that easily. 

The next day, I did substitute so well that all the parents said that their child has never been happier. They wished Ms. Marissa was their child's teacher from the start.  Again, he kept me in Grade 1. The teacher had no lesson plans, but I did my best without them.

The third day, conveniently, the 2nd Grade teacher was "sick". He told me, "Go and substitute in Grade 2. Let us see if you can do just as well in Grade 2."

You know he did tell me after I had been "replaced" that they wanted me to train the Grade 3 Teacher because he lacked Elementary Teaching Techniques. Since this was "right up my alley", I accepted.

So, you ask, why did they make me substitute? I knew it was to wear me down-to make me tired, so I would involuntarily make a mistake. I learned this after the whole issue was over-The real reason I left Kurdistan early.

Moving on; as soon as my "Substitute teaching" finished, I started training the teacher. "Conveniently", he was called to "translate" some documents for the school-29 pages to be exact. Now I had to teach Grade 3 alone. I put together assessment records, put order in the classroom, and became their teacher from the beginning of April to almost the end of April. For two weeks, the teacher was absent from the classroom. For two weeks I taught his class. What training was going on exactly?  They had thrown me into his class to wear me down. Was it fair? Absolutely not!

You know, for the entire year, I had used my own internet? I never once misused the school net for personal use. I never once used Facebook or wrote in my blog. I never once checked my "pet" status on Tagged. Yeah, I used Tagged but just to socialize and play the "pet" game. You know the closest town of civilized expats was like 3 hours away by car. I was starving for social interaction. Would you believe that is what kicked me out of Kurdistan?

They managed to wear me down, and I made a small mistake-it was not large, I did not break the law, or was not indiscreet. I just checked my "pet" status on my Tagged profile and forgot to "Log Off". 

Yeah, my kids were in computer class-which I was teaching, because the computer teacher was "conveniently" absent as well. I had taken pictures of the children for the website to show them working on "Paint" making pictures, using a mouse, etc. I had only 5 minutes left of class.  I set the timer on my phone and thought, "Oh I can sit and check my email and my "pet" status, as my students are independently working." My timer went off. I immediately got out of my chair and lined up the kids. I forgot to log out of Tagged.

I did not know that the Technology Manager was following me everywhere I went. Immediately, he spotted my "pet" status online and reported me to the Director and Principal stating that if a child got onto the teacher's computer, they could click to indecent pictures. It is true, but I did not do that. I am not that type of person. Yes, it was my error to use the computer for personal use during class, and I do take full responsibility for it, but is it enough to kick me out of my job, dismiss me? Fire me? Warn me, okay! I accept and committed to not utilize the school internet again. 

So, the principal made me rearrange the classroom the last day I was in the school, the day I made that small mistake to "log off". He then asked that I go to the office to speak about my "new" position that they would give me because my time in Grade 3 was now finished. I was to be" ESL Coordinator."

You know it is funny, I couldn't be Assistant Director for the school because I was "American," but I was Teacher Trainer, Aspiring Deputy Director, and ESL Coordinator, Substitute Teacher, and everything else, but I was not British. That was my fault I guess that the Eternal Being Above, made me American. 

I walk into the office and find the "Three Musketeers" sitting at the table with the laptop, which I forgot to log off of. They told me that I have broken three rules at once and that I am immediately dismissed from my involvement in the school.

"They said, if you tell Shivan or any of his family that you have been dismissed, I will personally write your school to whom you have a contract with and tell them that you are a nasty, disgusting, perverted person and that you have no morale and I will send him the disgusting pictures from Tagged which are linked to your account. I will tell Shivan and his father that they have someone who watches pornographic pictures working in their school and you will not be able to defend yourself because it is three Brits against the American. But if you are quiet, I will never ruin your reputation, because you are good and I know you will never say anything."

I sat in shock! How can a man be so vindictive and destroy someone's dreams in one instance?

A couple of days before I left, Shivan brought me my last pay check. For the first time, I cried in front of him. He knew something was amiss. He said, "Marissa you never cry. What happened?" I felt I could not trust anyone. I thought if I tell him, as now I feel ashamed, I will lose my opportunity in Oman.  He said, "Tell me, it cannot be that bad. Why do you want to leave? Sean said you want to leave? Did I do something to make you want to leave?

I said, "I don't want to leave, but I have to... I cannot talk about it.. cuz I am scared."

After I got to Oman and solidified my position at my new school, I did confide in Shivan and told him everything that had happened. He told me that I should have told him and he would say to Sean, "She is not leaving. I don't care what you say, and he would have been in trouble-not you. But you said nothing, so I had to let you go. My father cried, my sisters cried and my family were so sad that you were going. You did not have to leave."

You see what fear does? But, I cannot say now that I regret not staying. I love Oman. I have a great future here. I love being honest, even if it has consequences. But I would much rather be honest here on earth than to suffer an eternity of hell fire because of one lie, one deception or one mistake.

What would you have done? Would you have covered your tracks or stand ground?

Please comment below.

Spring Break 2015-Sweet Janna, I love her so much!

 

You know, it wasn't so bad this time.  I still didn't get to see her that much, but the time we had together was so much fun!

She was a little different, and a lot less apprehensive.  She will always be my little angel. 

This time I brought her some more toys and she loved my Samsung Galaxy 5.  She wanted to play the little games I downloaded for her all the time.  I also brought her some nice smelling perfume and two pairs of silver earrings.  I love silver!  I actually love it more than gold.

She told me that next time I come she wants a phone.  I said, "Okay, mommy will buy a new Samsung Edge and I can give you my phone."  She said in Arabic, "No mommy, I don't want your phone I want an IPhone 6, New!!"  hahahahaha.. my three year old is up on technology standards.  I thought that was so funny.  So, I told her, I will see.

Anyways, the visit went well and I will see her again this Fall, if all goes well.  Here are some lovely pictures of our time together.

Awe!! I was so happy.. she fell asleep in my arms

She wants to play with my Samsung

She is feeling shy.

Janna is playing with the candy tin full of candy two days ago.

 

December 2014-A Mother is Dead Without Her Children

Well, you know what happens next?

I go to see my beloved daughter, Janna in Egypt.  You see, her family has broken all means of communication with me.  Her dad cut his phone number, all the family's contact numbers, their Skype ID's and every other way to get a hold of them. 

In desperation, I even contact my x-husband's new wife to ask if she would be so kind to notify her husband that I want to see my daughter in August 2014, with no answer from him.

So, I decide, I will just go to Egypt and somehow find the family home and somehow they will let me in so I can see my daughter.

I arrive in Egypt on December 20, 2014.  I go to my hotel and I decide that I will be in contact with a lawyer, because this is what the Consular Services in Cairo told me to do, in order to enforce the custody order from the states.  

I wait and wait and wait.. until, I just cannot wait anymore.  I have been in Egypt for 5 days, just waiting.  I decide, I will go to the house.  I will have a taxi driver pick me up, pay him $100 roundtrip, bring something sweet and new clothes for my daughter Janna, I even am prepared to pay for her care. 

The taxi driver and I ride around asking for my x-husband's home.  Finally, we arrive at the front door.  I am literally shaking-my voice, my hands, everything.  Many mixed thoughts are going through my head, "What if they tell me not to come in?  What if my daughter sees me and she is so scared she cries-granted I haven't seen her in almost two years.  What if my x-husband is home?  What if his new wife is there?"  I did not know what to expect.

Baba, my daughter's grandfather answers the door.  He is a bit surprised but seems happy.   He helps me with the stuff and we go into the family home.  I see my x-husband's mother and she smiles and hugs me like I am her long-lost daughter.  She looks at me and says I am so beautiful. 

We sit down and have some refreshments, but I tell them no need. I see my beautiful sweetheart.  She has gotten so big from the little bundle I left there when she was six months old.  All I want to do is just hold her, feel her in my arms again.  She was a little scared at first, but seemed to know me.

I sat with her for two hours, as the family had called my x-husband in America.  He was furious and threatened me saying that his family will call the police if I don't leave this instant.  This made his family so angry, because they told me that I am family, and how can he treat me this way.  It had been three hours, and I had to leave. 

Can you imagine?? Three hours after not seeing her for two years? 

I cried and she asked me, "Why you cry mommy?" 

I said to her, "Because I love you so much! Because I will miss you so much!" 

She said, "Don't cry mommy." 

I said, "I have to go."

She said, "Why?"
I said, "Because I have to go back to work."  I did not have the heart to tell her that her own father wants her mommy to go away, she would not understand this at age two and a half.

She said, "Why?"

I said, "Because I need to make money, so I can take care of you.  So, I can always be a part of your life."

She said, "Don't go!  Stay with me."  I burst into tears.  I got up, put my coat on.  The family hugged me and told me to email my x-husband with the times that I want to visit next time.  I am supposed to get 90 days visitation a year, and I had three hours.  The time was not enough! 

I cried the last Friday in my room.  I then flew to UAE thinking I will be able to see my friends and relax, but my heart was so heavy.  In one week's time, I only left my room twice.  Once to go to the mall and post office and once to drive to see a friend.  I did have one visitor-he is an inspiration to all people who have ever felt like giving up.  Undergoing a terrible car accident when he was 11 years old, he lost the use of his legs.    Hani is a great inspiration to all, including me.

After spending New Years Eve alone, I realized what had to be done!  I needed to stop worrying if I will be alone in this life and start taking action towards being a larger part of my own children's lives.  I need to put them first and stop waiting for a man to "save me". 

Sure, I want to have what every woman dreams about once in her live: True Love!  So, now I wait.  I wait for God to bring me the man He wants for me to have in my life-I am no more looking.  Even if I have to wait until I am 70 years old or maybe he never comes, I will keep waiting.

I have had my future staring me in the face all these years and never saw it.  My children are my future. I feel so badly, it took me this long to figure it out.

More later.. go get your tissues.. drink some water.. the feelings they go away once you read this.  But me, they will never leave.  I feel so unfortunate that I am a mother who doesn't have her children by her side, every waking hour.  Count your many blessings all you mothers and children who had a steady mother or father in your life. 

I wait!

Monday, September 29, 2014

Today was a sad day for all of us.  We got some really tragic news.  Of my Summer 2014 Friend's list, Nasir lost his brother due to the ISIS attacks on Sengal.(Kurdish way of saying Sinjar)  He was one of the many young boys that were decapitated.  We will all try to cope with this loss together.

But I don't want everyone to remember Atto, Nasir's brother, in this way.  I want us to all remember Atto as he was.  So, in his grief, I have asked Nasir to compile all the pictures of his brother during the happy times of Nasir and Atto's life.  He is Yazidi and they do believe in Reincarnation.  So, let us remember him as we knew him, not of what happened to him. 

As Nasir has always described to me, Atto, was a lively 16 year old boy who like most went out with his friends, enjoyed playing with Nasir in ball and other types of brotherly things.  Atto was Nasir's copy.  He wanted to do and be everything like his big brother.  Nasir loved him so much! 

Once I get more pictures of Atto, I will share them with you.  I will describe what Nasir says about his brother so that you may all know who Atto was, rather than his outcome on this Earth.

Thank you! (Please keep Nasir and his family in your prayers!)

 

September 28, 2014

Today was supposed to be the first day of school.  However, the school building is not quite finished yet.  So, work is still starting at 9:30 and we work until 6:00.

I had quite a disturbing dream last night.  Most dreams can involve wild plots and usually they are personal and I don't write them down for all the world to read, but if someone could shed some light on this one, I would appreciate it.

In my dream, I travel back in time like 150 years.  I see myself happy with this wealthy gentleman.  Except this gentlemen, is not shallow like most wealthy men.  He has an imagination and a golden heart.  Of course because of his family's fortune, he is known throughout the world. 

He is very kind to me, and he courts me properly.  I fall in love with him, but I do not make him aware of my feelings.  Time goes by and we become closer and closer.  Never doing anything improperly.  He asks me to marry him many times and I tell him, "I need to take care of my family."

Then all of a sudden, he starts aging.  I find that I am holding him in my arms, he asks me to kiss him just one time and says he has always loved me.  I cry to him, "What is happening?  Why are you dying?"  He tells me not to cry.  I say to him, "You cannot die.  I love you!" 

He said, "don't worry, you will cry and when you wake up you will see this is a dream, but I want you to know something.  You will find my soul in another man very soon.  I will come back to take care of you soon.  I love you and I will find you."

With that he vanished in my arms, into nothing.  I was sitting there crying and weeping for my lost love.  When I woke up, sure enough my eyes were filled with tears.  I really felt like I was there with him.  I was very upset this morning.  I just kept remembering him say, "I will find you soon.  Soon, I will find you, soon."

So, the question is, the fact that I am so upset still, after dreaming this seven hours ago, was it de'ja vu?  Did it really happen one day in my life?  Was it a past life experience and now I am just remembering it?  Or was it just a dream which upset me because I am missing the life I could have had if I did not make all the wrong choices?  What is your analysis?

The strangest thing of all, is that I really feel like I lost him.  Like he was really part of my life.  If he does come back into another man's body, how will I know it is him?

July 31, 2014

It is after my one week break and it is time to travel to Zakho.  We started from Dukhan at 10:00 am, and didn't even get to Zakho by the evening, so I ended up staying in Duhok for two days before they moved me to Zakho.

It was a great trip to see the different landscapes of Kurdistan.  In Dukhan, as you can see from my previous post of mountains and the mountain villa, it is more dry with spots of green.  As we traveled to Duhok, the mountains were somewhat rocky then more green.

We stopped at a quaint little mountain town on the way.  Fresh water from the mountain springs poured out of a little pipe into a pool of cold water for travelers to wash their hands and feet in.  There were all these jams and sweets, along with nuts and other food types for travelers to buy. 



Tea is a big issue here.   They drink tea for everything.  All Kurdish people drink tea in certain glasses made for tea.  Even children as young as age five know how to stir tea and drink it.  It is pretty amazing!

Shot of tea???

July 27, 2014- Holiday of Eid (Islamic Holiday)

I did not stay in the UAE.  I flew by Fly Dubai to Sulaymaniah to start work in Kurdistan.  Was I crazy?  Yeah!! Pretty crazy!  But you all know that already.  Why did I come here?  Well, I decided to first see if it was going to be a good fit for me.

 

 

 

 

What will I be doing?  I was told I was going to come here and help to open a brand new British International School.  I will be the new Head of KG.  No, I did not come here for the money, I came for the experience.


First we went to my Founder's home in Dukhan, in Eastern Kurdistan.  Beautiful mountains and valleys, with vineyards.  I stayed in Freshta's mountain villa for the Eid holiday.  We took life easy, and we had fun.  I met some of her friends from the area.  It was a nice experience.

Friends of Summer 2014

Since my friends are a reason I put together all of my stories, I will include their pictures here.  Of course some of them are bashful, and don't like their pictures taken, but I love all of my friends.  I hope they are Friends for Life and I wish them all the happiness in this life! I have many other friends, but I wanted to dedicate a page to the ones who still kept in contact with me over the summer and now.

The more I tell my friends about this page, I keep getting new photos.  Love it!! Thank you so much for being great friends!



Saoud enjoying his Hot Wings in Muscat



Asim at the Gym in Muscat




Nasir enjoying a yummy drink.






Qusay out with his colleagues



Gabriella selling Petra Products

Avin and Me here in Zakho BIS

Hani doing his workout!  What a sweetheart!

Cute Saad!  I wish we parted on better terms

Hamdan gets to travel for a living with ADEC. 
Lucky Ducky!!

Tamer from Egypt

Haytham-I miss how he smokes Shisha.

Freshta with one of her BIS students

Mohamed, where is your Tahoe?

Carmen and her girls

Cora, my great friend and masseuse - 2nd one from left.

Affan, when he was happy in the UAE

Never see Khalifa, but he is driving in Malaysia.

So Cute Hassan-Police Academy Trainer

Ali Baloushi had a cute smile.

Syeda looking beautiful as always.

 Khalifa and Abdul Raheem, my crazy friends.

 

Abdulla, Gentleman who let me get seasick on his boat.













 

March 15--June 7 2014

Well, you know I decided after having to move out of my accommodation, that it would be best to look for other work.  I knew I could not stay at the school anymore as they were inconsistent with their promises. 

Actually, let me back up here.  After I went to the Ministry of Labor in February 2014, the school asked me if I would come back to teach next year or not.  I did not want to decide that four months before the end of the school year, but since they forced my hand, not letting me back into my classroom until I did, I ticked the box "No, I will not plan on returning."  I also gave them a letter of resignation explaining the reasons why I am within my legal rights to be able to give a two-month's written notice to inform them of my resignation, and that based upon my contract, there should not be any monetary penalties based on my resignation.

They said, okay.  Because of this, I decided to look for other work.  I was able to get a great offer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  They paid well-enough.  They had an expat compound, apartments, everything that Dubai would have but only inside this compound.  At first, I thought this would be fine.  I could buy a little golf cart drive around for groceries, etc.  I even had a friend I made there, who had connections with the school.  His name was Waleed. 

However, as the time went by, and the school who put me out of my accommodation started seeing that I was an asset and they regretted how they treated me, were begging me to come back; to reconsider withdrawing my resignation.  In April, I told them I would think about it. 

So, I thought about it and pondered, and prayed.  I went to visit my friend, Haytham in Al Ain, to ask him his opinion, but instead I met two lovely girls who were also teachers in Al Ain and they told me they were experiencing similar issues at their school.  So, I thought, "If it is there in Al Ain, here in Dubai, it may be in Jeddah as well." 

The very next school day, I gave a letter of resignation withdrawal and told them I would await notice that it was accepted.  Months went by, no sign of acceptance.  So I thought I won't go to Jeddah, maybe I will try to get a job in Abu Dhabi instead.  Abu Dhabi is a lovely city.  It is my favorite place in the UAE.  I had a phone interview for a very well-known school called the Glenelg School.  Not really thinking that I would get an offer, they did indeed offer me a position in May 2014. 

So, I accepted and gave another letter to the school.  In this letter, I said that my resignation is firm.  That since they never gave me written approval that my withdrawal of resignation was approved, then I was still resigned as of February 2014.  So, on June 8, 2014, I received a confirmation from my school in Dubai that they accepted my resignation and wished me good will in my career.

Well, life was relaxed, I was going to have a great job in Abu Dhabi.  I was working hard at my own school to make sure that the students were going to have a good year for next year, despite my absence.  and I was so excited to finish this year and start a new and exciting adventure in Abu Dhabi.

Dream Palace Hotel--My home from April 15 until July 26, 2014

Dream Palace Hotel wasn't like the penthouse, but still it was in the Cornish District of Ajman.  There were stores and a lot of people.  It was about 2-3 blocks from the Sea.  I got to live with free utilities, free internet, fully furnished one bedroom with a hall (sitting room) with a small kitchen and one bathroom, free parking, and free maid service for about $1,362 a month.  Not bad, when you think of all the amenities.  I think it would be similar to Twin Cities or New York without the utilities, but not positive on that.

This was my living room.

Spring Break 2014----April 1-April 15

Who was Matar?  He was an angel.  He pretty much kept me from sleeping in my car after one week.  He felt terrible that in his country a woman had to sleep in her car because of the school's injustice.  I told him, it was okay, and that I can "rough it" until school starts again.

He wouldn't hear of it.  He said to me, "We are great friends, and I want to help you." 

I told him, "I can never pay you back, unless you just give me like 1,000 dirhams."  He told me to go to Al Ansari Exchange, much like Western Union, and pick up the money he gave me.  I found out that through his act of kindness, when I was much in need, he gave me like 5,000 dirhams.  I cried and cried. 

I told him, "This is not fair!  I can never pay you back.  This is 1/2 of my monthly salary."  He told me that he did it for God.  We stayed good friends and he even offered to marry me, even though he already had a wife, but because I couldn't take him away from his family life, I declined his offer.  I am and always will be a monogamous person. 

With that money he insisted that I spend a week in a 5-Star hotel, but I told him, no, I will find a place where I can stay for a month.  So, I booked a hotel apartment for a month at the Dream Palace Hotel in Ajman, UAE.

Here the story continues.

Spring Break 2014

Well, Spring Break 2014 wasn't so bad as you may think.  Yes, I did not actually have a place to stay, and I did spend most of my days in a car, but still it was like "roughing it" in the UAE.  How many can actually say they got to experience that?

Okay, so my first day of Spring Break I wanted to stay at the Beach.  You know bask in the sunlight on a warm sunny beach.  So I scoped the www.booking.com for cheaper "on the coast" prices.  I found the Ramada Beach Hotel in Ajman had a double room, ocean view for only 350 dirhams.  That is a little under $100 plus tax.  Wow!! It couldn't get any better.

So, I go to check in to my hotel the first night.  I walk into reception.  Such a beautiful hotel right on the beach!  I get to the desk and they say, "Sorry, Miss.  Your booking was cancelled." 

I said, "Why?"  They responded that there was an issue with my card.  You see on booking.com, you don't actually have to have balance on a card to book a room, just you have to have a credit card, because they are not supposed to charge you until you stay at your hotel or check in. 

So, I said, "What am I supposed to do now?" 

They said, "Well we can take you as a 'walk-in' customer and give you a better room.  We really think you will like it."  I inquired about the cost of this new room and was told it would be about 500 dirhams.  So, I agreed, and they brought me into the elevator to another elevator and with a key and magnetic card we went all the way upstairs.  That is right!  I got to stay in one of the penthouse rooms for only a little over $100.  Wow!!!   I put the pictures here. 

So, I invited my friends up for a party.  It was not a huge party just we ate dinner and one of my friends, Khalifa pretended that he was a prince of the Penthouse!  He was hilarious!  That night was the best of the week to come.  Until I met Matar.