Prison release date for August 11th!!!

Woo hoo!! I'm out of here! I got mine and Jay's ticket yesterday for our 20 hour flight to Abu Dhabi. Believe me these tickets have been long awaited my friends. I have neared my breaking point of patience with living at home, family issues, and my frinking rink dink job which I'm really doing as a favor. I didn't think I could take another minute, so I'm glad I got my ticket. I have felt since I moved back that living in Springfield for a year is like do a jail sentence. You can only dream about the day you get out, and the days blur together in the meantime. I mean I have been so depressed, especially when Jay was against it at first, and I thought I was never going to get out.Now, the time is near. Freedom is on the horizon and I can smile again. I can live my life. We will be flying out of Boston at 7:00 at night,give or take, then go to DC. We'll lay over in DC then go to Qatar. From there we'll fly to Abu Dhabi and Arrive around 11pm at night. Im anxious to see how Jay will take it all in. I anxious to get there. I'm just anxious. PS- as exciting as living all this is, i'm not as fond about writing it but I ove to read it later. Dilemmas. I tell ya!

I want to go to ...Beautiful

This post is inspired by the following song: http://youtu.be/pOfhbLn8fw8 . I'm just so ready to go it's not funny. I hope me being so hyped doesn't kill the excitement upon arrival because that's how it usually goes. Anyways, as for an update I've sold my car, picked up a part time job as a supervisor at my good old faithful summer job (even though I definetly don't feel like working but thank God b/c I need it), started learning arabic (which I'm pretty decent at by the way!)and started writing my book on this upcoming adventure. I think it will be a hit to all who read it, but the travel genre is one that is not very popular. I want to be published by a very popular publishing company, but I'd like to help my cousin out as well. Who knows,we'll see when the time comes. I am also thinking about making a youtube reality series on my life abroad, since I think i will be traveling for quite a while. It's sunday here now and quiet so i'm just rambling on as I watch my hubby get in some good z's. He's so cute!! I'll stalk him with the camera at a alater date since I don't feel like getting up.lol. well let me not bore my reader for now and I will ttul.

My documents came in!They're back from the embassy. So now all there is time do is wait and believe me, the waiting is painful. I am glad I'm at my mom's house so when the school year is over at least I can just walk across the hall to my sister's room and complain 100 times a day about how I wish i was gone already. The internet works part time and the other half of the time I'm going insane. Plus, my mom doesnt even have cable. She has the dish which has all of ten channels. July and August are going to be some looooong months! Today after entertaining myself on the computer for hours, I planned my whole year's worth of travel plans.So here goes:
1. in December a two city trip to New Delhi India to see the country side and get a brazilian butt lift, followed by a relaxing trip to Thailand. I'm thinking I should do them in the reverse order so I can actually enjoy the Thailand portion of the trip
2. A wild weekend in Germany in March
3. A summer tour to London, Paris and Spain before the school year starts with the money they give us for tickets
4. a trip home for Thanksgiving before the world ends on 12/21/11.lol. Im laughing but Im not sure if I'm kidding
So, there you have it. The other plans I made today were for spending the next few weeks of my summer before leaving. i dont have alot of people to see before I go but, this summer needs to be a great one even if we are saving. I want once a week to be my wardrobe week where I add at least one article of clothing to my battered, poorly constructed, unfashionable wardrobe. Second, I want to take one weekend in July to go to the beach and another to visit my homie in New York. Third, I think Ill have tone down tuesdays with my aunt since that is her day off and that is one day I can entertain myself. We always have fun :) Last, I plan to schedule in each day a reading block and an excercise block. I am currently 183 lbs! 183! that's almost 200lbs, and I'm sorry to my BBW's out there but aint nothing sexy about 200lbs!So, as many times as i've said this before and as long as I have been dieting without results, which has been an honest months effort, i'm making losing weight my job. I need to lose 15lbs before I go to Abu Dhabi and another 15 once I get there! Well now that I've rambled on about nothing important whatsoever I will leave you to your previously scheduled program.

My Old Blog About Life In Korea

I just thought I would randomly make a post linking this blog to my old blog about my life in South Korea. The URL is www.blackbeautykorea.blogspot.com

UAE Authentication Process

SO, I wanted to do a seperate post for this topic since it has been the center of much confusion. I am a married woman without any dependents so I'm going to explain it as best as possible from that stand point.
1. Take your teaching certification, degree(s), and marriage certificate to the nearest FedEx or office place and make a copy of all your documents. I made color copies of mine but I dont think it makes a difference.( A notoary will not notarize an original document for the most part, so make copies believe me )
2. After you have made copies of all the neccessary documents take them to the closest notary and have all the documents notarized. Many states will notarize out of state degrees and documents, contrary to popular belief. Just call if you have questions, but you shouldn't have tomake any special trips to do this.
3. This is where it splits off. You can simplify everything and use ProEx (info in italics)
Thank you for contacting us regarding your legalization needs for use in UAE.
You will need to send us the following to initiate service:
- a letter requesting legalization for use in UAE; (This is a letter that gives
your information, such as name, address, phone number and which country the
documents are used in).
- documents requiring legalization that have been certified at the Sec. of State
level
- photocopies (including certification pages - DO NOT take documents apart to
make copies) of the documents you need authenticated (for the embassy records);
- letter of accreditation from the University or printout from school's website
showing accreditation (for the embassy's rec.);
- 1 money order payable to ProEx Delivery Corp. for the total of the following
fees:
- US Dept. of State fee for $8.00 per document;
- Embassy of UAE fee for $30.00 per document;
- ProEx Delivery Corp. service fee for $125.00;
- prepaid return shipping envelope.

Turnaround time is currently running 1 week excluding shipping. Please do not
count the photocopies or accreditation letter when determining the per document
fees at the US Dept. of State and the Embassy of UAE.

Regards,

Bill Barnes
ProEx Delivery Corp.
5185 MacArthur Blvd. NW #710
Washington, DC 20016
202.298.6550






Or if you have alot of time but want to save your money You can send them to the US State Department Authentication Division in Washington,
DC. Important: Please have the documents returned to you, not the UAE Embassy. You will send the documents to the UAE Embassy in the next step.
4. UAE Embassy
http://www.uae-embassy.org/embassy/consulate-services/legalization-of-documents
Send or bring the authenticated documents along with these items to the UAE Embassy in Washington
DC for final authentication:
a. All diplomas must be accompanied with a letter from the University or College on their letterhead
stating that the institution is accredited by one of the following bodies: NEASC, MSA, NCA, SACS,
NWCCU, and WASC. This letter does not need to be notarized or legalized but must come from the
school (printed pdf documents are accepted).
b. Money order or cashier's check with the appropriate fee, payable to The Embassy of the United Arab
Emirates.
c. If you send the documents, include a pre-paid self-addressed return envelope.
d. Write your name and address for the sender and recipient of the return envelope or airway bill.

All Done !

Why's it so hard to say goodbye?

SO its been a week since we left our home, our love nest. I usually hate blogging after the fact because the feelings cant be captured the same way that they feel in the moment but the only way I could describe the feeling of turning in the keys to our first apartment is, heartbreak. I didn't expect it to be so hard to leave. At the beginning of the year Massachusetts ahd been my prison. I felt stuck here against my will and I couldn't see the good in anything, but as we packed up all our wordly possessions and tried to consolidate the ones that we would be taking with us, I realized that we have been off to a good start as a young couple, or just young people maing in it general. I realized that in fact that we've had a goodlife and that I was deeply saddend to be leaving the comfy little routine and comfort zone that we've established. I almost cried.
Fast forward a few days and we are all settled into my old room at my mom's house. It's a funny little place for us to be because I practically grew up in this house.We moved in when I was 11 and my parents have never moved since. I even found my old work badge from the era when I lived there and when I worked with Jason (my hubby) when we were only 16 and first in love. So I kind of like it.
Continuing on from the reminisce, It's feeling more official now, but not completely real. I think it's still too far off. we're saving for the trip now, we've moved, next week is my last week of school, and I've sent off all my documents. I'm glad I decided to stay at my mom's for now though. I'm hoping this will be the future layover spot for years to come. I'm dreaming big on this one. I'm hoping to possibly do 4 years in the UAE, a few more years in Japan, and who knows where after that. I;ll keep you updated in the mean time.

A Tornado in Springfield?!

So Springfield actually made CNN with a tornado today. School is closed tomorrow so I definetly only worked 2 days this week, and Im concerned about the baby chicks in my class. Like that's a real issue. I'm not gonna front. I was scared. I was stuck in the car during the initial tornado because I was on my way to the hair shop and I was not changing my plans for anybody. Not even the tornado up the street! literally!!! Women sitting at the dryers saw the debris going by the window! You see thats the thing though. Springfield always gets tornado watches but we've never had a real tornado in my lifetime. SO when one really came we were taken by surprise and it did make a mess. It ripped my husband's cousin's roof right off so that you could see in!
I was afraid too. On our way to go pick up DINNER in the TORNADO, the sky turned a greenish color and got bright as daylight. It was lightning and thundering. I literally started wimpering! I was about to cry for real. I'm glad it;s all over and none of my family had any issues. it's like it skipped around all of us. Even my mom, and it tore up the rest of her neighborhood for quite a few blocks.

Give me the green light....I'm ready to go right now

I forgot who sings the song but this song " Green light" is defiently the state of mind im in right now. I was kind of low key since I got the news. I haven't been talking, or reseaching about it or anything really. Now it's becoming real. I'm getting all worked up again. I'm up late on the computer researching, imagining, what it will be like. I know I have some obstacles ahead of me though.I'm nervous about how difficult it will be to teach. I prayed about being a good teacher this year so I will pray again that God give me the strength and patience to do just as well this year. The first one being authenticating all my documents. I'm not even sure how to go about it. I know I have to get them notarised first( instate out of state ? who knows) then I have to go to the secretary of state and get a certification (basically like an apostille)but at least I can walk that in. Then Im going to send it to pro-ex so they an send it to the UAE embassy in DC and then theres some other step. Whew! At least I got my passport today so I scan that! There is just so much more paperwork involved than when I was headed to Korea! My second biggest hurdle will be trying to save a minimum of 3,000 dollars without a job in July and still get everything I need before moving to a foreign country. Then Jason has to prepare his documents and enroll in classes before we leave, and we both want to lose a significant amount of weight! The to do list is crazy!
To top it all off I have to pack up this house and move in with my mom, sister, niece, dad, and hubby in a 2 bedroom house, but somehow I'm excited. I feel like I'm going to have more fun than ever this summer and Im am optomistic about this experience. Just a few short months agao I din't even know what I was going to do with my life. I was deeply depressed too. It feels good to feel adventure on the horizon. This is how things are supposed to be.

and 3 years later!

Ok so it's official. I got my contract! I still haven't recieved my passport or documents back yet though and havent mad the first move towards moving out, although we are supposed to be packed up and shipped out in the next two weeks!There is so much to do and not nearly enough time and I havent really been doing much since the interview. I know I'm going to be all panicky near August so i need to get a move on. I'm just so glad that I finally know what I'm doing with my life again.

To Be or Not To Be...

So, Im waiting 50/11 years to get my official contract from Abu dhabi. I went to Times square and had a great time. My interview was very relaxed and my interviewer said I got the job at the end of interviewer. No Screams yet though. Here it is over a week later and i have still not recieved a contract officially. I have started planning my life around this so i need to get it in the mail now. Until then... we wait.

Update

the update you've all been waiting for... Well actually there isnt much of an update. Much like the process of going back and forth before I left to Korea, I am once again all over the place. SO I yet again have another interview for Abu dhabi. I'm in a different place than I was last time and yes i really want to go to the Middle east. Im not even entertaining the idea of staying here another year. I am almost willing to go anywhere but stay here. I have the Abu Dhabi interview in about 9 days and I am really going this time, but I'm looking for plans A, B, C, and D just in case. I think korea is Plan D at this time and Qatar is a possible plan B. Anyhoo this week I've been on spring break and getting all my documents together though it seems i wont have anything done on time. i had to prepare my criminal background check, reference letters, i still need to scan documents,updated my resume, got my transcripts, and got my name changed on my passport. Well ill let you know the verdict in a few days. Im scared to get excited or research anything before then, even though the addiction has slightly began. I feel confident about this, but then again Im not the most qualified person and i could end up with my face broke. i hope this is the start of an adventure for us.

Living the vida loca!

So... its me again. here to tell you that now we are on an even new endeavor. We are not giving up on getting out of here. The newest news, is that now Jason will be flying to Vegas for a night, to go test for a job in Vegas. This time I am still going to my interview in New York for Abu Dhabi. As long as we get something. I hope were both not a fail.I want to move to Vegas. Its an option thats equally fun, warm, financially beneificial, and far away. On another note. Im kind of boring today because I cant really focus due to a hangover. Jason and I actually had a good time last night! Yay, finally! anyways Ima go

and the saga continues...

So... The Abu Dhabi people are going to reschedule me! Its back on. Im scheduled for the 21st. I am so happy!!! A second chance and now Jason is so willing. I feel like this is meant for us. I would hate to get all the way there, and then not get hired so I am keeping my options open. on another note, I am trying to exercise and lose weight but its, been difficult. I need to bring sexy back before August and I only have 5 months to do it! Ill keep you posted.

ATL, Abu Dhabi or bust....Bust I guess

So after Jason pouted and pouted about not wanting to go to abu dhabi, i passed up the interview, which in hindsight is now a great regret. That offer was just too good to pass up. So what about the ATL position ask? we didnt get that either. I say we because whatever life choice one of us makes its going to affect both of our lives. So newest possible adventure.... I want to move back to South Korea. I know it already, I loved it there, and I've already applied to the ybm ECC site and they said lets get the ball rolling. Also jasoon wouldn't be bored there because he could go to school full time at a US school on the military base, or he could join the reserves, and find a full time job on base, but he doesnt want to join the military. I want him to so that i can get preferential treatment in the DODDs system and so we can have more money, because that seems to be the only hurdle we will face. I mean if he can get enough financial aid to cover us for a while that would be great, but until then I have to figure something out. hmmmm... Ill keep you updated.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

So... here I am, sitting yet another school day at home due to the obsessive amount of snow we have been getting. So far we have had 6 snow days and tomorrow is almost a guaranteed 7th!! I hope I am somewhere downsouth next year or overseas, or just anywhere but here. Oh yeah I dont think I told you, Jason has an interview the day after me for the Atlanta Police Department. I'm kind of excited that it is a stateside option where i have already established friends but, I dont love that I've been there done that. If I get a teaching job though, we can do a great deal of traveling while living in an entertaining city in the mean time. I think I can deal with that. Then we don't have to try and resettle when we return.

Yabbu dhabi du Update!

So I havent been bloggin about the Abu Dhabi adventure because I was seriously in limbo. Jason isn't all gun ho to go, nut he's willing to go just b/c I am really pushing this dream. He's afraid of change and doesn't want to leave his job with the state to become a state at home husband/student, which is completely understandable. He's a man's man and that is one of the things I love about him, but I wish he'd completely see things my way for a bit. One of those things that know one really stresses about marriage is that your sharing your life and there are a ton of great benefits that come with that, most of which motivate one to get married, but then there is the dark side of actually sharing your life. There are the times when all you want to do is what you want to do or you simply want to shout, " It's mine, mine, mine!", but all in all the good still outweighs the bad.
Anyways, I logged on to keep you updated with abu Dhabi. I have an In person Interview on February 8 in Time's Square New York. I think I am a good candidate but, I'm afraid that there are so many people with years of experience that they may outshine me. I mean I have taught overseas before, I am teaching kindergarten this year, I am certified, and have a teaching degree in Early Childhood Education, but I don't know if it's enough. I really want this bad! I'm praying every day, but I'm so afraid to get my hopes up. I've been researching, and talking to people. I probably wont post until next month, but lets keep our fingers crossed!

Abu dhabi or bust

Sooo....I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Jason and I are trying to escape to Abu Dhabi for an exciting adventure in the future of 2011. I need this in my life. I applied to Teach Away a couple of months ago, had my phone interview, and am now trying to prepare my documents for the in person interview in February in Times square New York! The interview location sounds like more excitement than I've had all year. Im steadily praying about it because now that Jason is ready, Im ready,this could be the dream ive been waiting for! If I get the job we would move in August. They would pay for me and jason's flight. i would make 3500 a month tax free with paid rent, and every year we decide to stay they would give me a month's worht of bonus pay and fly us anywhere in the world with a paid ticket! We could live an entirely different lifestyle! Dinners on the weekends, camel treks, sand boarding, skiing in the shopping mall, and all the other stuff I simply loved about being abroad. I have a few hurdles to jump, but I pray that I will be writing you with the details of our flight next! wish me luck.ciao

goodbye 2010

What happened to all the wonderful posts that I'm supposed to be writing about life in Massachusetts? They don't exist! Not 1 exciting thing has happened in 2010. I know 2011 will be different. Two good things that happened are we had our first Christmas together and surprisingly, everyone bought me the gifts I needed/wanted. Secondly, we brought in the New Year happy, together and with 4 other children who are not ours, but it was great! I loved it. I should do it more often. for the rest of the exciting events, on New Years day I got a stomach flu that made e miss the first day of the school year. Terrible!!! I threw up nonstop for 12 hours, had a headache for another 12, body aches for another 12, and i couldnt eat the entire time. luckily hubby sweety pie stayed home with me because I was finished! and now to sum up the rest of 2010 after I returned home, um...I went to work, Jason went to work, paid bills, more bills, bills, stayed home, work, and that about sums it up. I have no friends really that I keep in touch with on a regular basis, and am still dying for an adventure.